Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
735 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Strategic Lawsuits against Public ParticipationMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will include anti-SLAPP legislation in the King's Speech in May 2026.
Answer: Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) have a chilling effect on public participation and freedom of expression, posing a threat to our legal system and democracy. The Government is committed to tackling SLAPPs and is considering all o...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: FathersMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for community based organisations which offer peer-to-peer support for fathers inside prisons and post-release and the effects on levels
Answer: We know that enabling prisoners to maintain and strengthen family ties is a vital contributing factor to their rehabilitation and avoidance of re-offending.Following negotiations with service providers, we have reduced the cost of telephone calls across t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordParents: Prisoners' ReleaseDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward guidance for parents who have been released from prison on co-parenting and handling children's emotional response.
Answer: The government is supporting all families, including parents who have been released from prison through Best Start Family Hubs (BSFHs) and Healthy Babies, backed by over £900 million investment over the next three years, to deliver a more connected, preve...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: ParentsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the affordability of the costs of call credit for incarcerated parents.
Answer: We know that enabling prisoners to maintain and strengthen family ties is a vital contributing factor to their rehabilitation and avoidance of re-offending.Following negotiations with service providers, we have reduced the cost of telephone calls across t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: ParentsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has she made of the affordability for incarcerated parents of current communication policies in prisons to speak with their families.
Answer: We know that enabling prisoners to maintain and strengthen family ties is a vital contributing factor to their rehabilitation and avoidance of re-offending.Following negotiations with service providers, we have reduced the cost of telephone calls across t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to improve communication by Teachers’ Pensions with affected members, in terms of secure messages, helpline staff knowledge of cases and delivery timelines.
Answer: The department recognises the importance of issuing Remediable Service Statements (RSSs) to affected members as part of the McCloud remedy and continues to closely monitor progress made by Teachers’ Pensions in delivering these statements.The backlog has ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of prolonged RSS delays on retired and ill-health pensioners, and what additional support is being provided to vulnerable members awaiting statements.
Answer: The department recognises the importance of issuing Remediable Service Statements (RSSs) to affected members as part of the McCloud remedy and continues to closely monitor progress made by Teachers’ Pensions in delivering these statements.The backlog has ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of the backlog in issuing Remediable Service Statements and what steps are being taken to ensure timely completion of the remaining cases.
Answer: The department recognises the importance of issuing Remediable Service Statements (RSSs) to affected members as part of the McCloud remedy and continues to closely monitor progress made by Teachers’ Pensions in delivering these statements.The backlog has ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMeningitis: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the meningococcal B vaccination to children and young people who were not eligible for the routine infant immunisati
Answer: Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10. However,...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: AccountabilityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her department has had with Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and Natural England regarding the application of the duty of candour to water companies in relation to the d
Answer: The Government set out its new vision for water through a White Paper published on 20 January 2026. To truly turn around the water sector we need the right people in to do the job. We want the sector to be attractive to high quality senior leaders, acting...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: AccountabilityMinistry of JusticeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his department has assessed the extent to which water companies, as statutory undertakers with statutory monopolies, will fall within the scope of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
Answer: The legal framework for the provision of water and sewage services varies significantly across the UK. In England and Wales, services are delivered by private companies (including not-for-profit organisations), whilst in Scotland and Northern Ireland serv...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBreast CancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Cancer Plan, what progress his Department has made on defining and counting recurrent breast cancers.
Answer: Through the National Disease Registration Service’s Get Data Out programme, we will expand the data available to the public and researchers by publishing increased information on incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatments, and survival. We will use the Ge...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBreast CancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the completeness and consistency of data recorded on people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in NHS trusts.
Answer: Through the National Disease Registration Service’s Get Data Out programme, we will expand the data available to the public and researchers by publishing increased information on incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatments, and survival. We will use the Ge...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, from what date the National Institute of Clinical Excellence will be authorised to apply an increased cost-effectiveness threshold of £25,000 - £35,000 per quality-adjusted life year.
Answer: The Government intends to direct the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to apply the new cost-effectiveness threshold increase from April.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121600More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of delays in family visa applications on applicants who are unable to work while awaiting a decision.
Answer: The number of family visa applications outstanding for more than 12 months is not currently available from published statistics. The relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.All ...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of decision-making times on people subject to No Recourse to Public Funds restrictions who are awaiting the outcome of a family visa application.
Answer: The number of family visa applications outstanding for more than 12 months is not currently available from published statistics. The relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.All ...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many family visa applications have been outstanding for more than 12 months; and what steps her Department is taking to expedite overdue cases.
Answer: The number of family visa applications outstanding for more than 12 months is not currently available from published statistics. The relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.All ...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce a formalised interdepartmental framework to help prevent gaps in planning between her Department and the Home Office on issues with potential
Answer: A formalised interdepartmental framework is not required. Defra works closely with the Home Office across a range of policy areas where there are potential animal welfare impacts. Moreover, Government policy proposals are subject to the standard processes...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the review of early access to medicines.
Answer: The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), is an existing pathway across the regulatory and access system designed to support innovative treatments being available to patients who need them earlier in the development cycle, outside of a clinical trial. ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that Ofcom is adequately resourced to (a) monitor and (b) regulate the algorithms of online platforms.
Answer: Ofcom’s online safety budget and expert team ensure its duties are performed effectively. Ofcom has spent approximately £281.3 million on online safety since 2020, including a projected spend of £92 million for 2025/26.As part of its information gathering...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMedia: EducationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to improve media literacy.
Answer: The Government is taking a cross‑government approach to improving media literacy, as set out in ‘A Safe, Informed Digital Nation’, published on 16 March. This includes strengthening coordination across policy areas and working with civil society and indus...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the suitability of (a) live location sharing and (b) addictive content features such as autopay for social media apps used by children.
Answer: The Online Safety Act requires services to mitigate and manage risks to children from online features and functionalities. Ofcom recommends in its Codes of Practice that services with specific risks should turn off live location sharing for children as de...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Information Commissioner's Office is adequately resourced to carry out digital age enforcement cases against tech companies.
Answer: The government increased the data protection fee in 2025 to provide the ICO with the necessary resources to carry out its functions effectively. As an independent regulator it is at the discretion of the Commissioner how he chooses to use this funding to ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions has she had with Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office on the adequacy of protections relating to (a) generative AI and (b) chatbots in the Online Safety Act
Answer: Following public consultation, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued and updated guidance on how data protection law applies to generative AI. The Government supports the ICO’s role in providing guidance to organisations to help their complia...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of future energy requirements for AI; and what steps he is taking to meet those requirements.
Answer: The Department’s energy and emissions projections include growth in power demand from computing services like data centres. To ensure a comprehensive view of the system, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estim...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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