Alison Bennett MP: written questions
131 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Students: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered the potential merits of removing the loan charge for students who withdraw from university in their first year due to health conditions and other mitigating circumstances.
Answer: Students may defer or withdraw from their studies for different reasons including due to health conditions and other mitigating circumstances. Interest will continue to accrue even if a student suspends or withdraws from their course, but current students...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme will be impacted by changes to Personal Independence Payment policy.
Answer: The statutory elements of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), including the eligibility criteria for disabled people, are set out in concessionary travel legislation. Any changes to Personal Independence Payment policy will not chang...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, particularly among eligible disabled people.
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) is administered by local authorities or 'travel concession authorities' (TCAs). The Department for Transport provides guidance on administering the scheme, which makes clear that TCAs should ensure ...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to operate on a 24-hour basis; and if she will make an assessment of the poten
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £795 million annually in reimbursement to operators and any changes to th...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the hospice sector on the financial viability of that sector.
Answer: I attended the Hospice UK National Conference on 25 November 2025, where I heard directly from many people working in the hospice sector, including hospice chief executives and palliative care consultants and nurses. I really valued hearing their thoughts...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitals: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients are being treated in temporary hospital environments, including corridors, for which the latest data is available.
Answer: We recognise that the provision of clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas is unacceptable and are committed to eradicating it from our National Health Service.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out s...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the government has made of the potential impact of hospice cuts on quality of palliative care across the country.
Answer: Whilst the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLipoedema: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential role of GLP-1 medications in reducing inflammation and pain associated with lipoedema.
Answer: The Department has not made any assessment of the potential role of GLP-1 medications in reducing inflammation and pain associated with lipoedema. Newly licensed medicines are appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), whic...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLipoedema: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that efforts to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for lipoedema adequality align with the Government’s commitments under the Women’s Health Strategy.
Answer: The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy will play a central role in improving outcomes for women living with long‑term conditions like lipoedema by addressing the systemic barriers that have historically contributed to delayed diagnosis, variability in care...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLipoedema: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered adopting approaches to lipoedema treatment used by other European countries, like Germany and Spain.
Answer: Women with lipoedema can face a number of barriers to seeking diagnosis and referral, including long waits, misdiagnosis, often as obesity or lymphoedema, and low awareness of the condition among both the public and some healthcare professionals. These fa...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLipoedema: WomenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential factors that may prevent women from seeking diagnosis and referral for lipoedema; and what steps he is taking to ensure timely access to specialist asse
Answer: Women with lipoedema can face a number of barriers to seeking diagnosis and referral, including long waits, misdiagnosis, often as obesity or lymphoedema, and low awareness of the condition among both the public and some healthcare professionals. These fa...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Social TariffsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what targeted support is available to people with medical conditions exacerbated by cold temperatures, including Raynaud’s; and whether he plans to work with energy suppliers to improve suppo
Answer: The department has published the Warm Homes Plan which will tackle fuel poverty, lower bills, and deliver warmer, more comfortable homes. A new Fuel Poverty Strategy has been published alongside the Warm Homes Plan, which specifically considers the needs ...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Care WorkersHome OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether migrant workers employed in the social care sector will be subject to the same settlement routes and qualifying periods as counterparts working in the NHS under the Health and Care visa.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 20...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Care WorkersHome OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of a 15-year baseline qualifying period for settlement on the functioning and long-term sustainability of social care services.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 20...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHighway Code: PublicityDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve public awareness and understanding of changes to the Highway Code as part of the new Road Safety Strategy.
Answer: I would like to make clear that improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities.Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road ...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCarers: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure local carer services are able to provide income maximisation services and crisis support to unpaid carers who need it.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2025 to question UIN 99555.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCrisis and Resilience Fund: CarersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Crisis and Resilience Fund which is launching in April 2026 will recognise unpaid carers as a financially vulnerable group and a group who are likely to need support from that Fund.
Answer: My Department has engaged with stakeholders on the design of the Fund through a structured process, including eligibility requirements. We are considering feedback received through this process, and we plan to publish guidance this month.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many carers have been convicted of fraud since 2015 related to Carer’s Allowance overpayments.
Answer: The Government inherited a system where some busy carers, already struggling under a huge weight of caring responsibilities, have found themselves with unexpected debts due to earnings-related overpayments of Carer’s Allowance which they were asked to pay...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHussam Abu SafiyaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the release of Dr Abu Safiya.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 August to question 68153.
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Mid SussexDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase resourcing for the Sussex Endometriosis Centre in Mid Sussex constituency.
Answer: The specialist service at the Sussex Endometriosis Centre, run by the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, has experienced some workforce challenges with the dedicated staff for this service. However, NHS England continues to work closely wit...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Dental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his department will assist post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients who currently have to pay for private dentistry due to a lack of NHS dentistry places, despite regular check-ups being
Answer: To assist post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients, dentists will prioritise patients at a higher risk of oral cancer for more frequent recall and review in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.Members of the ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHonours and Appointments SecretariatCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98169More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is his planned timetable for the publication of the triennial report into the operation of the Honours and Memorialisation secretariats.
Answer: The next report into the operation of the UK Honours System is expected in due course.
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what evidential basis it is her policy that minimum individual earnings should determine eligibility for settlement, including for applicants with no access to public funds.
Answer: The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation. However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Department has evaluated the tax contribution of the sponsoring British partner when assessing the overall economic contribution of mixed-nationality families under the proposed new settle
Answer: The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation. However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government will consider assessing household income rather than individual income when determining eligibility for settlement under the proposed contribution-based requirements.
Answer: The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation. However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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