Every parliamentary written question tabled by Victoria Atkins this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–38 of 38 · this parliament
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Dover Port Health Authority on funding for the 2025-26 financial year.
Defra remains committed to agreeing an appropriate funding model with Dover PHA to help tackle illegal imports. Officials are working with Dover Port Health Authority to agree funding for 2025/26.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has confirmed funding for the Dover Port Health Authority for the 2025-26 financial year.
Defra remains committed to agreeing a funding model with Dover Port Health Authority to help tackle illegal imports. The Government’s fiscal position is challenging, and we need to make some difficult decisions. Despite this, we have been able to secure funding for 2025/6 to support the detection of illegal imports at the short straits, alongside Border Force and we continue to work with Dover Port Health Authority on this.
What meetings she had with the (a) National Farmers Union, (b) Country Land and Business Association, (c) Countryside Alliance, (d) Tenant Association Farmers and (e) Central Association for Agricultural Valuers before 30 October 2024.
The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. The Government takes into account all representations, and HM Treasury officials and Ministers meet with stakeholders on a regular basis.
What meetings she has had with the (a) National Farmers Union, (b) Country Land and Business Association, (c) Countryside Alliance, (d) Tenant Association Farmers and (e) Central Association for Agricultural Valuers since 30 October 2024.
The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. The Government takes into account all representations, and HM Treasury officials and Ministers meet with stakeholders on a regular basis.
Food and Rural Affairs, what the average award received through his Department's capital grant scheme was in (a) July, (b) August, (c) September, (d) October and (e) November.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a total of 5,470 applications for the capital grant scheme between July and November 2024 with 1,884 Agreements offered during this period with an average value of £14,011. Across the summer, a much larger volume of applications, than expected, were received meaning more time was required to process. In light of these higher volumes, offers on new applications were not made to allow monitoring of the impact on the intended scheme outcomes and to investigate the implications of the increased value of some applications The monthly breakdown is as follows: JulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberTotalApplications Received9639379781,4031,1895,470Agreements Offered*90496111621,882Average Value of Claims Paid**£12,952£13,323£14,006£14,420£15,094£14,011 * The application may have been received prior to July 2024.** This relates to all claims paid within July to November regardless of when the agreement started. Agreement holders have up to 3 years from start date to submit their claim.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for the capital grant scheme were approved by his Department in each month since July 2024.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a total of 5,470 applications for the capital grant scheme between July and November 2024 with 1,884 Agreements offered during this period with an average value of £14,011. Across the summer, a much larger volume of applications, than expected, were received meaning more time was required to process. In light of these higher volumes, offers on new applications were not made to allow monitoring of the impact on the intended scheme outcomes and to investigate the implications of the increased value of some applications The monthly breakdown is as follows: JulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberTotalApplications Received9639379781,4031,1895,470Agreements Offered*90496111621,882Average Value of Claims Paid**£12,952£13,323£14,006£14,420£15,094£14,011 * The application may have been received prior to July 2024.** This relates to all claims paid within July to November regardless of when the agreement started. Agreement holders have up to 3 years from start date to submit their claim.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for the capital grant scheme were received by his Department in each month since July 2024.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a total of 5,470 applications for the capital grant scheme between July and November 2024 with 1,884 Agreements offered during this period with an average value of £14,011. Across the summer, a much larger volume of applications, than expected, were received meaning more time was required to process. In light of these higher volumes, offers on new applications were not made to allow monitoring of the impact on the intended scheme outcomes and to investigate the implications of the increased value of some applications The monthly breakdown is as follows: JulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberTotalApplications Received9639379781,4031,1895,470Agreements Offered*90496111621,882Average Value of Claims Paid**£12,952£13,323£14,006£14,420£15,094£14,011 * The application may have been received prior to July 2024.** This relates to all claims paid within July to November regardless of when the agreement started. Agreement holders have up to 3 years from start date to submit their claim.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12741 on Business: Inheritance Tax, how many and what proportion of the estates that claimed both agricultural property relief and business property relief were (a) working farms and (b) other claimants.
