Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Special Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce inequalities in SEND funding between local authorities.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the departm...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Mental HealthDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the mental health of (a) teachers and (b) support staff.
Answer: High-quality teaching is the biggest in-school factor that makes a difference to a child’s education. Being taught by a good teacher can add almost half a GCSE grade per subject to a given pupil’s results. That is why, as well as working to recruit additi...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme applies a currency model to commission (a) palliative and (b) end-of-life care services.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission into Adult Social CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if will make it his policy that unpaid carers are the central focus of the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care.
Answer: We are launching an independent commission chaired by Baroness Louise Casey into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.The commission is independent. We expect it will engage unpaid carers as part...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: HertfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the bathing standard in the (a) River Ver and (b) River Lea.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the quality of bathing water at designated sites around the country, as an important contributor to many people’s mental and physical health. However, as these two sites are not designated bathing waters they are n...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: SewersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to impose a legal duty on large-scale housing developments to include adequate sewage capacity.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 40935 on 31 March 2025.
Answered 16 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: IncentivesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to incentivise dentists to increase NHS appointments in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England.
Answer: The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentist...
Answered 14 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44280More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to provide additional funding for fracture liaison services to help increase the (a) coverage and (b) quality of those services.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. They can play a vital role in improving quality of life and increasing the number of years that can...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to ensure effective fracture liaison services for over 50s.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. They can play a vital role in improving quality of life and increasing the number of years that can...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will provide Integrated Care Boards with detailed guidance on the minimum provision of palliative care required for hospices in their area.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in ...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce (a) accountability and (b) enforcement provisions for private train companies during rail nationalisation.
Answer: During the transition of passenger services to a public sector operator, the Secretary of State for Transport will continue to hold private sector operators to account through a range of measures, using enforcement provisions where required. All operators...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarers: EnergyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44276More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential impact of the energy price cap increase on unpaid carers.
Answer: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make ...
Answered 16 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCarersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44275More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department have to ensure that local authorities can fulfil their duties to carers under the Care Act 2014.
Answer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how well local authorities in England are delivering their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to unpaid carers. This means that the CQC is looking at how local authorit...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to develop a (a) comprehensive and (b) fully-funded plan to effectively (i) recruit, (ii) train, and (iii) retain a sustainable social care workforce.
Answer: We are launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. We expect that the commission will look at workforce issues, building on work already underway to provide a c...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the move to a neighbourhood health service will (a) meet the complex needs of people living with dementia and their families and (b) include (i) Admiral Nurses and
Answer: We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier, supporting people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer. The Government also wants a society ...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile PhonesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using revenue generated by spectrum Annual Licence Fees to support improved mobile coverage.
Answer: Ofcom sets mobile spectrum fees independently to promote the optimal use of spectrum. The Government recognises the cost of these fees to the industry. Supporting investment in mobile networks is a priority and the Government continues to assess what furt...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRadio Frequencies: Mobile PhonesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on increasing spectrum available to mobile operators.
Answer: I have not had any discussions with Ofcom directly on increasing the spectrum available to mobile operators, but my officials are in regular discussion with them on spectrum issues. The Government recognises the importance of ensuring access to suitable s...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to ensure that energy meter reading technology is being upgraded in line with the latest technological developments
Answer: The accuracy of energy meters is of benefit to both energy providers and consumers and is a requirement of the Electricity and Gas Act legislation covering energy meters. To ensure the UK is taking account of the latest technological innovations the Gover...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support children with special educational needs in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The department wan...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel Cards: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Oyster card scheme to stations in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Transport for London (TfL) and Operators can consider and propose Oyster expansion where a positive business case can be demonstrated. No such proposals have been put forward to the Department. However, we are expanding ticketing innovations such as Pay A...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include policies on supporting people with dementia in the 10-year health plan for the NHS.
Answer: We have committed to develop a 10 Year Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with dementia, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our p...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Music TherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to train carers in using musical techniques to support people living with dementia.
Answer: We are committed to a professional, well supported social care workforce. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, providers must provide enough suitably qualified, competent, skilled, and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the serv...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical EquipmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with NHS England on the potential merits of promoting the return and reissue of reusable NHS medical equipment.
Answer: The Department published the Design for Life Roadmap in October 2024, which sets out the Government's ambition to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products by 2045. One of the key mechanisms for doing this, as outlined in t...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCounselling and PsychiatryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) psychotherapy and (b) counselling professionals operating without a protected title on patients.
Answer: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not statutorily regulated. Where a health profession is regulated by law, this normally allows for a professional’s title to be protected in law, making it a criminal offence for someone to practise or use a protected ...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHartley Pensions: InsolvencyTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32258More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps to provide compensation for self-invested personal pension holders affected by Hartley Pensions entering administration.
Answer: As a self-invested personal pension (SIPPs) provider, Hartley Pensions is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is working with the administrators of Hartley Pensions to ensure that any customers affected by the situation achieve the...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →