Alicia Kearns MP: written questions
269 published records · newest first.
Written questions
UK Biobank: ChinaDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing Chinese researchers access to medical records held by UK Biobank on national security.
Answer: The public’s data must be used lawfully, with respect, held securely and with the right safeguards, encompassing legislative requirements, security standards and toolkits and advice from independent advisory bodies.Participants who consent to share their ...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Mingyang Smart EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Mingyang supplying the Green Volt offshore wind project on national security.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon Friend the Minister for Climate gave on 12 February to the Urgent Question tabled by the hon Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine). We cannot comment on individual investment cases, but investm...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: ChinaDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish the clean energy partnership memorandum of understanding signed with China in March 2025.
Answer: The Clean Energy Partnership, signed by the Energy Secretary, allows UK officials to engage with the equivalent Chinese ministry to share policy best practice and technical knowledge in support of enabling the UK and China’s respective energy transitions,...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: China Investment CorporationDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the China Investment Company’s ownership stake in Heathrow airport on national security.
Answer: The Government takes its responsibility for national security extremely seriously and balances this with its continued commitment to welcome inward investment in a way that provides investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power Stations: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that nuclear power development does not use Chinese funding.
Answer: The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions that pose a national security risk to critical national infrastructure. The National Security & Investment Act requires ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversities: ChinaDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce Chinese state influence in UK universities.
Answer: The UK welcomes international partnerships, including with China, which make a positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and society as a whole. However, we will always protect our national security interests, human rights and ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Motor VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of white fleet vehicles used by the military were produced in China.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordJoint Terrorism Analysis Centre and National Security: StaffCabinet OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45895More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to reduce the number of people working (a) on national security and (b) in the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre.
Answer: As set out in the Plan For Change, this Government’s first duty is to make the UK safer, more secure, and resilient against growing and interconnected threats. The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary has announced plans to restructure and reorganise the Ca...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVideo GamesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to ban the game entitled No Mercy.
Answer: The government welcomes steps taken to remove this game from gaming platforms. The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls, including where it occurs online, in a decade. We expect all platforms, including gaming sites in scope of...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Emergency ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to create an exemption from proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments for people who have been medically retired from the emergency services.
Answer: The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. The impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. For those ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFood Standards AgencyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the Food Standards Agency.
Answer: Work is currently underway within the Department to examine the whole health and social care system, which will result in further changes to the arm’s length body landscape to deliver better outcomes and better value for taxpayers. The Government will set...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhouses: InspectionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Food Standards Agency reducing the discount rate for official control fees on abattoirs.
Answer: The meat charging rates for 2025/26 have been calculated and were published on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website on 28 February 2025. The 2025/26 Charges Guide and full details about the calculation of the FSA’s charges, including the discount app...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordJagtar Singh JohalForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Indian counterpart on Jagtar Singh Johal’s continuing detention following his acquittal 4 March 2025.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has raised Mr Johal's case with his Indian counterpart on several occasions, most recently on 5 March immediately following the acquittal in one of the cases faced by Mr Johal. We continue to make clear to the Government of India tha...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordJagtar Singh JohalForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with the family of Jagtar Singh Johal since his acquittal on 4 March 2025.
Answer: The Government remains committed to working for faster progress on Jagtar Singh Johal's case, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continue to provide support to Mr Johal and his family. The Foreign Secretary last met Mr Johal's family on ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSerbia: Riot Control WeaponsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will support the request by over 500,000 Serbian petitioners to the UN for an international investigation into the use of sonic weaponry against protestors
Answer: The UK consistently advocates for the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, globally. During his recent visit to Serbia, the Foreign Secretary underlined to government interlocutors the importance of protecting and respecting these rights, and of ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what areas will local grooming gang inquiries be conducted in.
Answer: Our focus is to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including by grooming gangs. That means protecting more children, getting justice for victims and pursuing and punishing the perpetrators of these ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with external organisations while developing the local grooming gang inquiries.
Answer: Our focus is to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including by grooming gangs. That means protecting more children, getting justice for victims and pursuing and punishing the perpetrators of these ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: InquiriesHome OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects the national framework for local grooming gang inquiries to be published.
Answer: Our focus is to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including by grooming gangs. That means protecting more children, getting justice for victims and pursuing and punishing the perpetrators of these ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: InquiriesHome OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made on the establishing the local grooming gang inquiries.
Answer: Our focus is to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including by grooming gangs. That means protecting more children, getting justice for victims and pursuing and punishing the perpetrators of these ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: Fast FoodDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory scheme to require drive through fast food outlets to print car registration details on purch
Answer: We do not think it would be appropriate to require take-away food vendors to implement a vehicle registration number printing and tracing system for packaging due to the potential costs involved, which may outweigh any benefits. Data protection concerns h...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal LiabilityMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans her Department has to review the use of automatism as a legal defence.
Answer: There are no current plans for the Government to review the defence of automatism.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordParish and Town Councils: PowersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to (a) reform and (b) enhance the (i) powers, (ii) financial responsibility and (iii) wider responsibilities of parish councils through the process of local go
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper is clear that the government wants to create new opportunities for communities to have a say in the future of their area and play a part in improving it. Ensuring that parish councils are effective and representative of ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAircraft: ChinaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to protect the UK's aviation industry from intellectual property theft by Chinese companies.
Answer: The government takes the issue of global intellectual property crime and infringement seriously and engages with other governments, industry and law enforcement partners to tackle this issue. We also work with businesses to help them safeguard their innov...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAircraft: ChinaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with Britten-Norman to discuss the Chinese Company Yitong UAV Systme Co's newly designed model based on the British Islander design.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has not met with Britten-Norman. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published routinely on Gov.uk as part of the Government’s transparency agenda. The latest returns can be found h...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChoirs: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41131More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of changing the eligibility criteria for the Orchestral Tax Relief to include standalone choirs without the accompanying orchestra.
Answer: The Government supports the creative industries, including orchestras, through funding and through the tax system. Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on productions costs and provided £33 million of support in 2022-23. To qualify for OTR, a co...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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