Catherine West MP: written questions
124 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Syria: CeasefiresForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on supporting de-escalation and ceasefire negotiations in Syria.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 28 January 2026.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the supermarket industry on tackling food waste in supermarkets.
Answer: Defra funds the groundbreaking UK Food and Drink Pact, a voluntary agreement with industry to tackle food waste in supply chains. The Pact has developed the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, which helps businesses to identify and measure their surplus and was...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPatents: Corporation TaxTreasuryTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107107More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the patent box tax relief on levels of private sector (a) investment and (b) innovation.
Answer: HMRC published an evaluation of the Patent Box in 2020. The evaluation concludes that the Patent Box has had a positive impact on investment by companies, with an increase of around 10% in assets held by companies that use the Patent Box compared to simil...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107106More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether transitional arrangements outlined in the 2025 UK Immigration White Paper include those close to settlement on existing long residence routes.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment SecuritiesTreasuryTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106562More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 11 of the Bank of England's report entitled Financial Stability Report - December 2025, published on 2 December 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the con
Answer: The UK gilt market is deep and liquid, with a well-diversified investor base. Gilt repo markets play an important role in supporting the functioning, liquidity and resilience of the wider gilt market.We work closely with the Debt Management Office, the Ba...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a minimum age to access social media of 16 years.
Answer: On 20 January, the government announced a short, swift consultation on further measures to keep children safe online, building on the Online Safety Act. While there is consensus that more action is needed, there is not yet consensus on what form that acti...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: SafetyDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that early years staff have access to adequate safety training; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of safety requirements within the Ofsted framework.
Answer: The safety of our youngest children is our utmost priority and the department continually monitors and reviews safeguarding requirements to ensure children are kept as safe as possible.The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the s...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on coordinated efforts to promote human rights in Iran.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 13 January, and her responses to the questions raised in the subsequent debate. I can also reassure my Hon Friend that staff from the British embassy in Tehran are continuing to disch...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: DemonstrationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to assist British Iranians to access information about the welfare of family members in Iran.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 13 January, and her responses to the questions raised in the subsequent debate. I can also reassure my Hon Friend that staff from the British embassy in Tehran are continuing to disch...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: Migrant WorkersTreasuryTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104830More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure that trainees on the HMRC Tax Specialist Programme are able to be awarded a Skilled Worker Visa to maintain the Right To Work in the UK.
Answer: HMRC values the contribution of all trainees on the Tax Specialist Programme (TSP) and recognises the importance of maintaining the Right to Work in the UK.At present, the Tax Specialist Programme (TSP) is not designated as a role eligible for sponsorship...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSupported HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase community funding for employment and skills support for people living in supported accommodation to prevent future homelessness.
Answer: Through our National Plan to End Homelessness the government is putting prevention at the heart of public services, including action to help prevent homelessness. Through our Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector grant, Homeless Link have produced resourc...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103367More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to seek reciprocal visa-waiver arrangements with the EU and its member states.
Answer: HMG officials and Ministers, including myself, regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK and the EU allow for visa-free, short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for th...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: Conditions of Employment and PayDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is she taking to help improve pay and conditions in the further education sector.
Answer: Further education (FE) colleges, rather than the government, are responsible for setting and negotiating staff pay and terms and conditions within colleges.In May 2025, the department announced a further £190 million investment for colleges and other 16 t...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPassports: EU CountriesHome OfficeTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that Schengen Area Passport Validity requirements are clearly and effectively communicated by (a) airlines and (b) travel operators.
Answer: The EU will be liaising with airlines flying to the Schengen zone on the publication/notification of any requirements.
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGaza: Non-governmental OrganisationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support UK NGOs that have been prevented from continuing their work in Gaza.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 5 January.
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCulture, Practices and Ethics of the Press InquiryDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to implement the recommendations of the Leveson inquiry.
Answer: The Leveson Inquiry led to changes in the regulatory system of the press, which included the creation of the Press Recognition Panel, by Royal Charter and two new press regulators, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and the Independent Mo...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMedicine: GraduatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support all medical graduates to access employment.
Answer: Last year, all eligible medical applicants were offered a place on the UK Foundation Programme, which provides medical graduates with employment as a doctor and which continues of their training. The 10-Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's report entitled Evaluation of Automatic State Pension Forecasts, Research Report No 447, published on 11 November 2025, what assessment he has made of the evidence on
Answer: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out on 11 November 2025, we are retaking the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on state pension age. In retaking the decision, we are reviewing the 2007 report entitled Ev...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordClimate Change: Economic SituationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is he taking to help mitigate and adapt the UK economy to help curb climate change.
Answer: On 29 October, we published the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan. This sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in a way that lowers bills and secures good jobs, in line with the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act. This framework has been...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to assist home-owners whose property is not suitable for the installation of heat pumps.
Answer: Evidence gathered from the Government funded Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project showed that heat pumps will work well in the vast majority of homes. Moreover, modern heat pumps can increasingly be used in homes previously considered unsuitable ...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOppressionHome OfficeTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect British citizens from transnational repression from hostile states.
Answer: The first duty of this Government is to keep the country safe. Robust tools and system-wide safeguards are in place to robustly counter the threat of transnational repression (TNR). As set out in my statement to the House on 14 May, following the Defendin...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: BureaucracyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) waste and (b) bureaucracy in the NHS.
Answer: The Government is taking action to reduce National Health Service bureaucracy by abolishing NHS England and reducing staff numbers by up to 50% across the Department, NHS England, and the NHS integrated care boards. These reductions will be made by March ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: ManagersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention of managers in the NHS.
Answer: The Department is implementing a range of initiatives designed to attract talented individuals into management roles and support existing managers.NHS England is developing an NHS Leadership and Management Framework, which sets clear expectations for lead...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Fund: Funeral PaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of expanding the eligibility criteria for the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment award.
Answer: We continue to keep the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme under review to ensure it remains effective and sustainable within current budgetary constraints.
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in light of forthcoming elections in Myanmar, what steps is he taking to ensure that the UK takes the lead internationally on sanctions against Myanmar.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 1 December to Question HL11962, which dealt with this question at length and is reproduced below for ease of reference:We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar f...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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