David Smith MP: written questions
159 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Students: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that those currently repaying Plan 2 student loans are able to pay off the initial capital owed and return to solvency.
Answer: Student loans are not like commercial loans, as they carry significant protections for borrowers, and repayments are linked to income, not to the amount borrowed or interest applied. As repayments remain income-contingent, if a borrower’s salary remains t...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMental Health: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on children's mental health of an expanded play therapy offer in the NHS.
Answer: Whilst no such specific assessment has been made of the impact on children’s mental health of an expanded play therapy offer in the National Health Service, we are committed to ensuring that children and young people can access the support they need for t...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing import restrictions on enriched cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, PQ UIN 120331.
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what capital funding is available to increase the number of childcare places in settings that are already at capacity, including those operating within primary schools.
Answer: High-quality early years education is central to our mission to break down barriers to opportunity, give every child the best possible start in life, and is essential to our Plan for Change. This government is boosting availability and access through the ...
Answered 7 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: HousingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that homeowners near railway lines being (a) created and (b) reopened are informed of the potential impact of new electrification or rail infrastructure on the
Answer: The Department for Transport expects Network Rail to proactively and transparently engage with lineside neighbours who live close to major rail infrastructure works. Network Rail’s established consultation and communication procedures require project team...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: HousingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of housing repairs that require contributions from Network Rail before proceeding on financial costs to homeowners.
Answer: Network Rail is responsible for assessing and managing potential impacts that its infrastructure or activities may have on neighbouring properties. Where homeowners believe that damage may be linked to railway operations, assets or work, Network Rail has ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGift AidTreasuryTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117548More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress her Department has made in amending the rules on Gift Aid.
Answer: The government is pleased to confirm that charities will continue to be eligible for Gift Aid following implementation of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. HMRC has published guidance setting out that where subscriptions are current...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that recent changes to the Motability Scheme, including the removal of VAT zero-rating on advance payments and the introduction of Insurance Premium Tax on
Answer: The Motability Scheme is a lifeline for many disabled people and families, supporting their independence by enabling them to lease a car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for an eligible disability benefit allowance...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLINK Scheme Holdings: Bank ServicesTreasuryTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115306More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of Link’s possible responsibility for delivering access to banking services and access to cash services.
Answer: Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking services to communities and is committed to supporting...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Games: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has for funding the School Games Organiser Network after July 2026.
Answer: The Government has now confirmed funding for the SGO Network until the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPrimary Education: Physical Education and SportsDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of how Primary PE and Sport will be funded in the 2026–27 academic year; and when she plans to announce future funding arrangements for the Primary PE and Sport Premium.
Answer: Arrangements for the funding of PE and sport in the 2026/27 academic year and future will be confirmed in due course.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local health authorities provide parents with clear information regarding expected waiting times for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and atten
Answer: There are currently no plans to implement a standardised minimum waiting time for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments for children.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline for the diagnosis ...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main LineDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of variations in ticket pricing between rail operators on the East Coast Main Line serving stations such as Berwick upon Tweed and N
Answer: The move to Great British Railways will enable passengers to receive a more consistent offer across the network, and we are already taking steps to overhaul the complex fares system and make it easier and simpler for passengers to trust they are buying th...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMineworkers' Pension SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to remove the mechanism in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme that freezes bonus pension increase.
Answer: I am meeting the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustees next month to discuss future surplus sharing arrangements. No decisions have been made yet.
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTransportDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy for England, following the closure of the call for evidence on 20 February 2025.
Answer: The Department is committed to publishing the integrated national transport strategy shortly, which will set the long‑term vision for domestic transport across England.
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on considering the needs of rural broadband investment in the Telecoms Access Review.
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector and is currently finalising its Telecoms Access Review.DSIT officials regularly engage with Ofcom on these issues. In Ju...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Rural Payments Agency’s performance in delivering Higher Tier and other payments in early December in line with past expectations.
Answer: The 2025 payment window opened on 1 December, and by mid-December around three quarters of eligible farmers had already received their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments. The Agency continues to work hard improving payment perf...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reassurance she can give to farmers whose cashflow relies on Higher Tier payments arriving in early December and who have not received their payments yet from the Rural Payments A
Answer: The 2025 payment window opened on 1 December, and by mid-December around three quarters of eligible farmers had already received their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments. The Agency continues to work hard improving payment perf...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help increase funding for education for children around the world.
Answer: The UK is a world leader in championing safe, inclusive, quality education, working in partnership with governments and multilaterals to deliver the education that all children deserve. In a context of scarce resources, the UK is working to increase both ...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101190More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he will take to remove barriers to accessing a social home for those most in need.
Answer: The government has already taken action to remove barriers for those most in need of access to social housing, including exempting former members of the regular armed forces, young care leavers under 25 and victims of domestic abuse from local connection ...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordY Quynh BđăpForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101189More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the allegations relating to the (a treatment and (b) location of Y Qunyh Bdap from Vietnam; and
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 November in response to Question 83589. The UK raised the case of Y Quynh Bdap in our statement at the UN Human Rights Council in September 2025. On 19 December, the UK Human Rights Ambassador and Deputy...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog, published on 12 November 2025, whether an impact assessment has be
Answer: To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. The measures the Secretary of State ...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgery: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients awaiting elective surgery are provided with clear and timely information about their position on waiting lists; and whether his Departmen
Answer: The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure patients are seen on time and have the information they need to have the best possible experience of care.As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, published January 2025, patient...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94840More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) allowing the payment of and (b) refunding Vehicle Excise Duty on a (i) daily and (ii) weekly basis.
Answer: Since 1 October 2014, customers have had the option to pay VED monthly or in two instalments per year via direct debit, with a 5% surcharge. This scheme enables the spreading of VED payments at a lower surcharge rate than non-direct debit instalments, and...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDriverless Vehicles: RegulationDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to publish an evaluation framework for the regulatory approval of supervised autonomous vehicle technologies, including indicative timelines.
Answer: The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (the Act) provides the powers to regulate the safe use of automated vehicles. Full implementation of the Act, including provisions for authorising self-driving vehicles, is on-track for the second half of 2027. The regulato...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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