Matt Bishop MP: written questions
108 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Kinship Care: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of SEND funding allocations on children in kinship care.
Answer: The department recognises the importance of children in kinship care getting the support they need to thrive in school. Where children have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the department would expect them to receive appropriate support ...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24382More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to (a) renew the and (b) extend eligibility for kinship families to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
Answer: We will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on how we will allocate the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the adoption and special guardianship support fund are being made as part of these discussions.A...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPupil PremiumDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for Pupil Premium Plus to (a) children who have not been looked after and (b) other children in kinship care.
Answer: The department is providing over £2.9 billion of pupil premium funding in 2024/25 to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils in England.The criteria for pupil premium eligibility are:Pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school mea...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: GloucestershireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) staffing shortages and (b) infrastructure problems in hospitals in Gloucestershire.
Answer: Information on local plans to tackle staff shortages is not collected centrally by the Department. National Health Service organisations are responsible for their own recruitment, and develop their own workforce plans based on service needs.At a national ...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Rural AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to protect pubs in (a) Forest of Dean constituency and (b) other rural communities.
Answer: Pubs and hospitality businesses, including those in rural areas and Forest of Dean, are at the heart of our communities and are vital for economic growth. That is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system by introducing permanently lowe...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArthritis: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to (a) treatment and (b) support services for people with arthritis; and what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the condition.
Answer: Services for those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including arthritis, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). The Department expects MSK services to be fully incorporated into integrated care system planning and decision-making...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Chronic Illnesses and DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that planned reforms to the disability benefit system ensure security and support for seriously ill and disabled people.
Answer: This government believes there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, and to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health co...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordKinship CareDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the needs of children placed with kinship carers are fully assessed and supported especially in cases of (a) trauma and (b) disrupted care.
Answer: The government is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve, and kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this.In October 2024, the department published the new Kinship Care statutory guidance for local authorities, setting out...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that mental health services in rural communities are adequately (a) staffed and (b) supported.
Answer: Waiting lists for those referred for support are too high including those in rural communities.People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve and need, which is why we will fix the system to ensure we give mental health ...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that people in rural communities have access to mental health support within a one-hour radius using public transport.
Answer: Waiting lists for those referred for support are too high including those in rural communities.People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve and need, which is why we will fix the system to ensure we give mental health ...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: Forest of DeanDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help tackle digital exclusion in Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: Digital inclusion is a priority for me and for Government. It means everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop our approach to tackling digit...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to fund research into potential treatments for brain tumours to help (a) extend life expectancy and (b) alleviate suffering.
Answer: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department of Health and care invests over £1.5 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a hub and spoke model to community pharmacy.
Answer: The Government is working towards introducing legislation to enable hub and spoke dispensing between different legal entities this year. This change will be enabled via amendments to both primary and secondary legislation and is subject to the usual parli...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 902071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the families of people diagnosed with brain tumours.
Answer: I know that treatment for all cancers is a difficult time for patients and their families. This government will shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to support patients and their families with more personalised care in the most a...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChronic Illnesses: Travel InsuranceTreasuryTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21192More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve access to travel insurance for patients with long-term illnesses.
Answer: The government is determined that everyone has access to suitable insurance products at the right price. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, including fi...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help improve accessibility for disabled passengers on public transport in Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: The government is committed to improving public transport services so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. On 1st October 2024, the first phase of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Inform...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of mental health support for winter 2024-25.
Answer: We do not underestimate how challenging winter will be again this year for the National Health Service. The national approach on priorities for winter planning was issued on 16 September 2024. As part of this, maintaining patient safety and experience wil...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordStorms: Government AssistanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide (a) grants and (b) funding support to people impacted by Storm Bert.
Answer: My thoughts remain with householders and business owners impacted by flooding after Storm Bert, flooding is a devastating experience for those affected.Government support in the aftermath of flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. On this ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England officials on their role in supporting the development of a roll-out plan for universal Fracture Liaison Services.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model for secondary fracture prevention. This government is committed to expanding access to these important preventative services.FLS provision is ultimately a matter for Integrated Care Boar...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFloods: HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support residential properties impacted by recent flooding.
Answer: My thoughts remain with householders and business owners impacted by flooding after Storm Bert, flooding is a devastating experience for those affected.Government support in the aftermath of flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. On this ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure bus travel is accessible for people with disabilities.
Answer: The government wants everyone to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. On October 1st, the first phase of the Public S...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren: Social ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) safety of social care services for children at home.
Answer: Reforming children’s social care is critical to giving hundreds of thousands of children and young people the start in life they deserve. In November, through the ‘Keeping children safe, helping families thrive’ policy statement, this government set out i...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Products and Food: Trade BarriersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle trade barriers to farming exports.
Answer: We are supporting businesses to capitalise on strong global demand for UK food and drink products by breaking down barriers to trade and maximising access to export markets. Since Labour took office, the UK now has a network of sixteen agrifood and drink ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Wealth FundsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Community Wealth Fund benefits (a) Cinderford West in the Forest of Dean and (b) other deprived communities.
Answer: The government has allocated £87.5 million of dormant assets funding to the Community Wealth Fund and is committed to ensuring it delivers meaningful benefits to communities across England. DCMS and MHCLG are working to shortly publish the government resp...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to financially support (a) nurseries and (b) early years providers for increases to (i) the National Minimum Wage and (ii) employer National Insurance contributions.
Answer: Since July, this government has had to take some tough decisions to get our public finances back on track, but we are continuing to invest in the early years sector, supporting the delivery of the entitlements and recognising the vital role the sector pla...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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