Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Sobel this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 267 · this parliament
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on disabled students, including on educational outcomes and equality, of proposals to restrict funding for specialist assistive software through D
Supporting disabled students to access and succeed in higher education is a government priority. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) provides support to remove disability-related barriers to learning, enabling students to access academic opportunities. DSA...
Who are able to apply for Local Power Plans.
The DESNZ/GBE Local Power Plan is designed to engage a wide range of stakeholders and participants including community energy organisations, local authorities as well as investors and lenders. The initial entry route for those seeking support is typically...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department distinguishes between sustainably managed commercial forestry and deforestation-linked timber imports.
The Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption indicator, funded by Defra, estimates that UK consumption of wood products is linked to circa 8,000 hectares of deforestation in 2023, associated with circa 0.4m tonnes of CO2 emissions. The UK has a robust ...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of sustainably sourced imported timber on the UK’s net zero and decarbonisation objectives.
We recognise the important role timber can play in supporting Net Zero, including through reducing embodied emissions in construction and storing carbon. The Government relaunched a more ambitious Timber in Construction Roadmap in February 2025 to increas...
What steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in processing driving licence applications.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to apply for and renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a f...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria and membership structure of the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) under the Humanitarian Respo
The Rapid Response Facility has not been used since 2019 and there are no plans to revive its use. Alternative mechanisms, such as the Start Fund have provided a more efficient route for providing funding to NGOs, and currently has a membership of 145 NGO...
In the context of the proposals to abolish Healthwatch, how he will ensure that people who are less likely to engage with health services directly, including those experiencing health inequalities,
Awaiting answer.
How many individuals in Leeds Central and Headingley constituency have been notified by HMRC that they must repay their Winter Fuel Payment due to income exceeding the eligibility threshold.
Population data on the number of individuals notified that they are liable for the Winter Fuel Payment tax charge is not available at constituency level.
In the context of the proposals to abolish Healthwatch, what steps he is taking to ensure that people feel safe providing feedback on the NHS or local authority services where that feedback is crit
Integrated care boards will have a statutory obligation to obtain the views of people who use health services, those who may use health services, and their carers and representatives. Local authorities will have the same responsibility in respect of care ...
In the context of plans to abolish Healthwatch, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that patient feedback gathered by NHS bodies and local authorities is independently scrutinised.
The aim of our patient and public voice reforms is not to maintain the current independent structures, but to strengthen the patient and public’s voice so it drives real change and improvement to services at all levels of the health and social care system...
What steps he is taking to recruit and retain allied health professionals in Leeds Central and Headingley constituency.
The Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work to support and retain our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employer...
Whether guidance will be issued to Integrated Care Boards and local authorities on how to deliver independent and inclusive engagement with local communities.
On behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Department will set the direction, issuing clear guidance to integrated care boards and local authorities on obtaining and actioning the views of local people on health...
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of abolishing local Healthwatch on public trust in providing feedback on health and care services.
An impact assessment has been undertaken and published alongside the introduction of the Health Bill 2026. It outlines the non-monetised benefits, including the streamlining of the landscape and legislation, avoiding duplication of activity, and increased...
How many migrants from the People’s Republic of China have been removed to that country since May 2015.
The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. Data on returns of Chinese nationals to their home country can be found in table Ret_D01 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’.
What protocols are in place regarding the sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with non-EU, non-M5 partners.
The Home Office has bilateral arrangements for sharing criminal records data, including biometrics, with a small number of countries outside of the EU and Migration 5 (M5) / 5Eyes. Such data can also be shared with other countries on a case-by-case basis ...
How many asylum claims originating from the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, have been based on fear of persecution for reasons of political opinion since May 2015.
Information regarding basis of claim is not published and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
How many asylum claims have been submitted by asylum seekers from the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, since May 2015; and how many of those were successful.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people claiming asylum and initial decisions on asylum claims, by nationality, is published in tables Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the ‘Asyl...
Whether her Department has provided information on the outcome of UK asylum cases to (a) Interpol’s General Secretariat and (b) the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files under Interpol’s Reso
The Government has long-standing policies to neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion against named individuals, and to not comment on an individual’s immigration or asylum status. This is to support the functio...
Whether there are any cases where (a) an Interpol WPD and (b) a Red Notice has been issued against an individual granted political asylum in the UK.
The Government has long-standing policies to neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion against named individuals, and to not comment on an individual’s immigration or asylum status. This is to support the functio...
Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards the Government’s commitment to reform the governance and statutory purposes of National Parks through legislation.
The Government has delivered in providing the National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority with a new general power of competence through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and remains committed to strengthening the governance...