Every parliamentary written question tabled by Blake Stephenson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,521–1,536 of 1,536 · this parliament
What his planned timetable is for the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator.
The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Pubs Code to allow tenants of pub-owning businesses to sell one beer of their choice.
The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
If he will make a comparative assessment of the Pubs Code in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.
The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of Age UK's Equality Impact Assessment on the Winter Fuel Payment.
An equality analysis was produced as part of Ministerial decision making in line with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty. This was published on 13th September. By convention, such analyses are not published alongside secondary legislation...
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to manage the potential impact of housing developments on trends in the level of farm
Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk,...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) maintain and (b) extend flooding support schemes for farmers.
We are aware of the ongoing challenges farmers have been facing following the winter storms and wet weather in late 2023 and early 2024. We are committed to maintaining food production and supporting thriving farm businesses as well as protecting communit...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what annual cost to the public purse is of the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius on 3 October will, for the first time in 50 years, secure the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The base plays a crucial role in regional and international security. It is not normal practice for the...
What steps her Department is taking to help support small businesses to comply with the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax regulations.
HMRC have worked closely with stakeholders in the business and tax communities on the design and scope of MTD for Income Tax to make sure it is fit for purpose. This has led to practical design changes and improvements that will benefit users. HMRC is cur...
What recent estimate she has made of whether the rollout of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will be completed by April 2026.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is an ambitious reform that will support modernisation of the tax system. The government is working collaboratively with HMRC and external stakeholders to bring the first businesses and landlords into MTD for Income Tax. Reflectin...
What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Probation Service in the East of England.
The performance of the Probation Service in England and Wales is closely monitored by both internal and external scrutiny bodies, including His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), who provide independent scrutiny of Probation Services. The Ministr...
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to upgrade sewage infrastructure in Mid Bedfordshire constituency in this Parliament.
The Secretary of State and I have secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. There are several schemes at sewage treatment works in the Mid-B...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sustainable drainage systems in managing flood risk on new housing developments.
Planning policy requires that Sustainable Drainage Systems are included in all new major developments, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The Government is currently assessing how best to implement its ambitions on sustainabl...
What steps she is taking to reduce class sizes in Bedfordshire.
The average class size for state-funded primary schools in Bedford is 26.8 pupils and in Central Bedfordshire it is 25.7 pupils, which is broadly in line with the national average of 26.6 pupils. The average class size for state-funded secondary schools i...
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whethe
The Government is committed to building more high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes and places. There is a clear framework through policy and guidance on how to achieve well-designed places and the principles of good design are set out in the ...
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that stations without step free access are made accessible for all.
We are carefully considering the best approach to accessibility at stations across Britain. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
What steps he is taking to help ensure new GP surgeries are established in areas of population growth.
GPs have been neglected for too long. They are under-resourced, struggling to cope, and patients pay the price. We know that there is pressure on primary care estates and service provision in areas of high population growth. General practice provides high quality care, and we are committed to shifting the focus of care out of hospitals and into the community.