When estates include a claim for both APR and BPR, the estate may not consist entirely of a farming business and its working capital. HMRC estimates that of the population of estates that claimed both APR and BPR in 2021-22, almost a quarter included a BPR claim for shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). It is likely that those particular assets contained within those estates represent, at least in part, investment portfolios set up in order to minimise inheritance tax liabilities, rather than being comprised solely of farming businesses. It is also possible that any claim for BPR is for a business unconnected to any farming activities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12741 on Business: Inheritance Tax, what the combined value of assets qualifying for relief was in the estates that claimed both agricultural property relief and business property relief.
In 2021-22, the total combined value of agricultural and business property relief (APR, BPR) from those estates that claimed both reliefs was £1.6 billion. When estates include a claim for both APR and BPR, the estate may not consist entirely of a farming business and its working capital. HMRC estimates that of the population of estates that claimed both APR and BPR in 2021-22, almost a quarter included a BPR claim for shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). It is likely that those particular assets contained within those estates represent, at least in part, investment portfolios set up in order to minimise inheritance tax liabilities, rather than being comprised solely of farming businesses. It is also possible that any claim for BPR is for a business unconnected to any farming activities. More information is available in the Chancellor's recent letter to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12741 on Business: Inheritance Tax, how many and what proportion of the estates that claimed both agricultural property relief and business property relief (a) were family farms and (b) would have paid inheritance tax under the changes made at the Autumn Budget 2024.
When estates include a claim for both APR and BPR, the estate may not consist entirely of a farming business and its working capital. HMRC estimates that of the population of estates that claimed both APR and BPR in 2021-22, almost a quarter included a BPR claim for shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). It is likely that those particular assets contained within those estates represent, at least in part, investment portfolios set up in order to minimise inheritance tax liabilities, rather than being comprised solely of farming businesses. It is also possible that any claim for BPR is for a business unconnected to any farming activities. More information is available in the Chancellor's recent letter to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.
With reference to her Department’s publication entitled Summary of reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief, published on 30 October 2024, how many Agricultural Property Relief claims in the reference period also included claims for Business Property Relief.
The Government has published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. In 2021-22, 782 estates making agricultural property relief claims also made business property relief claims.
How many (a) checks, (b) tests and (c) scans were carried out at community diagnostic centres opened since the 2021 Spending Review, as of 4 July 2024.
As of the end of June 2024, community diagnostics centres (CDCs) had delivered 9,292,578 tests, checks and scans since the 2021 Spending Review at the end of October. Over this period, the diagnostic waiting list has increased from 1,428,415 as at the end of October 2021 where 356,784 (25.0%) people were waiting over six weeks, to 1,639,813 at the end of June 2024 where 375,416 (23.9%) people were waiting over 6-weeks for a diagnostic test. 2024/25 NHS Operational Planning Guidance set an objective for just 5% to be waiting six weeks. Due to seasonal effects, some care should be exercised when comparing six week wait percentages figures in different months of the year.CDC activity data is published monthly and cannot be provided up to a specific date within that month. Published CDC activity data details activity from July 2021 to August 2024. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/cdc-management-information/Monthly activity and waiting list data for diagnostics is published monthly and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/The following table lists the number of checks, tests and scans delivered in each of the requested months across 2024:MonthCDC activity delivered since Oct-21 Spending ReviewCDC activity delivered in each monthJan-246,841,026393,742Feb-247,279,148438,122Mar-247,826,454547,306Apr-248,263,510437,056May-248,718,759455,249Jun-249,292,578573,819Jul-249,771,674479,096Source: NHS England
How many procedures were delivered by surgical hubs opened since the 2021 Spending Review, as of 4 July 2024.
Between the 2021 Spending Review and 4 July 2024, 18 new Targeted Investment Fund (TIF2) funded surgical hubs have opened. Elective Hub data is only available from April 2024, when the Elective Hub dashboard was established.Of the 18 new TIF2 funded surgical hubs, only 11 surgical hubs are reporting data. This data shows that between 1 April 2024 and 1 July 2024 the 11 reporting surgical hubs have delivered 18,403 procedures.Between 30 April 2021 and 30 June 2024, the elective waiting list increased by 2,499,232 from 5,123,717 to 7,622,949.
How many (a) checks, (b) tests and (c) scans were carried out at community diagnostic centres opened since the 2021 Spending Review in (i) January 2024, (ii) February 2024, (iii) March 2024, (iv) April 2024, (v) May 2024, (vi) June 2024 and (vii) July 2024.
