Written answers

Thursday, 10 April 2025

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • UNICEF: Development Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in Official Development Assistance funding on...

    • Jordan: Development Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact in changes to Official Development Assistance provided to...

      UNRWA: Development Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Official Development Assistance was allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in each of...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the delivery of freedom of religion or belief work in his Department's (a)...

      France: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last had discussions with his French counterpart on the right to freedom of religion or belief in France.

      Development Aid: Cost Effectiveness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the criteria to determine the prioritisation of Official Development Assistance funding in...

      Christianity: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to help tackle the digital persecution of Christians.

      Development Aid: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure UK aid supports women facing persecution due to both their faith and...

      Development Aid: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in Official Development Assistance...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria his Department uses to determine which countries are monitored for violations of freedom of religion...

      Fund for International Co-operative Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of supporting the Fund for International Co-operative Development.

      Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 40390 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Employment Tribunals Service: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what funding has been allocated to the employment tribunal system in each of the last three financial years; and what proportion of that funding has...

    • Employment Tribunals Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent representations she has received from legal professional bodies on the performance of employment tribunals.

      Prisons and Probation: Suicide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) prison and (b) probation staff have undertaken suicide prevention training.

      Prisons and Probation: Suicide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is providing suicide prevention training to (a) all and (b) newly recruited (i) prison and (ii) probation staff.

      Offenders: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice on 11 March 2025 to Question 903119 on Female Offenders,...

      Probation: Attendance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the impact of missed probation appointments by high-risk offenders on public safety; and what steps she is taking to...

      Probation Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to improve managerial oversight in the Probation Service.

      Offences against Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to improve data capture on the (a) number of private law proceedings that involve allegations of child sexual abuse and (b)...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Cabinet Office: Stress

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff were signed off absent due to stress in his Department in the most recent week for which data is available.

    • Office for the Pay Review Bodies

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on (a) the (i) determination and (ii) authorisation of ex officio membership of pay review bodies, (b)...

      10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 39120 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the budget is for the works; whether the...

      9 Downing Street: Media

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25454 on 9 Downing Street: Media, whether his Department has paid OCS; and in which month's...

      Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Questions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32268 on Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Questions: Impact Assessment, what steps his...

      10 Downing Street: Shops

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27913 on 10 Downing Street: Shops, whether the goods manufactured in China and sold in the...

      Prime Minister: Correspondence

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister plans to respond to the letter of 25 February 2025 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

      National Security: Departmental Coordination

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will establish a cross-Government expert group to help (a) innovate responses and (b) devise policy counter-measures to (i) non-traditional and...

      Arms Length Bodies

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in what circumstances new public bodies do not have to meet the last resort test in the Approvals Process guidance for new Arm's Length Bodies.

      Public Appointments

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on recruitment consultants for public appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments since 4 July...

      UK Statistics Authority

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) framework agreements and (b) memorandums of understanding between his Department and (i) the UK Statistics Authority and...

      Government Departments: Leadership

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance to other Departments on reducing spending on leadership training.

      Civil Servants

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the headcount of the civil service was in (a) June 2024 and (b) the latest period for which data is available.

      Special Advisers: Trade Union Recognition

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of the request from FDA for voluntary recognition of a trade union for special advisers.

      Government Departments: Social Media

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40911 on Government Departments: Social Media, if he will make it his policy to update the guidance...

      9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30828 on 9 Downing Street: Media, and with reference to the Cabinet Office: spend data over...

      Government Departments: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportionate reduction in spending will be required in each (a) Department and (b) arm’s length bodies in (i) 2024-25, (ii) 2025-26, and...

      Civil Servants: Muslims

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5035 on Civil Servants: Muslims, how many hours of network time his Department allocates to...

      Cabinet Office: Buildings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 6416 on Cabinet Office: Building, who owns 36 Whitehall; for what reasons the building is unused;...

      Government Departments: Photographs

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many photographers are employed by Government Departments.

      Government Departments: Remote Working

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question HL835 on Government Departments: Remote Working, what steps his Department is taking to...

      Cabinet Office: Working Hours

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time civil servants in his Department work a four day working week using compressed hours.

      Government Departments: Freedom of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to publish a further round of the UK National Action Plan for Open Government; and which department is the lead for...

      Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23884 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will publish the Freedom of...

      Teenage Pregnancy

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office for National Statistics will publish the quarterly and annual under-18 conception data for (a) 2022: England and Wales, Local Authority...

      Teenage Pregnancy

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office for National Statistics will make the (a) 2022 and (b) 2023 under-18 conception data ward level data available for local authorities.

