Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the (a) amount and (b) proportion of mechanically dried honey sold as honey in the UK; and what steps he is taking to ensure that honey sold in the UK meets legal compositional standards.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department does not collect data on the amount and proportion of mechanically dried honey sold as honey in the UK. However, we do regularly collect UK honey import trade data.
The Government recognises the importance of protecting food standards and has set minimum quality standards for many foods, including honey. All honey on sale, regardless of where it comes from must comply with the Honey Regulations 2015 which set out detailed specifications of its composition, labelling, and quality criteria. These are robust standards which aim to protect honey, ensuring that it meets a set definition and characteristics.
Defra works closely with enforcement authorities who are responsible for enforcing our honey laws, the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) National Food Crime Unit, Food Standards Scotland’s (FSS) Food Crime and Incidents Unit, local and port health authorities, industry and others on investigating any potential fraud issues raised, to ensure honey sold in the UK meets our high standards and maintains a level playing field between honey producers. Enforcement authorities also routinely test honey for compliance with the honey regulations.
Defra and the FSA also support a programme of research dedicated to honey authenticity where it is actively working to provide information and guidance to those carrying out monitoring and enforcement checks on honey, to protect consumers and legitimate businesses.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, what proportion of the £104 billion funding will be spent in Bedfordshire.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has secured £104 billion of investment which includes over £10 billion to reduce sewage discharges from over 2,500 storm overflows in England and £4.8 billion to reduce phosphorus pollution. This will deliver on cleaning up our rivers, lakes, and seas.
Further information on Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) actions for water companies to deliver within the 2025-2030 period is available for the public here: Price Review 2024 Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) App. This can be filtered by Local Authority.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Over half a million children to benefit from funded childcare, published 1 September 2025, whether she has made an estimate on the average additional number of hours worked this will result in; and if she will make an estimate of the total (i) economic value and (ii) cost to the public purse of the policy.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving opportunity for every child and work choices for every parent.
From 1 September, eligible working parents of children aged nine months and older are now benefiting from 30 hours of funded childcare. Reaching this milestone means hundreds of thousands of families are better able to balance work and family life.
Central estimates for the financial benefits of extending early years education and childcare entitlements were published in April 2024 by the National Audit Office, which indicate, as of March 2024, a benefit-to-cost ratio of £1.26:£1.00, and a total estimated benefit of £15.972 billion, based on a total estimated cost of £12.723 billion.
The Office for Budget Responsibility also estimated that 60,000 additional parents will enter work, and 1.5 million will increase their working hours by 2027/28, as a result of the policy.
Now the programme is in live delivery, the department will continue to monitor how these estimated benefits develop throughout the programme.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government to crackdown on bad behaviour and boost attendance, published on 31 August 2025, if she will publish a list of schools receiving targeted support.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The regional improvement for standards and excellence attendance and behaviour hubs programme is intended to provide support to senior leaders to improve their whole-school attendance and behaviour practice. Participation in the programme will be voluntary, although schools with specific attendance or behaviour challenges will be encouraged to participate. Given this is a supportive initiative, the department does not intend to publish the names of the schools receiving enhanced support through the programme.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's press release entitled AI to cut paperwork to free up doctors’ time for patients, published on 16 August 2025, if he will make an estimate of the time saved per patient discharge.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold a single national figure for time saved per patient discharge across all National Health Service settings. However, trials referenced in the Department’s press release of 16 August 2025 and subsequent trials indicate that the use of ambient voice technology and other artificial intelligence-enabled tools can significantly reduce administrative burden. For example, one London-wide trial found that ambient voice technology reduced time spent on paperwork by approximately 51.7%, equating to an average saving of approximately six minutes per patient discharge summary. These figures are indicative and will vary depending on local implementation and clinical context.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's press release entitled AI to cut paperwork to free up doctors’ time for patients, published on 16 August 2025, if he will publish a definition for (a) medical expert and (b) full review.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not maintain statutory definitions of “medical expert” or “full review”. For the purposes of the press release issued on 16 August 2025, “medical expert” refers to a registered healthcare professional with relevant clinical expertise who contributes to the development or validation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and “full review” refers to a comprehensive assessment process that includes clinical safety, data governance, and regulatory compliance checks prior to the deployment of AI systems within National Health Service settings.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Consultations and reviews form part of everyday policymaking in the Department, making it impossible to disaggregate a figure for salary costs specifically relating to consultations. Therefore, the information requested is not held.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by her Department since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The information requested could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to tackle the illegal usage of e-scooters.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Enforcement of illegal e-scooter use is a matter for the police and there are a range of motoring offences and penalties that can be used, such as criminal prosecution, points on the user’s driving licence, and having the e-scooter seized.
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will likely include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. This will help the police to crack down on those who use them in an unlawful or irresponsible way.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the route of East-West Rail is covered by 5G mobile signal prior to the first services running on the Marston Vale Line.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
East West Rail Company (EWR Co) will install high-capacity fibre along the line of route including the Marston Vale Line, which has spare capacity designated for third-party telecommunications such as to provide 5G mobile signal for passenger use. EWR Co are currently exploring options for how 5G data connectivity could be provided including through third party funding.