Patricia Ferguson MP: written questions
88 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the potential impact of the time taken for his Department to make decisions on the finances of applicants.
Answer: The department endeavours to process new claims for benefits and changes of circumstances as quickly as possible after customers have provided all relevant information and evidence relating to their claim.
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time taken by his Department to resolve MPs' enquiries.
Answer: The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve t...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken was for his Department to resolve MPs' enquiries in the last year.
Answer: The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve t...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to monitor the (a) number of, (b) time taken to respond to and (c) urgency of MPs' enquiries to his Department.
Answer: The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve t...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has issued guidance to staff on the timeframe in which they should respond to MP enquiries.
Answer: The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve t...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on reducing the time taken for Access to Work applications to be allocated to a case manager.
Answer: As set out in the Green Paper, we are reforming Access to Work to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people into and on in work. We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims to the Access to Work Scheme. We also prioritise customer...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: NorwayScotland OfficeTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 905889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the the potential impact of the contract to supply Norway with Type 26 frigates on Scotland's economy.
Answer: This is the biggest British warship export deal in history and is a huge vote of confidence in the strength of our defence industry and in Scotland’s shipbuilding capability. This strategic partnership with Norway will sustain more than 4,000 jobs, of whi...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many car practical driving test appointments were available in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2025 in (i) Scotland and (ii) Glasgow.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time for a car practical driving test in Scotland was on 1 October 2025.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to discourage people from using third-party platforms to book Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency driving tests.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: Advisory ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adjusting in line with inflation the £30,000 threshold over which advice must be sought before a pension is transferred.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that pension savers receive clear and essential information, and that pension transfers are conducted on an informed basis. To support this principle, individuals with pensions that include a guarantee remain requir...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDemolition: EquipmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered the potential merits of ending the export of demolition equipment to Israel.
Answer: Exports to Israel of demolition equipment that is specifically designed or modified for military use are subject to export controls.Such controlled exports fall under the scope of the decision announced in September 2024 to suspend export licences for mil...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLump Sum Payments: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72905More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to change the proportion of pensioners' tax-free lump sums that are exempt from tax.
Answer: The Government wishes to encourage pension saving to help ensure that people have funds to draw on throughout retirement. Up to 25 per cent of an individual’s pension can be taken-tax free, subject to a cap of £268,275 for most. Although the Government ke...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: Age AssuranceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that computer generated proofs of age are not used to verify age on websites.
Answer: The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider ha...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: Age AssuranceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an estimate of the cost to health advice charities of setting up age verification procedures.
Answer: The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider ha...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: Health ServicesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether organisations providing online health advice are required to age verify users.
Answer: The Online Safety Act applies to services which allow users to post content online or interact with each other. This includes a broad range of websites, apps and other services.In-scope services must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children ...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordData Protection: Age AssuranceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom is taking steps to ensure that companies involved in age verification do not (a) retain and (b) misuse personal data.
Answer: The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider ha...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to end the use by NHS England of generic drugs manufactured by companies with links to Israel.
Answer: The Department has no plans to end such purchases as the UK Government currently has a trade and partnership agreement in effect with Israel.
Answered 1 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Housing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will reduce the Housing benefit taper rate to 55% for those living in supported accommodation.
Answer: It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing B...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Housing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the level of the Housing Benefit disregard for young people living in supported accommodation.
Answer: It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing B...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to end the purchase of Israeli manufactured generic drugs by NHS England.
Answer: The Department has no plans to end such purchases as the UK Government currently has a trade and partnership agreement in effect with Israel.
Answered 1 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: Israeli SettlementsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to prevent UK-based charities from transferring funds to entities operating in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answer: The Government and the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Commission) expect charities to act lawfully, in line with the charity’s purpose, and in the charity’s best interest.The Commission provides guidance to help charity trustees understand ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71908More
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 the report by Amnesty International entitled Amnesty International Investigation in Gaza highlig
Answer: The Government has not made an assessment of the 13 June 2023 Amnesty report which was published a year before the current Government entered office.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71907More
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 the International Court of Justice’s finding that Israel is in breach of the Convention on the E
Answer: The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting a tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the Internatio...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordEstate Agents: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of regulating estate agents to ensure best practise.
Answer: It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold offers from sellers because the potential buyer declines to use their additional services. Where there is evidence of such practices, agents can face sanctions including a ban. The government is committed t...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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