      Teenage Pregnancy

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office of National Statistics will publish the quarterly England and Wales and Local Authority under-18 conception data for 2024.

  • Treasury

    • Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the transitional relief scheme for the 2026 business rates revaluation will be financed by (a) direct funding, (b) downward phasing and (c) a...

    • Bicycles: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing VAT from children's bikes on levels of take up of cycling among children and young people.

      Hospitality Industry: Small Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps her Department is taking to support the growth of small and micro businesses in the hospitality sector.

      5G: Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of business rates on the rate at which new (a) 5G and (b) 5GSA infrastructure is being rolled out.

      National Insurance Contributions: Earnings Limits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the potential revenue raised by removing the 2 percent NI on earnings over the threshold and charging a flat rate of 8...

      Gift Aid: Regulation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will take steps to amend Gift Aid regulations to allow charitable (a) zoos and (b) aquariums to claim on the price of admission.

      Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on the...

      Aggregates Levy: Marine Environment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Aggregates levy on the marine environment.

      Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of including information on the Access to Work scheme in correspondence from...

      10 Downing Street: Artworks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20833 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, whether she plans for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I to be...

      Social Mobility: Low Incomes

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to (a) reduce income inequality and (b) improve social mobility for people from lower-income backgrounds.

      Air Passenger Duty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made a recent assessment of the international competitiveness of Air Passenger Duty rates.

      Digital Technology: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of reducing the headline rate of Digital Services Tax by the end of this Parliament.

  • Home Office

    • Elections and Public Service: Harassment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Update on tackling intimidation in public life of 18 March 2024, HCWS348, what...

    • Crime Prevention: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated to community safety initiatives in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) Manchester Rusholme constituency in...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Defence: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the Defence Planning Assumptions before the Defence Spending Review.

    • Ukraine: Ammunition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to replenish stocks of artillery ammunition following donation to Ukraine.

      Armed Forces: Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what bursaries were available in the (a) Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines on 1 April 2025.

      Armed Forces Covenant

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39047 on Armed Forces Covenant, if he will provide a summary of the meeting of 19 March 2025.

      Armed Forces Covenant: Business

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39045 on Armed Forces Covenant: Business, what the requirements are to pass the Covenant Test.

      Ministry of Defence: Water Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support he provides for people with long term health conditions trying to access discounts on water charges when the supply is provided on behalf...

      Armed Forces: Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Ofsted ratings are of each armed forces apprenticeship programme.

      Armed Forces: Childcare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 39502 on Armed Forces: Childcare, which defence sites provide opportunities for local childcare.

      Ministry of Defence: Cyprus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department plan to visit the official memorial in Girne in Northern Cyprus.

      Veterans: Radiation Exposure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Minister in his Department is responsible for providing formal instructions to the Government Legal Department on legal requests for medical...

      North Carolina: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list communications issued from his Department to potential victims of water contamination in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1953 and 1987.

      Ministry of Defence: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

      Defence: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Sustainable Farming Incentive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38604 on Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, what assessment he has...

    • Sustainable Farming Incentive: South Somerset

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with farmers in (a) Yeovil constituency and (b) south Somerset on the closure of the Sustainable...

      Animal Welfare: Animal Housing and Labelling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the the European Commission announcement entitled Vision for Agriculture and Food, published on 19...

      Animal Experiments: Dogs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of 16-week old puppies brought into the UK for animal testing purposes...

      Fish Farming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will strengthen legal protections for farmed fish.

      Horses: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle horse smuggling.

      Environment Protection: Civil Society

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times his Department has met representatives of (a) Greenpeace, (b) Just Stop Oil and (c) Extinction Rebellion...

      Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Social Media

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions...

      Internal Drainage Boards: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41232 on Internal Drainage Boards: Cambridgeshire, from where is capital...

      Internal Drainage Boards: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing additional funding to...

      Gun Sports: Lead

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations his Department has received from shooting organisations on restrictions on the acquisition, storage,...

      Gun Sports: Lead

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of exempting elite shooting athletes from the Health and...

      Gun Sports: Lead

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Health and Safety...

      Flood Control: East of England and Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the Fens 2100+ plan.

      South West Water: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding South West Water was required to contribute to infrastructure to meet (a) environmental and (b) water...

      Inland Waterways: East of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Water investment to unlock growth in East of England, published on...

      Nitrogen Dioxide: West Dorset

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of nitrogen leaching from agriculture on (a) water quality and...

      Water: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the (a) transparency and (b) public accessibility of water quality data for (i)...

