Rebecca Smith MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Vocational Education: DefenceDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria her Department will use to determine the locations of new Defence Technical Colleges of Excellence.
Answer: A £182 million defence skills package was announced at the start of September in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This aims to make defence an engine for national renewal and economic growth, harnessing the skills needed for the future, from submarine eng...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82593More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the temporary five pence fuel duty reduction.
Answer: The Government carefully considers the impact of fuel duty on households and businesses and the public finances, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFoster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to help support independent fostering agencies to improve their co-commissioning practices.
Answer: The department’s priority is to recruit and retain more foster carers so there is a choice of stable, loving foster homes for children in care.We encourage local authorities and independent fostering agencies to collaborate and offer the best possible hom...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChurches: AerialsChurch CommissionersTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80709More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the potential impact of the implementation of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on revenue to chu
Answer: In February 2018 the Church of England signed an Accord with HM Government to develop guidance for dioceses, parishes and Chancellors to enable digital connectivity. This was in response to concerns about the social consequences of uneven deployment of di...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 2017 Electronic Communications Code reform on rent revenues earned by church properties hosting mobile communications infrast
Answer: No specific assessment has been made on the impact of the 2017 reforms on church properties. In the impact assessment produced in 2016 to accompany the 2017 reforms, it was anticipated that there would be a reduction in rents from operators to landowners ...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture and Business: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76186More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse for the (a) implementation, (b) administration, (c) staffing, (d) system development and (e) compliance in relation to the proposed changes to Ag
Answer: I refer to the answer given on 5 September 2025 to PQ UIN 70546.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70546
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPaternity LeaveMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many claims relating to paternity leave were brought in the last year for which records are available.
Answer: Our latest published statistics for Employment Tribunals can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.This data details the number of receipts by jurisdiction and the number of claims disposed. The ...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDiscrimination and Unfair Dismissal: MenMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of claims for (a) discrimination, (b) harassment and (c) unfair dismissal were brought by men in the last year for which records are available.
Answer: Our latest published statistics for Employment Tribunals can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.This data details the number of receipts by jurisdiction and the number of claims disposed. The ...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the defence investment plan.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will be published this Autumn. For the very first time the Ministry of Defence’s Plan will cover the full scope of the defence programme, from people and operations to equipment and infrastructure, to ensure we can deliver the ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: South West DevonHome OfficeTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has commissioned the use of (a) hotel accommodation and (b) private rented accommodation in South West Devon constituency for the purpose of housing asylum seekers since 4 July
Answer: Statistics are published on a quarterly basis detailing the number of asylum seekers in supported accommodation in each local authority area. The most recent publication can be found here: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCervical Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the levels of cervical screening uptake in Devon.
Answer: NHS England has created a South West Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy committee, along with its associated pillars, covering cervical screening, human papillomavirus vaccination, and cervical cancer treatment, which is delivering numerous projects to ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: Written QuestionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 59537, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Devon on 12 June 2025.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59537 on 20 June 2025.
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil SocietyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will publish the civil society covenant.
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is working closely with civil society representatives to develop a Civil Society Covenant that will act as a foundation for resetting the relationship between government and civil society. We aim to publi...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: MayorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the ??English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether new unitary councils will have the option of adopting council mayors as their execu
Answer: In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider the governance models available to local authorities across the sector. As part of wider reforms to the local government landscape, the department continues to review avai...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: MayorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow local councils to (a) adopt and (b) retain a mayoral executive model.
Answer: In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider the governance models available to local authorities across the sector. As part of wider reforms to the local government landscape, the department continues to review avai...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference chapter 2, section 9D of the Local Government Act 2000 of her Department’s English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what powers a directly el
Answer: The Functions and Responsibilities Regulations 2000, made under the Local Government Act 2000, set out which functions are not to be the responsibility of a council’s executive (mayor and cabinet, or leader and cabinet). As we set out in the English Devol...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCurriculum and Assessment ReviewDepartment for EducationTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to hold discussions with religious education organisations on developing a national standard for religious education as part of her Department's curriculum and assessment review.
Answer: Religious education (RE) remains a statutory subject in all state-funded schools in England. While it is not part of the national curriculum, it continues to play an important role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain.The independent Curriculum ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: DevonMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.7 of the Spring Statement, how many housing units will be refurbished in the (a) South West Devon, (b) Plymouth Moor View and (c) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituencies in 2025
Answer: The Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication in Summer 2025 will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation. This work includes an extensive review of our Service Family Accommodation to determine how we will ut...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025, how much funding allocated to his Department will be allocated to the refurbishment of service housing stock.
Answer: The allocation of funding for refurbishment of service housing stock is currently in the process of being determined, aligned to the Defence Housing Review.
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBoats: Small BusinessesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the draft Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code on small businesses.
Answer: The public consultation for the Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure Code of Practice and underpinning Statutory Instrument ran from the 4th December 2024 to the 25th February 2025. A De-Minimis Assessment for the Code of Practice and Statutory...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of engaging the pharmacy sector to help deliver digital NHS health checks.
Answer: The NHS Health Check Online will be ready for piloting in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Throughout the development of the pilot, Community Pharmacy England has been engaged.Individuals taking part in the pilot will be able to us...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made on the national rollout of digital NHS health checks across England; and when he expects that rollout to be completed.
Answer: The NHS Health Check Online service will be piloted in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Subject to the outcomes of the pilot, an independent evaluation and Government Digital Service processes, the aim is to roll out nationally fro...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to provide funding for the Pharmacy First scheme after March 2025.
Answer: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. We are working at pace wi...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has considered (a) phasing in changes and (b) enabling the completion of projects that were (i) already on-site, (ii) due to commence shortly and (ii) part of phased works
Answer: Claims received in this financial year are unaffected, assuming that they are eligible claims with the required detail and documentation. We expect the cap will be applied to all claims received on or after 1 April 2025. We will be publishing guidance on ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, announced on 22 January 2025, on the ability of religious build
Answer: DCMS Ministers received advice on changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, including consideration of the potential impacts of various options to scale the scheme.We believe that the changes announced will continue the widest distribution of ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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