Written answers

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ministry of Defence Guard Service: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of standing down the Guard Force in Northern Ireland on the security of Army Reserve...

    • Armed Forces: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what performance reviews have been conducted on Capita’s role in the recruitment of military personnel in the last five years.

      Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to prioritise domestic supply chains in defence procurement.

      Unidentified Flying Objects

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department’s policy is on reporting Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; and whether new material has been classified on the subject since the...

      Army: Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the total number of heavy equipment transporters in service within the Army tabulated by those (a) currently available...

      LE TacCIS Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has imposed (a) financial penalties and (b) adjustments to contract terms with General Dynamics in relation to the delay of the...

      LE TacCIS Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the reasons are for the delay in the Morpheus communications...

      EU Defence Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is holding discussions with (a) European and (b) EU counterparts on changes to binding PESCO commitments.

      RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected annual operational cost savings are from the decommissioning of (a) RFA Wave Knight and (b) RFA Wave Ruler.

      Israel: Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to collaborate with Israeli (a) hardware and (b) software technology companies in the defence sector; and what lessons he has...

      Clyde Naval Base and RNAD Coulport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operating costs were for (a) HMNB Clyde and (b) RNAD Coulport for the most recent financial year.

      LE TacCIS Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the cost is of the Morpheus communications programme as of 5...

      Ministry of Defence: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's artificial intelligence software is Defence Writing compatible.

      Lasers: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) radio frequency directed energy weapons, (b) DragonFire lasers and (c) other directed energy...

      Lasers: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on extending the range of radio frequency directed energy weapons.

      Lasers: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his international allies on the potential export of radio frequency directed energy weapons.

      Lasers: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of procuring the radio frequency directed energy weapon capability.

      Lasers: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to undertake a full procurement of Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon capability.

      Defence: Innovation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) mentors and (b) experts support projects backed through the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic European Regional Office;...

      Armed Forces: Uniforms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sourcing military uniforms from China.

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether the Mauritian government will have...

      Clyde Naval Base and RNAD Coulport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are any planned infrastructure projects at (a) HMNB Clyde and (b) RNAD Coulport that do not fall within the Clyde Infrastructure Programme.

      Multi-role Ocean Surveillance Ships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reallocating funds from the decommissioning of HMS (a) Albion and (b) Bulwark to accelerate...

      Multi-role Ocean Surveillance Ships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the planned multi-role support ships.

      Israel and Ukraine: Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how collaboration with (a) Ukrainian and (b) Israeli (i) hardware and (ii) software technology companies in the defence sector is informing the...

      Veterans: Radiation Exposure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to expedite compensation for nuclear test veterans.

      Veterans: Radiation Exposure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met the nuclear test veteran campaign group.

      Veterans: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to support (a) veterans and (b) bereaved service families in Northern Ireland, in the context of the closure of the...

      EU Defence Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on legacy UK obligations arising from the triggering by an EU country of Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union.

      EU Defence Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on engagement with the (a) EU Single Intelligence and Analysis Capacity, (b) projected EU Rapid Deployment Capacity and (c) planned...

      Diego Garcia: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what right of (a) access, (b) inspection and...

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Armed Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether (a) assets and (b) staff of the...

      South Atlantic Medal Association

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to financially support the South Atlantic Medal Association.

      Ukraine: Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to collaborate with Ukrainian (a) hardware and (b) software technology companies in the defence sector; and what lessons he has...

      Clyde Naval Base

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) name, (b) purpose, (c) expected in-service date and (d) forecasted cost to the public purse is for all infrastructure projects within the...

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15230 on 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection, whether the Government...

    • Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to support listed places of worship.

      Prize Money: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish research commissioned by her department to gather evidence about the (a) size and (b) nature of the prize...

      Youth Work: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help increase the availability of detached youth work in rural communities.

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Department for Business and Trade: Furniture

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many (a) desks and (b) chairs have been procured for use by his Department since 5 July 2024.

    • Trade Agreements: Switzerland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress his Department has made on including an ambitious intellectual property protection framework in the UK-Swiss free trade deal.

      Fireworks: Makerfield

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to reduce firework misuse in Makerfield constituency.

      Business Premises: Rents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to ensure that the Insolvency Service investigates landlords that do not follow tribunal rent rulings to pay back...

  • Department for Education

    • Special Educational Needs: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to announce the allocation by local authority for the £740 million of SEND funding.

    • Truancy: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many fines for school absence were issued to the parents of neurodiverse children who missed school for a reason relating to their condition in...

      Schools: Attendance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase collaborative working at local authority level to improve school attendance.

