Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Equitable Life Assurance Society: CompensationTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68563More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered appointing an Independent Commissioner to review unresolved concerns from former Equitable Life policyholders on the (a) methodology and (b) distribution of compensation under t
Answer: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016 and there are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to it. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidanc...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUrban Areas: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue a formal definition of a Large Built-Up Area for the purposes of planning decisions.
Answer: Local planning authorities (LPAs) must necessarily exercise judgement to interpret and apply national planning policy to their particular local circumstances. The government published revised Green Belt guidance on 27 February 2025, to help LPAs review th...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCounty Courts: Harpenden and BerkhamstedMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice,what the backlog in County Court cases is in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, and what steps her Department is taking to tackle it.
Answer: It is not possible to measure ‘backlog’ within the County Courts due to the nature of Civil claims with many claims settling between parties. The pace of such cases is very often determined by the choices and behaviour of the parties.Our focus across Hert...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with his European counterparts on cooperation on aircraft development.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence has continuous discussions with several European counterparts related to common platforms, such as A400M and Typhoon, and future capabilities. This includes continuous engagement with Italy as part of the delivery of our joint Glob...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Based Violence: Harpenden and BerkhamstedMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support victims of violence against women through the criminal justice system in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: This Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and we have already taken steps to support victims through the criminal justice system, including in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.The ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSecurity Action for EuropeMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on UK access to the Security Action for Europe fund.
Answer: We welcome all European efforts to increase defence spending and provide the critical capability uplift needed by Europe, including through the EU’s European Defence Readiness / ReArm initiatives and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. SAFE ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to NHS continuing healthcare assessors on health needs associated with (a) progressive supranuclear palsy and (b) corticobasal degeneration.
Answer: The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care sets out the process for determining eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This statutory guidance is clear that the assessment process should include someone with...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad works: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the (a) siting and (b) appearance of statutory undertaker infrastructure on highway land; and whether she plans to ensure that (i) l
Answer: My Department has not issued any such guidance. The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development RightsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the scope of permitted development rights for above-ground utility infrastructure in residential areas; and if she will make an assessment
Answer: My Department has not issued any such guidance. The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving continuing healthcare assessments for (a) progressive supranuclear palsy and (b) corticobasal degeneration.
Answer: The Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of improving NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessments at this time, in relation to individuals with supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration.Eligibility for CHC is not determined...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure (a) equal and (b) fair access to driving test appointments for candidates who are unable to travel outside their local areas.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and contin...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: RecruitmentDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the DVSA’s recruitment campaign for new examiners; and how many new examiners have been recruited in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and contin...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many additional driving test appointments have been made available through extended testing hours since December 2024.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible and contin...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVaccine Damage Payment SchemeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the (a) scope, (b) eligibility, (c) criteria and (d) compensation level of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Answer: I would like to express my deepest sympathies to those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.Ministers continue to consider options for reforming the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.In parallel, the Department ha...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCrawford & Company: Vaccine Damage Payment SchemeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Crawford & Company in administering the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme; and for what reason that company was selected to manage the process.
Answer: The NHS Business Services Authority is the administrator of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). Crawford and Company provides a medical assessment service for the VDPS. Crawford and Company were awarded this contract following a formal procurement p...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) research and (b) development into medical treatments for people affected by COVID-19 vaccine injury.
Answer: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including treatments for vaccine side effects. Since the st...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Advisory ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of integrating health and social care services with access to welfare advice.
Answer: As announced in the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ statement on Welfare Reform on 30 June, we are investing an additional £300 million over the next 3 years, enabling us to go further and faster on our new planned investment in work, health and...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAdvertising: FraudHome OfficeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that its fraud strategy provides consumers with protection from all types of fraudulent advertising.
Answer: As part of the requirements of the Online Safety Act (2023), large social media and search services will be required to use proactive systems and processes to prevent the public from encountering fraudulent adverts, and minimise the length of time any suc...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung Futures HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) a hub and spoke model and (b) the utilisation of detached youth work within Young Futures Hubs on (i) outreach and (ii) access for yo
Answer: The government has committed to the creation of a new Young Futures Programme, which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships. Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportuniti...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordConversion TherapyWomen and EqualitiesTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64268More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress her Department has made towards establishing a ban on conversion practices.
Answer: I refer the Honourable member to my answer on 24 June (PQ 60396).
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung Futures HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how local areas will be supported to implement Young Futures Hubs.
Answer: The government has committed to the creation of a new Young Futures Programme, which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships. Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportuniti...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether investment in family hubs will be included in the upcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the answer of 03 July 2025 to Question 63139.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the interpretation of the definition of Grey Belt by planning inspectors in (a) rural and (b) semi-rural areas.
Answer: My Department published updated guidance on Green Belt policy on 27 February 2025 to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, including planning inspectors, in determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. It is for dec...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the implementation of Grey Belt policy aligns with the settlement hierarchy set out in adopted local plans.
Answer: My Department published updated guidance on Green Belt policy on 27 February 2025 to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, including planning inspectors, in determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. It is for dec...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue planning practice guidance on the (a) use and (b) interpretation of Grey Belt policy.
Answer: My Department published updated guidance on Green Belt policy on 27 February 2025 to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, including planning inspectors, in determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. It is for dec...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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