Every parliamentary written question tabled by Martin Wrigley this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,141–1,160 of 1,723 · this parliament
If she will make it her policy that the existing level of funding for Education and Health Care Plans will be provided in Newton Abbot constituency in 2025-26.
I refer the hon. Member for Newton Abbot to the answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 35870.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make importing dogs with cropped ears illegal.
The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Winchester. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to the United Kingdom. We will use these powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs with non-exempted mutilations such as cropped ears. We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through both Houses as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing the Parkinson's UK Parky Charter.
We acknowledge the challenges that neurology services have been facing, particularly regarding the workforce, delays to treatment and care, and the lack of information and support that some patients have experienced. However, whilst no assessment has been made on the potential merits of the Parkinson’s UK Parky Charter, I am pleased that there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s disease. These national initiatives include the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, and the Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. Furthermore, we have delivered an additional two million appointments between July and November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, seven months ahead of schedule, as a first step in our commitment to ensuring patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks. These additional appointments have taken place across a number of specialities, including neurology. This summer, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients, including those with Parkinson’s, on time again. We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it. Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place. People with Parkinson’s who are 60 years old or over are entitled to free prescriptions. For those that have to pay for prescriptions, the cost can be capped by purchasing a pre-payment certificate. Additionally, the NHS Low Income Scheme can provide help with health costs on an income-related basis. The Government spent £79.06 million on research into Parkinson’s between 2019/20 and 2023/24, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and is continuing to invest in Parkinson’s disease research.
Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that local authorities are carrying out their statutory duty to deliver youth services.
Local authorities hold the statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. Local Authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Settlement in line with local need, and this was increased to more than £69 billion in 2025/26 - a 6.8% increase in cash terms compared to 2024/25.Although there is no legal requirement for local authorities to publish their plans, the guidance encourages local authorities to publish their assessment of local needs for youth services as well as the rationale for their actions and decisions. We will be launching the Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities to build back capability to improve local youth offers.
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure long-term sustainable funding for youth services.
The Government will publish the National Youth Strategy this summer. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in the strategy will be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector and will be dependent on Spending Review decisions.In 2025/6, DCMS youth funding will include over £85 million of capital funding to create fit-for-purpose spaces in places where it is most needed. This includes the £26 million Better Youth Spaces Fund for youth clubs to buy new equipment and do renovations, and the completion of Youth Investment Fund projects underway. The new Local Youth Transformation pilot will improve capability to improve local youth offers. Further funding allocations for specific youth programmes will be communicated in due course.
With reference to the Social Metrics Commission's report entitled Measuring Poverty 2024, published in October 2024, if she will undertake a review of the finding that 47 per cent of families with at least one disabled child or adult were in poverty compared to 19 per cent of those families without a disabled person in 2022/23.
The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health – while also scrapping the failed Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain.
With reference to the Social Metrics Commission's report entitled Measuring Poverty 2024, published in October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the finding that 54 per cent of people in poverty lived in a family that included a disabled person in 2022/23.
The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health – while also scrapping the failed Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain.
What recent discussions she has had with Crosscountry trains on increasing capacity on rail routes in Newton Abbot constituency.
The Department has funded 12 additional Voyager trains (60 carriages) for the CrossCountry network. Three trains are already in service with the next one due to be brought into service in April. The remaining eight trains are due to enter service with CrossCountry in May. This will increase the Voyager train fleet and enable CrossCountry to provide many more seats on its network including the Edinburgh to Plymouth route.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of re-opening the railway line between Heathfield and Newton Abbot.
There are no current plans to make an assessment of reopening the railway line between Heathfield and Newton Abbot. The Government believes that local authorities are best placed to promote and take forward transport schemes that will most benefit their local areas.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the Single Transferrable Vote system in English local elections.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23541 on 22 January 2025.
Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reductions in youth service funding on young people.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient youth services for young people in their area. This is funded through the Local Government Funding Settlement.We acknowledge the challenges facing the sector and the disparities across the country. That is why this Government has launched the co-production of an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, which will be developed together with young people and the youth sector.We will also launch the Local Youth Transformation pilot in 2025/26, which will support local authorities to build back capability to improve local youth offers. We also have allocated over £85m of capital funding to create fit-for-purpose spaces in places where it is most needed. Further funding allocations for specific youth programmes will be communicated in due course.
Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with religious leaders on the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme.
The Government holds a range of meetings with representatives of religious organisations.DCMS officials have discussed the changes with the Church of England and Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Ministers have also exchanged correspondence and met with representatives from most religious organisations.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not funding the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond 2026 on those places of worship.
