Alison Bennett MP: written questions
247 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Crisis 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 recordImmigration: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed new earnings requirement for settlement on British children in families where one parent is a non-UK national with prima
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 98127More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed minimum earnings requirement for settlement applications will apply to family migration routes, including partners and spouses of British citizens.
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 recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will ensure that carers are not being pursued for overpayments where this was incurred due to incorrect operational guidance.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 25 November HCWS1092 and (at Col 22WS) Carer's Allowance Overpayments Review - Hansard - UK Parliament where I set out that the department will be reassessing historical and existing Carer’s Allowance cas...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the planned timetable for the reassessment of carers allowance overpayments as a result of incorrect operational guidance.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 25 November HCWS1092 and (at Col 22WS) Carer's Allowance Overpayments Review - Hansard - UK Parliament where I set out that the department will be reassessing historical and existing Carer’s Allowance cas...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGlyphosate: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the government plans to further regulate use by local authorities of glyphosate herbicides.
Answer: Defra is not planning on further regulating glyphosate use by local authorities. There is a legal requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the public. It is for each Local Authority to decide the best way of deliverin...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the outstanding level of carers allowance overpayments debt is in relation to carers breaching the earnings limit.
Answer: As of June 2025, just under £166 million was outstanding from just under 93,500 CA debtors due to earnings over the limit which was classed as claimant error. Further information can be found on the Carer’s Allowance statistical release which was publishe...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUnadopted RoadsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to encourage developers to build roads that meet standards for adoption by the highways authority.
Answer: The Government expects developers to design and construct roads in line with the design standards set by local highway authorities. These standards ensure that roads are suitable for adoption, enabling them to be maintained at public expense. The Departme...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 88105, how many 16 to 19 year olds are enrolled on each of the 900 non-A level Level 3 qualifications referenced in the Department’s consultation document
Answer: The government’s vision for the 16-19 education system is to create a clear and coherent system with distinct pathways leading to further study, training or employment, including apprenticeships.At level 3, this includes introducing V Levels, a new pathwa...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many 16 to 19 year olds are currently enrolled on each Level 3 qualification.
Answer: Official statistics showing Participation in education, training and employment age 16 to 18 are published annually, with the latest estimates being for end 2024, and accessible at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/parti...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many carers have Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts as a result of breaching the earnings limit in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the last six years for which data
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments is published annually and can be found using the following link: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) men and (b) women are in debt to his Department through overpayments of Carers Allowance in relation to earnings.
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments is published annually and can be found using the following link: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer’s Allowance overpayments there have been in relation to earnings in each year for the last five years.
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments is published annually and can be found using the following link: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overpayments of Carer’s Allowance in relation to earnings there are in the value brackets (a) £0.01.00 - £500.00, (b) £501.00 - £1000.00, (c) £1,001.00 - £5,000.00, (d) £5,000.01 - £20,000 and
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments is published annually and can be found using the following link: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the value of Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts in relation to earnings.
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments was published earlier this year: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment repre...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Carer’s Allowance overpayments in relation to earnings there are.
Answer: Data on fraud and error overpayments was published earlier this year: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment repre...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on processing Carer's Allowance overpayments; and when that process will be completed.
Answer: DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income throu...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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