To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Energy: Conservation
Tuesday 19th March 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if her Department will update its information on energy efficiency online to include the potential costs savings of (a) circulator pumps and (b) hydraulic balancing.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The ‘Welcome Home to Energy Efficiency’ advice site focuses on longer term changes consumers can make to their homes to make them more sustainable and help reduce energy costs.

The content of the site is regularly reviewed and updated by the Department’s policy teams to ensure the information on specific measures and schemes is accurate and that emerging new schemes and technologies are included.

The government was clear in the government response to the consultation on the standards now known as Boiler Plus, that hydraulic balancing is an expected practice that should be undertaken when a new boiler installed.


Written Question
Prostate Cancer: Screening
Tuesday 19th March 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not currently recommend screening for prostate cancer in the United Kingdom due to the inaccuracy of the current best test, called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). A PSA-based screening programme could harm men, as some of them would be diagnosed with a cancer that would not have caused them problems during their life. This would lead to additional tests and treatments which can also have harmful side effects.

The Government understands the importance of improving evidence around prostate screening and therefore we are providing £16 million of funding to Prostate Cancer UK's £42 million trial, which is aimed at helping us find a way of catching prostate cancer in men as early as possible.

The UK NSC will consider the evidence for six possible approaches to targeted prostate screening for those at higher risk. The UK NSC will publish its recommendations when complete. The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme provides general practices with information to counsel asymptomatic men aged 50 years old about PSA testing for prostate cancer.


Written Question
Food: UK Trade with EU
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

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 assessment of the potential impact of reclassifying fresh (a) fruit and (b) root vegetables from the EU as medium risk on retailers.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No assessment on impacts will be made as there has been no change to the risk category of fruit and vegetables. A temporary easement has been put in place for fruit and vegetables imported to GB.


Written Question
Food: UK Trade with EU
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of pausing proposals reclassifying (a) fruits and (b) root vegetables from the EU as medium risk on (i) retailers and (ii) consumers.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is not reclassifying fruit and vegetables. A temporary easement has been put in place for fruit and vegetables imported to GB.


Written Question
Innovate UK
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the application process for grants from Innovate UK; and if she will take steps to help ensure that small businesses are not disadvantaged in that application process.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Innovate UK (IUK) offers extensive support services and funding opportunities for businesses of all sizes, including micro and SMEs. In 22/23 it supported 3,000 SMEs with grants, a 47% increase from 2020.

IUK’s processes meet Cabinet Office Grant Standards, and are audited internally and externally to ensure they are fair and robust. IUK recently published a Declaration to Support Businesses to Grow and Scale setting out how it is refining its approach to supporting businesses. This included pledging to halve the average time to process grant applications.


Written Question
Railways: Suffolk
Tuesday 16th January 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for the reallocation of HS2 funding to Network Rail for upgrading (a) Haughley and (b) Ely junctions.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Prime Minister's Network North announcement confirmed government support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction. My officials have been engaging with their counterparts at Network Rail to consider next steps in progressing these important schemes and an update on next steps will be provided in due course.


Written Question
Railways: Suffolk
Tuesday 16th January 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his planned timetable is for the commencement of works upgrading (a) Haughley and (b) Ely junctions.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Prime Minister's Network North announcement confirmed government support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction. My officials have been engaging with their counterparts at Network Rail to consider next steps in progressing these important schemes and an update on next steps will be provided in due course.


Written Question
Railways: Suffolk
Tuesday 16th January 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on upgrading (a) Haughley and (b) Ely junctions.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Prime Minister's Network North announcement confirmed government support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction. My officials have been engaging with their counterparts at Network Rail to consider next steps in progressing these important schemes and an update on next steps will be provided in due course.


Written Question
Police: Demonstrations
Monday 15th January 2024

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to enable police forces to charge the organisers of marches for the cost of policing them.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our democracy, but this right must be balanced with the rights of others to go about their daily lives without disruption.

The government recognises that there will be unexpected and exceptional events that can put financial pressure on forces. In these cases, Police and Crime Commissioners can apply to the Home Office for special grant funding to meet additional costs that would be incurred from policing these events.

The Government is proposing a total police funding settlement of up to £18.4 billion in 2024-25, an increase of up to £842.9 million when compared to 2023-24. This includes £34m for Special Grant funding. The core purpose of Special Grant funding is to support the police with costs of unexpected events and these are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Government regularly reviews legislation to ensure it adequately reflects challenges that are likely to be faced today. Where gaps in the legislation are identified, we will seek to address them.


Written Question
Immigration Controls: English Language
Wednesday 20th December 2023

Asked by: Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking with English-language testing organisations to help ensure that people coming to (a) study and (b) settle in the UK have attained an International English Language Testing System for UK Visas and Immigration score of at least 5.5 or equivalent.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)

English proficiency levels are defined within the Immigration Rules relevant to each immigration route. Home Office commercial arrangements with our secure English language testing suppliers require all tests to meet the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rules.