Wendy Morton MP: written questions
1974 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Charities: LotteriesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the (a) transparency and (b) accountability of lottery fundraising by charities.
Answer: The transparency and accountability of society lottery operators is a matter for the Gambling Commission through its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The Minister for Gambling has no current plans to take action in this area.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: LotteriesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to remove the cap on charity lottery ticket sales.
Answer: Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations. We are carefully considering calls to increase or remove limits on ticket sales, alongside the results of independen...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: Aldridge-brownhillsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33016 on Pension Credit: Aldridge-Brownhills, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing data on the number of outstanding Pe
Answer: There are currently no plans to publish volumes of Pension Credit Outstanding Claims at a constituency level. Statistics on the number of Pension Credit outstanding claims for Great Britain were published on 27 February 2025. This includes numbers of appl...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: InternetDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce potential barriers to accessing Pension Credit for pensioners who do not have access to digital services or face challenges with online applications.
Answer: The Department is in the process of modernising the Pension Credit delivery and consideration of accessibility, having previously introduced online claims, in addition to telephone and paper claims. Claims for Pension Credit can be made online at: www.gov...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: PayTreasuryTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36400More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help mitigate the impact of public sector pay settlements for 2025 on inflation.
Answer: For 2025-26, public sector pay awards for most frontline sector workforces are subject to the ongoing Pay Review Body (PRB) process. The majority of PRBs are required, per their terms of reference, to consider the government’s inflation target when formin...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture and Business: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36399More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) on the ability of farming families to pass on agricultural (a) businesses and (b) property to future gener
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support (a) councils and (b) local authorities to improve high streets.
Answer: The commercial vacancy rate is 13.3% in England and 16.2% in the West Midlands. This government is committed to tackling high street vacancy and supporting small businesses. On 4 March, we launched the Plan for Neighbourhoods, a £1.5 billion investment to...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmpty Property: Retail TradeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of empty retail units in town centres; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing new (a) grants
Answer: The commercial vacancy rate is 13.3% in England and 16.2% in the West Midlands. This government is committed to tackling high street vacancy and supporting small businesses. On 4 March, we launched the Plan for Neighbourhoods, a £1.5 billion investment to...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLand UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024, what instruction has been given to the planning inspectorate on determining land as grey bel
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 26011 on 31 January 2025 and Question UIN 26507 on 5 February 2025. Land is Green Belt if designated as such in a Local Plan.On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local au...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLand UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024, what steps she plans to take to ensure consultation with local communities before any develo
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 26011 on 31 January 2025 and Question UIN 26507 on 5 February 2025. Land is Green Belt if designated as such in a Local Plan.On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local au...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLand UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024, what her Department's definitions of (a) grey belt and (b) green belt are.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 26011 on 31 January 2025 and Question UIN 26507 on 5 February 2025. Land is Green Belt if designated as such in a Local Plan.On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local au...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Policing: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the funding for neighbourhood police officers in the financial year 2025-26 and beyond.
Answer: The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to the 2024-25 and represents a 6% cash increase and 3.5% rea...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCrimeHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that police forces are sufficiently resourced to tackle crime rates.
Answer: The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to the 2024-25 and represents a 6% cash increase and 3.5% rea...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice Stations: ClosuresHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed closures of (a) Aldridge Police Station and (b) other local police stations on community safety.
Answer: The Home Office does not collect data on the number or location of police stations, or the impact of their closure. Police stations are just one of the ways people can access their local police services, including reporting online and by phone 24/7.It is ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services and Railways: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in Employers National Insurance Contributions on the budgets of train and bus operators transitioning from franchise to public mode of operat
Answer: Budgets for 2025/26 are in the process of being agreed, as part of the annual business planning process, with train operating companies. These budgets take account of the increase in the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36078More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to (a) support small businesses and (b) ensure that they are not disproportionately impacted, in the context of the anticipated increase in Employers National Insurance Contributions fro
Answer: The Government has taken difficult but necessary decisions to deliver long-term growth. Fixing the public finances is the only way to create long-term stability in which businesses can invest and thrive. The Government recognises the need to protect the s...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36077More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of introducing a phased reduction in employer National Insurance contributions for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
Answer: The Government has taken a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability after the situation we inherited from the previous administration. One of...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: ReformTreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36076More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing targeted relief for and (b) reforming employer National Insurance contributions.
Answer: The Government has taken difficult but necessary decisions to deliver long-term growth. Fixing the public finances is essential for providing long-term stability in which businesses can invest and thrive. The Government recognises the need to protect the ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSerbia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the meeting of the All-Serbian Assembly in June 2024.
Answer: While the UK welcomes inclusive regional cooperation, economic integration and inter-connectivity initiatives across the region, we have underlined to Serbia's leadership concerns about the June 2024 All Serb Assembly and Declaration and encouraged adhere...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: OffendersForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps is he taking to ensure continued accountability for people responsible for crimes committed during Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has raised the need for accountability directly with Syrian interim Foreign Minister Shaibani. We continue to support partners who are playing a pivotal role in developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by th...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Foreign Policy and Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of relaxing restrictions on the (a) energy, (b) transport and (c) finance sectors in Syria on the UK's (i) foreign policy
Answer: As I said in my statement to the House on 10 March, the Government is committed to helping to support the Syrian people in re-building their country and to promoting security and stability. We are focusing amendments to the Syria sanctions regime on energ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to adapt the Syria sanctions regime.
Answer: As the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories announced in Parliament on 13 February, we are making changes to the Syrian sanctions regulations to support the Syrian people in re-building their country and promote security an...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Day of EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28557 on International Day of Education, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of aid delivered to Af
Answer: The UK is committed to prioritising gender equality and rights. The needs and priorities of women and girls are at the core of the government's humanitarian response. In financial year 2023-24 (the most recent period for which we have verified data) we ca...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Environment ProtectionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to support the integration of greener practices in (a) global healthcare and (b) the surgical sector to meet net-zero emissions target
Answer: Since COP26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has promoted climate-resilient and sustainable health systems, including in the surgical sector. We co-founded the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health, with over 90 ...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27263 on Development Aid: Asylum Hotels, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Departmen
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with his Cabinet colleagues.The Official Development Assistance Board's first meeting in February 2025 focused on in-donor refugee costs. The co-chairs were joined by the Minister for Border Security and Asylu...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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