Shivani Raja MP: written questions
140 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Phlebotomy: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of placing phlebotomists in band two of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, in the context of their clinical responsibilities; and whether
Answer: Phlebotomists are paid under the Agenda for Change pay scale, which is underpinned by the Job Evaluation Scheme (JES). The JES is a structured method of comparing job demands as set out in the job documentation, for example the job description, to determi...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency programme entitled Exploring Climate Cooling on levels of solar power generation.
Answer: The Advanced Research and Invention Agency’s (ARIA) ‘Exploring Climate Cooling’ programme, backed by £56.8 million, has been designed to build an evidence base which will enable scientists to better understand and properly assess whether or not Earth cool...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPassports: ReligionHome OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the photograph software used for passport applications; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the software does not discriminate agains
Answer: The initial check to guide if a photo meets the internationally agreed standards for passports utilises an algorithm provided by a leading technology provider.The testing of the photo checker was extensive and included wearers of religious headwear to opt...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPassports: ReligionHome OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints her Department has received relating to the passport photograph software cropping or rejecting images of individuals wearing (a) turbans and (b) other religious head coverings in t
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Libraries: Adult EducationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of public libraries on adult education.
Answer: Public libraries are an important part of our local communities, providing people with knowledge to help with education, social skills, boosting employment and capturing the imagination of readers of all ages and backgrounds.The DCMS Participation Survey ...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Assets: Government AssistanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities to maintain (a) community centres, (b) libraries and (c) other community assets in (i) Leicester East constituenc
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role of community spaces in Leicester and in England as a whole and wants to see them thrive. The Assets of Community Value (ACV) scheme provides communities with a route to nominate any building or land which furthers ...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordKashmir: TerrorismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that consular support is available to British tourists travelling in Pahalgam following the attack near Pahalgam on 22 April 2025.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has processed over 2000 consular enquiries since the escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. We continue to monitor developments closely and British nationals should stay up to date with...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to improve accountability measures against (a) state and (b) non-state actors that sponsor terrorism.
Answer: The UK's Counter-Terrorism strategy, CONTEST, seeks to reduce the risk from terrorism to the UK, its citizens and interests overseas, so people can live freely and with confidence. The UK, thus, prioritises international terrorism that affects us and our ...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordIndia: TerrorismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to increase security cooperation with India to help tackle terrorism.
Answer: The UK condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. Our thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones and the people of India. The UK and India have a long-standing security relationship, including on counter-terrorism and we work together ...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase youth participation in (a) civil society and (b) sport.
Answer: DCMS is committed to the inclusion of young people in civil society, particularly through youth social action and youth voice. DCMS funds the direct youth participation programme #iwill, which supports young people to engage in social action in their comm...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children with additional needs and without an Education, Health and Care Plan receive adequate SEN support in schools; and whether she plans to increase (a) fu
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Under the Children and Families Act 2014, main...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAdult Education and Lifelong EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to (a) adult education and (b) lifelong learning opportunities; and whether she plans to increase funding to support (i) adult learners and (ii) local educa
Answer: This government recognises the value of lifelong learning and the department is investing in education and skills training for adults through the adult skills fund (ASF).Currently, approximately 62% of the ASF is devolved to nine Mayoral Strategic Authori...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple SclerosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve support for people with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) secondary progressive multiple sclerosis; and whether he plans to consult (a) the MS Society an
Answer: Initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, and the Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP). NHS England’s NTP is a multi-year ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: ConcreteDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46005More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of additional lorry drivers required after the reduction in volumetric concrete mixers weight limits.
Answer: The call for evidence conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for respondents to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.The outcome of my department’s review into VCMs was publishe...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordClean EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of using carbon neutral backup power sources on infrastructure in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) England.
Answer: Annex O of the Energy and Emission Projections [1] presents Net Zero consistent scenarios for the power sector, including estimates of the low carbon power sources required to ensure security of supply out to 2050.[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordProstate CancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46003More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) access to prostate cancer screening and (b) waiting times for prostate cancer treatment.
Answer: The Government understands that more needs to be done to improve outcomes for all patients with prostate cancer. Currently, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not recommend a national prostate cancer screening programme due to the limitatio...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Public HousesTreasuryTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46002More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the number of pubs that will close in (a) Leicester East and (b) the United Kingdom as a result of employer National Insurance contribution rises.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indi...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Crimes of ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including retail home delivery drivers within the definition of assaults on retail workers.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to my response given to UIN 38705 on 24 March 2025.
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an estimate of the potential impact of replacing the fleet of RAF Typhoon aircraft with F-35 jets on the number of jobs in the defence industry in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) Engla
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stockport (Navendu Mishra) on 20 March 2025 to Qustion 38677.
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help ensure the protection of (a) Hindu communities and (b) other religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Answer: The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). In November 2024, I visited Bangladesh and discussed the importance of the protection of religious minorities, including...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: ParentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing expanded perinatal mental health services for parents.
Answer: Support is already available for parents, including those of twins and multiples, who experience mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. Perinatal mental health services are available in all 42 integrated care system areas of England, and ...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity Services: Hospital WardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate funding for improvements to maternity wards in (a) Leicester East and (b) England.
Answer: NHS England’s Three-Year Delivery plan is investing an additional £35 million between 2024 and 2027 to improve maternity safety across England.University Hospital Leicester (UHL) remains determined to transform care for its growing population and radicall...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Crimes against the PersonHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered expanding the definition of assault of a retail worker to include retail home delivery drivers.
Answer: Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers to do this. We will not stand for this. Everybody has a right to feel safe at their place of work.Through our Crime and Pol...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordReligion: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that schools meet their statutory requirement to teach religious education to pupils at all stages of their schooling.
Answer: It is a mandatory requirement for maintained schools and academies to teach religious education (RE) to all pupils throughout all key stages up to age 18. RE is inspected by Ofsted as part of their assessment of a school’s curriculum, as set out in the sc...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordReligion: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the teaching of religious education on (a) community relations and (b) preparing pupils for work in a global economy.
Answer: It is a mandatory requirement for maintained schools and academies to teach religious education (RE) to all pupils throughout all key stages up to age 18. RE is inspected by Ofsted as part of their assessment of a school’s curriculum, as set out in the sc...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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