Ben Maguire MP: written questions
588 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Shipping: Waste DisposalDepartment for TransportTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ban the discharge of wash water from open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems within UK territorial waters.
Answer: The UK is committed to reducing the impact of shipping on the environment. In April, we cosponsored a proposal at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to create a new Emission Control Area. This will reduce pollutants across all UK waters. The us...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMiscanthusDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential environmental merits of including Miscanthus as an incentivised crop under SFI 2026.
Answer: The publication cited has been superseded by the following: Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme: expanded offer for 2024 - GOV.UKCountryside Stewardship Higher Tier: get ready to apply - GOV.UK The moorland offer is designed to help deliver our environme...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the presence of (a) antidepressants, (b) contraceptives and (c) other over-the-counter medications in the water supply.
Answer: Water companies are required by law to assess and manage risks to drinking water quality, including those posed by pharmaceutical substances such as antidepressants, contraceptives and over-the-counter medications. Where a risk is identified, appropriate ...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCycleways: CornwallDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will meet with the hon. Member for North Cornwall to discuss the potential availability of funding to extend the Camel Trail cycle path.
Answer: I commend the honourable gentleman for his continued advocacy for the Camel Trail cycle path in his constituency. As he will be aware, officials from the Department for Transport attended our meeting on 1 April, and prior input was sought from Active Trav...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the levels of availability of (a) affordable and (b) social housing on people living in (i) North Cornwa
Answer: It is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies.However, the government have made clear...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNorth Devon HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make an updated impact assessment on the postponement of proposed upgrades to North Devon District Hospital.
Answer: As set out in the Plan for Implementation, the New Hospital Programme (NHP) review used a range of data to assess and scope schemes, including the North Devon District Hospital scheme. This included assessing each scheme under criteria for mitigated risk,...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing higher penalties for the failure of water companies to adequately (a) monitor and (b) report on sew
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Since 1 January 2025, water companies have been required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the dis...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: EligibilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming social housing eligibility criteria to include families local to the area being considered who cann
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own social housing allocations policies to meet local need, including setting qualification criteria appropriate to their local area. These schemes are governed by a legal framework set by...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking additional steps to improve the quality of life of people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Answer: We are committed to improving care and support for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise how devastating the symptoms can be, and the significant impact they can have on patients and their families.We aim ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of funding research into the (a) causes of and (b) potential cures for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Answer: As indicated in the interim delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the Government is keen to increase and improve research in this area. ME/CFS can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it,...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners and Out-patients: Visual ImpairmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of patients' (a) blindness and (b) partial sightedness on levels of attendance at (i) GP and (ii) hospital appointments.
Answer: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of visual impairment on levels of attendance. However, we are aware of the challenges that visual impairments can present when accessing healthcare services.Under the Equality Act (2010), health a...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVisual Impairment: CharitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support charities who help (a) blind and (b) visually-impaired people.
Answer: The Health and Wellbeing Alliance is the mechanism through which the Department, NHS England, and the UK Health Security Agency work together with voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector organisations to drive the transformation of the health a...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Visual ImpairmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the accessibility of health services for (a) blind and (b) partially sighted people in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local population, including blind and partially sighted people.Under the Equality Act (2010), health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustment...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise the failure to prevent dumping of sewage into public waterways by water companies.
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Storm Overflows are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). Where breaches are found, EA will not hesitate to hold companies to account...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund.
Answer: The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46604More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the average (a) distance travelled and (b) cost incurred by children and young people when attending cancer appointments in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of their local communities...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Homes Act 2013Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a review of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 to help support full time residential park-home owners.
Answer: A review of the effectiveness of the Mobile Homes Act 2013 was undertaken in 2017 and it made a number of recommendations. Most have been implemented, such as the introduction of a fit and proper person test and changes to the pitch fee review inflationar...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBeer: Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to paragraph 2.44 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC295, what discussions his Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with representatives of (i) breweries
Answer: At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that the government would consult on ways to encourage small brewers to retain and expand their access to UK pubs.We are undertaking commercially confidential discussions with a wide range of market participa...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase accessibility of GP appointments in rural areas.
Answer: We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring that rural areas have the resources to continue serving their patients. To address this, we are increasing capacity in general practice (GP) by recruiting more GPs, ensuring rural areas have the necessary wo...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAcademies: PayDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a cap on the proportion of academy trust budgets that can be spent on senior leadership salaries.
Answer: The department sets out its expectations on pay for academies and academy trusts in the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), which is published on GOV.UK, and available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a3909aab418ab055592dda/Academy_trust_han...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAcademies: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring academy trusts to publish full budgets.
Answer: All academy trusts must publish an annual report and accounts, which are audited by a registered statutory auditor. As part of their annual reports and accounts, academy trusts must also publish details of their objectives, achievements and future plans, ...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve road safety for vulnerable road users.
Answer: This Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy and will set out more details in due course.
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue guidance to local authorities in rural areas with high levels of (a) executive housing and (b) second homes on revising the (i) points and (
Answer: Local Authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need within the framework of legislation under which certain categories of people must be given priority. Social housing allocations guidance...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNurseries: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of nurseries that have withdrawn from the childcare funding scheme citing cost pressures on early years provision.
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life. This is key to the government’s Plan for Change, which starts with reaching the milestone of a r...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNurseries: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support nurseries with the cost of providing the expanded funded childcare hours.
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life. This is key to the government’s Plan for Change, which starts with reaching the milestone of a r...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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