Shivani Raja MP: written questions
140 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Security Benefits: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting Armed Forces personnel in receipt of Government compensation from means-tested benefits.
Answer: The receipt of War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards is already fully ignored when calculating eligibility for Universal Credit. The first £10 per week of a War Pension or AFCS award is disregarded in: income-related Employment a...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all SEND pupils are able to access (a) education and (b) training opportunities; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her polic
Answer: For too long the education and care system has not met the needs of all children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with parents struggling to get their children the support they need and deserve. ...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCharities: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions on not-for-profit organisations.
Answer: At the recent Budget, the government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the foundations of the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability.DCMS Ministers have met with represen...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of rail journeys made between Coventry and Leicester in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Department holds information on the estimates of the number of journeys between all pairs of mainline stations in Great Britain by financial year in the Origin and destination matrix (ODM), published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The total num...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential economic impact of the Midlands Rail Hub on people in Leicestershire.
Answer: We are working closely with Network Rail and Midlands Connect to maximise the benefits of Midlands Rail Hub throughout the region, including in Leicestershire. Midlands Connect are leading on the development of the rationale for the scheme including the d...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a new direct rail link between Leicester and Coventry for Leicester's economy.
Answer: The Department is conducting a thorough review of the previous Government's transport plans to ensure that our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers. Decisions about individual projects will b...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTaxis: Conditions of Employment and PayDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that private hire drivers (a) are not exploited and (b) receive (i) appropriate pay and (ii) equal employment rights.
Answer: All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure those they engage receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled. Entitlement to employment rights is determined by an individual’s employment status. Private hire drivers can...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCricket and Football: SportsgroundsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) football and (b) cricket pitches there are in England.
Answer: According to Sport England’s Active Places database, there are 53,665 grass football pitches in England. This encompasses adult football, junior football 11 a-side, junior football 9 a-side, mini soccer 7 a-side and mini soccer 5 a-side pitches. Furthermo...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordZero Hours Contracts: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes in the regulation of zero hours contracts on average (a) staffing and (b) other costs for SMEs.
Answer: The potential impact of the proposed changes through the right to guaranteed hours, the right to advance notice of shifts and the right to payment for short notice shift cancellation, curtailment or movement are set out in the Government’s Impact Assessme...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSham Marriage: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that those who exploit immigration marriage fraud to gain entry to the UK are (a) identified and (b) removed from the country.
Answer: The Government takes abuse of the spouse and partner immigration routes very seriously and is clear that family migration must be based on a genuine and subsisting marriage or relationship.The marriage referral and investigation scheme, introduced across ...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordStamp DutiesTreasuryTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12775More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a phased approach to stamp duty increases for those in pre-agreed property transactions.
Answer: The increase of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Higher Rates for Additional Dwellings (HRAD) by two percentage points at the Autumn Budget 2024, will impact transactions on or after 31 October 2024.The rate increase will not apply to transactions where con...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing student maintenance loans in line with Consumer Price Index inflation.
Answer: The government recognises the impact that the cost of living crisis has had on students. That is why the government is increasing the maximum maintenance loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of infla...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFireworks: NoiseDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to work with local authorities to enforce noise curfews during fireworks.
Answer: Existing legislation already controls the sale, availability, and use of fireworks. For example, there is an 11pm curfew in place for the use of fireworks, with later exceptions only for the traditional firework periods. Using fireworks outside the curfew...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled Thousands of new homes to be built as government unlocks brownfield sites, published on 15 October 2024, which local authorities will
Answer: The third and final round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 allocated £68 million to 54 councils. We will publish the full list of those authorities who received awards on gov.uk in due course.
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSports: FinanceTreasuryTabled 18 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9975More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the levels of funding for grassroots sports.
Answer: Government funding is being considered in the usual way as part of the Spending Review. The outcome of this review will be communicated in due course.
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversity Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to support University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in the context of that Trust declaring a critical incident on 9 October 2024 and standing down that cri
Answer: The Government recognises the pressures that the National Health Service is facing, as made clear in the recent independent report undertaken by Lord Darzi. The report, published on 12 September 2024, will inform the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan to re...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSports: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of reductions in funding for sports on (a) access to physical activity for children and young people and (b) public health.
Answer: The Government’s new mission-led objectives puts health and children and young people at the heart of our priorities. The Government aims to provide opportunities for all children to access high-quality sport and physical activity, especially those who ar...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: SportsDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the current level of funding for sports programmes in schools is protected.
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity to enable every child to achieve and thrive, including through expanding access to sport and physical activity. This will support our cross-government missions and help to raise the hea...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCricket: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of funding for (a) women's cricket and (b) grassroots cricket infrastructure.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport Engl...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSmokingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of prohibiting outdoor smoking and vaping on the hospitality sector.
Answer: The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation. The bill will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, re...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) Police and Crime Commissioners on updating the funding formula for police forces.
Answer: The Government continues to have ongoing discussions representatives from the policing sector, including Police and Crime Commissioners on a range of topics.This engagement will continue through the current and future Spending Review processes, including ...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArts: Tax AllowancesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 October 2024 to Question 5439 on Arts: Tax Allowances, what grants are available to businesses in the creative industries; and what steps she is taking to help support
Answer: The creative industries have access to a range of cross-economy business support mechanisms, as well as a number of industry-specific grants. Creative industry funding opportunities include the £30 million+ Creative Catalyst programme, designed to support...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArts: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5439More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there are fiscal incentives for businesses looking to invest in creative industries in the UK; and whether she plans to take steps to encourage such investments.
Answer: The creative industries play a key role in driving economic growth. The Government is committed to supporting them and will implement a creative industries sector plan as part of the Industrial Strategy, creating good jobs and accelerating growth in film,...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArts: InvestmentDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with industry stakeholders on increasing investment in the creative industries; and what steps her Department is taking to support new investors.
Answer: Yes, ministers and officials have had many such discussions and we are committed to increasing investment in the creative industries from a variety of sources.One of the ways that the Government incentivises investment in the sector is through the creativ...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArts and Culture: FinanceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether financial support is available for firms looking to invest in the creative industries within the UK.
Answer: The Creative Industries Tax Reliefs and Expenditure Credits have been highly effective in attracting investment into the UK creative industries, especially for feature film, high end television (HETV), video games and animation. The British Film Institute...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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