Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with Connecting Devon and Somerset and Airband on its planned timetable for publishing its connection schedule.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is in regular contact with Airband and Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) in relation to the finalisation of the remaining contracts under the earlier Superfast Broadband Programme. Airband and CDS will publish the latest timeframes for build across the Taunton and Wellington constituency, with the overall contracts expected to be completed in full by Autumn 2027.
CDS is responsible for delivering these contracts and any queries about specific delivery areas and timescales should be directed to CDS.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of licensing building companies.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Grenfell Inquiry recommended that principal contractors wanting to work on higher-risk buildings should need a licence, which would be managed by the construction regulator. It also recommended that when applying for building control approval for these buildings, the principal contractor should include a personal undertaking from a company director or senior manager. We accept this and will work on creating a licensing system that works for the industry and the public.
We support stronger accountability and competence of principal contractors and are considering how to achieve this without creating unnecessary layers of regulation and barriers to the supply of new homes.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many overheating incidents have been logged in Musgrove Park Hospital in each of the last five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows the number of overheating incidents logged at Musgrove Park Hospital, from 2019/20 to 2023/24:
Year | Overheating incidents |
2023/24 | 20 |
2022/23 | 15 |
2021/22 | 9 |
2020/21 | Data not collected |
2019/20 | Data not collected |
Source: Estates Returns Information Collection, from January 2025.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to process access for records requests from veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has experienced a substantial rise in Subject Access Requests, which has put significant pressure on our ability to deliver within the legislative timescales. However, I have already asked the Department to take steps to improve our ability to respond within the necessary timeframes. The MOD’s Data Protection Team have made the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) aware of the situation, which is being experienced across all Services.
Where an individual is seeking information about themselves, known as a SAR, the MOD adheres to guidance issued by the ICO. This stipulates that a public authority must supply the information within one month, but can take up to 90 days for complex cases. Further information can be found at the following link: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/time-limits-for-responding-to-data-protection-rights-requests
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of revising the requirement for a grade 4 in GCSE maths for entry into teacher training, in cases where applicants hold postgraduate qualifications in relevant subjects but did not achieve that grade in maths at school.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department is committed to protecting the quality of teachers and the profession’s status. The initial teacher training (ITT) criteria set out the requirements for all ITT courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). All accredited ITT providers must ensure that entrants to these courses have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in the GCSE examinations in English and mathematics (and science, for primary trainees).
The entry requirements aim to ensure that entrants to ITT have demonstrated their achievement of a minimum standard of educational attainment, and for primary trainees that they demonstrate an acceptable level of subject knowledge in the core subjects of the national curriculum.
It is the standard, not the certificate, that matters. Applicants who are otherwise suitable but have not successfully achieved a GCSE grade 4 may be given an opportunity to show that they can meet the required standard either by taking an equivalence test or by offering other evidence of attainment, which should demonstrate a similar level and breadth. It is for accredited ITT providers to decide whether an applicant’s qualification is of a standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken for LGBT Dismissed or Discharged Payments to be (a) processed and (b) distributed.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved; we envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are completed
Defence fully recognises the importance of delivering LGBT Dismissed or Discharged Payments in a timely manner and is taking specific steps to reduce the time taken for both processing and distribution. Clear guidance has been published to help applicants understand the process, and we appreciate their patience as we work to deliver this important recognition fairly and responsibly.
To reduce processing times, we are working to streamline and automate administrative processes where possible. We are also improving coordination across Defence to retrieve supporting evidence more efficiently, ensuring applications are reviewed thoroughly but without unnecessary delays. While processing times vary depending on the complexity of cases and the evidence required, we are committed to handling applications as quickly as possible. To speed up distribution, the Department is reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring sections (a) 143 and (b) 144 of the Building Safety Act into force in the current parliament.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Section 144 of the Building Safety Act (2022) created a power to mandate a requirement for all new build homes to be sold with a new build warranty. No decision has been made by the government on commencement of this power.
In the meantime, most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term, while the developer is often held accountable for the first two years of this period.
In October 2024 the previous government published its response the Competition and Market's Authority's housebuilding study. This included a commitment to bring forward a new consumer code for housebuilders and a New Homes Ombudsman service which will empower homeowners to rightly challenge developers for any quality issues they face in their home which the current government is also committed to.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of levels of resourcing for Natural England on the use of developer levies collected through the Nature Restoration Fund for nature recovery.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working closely with Natural England to ensure that resources are in place to administer the Nature Restoration Fund, which is designed to run on a cost recovery basis.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of sitting days of the Independent Panel to Access Impact Payments.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government recognises the importance of timeliness in delivering this important recognition. The Independent Panel convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating the Government's commitment to delivering the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) at pace. Further sittings are taking place in June, with several more scheduled in the coming months.
We expect to increase the frequency of sittings, up to two per week and will continue to monitor progress, assessing whether further increases would provide benefits without compromising the integrity of the process. Increasing the number of sitting days may expedite the processing of applications but must be balanced with ensuring the process remains thorough and robust. Evidence gathering is the longest and most complex part of the process, requiring information to be collected from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted carefully to ensure fairness for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.
As of 9 June 2025, the FRS had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved; we envisage the FRS speeding up once these are completed.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take steps (a) with Building Digital UK to support the timely delivery of full fibre broadband to rural communities under the Phase 2 Superfast Broadband Programme in (i) west Somerset and (ii) Devon and (b) to encourage improved communication between Airband and affected (A) residents and (B) local stakeholders in the parishes of (1) West Hatch, (2) Hatch Beauchamp, (3) Bickenhall, (4) Curland, (5) Staple Fitzpaine, (6) Corfe, (7) Orchard Portman, (8) Stoke St Mary and (9) Pitminster.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is working with Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) and Airband to identify premises which will no longer be connected via its Superfast contracts. Premises that have been descoped from the Airband contracts and are not in any suppliers’ commercial plans will be eligible for support through Project Gigabit.
Officials will continue to work closely with suppliers, residents and local stakeholders across west Somerset and Devon to improve broadband connectivity across the region.