Simon Opher MP: written questions
340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy Performance Certificates: Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available for landlords of traditional pre-1919 buildings to (a) conduct detailed retrofit assessments and (b) ensure compliance with EPC requirements.
Answer: Support is available to landlords to improve their properties. An eligibility tool is available on our ‘Help for Households’ GOV.UK page that will help landlords find the support available to them. Guidance for how to comply with EPC requirements can be f...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMidwives: AgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the age profile is of the NHS midwifery workforce in (a) the most recent month for which figures are available and (b) the same month in each year since 2015.
Answer: The tables attached show the age profile of the National Health Service midwifery workforce in the most recent month for which figures are available, and in the same month in each year since 2015.
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMidwives: AgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the age profile is of the NHS midwifery workforce for each Agenda for Change pay band in each region of England in the most recent month for which figures are available.
Answer: The table attached shows the age profile of the National Health Service midwifery workforce for each Agenda for Change pay band, in each region of England.
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgery: ReformDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to document entitled the Reforming elective care for patients, published on 6 January 2025, what estimate he has made of the size of the workforce needed to implement the (a) periope
Answer: The Elective Reform Plan sets out the reform and productivity efforts needed to ensure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care. Improving perioperative care can increase productivity by reducing cancellations...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgery: ReformDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of the document entitled Reforming elective care for patients, published on 6 January 2025, what steps he plans to take to implement shared decision-making.
Answer: The Elective Reform Plan, published on 6 January 2025, sets out the reform and productivity efforts needed to ensure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care. Shared decision making is an important part of goo...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgery: ReformDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document entitled Reforming elective care for patients, published on 6 January 2025, which groups of patients will be offered the prehabilitation services outlined in that pla
Answer: The Elective Care Reform Plan identifies the importance of supporting all patients to take control of their health, for example through smoking cessation and weight loss programmes, as they prepare for their surgery. As well as improving patient outcomes,...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgery: ReformDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) barriers and (b) costs for NHS trusts in implementing the perioperative care measures outlined in the document entitled Reforming elective care for
Answer: The perioperative care measures outlined in the Elective Care Reform plan build on existing NHS England led work to improve perioperative care including guidance on Earlier screening, risk assessment and health optimisation for adult patients due to have ...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMayors: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to change the voting system to Supplementary Vote for mayoral elections.
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHussam Abu SafiyaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart about Dr Hussam Abu Safiya.
Answer: We are concerned by the reports of the IDF operation at Kamal Adwan hospital, and the reported detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and others. In recent weeks, I have raised this case with both Israel's Ambassador to the UK, and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minis...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPerforming Arts: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the comedy industry.
Answer: Comedy is a serious business. It is a vital performing art and contributes to the mental health and wellbeing of people, not just in the UK, but around the world. It forms part of our cultural landscape, enriching lives, shaping our collective identity an...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role of energy storage and back-up systems in managing the intermittency of wind and solar power generation.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role of energy storage and back-up systems in delivering clean power. As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, we are committed to developing a flexible energy system that ensures security of supply through long ...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to speed up the delivery of planned electric vehicle charging stations.
Answer: The Government is taking several steps to speed up the delivery of both private and public electric vehicle chargepoints. In December, the Government announced that it will make changes to planning legislation to facilitate off-street chargepoint installa...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to develop recycling technologies for end-of-life wind turbine blades and solar panels.
Answer: This Government is committed to transition to a circular economy. We are developing a Circular Economy Strategy for England including a series of road maps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis, supporting G...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: BatteriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure sufficient recycling facilities are available to process end-of-life electric vehicle batteries.
Answer: The UK has the opportunity to boost its midstream processing and recycling of critical minerals, building on world-leading innovation and technical expertise in our chemicals and metals sectors. We continue to work with industry via the Automotive Transfo...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the National Youth strategy; what steps she is taking to involve youth sector organisations in the development of that strategy; and how he
Answer: We are developing our plans for the new National Youth Strategy, in partnership with young people and with organisations within the youth sector, to bring power back to young people and rebuild a thriving and sustainable sector. We know there is excellent...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether hubs that provide open access mental health services for children and young people in every community will be delivered only through the Young Futures programme.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving mental health support for children and young people, as demonstrated by our pledge to roll out a network of Young Futures Hubs in every community to provide open access mental health support. We are currently worki...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to begin rolling out measures to deliver the 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments this financial year; and how many such appointments he plans to deliver within the same peri
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure that patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeti...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to deliver 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments each year.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure that patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeti...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to commission further waves of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England report.
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Report. We will publish plans in due course.
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: West BankHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support people applying for visas in the West Bank.
Answer: Currently, anyone who wishes to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available. The Visa Application Centre in Ramallah is open and operating as normal.Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Imm...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19463More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will (a) introduce emergency presentation as a proxy staging measure for non-stageable blood cancers and (b) apply a corresponding national target to (i) measure and (ii) support
Answer: There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) the number of blood cancer patients diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways and (b) other data on the performance of such pathways.
Answer: The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many blood cancer patients have been diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways in each of the last three years.
Answer: The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet the Blood Cancer Alliance to discuss the need to include specific measures to improve blood cancer (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) care in the forthcoming cancer strategy.
Answer: There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the student loan finance repayment system to reduce monthly repayments for students in England.
Answer: The department is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, universities and students. The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to un...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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