Written Questions

Dear All,

I would first like to begin by thanking you all for taking the time to come together and write to myself and the other local leaders on this pressing matter.

Many of you have contacted me about support for the travel industry.

I fully appreciate your concerns and the seriousness of the situation for the whole UK travel industry, which I recognise is facing real difficulty in light of the coronavirus outbreak. 

All animals deserve to be respected and cared for throughout their lives, so I welcome the Government’s clear commitment that future trade agreements will uphold our country’s high animal welfare standards. These standards will not be watered down in pursuit of any trade deal. 

It is vital that people across the UK have confidence in the food that they eat, which is why I welcome the Government’s very clear commitment that future trade agreements must uphold our country’s high food standards.

For general enquiries, please see the latest advice on gov.uk/coronavirus

Holiday lets contribute to the economy, create jobs, increase tourism and are generally a good use of housing.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, and I can assure you that I recognise the importance and urgency of public debate on this issue.

Following a consultation on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood, the Government has decided to phase out the use of wet wood and coal between 2021 and 2023, and instead will be encouraging cleaner fuels.

I am proud of our country’s history of supporting action to combat deforestation. The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out work to protect the world’s forests, support sustainable agriculture and move towards zero-deforestation supply chains.

I am fully committed to supporting the social rented sector and its 4 million households. With social housing stock across England plummeting by almost half a million homes between 1997 and 2010, I recognise that this has made it harder for some families to access social housing.

I completely understand what an emotive issue abortion is, and I appreciate the strength of feelings on both sides.

The Prime Minister recently announced the Government’s intention to provide the NHS with an additional £33.9 billion by 2023/24; this is the largest, longest funding settlement in the history of the NHS.

It's crucial that people who have a terminal illness receive support when they need it, and that the process for retrieving this support does not involve not unnecessary stress.

This week I met Dame Clare Marx (pictured),  the Council Chair of the General Medical Council. We discussed medical staffing in Bassetlaw.

There is no place in this country for animal cruelty, and we must ensure that those who abuse animals are met with the full force of the law.

Oceans are currently facing unprecedented challenges, including over-fishing, plastic pollution and climate change. It's more important than ever to take action to ensure our seas are healthy, abundant and resilient.

Pubs play a crucial role in the social and economic life of our nation, as well in helping to promote responsible drinking, which is why I'm encouraged by the support which has been made available to pubs and our manifesto commitment to further cut taxes for small businesses.