Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
735 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Young People: InnovationDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the National Curriculum to embed (a) critical and creative thinking, (b) problem solving, (c) communication and (d) collaboration skills to supp
Answer: The government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review sets out our plan to ensure that all pupils develop the knowledge and skills that we know are essential for life, work and innovation.When refreshing the national curriculum, we will identify...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid SchemeMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve access to legal aid in short notice cases.
Answer: We recognise that in certain circumstances individuals may need to access legal aid services urgently and the Government provides specific support to facilitate this.In criminal legal aid, those who are to be interviewed under caution by the police are en...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: SportsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward policy proposals to make access to PE and sport at school a right for all disabled children.
Answer: The department is committed to giving every pupil the chance to participate in PE and sport while at school. This government has committed funding of up to £300,000 this financial year to the Youth Sport Trust to deliver Inclusion 2028, a programme to ups...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGivinostatDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken by NICE to assess Givinostat.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) aims wherever possible to publish recommendations on new medicines close to the point of licensing. NICE’s appraisal of givinostat has been more complex and has required additional work to ensur...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the tender process for the New Medium Helicopters to replace the Puma fleet.
Answer: The second stage of the New Medium Helicopter competition commenced on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.Only Leonardo Helicopters UK elected to submit...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime: VictimsAttorney GeneralTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98178More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General,?what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the uptake and (b) effectiveness of the Victim Right to Review pilot.
Answer: In June 2025 the CPS began a pilot in the West Midlands which offers victims of rape and serious sexual assault the opportunity to have a separate prosecutor review the case before any final decision is taken to stop the case in court. If that prosecutor ...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to improve energy security and ensure that households reduce energy demands.
Answer: The Government is reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets, with investment in homegrown energy. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan estimates £40 billion per year for clean energy projects, with significant upgrading of a dysfunctional grid syste...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordClean EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will set and publish plans for ensuring that the most disadvantaged people can transition to clean energy with the Clean Power plan.
Answer: Last December, the Government published the Clean Power 2030 Action plan. The Plan provides the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good, including those who are most disadvantaged. W...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordValuation Office Agency: StandardsTreasuryTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98175More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve decision making times at the Valuation Office Agency.
Answer: The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Henley and ThameDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 91728 on Broadband: Henley and Thame, what steps her Department is taking to secure additional funding to complete that project.
Answer: Commercial delivery in a competitive market has and will remain essential to the delivery of the overall gigabit broadband ambition, as most gigabit-capable connections will be delivered commercially.At the most recent Spending Review we announced £1.8 bi...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Henley and ThameDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 91728 on Broadband: Henley and Thame, how much funding is required to meet the 99% goal.
Answer: Commercial delivery in a competitive market has and will remain essential to the delivery of the overall gigabit broadband ambition, as most gigabit-capable connections will be delivered commercially.At the most recent Spending Review we announced £1.8 bi...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the feasibility test introduced under the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 on the designation of s
Answer: This Government’s reforms introduce a feasibility assessment that will consider these factors ahead of formal designation. This will focus resources on sites where water quality can feasibly be improved to ‘sufficient’ standard and allow the public to mak...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate ChangeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that climate adaptation is considered alongside decarbonisation in policy planning; and whether his Department plans to develop and publish a Nat
Answer: Defra is the lead department for domestic adaptation to climate change, responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. This includes preparing a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a Nation...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TribunalsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of SEND tribunal waiting times on the ability of families to hold local authorities to account for non-provision of SEND support.
Answer: The volume of appeals to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal means that some families face a year-long wait for a hearing, lengthening the time it takes for children and young people to get the support they need. We are working ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 90952 on Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, if she can outline the (a) local and (b) national stakeh
Answer: Defra recognise that there have been changes in how and where people use bathing waters since the Bathing Water Regulations were introduced in 2013. That is why we are taking forward a programme of reforms to introduce the first overhaul of the rules gove...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97002More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of deforestation regulations under the Environment Act 2021 on smallholder farmers; and what steps the Government is taking to ensu
Answer: The Government recognises the need to prevent UK consumption of forest-risk commodities from driving deforestation while minimising impacts on low-income smallholder farmers in the Global South. We acknowledge their vital role in producing essential commo...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: GraduatesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of leaving the EU single market on graduate employment opportunities.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring graduates have the skills and support needed to succeed in the modern economy, which is why the Industrial Strategy will provide an additional £1.2bn of investment in the skills system by 2028-29.The Department for ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Henley and ThameDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme will be reintroduced in Henley and Thame constituency.
Answer: Our priority currently is to provide gigabit-capable coverage to as many premises as possible in Henley and Thame constituency through our Project Gigabit contracts, rather than through other schemes.Project Gigabit contracts give better certainty of deli...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: AgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of Farming in Protected Landscapes funded projects on children; and whether she will bring forward policy proposals to fund these p
Answer: Since its launch in 2021, the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme has provided funding for nearly 11,000 farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Parks and National Landscape bodies to deliver projects that benefit the c...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Seasonal Workers and Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) what assessment has the Department made of the impact that delays in UK Visas and Immigration processing times are having on the ability of hospitality businesses to recruit seasonal and skilled w
Answer: UKVI are not currently experiencing any delays against our published service standards for either Seasonal or Skilled Workers.These can be found at:Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UKVisa processing times: applications outside the U...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 10 October 2025 on the handling of the transitional protection remedy by teachers’ pensions.
Answer: I can confirm that a response to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 10 October 2025 was sent on 8 December 2025.
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: MotorwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the sufficiency of current driving instruction in equipping new drivers with the knowledge and practical skills required for safe motorway driving, including appropria
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to promote voluntary motorway lessons with approved instructors after theory test success, ensuring that all drivers can gain appropriate experience in a structured, supportive environment. However,...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: InquiriesHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in appointing a chair to the National Inquiry into group based child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Answer: On 9 December 2025 the Home Secretary announced to Parliament the appointment of Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair of the new Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as Panel.The Chair will consult on the d...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTomographyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94809More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that diagnostic imaging in the NHS is reported within 4 weeks.
Answer: Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. NHS England’s guidance, published in August 2023, sets out that imaging reports must be provided within four weeks, or 28 days, of image acquisition. All Nat...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) delays and (a) improve communication in the processing of Access to Work applications for (i) disabled people requiring essential equipment to remain in
Answer: We recognise the importance of clearing the backlog, which is why last year we increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practises. We remain committed to reducing waiting times for claims, prio...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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