Simon Opher MP: written questions
340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Business Premises: Empty PropertyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to implement part 10 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
Answer: The Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and tackling the issue of persistent vacancy. To achieve this, we will implement new High Street Rental Auctions as set out in Part 10 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. This w...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRights of WayDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to repeal the 2031 deadline for registering public rights of way.
Answer: Ministers are considering the further implementation of the rights of way reform programme.
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: WomenDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to take steps to regulate driving instructors to help ensure the safety of young women.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously and investigates thoroughly any complaints about approved driving instructors (ADI), involving the police if necessary. DVSA encourages pupils to report...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBirds: ConservationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support cavity-nesting birds on the Red List.
Answer: The Government is considering what action may be appropriate to help red-listed birds, including how to drive up rates of swift brick installation in new build properties.
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDemonstrations: SentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the independent review of sentencing policy will include sentencing for peaceful protest.
Answer: The right to protest peacefully is a fundamental part of our democracy. There is a long tradition in this country of people being able to come together and express their views. This Government remains firmly committed to protecting and preserving this rig...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployment Tribunals ServiceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the time limit for access to the Employment Tribunal from three months to six months after an incident of workplace discrimination.
Answer: The Government is committed to increasing employment tribunal time limits from 3-6 months, which is in line with the Law Commission recommendation from 2020. Measures to extend the time limit for bringing claims to Employment Tribunals will be added via a...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to move the regulation of sludge used on agricultural land from the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 into the Environmental Permitting (Englan
Answer: The Government is working with the Environment Agency to assess the regulatory framework for sludge. We recognise the importance of improving the regulatory framework, however, further work is required before any proposal for change may be progressed.
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFood Data Transparency PartnershipDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on introducing mandatory reporting for food businesses on (a) health and (b) environmental metrics.
Answer: This Government is committed to tackling the challenges faced by our health system with the shift to prevention central to this ambition. Under the Government’s Health Mission we are considering what preventative action is needed to support people live lo...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: BricksMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of swift bricks in new build housing.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 4279 on 12 September 2024.
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLand BankingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to prevent developers land banking in their area.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 900294 on 2 September 2024.
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to increase the availability of social housing across England.
Answer: The Government is committed to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. Our aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather t...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving asylum seekers the right to work whilst their application is being processed.
Answer: Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This list is based on expert advice ...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: StroudHome OfficeTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of finding alternative accommodation for the 88 asylum seekers due to be housed at Tricorn House in Stroud.
Answer: The Home Office has a statutory obligation to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers whilst their asylum claims are considered.We work with local authorities to ensure housing is procured in a fair and equitable manner across England, Scotland a...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordChickenpox: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help vaccinate children against chicken pox.
Answer: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a universal varicella chickenpox vaccination programme be introduced as part of the routine childhood schedule. The JCVI statement is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNon-surgical Cosmetic ProceduresDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will suspend permission for non-surgical filler injections for gluteal fat grafting procedures.
Answer: The Government is currently considering what steps may need to be taken in relation to the safety of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including filler injections. The Government will set out its position at the earliest opportunity.
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Emergency ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of utilising veterans with specific skill sets in emergency services immediately on re-entering civilian life without extensive training.
Answer: This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. We are committed to making sure veterans make full use of the skills, qualifications and capabilities they gained in the military after they leave the Armed Forces....
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Detention CentresHome OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what criteria asylum seekers are housed in detention centres.
Answer: Asylum seekers may be detained for immigration purposes only in accordance with Home Office detention policy, as set out in the Detention General Instructions, the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention guidance and the Detained Asylum Casework guidance....
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordIllegal Migration Act 2023Home OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of repealing the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
Answer: The Government has made clear the that the Migration and Economic Development (MEDP) Policy with Rwanda will end. We will bring forward a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill as promised in the King’s Speech.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordADHD: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to reduce the waiting list for ADHD diagnosis.
Answer: The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of thei...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTransport: StroudDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that transport infrastructure in the M5 corridor north of Bristol is developed in a way that allows hou
Answer: The Government recognises the need to ensure that housing growth is appropriately supported by transport infrastructure provision. I am unable to comment on specific proposals, it is for the local authority in consultation with infrastructure providers to...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that new houses are built with specifications that enable them to be carbon neutral.
Answer: The Government remains committed to meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises the important contribution that the energy efficiency of buildings has to make in meeting it.The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was publ...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGloucestershire Constabulary: Police Community Support OfficersHome OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for additional Police Community Support Officers being in post in Gloucestershire constabulary.
Answer: The Government is committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission, That is why we are working with policing to introduce a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, providing a more visible police presence in town centres, r...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBreakfast ClubsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for making free breakfast clubs available in every primary school.
Answer: The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and giving every child the best start in life. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is set-up for the day and ready...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ending the Right to Buy scheme.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 4158 on 12 September 2024.
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: LandMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will prohibit trail hunting across the Defence estate.
Answer: No licences have yet been issued for trail hunting on the Ministry of Defence Estate for the 2024–2025 season.
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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