Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Snowden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,201–2,220 of 2,302 · this parliament
What estimate she has made of the number of eligible people who have applied for and are waiting to receive the winter fuel payment for winter 2024-25 in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
On 27 February 2025 we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit Applications and Awards - February 2025.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of means testing the Winter Fuel Payment on levels of pensioner poverty in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
On 19 November 2024, the Secretary of State wrote to the Work and Pensions Select Committee to share internal government modelling produced by the Department outlining the number of pensioners in the UK estimated to move into poverty as a result of the policy change. This letter is available here Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - Letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.It is not possible to provide poverty breakdowns at a constituency or county level.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on employment rates in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
As part of the Government’s ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate, the Employment Rights Bill will make work more secure, boost wages, and help working people thrive. In Fylde, our Jobcentre Employer and Partnership Teams work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally. An example of this includes working closely with local employers, partners and providers to hold job fairs and events to support recruitments and supporting customers into sustainable employment. The Jobcentre also collaborates with the Local Authority, as well as other government departments and further education providers to improve employment opportunities for the people of Lancashire.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential impact of urban (a) trees and (b) woodland on (i) mental and (ii) physical health.
Woodlands and green spaces are an essential part of our local and social infrastructure. Research shows that regular visits to woodlands and green spaces have significant health benefits. This Government is committed to improving the quality of, and access to urban green spaces. We are updating our flagship Green Flag Award standard for parks and green spaces to make it fit for modern parks. Furthermore, Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework sets out the Urban Tree Canopy Standard, providing important guidance on the long-term maintenance of tree canopy and urban greening to support urban cooling. We are also committed to increasing access to nature more widely, and have already set out several ambitious manifesto commitments to expand opportunities for the public to enjoy the outdoors, including the creation of nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England.
What discussions she has had with Avanti West Coast services on the number of delays between London Euston and Preston.
The Secretary of State met Avanti West Coast (AWC) in January to discuss plans to address industrial action. The Rail Minister also met AWC and Network Rail bosses in January to challenge poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements. While the performance of AWC is improving, it is still not good enough, with too many cancellations and delays. Poor Network Rail infrastructure reliability has also contributed significantly to the disruption felt by passengers.
What steps his Department is taking to help reduce household energy bills in Fylde constituency.
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers – including those in Fylde - permanently. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past. We are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. On 25 February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The Government has extended the Household Support Fund in England until 31 March 2026 with an extra £742 million in support, with additional funding for the Devolved Governments. In addition, I have also worked with energy suppliers to agree a £500 million Winter Commitment to help customers struggling with bills this winter.
What steps she is taking to communicate upcoming service cancellations on the West Coast Mainline to (a) passengers and (b) potential passengers.
The department expects train operators and Network Rail to communicate service changes to passengers in a timely and accessible way to minimise disruption to their journeys.
What steps his Department is taking to manage the potential impact of recent legal cases against veterans on trends in the level of recruitment for the Armed Forces.
Across Defence, a range of surveys and polls are regularly used which indicate broad engagement levels and attitudes towards the Armed Forces. The information is routinely used to ensure that Armed Forces’ recruitment activity can most effectively attract the best possible talent that the Armed Forces need. We expect the highest standards of our Service personnel. The overwhelming majority meet those expectations and serve with great distinction, but we rightly hold them to account when they fall short of these expectations. Equally though, we recognise the importance of doing everything we can, within the law, to protect serving personnel and veterans from repeat, malicious and often self-serving allegations. We will continue to explore options for enhancing these protections. Legal and pastoral support is provided to veterans affected by legal proceedings.
If she will take legislative steps to criminalise people who knowingly mislead a potential employer with a misrepresentative CV.
The Government’s key priorities within the Safer Streets Mission are to restore neighbourhood policing, tackle antisocial behaviour, and halve the levels of knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade. We have no plans to divert policing resources to focus on the Hon Member’s suggested priority instead.
Communities and Local Government, if she will arrange local referenda before proceeding with local government reorganisation in Lancashire.
There are no plans to require local referendums on proposed local government reorganisations. Proposals for local government must meet local needs and be informed by local views. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally in a meaningful and constructive way and this engagement activity should be evidenced in a proposal.Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.
What steps she is taking to support blind people to access cash when local bank branches close.
Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly. The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open. The FCA introduced regulatory rules for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts. Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) assesses a community’s access to cash withdrawal and deposit needs, and can recommend a new service if necessary. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
What steps her Department has taken to increase access to books for young people.
High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. It emphasises the importance of pupils listening to, discussing and – as their fluency increases – reading for themselves a wide range of stories, poems, plays and information books. School libraries complement public libraries in giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide, maintain and fund a library service for their pupils. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend their core schools funding. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26. On 5 February 2025, the government announced a £2 million investment to drive high and rising standards in reading and writing. Building on the success of phonics, teachers will receive additional training to help children progress from the early stages of phonics in reception and year 1 through to reading fluently by the time they leave primary school. This will be delivered through the English Hubs programme. In secondary school, teachers will be offered new training and resources this year to help them support readers at all levels, and next year the department will commission further training that will be focused specifically on struggling readers in secondary school who are at risk of falling behind.
