Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on negotiating a free trade agreement with that country.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We have concluded a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to get an agreement with President Trump.
This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors – sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK.
We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. The US has committed to further negotiations, including on the 10% tariffs introduced on 2nd April across our economy.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Cuts to red tape to make great British staycations cheaper published on 7 April 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential role of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships in creating local tourism packages.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) have an important role to play in supporting the development of local tourism products and packages that meet the needs of visitors and benefit local communities. As business-led and strategically coordinated partnerships, LVEPs are well placed to bring together local stakeholders, such as accommodation providers, attractions, transport operators, and cultural venues to create compelling, joined-up visitor offers.
As part of our Plan for Change, the Government’s reforms announced on 7 April 2025 aim to make it easier for domestic visitors to access high quality ‘staycation’ experiences. These measures complement the work of LVEPs, which are supported by DCMS and VisitEngland, to strengthen destination management, encourage innovation, and drive year-round visitor demand.
Through the LVEP programme, DCMS and VisitEngland will continue to support local areas to develop coordinated visitor experiences that reflect local distinctiveness and deliver economic and social benefits for communities.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cuts to red tape to make great British staycations cheaper published on 7 April 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms on the economy in Bedfordshire.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The domestic tourism sector is of great value to the UK. It provides meaningful employment and supports holiday makers to explore and enjoy the UK’s diverse and plentiful attractions.
By removing obstacles and red tape that unnecessarily hinder businesses, especially smaller firms, the proposed reforms seek to open-up the sector to offer consumers better choice and better value options.
The proposals will support business collaboration and innovation across all areas of the UK. An Impact Assessment will be published as part of the process.
We encourage comment on the consultation ahead of its close on 30 June 2025.
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 number of honeybees in April (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There is currently no compulsory registration system for bees and beekeeping in the UK, so it is difficult to provide exact figures for honey bee populations.
Beekeepers are however encouraged to voluntarily register on the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) BeeBase website where they can record their details.
The figures from BeeBase can be used to provide a useful indication of the number of managed colonies in the UK. An Annual Hive Count is carried out where beekeepers are asked to update their BeeBase records. Information about numbers and location of hives is important for Bee Inspectors in terms of preparing and planning for outbreaks of disease and exotic pests.
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, what steps he is taking to make businesses aware of the ban on unlicensed use of glue traps in the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 bans glue trap use in England in all but the most exceptional, licensable circumstances. It came into force in 2024. Nothing in the law prevents sale of glue traps in England. However, only pest controllers with a licence can legally use them for rodent control.
Widespread media coverage in 2022 and 2024 alerted businesses to the change in legislation in England and on-going stakeholder engagement has helped ensure pest controllers acting for businesses are cognisant of the situation. The British Independent Retailers Association has also published advice for retailers to prevent glue traps from being sold for illegal use and we know of market-leading suppliers and retailers having withdrawn them from sale.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving (a) awareness and (b) treatment of chronic and recurring urinary tract infections.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidelines for referral for patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/
There are specific referral criteria for women compared to men, and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to pharmacy first. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their GP surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.
Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes perhaps by ultrasound scan or cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.
The number of clinics for urinary tract issues is locally managed and commissioned by each Integrated Care Boards (ICB), in accordance with the local population’s needs.
While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on better recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of delivery of the ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice and interventions for different populations.
More widely, NHSE has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance about the appropriate use of diagnostics including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help encourage the resumption of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full and work towards a permanent peace. More bloodshed is in no-one's interest. Our priority is urging all parties to return urgently to dialogue and to ensuring a ceasefire is implemented in full. It is only a political horizon towards a two-state solution that can ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. We are fully committed to playing our full diplomatic role. Since the hostilities resumed, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, EU High Representative Kallas and the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Israel counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, and on 28 April met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
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, whether he plans to review the treatment guidelines for recurring UTIs.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on best practice. The NICE has published a guideline on antimicrobial prescribing for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng112
The NICE keeps its published guidance under active surveillance to ensure that they are up to date and reflect any changes in the evidence base. If any new evidence comes to light, the NICE would consider the need for an update of its guideline. Both integrated care boards and healthcare providers are expected to take the national guidance into consideration when commissioning and delivering services.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support schools to meet the change in the level of demand for SEND provision in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.
The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, following the Autumn Budget 2024. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. Of that total, Central Bedfordshire Council is being allocated over £49 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £4 million on their 2024/25 DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula.
Local authorities allocate their high needs funding to support schools in making suitable provision for the increasing number of pupils identified as having more complex SEND.
The department has also announced High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for financial year 2025/26, totalling £740 million, of which Central Bedfordshire has been allocated £4.4 million. The department is encouraging local authorities to use this funding to adapt mainstream schools for pupils with SEND, creating new special units or resourced provision, as well as to create new places in special schools.
The department wants more children to receive the support they need to thrive in their local mainstream school and we want to restore parents’ trust that their child will get the support they need without having to travel a long way to access a specialist placement.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increased employer National Insurance contributions on the British vehicle manufacturing industry.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.