Graeme Downie MP: written questions
460 published records · newest first.
Written questions
HMS CaledoniaMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the current accommodation available at HMS Caledonia including (i) room type, (ii) capacity and (iii) construction date.
Answer: HMS Caledonia has eight blocks of permanent accommodation, which can accommodate approximately 500 personnel. The majority of room types are single living accommodation, but there are also rooms for two personnel, three personnel and family rooms. The acc...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS CaledoniaMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase the number of people who can be accommodated at HMS Caledonia.
Answer: Accommodation requirements are kept under regular review to ensure they meet operational needs. The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to increase the permanent accommodation capacity at HMS Caledonia.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS CaledoniaMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of accommodation at HMS Caledonia.
Answer: As of December 2025, the Ministry of Defence has assessed the suitability of accommodation at HMS Caledonia as meeting the required standards for safety, security, and habitability according to Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (JSP 464).
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment and Support Allowance: Parkinson's DiseaseDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's get contribution based Employment Support Allowance and are allocated to the Support Group.
Answer: As of May 2025, there were 1,800 claimants in receipt of contributory Employment and Support Allowance in the Support Group with the main disabling condition ‘Parkinson’s disease or syndrome’. In the same month, there were 300 claimants in receipt of cont...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Parkinson's DiseaseDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's Disease listed as their primary condition are in receipt of the Universal Credit health element.
Answer: The information requested is not held by the Department. A defined ‘primary condition’ is not recorded at the Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power: International CooperationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of international regulatory harmonisation on the speed of delivery of civil nuclear projects in the UK.
Answer: International cooperation and regulatory harmonisation have the potential to streamline deployment for nuclear energy deployment around the world and help achieve economies of scale.The UK continues to explore opportunities for regulatory harmonisation in...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSubmarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to make a decision on the future of the Submarine Dismantling Programme.
Answer: The demonstrator submarine, Swiftsure, continues to be dismantled as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project. Working with Babcock, we remain committed to dismantling the platform by the end of 2026. Following Swiftsure, there are six further legacy sub...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: Community RelationsHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025. what support her Departmen
Answer: The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is und...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: RefugeesHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, when she plans to announce
Answer: The full details of the Protection Work and Study route, remain subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Departme
Answer: The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is und...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: Community RelationsHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Departme
Answer: The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is und...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what processes will be put
Answer: The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is und...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what support will be provi
Answer: There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.The ref...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what support will be provi
Answer: There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.The ref...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Age AssuranceHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, how her Department will as
Answer: Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrants: Age AssuranceHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to use Artificial Intelligence to (a) determine and (b) confirm the age of groups other than asylum seekers.
Answer: Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrants: Age AssuranceHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, how her Department will ev
Answer: Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrants: Age AssuranceHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, whether artificial intelli
Answer: Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Departme
Answer: A claimant may claim that requiring them to leave the UK would breach their human rights due to a serious medical condition, which could be a physical illness or mental health issue. Such cases must be considered in accordance with our obligations under A...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Legal OpinionHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what steps her Department
Answer: Reforms to the appeals system, including the development of a new independent appeals body will help asylum seekers have access to justice, overcome delays and restore public confidence. Early legal advice will be embedded as a core part of these reforms....
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what process her Departmen
Answer: The asylum and returns policy statement sets out the intention to deal swiftly with protection claims that are made by nationals of manifestly safe countries in an attempt to frustrate their removal. This policy does not relate to any designation of a spe...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: CandidatesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has issued on whether people on Universal Credit are entitled to raise funds for the purpose of standing for election.
Answer: Funding received and managed by local and national political parties would not be taken into account in assessing an individual’s entitlement for Universal Credit (UC). Money received personally by an individual, including for their political purposes, is...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCandidates: Universal CreditMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleague to ensure people on Universal Credit have equal access to fundraising for the purpose of standing for election.
Answer: People on universal credit are not disqualified from standing for elections. With regards to accessing fundraising for the purposes of standing for election, the Electoral Commission have published clear guidance on the rules around donations, which apply...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCandidates: Universal CreditMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure people on Universal Credit are able to stand for election.
Answer: People on universal credit are not disqualified from standing for elections. With regards to accessing fundraising for the purposes of standing for election, the Electoral Commission have published clear guidance on the rules around donations, which apply...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: CrowdfundingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure the compatibility of his Department's guidance on political crowdfunding for people on Universal Credit with Article 3 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human
Answer: Money received personally by an individual through crowdfunding, including for their political purposes, is generally treated as capital in Universal Credit, and can affect eligibility and payment amounts if a customer’s total capital exceeds £6,000. Ther...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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