      Free School Meals: Eligibility

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she take steps to delegate powers to local authorities to (a) identify and (b) automatically register all children eligible for free school meals.

      Academies: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to sixth form academies on securing capital funding for new school buildings when existing buildings are no...

      Pupils: Attendance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is she taking increase school attendance among children who are living in poverty.

      Childcare and Pre-school Education: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that early education and care providers are adequately supported to provide places for 70,000 more children by...

      Children's Rights: Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that homeless children have the same rights of access to (a) education and (b) health care as looked-after children...

      Schools: Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has consulted with all local schools in the Perranporth area as part of the review of the Perranporth Academy project; and when...

      Curriculum: Teaching Methods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of embedding (a) social and (b) emotional learning interventions into curriculums.

      Special Educational Needs: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to improve training for teachers to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in (a) mainstream and...

      Care Leavers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of ensuring that the Staying Close programme is accessible to all Looked After Children.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) children of school age with complex SEND needs and (b) specialist educational places required for such...

      Care Homes: Profits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure that private firms do not profit from out of area looked after children's residential care placements.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Vaccination: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of vaccine doses that are thrown away due to reaching their expiry date before...

    • Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing carers to receive covid-19 vaccinations on the NHS.

      Health: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle health inequality caused by childhood poverty.

      Autoimmune Diseases: Health Education and Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) support research into and (b) promote awareness of (i) Guillain-Barré Syndrome, (ii) Chronic...

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the cost effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine booster programme, in the context of the findings on the...

      Cancer: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for when cancer sites will have recurrence data collection mandated to align with the collection of breast...

      Tobacco: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the potential increase in illegal tobacco sales as a consequence of the implementation of a generational ban...

      Alcoholism and Drugs: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps this Department is taking to reduce (a) drug- and (b) alcohol-related deaths.

      HIV Infection: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend opt-out HIV testing beyond emergency departments.

      Alcoholism and Drugs: Rehabilitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the availability of rehabilitation treatment for people with (a) drug and (b) alcohol...

      HIV Infection: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people with diagnosed HIV who are not currently in care; what research it has...

      Coronavirus: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on trends in people’s quality-adjusted life years.

      HIV Infection: Diagnosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to tackle changes in rates of HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men and women.

      Tobacco: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the potential increase in incidents of (a) violent crime, (b) physical abuse and (c) verbal intimidation...

      Cancer: Rehabilitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take ensure there is sufficient provision of (a) rehabilitation and (b) prehabilitation for cancer patients across...

      Heart Diseases: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to stop young sudden cardiac deaths; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a)...

      Mpox: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to monitor the rise in cases in the more spreadable variant of mpox now detected in the UK.

      Bowel Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reduce the minimum age for bowel screening to 50 by the end of 2025.

      Medicine: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of financial support provided to medical students through the NHS bursary.

      Department of Health and Social Care: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many employee settlement agreements there were in his Department in each year since 2020; and what the total value of such agreements is.

      IVF: Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the payments made to women for their eggs from 1 October 2024 on...

      Dental Services: Ealing Central and Acton

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase provision for NHS dentists in Ealing Central and Acton constituency.

      Futibatinib

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding is available for patients to receive the immunotherapy drug Futibatinib through the NHS; and what criteria his Department...

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Food: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with businesses on the UK’s approach to research into food biosecurity since July 2024.

    • Food: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made a recent assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative...

      Research: Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to measure the private sector investment in the research and development economy by (a) sector,...

      Broadband and Mobile Phones: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support people in areas of poor (a) broadband and (b) mobile phone signal during the...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Supported Housing: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to expedite the establishment of the Supported Housing Advisory Panel.

    • High Rise Flats: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the penalties will be for landlords who do not follow the Remediation Acceleration Plan.

      Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to increase the funding for services supporting victims of domestic abuse.

      Storms: Chippenham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has determined the appropriateness of central recovery support following flooding in Chippenham after...

      Parking: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent parking regulator.

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions she has visited the QEII Centre since the general election; and if she will visit the GB News...

      Construction: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of having a single construction regulator.

      Housing: Ownership

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024 on...

      Agriculture: Land

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how she plans to report on the effectiveness of her safeguarding of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land in...

      Planning: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework...

      Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for responding to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation that ended on...

      Land: Valuation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing measures to reduce the hope value of land.

      Housing: Private Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a housing ombudsman service for the private sector.

      Planning: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of appeal hearings considered by the Planning Inspectorate were conducted virtually in 2024.

      Planning: Derelict Land

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework...

