Caroline Voaden MP: written questions
189 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Active Travel: BusinessDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage active travel for business use.
Answer: As set out in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published on 12 June, the Government is projected to invest £4.5 billion up to 2030 for active travel. This includes £1.1 billion of funding for Active Travel England, of which £760 million ...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of pupils who have moved from independent schools to state schools since the introduction of VAT on independent school fees.
Answer: School closure information is available via the register of schools, which is accessible at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.The latest school census data, as at June 2026, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns...
Answered 19 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of independent schools in England that have closed since the introduction of VAT on school fees.
Answer: School closure information is available via the register of schools, which is accessible at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.The latest school census data, as at June 2026, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns...
Answered 19 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSouth West Water: FinesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the financial penalty incurred by South West Water at Exeter Magistrates' Court on 2 June 2026 will be paid into the Water Restoration Fund.
Answer: Successful projects for the Water Restoration Fund (WRF) were announced in October 2025. These projects are now in delivery and there are no plans for further application rounds. On 20 January 2026, government announced alongside the White Paper that £29 ...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHM Coastguard: StaffDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent by the Marine and Coastguard Agency on Coastguard Rescue Officer expenses in each of the last five financial years.
Answer: Total expenditure by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on reimbursement of expenses incurred by Coastguard Rescue Officers is as follows: 21/2222/2323/2424/2525/26CRO - Expenses£468,223£484,244£493,558£502,633£518,793
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: HealthDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of timescales for medical driving licence renewals.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications which has led to increased waiting times for some customers. In the interests of road safety, the DVLA must be satisfied ...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on the introduction of a registration scheme for short-term lets.
Answer: Parliament legislated for a national registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The government remains committed to implementing this registration scheme.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHorses: DartmoorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect Dartmoor ponies in the context of the publication of stocking densities for Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of Dartmoor’s pony populations. Grazing rates within the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier have been developed in line with evidence that moderate to low grazing can benefit biod...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHorses: DartmoorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of grazing density calculations on Dartmoor pony populations.
Answer: Defra has assessed the impact of including ponies in grazing density calculations under Countryside Stewardship schemes and considers that this supports the sustainability of Dartmoor pony populations. Inclusion ensures ponies are recognised within scheme...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Government AssistanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3564More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support small-scale onshore wind projects.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role small-scale onshore wind can play in achieving our decarbonisation goals. The Government supports small-scale onshore wind through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), a mechanism that ensures homes or farms with ...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhouses: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of animal welfare practices in slaughterhouses.
Answer: The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals when slaughtered and official veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are present in all approved slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce welfare requirements. When the...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordParking: FinesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department are taking to ensure motorists are not incorrectly pursued for parking penalties as a result of Automatic Number Plate Recognition misreads.
Answer: The law allows the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to provide vehicle keeper information to those who can demonstrate reasonable cause to receive it. The electronic release of vehicle keeper information to private parking companies following a...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHorses: DartmoorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact on Dartmoor ponies of their inclusion in grazing densities under Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Answer: On 16 July, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that Dartmoor ponies would be removed from stocking rate calculations in new Environmental Management agreements on Dartmoor, so that farmers do not face a choice between...
Answered 23 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHorsesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential merits inclusion of ponies in grazing densities under Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Answer: Including ponies in grazing density calculations ensures the total grazing pressure on a site is accurately assessed and aligned with sustainable levels for habitat recovery. This prevents the risk of underestimating grazing impacts, which could otherwise...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConsumers: BereavementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had any recent discussions with industry bodies representing (a) banks, (b) insurers, and (c) utility companies on improving bereavement processes for customers.
Answer: Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConsumers: BereavementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department assessed the adequacy of existing consumer protection regulations in ensuring that companies treat bereaved customers with appropriate sensitivity and consistency.
Answer: Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Sector: BereavementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department in cooperation with other departments has had with private sector organisations on the standardisation of their bereavement notification processes, in order to reduce th
Answer: Internal policies relating to bereavement are a matter for individual businesses, but we expect companies to treat consumers with compassion in such circumstances, with many organisations having specialist bereavement advisors to support consumers during ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services and Utilities: BereavementDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data the Government holds on the number of complaints made to financial services and utility companies relating to the handling of bereavement notifications.
Answer: Tell Us Once is used by public sector bodies only, and does not collect data on the number of complaints made to financial services and utility companies relating to the handling of bereavement notifications.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTell Us Once Programme: Private SectorDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of extending the Tell Us Once service to include private sector organisations including banks, insurance companies, and utility providers, in order to redu
Answer: Discovery and analysis work on both modernising the Tell Us Once service and considering its scope is due to commence in summer 2026.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to provide guidance on the collection of plastic plant pots by local authorities under the plastic waste stream, in accordance with Schedule 1, Part 4 of the Separati
Answer: Part 4 of Schedule 1 to The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024 provides a list of plastics which are included in the recyclable plastic waste stream. This includes PE, PET and PP pots which are larger than 40x40mm and do not contain any pigmen...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure local authority recycling schemes accept non-black plant pots.
Answer: Part 4 of Schedule 1 to The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024 provides a list of plastics which are included in the recyclable plastic waste stream. This includes PE, PET and PP pots which are larger than 40x40mm and do not contain any pigmen...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers to recycle farm plastic.
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, ...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of recycling rates of farm plastic.
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, ...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Higher EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of giving pharmacy students studying for MPharm degrees in England access to the NHS Learning Support Fund.
Answer: For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government extended the Learning Support Fund (LSF) scheme’s Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses provision to pre-registration pharmacy and healthcare science students to ensure they are reimbursed for the additi...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Developmental Language DisorderDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she will take to ensure children with Developmental Language Disorder are adequately supported following upcoming reforms to the SEND system.
Answer: The department’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms are ensuring every child gets the right support at the right time. This includes all of those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), including Developmental Language...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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