Victoria Collins MP: written questions
379 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Rivers: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of excess sewage sludge on river pollution in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Sewage sludge is a by-product of the wastewater treatment process which can be spread on fields as a fertiliser. Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SUiAR) supported by the Sewage Sludge Code of Practice provide environmental and health protecti...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: International CooperationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an international AI safety agency headquartered in the UK.
Answer: AI is the technology driving the next global industrial revolution - creating the economic growth which is central to our Plan for Change. Through the AI opportunities action plan, we are cementing Britain's position as a world leader on AI.The UK is comm...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCannabis: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of permitting GPs to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products; and what plans he has to ensure NHS access to full-spectrum cannabi
Answer: The conditions attached to a medicine’s marketing authorisation determine who it can be prescribed by. This may include restricting the initiation of treatments to specialist doctors, as is the case for the licensed cannabis-based medicines Sativex and Ep...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to help promote reading through (a) digital formats and (b) media platforms commonly used by young people.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61425.
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordOvarian Cancer: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve timely access to innovative treatments for women with ovarian cancer.
Answer: The Department is committed to improving cancer care for patients across England, including those with ovarian cancer. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across the country, including ...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include targets on improving survival for (a) ovarian cancer and (b) other rare and less common cancers in the upcoming national cancer plan.
Answer: The Department is committed to improving survival outcomes for all cancer types, including ovarian cancer and other rare and less common cancers, by catching it early, and treating it faster and more effectively. As a first step, the National Health Servi...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61994More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve survival outcomes for patients diagnosed with (a) ovarian cancer and (b) other rare and less common cancers.
Answer: The Department is committed to improving survival outcomes for all cancer types, including ovarian cancer and other rare and less common cancers, by catching it early, and treating it faster and more effectively. As a first step, the National Health Servi...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: BillingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of e-invoicing on (a) payment times and (b) cash flow management for SMEs.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling late payments, which can cause cash flow issues for SMEs. In September 2024 we announced measures including a new Fair Payment Code, legislation requiring large companies to report headline payment performance data ...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBilling: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to (a) commission and (b) publish research of the potential impact of e-invoicing on (i) digital adoption and (ii) changes in trends in the level of productivity of SMEs.
Answer: Yes. HMRC have commissioned research into SMEs perceptions of e-invoicing which we expect to publish later this year. DBT and HMRC also recently ran a joint 12-week consultation to gather views on promoting e-invoicing in the UK. The Government will publi...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: BillingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the use of e-invoicing to support SME digital adoption.
Answer: E-invoicing can help SMEs to reduce administrative burdens and data processing errors. Increasing SME adoption of digital tools like e-invoicing can therefore lead to increased productivity, as well as improved payment times and streamlined tax administra...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: BillingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to promote e-invoicing among SMEs.
Answer: Many SMEs could benefit from digital tools like e-invoicing. E-invoicing can streamline invoicing processes and lead to increased productivity, improved payment times and easier tax administration. However, we know that SMEs face several barriers to adopt...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to work with technology companies to co-develop (a) standards and (b) frameworks to help increase levels of trust in AI among (i) the public and (ii) busine
Answer: The government recognises the importance of trust in AI systems. DSIT is building confidence in and driving adoption of AI by supporting a growing, competitive, and dynamic AI assurance ecosystem. AI assurance can help provide the basis for consumers to t...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: EnforcementMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the funding allocation for planning enforcement for local authorities for the next (a) year and (b) five years; and what steps she is taking (i) to ensure tim
Answer: Local planning authorities do not receive a standalone funding allocation for planning enforcement.Planning enforcement is at the discretion of local planning authorities and it is for them to decide when and how they use the powers available to them depe...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of permitted development rights on (a) community engagement with and (b) levels of local oversight for planning; a
Answer: Where permitted development rights consent development which could have local impacts, a prior approval process can allow for consideration of specified planning matters by the local planning authority and the local community. Planning law requires local ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to promote reading through (a) digital formats and (b) media platforms commonly used by young people.
Answer: The department wants children to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information, and teachers should encourage pupils to develop reading habits by listening to, discussing, and reading a wide range of literature. Departme...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that employers provide disabled people with the support they need to stay in work in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.
Answer: Access to Work aims to support the recruitment and retention of disabled people into employment. It is a personalised discretionary grant that provides support with workplace adjustments beyond an employer’s obligation as outlined in the Equality Act 2010...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of access to books in low-income households on reading outcomes among children eligible for free school meals.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 59345.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUrinary Tract Infections: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to improve access to effective (a) symptom management and (b) pain relief for people with chronic urinary tract infections in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency is served by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB applies the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) t...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the affordability of motor insurance for drivers requiring specialist vehicles due to (i) disability
Answer: This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competiti...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times are for appeals awaiting an inspector assignment.
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate's Strategic Plan commits to removing all casework backlogs and meeting all Ministerial targets by 2027. The Inspectorate continues to make considerable progress towards meeting that ambition across casework areas including nation...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for enforcement appeals pending by written representations.
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate's Strategic Plan commits to removing all casework backlogs and meeting all Ministerial targets by 2027. The Inspectorate continues to make considerable progress towards meeting that ambition across casework areas including nation...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the digitalisation of the property transaction process.
Answer: The government is committed to modernising the home buying and selling process. We recently announced local authority pilots involving making key property information available online and the introduction of common data standards so that data can be share...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConveyancing: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to reform the residential conveyancing process to (a) reduce the time taken and (b) increase transparency for (i) buyers and (ii) sellers.
Answer: The government is committed to modernising the home buying and selling process. We recently announced local authority pilots involving making key property information available online and the introduction of common data standards so that data can be share...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a national chemicals regulator to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination.
Answer: Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments work closely with regulators and government agencies to prioritise issues for regulatory action in the UK relating to chemicals. We are working across government to help us assess levels of per- and polyfluoroa...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDrinking Water: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review the current regulatory limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
Answer: The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007; updated in August 2024, and a consolidated version was published in March 2025. In February 2025, the DWI published a report from the advisory group of drin...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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