      Agriculture: Land

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish how many hectares of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land are (a) protected, (b) under...

      Local Plans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of Local Plans have been withdrawn by local authorities in 2024 following advice from the Planning...

      Housing: Watchet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the occupancy rate for houses in Watchet in...

      Affordable Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were (a) started and (b) completed in England between 2010-11 and 2023-24.

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Secondment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authority officers are seconded to her Department.

      Local Government Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, whether her...

      Local Government: Remote Working

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local...

      Devolution: Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of a devolution deal for Cornwall that does not...

      Rehabilitation and Victim Support Schemes: Torbay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much base funding she plans to provide for (a) domestic abuse and sexual violence and (b) drugs and alcohol...

      Homelessness: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require building and health and safety standards in (a) emergency...

      Combined Authorities: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase scrutiny arrangements in mayoral combined authorities.

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what formula her Department plans to use to determine (a) which local authorities will receive funding from the...

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the provisional local government finance settlement for financial year 2025-26.

      Local Government: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions...

      Devolution: Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of a devolved Cornish assembly.

      Local Government Finance: Bedfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the change in (a) core spending power and (b) settlement funding for (i) Aylesbury Vale...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

    • Zimbabwe: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Commonwealth Secretariat on publication of the independent report of...

      Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has taken steps to provide aid to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan.

      Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of sexual and gender-based...

      International Development Association: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much he plans to allocate to the World Bank Group International Development Association replenishment fund in...

      Tsai Ing-wen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to facilitate an inward visit to the UK from former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.

      Human Rights: Xinjiang

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security's oral contribution of 3 December...

      China: Sanctions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions on Chinese (a) people and (b) businesses.

      Herzi Halevi

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Herzi Halevi was given special mission diplomatic immunity to visit the UK in November 2024.

      Diplomatic Immunity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has granted any Special Mission Immunity certificates to any (a) visitor or (b) prospective...

      UN Security Council: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support a female appointment as General Secretary of the United Nations.

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

      Laboratory for AI Security Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race,...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Dogs: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help prevent international puppy smuggling.

    • Sewage: Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sewage discharges into (a) rivers and (b) seas have occurred so far this year in Cornwall.

      Flood Control: Huntingdon

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16252 on Flood Control: Cambridgeshire, what steps the Government is...

      Housing: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure funding for rural housing enablers to support housing initiatives in rural areas.

      Food: Cybersecurity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of domestic cybersecurity risks on food biosecurity.

      Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve recycling rates.

      Sewage: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on Draft information and guidance on...

      Flood Control: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether communities flooded in Storm Bert will be eligible to access funding from the Frequently Flooded Allowance.

      Pets: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle trends in the (a) number of abandoned pets and (b) pressure on animal...

      Dangerous Dogs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a (a) comprehensive and (b) holistic review of the causes...

      Cats and Dogs: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is to introduce legislation to end (a) puppy and (b) kitten smuggling.

      Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to review the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England)...

      Bluetongue Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) economic impact of the bluetongue restrictions on affected farmers and (b) animal...

  • Wales Office

    • Public Expenditure: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Barnett formula for Wales.

    • Senedd Cymru

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the proposed increase in the number of Senedd members.

      Council Tax: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on changes to Council Tax in Wales.

  • Home Office

    • Undocumented Migrants: Public Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December to Question 15294 on Undocumented Migrants: Public Opinion, if she will publish a breakdown of (a)...

    • Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities that are facing challenges in managing people who have entered the UK illegally.

      Undocumented Migrants: Hotels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 15393 on Undocumented Migrants: Hotels, if she will make an assessment of the...

      Undocumented Migrants: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a consultation process with local residents before (a) a hotel and (b) other...

      Manston Asylum Processing Centre: Biometrics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of migrants processed at Manston Immigration Centre without biometric system support since...

      Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what services related to irregular migration work is undertaken by (a) contracted companies and (b) staff of her Department.

      Undocumented Migrants: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the procurement references are of current contracts related to the housing of irregular migrants.

      Visas: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) commencing the move-on period for newly-recognised refugees only after access...

      Police: Anguilla

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support policing in Anguilla.

      Devon and Cornwall Police: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If she will have discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on the adequacy of the...

      Police and Crime Commissioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of replacing Police and Crime Commissioners with police panels.

      Police: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the police allocation formula on (a) policing and (b) crime in...

      Ketamine

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the classification of ketamine as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971;...

      Police Custody

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people aged (a) 14 to 17, (b) 18 to 25 and (c) 26 and older who enter police custody were screened for...

