Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many visas a) her Department, b) the Vehicle Certification Agency, c) East-West Rail, d) National Highways, e) Network Rail, f) Trinity House, g) the Civil Aviation Authority and h) Crossrail International have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Visa systems, outside of those specific to sponsored employment routes, do not capture the occupation or employer of an applicant and therefore it is not possible to give a comprehensive answer to this question. In addition, the department does not hold information sponsored employment routes for other employers.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many visas a) her Department, b) the Government Actuary's Department, c) the UK Debt Management Office, d) the National Wealth Fund, e) the Crown Estate, f) the Financial Conduct Authority, g) UK Government Investments, and h) HM Revenue & Customs have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
We do not disclose the exact number of visas sponsored due to GDPR, but can confirm that fewer than five visas have been sponsored since 4 July 2024. Information requested on arm’s length bodies is not held centrally.
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, how many visas a) his Department, b) the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, c) the UK Health Security Agency, d) the Care Quality Commission, e) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, f) NHS England, g) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, h) NHS Blood and Transplant, i) NHS Business Services Authority, and j) NHS Resolution have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate about how much a) income tax, b) National Insurance and c) student loan repayment she expects the average person turning 30 in 2025/26 with a Plan 2 Student Loan to pay by 2029/30.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The average Plan 2 loan borrower turning 30 years of age in the2025/26 financial year and making student loan repayments through PAYE is expected to pay £29,100 in income tax, £11,600 in employee National Insurance contributions and £5,600 in Plan 2 student loan repayments between the 2025/26 and 2029/30 financial years (figures rounded to the nearest £100).
Plan 2 borrowers turning 30 in 2025/26 are likely to be in the early stages of their careers, and many may not be earning enough to be making student loan repayment. These borrowers are not included in our average. Plan 2 borrowers may re-borrow or have borrowed on other plans. These student loan repayments have not been considered. Only PAYE student loan repayments have been considered. Note some Plan 2 borrowers will be making voluntary repayments direct to the Student Loans Company, making repayments from overseas or be on self-assessment.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many visas a) his Department, b) the Pension Protection Fund, and c) the Office for Nuclear Regulation have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many visas a) his Department, b) the Information Commissioners Office, c) the Intellectual Property Office, d) the Met Office, e) the UK Space Agency, f) the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, g) UK Research and Innovation, h) Ordnance Survey and i) Ofcom have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to freeze travelcard fares in 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government froze national regulated rail fares at the Budget, delivering savings on over a billion journeys, and passengers not paying a penny more on season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities. There are a range of different travelcard products available to passengers - where they are managed by national rail operators, fares will be frozen, in line with the announcement. Decisions on TfL specific fares are a devolved matter for the Mayor of London.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many visas a) his Department, b) the National Army Museum, c) the National Museum of the Royal Navy, d) Sheffield Forgemasters International and e) the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Since 4 July 2024, the Department has sponsored six visas. In addition, National Army Museum has sponsored none, the National Museum of the Royal Navy has sponsored one, Sheffield Forgemasters International has sponsored two, and Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations have sponsored one.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the press release entitled What does the Autumn Budget mean for your energy bills?, published on 27 November 2025, what the cost will be of funding the Renewables Obligation from general taxation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of the cost of this measure are set out in Table 4.1 of the supporting documents for the Autumn Budget: Supporting documents for Budget 2025 - GOV.UK
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many visas a) his Department and b) the Office for National Statistics have sponsored since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.