Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Snowden this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,621–1,640 of 2,153 · this parliament
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that illegal immigration cases in Fylde constituency are processed (a) effectively and (b) efficiently.
At national level, we have invested in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up and simplify asylum decision making, reduce the time people spend in the asylum system and cut the cost to the taxpayer of providing those individuals with asylum support.
What steps her Department is taking with local authorities to ensure (a) early and (b) consistent identification of dyslexia in primary schools in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire.
We recognise that the early identification of need and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia, and measures have been introduced to support the effective teaching of reading. This includes the English Hubs programme, the publication of the reading framework and an updated list of high quality systematic synthetic phonics programmes for schools.The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress in reading. As part of the continuous professional development provided by the English Hubs, the Reading Ambition for All programme has been launched to improve outcomes for children who need additional support with reading, including those with SEND. Fylde's nearest English Hub is St John Vianney English Hub.
What support his Department offers to local NHS charities.
The Department does not provide support to local National Health Service charities.
Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the (a) efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of its property management services.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) continues to drive for both improved performance and increased value for money from all its Estates Management contracts. The DIO has conducted a series of reviews to capture lessons learned from the delivery of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Accommodation contracts and commissioned external audits of Industry Partners (IP)s performance. The Department also has the contractual right to withhold elements of profit for non-performance of Key Performance Indicators by its IPs, and continually assesses Property Management Contract Supplier performance. Performance is monitored on a monthly basis including oversight at Chief Executive level.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 59074 on Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme: Lancashire, which three projects received funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in Fylde constituency in the 2023-25 financial year.
The three projects in the constituency of Fylde that have benefited from Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme investment during the 2024/25 financial year are:Park View Road Playing Fields,William Pickles Sport GroundRoseacre Road Playing FieldsThe two projects in the constituency of Fylde that have benefited from Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme investment during the 2023/34 financial year are:Staining Village HallCottam Hall All projects received grant awards for new goalposts.On 9 June 2025, the Government published an updated list of completed MSGF projects across the UK, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/multi-sport-grassroots-facilities-programme-projects-2021-to-2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, whether his Department has received representations from (a) brewers and (b) pub companies on the potential merits of extending the Guest Beer Agreement scheme to (i) England and (ii) Wales.
The government notes the Scottish Pubs Code and the ‘guest beer agreement’ requirement, contained within it.The England and Wales Pubs Code, which applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covers around 8,000 pubs. The government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Stakeholders including brewers and pub companies are encouraged to contribute to the review’s call for inputs which is open until 14 August.Additionally, the government is completing an exercise to understand whether there are any barriers to market for small brewers. This exercise covers all pub models. Interested parties can contact beermarketreview@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58327 on Beer: Sales, whether he has consulted (a) small brewers and (b) independent pub landlords as part of his assessment of the beer market.
As part of its assessment of the beer market, the Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders, including small brewers and independent pub landlords.The government is separately conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Interested parties can submit their views to the call for inputs until 14 August 2025. The Pubs Code applies to large pub-owning businesses with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, covering around 8,000 pubs.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58330 on Poverty: Children, when the Child Poverty Strategy will be published; and when she plans to begin implementing that strategy.
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious child poverty strategy which we will publish in the Autumn. It is important we take the time to get it right to ensure we deliver fully funded measures which tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund, supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2bn including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan.Our commitments at SR 2025 come on top of the existing action we have taken, including expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.The UK Government is committed to tackling child poverty across the UK where progress is contingent on reserved, devolved, and local levers. The Child Poverty Taskforce is working with the Devolved Governments alongside strategic, combined and local authorities to develop a comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. Local authorities have also been a key part of our approach to learning directly about the experience of poverty in different communities and solutions already underway.The Taskforce recognises the distinct challenges of poverty faced by children living in rural and coastal areas, and we are considering all children across the UK in the development of the strategy. To shape and inform these plans, the Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, and leading organisations across the UK, including rural and coastal communities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58330 on Poverty: Children, what role local authorities will play in delivering the Child Poverty Strategy; and how she plans to ensure consistency in support across different regions.
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious child poverty strategy which we will publish in the Autumn. It is important we take the time to get it right to ensure we deliver fully funded measures which tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund, supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2bn including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan.Our commitments at SR 2025 come on top of the existing action we have taken, including expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.The UK Government is committed to tackling child poverty across the UK where progress is contingent on reserved, devolved, and local levers. The Child Poverty Taskforce is working with the Devolved Governments alongside strategic, combined and local authorities to develop a comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. Local authorities have also been a key part of our approach to learning directly about the experience of poverty in different communities and solutions already underway.The Taskforce recognises the distinct challenges of poverty faced by children living in rural and coastal areas, and we are considering all children across the UK in the development of the strategy. To shape and inform these plans, the Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, and leading organisations across the UK, including rural and coastal communities.
How much his Department has spent on (a) maintenance and (b) refurbishment of properties it manages in Fylde constituency in the last three years.
The Department has spent £22.38 million on maintenance and refurbishment of Service Family Accommodation and £1.8 million on Single Living Accommodation in the Fylde constituency, since 2022. The figures provided do not include the core maintenance costs of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Accommodation contract as we are unable to break the costs down by constituency.
What steps he is taking to ensure the (a) safety and (b) security of (i) all properties and (ii) properties in operational use managed by his Department.
