Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
1633 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Electricity Generation: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38457 on Electricity Generation: Infrastructure, what steps he has taken to identify suitable locations since July 2024.
Answer: Forestry England have not undertaken a detailed assessment of the potential suitable locations of renewable energy projects across the Public Forest Estate since July 2024. Forestry England will commence detailed assessments following Royal Assent of the ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled £740 million allocated for 10,000 new places for pupils with SEND, published on 27 March 2025, how much of the investment into the condition of the scho
Answer: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.The department has now published allocations for £740 million in Hi...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled £740 million allocated for 10,000 new places for pupils with SEND, published on 27 March 2025, how many of those places will be in schools in Bedfordshi
Answer: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.The department has now published allocations for £740 million in Hi...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of employers’ National Insurance contributions on the availability of apprenticeships in 2025-26.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire to the answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39407.
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: Economic GrowthCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44717More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the contribution of the GREAT campaign to economic growth.
Answer: The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign remains an effective tool in driving economic growth and we will continue to work closely with partners to optimise the campaign’s resources to deliver growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: Economic GrowthCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44716More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the GREAT campaign on economic growth.
Answer: The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign remains an effective tool in driving economic growth and we will continue to work closely with partners to optimise the campaign’s resources to deliver growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the GREAT campaign.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential contribution of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland programme to the economy.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in funding for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland programme on her target for international tourism visitors.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in funding for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland programme on the visitor economy.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in funding for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland programme on the Starring GREAT Britain campaign.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitBritainDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in funding for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland programme on VisitBritain.
Answer: The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign has played and continues to play an important role in promoting the UK as a top global destination and supporting growth in the visitor economy. While decisions around the overall GREAT programme budget sit ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: FinanceCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44709More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason he has cut funding for the GREAT programme by 41%.
Answer: The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign remains an effective tool in driving economic growth and we will continue to work closely with partners to optimise the campaign’s resources to deliver growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: FinanceCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44708More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has undertaken an impact assessment for the decision to reduce GREAT programme funding.
Answer: The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign remains an effective tool in driving economic growth and we will continue to work closely with partners to optimise the campaign’s resources to deliver growth across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: BedfordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36504 on Mental Health Services: Children, how many of the 8,500 additional mental health workers will be based in Bedfordshire.
Answer: We are working with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside the refresh of the Long Term Workforce Plan.
Answered 16 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Mid BedfordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support women with endometriosis in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the care received by those suffering from gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.We encourage any woman or girl with symptoms of endometriosis to contact their general pr...
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce times for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
Answer: The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health, and we are making progress in ensuring that women with endometriosis receive timely and effective treatment.Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. ...
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTourist AttractionsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other support her Department provides to (i) zoos and (ii) aquariums.
Answer: The government acknowledges the significant impact that zoos and aquariums have on the Visitor Economy. Iconic and cultural attractions like Chester zoo, which was the third most visited paid attraction in England in 2023, draw in visitors from across the...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGift Aid: RegulationTreasuryTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44310More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will take steps to amend Gift Aid regulations to allow charitable (a) zoos and (b) aquariums to claim on the price of admission.
Answer: The Government recognises the important work the charity sector does in the UK, which is why we currently provide tax reliefs to charities and their donors worth over £6 billion per year, including over £1.6 billion in Gift Aid.Gift Aid is intended to be ...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBanks: ClosuresTreasuryTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44309More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 35858 on Banks: closures, whether she has had discussions with retail banks on keeping high street bank branches open since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with all major banks to discuss a wide variety of topics. Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closur...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTree Planting: BedfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38205 on Tree Planting: Bedfordshire, if he will publish county level statistics.
Answer: The Government has no plans to publish county level statistics.
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTree Planting: BedfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38205 on Tree Planting: Bedfordshire, what the range of sensitives are.
Answer: The Forestry Commission provides guidance on the common constraints and designations that might be relevant to tree planning – this is available at Forestry project checks: constraints - GOV.UK.
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 35439 on Forests and Rivers: Access, what plans he has considered for other national forests.
Answer: Defra launched the Western Forest on 21 March 2025 and is considering its approach to the creation of further national forests.
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38447 on Environmental Delivery Plans, whether uncompleted conservation projects will lapse at the end of the Environmental De
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 38477 on 24 March 2025.
Answered 16 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovia Thameslink Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 35853 on Govia Thameslink Railway: Fares, if she will make an estimate of the first year in which rail fares will go down under Great British Railways.
Answer: We are committed to the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation, delivering a range of improvements, from more reliable services to simpler ticketing. Through public ownership and the transition to Great British Railways, it is also our ambition ...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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