John Whitby MP: written questions
102 published records · newest first.
Written questions
National ParksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department intends to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the reforms to National Parks governance and purposes announced in December 2024.
Answer: The Government is committed to implementing the reforms announced in December 2024 as soon as parliamentary time allows. As set out in the revised Environment Improvement Plan we will champion Protected Landscapes by refreshing our national vision for the...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is in place to support local authorities with Best Start Family Hubs to ensure their offer is effective and evidence-based.
Answer: Through the delivery grant, all local authorities will receive funding from the department for developing and implementing Best Start local plans. This includes funding for a Best Start in Life system leadership function to take forward transformation act...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the forthcoming Local Power Plan will take to support partnerships between schools, local authorities and community energy groups to deliver increased levels of community energy.
Answer: The forthcoming Local Power Plan will be a joint document owned by GBE and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero which will outline our shared vision for the local and community energy sector. We are continuing to develop the Local Power Plan wi...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100088More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what process will be used to value family businesses after the changes to Business Property Relief are introduced.
Answer: The inheritance tax value of a person’s estate is the open market value of all their assets and liabilities. The forthcoming changes to business property relief will not change the existing rules on valuing a business. Valuation assumes a sale between a h...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInland WaterwaysDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take legislative steps to expand access rights for swimming and non-motorised craft on inland waters.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for people’s health and well-being, and is considering the best approach to improving that, including access onto unregulated inland waterways. We are committed to working with stakeholders as t...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFootball: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding Sport England is providing to support the development of Futsal in 2025-2026 financial year.
Answer: In the 2025-2026 financial year, Sport England has allocated a total of £165,325 across 17 multi-sport awards where Futsal is specifically included as one of the supported sports or activities. In addition, Sport England is providing a total investment of...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hectares of privately-owned Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites have received public subsidies to restore them into good ecological condition in the last 2 years.
Answer: The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme supports the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS). In 2023 there was around 1,100 ha that received subsidies for the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) u...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing device-level protections to prevent children from sending and viewing nude or explicit images on their pho
Answer: Protecting children from harmful content like nude or explicit images is a priority for this government. The government welcomes industry innovation in developing new ways to keep children safe online, such as nudity detection software. We will continue t...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record5G: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the 2017 Electronic Communications Code reforms on the time taken for the roll out of 5G masts in rural communities.
Answer: The aim of the 2017 reforms was to encourage investment in digital networks and improve coverage and connectivity across the UK.Our ambition is that all populated areas will have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We are committed to removing barriers ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Trust FundTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90018More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of automatically releasing funds in unclaimed adult-owned Child Trust Funds through the (a) benefit, (b) payroll and (c) student loan systems.
Answer: The Government is aware of suggestions that a system could be developed for paying out the savings held in matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts that have not been accessed by the account owners by the age of 21. The savings in these accounts belong to ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren in Care: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing match-funding for incentive payments to Stepladder PLUS.
Answer: The department wants to ensure that children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships, and are engaged in education, employment and training.We recognise the importance of financial skills, ...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBottles: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) all plastic bottles sold in the UK are fully recyclable and (b) 100 per cent of such bottles are recycled by 2030.
Answer: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is coming to England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in October 2027 and will focus on increasing recycling and reducing littering. A new organisation called UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd (UK DMO) will run the sche...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: Business Premises and HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of potential challenges to decarbonise (a) homes and (b) businesses that (i) use alternative energy sources and (ii) are off the main gas grid.
Answer: The Clean Heat Market Mechanism is focused on developing the market and supply chain for upgrading homes with hydronic heat pumps – a core technology for the UK’s transition to cleaner heating since around 90% of UK homes have water-based central heating ...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBeverage Containers: Deposit Return SchemesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers to be implemented across the UK; and what assessment he has made of its expected impact on plastic bottle recycling rat
Answer: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is coming to England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in October 2027 and will focus on increasing recycling and reducing littering. A new organisation called UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd (UK DMO) will run the sche...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Digital UK: ContractsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made provisions for the recovery of public funds from contractors who fail to deliver on Building Digital UK contracts.
Answer: Payments to suppliers for delivery under Project Gigabit contracts are made once a gigabit capable connection is available to the premises. Where a supplier fails, the supplier is required to repay any public money paid through the contracts for premises ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department plans to issue to Material Recovery Facilities to ensure consistent sorting standards.
Answer: Defra does not plan to issue specific guidance on sorting requirements for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). We are working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and waste industry representatives to support MRF readiness for the Simpler Rec...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: Off-payroll WorkingTreasuryTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 906101More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the rise in disguised employment in the hair and beauty sector.
Answer: HMRC is committed to ensuring that the tax system operates fairly and efficiently and creates a level playing field for compliant businesses. Most businesses pay what they owe but a minority fail to register with HMRC or only declare a portion of their ea...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity Services: ReviewsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made towards publishing the family engagement strategy and methodology for the National Maternity Investigation.
Answer: The national maternity and neonatal investigation is operationally independent of the Department and, therefore, we do not hold this information.
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple Births: DeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the national maternity investigation will also look into cases of twin and triplet deaths as part of its investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services.
Answer: The Government acknowledges that pregnancies for twins and multiples are associated with significantly higher risks for stillbirth, neonatal death and preterm birth.Cases of twin and triplet deaths will be looked at as part of the National Maternity and N...
Answered 6 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordJuries: ChildcareMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81005More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 74400 on Juries: Childcare, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the amount jurors can claim for childcare to ensure that it
Answer: Jurors can claim allowances to help cover additional costs arising from jury service, including the full additional cost of childcare within the overall daily financial loss allowance cap. Informal childcare can also be reimbursed at a set hourly rate, su...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Digital UK: ContractsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that delays to broadband rollout are minimised when a Building Digital UK contract is terminated.
Answer: Project Gigabit is designed to adapt in the event a contracted supplier can no longer complete its planned delivery, utilising a mix of contracts and interventions to enable us to continue to bring fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach premises across...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Digital UK: DerbyshireDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the early termination of the Building Digital UK Full Fibre contract on rural communities in Derbyshire.
Answer: Project Gigabit is designed to adapt in the event a contracted supplier can no longer complete its planned delivery, utilising a mix of contracts and interventions to enable us to continue to bring fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach premises across...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMineworkers' Pension SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress the Government has made on reviewing how future MPS surpluses should be shared.
Answer: The previous Minister of State for Industry met the MPS Trustees on 9 July and confirmed the Government’s commitment to considering their proposals regarding the future of the scheme. DESNZ will now engage HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the provision of mobile breast cancer screening units.
Answer: The Government fully supports the use of mobile breast screening units where they are deemed appropriate. Mobile units support reduction of health inequalities by providing access to screening in areas where local people have difficulty accessing static s...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: TenantsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2025 to Question 57518 on Farms: Tenants, if she will make it her policy to prevent agricultural landlords participating in the (a) Sustainable Farmi
Answer: The Government remains committed to ensuring agricultural tenancies are fair and collaborative. Agricultural tenancy agreements grant tenant farmers statutory protections. Where tenancies end, all parties are encouraged to employ the Agricultural Landlord...
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →