Simon Opher MP: written questions
226 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Health Mission BoardDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) structure and (b) scope is of the cross-Government Health Mission Board.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care chairs a cross-Government Health Mission Board to oversee and drive delivery of the Health Mission to build a health and social care system fit for the future. Mission Boards are Cabinet...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: DisadvantagedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to deliver a fully funded cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities which (a) takes into account the wider determinants of health and (b) includes measurable goa
Answer: Our Health Mission in England focuses on addressing the social determinants of health, with the goal of halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.We will work across Government and with a wide range of healthcare s...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: DisadvantagedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to engage with (a) parliamentarians and (b) healthcare stakeholders on steps to improve health inequalities.
Answer: Our Health Mission in England focuses on addressing the social determinants of health, with the goal of halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.We will work across Government and with a wide range of healthcare s...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordActive Travel EnglandDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria is used to determine funding allocations from Active Travel England to local authorities.
Answer: Active Travel England sets out allocations based on population level and capability level, with funding weighted to areas with higher levels of capability to maximise delivery. Local authorities with lower ratings receive support to increase their capabil...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSecondary EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of 14-16 year old provision in further education colleges.
Answer: Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full time study programme and receive funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). If they wish to do so, colleges need to meet specific criteria,...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSecondary Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of differences in levels of funding between 14-16-year-old students who undertake their Key Stage 4 education at a (a) main
Answer: Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full time study programme and receive funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). If they wish to do so, colleges need to meet specific criteria,...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to launch a further consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to reduce the cost and complexity for community-led housing providers aimi
Answer: The government recognises that community-led housing delivers a wide range of benefits, including additional housing supply, empowering communities, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy. We are committed to making it ea...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes England: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to include a specific requirement to support community-led housing in commissioning the next phases of funds for Homes England.
Answer: The government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes England: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to include a specific requirement to provide rural affordable housing in commissioning the next phases of funds for Homes England.
Answer: The government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance Certificates: Rented HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) exemptions and (b) alternative pathways for landlords unable to meet the EPC C rating requirement due to structural limitation.
Answer: Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. In this co...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance CertificatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the consistency in EPC ratings provided by different assessors; and whether she plans to improve that consistency through changes to (a
Answer: The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012 place a duty on accreditation schemes to ensure that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are produced in a consistent and accurate manner and the energy assessors are suitably qualified and experienc...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy 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 record
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