Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ian Sollom this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 289 · this parliament
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of Part One of the Leveson Inquiry; and whether she plans to resume Part Two.
The Leveson Inquiry led to changes in the regulatory system of the press, which included the creation of the Press Recognition Panel, by Royal Charter, and two new press regulators, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and the Independent M...
What steps her Department has taken to improve accessibility to online banking for blind and partially sighted people.
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone can access and use financial services. Financial services providers are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services. UK ban...
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the exclusion of recording studios from the lower Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates multipliers on the recording studio sector.
The Government has introduced new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties. Since these new multipliers were...
When he plans to announce Music and Dance Scheme funding for the 2026-27 academic year; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a lack of announcement on potential funding on schools' ability
The government has committed to a continuation of the Music and Dance Scheme. Providers will be informed of future funding shortly.
What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Civil Service Pension Scheme MP casework sessions in Parliament.
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to ...
What components are included in the Government's estimate of around £2 billion for the cost of Financial Assistance Scheme pre-1997 indexation; and whether that figure includes (a) arrears, (b) indexati
The Government has brought forward legislation to introduce increases on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme that relate to pensions built up before 6 April 1997. These will be CPI-linked (capped at 2.5%)...
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of offering funding support for those universities affected by the costs of the Teachers Pension Scheme contributions, in line with support provided for furt
The government recognises the financial challenges in the higher education (HE) sector both for providers and their staff.HE providers are autonomous bodies, and the government does not fund the costs of changes to the scheme for them in the same way as f...
What assessment she has made of the impact of Teachers’ Pension Scheme contribution rates on the ability of post-1992 higher education institutions to compete with pre-92 institutions for staff.
The government recognises the financial challenges in the higher education (HE) sector both for providers and their staff.HE providers are autonomous bodies, and the government does not fund the costs of changes to the scheme for them in the same way as f...
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of surgery and GLP-1 medication as treatments for Lipoedema.
The Department has not made any assessment of the potential role of GLP-1 medications in reducing inflammation and pain associated with lipoedema. Newly licensed medicines are appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), whic...
What steps his Department is taking to improve NHS diagnosis and treatment pathways for lipoedema.
The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy will play a central role in improving outcomes for women living with long‑term conditions like lipoedema by addressing the systemic barriers that have historically contributed to delayed diagnosis, variability in care...
What steps his Department has taken to implement the NHS Accessible Information Standard effectively.
Since 2016, all National Health Service organisations and publicly funded social care providers have been expected to meet the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), which details the approach to supporting the information and communication support needs ...
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of calculating Motability mileage on an individualised basis, taking into account needs as assessed in Social Care and Support Plans.
Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The changes to the leasing package were announced on 26 March and include reducing the mileage allowance from 20,000 per year to 10,0...
Whether his Department plans to include kidney disease as a priority condition within the National Service Framework programme announced in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan; and what steps he is taking
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely linked, with shared risk factors, as well as being risk factors for each other. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease Modern Service Fr...
With reference to her Department's consultation document entitled Assistive software funded through Disabled Students’ Allowance, published on 26 March 2026, whether an Impact Assessment has been conducted on the potential impact of the proposed changes to Disabled Students’ Allowance support for assistive software.
The anecdotal feedback referenced in the consultation document reflects issues raised through routine engagement activities, including meetings and discussions with delivery partners, sector bodies and other stakeholders. It would not be appropriate to identify individual contributors, and no quantified count of cases has been compiled. No assessment has yet been made of the extent to which students feel overwhelmed by the volume of recommended support because the department is currently gathering the evidence that would be required to support such an assessment.The rationale underpinning the proposed policy position that assistive software is widely available is explained in the consultation document, which is available here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-team/assistive-software-funded-through-disabled-student/supporting_documents/assistive_software_funded_through_dsa_consultation_march_2026pdf.It also sets out proposals relating to considerations around the accessibility and suitability of commonly available software for students with different disabilities. Decisions on how it would be determined that a student’s disability-related needs cannot be met by such software before specialist provision is funded would be made following the conclusion of the consultation process.An initial equality impact assessment of the proposed changes is included in the consultation document, and the department intends to develop and refine this further as the consultation progresses.
