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Written Question
Hospitals: Construction
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent on consultancy for the new hospitals programme.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As per the definitions set out in government guidance, the New Hospital Programme does not have any costs recorded as consultancy costs. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consultancy-spend-controls#definitions-of-types-of-services

However, we do have costs recorded as professional services.

The New Hospital Programme has a total recorded expenditure of £266 million for professional services from April 2021 up until 30 October 2024.


Written Question
Internet: Safety
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for harm by small websites not included in the Online Harm Bill.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

All user-to-user services, no matter their size and regardless of whether they are categorised, will be captured by the Online Safety Act. The illegal content duties will require all user-to-user services – including small but risky services - to risk assess for illegal content, reduce the risk that users encounter illegal content, and mitigate against their service being used to facilitate or commit certain offences. The child safety duties will apply to all services likely to be accessed by children. These services must use highly effective age assurance to protect children from the most harmful content.


Written Question
Parking: Software
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with local authorities on a standardised parking app.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform (NPP), a digital system designed to connect parking apps across the UK to provide a simpler service for users, by enabling them to use the app of their choice wherever they park. The Government recognises the many benefits of an NPP and the depth of support for it across the parking sector with over 200 local authorities having expressed an interest in joining. However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the Government inherited.

The Department is working with the parking industry to explore options for taking forward delivery of a national platform. The industry has responded positively to this and the pilot version of the NPP will continue to be funded to 31 March 2025 while these discussions continue.


Written Question
Companies: Environment Protection
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

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 with Cabinet colleagues to monitor companies responsibilities and duties to the environment.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England.

There are many regulators involved in delivering Government environmental objectives, and the Environment Agency (EA) is the largest environmental regulator for England.

The EA regulates a wide range of industries and activities, in diverse fields such as nuclear power, waste and resources, the water industry, climate change, flood protection. Its regulation brings about significant improvements in protection of the environment, adapts to emerging challenges and supports sustainable growth.

The Government also supports voluntary environmental due diligence approaches adopted by UK businesses across their operations and supply chain relationships, in line with the OECD’s Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct. DBT also oversees the UK’s National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, an independent unit tasked with promoting the OECD Guidelines and managing a non-judicial grievance mechanism to resolve complaints through mediation.


Written Question
Railways: Dawlish
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the cost of restarting phase 5 of the Dawlish rail resilience project design team.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A team at Network Rail is currently funded to develop the fifth phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme. A decision on further funding will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review.


Written Question
Loneliness: Rural Areas
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to tackle loneliness in rural communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural communities. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s current work to tackle loneliness includes supporting a range of organisations through the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online platform for professionals working to reduce loneliness (including those based in rural areas); working to improve the evidence base around loneliness; and providing advice through the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign’s advice pages.


Written Question
Parking: Private Sector
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on commercial usage of DVLA vehicle keeper requests that result in failed parking charge notices.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to disclose information to allow the management of parking on private land. Information is provided as a first point of contact to help investigate alleged parking breaches, determine any liability and to help resolve disputes. The information is provided only to companies that are members of an appropriate accredited trade association and are subject to auditing to ensure the information provided is used appropriately.

Private parking operators must follow a code of practice and have processes for private parking charges to be challenged, including referral to an independent appeals service. Motorists may decide to appeal private parking charges for a range of reasons. This is a matter for the private parking sector and the information requested is not held. The DVLA monitors complaints and takes appropriate action, particularly where issues with operators or specific car parks appear to be recurrent.


Written Question
Climate Change
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

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 with Cabinet colleagues to help the UK meet its commitments on climate change adaptation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is the lead department for domestic adaptation to climate change, responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. This includes preparing a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme. Defra works closely with the Cabinet Office in delivering this function.

  • Our new pilot, the “Local Authority Climate Service” tool provides Met Office climate data to local authorities based on their specific geographic areas, empowering them to take more effective decisions based on their local risk landscape.
  • Our new £15 million Defra-UKRI research programme ‘Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change’ (MACC) will fund world leading strategic research projects to help improve the UK’s resilience to climate change impacts.
  • The Cabinet Office and Defra jointly chair the director-level Climate Resilience Steering Board with HM Treasury and key risk owning departments.
  • Alongside delivering NAP3 we are committed to strengthening the nation’s resilience and are considering a range of options to better embed climate adaptation across the whole of government.

Defra has responsibility for around half of the 61 risks and opportunities identified in the third Climate Change Risk Assessment, with a further eleven government departments having responsibility for the remainder.


Written Question
Insulation: Housing
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of spray foam insulation previously deemed fit for purpose but later surveyed as inadequate.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Consumers are entitled to repair work by the original installer or, failing that, they can use their guarantee provided on installation. TrustMark can support them through this process.

The Government recognises that the consumer protection system that we inherited needs reform, we will press ahead with a sweeping overhaul through the Warm Homes Plan.


Written Question
Coastal Areas: Departmental Responsibilities
Friday 14th February 2025

Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Government will appoint a Minister for Coastal Communities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As the Minister for Local Growth my role is to promote economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. Our coastal economies and communities add unique value to the country and offer significant growth potential.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper we will give local leaders powers to drive forward Local Growth Plans to accelerate regional growth and productivity. This will drive the government’s central mission of economic growth and put more money in people’s pockets.