Simon Opher MP: written questions
108 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Elections: Social MediaMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to protect election candidates from anonymous abuse on social media through the forthcoming Elections Bill.
Answer: The Government is clear that all forms of harassment, intimidation and abuse, including online and anonymous abuse, are unacceptable and have no place in our democracy. As set out in the Restoring Trust in our Democracy strategy, we are taking forward sev...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: Social MediaMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to help protect UK citizens from (a) foreign influence and (b) manipulation operations using fake accounts on social media
Answer: The Government takes any attempts to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from foreign interference. The Defending Democracy Taskforc...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFraud: InternetDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Ofcom's Online Safety Act Illegal Content Codes of Practice on levels of fraud against UK consumers.
Answer: Reducing online violence against women and girls and fraud are priorities for this government. Ofcom’s Illegal Harms Codes require platforms to proactively address serious illegal content, much of which disproportionately impacts women and girls. The code...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Ofcom's Online Safety Act Illegal Content Codes of Practice on levels of online violence against women and girls.
Answer: Reducing online violence against women and girls and fraud are priorities for this government. Ofcom’s Illegal Harms Codes require platforms to proactively address serious illegal content, much of which disproportionately impacts women and girls. The code...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on ensuring that the steps it is taking to implement the Online Safety Act (2023) contribute to the delivery of its target to halve th
Answer: Reducing online violence against women and girls and fraud are priorities for this government. Ofcom’s Illegal Harms Codes require platforms to proactively address serious illegal content, much of which disproportionately impacts women and girls. The code...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Law: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reasons the UK has opposed proposals at the UN to guarantee at least one year of free pre-primary education and free secondary education in international law.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to question 84390 on 3 November.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUN Convention on the Rights of the Child: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Education and (b) other Cabinet colleagues on the UK's position on proposals at the UN to negotiate an Option
Answer: Officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Education worked together closely to determine the UK's position on the Optional Protocol, as set out in the answer provided on 3 November to Question 84390.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: SoftwareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that (a) universal lay terminology is used in the NHS app and (b) there is signposting to Lab Tests Online UK to enable patients to interpret their diagnostic results correctly.
Answer: The NHS App aims to use clear, universal lay terminology that is easy for the general public to understand. The content follows the National Health Service content style guide, which mandates writing in plain English to a reading age of nine to 11 years o...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase funding for (a) the pathology (i) workforce, (ii) estates and (iii) IT infrastructure and (b) pathology disciplines involved in the pathways for cancer patients.
Answer: The 2025 Spending Review prioritised health, with record investment in the health and social care system. The Spending Review announced that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms, a £53 billion cash ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Environment Agency's Chief Scientist’s Group report entitled Exploring recreational water
Answer: The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. The Environment Agency’s report on recreational water use will help to inform that process.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to consult with recreational user groups during the development of the proposed White Paper on water reform.
Answer: The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature, including for recreational water users, and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. Extensive consultation with stakeholders took place during the Independent Wa...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through the water reform white paper to consider potential options for increasing access rights for (a) swimming and (b) non-motorised craft.
Answer: The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature, including for recreational water users. We will respond to the recommendations published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission through a White Paper and will bring...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: LabellingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of method of production labelling on (a) the economy and (b) farm incomes.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, on 20 October 2025, PQ UIN 78472.
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82020 on Energy: Buildings, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, (b)
Answer: For Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) the Government publishes Official Statistics including WH:SHF Waves 1 and 2 measures installed, homes treated, carbon and bill savings. Statistics on WH:SHF Wave 3 and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), summary b...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will publish regular data on patients treated in (a) corridors and (b) other inappropriate spaces.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps that we are taking, including the commitment to publish data on the...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department will publish ?the data on the number of patients treated in (a) corridors and (b) other inappropriate spaces.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps that we are taking, including the commitment to publish data on the...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlastic Packaging TaxTreasuryTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84427More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase the (a) Plastic Packaging Tax rate and (b) recycled content requirement to promote domestic recycling.
Answer: The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in April 2022 under the previous government and provides a price incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging – thereby stimulating the collection and recycling of plasti...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDeposit Return SchemesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress she has made on the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers will launch in October 2027 across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Earlier this year we appointed UK DMO as the deposit management organisation for the schemes in England, Northern Ireland and ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPlastics: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review plastic waste exports to promote domestic recycling.
Answer: We are committed to ensuring a level playing field for domestic plastic recyclers and we are currently considering the role of exports in dealing with the UK’s plastic waste. Defra is committed to building a circular economy that enhances industry competi...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to publish an implementation plan to ensure that each Integrated Care Board commissions a Fracture Liaison Service.
Answer: Fracture liaison services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out fracture liaison services across every part of the country by 2030.Offic...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: VeteransDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for the Op Courage service.
Answer: NHS England meets with the regional providers of Op COURAGE on a regular basis to review the individual services, to ensure that they are meeting the needs of veterans. They are undertaking a comprehensive review which includes the time that veterans wait...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BuildingsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of improved energy efficiency in buildings on (a) energy security, (b) consumer bills and (c) carbon budgets.
Answer: Decarbonising buildings is the only certain way to permanently lower bills, protect the UK against price shocks, reduce demands and preserve energy security by helping the UK become energy independent. Government schemes are already delivering improvement...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for neurology health services.
Answer: Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We have exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 5.2 million more appointments across elective care services. This marks a vital f...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Public ConsultationHome OfficeTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled National guidance for community scrutiny panels, which closed on 19 October 2023.
Answer: Community scrutiny is a valuable means by which local communities can have a voice in how they are policed.The consultation on the national guidance for community scrutiny panels ran under the previous government. We have no plans to respond to this consu...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to make it easier for (a) communities and (b) charities to receive planning permission for infrastructure projects.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. Local development plans s...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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