As of the end of June 2024, community diagnostics centres (CDCs) had delivered 9,292,578 tests, checks and scans since the 2021 Spending Review at the end of October. Over this period, the diagnostic waiting list has increased from 1,428,415 as at the end of October 2021 where 356,784 (25.0%) people were waiting over six weeks, to 1,639,813 at the end of June 2024 where 375,416 (23.9%) people were waiting over 6-weeks for a diagnostic test. 2024/25 NHS Operational Planning Guidance set an objective for just 5% to be waiting six weeks. Due to seasonal effects, some care should be exercised when comparing six week wait percentages figures in different months of the year.CDC activity data is published monthly and cannot be provided up to a specific date within that month. Published CDC activity data details activity from July 2021 to August 2024. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/cdc-management-information/Monthly activity and waiting list data for diagnostics is published monthly and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/The following table lists the number of checks, tests and scans delivered in each of the requested months across 2024:MonthCDC activity delivered since Oct-21 Spending ReviewCDC activity delivered in each monthJan-246,841,026393,742Feb-247,279,148438,122Mar-247,826,454547,306Apr-248,263,510437,056May-248,718,759455,249Jun-249,292,578573,819Jul-249,771,674479,096Source: NHS England
How many procedures were delivered by surgical hubs opened since 27 October 2021 in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April, (e) May, (f) June and (g) July 2024.
Between October 2021 and 4 July 2024, 18 new Targeted Investment Fund (TIF2) funded surgical hubs have opened. Elective Hub data is only available from April 2024, when the Elective Hub dashboard was established.Of the 18 new TIF2 funded surgical hubs, only 11 surgical hubs are reporting data. The data shows that 6,302 surgical procedures were delivered by the 11 reporting hubs in April 2024; 6,142 in May 2024, and; 5,959 in June 2024. There were 7,572,563 pathways on the elective waiting list in April 2024; 7,603,812 in May 2024; 7,622,949 in June 2024 and 7,624,600 in July 2024.
How many (a) first stage and (b) second stage cancer patients received a diagnosis following an appointment at a community diagnostic centre opened since the 2021 Spending Review.
Data on the routes to diagnosis for cancer, which is collated and published by the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) does not specify the setting where the diagnostic test took place, so we do not hold the information on diagnoses following appointments in CDCs.As of the end of August 2024, the diagnostic waiting list was 1,559,284, where 373,126 (23.9%) patients were waiting over six weeks. This compares to 1,428,415 as at the end of October 2021, following the 2021 Spending Review, where 356,784 (25%) patients were waiting over 6-weeks for a diagnostic test. 2024/25 NHS Operational Planning Guidance set an objective for just 5% to be waiting six weeks. Due to seasonal effects, some care should be exercised when comparing six week wait percentages figures in different months of the year.In August 2024, performance against the Faster Diagnosis Standard was 75.5%, 0.5 percentage points above the operational standard. Due to the impact of working days per month and seasonality, impacting the amount of activity per month, we cannot directly compare performance to October 2021.Monthly activity and waiting list data for diagnostics is published monthly and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/
What estimate she has made of the proportion of the general population that are in receipt of the State Pension in each district council electoral ward in Louth and Horncastle constituency.
DWP cannot provide data down to a district council electoral ward level. Data on State Pension caseloads for GB is published and this can be found on DWP Stat-Xplore. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on estimates of the population at different geographic boundaries. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. To be helpful, as of the quarter ending May 2022, the proportion of the general population of Louth and Horncastle constituency in receipt of the State Pension is 30%. This was calculated using the State Pension caseload for the 2010 Parliamentary Constituency boundaries in the closest quarter (May 2022) to the ONS data used and dividing it by the latest available Parliamentary Constituency population estimates data from the ONS (Mid-year 2022). Source for Population estimates: Parliamentary constituency population estimates (ONS)
How many people in receipt of the State Pension there are in each district council electoral ward in Louth and Horncastle constituency.
DWP cannot provide data down to a district council electoral ward level. Data on State Pension caseloads for GB is published and this can be found on Stat-Xplore. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user and, if needed, can access User Guide (dwp.gov.uk) on how to extract the information required. To be helpful, as of the quarter ending May 2023, there are 28,694 SP claimants in Louth and Horncastle Parliamentary Constituency. The 2024 Parliamentary constituency boundaries were used to calculate this.