Wera Hobhouse MP: written questions 2025
85 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal Experiments: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many active licences there are for the authorised use of the forced swim test.
Answer: The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).The Home Office Regulator ...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the letter from Lord Sharpe of Epsom responding to the Animals in Science Committee forced swim test report, published on 5 March 2024, what the deadline is for ending the use of for
Answer: The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).The Home Office Regulator ...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes Plan: BristolDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the reduction of the funding for home energy upgrades in the Warm Homes Local Grant compared to the Home Upgrade Grant 2 for Bristol City Council; and whether thi
Answer: Bristol City Council’s consortium was awarded £13,458,463 under Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which is ~£2m more than the £11,393,650 awarded under Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2). Whilst HUG2 was allocated £700m in 2021 by the previous government compared...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief on the (a) Agricultural Transition Plan and (b) Food Security Strategy.
Answer: The Agricultural Transition Plan was the policy of the previous Government and covers the period 2021 to 2024. This Government remains committed to supporting the farming industry by carrying on the transition away from payment for land ownership and towa...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial PrescribingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether consideration has been given to the importance of (a) gardening and (b) nature-based therapies in improving (i) physical, (ii) social and (iii) mental health in the development of a neighbo
Answer: We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Heath Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier, supporting people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer. There will be a focus on shifting the...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOutdoor EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) outdoor learning and (b) horticultural education on the development of (i) children and (ii) young people.
Answer: The department has not undertaken a specific assessment on the potential impact of outdoor learning and horticultural education on the development of children and young people.However, access to green space has been shown to have positive impacts on the p...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHorticultureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture G
Answer: The government has made no assessment of the implications for the Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture Group, published in Autumn 2024.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMethane: Pollution ControlDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what resources his Department has allocated to the policy (a) development and (b) implementation of the UK’s commitments to the Global Methane Pledge.
Answer: Tackling methane emissions is a priority for the department including as part of the Global Methane Pledge's target (to collectively reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030), and under the Climate Change Act. Resource is spread across a number of d...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Pollution: MethaneDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition's press release entitled United Kingdom Elected as co-chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, highlighting ambitious agenda to tack
Answer: The UK and Brazil recently co-chaired the first Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Board meeting of 2025. Taking ambitious action on methane remains a key focus for the CCAC and the UK and Brazil are working closely together on this shared objective, ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: Capital InvestmentTreasuryTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903674More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to increase investment in renewable infrastructure projects.
Answer: The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change sets out our ambitious but achievable target of Clean Power by 2030. The Clean Power Action Plan demonstrates the significant investment requirements to reach this target, including in renewable infrastructure, and act...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLow Traffic NeighbourhoodsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to enforce statutory guidelines on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods.
Answer: The draft guidance on low traffic neighbourhoods published in March 2024 was never brought into force and remains in draft. As it says in the introduction, the intention was that when published in final form, it would apply to all traffic authorities in E...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAir PollutionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39057More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department or agency leads on the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality; how often it has met since Public Health England closed in September 2021; and which Ministers ar
Answer: The Department co-ordinated the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality following the closure of Public Health England in September 2021. Since that date the group has met five times, most recently in July 2023. Ministers have not atten...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMicrogeneration: Government AssistanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to provide support to (a) anaerobic digestion plants and (b) other small energy producers.
Answer: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants and other small scale generators. We are continuing to ...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBiomethane: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of treating biomethane in the same way as fossil gases under the UK Emissions trading scheme on (a) the anaerobic digesti
Answer: Biomethane can play an important role in reducing reliance on imported gas, increasing our country’s energy security, and helping to deliver net zero. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to biomethane combustion where it ...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Power: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role marine energy will play in the UK's industrial strategy.
Answer: The Industrial Strategy will channel support to eight growth-driving sectors, including the Clean Energy sector, and will be published in Spring 2025. These are sectors in which the UK excels today and will propel us tomorrow. Regarding marine energy, exi...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWave PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what engagement he has had with the wave energy sector to support the technology commercialising in the UK.
Answer: Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on gov.uk.
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTidal Power and Wave PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much innovation funding has the (a) tidal stream and (b) wave energy sectors received since 2020.
Answer: Tidal stream and wave technology projects are eligible to apply for a suite of innovation funding programmes delivered by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Through UKRI, several such projects have won support through programmes administered by Resear...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of convening an advisory panel to inform its approach to supporting the decarbonisation of buildings.
Answer: We understand the importance of bringing people along with us on the journey to decarbonise buildings across the UK. We will continue to be in contact with a range of stakeholders as we develop our Warm Homes Plan.
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: TrainingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to support the training of heat pump installers through (a) apprenticeships and (b) re-training existing engineers.
Answer: According to Heat Pump Association estimates, we currently need to train at least 6,600 installers a year. Around 9,000 individuals completed training in 2024, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs. The £5 million Heat Training Gran...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFraud: VictimsTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902986More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of Financial Conduct Authority support for victims of financial fraud.
Answer: The FCA plays a crucial role in combating fraud, working to ensure firms have robust systems to prevent fraud and protect consumers.It authorises and supervises firms offering regulated financial services, so consumers can trust firms are being held to hi...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take through the proposed long-term housing strategy to help (a) improve social housing and (b) build new homes.
Answer: The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGrasslands: Sustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent priority habitat grasslands from being destroyed by being entered into the Sustainable Farming Incentive herbal ley action (CSAM3) in future years.
Answer: The published Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) CSAM3 herbal ley guidance protects priority habitat grassland by explicitly stating that the only eligible land types are arable, temporary grassland and improved permanent grassland. It also notes that Pr...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGrasslands: Sustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33053More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the total land entered into the Sustainable Farming Incentive herbal ley action (CSAM3) has been on priority habitat grassland; and how many hectares of priority hab
Answer: The published Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) CSAM3 herbal ley guidance protects priority habitat grassland by explicitly stating that the only eligible land types are arable, temporary grassland and improved permanent grassland. It also notes that Pr...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewables Obligation: Anaerobic DigestionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the end of the Renewable Obligation Certificates scheme on anaerobic digestion plants.
Answer: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants. We are continuing to assess the situation to understan...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMicrogeneration: Government AssistanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) small anaerobic digestion plants and (b) other small energy producers.
Answer: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants and small scale biomass generators. We are continuing t...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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