Wendy Morton MP: written questions
159 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Transport: StatisticsDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department maintains a register of statistical publications considered to be at risk of delay; how many official statistical publications are classified as high risk; whether additional resources ha
Answer: In line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, the Department for Transport has robust procedures in place to lead the Production of Official Statistics under the direction and authority of the Head of Profession for Statistics.Appropriate action is ta...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: StatisticsDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of reasons for (a) postponing and (b) cancelling planned statistical publications; whether Ministers have received advice identifying concerns regarding (
Answer: In line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, the Department for Transport has robust procedures in place to lead the Production of Official Statistics under the direction and authority of the Head of Profession for Statistics. As required by the Code...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordRolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the principal causes of continued short-formed rail services; whether her Department has modelled rolling stock availability over the next five years; what assessment he
Answer: The Department does not collect information on the principal causes of short-formed rail services and has not undertaken separate modelling of rolling stock availability. Train operators are responsible for service delivery and are best placed to identify...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: FinesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of civil penalties expected to be issued under the new Renters Rights enforcement regime during each of the next three yea
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Health: StaffMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional environmental health officers and enforcement staff local authorities will require to exercise the new enforceme
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to implement the proposed home buying reforms; what estimate his Department has made of the potential costs of the reforms to (a) local au
Answer: My Department closely monitors industry data relating to property transactions as part of the policymaking process, but it does not collect data on the reasons for residential property transaction failures. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Writ...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the principal causes of failed residential property transactions; whether his Department has modelled the potential impact of the propose
Answer: My Department closely monitors industry data relating to property transactions as part of the policymaking process, but it does not collect data on the reasons for residential property transaction failures. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Writ...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have requested (a) Exceptional Financial Support, (b) capitalisation directions and (c) other forms of financial assistance during 2026–27; what estima
Answer: Information on councils in receipt of Exceptional Financial Support for 2026/27 has been published on an annual basis here – including the amounts and type of support issued. The department undertakes regular engagement with local councils, including on t...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordVictims: Codes of PracticeMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has established baseline data measuring compliance with the Victims’ Code; what performance indicators will be used to assess the revised Code; and whether any internal assessment has ident
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor certain criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code (“the Code”), inc...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordVictims: Codes of PracticeMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the revised Victims’ Code; what estimate he has made of additional staffing requirements across police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and victim suppor
Answer: The total present value cost of implementing the new Victims’ Code is estimated to be £11.9 million over a 10-year appraisal period. This includes costs that the police and HMPPS will incur associated with increased interaction with victims. This estimate...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of longer closure orders on (a) lawful businesses operating from shared premises, (b) residential occupants and(c) landlords and leaseholders; whet
Answer: The Home Office is currently consulting on increasing the duration of closure orders to strengthen the response to high street illegality. The proliferation of illicit businesses is undercutting legitimate businesses and in some cases, forcing them off th...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the additional number of closure orders expected each year, (b) the number of police officers and local authority staff required to administer proposed changes, (c) t
Answer: The Home Office has not made estimates as to how many closure orders are expected each year, nor the number of police officers and local authority staff required to administer them and their related costs.The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordTax CollectionTreasuryTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16436More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has received (a) legal advice on the compatibility of the proposed lower-value debt recovery powers with the European Convention on Human Rights, (b) a programme risk register, (c) advice on reputational
Answer: The Government is consulting on proposals to tackle lower value tax debts in a way that is fair, proportionate and effective. The proposals are intended to address a small minority of taxpayers who can afford to pay what they owe but repeatedly choose not...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordTax CollectionTreasuryTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16435More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs has completed an Equality Impact Assessment for proposed lower-value debt recovery powers; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those powers on (a) disabled people,
Answer: The Government is consulting on proposals to tackle lower value tax debts in a way that is fair, proportionate and effective. The proposals are intended to address a small minority of taxpayers who can afford to pay what they owe but repeatedly choose not...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Direct DebitsTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15995More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the impact of mandatory Direct Debit payments on (a) businesses without access to mainstream banking services, (b) rural businesses and (c) financially excluded businesses; and wheth
Answer: The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: PAYE and VATTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15994More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what enforcement mechanisms are being considered for businesses that do not pay PAYE and VAT by Direct Debit; whether penalties have been modelled for non-compliance; whether exemptions have been assessed by sector,
Answer: The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: VATTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15993More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of (a) the number of businesses currently unable to pay VAT by Direct Debit, (b) the number of VAT-registered businesses which do not maintain a UK bank account capable of suppo
Answer: The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15992More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the economic impact of the £450,000 property price cap for first-time buyers' Lifetime ISA and (b) the impact of regional affordability, particularly in London and the
Answer: On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why w...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings Accounts: ReformTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15991More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of (a) the number of Lifetime ISA holders expected to be financially better off under the proposed reforms, (b) the number expected to be financially worse off, (c) the regional distribut
Answer: On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why w...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15990More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what evidential basis informed the conclusion that the Lifetime ISA was not effective; whether external research, behavioural analysis and consumer testing informed that conclusion; whether an evidence review has be
Answer: On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why w...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisons: OvercrowdingMinistry of JusticeTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received advice on emergency prison capacity measures; what operational thresholds would trigger additional contingency arrangements; and whether programme risk registers identify capacity as a cri
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual prison population projections for England and Wales in the Prison Capacity Annual Statement. The 2025 Annual Statement is available here: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025 - GOV.UK. The next Statement is sc...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisonersMinistry of JusticeTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has prepared updated prison population projections; what modelling he has undertaken on prison occupancy under high, central and low demand scenarios; whether contingency plans exist for ex
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual prison population projections for England and Wales in the Prison Capacity Annual Statement. The 2025 Annual Statement is available here: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025 - GOV.UK. The next Statement is sc...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCriminal Proceedings: TrialsMinistry of JusticeTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of criminal trials which will be vacated because of judicial, courtroom and prosecutorial capacity constraints during 2026; whether his Department maintains internal data o
Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not model or estimate the number of future criminal trials that will be vacated due to judicial, courtroom or prosecutorial capacity restraints. However, the Ministry of Justice does hold information on past trial effectivenes...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCrown Court: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what modelling he has undertaken of the Crown Court backlog under (a) current funding levels and (b) alternative funding scenarios; when the backlog will return to pre-pandemic levels; and whether regional projec
Answer: The Department publishes Crown Court open caseload projections annually. The current release (from December 2025) is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-projections-2025-to-2030. We do not have equivalent projections...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has established baseline performance measures against which the success of AI planning tools will be assessed; what key performance indicators will be moni
Answer: My Department is evaluating the performance and impact of AI planning tools to ensure they deliver benefits for local planning authorities and the communities they serve. Our Digital Planning Programme is developing an AI planning prototype in partnership...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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