      Floods: Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Independent review of flood insurance in Doncaster led by Amanda Blanc, published on 14 April 2020, if...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Equality: Women

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she plans to take to ensure the availability of single-sex services for women.

    • Social Mobility

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve social mobility.

      Cabinet Office: Non-binary People

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question HL4540 on Local Government: Equality, whether (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the Office for Women...

      Disability: Employment

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of assessing employers' compliance with the (a) recruitment and (b)...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish rates of sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983 by diagnosis of (a) bipolar and (b) other mental health...

    • Bipolar Disorder: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to early intervention in psychosis teams on (a) recognising and (b) supporting people with bipolar.

      Care Homes: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered increasing the threshold from which people must pay for their own care.

      Dementia: Surrey Heath

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support individuals suffering with dementia in Surrey Heath constituency.

      Social Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the National Health Service in helping local authorities to improve the...

      Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of adults with eating disorders that are waiting for treatment from community mental health...

      Dental Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving (a) the funding of and (b) support for NHS dentistry services in rural areas.

      Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce mental health waiting times; and whether he plans to set specific targets to ensure that...

      Eating Disorders: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve services for women with eating disorders.

      Autism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026,...

      Dementia: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that new treatments for (a) Alzheimer’s disease and (b) other dementias are made...

      Palliative Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will provide Integrated Care Boards with detailed guidance on the minimum provision of palliative care required for...

      Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on the Right to Choose policy for ADHD medication.

      Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mental health waiting lists on levels of people out of work.

      Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department have to ensure that local authorities can fulfil their duties to carers under the Care Act 2014.

      General Practitioners: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his target is for GP wait times by the end of this Parliament.

  • Department for Education

    • Free School Meals: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the average cost to a school of providing a meal to a child eligible for Universal Infant Free School Meals.

    • Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for secondary schools facing financial pressures that require (a) new facilities and (b) building repairs.

      Schools: Ventilation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of ventilation in schools in reducing the spread of airborne infections.

      Schools: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the quality of (a) buildings and (b) facilities in state secondary schools in England.

      Nurseries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of nurseries that have withdrawn from the childcare funding scheme citing cost...

      Schools: Solar Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) financial incentives and (b) grants are available to encourage schools to utilise solar energy.

      Schools: Solar Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider mandating that all new school buildings incorporate solar panels as standard.

      School Milk

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement; and if she will take steps to monitor...

      Special Educational Needs: Absenteeism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support children with (a) SEND and (b) mental health needs to return to school after a period of absence.

      Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school buildings will be (a) sold, (b) refurbished and (c) demolished between 2025 and 2030.

      Schools: Security

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure all schools have (a) lock down plans which all teaching staff are taught, (b) direct feed panic alarms to local police stations,...

      Nurseries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) keeping records of all incidents in nurseries and (b) making these statistics...

      Nurseries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funding provided to early years providers for meeting the cost of a nursery place.

      Schools: Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled No child left behind in plans to narrow the digital divide in education, published on 21...

      Secondary Education: Class Sizes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of (a) the average class size in secondary schools and (b) the number of secondary school places available to young...

      Education: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to calculate compliance costs education-related regulations.

      Academies: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a cap on the proportion of academy trust budgets that can be spent on senior...

      Students: Social Mobility

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve access to opportunity in disadvantaged areas to promote social mobility for students from low-income...

      After School Clubs and Breakfast Clubs: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the availability of (a) in-school breakfast and (b) after school clubs on (i) workforce...

      Students: Childcare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including postgraduate students in receipt of (a) stipends and (b) bursaries in the...

      Schools: Solar Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how schools in Bedfordshire can apply to the Great British Energy Solar project.

      Academies: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring academy trusts to publish full budgets.

      Assessments: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of exam marking for public qualifications.

      Special Educational Needs: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that schools serving communities with higher levels of disadvantage are adequately supported to...

      Schools: Debts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of secondary schools in debt.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Leisure Centres: Concrete

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) grants and (b) other sources of funding are available for the repair of sports centres with Reinforced...

    • Buildings: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of barring non-compliant developers from being...

      High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of non-qualifying leaseholder status on the ability of...

      Investment Zones: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) capital and (b) resource funding she plans to allocate to Investment Zones in each of the next four...

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36686, on MHCLG: Industrial Disputes, what the disputed issue is...

      Building Regulations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to conduct a review of compliance costs from building regulations.

      Fire and Rescue Services: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role her Department has in setting (a) standards and (b) contents of training for firefighters.

      Fire and Rescue Services: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring firefighters receive...

      Local Government: Equal Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of equal pay claims on the financial viability of councils.

