Desmond Swayne MP: written questions
104 published records · newest first.
Written questions
HydrogenDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will set out a timetable to publish the Hydrogen Strategy update.
Answer: The renewed Hydrogen Strategy will set out Government’s vision and objectives for hydrogen, and how we intend to work together with industry to continue to transform ambition into action. Our understanding of where hydrogen can deliver the greatest value ...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEthiopia: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of attacks affecting Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone in May and
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 June in response to Question HL995, reproduced below for ease of reference:"We are concerned by reports of violence affecting communities in Ethiopia's Oromia region, includ...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Russia on the use of administrative penalties to fine religious organisations and confiscate or destroy religious liter
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 1 June in response to Question 2671, and - as I said in my further response to him on 16 June - we will keep him updated if and when there are further developments to report.
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11381More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 27 April 2026 to Question 128634, how many individuals identified by HM Revenue and Customs as eligible for the settlement opportunity announced following the McCann review have (a) s
Answer: The new Loan Charge Settlement Opportunity (LCSO) is currently being legislated for and represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HMRC. In turn, this requires taxpayers...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Orthodox ChurchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding the seizure of land in Silwan residence owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchies, the removal and destr
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers provided on 23 June and 24 June in response to Questions 10663 and 10665.
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Government of Russia on the prosecution of (a) Jehovah’s Witnesses and (a) other religious groups under extremism legislation in t
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 1 June in response to Question 2671. We will update him if and when there are further developments to report.
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMali: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of insecurity in Mali on Christian communities; and what steps her Department is taking with international partners to support the
Answer: The UK is gravely concerned at the fragile security situation in Mali, including reports of rising attacks against religious minority groups. We raise our concerns about protection of minority communities and social cohesion directly with the Government o...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricians: QualificationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he has plans to provide financial assistance to small electrical contractors to enable them to comply with the revised Electrotechnical Assessment Specification; and if he will extend the October de
Answer: The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) is an industry agreed specification, and decisions on the detailed requirements and implementation timelines, including the October compliance deadline, are therefore primarily a matter for industry. The...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPaediatrics: NeurologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation services; and whether he is taking steps to improve access to intensive rehabilitation f
Answer: Specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation services are commissioned in line with the service specification published by the NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Paediatric Neurosciences. The service specification is available at the following link:h...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: SalesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to enable community energy schemes to sell power directly to households and businesses in nearby communities.
Answer: The Government recognises the role of community energy in delivering net zero and is working with Ofgem to address regulatory barriers, including routes to market. Through delivering on commitments in the Local Power Plan, we are working with Great Britis...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEfrén Antonio Vílchez LópezForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made recent representations to her Nicaraguan counterpart on the release of Efrén Antonio Vílchez López.
Answer: As set out in the UK's statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 16 March, we remain deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Nicaragua. This includes ongoing harassment and the arbitrary detention of members of t...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Armed ForcesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will remove the requirement to set up a personal injury trust, placed on awards from Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for the purposes of Universal Credit, if claimants with such awards are to ben
Answer: Lump sum compensation payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are treated as personal injury capital and are disregarded for 12 months, reflecting longstanding rules across means-tested benefits and allowing time to protect funds intended to m...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 12-month limit on capital disregard applied to Armed Forces Compensation Scheme lump sum payments in Universal Credit on injured veterans and t
Answer: Lump sum compensation payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are treated as personal injury capital and are disregarded for 12 months, reflecting longstanding rules across means-tested benefits and allowing time to protect funds intended to m...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadband: GodshillDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which company's commercial plans to supply broadband in Godshill prompted the decision to remove Godshill from the contract with Wessex Internet as part of Project Gigabit.
Answer: Through Project Gigabit, we are delivering gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial delivery plans. Suppliers provide details of their commercial build plans to Building Digital UK (BDUK), the part of DSIT responsible fo...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations she to the Government of Russia on the prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other peaceful religious groups under extremism legislation
Answer: The Government champions freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad and regularly condemns the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record in international fora. Last month, the UK and its allies at the OSCE reiterated our call for the Russian au...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMotability: Rural AreasDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 7More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will modify proposals by Motability to reduce the standard mileage allowance and increase the excess mileage surcharge in order to accommodate the needs of of rural drivers with essential mobility
Answer: Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The Department for Work and Pensions meets quarterly with Motability Foundation, to discuss the Scheme’s operation. The changes to th...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: CorrespondenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 6More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer the letter of 27th February from Valerie Lambert regarding hospital appointments booked by the 111 telephone service.
Answer: I responded to the Rt. Hon. Member’s correspondence on 24 April 2026.
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordKnives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How the Government is responding to evidence that domestic violence is a significant precursor to fatal knife crime involving children.
Answer: Preventing tragedies and building a society where children are free from the fear that knife violence will affect them is the driving force behind the recent publication of ‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope: A Plan to Halve Knife Crime’.The Government’s pl...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSudan: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made regarding the protection of Christian communities and other religious minorities in Sudan .
Answer: The UK continues to use our position as penholder at the UN Security Council and leader of the core group on Sudan at the Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the human rights situation in Sudan. In November 2025, ...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnvironmental Land Management Schemes: Common LandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will instruct the Rural Payments Agency to implement a manual system to process applications for ELM schemes on Common land.
Answer: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) recognises the importance of commons to the delivery of environmental outcomes. The RPA is currently assessing how common land can access Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and is actively exploring both on and off system ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHong Kong: Travel InformationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will review the adequacy of her Department's travel advice for Hong Kong, in the context of recent reports of enforcement actions, under the National Security Law, reg
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps its travel advice under constant review, and last updated its advice for Hong Kong on 1 April to reflect its assessment of the situation on the ground.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will increase humanitarian support to Myanmar’s refugees, internally displaced people and civil society in 2026.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 April in response to Question 124595.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMin Aung HlaingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking diplomatic steps to hold the recently inaugurated President of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genoci
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 April in response to Question 124592.
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to ensure that children and young people will have a right to be educated in a specialist placement if their complex needs cannot be met in a mainstream educational setting.
Answer: In line with our proposed reforms, children with complex needs, who need a Specialist Provision Package(s) and a placement within a specialist setting, will have their provision guaranteed in their education health and care plan. Specialist Provision Pack...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using the specialist sector to complement the inclusive mainstream sector; and what steps she is taking to (a) support and (b) invest in special schools a
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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