What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to educate young people on the benefits of active lifestyles.
The Government recognises the physical and mental health benefits that leading an active lifestyle can bring for all children and young people.The Department for Education has recently launched an independent curriculum and assessment review that will advocate for a rich, broad, and inclusive curriculum that includes physical education, which the Department of Health and Social Care is also feeding into.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy on household energy bills in Fylde.
In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee energy security and protect billpayers is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. That is why government has a mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. We have a sustainable, long-term plan to protect all UK billpayers, including the people of Fylde, from volatile international gas markets. Backed by £8.3 billion, Great British Energy is part of this plan, driving the deployment of the clean, homegrown energy we need to boost our energy independence. As a publicly-owned company, Great British Energy will ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of this.
If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of rail delays on the West Coast Mainline on the economy of Fylde constituency.
Ministers have been clear that rail services have been failing passengers; we need to improve services for passengers and deliver better value for money for the taxpayer. The Rail Minister is meeting with the Managing Directors of all train operators, and their Network Rail counterparts, to address poor performance and demand immediate action to raise standards. The Department is in regular contact with local stakeholders, including Lancashire County Council and Transport for the North, on how to improve rail services to support the growth of the regional economy.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that international development funding is spent more efficiently.
The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including effectiveness, impact and value for money.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to strength ties between the UK and (a) Canada, (b) New Zealand, (c) Australia and (d) other Commonwealth countries.
UK-Commonwealth relationships are built on shared values and strategic cooperation. UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will deepen trade ties with Australia and boost prosperity, we remain committed to working together to address shared global challenges. As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons, the UK and Canada are the closest of allies. We cooperate with New Zealand on security, growth, climate and development. Recently, the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Peters for talks. We are working closely with members to implement CHOGM commitments, including bolstering human rights and democratic governance, tackling impacts of climate change, mobilising trade and investment.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of obesity-related illnesses on health services in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
The prevention of ill health is a clear priority for the Government and the cornerstone of this is supporting children to live healthier lives. Officials in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Northwest regional team prioritise tackling obesity and support children and young people to lead a healthier lifestyle. The Government has: laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on TV and online from 1 October 2025; announced changes to the planning framework for fast food outlets near schools; and is committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old.Examples of national schemes in Lancashire include: supporting weight management services to help families living with obesity, including the CHANGE weight management service in Fylde; Diabetes and Complications of Excessive Weight Service in NHS England’s Royal Preston Hospital, using a holistic approach to treating conditions related to obesity in children and young people; and 14 schools offering school breakfast clubs, as part of the Department for Education’s early adaptors programme, with the aim of providing healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts.In March 2023, Lancashire County Council published a report on creating healthier weight environments in Lancashire and subsequently established Healthy Hearts as one of three priorities to narrow the gap in Healthy Life Expectancy between local areas by 2030. The report is available at the following link:https://foodactive.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Creating-Healthier-Weight-Environments-in-Lancashire-Mar23_Final.pdfA two-year programme of work is being established to strengthen existing activities underway across the county and contribute to improving the food environment.
What steps she is taking to ensure reliable Sunday services on Northern Rail train services in Fylde constituency.
The Rail North Partnership, through which the department and Transport for the North manages Northern’s contract, required the operator to produce a detailed improvement plan. The plan includes: introducing a temporary reduced timetable on Sundays in the North West, with more bus support and ticket acceptance;resolving the Sunday arrangements with conductors to deliver a customer-focussed seven-day railway;focussing on fleet, traincrew deployment and strengthening resources in engineering, control and operations; anddeveloping a fit-for-purpose structure, including improving governance and processes across the business to improve sickness management. Northern is in regular discussions with its staff and the unions and ministers are monitoring this progress closely.
What steps he is taking to help tackle childhood obesity in Fylde.
The prevention of ill health is a clear priority for the Government and the cornerstone of this is supporting children to live healthier lives. Officials in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Northwest regional team prioritise tackling obesity and support children and young people to lead a healthier lifestyle. The Government has: laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on TV and online from 1 October 2025; announced changes to the planning framework for fast food outlets near schools; and is committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old.Examples of national schemes in Lancashire include: supporting weight management services to help families living with obesity, including the CHANGE weight management service in Fylde; Diabetes and Complications of Excessive Weight Service in NHS England’s Royal Preston Hospital, using a holistic approach to treating conditions related to obesity in children and young people; and 14 schools offering school breakfast clubs, as part of the Department for Education’s early adaptors programme, with the aim of providing healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts.In March 2023, Lancashire County Council published a report on creating healthier weight environments in Lancashire and subsequently established Healthy Hearts as one of three priorities to narrow the gap in Healthy Life Expectancy between local areas by 2030. The report is available at the following link:https://foodactive.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Creating-Healthier-Weight-Environments-in-Lancashire-Mar23_Final.pdfA two-year programme of work is being established to strengthen existing activities underway across the county and contribute to improving the food environment.