Every parliamentary written question tabled by Blake Stephenson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 1,468 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many visas a) the British Council, b) the Great British China Centre and c) the Westminster Foundation for Democracy have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested information is not held centrally by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
How many visas a) his Department, b) the National Army Museum, c) the National Museum of the Royal Navy, d) Sheffield Forgemasters International and e) the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Since 4 July 2024, the Department has sponsored six visas. In addition, National Army Museum has sponsored none, the National Museum of the Royal Navy has sponsored one, Sheffield Forgemasters International has sponsored two, and Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations have sponsored one.
How many visas a) his Department, b) the Competition and Markets Authority, c) Companies House, d) the Financial Reporting Council, e) the Trade Remedies Authority, f) the Post Office and g) the British Business Bank have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 66, paragraph 3.50 of the Budget 2025, for what reason his Department has chosen Tempsford, Leeds South Bank and Crews Hill as its preferred locations for new towns.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 13 October 2025 (HCWS948).
How many visas a) the Department for Culture Media and Sport, b) the Arts Council, c) the National Archives, d) the British Library, e) the British Museum, f) Historic England, g) the Imperial War Museum, h) the National Gallery, i) the Science Museum Group, j) the Victoria and Albert Museum, k) the Wallace Collection, l) the BBC, m) Channel 4, n) Historic Royal Palaces and o) the Royal Parks have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
How many visas a) his Department, b) the Legal Services Board and c) the Legal Ombudsman have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
How many visas the Serious Fraud Office have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The SFO has sponsored three visas for staff since July 2024.
Communities and Local Government, how many visas a) HM Land Registry and b) the Architects Registration Board have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
How many visas a) the Metropolitan Police Service and b) Police Scotland have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
UKVI does not publish data on visas sponsored by individual sponsors.
How many visas a) his Department, b) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, c) the National Energy System Operator and d) the Low Carbon Contracts Company have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Innovation and Technology, how many visas a) his Department, b) the Information Commissioners Office, c) the Intellectual Property Office, d) the Met Office, e) the UK Space Agency, f) the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, g) UK Research and Innovation, h) Ordnance Survey and i) Ofcom have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Whether she plans to freeze travelcard fares in 2026.
The Government froze national regulated rail fares at the Budget, delivering savings on over a billion journeys, and passengers not paying a penny more on season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities. There are a range of different travelcard products available to passengers - where they are managed by national rail operators, fares will be frozen, in line with the announcement. Decisions on TfL specific fares are a devolved matter for the Mayor of London.
Which properties will be subject to revaluation by the Valuation Office following the implementation of a High Value Council Tax Surcharge.
As announced in the Autumn Budget, the high value council tax surcharge will be a new tax on domestic properties in England which have a value of £2m or above in 2026. The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted valuation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation.
With reference to the press release entitled What does the Autumn Budget mean for your energy bills?, published on 27 November 2025, what the cost will be of funding the Renewables Obligation from general taxation.
Details of the cost of this measure are set out in Table 4.1 of the supporting documents for the Autumn Budget: Supporting documents for Budget 2025 - GOV.UK
If she will make an estimate about how much a) income tax, b) National Insurance and c) student loan repayment she expects the average person turning 30 in 2025/26 with a Plan 2 Student Loan to pay by 2029/30.
The average Plan 2 loan borrower turning 30 years of age in the2025/26 financial year and making student loan repayments through PAYE is expected to pay £29,100 in income tax, £11,600 in employee National Insurance contributions and £5,600 in Plan 2 student loan repayments between the 2025/26 and 2029/30 financial years (figures rounded to the nearest £100). Plan 2 borrowers turning 30 in 2025/26 are likely to be in the early stages of their careers, and many may not be earning enough to be making student loan repayment. These borrowers are not included in our average. Plan 2 borrowers may re-borrow or have borrowed on other plans. These student loan repayments have not been considered. Only PAYE student loan repayments have been considered. Note some Plan 2 borrowers will be making voluntary repayments direct to the Student Loans Company, making repayments from overseas or be on self-assessment.
How many visas a) his Department and b) the Office for National Statistics have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Between 4 July 2024 and 1 December 2025: The Cabinet Office has sponsored 43 visas1. 1 This has been counted by the date Cabinet Office has issued a Certificate of Sponsorship. It includes fast streamers, existing employees and employees who have moved to other departments within that period as part of a machinery of government. As part b of the information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority, a response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 1st of December is attached.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many visas a) the Forestry Commission, b) Ofwat, c) the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, d) the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, e) the Environment Agency, f) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, g) the Marine Management Organisation, h) the Covent Garden Market Authority and i) the Food Standards Agency have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
How many visas a) her Department, b) Ofsted, c) the Construction Industry Training Board, d) the Office of the Children's Commissioner and e) the Student Loans Company have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
The table below details how many visas the department and named arm’s length bodies have sponsored since July 2024: Department for Education14Ofsted6The Construction Industry Training Board6The Office of the Children's Commissioner0Student Loans Company1
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce a tourism tax.
The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy. We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy is still under development and the Government welcomes engagement from the hospitality sector in developing this power through the consultation process.
Whether her Department plans to give Mayors the power to introduce a visitor levy.
The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy, if they so choose.We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy is still under development and the Government welcomes engagement from the hospitality sector in developing this power through the consultation process.The impacts of the levy will largely be determined by local decisions. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult on specific proposals. We expect Mayors to engage constructively with businesses and their communities to hear these concerns. This will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied and how any revenue is invested.Following consultation, we expect Mayors would publish a summary of the consultation results and their response, including a final prospectus, and an impact assessment, informed by the consultation.