Sarah Gibson MP: written questions
271 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Learning Disability: WiltshireDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve the academic outcomes of students with learning difficulties in Wiltshire.
Answer: For too long the education and care system has not met the needs of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with parents struggling to get their children the support they need and deserve. This government’s...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGCSE: DyslexiaDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of allocating marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar in non-English GCSE subjects on students with dyslexia.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Chippenham to the answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57812.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversities: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57881More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the publication entitled Skills England: Sector evidence on the growth and skills offer, published in June 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure vocational pathways are presented
Answer: The publication referred to sets out Skills England‘s findings from its analysis and engagement with sectors on the growth and skills offer, supported by its assessments of skills needs. Skills England and the department will work together to ensure the o...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: ApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for SMEs to take on apprentices.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Chippenham to the answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37179.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department provides to GPs to help improve the (a) early recognition and (b) management of ME in (i) Wiltshire and (ii) areas in Wiltshire with limited specialist services.
Answer: Earlier this year, NHS England completed a long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), stocktake to provide a national overview of service delivery in commissioning and contracting, assessing access, activity...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Answer: Earlier this year, NHS England completed a long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), stocktake to provide a national overview of service delivery in commissioning and contracting, assessing access, activity...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the level of risk of insolvency to Thames Water following the withdrawal of KKR; and whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to the p
Answer: The company remains stable, and the Government is closely monitoring the situation. As the company has set out, it will continue to work with its creditors and stakeholders as part of its equity raise to improve its financial position. The Government is p...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans his Department has in place following the collapse of the proposed equity injection into Thames Water by KKR.
Answer: The company remains stable, and the Government is closely monitoring the situation. As the company has set out, it will continue to work with its creditors and stakeholders as part of its equity raise to improve its financial position. The Government is p...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the interim findings of the Independent Review of the Regulation of the Water Industry in England, publish
Answer: The Government is clear that transformative change is needed across the water sector, and will be carefully considering Sir Jon’s preliminary conclusions as outlined in the interim report published on 3 June. The Government will respond to the findings in...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: WiltshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is considering for improving the ecological health of (a) the River Avon, (b) its tributaries and (c) other rivers in Wiltshire, in the context of the Independent Water C
Answer: The Government is clear that transformative change is needed across the water sector, and will be carefully considering Sir Jon’s preliminary conclusions as outlined in the interim report published on 3 June. The Government will respond to the findings in...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: ReviewsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, published on 3 June 2025,
Answer: The Government is clear that transformative change is needed across the water sector, and will be carefully considering Sir Jon’s preliminary conclusions as outlined in the interim report published on 3 June. The Government will respond to the findings in...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCulture: Rural AreasDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding is available to support the (a) creative and (b) cultural sectors in (i) Chippenham constituency and (ii) other rural market towns.
Answer: Arts Council England has invested £539,520 in Chippenham since April 2022 through a combination of regular funding and project funding for individuals and organisations such as Folio, a dynamic, female-led new writing theatre company, which received £122,...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: WiltshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57601More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of grants for farmers to support (a) sustainable and (b) regenerative agricultural practices in Wiltshire.
Answer: We are working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending r...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: Urban AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57600More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support flood resilience in (a) Chippenham and (b) other towns; and whether his Department is taking steps to work with local authorities to develop climate
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is working with local partners on options to take forward the Chippenham Avon Project. In addition, the EA is working with Wiltshire Council on the Wiltshire Rural Runoff Project to improve understanding of the causes of floodi...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the transition of passenger rail services into public ownership on rail provision in Wiltshire.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering an improved railway for all users across Britain, including those in Wiltshire. We are taking steps to ensure a smooth transition for staff and passengers as services transfer into public ownership. There will be ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Department has to involve (a) passengers and (b) rail user groups in Wiltshire in the development of the proposed independent passenger watchdog.
Answer: The new Passenger Watchdog will be established alongside Great British Railways, enabled by the forthcoming Railways Bill. We recently consulted on our legislative proposals, including the watchdog, and we are currently reviewing the responses received. A...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to ensure that local stakeholders in Wiltshire will have a role in shaping the (a) 30-year strategic plan and (b) five-year business plans proposed for Great British Railways.
Answer: In its role as the ‘directing mind’, Great British Railways (GBR) will bring track and train together and plan services on a whole-system basis, to better deliver for passengers, taxpayers, and freight customers, and to unlock growth. This will include wo...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural counties are not deprioritised under the new decision-making framework proposed for Great British Railways.
Answer: Great British Railways (GBR) will be organised to work collaboratively with devolved leaders and local stakeholders and ensure rail services meet local needs. All tiers of local government in England will benefit from empowered local GBR business units th...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) transport groups on the potential implementation of proposed rail reform proposals in Wiltshire.
Answer: In February, the Department for Transport launched an eight-week consultation “A railway fit for Britain’s future”. As part of that, a webinar event was held for stakeholders to come and ask questions. Further detailed discussions were held with sub natio...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will be required to take into account the specific needs of (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural and semi-rural areas when determining (i) future service levels and (ii) timetables.
Answer: Great British Railways (GBR) will plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money to the taxpayer. GBR will work with all Local Transport Authorities, including Wiltshire, on their ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: AbuseHome OfficeTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking through the criminal justice system to help tackle the abuse of older people.
Answer: The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards anybody is unacceptable. Whilst anybody can suffer from domestic abuse, for older victims, we know that abuse may be more disguised or compounded by other age-related factors, such as ill health, or ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWills: ReformMinistry of JusticeTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the proposals in Law Commission’s report entitled Modernising Wills Law, published on 15 May 2025.
Answer: The Government has welcomed the Law Commission’s comprehensive report on the law of making a will and will be giving the report careful consideration.This is the first major review of the law on making wills since the Wills Act 1837, and the reforms propo...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: Domestic AbuseHome OfficeTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken with police forces to ensure the accurate collection of data on the abuse of older people; and if she will publish the most recent data held by her Department for Wilts
Answer: The Office for National Statistics (ONS), who are responsible for the publication of crime statistics in England and Wales has explored the feasibility of extending the Crime Survey for England and Wales, to cover the population resident in care homes and...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: Domestic AbuseHome OfficeTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the abuse of older people in included in the upcoming violence against women and girls strategy.
Answer: This Government recognises the devastating impact domestic abuse can have on victims and is committed to tackling abuse in all its forms. We know that whilst anyone can experience domestic abuse, for older victims, abuse may be more hidden or compounded b...
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: Domestic AbuseHome OfficeTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to commemorate UN World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2025.
Answer: The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards anybody is unacceptable. Whilst anybody can suffer from domestic abuse, for older victims, we know that abuse may be more disguised or compounded by other age-related factors, such as ill health, or ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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