With reference to page 11 of her Department's consultation document entitled Assistive software funded through Disabled Students’ Allowance, published on 26 March 2026, what evidence supports the proposed policy position that assistive software is readily available to students; what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility and suitability of commonly available software for students with different disabilities; and if she will set out how it will be determined that a student’s disability-related needs cannot be met by assistive software before specialist provision is funded.
The anecdotal feedback referenced in the consultation document reflects issues raised through routine engagement activities, including meetings and discussions with delivery partners, sector bodies and other stakeholders. It would not be appropriate to identify individual contributors, and no quantified count of cases has been compiled. No assessment has yet been made of the extent to which students feel overwhelmed by the volume of recommended support because the department is currently gathering the evidence that would be required to support such an assessment.The rationale underpinning the proposed policy position that assistive software is widely available is explained in the consultation document, which is available here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-team/assistive-software-funded-through-disabled-student/supporting_documents/assistive_software_funded_through_dsa_consultation_march_2026pdf.It also sets out proposals relating to considerations around the accessibility and suitability of commonly available software for students with different disabilities. Decisions on how it would be determined that a student’s disability-related needs cannot be met by such software before specialist provision is funded would be made following the conclusion of the consultation process.An initial equality impact assessment of the proposed changes is included in the consultation document, and the department intends to develop and refine this further as the consultation progresses.
With reference to page 11 of her Department's consultation document entitled Assistive software funded through Disabled Students’ Allowance, published on 26 March 2026, what evidence underpins the statement that anecdotal feedback has indicated students are being recommended excessive assistive software, including the stakeholders or sources that provided this anecdotal feedback and the number of cases that contributed to this assessment; and what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which students feel overwhelmed by the volume of recommended support.
The anecdotal feedback referenced in the consultation document reflects issues raised through routine engagement activities, including meetings and discussions with delivery partners, sector bodies and other stakeholders. It would not be appropriate to identify individual contributors, and no quantified count of cases has been compiled. No assessment has yet been made of the extent to which students feel overwhelmed by the volume of recommended support because the department is currently gathering the evidence that would be required to support such an assessment.The rationale underpinning the proposed policy position that assistive software is widely available is explained in the consultation document, which is available here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-team/assistive-software-funded-through-disabled-student/supporting_documents/assistive_software_funded_through_dsa_consultation_march_2026pdf.It also sets out proposals relating to considerations around the accessibility and suitability of commonly available software for students with different disabilities. Decisions on how it would be determined that a student’s disability-related needs cannot be met by such software before specialist provision is funded would be made following the conclusion of the consultation process.An initial equality impact assessment of the proposed changes is included in the consultation document, and the department intends to develop and refine this further as the consultation progresses.
What is the cost of (a) overpayments per academic year by the Student Loans Company to students and (b) reclaimed overpayments per academic year by the Student Loans Company since 2000.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What data her Department holds on the cost of overpayments by the Student Loans Company to students; the reasons for the overpayments being made; and the cost of the overpayment per reason.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What is the policy rationale for treating Indefinite Leave to Remain applications as withdrawn if an applicant leaves the UK while a decision is pending; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this policy on young dependants.
In-country immigration routes, and any associated in country appeals rights, are designed to operate while the applicant remains physically present in the UK.Where an applicant leaves the UK before a decision is made, the application can no longer be considered on the basis on which it was made and is therefore treated as withdrawn.This approach maintains the distinction between in country and overseas routes, ensuring consistency with section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 (which can extend a person’s right to remain in the UK whilst their current visa has expired but they have an outstanding valid application under consideration) and aligns appeal rights with the appropriate procedural framework.Applicants have the ability to apply for priority services if they know travel is likely to be imminent, alternatively if a person has an urgent need to travel outside the UK and do not wish their application to be treated as withdrawn, they can contact the UK Visas and Immigration hotline and we will consider whether expedition of the decision can be made on a case-by-case basis.
What steps his Department is taking to address the shortage of anaesthetists across the UK.
Next steps on delivery of the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitment to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years with a focus on specialties where there is the greatest need will be set out in due course.Alongside this, the Government will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan later this spring. It will set out a clear roadmap to improve working lives in the National Health Service, providing better treatment of staff, higher-quality training, and more fulfilling roles.