Wera Hobhouse MP: written questions 2025
85 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Heat BatteriesTreasuryTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97939More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including heat batteries for central heating on the list of Energy Saving Materials.
Answer: Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at ...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: Eating DisordersDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure school staff have access to training and resources to identify and support pupils at risk of developing an eating disorder.
Answer: Education staff’s daily contact with pupils enables them to identify those who may need support and make timely referrals to the appropriate services.To support them, the department provides a range of guidance and practical resources to help them identif...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance BoardDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board last met; and whether the minutes from previous meetings in the last 10 years will be published.
Answer: The NLFAB last met on 27 November 2025. Due to commercial sensitivities the NLFAB minutes are not published. However, the full NLFAB report and supplementary Annexes which were issued to the Secretary of State to inform his decision on the Sizewell C Fund...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will set out the reasons for the reduction in the Fair Access Limit for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund from £5,000 to £3,000 from April 2025; and what assessment she has made of
Answer: The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund will enable as many children and families as possible to access support. So far this year, nearly 14,000 applications have been approved. The department continues to monitor and asses...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the Circular Economy Growth Plan; and what opportunity stakeholders will have to formally respond to plan.
Answer: This Government remains committed to transitioning towards a circular economy and driving economic growth. This is why we will publish our Circular Economy Growth Plan in the new year that sets out how government will deliver a more circular and more pros...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will publish modelling undertaken by Ofgem on how suppliers may respond to projected Transmission Use of System charge increases over the 2026-31 price control period.
Answer: Ofgem, as the independent regulator, sets funding and investment allowances for gas and electricity transmission, and gas distribution networks through its RIIO-3 price control process. Final Determinations for RIIO-3 will be confirmed by Ofgem in Decembe...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether they have made an assessment of the adequacy of the four-month notice period given to suppliers to recover additional costs under RIIO-3.
Answer: Ofgem, as the independent regulator, sets funding and investment allowances for gas and electricity transmission, and gas distribution networks through its RIIO-3 price control process. Final Determinations for RIIO-3 will be confirmed by Ofgem in Decembe...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Ofgem’s RIIO-3 draft determinations for the electricity transmission, gas distribution and gas transmission sectors on the (
Answer: Ofgem, as the independent regulator, sets funding and investment allowances for gas and electricity transmission, and gas distribution networks through its RIIO-3 price control process. Final Determinations for RIIO-3 will be confirmed by Ofgem in Decembe...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Ofgem’s RIIO-3 draft determinations for the electricity transmission, gas distribution and gas transmission sectors on energ
Answer: Ofgem, as the independent regulator, sets funding and investment allowances for gas and electricity transmission, and gas distribution networks through its RIIO-3 price control process. Final Determinations for RIIO-3 will be confirmed by Ofgem in Decembe...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: ContractsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that participants in the Contracts for Difference auction process do not source solar panels or components linked to forced labour in the Uyghur
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in solar supply chains, including in Xinjiang. The Government is strengthening due diligence requirements through the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 and by reviewing Section 54 of the Moder...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEating Disorders: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister in his Department is responsible for eating disorder services.
Answer: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women’s Health and Mental Health (Baroness Merron) has ministerial responsibility for eating disorder services.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to establish a (a) clear pathway and (b) timeframe for transition plan disclosure to become mandatory for large UK companies.
Answer: The government ran a consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements ran from June to September 2025 which has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: InvestmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential for private investment in the circular economy.
Answer: This Government’s commitment to transitioning towards a circular economy builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature, and creates a more resilient economy with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure. The U...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Economic GrowthDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the potential impact of the circular economy on local economic growth.
Answer: This Government’s commitment to transitioning towards a circular economy builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature, and creates a more resilient economy with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure. The U...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with PackUK on the role of the Producer Responsibility Organisation in setting expectations for (a) the sorting of collected materials and (b) m
Answer: The Department is working with PackUK to appoint a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) which will be responsible for administering certain elements of the pEPR scheme. The sorting of collected materials and consistent collections is not within Pack...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the lack of sorting requirements of collected materials under Simpler Recycling on recycling rates.
Answer: As part of the Simpler Recycling reforms, the Government has made an exemption in regulations to allow local authorities and other waste collectors to co-collect plastic, metal and glass in the same container. This applies in all circumstances without the...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSizewell C Power StationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has a completion date for Sizewell C.
Answer: Sizewell C Ltd plan to begin operating the power plant in the mid- to late-2030s.
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: ProcurementDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to accept the recommendation by the Office of Value for Money to lay a Command Paper with a Strategy and Delivery Plan for specific mega projects before Parliament.
Answer: Where projects within the Department are designated as megaprojects, the recommendations of the Office for Value for Money study will be considered as appropriate. Having been defined a mega project by the study, a Strategy and Delivery Plan for Sizewell ...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidTreasuryTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81354More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the reduction of ODA budget on UK (a) jobs and (b) trade income.
Answer: The overall economic impact of policy measures is set out in the OBR’s economic and fiscal forecast. The OBR’s March 2025 outlook provides details of the impacts of policy changes including the ODA reduction.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAarhus ConventionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what circumstances would she consider withdrawing from the Aarhus Convention.
Answer: The United Kingdom Government is committed to the effective implementation of its international obligations and has no plans to withdraw from the Aarhus Convention.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78427More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps to enable an increase in the Official Development Assistance budget.
Answer: To enable the government to invest more on security and defence, while remaining committed to our fiscal rules, the Prime Minister has taken the difficult decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by 2027. T...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLiterature: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Curriculum and Assessment Review will consider mandating a gender balance in the authors of texts students study for GCSE English Literature.
Answer: The selection of set texts for examination in GCSE English Literature is down to the exam boards. Schools are given the freedom of choice to select works that fulfil the aims of the national curriculum for English Literature, which aims to ensure that all...
Answered 3 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: TaxationTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70840More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the British racing industry on the potential impact of her Department's remote gambling tax harmonisations proposals on the sport.
Answer: The Government consultation on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one closed on 21 July 2025. Responses are now being analysed and a response to the c...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will undertake a cost benefit analysis of wholesale electricity market reform options as soon as possible.
Answer: We have taken a decision on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements reform options based on a range of evidence and come to a judgement on the best route to deliver a fair, affordable, secure and efficient energy system. We will publish updated anal...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 905338More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to improve access to mental health services.
Answer: This Government is investing an extra £688 million this year to improve access to mental health services by hiring more staff, delivering more early interventions and getting waiting lists down.We will transform mental health services into 24/7 neighbourh...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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