The safety and security of our sites is of the utmost importance, in order to protect both our people, and to safeguard national security. The Strategic Defence Review recognises that we are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK Defence. The Review sets out a vision to make Britain safer, secure at home and strong abroad, with specific direction to strengthen home defence and resilience and increased funding to defend Britain. While I am unable to comment on specific security arrangements, I can assure the hon. Member that we take this extremely seriously and have robust measures in place.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58330 on Poverty: Children, how the (a) rollout of free breakfast clubs and (b) extension of free school meals will be (i) implemented and (ii) monitored in (A) rural and (B) coastal constituencies.
This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. In order to test and learn about how best to support schools in implementing new free universal breakfast clubs, we have selected over 750 early adopter schools who began delivering from the start of the 2025 summer term, ahead of national roll out to all schools with primary-aged children.Schools have been selected to ensure a representative sample, to ensure the early adopter scheme learns from a variety of schools in a range of locations, including schools in rural and costal constituencies.By taking this approach, we will be able to gain insights into any challenges and barriers schools may face, in order to develop solutions ahead of breakfast clubs national roll out.We have now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58330 on Poverty: Children, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the views of (a) families and (b) children from (i) rural and (ii) coastal areas are adequately represented in the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious child poverty strategy which we will publish in the Autumn. It is important we take the time to get it right to ensure we deliver fully funded measures which tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund, supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2bn including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan.Our commitments at SR 2025 come on top of the existing action we have taken, including expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.The UK Government is committed to tackling child poverty across the UK where progress is contingent on reserved, devolved, and local levers. The Child Poverty Taskforce is working with the Devolved Governments alongside strategic, combined and local authorities to develop a comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. Local authorities have also been a key part of our approach to learning directly about the experience of poverty in different communities and solutions already underway.The Taskforce recognises the distinct challenges of poverty faced by children living in rural and coastal areas, and we are considering all children across the UK in the development of the strategy. To shape and inform these plans, the Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, and leading organisations across the UK, including rural and coastal communities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58330 on Poverty: Children, whether the Child Poverty Strategy will include targeted (a) funding and (b) initiatives for (i) rural and (ii) coastal constituencies.
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and the Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious child poverty strategy which we will publish in the Autumn. It is important we take the time to get it right to ensure we deliver fully funded measures which tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund, supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2bn including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan.Our commitments at SR 2025 come on top of the existing action we have taken, including expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.The UK Government is committed to tackling child poverty across the UK where progress is contingent on reserved, devolved, and local levers. The Child Poverty Taskforce is working with the Devolved Governments alongside strategic, combined and local authorities to develop a comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. Local authorities have also been a key part of our approach to learning directly about the experience of poverty in different communities and solutions already underway.The Taskforce recognises the distinct challenges of poverty faced by children living in rural and coastal areas, and we are considering all children across the UK in the development of the strategy. To shape and inform these plans, the Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, and leading organisations across the UK, including rural and coastal communities.
How many Ministry of Defence managed properties there are in Fylde constituency; and what proportion of those are (a) residential, (b) commercial, and (c) operational.
The Ministry of Defence manage seven sites in the Fylde constituency. Of these, three are operational, two are residential, one is commercial and operational, and one is residential, commercial and operational.
What the average (a) age and (b) condition ratings are for (i) all Ministry of Defence-managed residential properties and (ii) Ministry of Defence-managed residential properties in Fylde constituency.
The average age of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) can be found in the table below: Ministry of Defence managed residential propertiesAverage AgeAll SFA64 YearsSFA in Fylde constituency68 YearsAll SLA46 YearsSLA in Fylde constituency40 Years The Government's Decent Homes Standard is the current benchmark for SFA condition used by the Ministry of Defence. This standard is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Subsequently, the condition ratings for SFA will be revised in line with any new recommendations. The average condition ratings for SLA can be found in the table below: Ministry of Defence managed residential propertiesAverage condition ratingAll SLAGrade 3*SLA in Fylde constituencyGrade 3 *The information concerning the condition grading is only held for 46% of sites with SLA. All existing SLA within Weeton Barracks were built in 1985. A condition grading inspection for Weeton Barracks is currently underway and there are three new SLA blocks currently being constructed.
How many Ministry of Defence managed properties are currently leased to third parties; and what criteria are used to determine leasing arrangements.
The number of properties which are currently leased to third parties is not held in the format requested and could only be provided by retrieving and interrogating large amounts of data which could only be completed at disproportionate cost. There is no set criteria used by MOD to determine leasing arrangements.Leasing arrangements are dependent on various factors including the type of lease, the use of the property, its location, proximity to military infrastructure, the condition of the property and the proposed length of the agreement.
Innovation and Technology, whether he has provided guidance to telecommunications companies on addressing community concerns on the visual impact of broadband poles.
I wrote to operators on 16 August 2024 calling on them to consider revising the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. The industry answered my call by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has published best practice recommendations setting out expectations for operators who plan to deploy telegraph poles, including how to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of the local area. My department will monitor the impact of this new guidance before taking any further steps.
Innovation and Technology, if his Department will work with wireless broadband operators to develop technology that is in keeping with local environments where it is installed.
Planning legislation requires operators to minimise the visual impact of new network deployments on the surrounding area as much as possible. We have set out guidance on how operators should do this in the Wireless Code of Practice. Operators have also committed to place additional antennas and cabinets at existing sites where possible, and only where additional capacity and/or coverage is needed will additional sites be built.The Government is actively working with industry through our R&D programmes to support companies developing telecoms technologies in the UK, including equipment that matches local environments.
Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department has to review the Electronic Communications Code on (a) broadband infrastructure and (b) local visual amenity.
I wrote to operators on 16 August 2024 calling on them to consider revising the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. The industry answered my call by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has published best practice recommendations setting out expectations for operators who plan to deploy telegraph poles, including how to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of the local area. My department will monitor the impact of this new guidance before taking any further steps.