Chris McDonald MP: written questions

Written questions

• Terrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63126More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his oral contribution of 26 February 2025, Official Report, column 765 and the judgment in R v Adams (Appellant) (Northern Ireland) [2020] UKSC 19, what steps he is taking to address th

  Answer: The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of ICOs. The previous Government’s attempt to address this following the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Adams has been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be unlawful and ...

  Answered 1 Jul 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Infrastructure: Seas and OceansMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 904212More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect critical undersea infrastructure.

  Answer: Cables and pipelines are as vital for our economy as factories and power stations.This Government is increasing defence spending to keep Britain safe at home and secure abroad. And that includes investing in RFA Proteus to protect our undersea cables.

  Answered 19 May 2025

  Original Parliament record
• India: PakistanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52069More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage India to meet its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.

  Answer: The UK is aware that the Government of India has placed the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance due to ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. It is critical for all countries and international partners to work together to ensure the long-term sustainab...

  Answered 20 May 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Offensive Weapons: ProsecutionsAttorney GeneralTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 903984More

  Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of cases involving the use of offensive weapons.

  Answer: This Government’s priority is to keep our streets safe, that is why we have committed to halve knife crime in a decade as part of our Safer Streets Mission. As well as committing to more police officers and police community support officers on our streets...

  Answered 12 May 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Disabled Facilities GrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22159More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase the maximum application amount for the Disabled Facilities Grant.

  Answer: We are giving older and disabled people more independence in their own homes through an immediate in-year uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) of £86 million in 2024/25. This increase will provide approximately 7,800 additional home adaptations. ...

  Answered 9 Jan 2025

  Original Parliament record
• MineralsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3391More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the (a) effectiveness and (b) extent of the UK's list of critical minerals and the list used by (a) the European Union and (ii) other jurisdictions.

  Answer: The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade, will publish an updated assessment of the criticality of over 80 candidate materials, later this year. This assessment is focused on the UK's circumstanc...

  Answered 4 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• MineralsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3390More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to review the list of critical minerals; what criteria he plans to use to assess which materials will be included; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including c

  Answer: The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade, is currently undertaking an updated criticality assessment, with the results to be released later this year. The methodology for this assessment can be f...

  Answered 4 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• National Wealth FundTreasuryTabled 27 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 900220More

  Question: What progress she has made with Cabinet colleagues on establishing a National Wealth Fund.

  Answer: The government is working at pace to establish the national wealth fund which is critical to our growth and green energy missions. It will crowd in investment from the private sector into the industries of the future and create jobs across the country. Th...

  Answered 3 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Royal Mail: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2020More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the proposals by prospective buyers of Royal Mail.

  Answer: The Government acknowledges the undertakings set out in the offer to shareholders which show that the prospective buyers are alert to the importance of Royal Mail and the special place it has in the UK.We are engaging with the bidder to understand better ...

  Answered 2 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record