Every parliamentary written question tabled by Sarah Gibson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 381–385 of 385 · this parliament
What assessment the Department has made of the merits of the bid for a railway station in Corsham.
Aside from Restoring Your Railway (RYR) projects currently at the delivery stage or in construction, all remaining RYR-originated projects, including the Corsham station proposal, will be reviewed as part of preparations for the upcoming Spending Review. ...
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that water companies reduce water bills; and what steps he is taking to ensure that water companies do not pass the costs of (a) any fines incurred, (b) debts and (c) infrastructure upgrades on to customers.
This Government has been clear that vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. When money for investment is not spent, companies must refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases. New infrastructure will need to be paid for, and while water companies can attract private investment, this will also need to come from customer bills. It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company plans to ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. We have inherited a water system spilling record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Water companies must take action to turn this around and Ofwat must ensure customers do not pay twice for upgrades.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that changes to the National Planning Policy Framework prevent developers from land banking.
The consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system that began on Tuesday 30 July includes proposals designed to support increased build out rates.In conjunction with the start of that consultation, the housebuilding industry made a public commitment to increase the pace at which homes are delivered and to get on and build where sites are viable and have implementable consent.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that changes to the national planning policy framework prevent developers from land banking; and what steps she plans to take to help ensure that local authorities are able to build homes that suit local needs.
The consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system that began on Tuesday 30 July includes proposals designed to support increased build out rates and promote mixed-tenure schemes that meet the housing needs of local people. In conjunction with the start of that consultation, the housebuilding industry made a public commitment to increase the pace at which homes are delivered and to get on and build where sites are viable and have implementable consent. The Government has also taken swift action to speed up site delivery through the New Homes Accelerator.Local Plans, prepared by a local planning authority in consultation with its community, are the most effective means of shaping the future development of an area and meeting local housing need. The Government has made clear it is seeking to achieve universal coverage of ambitious local plans as quickly as possible. To support local authorities, we are funding 300 additional planning officers and consulting on increasing planning fees.
What steps he is taking to (a) financially support and (b) improve local access to NHS dental practices in South West England.
The Government plans to tackle the challenges patients face when trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.On 1 April 2023 responsibility for commissioning NHS dentistry was delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. The seven ICBs in the Southwest are supported by the NHS Southwest Collaborative Commissioning Hub to commission NHS dentistry in their area.NHS England has provided guidance for ICBs that requires dental allocations to be ringfenced in 2024/25, with any unused resources re-directed to improve NHS dental access in the first instance, and not spent on other services. ICBs will decide how to use any forecast underspend in line with this guidance.