Every parliamentary written question tabled by Simon Opher this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 261–280 of 333 · this parliament
When he plans to begin rolling out measures to deliver the 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments this financial year; and how many such appointments he plans to deliver within the same peri
The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure that patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeti...
Whether he plans to commission further waves of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England report.
The Department recognises the importance of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Report. We will publish plans in due course.
What steps she is taking to support people applying for visas in the West Bank.
Currently, anyone who wishes to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available. The Visa Application Centre in Ramallah is open and operating as normal.Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Imm...
If he will meet the Blood Cancer Alliance to discuss the need to include specific measures to improve blood cancer (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) care in the forthcoming cancer strategy.
There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
If his Department will (a) introduce emergency presentation as a proxy staging measure for non-stageable blood cancers and (b) apply a corresponding national target to (i) measure and (ii) support
There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
How many blood cancer patients have been diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways in each of the last three years.
The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
If he will publish (a) the number of blood cancer patients diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways and (b) other data on the performance of such pathways.
The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to organisations supporting the delivery of aid in Gaza since 5 July 2024.
The UK has now announced £112 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories so far this financial year, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank delivered through partner agencies. As part of this total, since July we have announ...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the student loan finance repayment system to reduce monthly repayments for students in England.
The department is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, universities and students. The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to un...
If she will take steps with local authorities to extend provision of free school meals to school holidays.
There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the...
If she take steps to delegate powers to local authorities to (a) identify and (b) automatically register all children eligible for free school meals.
There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regulations to enhance financial transparency within the hairdressing industry.
Financial transparency is key to ensuring cash-based businesses meet their legal obligations, such as registering with HMRC and paying taxes promptly. However, these benefits must be balanced against the burdens on business created by new regulation. Whil...
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing advertising restrictions on high carbon emission products (a) on television and (b) online.
The Government is committed to reducing emissions from high carbon products and will continue to bring forward proposals to do so. The Committees of Advertising Practice and Advertising Standards Authority regulate the content and targeting of advertising...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory time limit on immigration detention.
There are currently no plans to introduce a time limit on immigration detention. This would risk significantly weakening our ability to remove those who have breached our immigration laws or who refuse to leave the UK voluntarily.
Whether she plans to publish the criteria for determining which individuals seeking asylum will be subject to detention.
The Home Office has published guidance for determining who can be detained under immigration powers including those who are seeking asylum.‘Detained Asylum Casework’ sets out for the criteria for our caseworkers to determine under which circumstances asyl...
Whether her Department has plans to repeal the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
The Government has made clear the that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Consequently, the Government is considering all options connected with ending that partnership, including for the entirety of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. Legislativ...
What steps her Department is taking to tackle abuse in immigration detention centres.
We expect all suppliers operating on behalf of the Home Office to treat detained individuals with decency and respect, behaving in line with the high standards outlined in the Detention Centre Rules, published operating standards and service delivery cont...
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of legislating to enable local authorities in England to adjust council tax rates by increasing them for higher-band proper
The government does not have any plans to reform council tax. In line with OBR forecasts made under the previous government, the government will maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept in 2025-26.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to promote cross-departmental work to strengthen community cohesion.
The Government has made £15 million available to the places most severely affected by disorder through the Community Recovery Fund to support the immediate recovery. Officials from my department have also carried out an extensive engagement process with t...
Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to prohibit a landlord from (a) demanding and (b) accepting more than one month’s rent in advance in respect of a (i) tenancy and (ii) licence of r
The government recognise that demands for extortionate rent in advance place a considerable financial strain on tenants and can exclude certain groups from renting altogether.We are very clear that the practice of landlords demanding large amounts of rent...