David Smith MP: written questions
78 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Free School Meals: North NorthumberlandDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) free breakfast clubs and (b) the free school meal expansion on poverty in North Northumberland constituency.
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty, which is why the department is taking action to expand access to free breakfasts and lunches in schools.Free breakfast club places are already being offere...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department considers future demographic changes when planning school funding.
Answer: School funding will increase by £4.2 billion over the Spending Review period, meaning core school funding will total £65.9 billion by 2028/29. This additional funding will provide an above real terms per pupil increase on the core schools budget.The major...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to support adult social care in rural areas.
Answer: The Government recognises the challenges facing adult social care and is taking action to improve the system across the country, including in rural areas. We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first step...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the NHS is prepared for future demographic changes.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our plan to get the National Health Service back on track and make it fit for the future through delivering three big shifts in how the NHS works. By moving more care from hospital to community, shifting from analogue to d...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10 year plan on older residents in rural areas.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or geography. The 10-Year Health Plan has been built on what we heard during engagement with the public. Our reimagined National Health Service will be desig...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: North NorthumberlandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many additional GPs have been hired in North Northumberland constituency through Government funding.
Answer: As of 31 May 2025, 58 general practitioners (GPs) have been recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme in the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) since 1 October 2024, the ICB in which the North Northumberland constit...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: North EastDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10-year plan on waiting lists in the North East.
Answer: We are committed to delivering the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029, including in the North East and Yorkshire.The 10-Year Health Plan...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Neighbourhood Health Service on dental services in rural constituencies.
Answer: On 3 July 2025, the Government announced the 10-Year Health Plan and set out its vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service set up in local communities across the country, to improve access to National Health Services, including NHS dental services.We expe...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Health Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Neighbourhood Health Service on healthcare in rural constituencies.
Answer: The Neighbourhood Health Service will mean millions of patients, including those in rural constituencies, are treated and cared for closer to their home by new teams of health professionals. Our priority will be to address underperformance and health ineq...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to provide adequate social housing to rural areas.
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision mak...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the funding commitments for social housing will be (a) allocated for and (b) accessed by (i) local authorities and (ii) developers.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social hous...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBerwick Academy: BuildingsDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of Berwick Academy's need for a rebuild; and whether she has received a business case outlining a proposed rebuild from Northumberland County Council.
Answer: Berwick Academy is the body responsible for the school buildings and has not put forward a nomination for the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). The department is aware that Northumberland County Council has plans to invest in Berwick Academy as part of a...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: BuildingsDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what process schools can apply for (a) rebuilds and (b) other capital spending following the funding commitments in the Spending Review 2025.
Answer: School buildings are integral to high and rising standards and need to be fit for the future.The government has announced almost £20 billion of investment for the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering rebuilding projects at over 500 s...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Capital InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding will be allocated to the third road investment strategy.
Answer: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June, this Government will deliver improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve national and local roads across ...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordA1: NorthumberlandDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025WithdrawnUIN 63932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with National Highways on the A1 through North Northumberland.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordA1: NorthumberlandDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with National Highways on the A1 through North Northumberland.
Answer: I hold regular discussions with National Highways on matters related to the Strategic Road Network. I am aware that National Highways is undertaking a safety study on the A1 through Northumberland which focuses on how it can improve the route’s safety rat...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordA1: NorthumberlandDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety record of the A1 through North Northumberland, in the context of RIS3 funding.
Answer: National Highways has considered the safety record of the A1 through North Northumberland, along with other priorities for this section of the route, as part of its London to Scotland (East) Route Strategy. The outputs of this work will be considered as p...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Capital InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to allocate funding for specific projects as part of the third road investment strategy.
Answer: The Department for Transport will confirm the enhancement schemes and large-scale renewals to be delivered in the next road period when the third Road Investment Strategy is published in early 2026. National Highways will then publish further details in i...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: HomelessnessDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility on the number of people experiencing homelessness; and whether she
Answer: The Department is working closely with the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, to get the country back on track to ending homelessness. As I made clear in my statement to the House, Hansard, 1 July, col 219, any changes to PIP elig...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish NationalityHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the operation of section 3(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981.
Answer: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review. However, British nationality law is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. There is no power in law to grant British citizenship outs...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish NationalityHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a pathway for British citizens by descent to upgrade citizenship status after a defined period of continuous UK residency.
Answer: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review. However, British nationality law is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. There is no power in law to grant British citizenship outs...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: HomelessnessDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility on the number of people qualifying for PIP experiencing homelessness.
Answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is there to help people, now and into the future, with the extra costs of living with a disability. PIP is not intended to cover housing costs, which are paid through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, but my departme...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHeating: Renewable FuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister for Energy of 21 May 2025 to the Scottish Parliament's Economy and Fair Work Committee, what assessment he has made of the potential me
Answer: Renewable liquid fuels are a limited resource, and the Government expects sustainable biomass to be prioritised where there are limited alternatives for decarbonisation. Renewable liquid heating fuels are also much more expensive to use than other heating...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: ReformDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for reforming education, health and care plans for children with special educational needs; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that children who require additional support in school r
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for North Northumberland, to the answer of 02 June 2025 to Question 54205.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: British Students AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British students in the United States.
Answer: US Visa policy and immigration issues are a matter for US authorities. We are seeking clarity from US officials, tracking announcements, and keeping our Travel Advice under constant review, to give students that currently study or want to study in the US ...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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