Wendy Morton MP: written questions 2025
1301 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bus Services: West MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of funding for buses in the Autumn Budget 2025 on bus routes serving Aldridge-Brownhills constituency; and whether her Department plans to issue guidance to
Answer: The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in the Spending Review, confirming over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passenger...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: West MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Budget’s roads funding announcements on tackling congestion hotspots in Aldridge-Brownhills, including the A452, A461, Chester Road, Walsall Wood Road and Brown
Answer: Tackling congestion hotspots on local roads is a matter for local highway authorities. The roads in question are the responsibility of Walsall Council, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). WMCA is in receipt of £1.05bn of City Reg...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: West MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that additional capital funding for roads, rail and bus networks announced in the Budget is allocated fairly across the West Midlands, including to areas across Ald
Answer: The West Midlands Combined Authority will receive almost £2.4bn in Transport for City Region (TCR) funding up to 31/32. Enabling Mayors in recipient areas to deliver schemes that align with local priorities, the TCR programme provides unprecedented, multi...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish any impact assessments on the potential displacement of visitors away from levy-charging areas of the West Midlands to neighbouring counties without such charg
Answer: The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals. This consultation will inform their decisions regarding whether...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96143More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of granting the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority powers to levy a mandatory charge on overnight stays on smaller visitor ec
Answer: The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals. This consultation will inform their decisions regarding whether...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: West MidlandsDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support, will be provided to West Midlands councils in 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 to manage growing SEND costs.
Answer: The government has announced plans to address deficits through making available the High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90% of all local authorities‘ high needs dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits accumulated to the end of the 2025/26 financia...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he will require the Department for Education or newly responsible central government bodies to publish borough-level data on SEND provision, EHCP timeliness and outcomes once funding is centralised, to
Answer: Information on the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is published in the statistical release, Special educational needs in England, accessible at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96140More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government will maintain or reform the “safety valve” and “deliverability” programmes for local authorities following the centralisation of SEND funding; and how councils such as Walsall will be sup
Answer: The government has announced plans to address deficits through making available the High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90% of all local authorities‘ high needs dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits accumulated to the end of the 2025/26 financia...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96139More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities will be required to repay accumulated DSG deficits before 2028-29, or whether such deficits will be written off as part of the transition to central gov
Answer: At Autmn Budget 2025, the government clarified that ambitious Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plans will be set out early in the new year and that funding for SEND will be managed within the government’s overall departmental spend...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the OBR’s conclusion that cumulative local authority SEND deficits may reach £14 billion by 2027-28, and what implications this has for the financi
Answer: At Autmn Budget 2025, the government clarified that ambitious Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plans will be set out early in the new year and that funding for SEND will be managed within the government’s overall departmental spend...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on West Midlands local authorities of the Government’s decision in the Autumn Budget to transfer full responsibility for fundi
Answer: At Autmn Budget 2025, the government clarified that ambitious Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plans will be set out early in the new year and that funding for SEND will be managed within the government’s overall departmental spend...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFloods Resilience TaskforceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Flood Resilience Taskforce most recently met; what recommendations it has provided to Ministers since September regarding national readiness for severe weather events; and wha
Answer: The Floods Resilience Taskforce most recently met in September and held two meetings on the 8th and 15th. The Taskforce discussed actions by members to prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding during autumn and winter. This included improvements ...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government’s commitment to invest £10.5 billion in flood defences by 2036, (a) how much has been allocated to each English region to date, (b) how many of the 151
Answer: This Government will invest at least £10.5 billion into our flood defences between April 2024 and March 2036 better protecting nearly 900,000 properties. Having benefitted from over £745 million of capital funding in 2024/25, flood defence schemes have re...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFloods: WarningsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s commitment to improve national flood forecasting, (a) what assessment she has made of the performance of the new flood warning system during Storm Cl
Answer: During Storm Claudia, the Environment Agency (EA) sent more than 130 flood warnings and 270 flood alerts. These reached people through text (315,000 messages), email (350,000), and automated calls (225,000). The Floodline recorded information service also...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the risk that the combination of expanded intervention powers and reduced statutory consultee involvement may incentivise speculative applications
Answer: On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.A consultation will also be carried out in due course seeking views on pl...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an assessment of the cumulative impact on the protection of Green Belt land of reducing the number of planning applications requiring advice from statutory con
Answer: On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.A consultation will also be carried out in due course seeking views on pl...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his proposal to determine certain called-in applications by written representations rather than inquiry, what assessment he has made of the implications for the
Answer: The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he will take to ensure that the expanded use of intervention and call-in powers does not weaken legitimate local democratic oversight of planning decisions, particular
Answer: The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his written statement of 20 November 2025 on a more active use of ministerial call-in and recovery powers, what assessment he has made of the potential impact o
Answer: The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an authority-level assessment of the 2026 business rates retention reset, including (a) the financial implications of increasing the Safety Net to 100 per cent
Answer: Local authorities’ new allocations, accounting for the impact of the Reset, will be published at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December. The government has recently published plans for delivering the 2026 Reset: Resetting the busi...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of (a) the expected financial impact on household budgets of assuming full take-up of council tax referendum flexibilities when calculating transition
Answer: a) Council tax is managed by local authorities, which decide what level of council tax they wish to set. The government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2% adult social care precept and will consult on the principles in the pro...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities that will (a) require 100 per cent income protection, (b) receive real-terms protection, and (c) fall within the 95 p
Answer: We expect the vast majority of local authorities with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement, and most other authorities will see their income increase in cash terms.We will su...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Commissioners appointed to Birmingham have been granted additional powers to intervene in operational waste decisions during periods of industrial action.
Answer: Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential environmental impact of prolonged interruptions to refuse collection in Birmingham, including consequences for air quality, pest control,
Answer: Defra has not made an assessment of the potential impact of prolonged interruptions to refuse collection in Birmingham. The ongoing waste dispute is a local issue and rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council. Commissioners appointed by the Secr...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: Industrial DisputesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken a risk review of the contractual arrangements underpinning the use of agency workers in local authority waste services, and whether such arr
Answer: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including the decision to use agency workers to fill vacancies and the accompanying contractual arrangements.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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