Simon Opher MP: written questions
340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Patients: VeteransDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients are registered as veterans in England.
Answer: The Department does not maintain a running total of the number of patients receiving care across the full range of health services at any one time, and is not therefore in a position to say how many are registered veterans. However, NHS England has introd...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: CourtsMinistry of JusticeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made in delivering Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts across England and Wales.
Answer: This Government is committed to enhancing support for victims of domestic abuse and improving the criminal court’s response to domestic abuse cases. In our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government committed to rolling out Domestic Abuse P...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGaza: ChildrenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to UIN HCWS144, what progress has his Department made in carrying out medical evacuations of children in Gaza.
Answer: As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 24 June, the UK will resume its support for critically ill and injured children alongside their immediate families to leave Gaza and receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK. A cross-Go...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPerforming ArtsDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 27281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adding a representative from the comedy industry to the Creative Industries Council.
Answer: The Government recognises the significant contribution comedy makes to our creative industries, cultural life and national wellbeing. Arts Council England (ACE) has awarded more than £12 million between 2010/11 and 2024/25 to projects or organisations ide...
Answered 9 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGloucestershire Fire and Rescue ServiceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 22148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much money from central government grants has been allocated to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service in the 2026/27 financial year.
Answer: On 9 February 2026, the Ministry published the 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Gloucestershire County Council is responsible for managing the allocation an...
Answered 4 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: PalestineHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 22147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to make Palestinians in Gaza eligible for the new Named Community Sponsorship route.
Answer: Eligibility for the new Named Community Sponsorship route, including whether Palestinians in Gaza will be eligible, has not yet been finalised. Further details of the new route, including eligibility requirements, will be announced in due course.
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordEducation: WeatherDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to produce its own climate adaptation strategy to address the impact of extreme weather on (a) education and (b) infrastructure.
Answer: The department takes the impact of extreme weather seriously and has published a climate risk assessment covering flooding and overheating here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-of-uk-climate-change-risk-on-the-delivery-of-education/summa...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth: Climate ChangeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to meet the Climate Change Committee’s proposed health targets for a well-adapted UK.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to develop the fourth National Adaptation Programme which will set out the Government’s strategy to adapt to the impacts of the changing climate...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordChiropractic: Lifelong Learning EntitlementDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether chiropractic integrated Master’s degree programmes currently eligible for Lifelong Learning Entitlement funding at Levels 4–6 will be considered for inclusion in the Additional Priority Entitlement.
Answer: The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will replace and transform the existing student finance system for higher education (HE) at Levels 4 to 6. When launched, it will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives.The LLE ...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial PrescribingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has considered the potential merits of provision for cure to prevention workstreams and the role of social prescribing in formulating the 10 Year Workforce Plan.
Answer: The Government is committed to taking a preventive approach to improve health and address health inequalities. We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental health to support them to live longer and healthier lives, and we recognise the role t...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: ArtsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national framework for action for creative health.
Answer: In Autumn 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care identified a policy lead for Creative Health. They are now working with partners including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England, and the National Centre for Creative Hea...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning ObligationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve the enforceability of s106 agreements.
Answer: Section 106 agreements are legal agreements. Local planning authorities may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within them. Enforcement is at the discretion of the local planning authority and it is therefore for...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNon-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will set out a timeline for the implementation of regulations regarding cosmetic procedures.
Answer: In August 2025, the Government announced its plans to introduce legal restrictions which will ensure that the highest risk cosmetic procedures are brought into Care Quality Commission regulation and can only be performed by specified regulated healthcare ...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCompost: VATTreasuryTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10805More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will consider the potential merits of aligning biochar with other zero rated soil improvers for VAT classification.
Answer: There is no specific VAT relief that applies to soil improvers. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Ta...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChiropractic: Lifelong Learning EntitlementDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Lifelong Learning Entitlement Loan will be extended to those studying chiropractic at a Masters Level Degree.
Answer: The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will replace and transform the existing student finance system for higher education at Levels 4 to 6. When launched, it will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives.Those wishing...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting list times for mental health services.
Answer: The Government expects waiting times to reduce over time as reforms take effect. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, this will be supported by expanding the workforce, improving productivity, investing in digitally enabled therapies, and introducing ne...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInsomnia: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if NHS England will launch a national procurement for the provision of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.
Answer: NHS England is considering the most appropriate approach to supporting access to digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Any future commercial activity will be undertaken in line with applicable procurement legislation and associated transpare...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: SalesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to bring forward regulatory changes to allow homes and smaller businesses to buy power directly from local renewable energy schemes run by community co-operatives or other not-f
Answer: The Government recognises the role of community energy in delivering net zero and is working with Ofgem to address regulatory barriers, including routes to market. Through delivering on commitments in the Local Power Plan, we are working with Great Britis...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: NutritionDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the updated School Food Standards reflect the latest scientific evidence on nutrition.
Answer: We are committed to raising the healthiest generation ever. The School Food Standards are being updated because they are over a decade old and no longer fully reflect the latest scientific advice on children’s diets. In summary, the changes we propose to ...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help increase the production of domestic clean power.
Answer: Since we published the Clean Power Action Plan in December 2024, we are reforming the electricity market through our REMA decision on national pricing, delivered the most successful renewables auction in history with AR7 adding a record-breaking 8.4 gigaw...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Termination of EmploymentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of GPs have left each ICB in the last 12 months.
Answer: Thanks to actions taken by this Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015, and steps are being taken to grow the GP workforce further. The national leaver rate was 7.8% in the period covering March 20...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFood SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to improve food security.
Answer: The UK has a resilient food supply chain and is equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engageme...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSwimming Pools: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Written Statement HCWS1273, made on 27 January 2026, whether she plans to allocate some of the £400m grassroots sports funding to lidos.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to swimming facilities, including lidos, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and play an important role within communities. I was pleased to respond to t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitics and Government: PalestineCabinet OfficeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124194More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making a formal public response to the petition dated September 2025 on the United Kingdom’s historical role in Palestine.
Answer: The Cabinet Office manages its departmental records in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958. Section 3 of the Act sets out the provisions for selecting and preserving public records. The government does not routinely comment on pe...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartmental Records: PalestineCabinet OfficeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124193More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to identify, review and publish departmental records relevant to Government policy in Palestine.
Answer: The Cabinet Office manages its departmental records in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958. Section 3 of the Act sets out the provisions for selecting and preserving public records. The government does not routinely comment on pe...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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