Sarah Bool MP: written questions
249 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Autism: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to help reduce waiting times for autism assessments for children in rural areas.
Answer: Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service, published September 2024, highlighted the severe delays for accessing autism assessments and that demand for assessments for autism has grown significantly in recent years.It is the responsib...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NHS dental contract reforms on rural patient access.
Answer: We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. This is why we have launched the Golden Hello scheme which will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that nee...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: FiresDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has commissioned research into the potential impact of toxic emissions from battery storage fires near residential areas on public health.
Answer: The Department has not formally commissioned research into this topic. However, on 14 March 2025, the Environment Agency published the paper, Net zero: Environmental and social implications of energy storage technologies: summary, which is available at th...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Development Consent OrdersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the development consent order process for solar projects to increase local authority input on battery storage safety.
Answer: National planning policy and guidance clearly considers safety aspects of a proposed energy development, with expectations set out early for applicants to submit supporting information with their application for the proposed development.The overarching Na...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: SafetyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to standardise the approval process for battery safety management plans across local planning authorities.
Answer: National planning policy and guidance clearly considers safety aspects of a proposed energy development, with expectations set out early for applicants to submit supporting information with their application for the proposed development.The overarching Na...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to help improve police response times in rural areas.
Answer: Chief Constables are responsible for determining the allocation of resources for operational policing and managing their response times, in line with the priorities set out by their Police and Crime Commissioner.His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: StorageMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) training and (b) resources her Department has provided to fire and rescue services to respond to battery energy storage system-related incidents.
Answer: It is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training to safely respond to the wide range of incidents that they attend. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) also provides gui...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: StorageMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to fire and rescue services on responding to incidents involving large-scale battery energy storage systems.
Answer: It is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training to safely respond to the wide range of incidents that they attend. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) also provides gui...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: SafetyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to publish a national register of safety (a) incidents and (b) near-misses involving battery energy storage systems.
Answer: The Department does not plan to publish a national register of safety incidents and near-misses involving battery energy storage systems (BESS). However, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has developed a publicly available database of global BE...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLithium-ion Batteries: SafetyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential long-term fire risk associated with lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.
Answer: The Government considers that the safety risks posed by BESS are small and well managed under the robust regulatory framework overseen by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This framework requires responsible parties to take measures to ensure health ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Consultation: Rural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to engage with rural communities in the development of nationwide policies.
Answer: The Government believes that it is important that rural communities have the opportunity to help shape decisions that affect them. As rural affairs lead, Defra continues to encourage all Government Departments to rural proof their policies, including enga...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: CateringMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of whether the pay as you dine scheme in military bases is the optimal approach to meeting the cost of food and drink.
Answer: The Defence Catering Strategy (DCS) was built on the comprehensive assessment undertaken through the Delivering Defence Dining Quality (3DQ) Review, led by the Institute of Naval Medicine on behalf of all three Services, and which reported in December 202...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Rural AreasMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans living in rural communities.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving services for veterans wherever they live, including those who live in rural communities. We recently announced VALOUR, a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support, to ensure ea...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Older PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for older workers in rural areas seeking to return to employment.
Answer: The government is reforming jobcentres to better match people with the right jobs and provide employment skills, and career support to individuals including older workers and those in rural areas. Design elements of the new National Jobs and Careers Servi...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid Scheme: Rural AreasMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has she made of access to legal aid services in rural constituencies.
Answer: It is vital that those who need legal aid – some of the most vulnerable people in our society – can access it wherever they live in the UK.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. The LAA monitor...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArts and Cultural Heritage: South NorthamptonshireDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support is available for (a) local heritage and (b) arts organisations in South Northamptonshire constituency.
Answer: In the South Northamptonshire constituency, Arts Council England has provided over £600,000 of funding between 2021-2025.This includes 11 awards across combined arts, music and theatre, totalling more than £290,000. “The Play’s The Thing” Theatre Company ...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: South NorthamptonshireDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to improve broadband connectivity in rural parts of South Northamptonshire constituency.
Answer: According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 99% of homes and businesses in the South Northamptonshire constituency can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 93% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection (&...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordManufacturing Industries: South NorthamptonshireDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support his Department is providing for local manufacturers in South Northamptonshire to expand their export markets.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting UK businesses, including in South Northamptonshire, including those in the manufacturing industry, to grow and export. UK businesses can access DBT's wealth of export support via great...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime: South NorthamptonshireHome OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle rural crime in South Northamptonshire.
Answer: Under our Safer Streets Mission reforms, rural communities will be better safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, increased neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent theft of farm equipment and fly-tipping....
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that new housing developments in rural areas are accompanied by appropriate infrastructure.
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Market TownsTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55622More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she plans to take to support small businesses in market towns.
Answer: Small businesses are vital to high streets and communities, and essential to the success of the government’s growth mission.At the 2024 Autumn Budget, Government announced generous tax reforms to support small businesses. Most notably, more than doubling ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLand Use: FiresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Land Use Framework will be updated to include details on wildfires.
Answer: The Government consulted on land use in England earlier this year. While it did not specifically ask about wildfires, the consultation included questions on how we could better support landowners and land managers to adapt to climate change impacts. The c...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLand Use: Renewable EnergyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans for an extensive mapping exercise identifying the most suitable sites for renewable energy sources to be carried out as part of the Land Use Framework.
Answer: In October 2024, the Secretary of State for The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), along with Scottish and Welsh governments, jointly commissioned the National Energy System Operator to develop a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan: the first ...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity: South NorthamptonshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect local biodiversity in South Northamptonshire.
Answer: Work is ongoing in South Northamptonshire to protect biodiversity. The constituency has a number of protected areas that provide for a host of notable habitats and species, from the ancient woodlands of the Whittlewood Forest Site of Special Scientific In...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: South NorthamptonshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers in South Northamptonshire with sustainable agriculture practices.
Answer: At February’s National Farming Union Conference, the Secretary of State announced a raft of new policies to put money in the pockets of farmers in South Northamptonshire and across the country. We remain committed to investing £5 billion of funding in the...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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