Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
NeurologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for neurology outpatient appointments; and what plans are in place to ensure timely access to neurological care for all patients.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029. This includes patients waiting for neurology care.As of August 202...
Answered 6 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInsolvencyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many company directors have been disqualified following Insolvency Service investigations involving (a) phoenix trading or (b) similar conduct after insolvency in each of the last three years.
Answer: Until April 2025, The Insolvency Service only recorded data for phoenix trading where directors were specifically disqualified for that allegation. This was infrequent, as phoenixism is defined very precisely and requires a high burden of proof. In the 3 ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInsolvencyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current enforcement powers where directors of insolvent companies resume trading through new companies; and what steps he is taking to strengt
Answer: Both civil and criminal enforcement tools, are used to address corporate abuse, that includes phoenixism. Director disqualification helps to protect the public from individuals who have demonstrated that they are unfit to be involved in the management of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFloods: HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of properties ceded to the Flood Re scheme since 2023 are not classified as at risk of flooding under Environment Agency flood maps; and what steps she is
Answer: The Flood Re scheme is funded by the insurance industry via a compulsory levy which currently stands at £160 million per annum. Insurers chose which properties at flood risk to cede to the scheme. Premiums are set by Flood Re that aims to ensure only poli...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: CompaniesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to require energy suppliers to pay interest on significant customer credit balances held for extended periods.
Answer: In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem) Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment am...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: CompaniesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on the (a) total value of credit balances currently held by domestic energy suppliers and (b) steps it is taking to ensure that surplus credit is refund
Answer: In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem) Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment am...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with energy suppliers on the level of their compliance with licence requirements to ensure that direct debit levels reflect customers’ actual energy us
Answer: In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem) Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment am...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimals (Low-welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to introduce activity regulations under the Animal (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and what her Department's timetable is for the full implementatio
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire, Pippa Heylings on 23 September 2025 PQ UIN 73101.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who need it have access to palliative care services in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs, ...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure adequate financial support for the full range of specialist palliative care services provided by hospices.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs, including the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, which covers the Harpe...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospice contracts reflect the (a) cost of the services they provide and (b) needs of the local population in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs, including the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, which covers the Harpe...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85542More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HMRC has treated the (a) Palmrock and (b) Horizon loan schemes differently in relation to the application of PAYE credits.
Answer: As a minister I cannot comment on any individual or identifiable businesses and their tax affairs. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) should always treat taxpayers sensitively and fairly in accordance with the HMRC Charter. To ensure fairness, HMRC applies the...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85541More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure that HMRC issues closure notices showing no adjustment to tax returns for users of the Horizon loan scheme.
Answer: As a minister I cannot comment on any individual or identifiable businesses and their tax affairs. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) should always treat taxpayers sensitively and fairly in accordance with the HMRC Charter. To ensure fairness, HMRC applies the...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Children's PlayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of health play (a) services and (b) professionals for children.
Answer: The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever, which includes ensuring that children receive the appropriate care and support whenever they need it.In support of this commitment, NHS England and Starlight, a national ch...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: Mobile PhonesDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to review her Department's guidance entitled Mobile phones in schools, published in February 2024.
Answer: The department’s guidance on mobile phones in schools, published in February 2024, is clear that schools should prohibit the use of devices with smart technology throughout the school day, including during lessons, transitions and breaks.We expect all sch...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia SyndromeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome training in junior doctor specialty training programmes.
Answer: No discussions have been held. The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The General Medical Council approves cu...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPostural Tachycardia Syndrome: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome have access to (a) specialist (i) clinicians, (ii) nurses, (iii) physiotherapists, (iv) oc
Answer: Services for people with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs have a statutory responsibility to provide a health service to the local population, subject to local prioritisation and funding,...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: Children's PlayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle ensure that children have access to health play services in (a) children's hospitals and (b) children's wards in district general hospitals.
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of supporting and maintaining children’s right to play in healthcare settings, because games and active play in all settings build social skills and promote children’s well-being.To support this, in June 2025 NHS E...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies: RegistrationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps Companies House is taking to support (a) micro companies and (b) residents’ management companies with volunteer directors to complete its identity verification before 18 November 2025.
Answer: Companies House is continuing to develop alternative options that will offer more support to individuals who are unable to verify their identities through the available routes. Further guidance will be issued. In the meantime, Companies House is ensuring ...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: Mobile PhonesDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet with Esther Ghey to discuss her campaign for a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools.
Answer: Mobile phones have no place in school.Schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with similar functionality to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lun...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies: RegistrationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of Companies House identity verifications have used (a) assisted and (b) non-digital routes since 1 April 2025; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the access
Answer: The specific data is not available. Companies House has recruited significant resource and expanded and trained our customer service team to assist users in the identity verification journey. They are also establishing a specialist team to support custome...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPedestrian Areas: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department is providing to local authorities to improve the (a) quality and (b) accessibility of pavements for (i) wheelchair users, (ii) people with mobility impairments and (iii) other people
Answer: The Department provides a range of funding streams to local authorities that can be used to improve the quality and accessibility of pavements for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, and other pedestrians. In 2025/26, local authorities wil...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHeating: Fuel OilDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) rural and (b) off-grid households that use heating oil in the context of the Warm Homes Plan; and what assessment she has made of the p
Answer: For most off-grid properties, decarbonising heat will involve installing a heat pump. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants offer £7,500 for heat pumps, and £5,000 for biomass boilers in specific rural cases. The government recognises that renewable liquid fue...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLandfill TaxTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82498More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed reforms to Landfill Tax on the (a) viability and (b) cost of (i) residential housebuilding and (ii) major infrastructure projects.
Answer: The Government recently consulted on proposals for reform of Landfill Tax to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support our environmental goals. As part of the consultation, the Government has...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education and Schools: SurveysDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) pupil and (b) parent survey data is used effectively to assess the inclusivity of (i) schools and (ii) early years settings.
Answer: This government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools to break down barriers to education, alongside ensuring that special schools are able to support children with the most complex needs. The Expert Advisory Group for ...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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