      Local Government Pension Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of local government restructuring on the Local Government Pension...

      Parish and Town Councils: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of (a) parish, (b) town and (c) community councils which will pay...

      Local Government: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant –...

      Local Government Pension Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March to Question 38609 on Local Government Pension Scheme, what her planned timeline is...

      Parish and Town Councils: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to maintain the roles of (a) parish and town clerks and (b) responsible financial...

      Local Government: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how often her Department assesses compliance costs associated with local government administration.

      Parish and Town Councils: Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether council tax referendum provisions will be applied to new (a) town and (b) parish councils established in new...

      Internal Drainage Boards: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform Internal Drainage Board special levies.

      Waste Disposal: Best Value

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance she has issued on whether not collecting refuse waste could lead to a best value intervention at a local...

      Waste Disposal: Birmingham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statutory guidance entitled, Best value standards and intervention: a statutory...

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Telecommunications: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to manage the potential impact of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on future trends in...

    • Telecommunications: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that network providers prioritise (a) mast height adjustments, (b) network...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • National Insurance Credits: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people eligible for but not claiming Carer's Credit.

    • Employment Schemes: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how her Department plans to allocate the additional funding for supporting young people into work outlined in her Department's Green Paper...

      Social Security Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy that people with (a) more than £16,000 in savings, (b) a full National Insurance record and (c) a...

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Arts: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her...

    • Crafts: Boats

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) preserve and (b) promote traditional boat building as a heritage craft.

      Imperial War Museum

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Imperial War Museum on its decision to close the Lord Ashcroft Gallery.

      England and Wales Cricket Board: Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer on Government funding and (b) Secretary of State for Housing,...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Energy Intensive Industries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to extend the Energy Intensive Industries support scheme.

    • New Businesses: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the ability of newly formed companies to access finance.

      Employment Rights Bill: Local Government Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the ability of councils to provide (a) regular refuse...

      Export Controls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the he plans to take to improve the system of (a) applying for and (b) receiving export licences.

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Forests: China

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on UK-China efforts to halt global deforestation.

    • Environment Protection: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support social mobility for people from (a) underrepresented and (b) disadvantaged groups in...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Euthanasia

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have started preparing a shadow body of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner.

    • Coroners: Isle of Wight

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 1 April (HL6113), what is the longest outstanding inquest in the Isle of Wight.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Dangerous Dogs

      To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that the ban on keeping XL Bullies is enforced effectively.

    • Agriculture: Environment Protection and Food Security

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the role of all farms in hitting the Government's targets for (1) the environment, (2) the climate, and (3) food security.

      Water Charges

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increasing water bills on consumers, and what action they will take to limit that impact.

      Housing: Floods

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of homes at risk of surface flooding, broken down by (1) those built, (2) those under construction, and (3) those with...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Office for National Statistics

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the independent report published on 19 March, Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex...

    • UK Relations with EU

      To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of their discussions on a proposed new security and defence pact with the EU, whether they intend to make a financial contribution to...

      Arms Length Bodies

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 20 March (HL5765), which arm's-length bodies are in the process of being set up,...

      Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have...

  • Department for Education

    • Teachers

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many teachers were employed in primary and secondary state-funded schools in England on 31 December 2024.

    • Educational Institutions: Social Media

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they issue guidance to schools and colleges regarding their use of social media channels, particularly the use of these to mark religious occasions and...

      Schools: Catering

      To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms exist to ensure that catering contracts agreed by schools and academies comply with the duty in the Children and Families Act 2014 to support...

      Schools: Software

      To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to schools and academies in England of upgrading computers following the most recent update to the Windows 11 operating system.

      Sports: Girls

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that young girls continue to engage in sport from primary school to senior school.

      Music: Children and Young People

      To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards making music education and the opportunity to learn a musical instrument available for all children and young people.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Terrorism: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will invite the Police Service of Northern Ireland to investigate the conduct of ministers following the declassification of the...

    • Ira

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of declassified files stating that the Government “turned a blind eye” to IRA criminality, including murder; and whether...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Import Duties: USA

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the introduction of 25 per cent tariffs on European car imports to the United States, and (2) the impact of...

    • Horizon IT System: Compensation

      To ask His Majesty's Government what has, so far, been (1) the highest, and (2) the lowest, amounts of compensation actually paid to sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted by the Post Office as a...

      Horizon IT System: Compensation

      To ask His Majesty's Government by what date they anticipate that all compensation payments arising from the Post Office Horizon issue will be fully paid.

