Chris Hinchliff MP: written questions
210 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture and Business: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41658More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish her Department's impact assessments of changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture and Business: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41657More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will publish the modelling used to set changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to part three of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether environmental delivery plans will be applied in a modular way, with species considered on a case-by-
Answer: Environmental Delivery Plans will only be put in place where Natural England and the Secretary of State are confident that conservation measures will be sufficient to outweigh the negative impact of development. Where this is not the case, existing enviro...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Environmental Development Plans proposed in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be required to follow the mitigation hierarchy.
Answer: Environmental Development Plans will provide the flexibility to diverge from project-by-project mitigation and a restrictive application of the mitigation hierarchy. However, this will only be where Natural England consider that this would deliver better ...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Environmental Development Plans proposed in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be informed by site level assessments where required.
Answer: Environmental Delivery Plans will only be put in place where Natural England and the Secretary of State are confident that conservation measures will be sufficient to outweigh the impact of development. The plans will be evidence based and subject to cons...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAbsent Voting: British Nationals AbroadMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of overseas voters who did not receive a ballot in time to vote at the general election in 2024; and whether he
Answer: The Department does not hold information on the number of overseas voters that did not receive a ballot in time to vote at the general election in 2024.As set out in our response to the Electoral Commission’s evaluation of the 2024 general election, publi...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge Scheme: TaxisDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending regulations on blue badges to include a provision for people who run (a) taxis and (b) other transport vehicles that are designed to
Answer: The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with a long-term disability, who travel either as passengers or drivers, that affects their capacity to access the goods and services they need to use. The regulations governing the ...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Care ServiceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on creating a National Care Service.
Answer: The Government is launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.Chaired by Baroness Casey of Blackstock, the Commission will start a national conversation about wh...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the timing of the start of the school budget year in April and the academic year in September on schools' ability to budget effectively for staffing
Answer: Schools are generally funded on the basis of their pupil numbers in the previous October census, therefore meaning the funding that schools receive for the 2025/26 funding year will be based on pupil numbers as of October 2024. This practice means that th...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the permanent cost of pay rises for primary school teachers implemented in September 2024 has been factored into school budgets beyond April 2025.
Answer: The overall core schools budget is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the core schools budget will total over £64.8 billion compared to almost £61.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. This includes the £2.3 billion annou...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of renewable energy projects on local communities.
Answer: This government has a very simple principle: if you live near new clean energy infrastructure, you should benefit from it. That's why the Planning and Infrastructure Bill proposes much-needed reforms, including direct bill discounts for communities, easie...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStellantis: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with Stellantis on the closure of their Luton plant.
Answer: Ministers have engaged closely with Stellantis on the future of its operations in the UK, with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade most recently meeting the Chair of the Stellantis board on 1 February to discuss how the Luton plant could be kept...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: North East HertfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of special educational provision in North East Hertfordshire constituency.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The department wan...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDisabled Facilities GrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the policy paper entitled Better Care Fund policy framework 2025 to 2026, published on 30 January 2025, what plans he has to consult on changes to the maximum Disabled Facilities
Answer: In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which helps eligible older and disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes. We are providing an immediate in-year uplift of £86 million in 2024/25. This is o...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSovereign Grant: ReviewsTreasuryTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31375More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the Sovereign Grant for the 2026-27 financial year.
Answer: The rules governing the Sovereign Grant have been set by Parliament in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011. The Grant will be reviewed again in 2026 and the government is committed to bring forward legislation to reset the Grant to a lower level from 2027-28 onc...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: ApplicationsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken for Pension Credit applications to be approved and what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for Pension Cred
Answer: DWP works to a planned timescale of 50 working days to clear Pension Credit claims. The most recent information on processing times for Pension Credit was published in the DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (ARA) on 22nd July 2024. This ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of qualifying benefits for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answer: The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. Linking Winter Fuel eligibility to Pension Credit and other means tested benefits for pensioners ensures the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: ParkingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that private parking companies do not overcharge for facilities at hospitals.
Answer: National Health Service trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This guidance states that charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the area. This applies to all NHS trusts, ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27402More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will hold discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) civil servants on the potential merits of introducing a scheme to enable (i) cultural exchange by and (ii) increased mobility of young people betwe
Answer: The Government set out clear priorities for the reset with the EU in the manifesto. There are no plans for a Youth Mobility Scheme.
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth ServicesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure a minimum level of provision for youth services across (a) North East Hertfordshire constituency and (b) the UK.
Answer: Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. In September 2023 DCMS published updated statutory guidance to support l...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Diplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of renewed operations by Israel around the refugee camp in Jenin; and what diplomatic representatio
Answer: Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last. All sides should work to ensure a lowering of tension in the West Bank at this time. The Israeli authorities must exercise restraint. We are urging both sides to ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSupply Teachers: Conditions of Employment and PayDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what hat assessment she has made of potential steps to improve and the (a) pay and (b) working conditions of supply teachers in North East Hertfordshire constituency.
Answer: Supply teachers make an important contribution to the smooth running of schools by filling posts on a temporary basis and covering teacher absences.A supply teacher’s pay and working conditions will depend on who employs the supply teacher. Supply teacher...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: CompensationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to take steps to recover the costs of compensation from Fujitsu relating to failures of the Horizon Post Office IT system.
Answer: The Government welcomes Fujitsu’s acknowledgement of their moral obligation to make a contribution to the cost of the Horizon scandal. Fujitsu’s contribution will be decided once the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has reviewed all the evidence and the Cha...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: IsraelForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on hostages in Gaza.
Answer: Securing an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all hostages, including Emily Damari and three other hostages with strong UK links, remains the UK's top priority. We have continuously supported hostage talks, and continue to work alongside our all...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNatural Gas: StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving the longevity of gas storage capacity.
Answer: The Government recognises the value in having natural gas storage facilities in place as a source of balancing system flexibility when demand for gas is high and allowing for the future storage of hydrogen. Energy security remains a key priority for this ...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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