Simon Opher MP: written questions
340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Community AssetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities undergoing Local Government Reorganisation on the transfer or sale of assets to community groups.
Answer: During the local government reorganisation process, councils are expected to continue to operate on a business-as-usual basis. Assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils until reorganisation is complete. Decisions about the disposal or tran...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPerforming Arts: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117466More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to make comedy venues eligible for the 15% business rates relief.
Answer: The Government has defined in guidance which properties will be eligible for the relief announced on 27th January 2026 based on definitions used previously in the business rates system. Individual Local Authorities will need to determine which properties ...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCarbon BudgetsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how he plans to (a) embed climate adaptation and (b) integrate steps to mitigate and adapt within the seventh carbon budget.
Answer: The Climate Change Act (2008) sets out how government must consider both adaptation and mitigation when designing the pathway to net zero by 2050, through Climate Change Risk Assessments, National Adaptation Programmes and when setting Carbon Budgets. As ...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Climate ChangeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support climate adaptation by Government.
Answer: Defra is the lead department for domestic climate adaptation and works across Government, including with the Cabinet Office, in delivering this function. Defra is responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. This in...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve Endometriosis care.
Answer: We are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis, and we are taking action to address this, including delivering 5.2 million extra appointments between July 2024 and June 2025 a...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the December 2025 medicines agreement with the US on costs to the NHS in England.
Answer: Tens of thousands of National Health Service patients will benefit from this deal, which will secure and expand access to vital drugs, and safeguard our medicines supply chain.Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCost of Living: Young PeopleTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113999More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support young people with the cost of living.
Answer: At the Autumn Budget in 2025, the government took action to bear down on prices and target everyday expenses, including taking an average of £150 off household energy bills from this April. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will strengthen protections for priv...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBrownfield Land Release FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he plans to extend the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
Answer: The third round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund will launch this year. Design options are currently being explored by officials.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHistoric Environment RecordsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58971 on Historic Environment Records, how he plans to commence section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; and
Answer: The government continues to consider the implementation of section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. Any announcements will be made to Parliament in the usual way.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: Health ProfessionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support networks of (a) clinicians and (b) health professionals who wish to share best practice on responding to domestic abuse.
Answer: A network of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (DASV) Leads are embedded in almost every National Health Service trust, integrated care board, and region across England. These Leads act as advocates both within the NHS and in partnership with external ag...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Plan 2 student loan borrowers there are resident in Stroud.
Answer: As of 30 April 2025, there were approximately 19,000 (to the nearest 1000) Plan 2 student loan borrowers with a positive loan balance registered with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to postcodes which fall wholly or partly within the local authority area ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOrchestras: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support orchestras.
Answer: The Government is proud to champion our world-class orchestras and musicians, and help them to thrive. Through Arts Council England’s (ACE) 2023–26 National Portfolio Investment Programme, more money is going to more orchestral organisations in more parts...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPension Funds: Fossil FuelsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with The Pensions Regulator on what estimate it has made of how many and what proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in (a) thermal coal-fired and (b) any other foss
Answer: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has not produced such estimates. As part of its supervision and to assist in understanding the link between performance and asset allocation, TPR now gets access to investment data from workplace pension schemes – including in...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGaza: Health ServicesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to keep the Gaza medical evacuation scheme operating.
Answer: We have supported a number of sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK. We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region and will update on this in due ...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses and Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) small and (b) start-up businesses.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting small and start-up businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for small and medium size businesses in a generation.Start-ups play a crucial role in fostering competition...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Solar PowerDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department will resume approvals for applications made by schools to attain purchasing power agreements for the installation of solar panels.
Answer: A temporary pause in Summer 2025 was quickly lifted and the programme is continuing as normal. Schools wishing to take forward solar projects via a Power Purchase Agreement should apply in the usual way following available guidance.
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNon-governmental Organisations: RegistrationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support international non-governmental organisations that have been deregistered in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli government.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made on 5 January.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIntegrated Care Boards: Further EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Integrated Care Boards include further education colleges as partner institutions in their place-based partnerships, clinical strategic plans and Neighbourhood Health Plans; and if he will
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Association of Colleges' report entitled From treatment to prevention: how colleges can build a healthier society, published in December 2025, what assessment his Department has made of th
Answer: The primary purpose of Tailored Learning, which includes what used to be called Community Learning, is to support learners into employment and to progress to further learning, in line with the overall purpose of the Adult Skills Fund.It plays a vital role...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Association of Colleges' report entitled From treatment to prevention: how colleges can build a healthier society, published in December 2025, what discussions he has had with Cabinet coll
Answer: The department consults with Cabinet colleagues on a range of policies, and we are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all young people, including those with specific needs. We have introduced the Youth Guarantee to tackle the number of t...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial and Affordable Homes Programme: StroudMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in Stroud.
Answer: Since coming into office the government has listened carefully to social and affordable housing providers, and we have responded positively to their calls for increased grant funding, for measures to improve their financial capacity, and for regulatory ce...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to UIN 94508, how many of these unique applications were made by people currently outside the UK, compared to those already based in the UK.
Answer: The Department has not undertaken an analysis of the information collected as part of the 2025 medical specialty training programme to assess the location of applicants at the point of application.
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the modelled projections in the 10 Year Workforce Plan will include projections for medical specialties.
Answer: The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. It will include modelling of the potential size and shape of the future workforce a...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how extra training places as set out in the 10 year plan will be divided between specialities.
Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July this year, over the three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.On 8 December, the...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog for core anaesthetic training.
Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July this year, over the three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.On 8 December, the...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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