  • Treasury

    • Private Education: Business Rates

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Khan of Burnley on 1 April (HL Deb col 134) that clause 3 of the Non-Domestic Ratings (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill...

    • Personal Income

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Resolution Foundation titled Happy new tax year 2025 published on 3 April which indicates that household income...

      Construction: Employers' Contributions

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the construction sector.

      Private Finance Initiative: Contracts

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication on 19 February of Current PFI and PF2 projects as at 31 March 2024, what is the total value of all unitary charge payments made on...

      Private Finance Initiative: Contracts

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication on 19 February of Current PFI and PF2 projects as at 31 March 2024, what assessment they have made of the total remaining public...

      VAT: Recycling

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce VAT on reuse and repair practices.

      Government Departments: Public Expenditure

      To ask His Majesty's Government on which date each department submitted their final costings for new policy measures included in the Spring Statement 2025, and how many were submitted after the...

  • Home Office

    • Immigration: Deportation

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 21 October 2024 (HL1252), whether they have established a returns and enforcement unit, and how many...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Assistive Technology

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they analyse the use of assistive technology to ensure there is a continuity of supply offered to students and workers throughout their lifetimes, and if...

    • Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following their Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, what steps they will take to upscale resources...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Legal Aid Scheme: Equality

      To ask His Majesty's Government how much money has been provided for legal assistance to individuals under section 28 of the Equality Act 2006 since its enactment, and to how many individuals.

    • Equality and Human Rights Commission: Administration of Justice

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many legal proceedings, other than judicial review or as an intervener, have been initiated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission under section 30 of the...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Nato

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Estonia and other NATO allies concerning their commitment to provide military support.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • NHS: Databases

      To ask His Majesty's Government which body directions to transfer data, made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care under section 254 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, will be...

    • Blood Cancer: Health Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the impact of announced 50 per cent cuts to the running costs of integrated care boards on the provision...

      Gambling: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many young people in England aged between 13 and 18 have been treated by the NHS for problem gambling in the past year.

      Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: Licensing

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 7 November 2024 (HL1998), when they intend to publish feedback to the licensing of non-surgical...

      Osteoporosis: Fractures

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of osteoporotic fractures on hospital bed occupancy.

      Cancer: Young People

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps the Department for Health and Social Care is taking to publish national data around delivering targets under (1) the NHS Long Term Plan, and (2)...

  • Department for Transport

    • Driving: Disqualification

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many drivers were disqualified from driving in (1) 2022, (2) 2023 and (3) 2024 in the United Kingdom.

    • Cycling: Crown Estate

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from ambassadors or High Commissioners resident in Palace Green and Kensington Palace Gardens about the temporary...

      A69

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication on 19 February of Current PFI and PF2 projects as at 31 March 2024, why the A69 Carlisle to Newcastle project (project ID 245) incurred...

      Railways: Disability

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that additional railway station staff are employed to help people with disabilities negotiate barriers to travelling on public...

      Great Western Railway: Ticket Offices

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report published by the Association of British Commuters on 7 March which found that Great Western Rail cut ticket...

      Railway Stations: Disability

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the railway stations in London are fully wheelchair accessible; and what plans they have to increase that number.

      Roads: Accidents

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the most recent figure for the number of people killed annually in road traffic accidents in England per million of the resident population; and how this...

      South Eastern Trains: Ticket Offices

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on people with disabilities of the plans of South Eastern Trains to cut ticket office hours by an estimated 555...

      Railways: Freight

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the carriage of freight by rail.

      Port of London Authority: Licensing

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Port of London Authority regarding the requirement set out in its latest draft Harbour Revision Order for property...

      Great Western Railway: Franchises

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to exercise their option to extend the current Great Western Railway franchise.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Road Signs and Markings

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to implement via secondary legislation the provisions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 on street votes for new...

    • Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023

      To ask His Majesty's Government which sections of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 they intend not to be (1) implemented via further secondary legislation, or (2) commenced.

      Elections: Young People

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the evidential or methodological basis for having a higher candidacy age than voting age under their plans to lower the latter to 16; and what...

      Social Rented Housing: Immigration

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term impact on social housing of prospective successful applications for indefinite leave to remain until 2029.

      Social Rented Housing: Furniture

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the levels of furniture poverty among social housing tenants.

      Planning and Infrastructure Bill

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned advice from the Office for Environmental Protection about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

      Teesworks

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 6 February (HL4386) about correspondence from the Tees Valley Mayor, whether they have now made a...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • South Sudan: Armed Conflict

      To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the UK’s role as a member of the Troika, and as a co-signatory of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the...

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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