      Immigration Controls: Airports

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of e-passports that do not work at UK airports; and what steps she is taking to...

      Visas: Sponsorship

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure sponsor licenses are processed within the service standards timeframes.

      Immigration Controls: Biometrics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what biometric system failures there were at UK borders in 2023.

      Care Workers: Migrant Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving health and care workers on Tier 2 visas a certificate of common sponsorship.

      National Crime Agency: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to reform pay policies at the National Crime Agency.

      Terrorism: Surveillance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are on the terror watchlist broken down by ideological motivation.

      Radicalism

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption has had meetings with representatives of (a)...

      Visas: Overseas Visitors

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries have had visitor visas reinstated since 5 July 2024.

      Money Laundering: Cryptocurrencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to tackle money laundering through cryptocurrencies, in the context of the National Crime Agency's Operation...

      Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the support available to people who have left coercive relationships but continue to...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Media: Meetings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's transparency data on meetings with senior media figures, whether (a) Meta, (b) X and (c) other social media...

    • Freedom of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Freedom of Information - FOI Clearing House Review, updated on 14 December 2023, if he will make...

      Cybersecurity: Investment

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how will industry investment play a role in the development of autonomous offensive and defensive cyber tooling for the purpose of (a) national...

      Prime Minister: Public Appointments

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for which public appointments the Prime Minister is directly responsible.

      Ministers: Convictions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Government holds on how many Ministers have criminal convictions.

      Civil Servants: Recruitment

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, What guidance his Department issues on ministerial (a) authorisation and (b) approval of a decision to appoint a civil servant under one of the...

      Public Sector: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 October 2024 to Question 5121 on Employment, whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to public authorities of...

      King Charles III: Art Works

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme, published on 28 November...

      Parliamentary Scrutiny

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what processes his Department has in place for Parliamentary oversight of Government decisions in (a) a time of war and (b) circumstances where the...

      Ministers: Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question HL2359 on Ministers: Pay, which Minister is paid by the Labour Party; and whether they...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have made a (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful application for Pension Credit in each Parliamentary constituency since 1...

    • Department for Work and Pensions: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure staff receive training on the Scottish benefits system.

      Employment Schemes: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the £240 million funding allocated to her Department in the Autumn Budget 2024...

      Jobcentres and Universal Credit: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 15704 on Jobcentres and Universal Credit: Telephone Services, what the costs were to her...

      Connect to Work and Universal Support

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the differences are between the (a) Connect to Work and (b) Universal support schemes.

  • Treasury

    • Personal Care Services: Regulation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regulations to enhance financial transparency within the hairdressing industry.

    • Hospitality Industry and Leisure: Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, whether she has made an estimate of the average...

      Dental Services: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's policy paper, Changes to the Class 1 National Insurance Contributions Secondary Threshold, the Secondary Class 1...

      Ministers: Official Cars

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has been provided use of a vehicle for official Ministerial travel from outside the Government Car Service.

      Disability: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review the criteria for vehicle tax exemptions for disabled individuals (a) over the state pension age and (b) in receipt of Attendance Allowance.

      Digital Assets: Foreign Investment in UK

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to promote the UK as a place for international investment in digital assets.

      Digital Assets: Regulation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has had discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on regulation of digital assets.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Consumer Goods: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to buy...

    • Consumer Goods: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the General Product Safety...

  • Leader of the House

    • Environment Protection

      To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to update the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation to provide guidance on the environmental principles duty in section 19(1) of the...

  • Department for Transport

    • Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to bring forward a Buses Bill.

    • Blue Badge Scheme: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the eligibility criteria for the Blue Badge scheme to include children under three...

      Dangerous Driving: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to enforce stricter penalties for (a) unsafe driving and (b) speeding.

      Bus Services: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the level of the bus fare cap on public transport use in Lincolnshire.

      Great Western Railway: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on helping to improve Great Western Railway services on Sundays.

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Imports: China

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the accelerated energy grid decarbonisation target on the UK's reliance on...

    • Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing measures to prevent households that have chosen not to install...

  • Attorney General

    • Demonstrations: Prosecutions

      To ask the Solicitor General, how many prosecutions for protest-related offences the Crown Prosecution Service has completed under (a) section (i) 12 and (ii) 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, as...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Social Workers: Powers of Entry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on reviewing powers of entry for social workers.

    • Domestic Violence: Older People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to review legal protections around the (a) abuse and (b) neglect of older people.

  • Department for Education

    • Social Workers: Bureaucracy

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set out a timeline for completing and publishing the Department for Education's work with the National Workload Action Group to...

