Every parliamentary written question tabled by Neil Hudson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 321–329 of 329 · this parliament
What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on future funding for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme.
The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme, beyond 31 March 2025, is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn. The department will communicate the outcome of that process in due course.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of Winter Fuel Payments on pensioners' standards of living.
Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone...
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of African swine fever on the pig industry.
Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the UK, the risk level for an incursion of ASF is currently assessed as medium and we continue to prepare for an outbreak. The practical impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbr...
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help manage recent cases of bluetongue virus in East Anglia.
Following the initial findings of cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) virus in August 2024, Defra implemented a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) around the affected premises and humanely culled infected animals to prevent potential spread. Following confir...
Whether she has made an estimate of the number of pensioners who will have winter fuel payment withdrawn in (a) Epping Forest constituency and (b) England.
In Epping Forest constituency, the estimated number of pensioners who will have Winter Fuel Payments withdrawn is 15,744. In England, the estimated number of pensioners who will have Winter Fuel Payments withdrawn is 8,609,778. This is based on Feb-24 Pension Credit statistics and 22/23 Winter Fuel Payment statistics, (sources below). This estimation is calculated by subtracting the number of Pension Credit recipients for Epping Forest constituency and England from the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients for Epping Forest constituency and England. The Pension Credit data is based on the 2010 Westminster Parliamentary constituencies, not 2024 in order to be comparable with the Winter Fuel Payments statistics. Please note that the above does not take into account any potential increase in Pension Credit take-up we might see as a result of the policy change (means testing Winter fuel payments to those on Pension Credit and other means tested benefits). We do not have data on those additional Pension Credit claims by Parliamentary constituencies or local authorities. Also, the published Pension Credit figures refer to households, so the number of individuals will be higher (i.e. taking account of households where it is a couple claiming Pension Credit). Furthermore, Pension Credit claimants are the majority of those that will be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, not all. There are other pensioners who are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments (as they claim other means tested benefits) but they are not considered in these figures as it is not possible to do so. Sources used: winter-fuel-payments-caseload-2022-to-2023.ods (live.com) Stat-Xplore - Table View (dwp.gov.uk) (Feb-24 data)
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of VAT on school fees on state school capacity in (a) Epping Forest constituency and (b) England.
HM Treasury is considering the potential impact of VAT on school fees on state schools as part of its development of an economic case. It is anticipated this impact will be minimal. Projections by the Institute for Fiscal Studies suggest that the number of pupils who may switch schools would represent only a very small proportion of overall pupil numbers in the state sector, less than 0.5%. Any pupil transfers from the private to state sector would also be expected to take place over several years, as many pupils transfer at normal transition points. The department will work with local authorities in England to help them manage any local pressures through normal processes where required.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to consult local communities on (a) definition of the green belt and (b) planning reforms.
The Government has set out changes to how we plan for the homes we need and in relation to grey belt and the Green Belt as part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework launched today.
Whether the Community Diagnostic Centre at St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping will go ahead as planned.
West Essex Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is not yet fully open and is planned to be completed by summer 2025. Currently, St Margaret’s Hospital is being funded to deliver additional out of hours and weekend activity while work on completion of the CDC continues.
Whether his Department will continue the (a) Hospital Rebuilding Programme and (b) implementation of Community Diagnostic Centres.
The Government recognises that strategic, value for money investments in capital projects are critical to providing good quality care. Specific commitments regarding the future of existing capital programmes are subject to the next Spending Review, with timescales for this not yet confirmed.My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked for an urgent report on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded, and a realistic timetable for delivery. He will consider this carefully then report back to patients, clinicians, and local communities to confirm any revision to the schedule.The National Health Service is committed to rolling out additional diagnostic tests and scans from a network of 160 Community Diagnostic Centres across the country by March 2025, as part of the NHS’s Elective Recovery Plan published in 2022.It is unacceptable that some patients have been waiting over six weeks for a diagnostic test. The Government will support the NHS in increasing diagnostic capacity, to meet the demand for diagnostic services, as a priority. Specific programmes of funding to support this are subject to the upcoming Spending Review.