Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on tourist numbers in South Shropshire.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. It will be for Mayors to decide whether a levy is right for their area, subject to local consultation on specific proposals to understand local impacts, including on visitor numbers.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of economic productivity in Shropshire since July 2024.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office for National Statistics publishes regional productivity statistics annually. The latest data, published in 2025, cover the period up to 2023. Data for 2024 are not yet available.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the horse racing industry.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to the nation’s economy and sporting landscape.
Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy for the purposes of supporting horse breeds, advancing veterinary science and education within the industry and facilitating general improvements to the sport. The levy income for 2024/25 was £109m, the highest since the 2017 reforms that extended the scope of the Levy to overseas betting operators.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many full-fibre connections have been made in South Shropshire constituency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to the Ofcom Connected Nations, full-fibre coverage was delivered to 3,586 additional premises in South Shropshire in the 12 months between January 2025 and January 2026. This increased full fibre coverage from approximately 55% (26,274) to 62% (29,860). These figures are based on the latest reporting period, as data covering the period from June 2025 to June 2026 is not yet available.
The Government is committed to ensuring at least 99% of premises receive gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Community Ownership Fund reaches communities in South Shropshire.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Community Ownership Fund has helped communities across the United Kingdom to take ownership of assets that are important to their local areas. Since 2021, the Fund has awarded over £135 million to 410 projects across the UK, including over £1.8 million to projects in Shropshire.
The Community Ownership Fund is now closed and there will be no further application windows.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of food procured in the public sector is produced domestically.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Data collection on the extent to which public sector settings are serving food from local sustainable sources is currently underway. We expect the work to be completed by Summer 2027.
The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the number of postal workers in South Shropshire.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As Royal Mail is an independent business, the government is not involved in its operational matters including decisions around recruitment and workforce levels.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve access to support services for veterans in rural areas.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
This government is committed to ensuring that veterans and their families are easily able to access support across the country when and where it is needed, including rural or remote areas.
Last year we launched a new Veterans Strategy which recognises veterans as a national asset and resets the nation’s relationship with those who have served. Alongside this, we launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for veterans to access the care and support they deserve.
The first phase of VALOUR-Recognised Centres (VRC) will open shortly and the application process for the second round of funding is ongoing. A new VALOUR digital service will also be available to help veterans and their families find the right support, especially those unable to travel to a VRC. It will include a broader range of support providers with a new process for organisations to be added.
For general support, MOD Veterans’ Services provides tailored, holistic information, guidance and welfare support to those who need it through a national network of Case Managers across the UK, ensuring that individuals and families receive comprehensive, joined-up support tailored to their needs.
In addition, dedicated support is available to veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness through Op FORITUDE, or for mental and physical health needs through Ops COURAGE and RESTORE. Employment support is delivered through Op ASCEND and programmes such as the Career Transition partnership. For those in contact with or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System support is available through Op NOVA.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action is being taken to support farming in protected landscapes.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As a result of the 2025 Spending Review, Defra secured a strong financial settlement. The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes funding for the Environmental Land Management schemes paid to farmers increasing by around 150%, rising from £800 million in 2023/24 towards £2 billion by 2028/29.
The settlement also includes funding for the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme. Earlier this year the Government announced it would extend the FiPL programme for another three years until March 2029, with £30 million in funding next year.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the court backlogs.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government has already invested significantly in the system – in uncapped sitting days for 2026/27, court buildings and technology, and in legal professionals with significant investment in legal aid. Only by pulling every lever we have – investment, efficiency and reform – can we turn the tide on the backlog and begin to deliver faster and fairer justice.