    • Social Services: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the results from the Market Interventions Advisory Group on the children’s social care market; and if so, when.

      Care Homes: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether the £90 million of funding announced in the Autumn Budget for children’s homes is new funding; how many places will be funded; and where those...

      Teachers: Working Hours

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that mainstream schools overseen by multi-academy trusts fulfil the requirement set out in guidance to teach a minimum of 190 days a...

      Artificial Intelligence: Skilled Workers

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address any shortage in AI-specific skills.

      Overseas Students: Hong Kong

      To ask His Majesty's Government after how many years of residence in the UK Hong Kong citizens admitted to the UK on a British National Overseas visa qualify for home fee status at English...

      Apprentices

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the decline in apprenticeships in recent years.

      Schools: Standards

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Fairer Schools Index developed at the University of Bristol, and its suggestion that the Progress 8 measure understates...

      Skills Bootcamps: ICT

      To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure that their programmes meet the significant demand for Skills Bootcamps in AI, data and other high-growth areas and continue to...

      Skills Bootcamps

      To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that recently reprofiled and returned funds relating to Skills Bootcamps are swiftly and effectively redistributed to providers with a...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Military Aircraft: Oil

      To ask His Majesty's Government what evaluation they have made of the use of MIL-PRF-23699 lubricants in Royal Air Force and Royal Navy jet-powered aircraft; and of its potential benefits in...

    • Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress made over the last 18 months in improving the maintenance of the accommodation of military personnel.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Churches: Music

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect and support sacred choral music in the UK including by supporting (1) cathedral choirs, and (2) relevant music education.

    • Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the preservation of historic places of worship if the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is not extended after...

      Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Remote Working

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to evaluate the effectiveness of the hybrid working policy of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

      Collections: Human Remains

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the presence of ancestral human remains in the national collections, and what records they keep centrally of the quantity and...

      Local Press

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of the Local Democracy Reporting Service; and whether they plan to enhance its effectiveness in supporting...

      Theatre

      To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to regional theatre in England.

      Brass Bands

      To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are giving to developing brass bands in England.

      Football: Women

      To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are giving to the development of women's football in England.

  • Home Office

    • Migrants: Detainees

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following the death of a man detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre on 29 October, whether all suppliers in every immigration removal centre,...

    • Domestic Abuse: Ethnic Groups

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of why women from minority ethnic groups are over-represented in domestic homicide data; and what steps they intend to take to...

      Non-crime Hate Incidents

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 November (HL2462), what estimate they have made of the cost to individual police forces of...

      Visas: National Security

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 November (HL2463), why periodic data on individuals who have had UK visas revoked on the grounds of...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Pedestrian Areas: Greater London

      To ask His Majesty's Government what impact assessments they have made of the proposal for a Mayoral Development Corporation to pedestrianise Oxford Street, and what discussions they have had...

  • Treasury

    • High Speed 2 Line: Finance

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 11 November, why is HS2 defined as an England and Wales project attracting no Barnett consequential.

    • Business: Investment

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast that real business investment will fall 0.6 percentage points as a share of...

      Mortgages: Interest Rates

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the impact of rising mortgage rates on the length of mortgage terms and the resulting effect on the retirement age...

      Tourism: VAT

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of reintroducing VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors.

  • Scotland Office

    • Civil Partnerships and Marriage

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to make an order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Economic Situation: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November (HL Deb col 684), whether it is still their position that there are...

    • UK Trade with EU: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November (HL Deb col 684), whether Ministers have ceased to be subject to any legal duties...

  • Department for Transport

    • Aircraft: Oil

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to qualify and expedite the introduction of the new turbine engine oil MIL-PRF-23699, developed by NYCO and approved by the Society...

    • Aircraft: Oil

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential health effects, including for gene expression, for passengers and crew on commercial aircraft exposed to...

      Public Transport: Weather

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to improve the readiness of systems and infrastructure to prevent public transport from being disrupted by extreme weather.

      Pedicabs: Licensing

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Transport for London regarding the implementation, including timescale, of requiring the licensing of pedicabs.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Bahrain: State Visits

      To ask His Majesty's Government which Government Ministers and officials attended the dinner held for King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at Windsor Castle on 11 November.

    • Bahrain: Human Rights

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to...

      Gulf Strategy Fund

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 9 August (HL537), when the annual summary of projects funded by the Gulf Strategy Fund in...

      Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa

      To ask His Majesty's Government which Government Ministers and officials (1) were consulted, (2) were informed, and (3) provided advice, on the appointment of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.

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