Victoria Collins MP: written questions
379 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social 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 recordDigital Services TaxTreasuryTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63435More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the Digital Services Tax.
Answer: The DST is an interim solution to widely held concerns with international corporate tax, and the UK remains committed to remove it once a global solution on the taxation of the digital economy through Pillar 1 of the G20-OECD Inclusive Framework project i...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential of state pension integration practices on (a) lower-paid and (b) female pensioners; and if she will take steps to review (i) guidance and (ii) legislation t
Answer: The aim of “integrated” pension schemes is to provide a more predictable and stable pension income over time where a person’s occupational pension comes into payment before their State Pension. This is achieved by paying a higher pension before the person...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor InsuranceTreasuryTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63433More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority's powers in preventing insurers from applying excessive premium increases to non-fault claimants.
Answer: Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. However, the Government is ...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill on the ability of charitable landlords to offer flexible housing in areas lackin
Answer: The Renters' Rights Bill delivers the government's manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 'no fault' evictions. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system provided for by th...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLandlordsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) tailored exemption and (b) alternative mechanism to the Renter’s Rights Bill for non-profit charitable l
Answer: The Renters' Rights Bill delivers the government's manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 'no fault' evictions. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system provided for by th...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCulture: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to encourage local government support for arts and culture in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Secretary of State has a range of discussions with Cabinet colleagues across the whole of her portfolio, and DCMS officials regularly discuss support for arts and culture with their counterparts across His Majesty’s Government.In last month’s spending...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFilm: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the British film industry, in the context of potential US tariffs.
Answer: The Creative Industries Sector Plan announced significant support for the UK film industry, including a new £75 million Screen Growth Package over three years. This includes a scaled-up £18 million per year UK Global Screen Fund; support for the London Fi...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to finance for creative SMEs in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The new Creative Industries Sector Plan, published as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy, recognises that outside London and the South East, creative businesses find it harder to access finance. The £43 million DCMS Create Growth Programme suppo...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordInvestment: Harpenden and BerkhamstedTreasuryTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63427More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to encourage investment in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: This government is committed to keeping Britain economically stable to spur investment. Investment that will increase the number of good, well-skilled jobs and improve productivity across the country. Last month the government released the Industrial and ...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: Self-employedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support freelancers in the creative industries in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.
Answer: DCMS has committed in the recent Creative Industries Sector Plan to appoint a Freelance Champion, who will give freelancers a voice within government.DCMS will work with industry to develop Terms of Reference for this role. We envisage that it will repres...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: CostsTreasuryTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63425More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the autumn Budget 2024 on costs for small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) the rest of Engl
Answer: The government’s priority mission is to deliver strong, secure and sustainable economic growth to boost living standards in every part of the UK. The Spending Review marked a key step in the growth mission, allocating substantial new capital investment to...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: Harpenden and BerkhamstedTreasuryTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63424More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help increase economic growth in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The government’s priority mission is to deliver strong, secure and sustainable economic growth to boost living standards in every part of the UK. The Spending Review marked a key step in the growth mission, allocating substantial new capital investment to...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus services in rural areas in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of accessible, frequent and affordable bus services in keeping communities connected, including in rural areas. Buses in England outside London were deregulated by the Transport Act 1985 and at present are largely ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase railway capacity in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Rail services in the Hertfordshire region are supported by requirements on train operators to plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Operators must contin...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Department officials continuously monitor the performance of train operating companies across a range of measures and meet regularly with senior management to scrutinise and challenge their companies’ performance. The Department will continue to engage wi...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for publishing the consultation on the proposed AI Bill.
Answer: The Government plans to publish a consultation later this year on AI legislation.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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