Joe Robertson MP: written questions
1049 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Work and Pensions: EqualityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in her have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
Answer: Currently 7 National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Networks are given pro rata time allocation annually to support respective network activity. Each Committee has 2 Co-Chairs and up to 10 Committee members.Two members of staff also have 5% pro-rata time...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: EqualityDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
Answer: The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid. We have 11 staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHome Office: EqualityHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 30 September 2024 to HL1115 Home Office: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working
Answer: The requested data is not readily available and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTreasury: EqualityTreasuryTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35957More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 27 September 2024 to Question HL1114 on Treasury: Equality, how many staff in her Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours
Answer: Participation in staff networks is voluntary and carried out in addition to an employee’s job role.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero: EqualityDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Answer of 27 September 2024 to Question HL1116 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertak
Answer: The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid. All staff in the Department can take part in diversity-related network activities during core working hours with agreement from their line manager. There are currently 4...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: EqualityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question HL1117 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been per
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold the data requested. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCryptographyHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that backdoor access to encrypted data is not misused by unauthorised actors.
Answer: The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Invest...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivacyHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect people's (a) privacy and (b) security in the context of Government access to encrypted data.
Answer: The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Invest...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCryptography: Human RightsHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that Government access to encrypted data is compliant with human rights standards.
Answer: The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Invest...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) technology companies, (b) legal experts and (c) privacy advocates on the potential implications for her policies of requiring companies to create backdo
Answer: Home Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, legal experts and privacy advocates, on a range of policies and issues.Details of Ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on g...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of requiring technology companies to build backdoors into encrypted systems on public (a) safety and (b) privacy.
Answer: The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Invest...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of BritainCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35949More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31697 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, if the Prime Minister will have discussions with the Minister for Social Security and
Answer: Our policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed. I refer the Hon Member to the answer of the Rt Hon Member for East Ham on 27 February 2025, Official Report, PQ 31697.
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: ExploitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to establish a full investigation into exploitation within social care.
Answer: We have seen unacceptable increases in unethical practices and exploitation in the adult social care sector. The Government is delivering legislation to improve employment rights, and the Fair Work Agency in the Employment Rights Bill will bring together ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: SecurityCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35507More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Ministers have met with security staff workers and their representatives to discuss possible strikes.
Answer: The Cabinet Office regularly discusses workforce matters with Civil Service trade unions. The Cabinet Office does not keep records of other departments’ ministers’ meetings.
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: SecurityCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35506More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to minimise disruption to government business during the security staff strike.
Answer: The hard work of security guards and other staff keeps the government running. The Government Property Agency has been working to ensure impacted buildings continue to operate safely and securely during the industrial action.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written QuestionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 31747 on Radicalism, tabled on the 13 February 2025.
Answer: I responded to Question 31747 on the 26 February 2025.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Written QuestionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to answer Questions (a) 31696 and (b) Question 31697 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, tabled on 13 February 2025.
Answer: Questions 31696 and 31697 were answered on 27 February.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHome Office: Written QuestionsHome OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 31252 on Home Office: Equality, tabled on 12 February 2025.
Answer: The Home Office answered PQ 31252 on 27 February; within the 5-day deadline for Ordinary Written Parliamentary Questions.
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written QuestionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 31228 on Wolves: Conservation, tabled on 12 February 2025.
Answer: Question 31228 was answered on 27 February 2025.
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written QuestionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 30823 on National Parks, tabled on 11 February 2025.
Answer: Question 30823 was answered on 4 March 2025.
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written QuestionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 29973 on Agriculture: Inheritance Tax, tabled on 7 February 2025.
Answer: An answer to Question 29973 is being prepared and will be provided as soon as possible.
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Scottish IslandsScotland OfficeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on improving transport connectivity to Scottish islands.
Answer: There are few issues which better encapsulate the incompetence and arrogance of the SNP government than their long-running ferry fiasco.Scotland’s island communities have been let down time and time again, from Nicola Sturgeon pretending to launch a ferry...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: InsectsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 26637 on Food: Insects, what his policy is on the use of insect-based novel foods for human consumption to deliver net zero goals
Answer: Defra is currently undertaking research on the insect bioconversion industry, including a life-cycle assessment to better understand the environmental impacts of using insect protein in pig and poultry feeds.
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVoice over Internet ProtocolDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) enforce compliance with the checklist for communication providers; and how customers will be informed of their rights and the
Answer: The PSTN switch-off is an industry-led process. As per the checklist the Government is meeting with communications providers before they restart non-voluntary migrations to ensure they are meeting the checklist commitments. The Government is engaging regu...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVoice over Internet Protocol: Older PeopleDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the migration of analogue phone lines to digital voice over internet protocol on elderly people in the Isle of Wight East constitu
Answer: The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for all customers across the UK.A definition of vulnerable ...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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