Shivani Raja MP: written questions
778 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hotel rooms were used for asylum accommodation on (a) 1 July 2024 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many hotels were used for these purposes on each of those
Answer: As part of our effort to cut the overall costs of the asylum system, the Government is committed to end the use of asylum hotels over time, following the peak reached under the previous government when more than 400 hotels were in use, and almost £9 milli...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of VAT for private school fees on levels of demand for state school places; and what steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of
Answer: The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees. With regard to England, the government predicts that in the long-term steady st...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to renew pharmacy contracts following their expiry in March 2024; and if he will provide updated guidance on pharmacy funding following the Spring Budget.
Answer: As I have said in Parliament, the previous Government was unable to reach an agreement on the funding for community pharmacy ahead of the election. The existing contractual framework has remained in place and payments are made to contractors in accordance...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Finance and Tax AllowancesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) targeted tax relief and (b) other financial support measures to support businesses that have had to source materials or services
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not provide financial support in relation to sanctions. Where possible, we have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate,...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: RussiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses that have experienced financial losses in relation to restrictions on trade with Russia.
Answer: Our sanctions are designed to minimise impact on the UK and avoid unintended consequences. We have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate, and wind-down periods w...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Birmingham and LeicesterDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) frequency and (b) capacity of rail services between Birmingham and Leicester.
Answer: The scope for increased frequency on the Birmingham to Leicester route beyond the current two trains per hour is limited by current infrastructure. The infrastructure capacity is being considered as part of the proposed Midlands Rail Hub project. In term...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of building the Midlands Rail Hub on people in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) Leicestershire.
Answer: We are working with Network Rail, Midlands Connect, and West Midlands Rail Executive, to maximise the benefits of Midlands Rail Hub for people throughout the region, including in Leicester and Leicestershire. In December, the Chancellor launched the secon...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of building a rail connection between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on (a) Leicester East, (b) Leicestershire and (c) England.
Answer: In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a zero-based Spending Review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of improving transport connections between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on economic growth in the region.
Answer: Economic growth is the number one mission of this Government. The Department for Transport is playing a key role in this, as we recognise the potential for transport investment to have a significant impact on local economic development across the country,...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Coventry and LeicesterDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of journeys between Coventry and Leicester that are made by train.
Answer: The rail mode share between Coventry and Leicester is estimated to be approximately 3 per cent.
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to support the insulation of homes in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) other areas in England with high levels of fuel poverty.
Answer: The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy. Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: Mental Health Services and PovertyDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) child poverty, (b) access to mental health services and (c) the provision of adequate support for vulnerable children.
Answer: This government is committed to providing timely support to children and families that need help, and our mission-driven approach is critical to delivering this. In particular, through the missions to break down barriers to opportunity, and to make the NH...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will provide additional funding beyond the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to support the maintenance of historic places of worship in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) England
Answer: I note that the honourable member is asking us to spend more money and would be grateful if they could advise me on which other budget should be cut or tax should be commensurately increased. There is a range of funding available via DCMS and the Departme...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support minority-owned construction firms and builders gain equitable access to housing sector (i) opportunities, (ii) funding and (iii
Answer: Small and medium sized housebuilders, including those that are minority owned, are essential to meeting the government’s housing ambitions and supporting local economies. The government recently announced a £700m extension to the Home Building Fund which ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBurial: Minority GroupsMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure bodies of deceased individuals are released promptly to families from minority religious communities.
Answer: Since 9 September 2024, all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by NHS medical examiners. NHS England has published the National Medical Examiner’s guidance which stipulates that arrangements at each medica...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBurial: Minority GroupsMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that the bodies of deceased people from minority religious communities whose faith practices require burial within a specific timeframe are released promptly to their families.
Answer: Since 9 September 2024, all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by NHS medical examiners. NHS England has published the National Medical Examiner’s guidance which stipulates that arrangements at each medica...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Police and Crime Commissioners in (a) Leicestershire and (b) England on the potential impact of changes to the cost of firearms licenses on the police.
Answer: On 15 January 2025, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications, in line with the Government’s manifesto commitment on fire...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) phasing out and (b) banning cages for laying hens; and what steps he plans to take to ensure farmers are provided with supp
Answer: We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages for laying hens is an issue we are currently considering very carefully. The Laying Hen Housin...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) limiting rent increases, (b) enhancing requirements for landlord entry on the Private Rented Sector Databas
Answer: The Renters’ Rights Bill will transform the experience of private renting in England. It will modernise the regulation of the private rented sector, levelling decisively the playing field between landlord and tenant.It will empower renters by providing th...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of announcing a national inquiry into grooming gangs; and what steps she is taking to (a) support investigations into alleged crimes and (b) help
Answer: This Government is prioritising work to ensure victims and survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are protected and supported, while pursuing offenders and bringing them to justice. We are continuing to work across government and with policing a...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFossil Fuels: International CooperationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps with his international counterparts to negotiate a treaty on ending the (a) use and (b) production of fossil fuels.
Answer: We are committed to working with all international counterparts to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the UK’s domestic and international commitments including from the COP28 Global Stocktake.
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to improve the equitable distribution of practical driving test slots in (a) England and (b) Leicester East constituency.
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. On the 18 December, DVSA set out further plans to reduce driving test waiting times a...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFloods: LeicesterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support communities affected by recent flooding in Leicester; and whether he plans to make a flood recovery grant available to local authorities.
Answer: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five core priorities. This Government will invest £2.4 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defen...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: LeicesterDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to disability benefits on vulnerable individuals in Leicester; and what steps she will be taking to ensure those most
Answer: We want to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain to enable people better to enter and remain in work, and to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today. We will bri...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLow IncomesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support low-income families by (a) improving access to opportunities for children to play and learn, and (b) enhancing financial independence and living standards.
Answer: Through our Opportunity Mission, this Government will break the link between a child’s background and their future success. We will deliver across four areas including helping every child to achieve and thrive through excellent teaching and high standards...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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