Every parliamentary written question tabled by Gideon Amos this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 198 · this parliament
What evidence her Department used to determine that the proposed partnerships network would deliver equivalent outcomes for pupil physical activity and wellbeing as the PE and Sport Premium.
Despite over a decade of investment via the PE and sport premium, less than half of all children meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended 60 active minutes a day. Inequalities persist, particularly for girls and pupils from disadvantaged and black and...
What steps his Department is taking to implement a digital-first communications approach across NHS trusts.
The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will improve digital services in the National Health Service for patients and give them greater control and choice over their healthcare. The Government expects NHS organisations to move direct-to-patient communication...
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on households and small-scale renewable-energy investors of replacing Retail Prices Index indexation with Consumer Prices Index
An analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the Government response. The Government considers that the change to indexation strikes an appropriate balance between reducing costs for consume...
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the implications of retrospectively changing the indexation mechanism for existing Feed-in Tariff contracts on investor confidence; and if he
An analytical annex, including an assessment of the potential impacts of this policy, was published alongside the Government response. The Government considers that the change to indexation strikes an appropriate balance between reducing costs for consume...
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the revised bovine tuberculosis strategy; and whether she plans to expand the use of private testing to support the management of infection within affected he
On 10 June 2026, a co‑designed bovine TB control strategy for England, developed and recommended by the Steering Group of the Bovine TB Partnership, was published. It is now available on the government-industry TB Hub website. The Government will now cons...
What his planned timetable is for increasing available Units of Dental Activity in Somerset.
The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Taunton and Wellington const...
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the statutory bereavement award under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976; whether he plans to review the level of that award; and whether an assessment has bee
Bereavement damages are a fixed payment in acknowledgment of grief and are in no way intended to reflect the value of the life lost in monetary terms. They are only one element of the damages that may be awarded in a particular case, which for example can...
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of school attendance penalty notice regulations on families of emergency service workers, including ambulance service staff, with limited ability to choose a
All children are entitled to a full-time education.The national framework for penalty notices is designed to ensure fairness and consistency by applying expectations equally to all. While schools must apply the attendance framework fairly and consistently...
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of commissioning a national review of governance arrangements for changes to NHS pharmaceutical lists.
Under Part 9, regulation 67 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, pharmacy owners must give notice before permanently closing premises. Contractors providing at least 40 core opening hours a week must give a minim...
For what reason the NHS pharmaceutical service at Wellington Medical Centre was removed from the pharmaceutical list; and whether that removal was processed under Regulation (a) 25 and (b) 26A of t
Under Part 9, regulation 67 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, pharmacy owners must give notice before permanently closing premises. Contractors providing at least 40 core opening hours a week must give a minim...
If he will have discussions with NHS England and the Somerset Integrated Care Board on the removal of the NHS pharmaceutical service provided by Boots pharmacy at Wellington Medical Centre from the
Under Part 9, regulation 67 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, pharmacy owners must give notice before permanently closing premises. Contractors providing at least 40 core opening hours a week must give a minim...
Whether the 2026 Somerset Armed Forces Day's application for funding has been logged on his Department's systems.
Following successful engagement with the chairman of the Somerset Armed Forces Day (AFD) event, the MOD can confirm an AFD grant award of £5,000 for 2026 event.
What steps she is taking to ensure that the online driving license renewal process and other GOV.UK websites provide accessible digital services for members of the public to complete administrative processes ef
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services currently adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and work is underway to bring all services to WCAG 2.2 level AA status to attain full compliance with the most recent acce...
Whether he has reviewed the Competition and Markets Authority’s decision of 30 October 2025 to accept legally binding commitments from major housebuilders to tackle anticompetitive behaviour and ensure
The Government notes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision of 30 October 2025. The CMA is the UK’s independent competition authority responsible for enforcing competition law, and the Government does not review its individual enforcement ...
What assessment he has made of levels in the availability of (a) anti-aircraft artillery, (b) electronic warfare, (c) low-cost interceptors and (d) other off-the-shelf mobile air defence systems.
The availability of air and missile defence capabilities is kept under continual review as part of Defence’s assessment of threats and the readiness of the Armed Forces. Readiness is directed through the Armed Forces Plan, in which the Chief of the Defence Staff directs Military Command Chiefs to hold a range of force elements at varying levels of readiness, aligned with the NATO Force Model, sovereign defence requirements, and our ability to respond to crisis. This readiness is assessed against the sum of Availability, Capability, and Sustainment. The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion of investment during this Parliament in Integrated Air and Missile Defence, with an early focus on improving command and control and sensor capabilities to ensure more effective integration and use of available effectors. The Defence Investment Plan will further shape the sequencing and prioritisation of future investment, informed by the evolving threat picture. As is longstanding policy, the Department does not comment in detail on the availability or readiness levels of specific capabilities where doing so could prejudice operational security.
What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s processes for drivers with medical conditions; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing an online system for submitting medical information or tracking applications.
In the interests of road safety, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) must be satisfied that the required medical standards for driving are met before a licence is issued. The DVLA’s processes are designed to ensure that licensing decisions are informed by appropriate medical evidence, while enabling individuals to continue driving where it is safe to do so. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, some medical cases take longer because the DVLA often needs information from third parties, including doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a licensing decision can be made. The DVLA has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications, increasing waiting times for some customers. To improve its services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal, so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. In time, this will also allow customers to track their applications in a way they have not been able to previously. Details on how to sign up for an account can be found at www.gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account. These enhancements alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.
What targeted guidance is available to medically vulnerable people who cannot safely reduce their heating use.
The Government’s fuel poverty strategy seeks to ensure households are supported to achieve warm homes at an affordable cost. The UK Health Security Agency has produced guidance for the public on how to keep warm and well at home, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weatherThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance to reduce the health risks associated with cold homes, which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng6The audiences for this include people who may have health problems related to living in a cold home, as well as their families and carers.Financial support schemes are also available to help some vulnerable groups with their energy bills, including the Warm Home Discount and the Cold Weather Payment. People may also be able to access support to pay energy bills from their local council through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.Vulnerable individuals can also join their energy supplier’s Priority Services Register, through which they can receive extra advice and support.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that GOV.UK websites provide accessible digital services.
GOV.UK is run by the Government Digital Service (GDS) which is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The Department for Transport follows the GDS GOV.UK design system accessibility guidelines when drafting and building its GOV.UK content and digital services.
Whether the Department has assessed the potential merits of extending Healthy Start eligibility to include working parents in receipt of Statutory Paternity Pay.
The Healthy Start Scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of extending Healthy Start eligibility to include working parents in receipt of Statutory Paternity Pay. This is because Statutory Paternity Pay is not a means tested benefit and is available to individuals in work, including those on higher incomes.
When his Department last reviewed the income thresholds for the Healthy Start scheme, and whether it will conduct an updated review given concerns that thresholds have not been revised for nearly a decade and may no longer reflect current economic conditions faced by low income working families.
The Government has taken action to strengthen support through Healthy Start. From April 2026, an increase to the weekly payments has been implemented, which means pregnant women and children aged under four years old and over one years old each receive £4.65 every week, and children under one years old each receive £9.30.The income-related eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start scheme are not set as standalone cash thresholds. Eligibility is linked to receipt of certain income-related benefits, including Universal Credit, which act as passporting mechanisms to ensure support is targeted at families on the lowest incomes. Eligibility criteria for the scheme are kept under continuous review.