Alex Brewer MP: written questions
502 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cost of Living: Rural AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to address the rural premium faced by workers in North East Hampshire; and what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which higher rural living costs a
Answer: This government is responsible for setting the statutory minimum National Living Wage (NLW) which applies to all employers across the UK. A key strength of the NLW is its administrative simplicity, with consistent rates applying across the country.When se...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure rural communities in dispersed settlements, such as those in North East Hampshire, have access to adequate public and community transport; and what funding is avail
Answer: The Bus Services Act 2025 puts the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. We have confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to 2028/29 to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Hamps...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Rural AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rural pub closures on community cohesion and local economies in constituencies such as North East Hampshire.
Answer: The Government recognises that rural pubs can play an important role as community hubs, supporting local economies and social interaction. Through business rates support and initiatives such as Pub is the Hub, we are helping communities retain valued loca...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Young PeopleDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage young people to enter the farming profession; and what financial support and training pathways are available to new entrants to farming
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of attracting young people into farming. Building on the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, Defra is developing a 2050 workforce strategy to equip people with skills for thriving agricultural careers. This i...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Poverty: Rural AreasDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the rate of fuel poverty in predominantly rural constituencies compared with urban and suburban constituencies, following recent heating oil price r
Answer: The latest fuel poverty statistics estimate that 13.8% of rural households in England were in fuel poverty in 2025, compared with 7.2% in semi-rural areas and 9.2% in urban areas. These estimates predate impacts of the conflict in the Middle East.In March...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the case for extending equivalent consumer protections to heating oil customers as those provided by Ofgem's energy price cap to gas and electricity
Answer: Government is aware of the issues facing some heating oil customers and is committed to ensuring they are effectively protected from future fossil fuel price spikes. We welcome the CMA’s comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry, and we will w...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: North East HampshireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government is taking to protect off-grid rural households in North East Hampshire that rely on heating oil from price increases following the conflict in Iran; and what assessm
Answer: The Government is working closely with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is reviewing the heating oil market, including pricing. We will carefully consider the CMA’s report and recommendations to ensure a fair outcome for consumers, and w...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: CountrysideMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that new residential developments in rural constituencies such as North East Hampshire are required to provide residents with meanin
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 109172 on 6 February 2026. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, inclu...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the Land Use Framework adequately supports farmers in managing flood risk on agricultural land.
Answer: The Land Use Framework supports a movement towards catchment scale prevention, rather than historic piecemeal and reactive approaches. This means that farmers will be rewarded for restoring rivers, peat and woodlands that hold water back in the right plac...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: PricesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of supermarket pricing practices on farm incomes in North East Hampshire; and what steps the Government is taking to strengthen th
Answer: Fairness within the agricultural supply chain is a key priority for the Government. The Government will use powers in the Agriculture Act to introduce ‘Fair Dealings’ Regulations, applying to businesses when purchasing agricultural products from farmers. ...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government is providing to farmers following the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme to ensure they are rewarded for sustainable and environmentally-fr
Answer: The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This is being invested in a range of grants and schemes to support farmers, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordLivestock: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of current training, support and financial incentives available to farmers to improve animal welfare standards.
Answer: In its June 2026 response to the Farming Profitability Review, the Government recognised that training and advice available to farmers can be fragmented and does not always meet the needs of the sector, including in areas relevant to animal husbandry. The...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFarmers: Mental Health ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure mental health support is accessible to farmers in rural areas such as North East Hampshire; and what assessment she has made of the adequa
Answer: The Government understands the importance of mental health support and is committed to tackling the mental health crisis in farming communities. This transformation is backed by new staff and protected funding for mental health, with almost 8,000 addition...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of changes to agricultural inheritance tax relief on the mental health and wellbeing of farming families in North East H
Answer: The Government understands the importance of mental health support and is committed to tackling the mental health crisis in farming communities. This transformation is backed by new staff and protected funding for mental health, with almost 8,000 addition...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordNurseries: Career DevelopmentDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of introducing a career development strategy for nursery staff, including a requirement for staff working with children aged two to four to hold, or be
Answer: The department set out its strategy in the ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ report. We are working with the sector to address barriers to recruitment and retention and create more opportunities to enter the profession and gain relevant qualific...
Answered 4 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: ExemptionsTreasuryTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12973More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of exempting early years education and care providers from increases in National Insurance contributions to help mitigate rising operational costs.
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high- quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving opportunity for every child and work choices for every parent; the government is grateful for the work of childcare providers an...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure sufficient availability of early years childcare places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Answer: The reforms outlined in ‘Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform: putting children and young people first’ will give early years settings the training, evidence-based tools and expert input they need to welcome children with diverse needs...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNurseries: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of nursery top-up fees on parents’ decisions regarding nursery attendance.
Answer: The 15 or 30 hours must be able to be accessed free of charge to parents and there must not be any mandatory charges for parents in relation to the free hours. This does not prevent providers from offering and charging for food and other consumables, as l...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children from families not eligible for 30 hours of Government-funded childcare per week are not disadvantaged when starting primary school.
Answer: The department is committed to ensuring that all children have the best possible start in life and is committed to improving school readiness with a clear ambition for 75% of children to reach a good level of development by 2028. Support for parenting and...
Answered 4 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordNurseriesDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the educational outcomes of children who spend 30 hours or more per week in nursery during their early years compared to those who spend fewer than 30 hours per week,
Answer: We want all families to access high-quality, affordable early education and care, as the evidence is clear that it boosts development.The study of early education and development shows that among the 40% most disadvantaged children, starting formal early ...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefit of giving councils the power to designate Independent Shop Zones.
Answer: This Government recognises the important role that independent shops play in supporting vibrant, diverse and resilient high streets. Local authorities already have a range of tools to shape their town centres and support local businesses, including throug...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPride in Place ProgrammeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what timelines are in place for the allocation of the £301 million High Street Innovation fund announced in March and what specific metrics will be used to determine how funds ar
Answer: The Government will bring forward a High Streets Strategy later this year, backed by £301 million. Within this envelope, £61 million will support the Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, empowering communities to take control of valued local assets...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that endometriosis is consistently and adequately covered in the education and training of healthcare practitioners.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring heal...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve timelines for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce. We are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ong...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPain: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women feel listened to by healthcare providers when discussing chronic pain issues.
Answer: Our Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published in April, explicitly recognises that women’s pain is too often dismissed, normalised, or ignored, and treats this as a systemic failure, not isolated poor practice. It puts women’s lived experience, including...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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