Future Government spending is a matter for the 2026 Spending Review.
Media and Sport, if she will ensure that the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme continues beyond 2026.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to PQ 29531.
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 35454, whether he has made an assessment of the level of defence procurement can be moved to the UK from the US.
The Strategic Defence Review will guide the Ministry of Defence's future investment priorities and will also shape the Defence Industrial Strategy. To support the UK’s Armed Forces we procure a diverse range of systems both domestically and in collaboration with our international allies and partners. The United States is the United Kingdom's primary defence and security ally. Our collaboration in defence is mutually beneficial, and we maintain robust working partnerships in the areas of intelligence, nuclear, science and technology, and operations.
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39206 on Personal Independence Payment: Neurodiversity, if she will make it her policy to maintain the level of the Personal Independence Payment for (a) neurodivergent people and (b) people with severe mental distress.
Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The PIP assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. Therefore, the impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. From November 2026, at their next award review, people will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstance. More information on the impacts and equality analysis for these changes published on 26 March can be found: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the lower standard rate of Universal Credit for under 25s.
There are no current plans to remove the under 25 Standard Allowance rate. Young people in work typically earn less than those over 25 and are also more likely to live in someone else’s household, with lower living costs. A reduced Universal Credit rate maintains the incentive for young people to find, and progress in, work, as we continue to support them into employment and to improve their career opportunities. Support is available to help those who live independently or have additional living costs. Depending on their circumstances, they may also be eligible for additional Universal Credit elements, including for housing, children, childcare costs, and disability.
Whether the identity and nationality documents for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme applications must be pre-translated.
In response to the invasion, the Government set up three generous schemes – the Ukraine Family Scheme, Home for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme – and have provided temporary sanctuary for over 300,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war.The Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open, uncapped and free of charge for Ukrainians in need of sanctuary to apply to come to the UK.On the 4 February 2025 the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened to applications. This enables Ukrainians and their eligible family members who are already in the UK with Ukraine scheme permission, or Leave outside the Rules in certain circumstances, to apply for a further 18 months' permission in the UK.The scheme will provide the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare and education as the existing Ukraine schemes.As part of the application process, individuals will be asked to provide evidence to prove their identity. For documents not in English, applicants must upload a certified English translation. Providing translations up front helps us to progress applications quicker.The Ukraine schemes are temporary sanctuary visa schemes rather than humanitarian protection schemes and are not routes to settlement. This approach recognises the Ukrainian Government’s desire for the future return of its citizens. It is important that our approach reflects their wishes.Other visa routes are available for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK, provided they meet the eligibility criteria of those routes.
Whether Ukrainians who have (a) jobs, (b) homes and (c) families in the UK will be able to stay once the war has ended.
In response to the invasion, the Government set up three generous schemes – the Ukraine Family Scheme, Home for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme – and have provided temporary sanctuary for over 300,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war.The Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open, uncapped and free of charge for Ukrainians in need of sanctuary to apply to come to the UK.On the 4 February 2025 the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened to applications. This enables Ukrainians and their eligible family members who are already in the UK with Ukraine scheme permission, or Leave outside the Rules in certain circumstances, to apply for a further 18 months' permission in the UK.The scheme will provide the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare and education as the existing Ukraine schemes.As part of the application process, individuals will be asked to provide evidence to prove their identity. For documents not in English, applicants must upload a certified English translation. Providing translations up front helps us to progress applications quicker.The Ukraine schemes are temporary sanctuary visa schemes rather than humanitarian protection schemes and are not routes to settlement. This approach recognises the Ukrainian Government’s desire for the future return of its citizens. It is important that our approach reflects their wishes.Other visa routes are available for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK, provided they meet the eligibility criteria of those routes.
With reference to the HM Revenue and Customs' Policy paper entitled Alcohol Duty uprating, published on 30 October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the 3.4% increase in alcohol duties on the pub sector.
At Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced that she would uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI inflation on 1 February 2025. This decision weighed the impacts on businesses, cost-of-living pressures on people who drink moderately and responsibly, and the public health case for higher duties to tackle increasing alcohol-related deaths, as well as economic inactivity. However, in recognition of the economic and cultural importance of pubs, and the wider “on trade”, the Chancellor announced a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This is reducing alcohol producers’ duty bills by over £85m a year and has cut 1p off the duty on an average strength pint. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside this Budget announcement. This includes an assessment of the impact on businesses, including alcohol retailers. This is available here: Alcohol Duty uprating - GOV.UK