Simon Opher MP: written questions
226 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Game: Gun SportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ban the use of lead shot and large calibre bullets for game shooting.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has formed a final Opinion on their restriction proposal, including for live quarry shooting, informed by information from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice. Now Defra has received HSE’s fi...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnterprise Investment SchemeTreasuryTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45967More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Enterprise Investment Scheme tax relief to people investing in community assets that are leased and operated by community groups
Answer: The venture capital schemes, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), are intended to incentivise investment into early-stage, higher-risk companies that are seeking to make profit, and to grow and develop their businesses. To ensure that the sch...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the neurodiverse assessment waiting list.
Answer: Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service, published September 2024, highlighted the severe delays in accessing autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments, and that demand for assessments for ADHD and autis...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPlastics: TreatiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) a Minister from his Department plans to attend the next round of negotiations on the UN Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva.
Answer: The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution is scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. As with previous ne...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing Benefit and Pension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which body will administer the proposed merged housing and pension credit.
Answer: The Department is committed to delivering the Government’s goal of bringing together the administration of pensioner Housing Benefit and Pension Credit for new claimants from 2026, so that pensioners receive the support they are entitled to.We are working...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPensioners: Housing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in receipt of Housing Benefit are not claiming Pension Credit.
Answer: Using the latest published benefit combinations statistics from Stat-Xplore, out of the 1.24m benefit claimants of state pension age in Great Britain receiving Housing Benefit in August 2024, 448,500 were not in receipt of Pension Credit. A DWP benefit cl...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing Benefit and Pension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on merging pension credit and housing benefit.
Answer: The Department is committed to delivering the Government’s goal of bringing together the administration of pensioner Housing Benefit and Pension Credit for new claimants from 2026, so that pensioners receive the support they are entitled to.We are working...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the United Nations report entitled Report on the 2022 Transforming Education Summit, published in January 2023, what assessment his Department has made of t
Answer: Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. Equality Impact Assessments - which conside...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continuation of funding for education initiatives through ODA.
Answer: Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. Equality Impact Assessments - which conside...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people with lung conditions.
Answer: In collaboration with a number of partners, the National Health Service has developed a package for local systems containing the information and support required to help increase the number of people receiving an early and accurate diagnosis for respirato...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFish FarmingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will strengthen legal protections for farmed fish.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for North Herefordshire, Ellie Chowns, on 6 March 2025, PQ 34489.
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TransportDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support SEND transport providers.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Stroud to the answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27291.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming Incentive: Educational VisitsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March to Question 36816 on Sustainable Farming Incentive: Educational Visits, whether the proposed standalone capital item for educational access will be i
Answer: The proposed stand-alone capital item for educational access is a separate offer from the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). To be eligible for the education access payments applicants must have an SFI or other agri-environment or woodland agreement. We...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: StroudDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025, how many people in Stroud will no longer be e
Answer: No estimate has yet been made.Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reformin...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHistoric Environment RecordsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 into force.
Answer: The government is reviewing heritage planning policy in the context of wider reforms to the planning system. As part of that work we will consider the outstanding measures from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 including statutory historic enviro...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOsteoporosis: TomographyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025WithdrawnUIN 42619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 32108 on Osteoporosis: Diagnosis, in which locations will the 14 new bone density scanners be located.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teacher pension payments are not suspended as a result of (a) administrative issues and (b) delays related to proof of life documentation.
Answer: The department has kept the Disclosure of Death Registration Information (DDRI) check under review with the scheme administrator to ensure that it continues to meet the objectives of both protecting members and the scheme.The DDRI check was introduced as ...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: EligibilityLeader of the HouseTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41227More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on bringing forward legislative proposals to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payments.
Answer: As Leader of the House of Commons (and Chair of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee), I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss legislation and other matters. Recently announced changes to PIP eligibility will be brought forward...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Office for Budget Responsibility has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity group on the finances of disabled p
Answer: The Department published “Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Equality Analysis” and “Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts” alongside the Spring Statement. A further programme of analysis to supp...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHealthy Start Scheme: StroudDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many families are receiving Healthy Start in Stroud.
Answer: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at ...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMusicians: WomenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support women wanting to become professional musicians.
Answer: This government is committed to providing the essential foundations and support for everyone, including women, to pursue successful careers in music. We are developing a 10 Point Plan to drive growth, foster innovation, and create a thriving environment f...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Environmental Delivery Plans proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are compatible with section 17(5) of the Envi
Answer: The government is clear that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not lead to a reduction in environmental protections.The Secretary of State, when considering a policy decision to make an Environmental Delivery Plan for an area, will have due regard...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-school EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support (a) early education and (b) childcare providers.
Answer: The government is committed to giving children the best start in life and has set the ambition through the government’s Plan for Change for a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn.The department has set a target for 75% of children ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Delivery PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether her Department (a) has commissioned or (b) plans to commission pilot studies to assess the effectiveness of Enviro
Answer: The government will work with Natural England to put the first Environmental Delivery Plans in place as soon as possible following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to determine the b...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Restoration FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what steps her Department plans to take to consult with stakeholders on the implementation of the nature resto
Answer: The government will continue to work with relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the nature restoration levy.
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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