James McMurdock MP: written questions
830 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Neighbourhood PolicingHome OfficeTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of neighbourhood policing in (a) reducing crime and (b) improving public trust in the police.
Answer: The Home Office has worked with the College of Policing and the NPCC to develop a performance framework which outlines to forces and the public the performance measures which are being assessed to monitor the progress of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarant...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Policing: EssexHome OfficeTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to ensure (a) appropriate funding for and (b) the retention of officers in Essex Police neighbourhood teams amid increasing demand.
Answer: Essex Police’s total police settlement for 2025-26 is up to £434.1m, an increase of £27.9m compared to 2024-25. Of this, £4,495,599 has been made available in the Neighbourhood Policing Grant.Enabled by this funding, Essex Police has a 2025-26 delivery pl...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMoneyTreasuryTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50045More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure cash remains protected in (a) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) other areas where it is used above the national average.
Answer: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed ...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMoneyTreasuryTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50044More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of regional differences in the use of cash purchases.
Answer: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed ...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the long-term resilience of small businesses in (a) England and (b) Essex.
Answer: Business cash levels have been resilient and have strengthened since the pre-pandemic and pre-referendum periods. According to figures published by BVA BDRC, in Q1 2025, 29% of SMEs were holding over £10,000 in credit balances compared to 23% in 2018 and ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Prescription DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will conduct a review into the (a) supply chain and (b) distribution of prescription medication to pharmacies in England.
Answer: Medicine supply chains are complex, global, and highly regulated and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted, many of which are not specific to the United Kingdom and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, a...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients with valid NHS prescriptions for (a) molnupiravir and (b) similar antivirals were unable to obtain their medication within the recommended treatment window in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Department does not have information about the date of the onset of patient symptoms, which is the start of the five-day treatment window. The service level from the distributor in the last 12 months was 99.2% for molnupiravir and paxlovid, another CO...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure patients can collect prescriptions in a timely manner (a) on bank holidays, (b) on weekends and (c) in general.
Answer: Local authorities are required to undertake pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies. Access to community pharmacies during weekdays, evenings, and the weekend is c...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that pharmacies can access high-cost, short shelf-life medications rapidly.
Answer: In the United Kingdom, community pharmacies are private businesses which provide National Health Services, and therefore, for the majority of medicines which they supply in accordance with a prescription, they have their own buying arrangements. Not all m...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the (a) storage, (b) procurement and (c) emergency dispensing of antiviral medications for high-risk patients.
Answer: Medicines, including antivirals, are stored in accordance with Good Distribution Practice, which is regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. These will typically be held by medicine wholesalers who sell them on to community ph...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: TransportDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with private transportation companies on the use of AI in (a) recruitment and (b) performance management.
Answer: We are committed to boosting the responsible adoption of AI across all parts of the economy.As the Government takes the AI Opportunities Action Plan forward, the Secretary of State and the rest of his department will continue to engage widely with stakeho...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNurseries: Private SectorDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support privately run children's day nurseries with costs.
Answer: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.Local authority-maintained schools provide edu...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNurseries: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of national insurance increases on privately run children's day nurseries.
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life. This is key to the government’s Plan for Change, which starts with reaching the mil...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNurseries: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT increases on privately run children's day nurseries.
Answer: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.Local authority-maintained schools provide edu...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordInstagram: Young PeopleDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Meta's age assurance methodology for teenage accounts on Instagram.
Answer: Under the Online Safety Act, services likely to be accessed by children are required to risk assess their service and provide safety measures, such as highly effective age assurance to prevent children from encountering content including pornography and p...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Young PeopleDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of design features on social media platforms that promote excessive use on trends in the level of addictive behaviours in teenage us
Answer: Keeping children safe online is a priority for the government. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must bake safety into the design of their products and services will need to comply with their child safety duties by the end of July. The Act is clear t...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHome Care ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve transparency around (i) care quality and (ii) safeguarding in domiciliary care services.
Answer: To ensure adult social care providers, including domiciliary care services, meet fundamental standards of quality and safety, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors, inspects, and regulates these services. All inspection reports on individual provider...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHome Care Services: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to increase oversight of recruitment practices in domiciliary care agencies.
Answer: Most domiciliary care agencies are private sector providers and therefore their recruitment practises are independent of central Government.The Department works closely with regulators, local authorities, other Government departments, and enforcement bodi...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHome Care Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support improvement in domiciliary care providers that have been issued with warning notices by the Care Quality Commission.
Answer: To ensure adult social care providers, including domiciliary care services, meet fundamental standards of quality and safety, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors, inspects, and regulates these services. All inspection reports on individual provider...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLegislation: SexWomen and EqualitiesTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47608More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to review cross-Departmental (a) legislation and (b) guidance to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of biological sex.
Answer: The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Government will work closely with the EHRC as they develop definitive guidance. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic ConsultationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for consultation response feedback to be made publicly available.
Answer: The Department publishes the government’s responses to consultations on GOV.UK. In line with the Cabinet Office consultation principles, these documents explain the responses that have been received from consultees and how they have informed the policy.
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLegislation: SexCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47163More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) existing and (b) proposed legislation complies with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of biological sex.
Answer: The Supreme Court’s ruling makes clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act, the term ‘woman’ refers to a biological woman. The ruling has provided clarity for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges and sports clubs. This Government w...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: WomenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish guidance for sporting bodies on the eligibility criteria for women's sport.
Answer: We have always been clear that, when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. We will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion. In term...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHospital Wards: SexDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to ensure the recognition of biological sex in (a) single-sex hospital wards and (b) staff facilities.
Answer: Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by the Government. This is the law, and we expect all public service bodies to comply. The recent Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland case has provided much needed confidence a...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSecondary Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of local authorities operating at a deficit on secondary schools.
Answer: School funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in 2025/26, compared to 2024/25, taking total core school budgets to over £64.8 billion this year.The department offers various resources and guidance to help both maintained schools and academies to manage the...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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