Laura Kyrke-Smith MP: written questions
146 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Special Educational Needs: DysphagiaDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring all (a) teachers and (b) support staff in SEND settings receive training on dysphagia.
Answer: Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. Some children with medical conditions may be considered to be dis...
Answered 29 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented MigrantsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on tackling irregular migration to the UK.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has made migration a top Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office priority. On 31 January, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Tunisia to see UK programming addressing the upstream drivers of migration. On 15 February, the Foreign...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to her Department's guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 10 February 2025, on (a) refugees alr
Answer: The previous government's Illegal Migration Act introduced a statutory ban on granting citizenship to anyone who has arrived in the country through irregular routes, a measure that proved completely unworkable, contained minimal discretion to recognise ex...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to provide military support to Ukraine.
Answer: As we approach the third anniversary of this unprovoked attack, our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people is absolute. This year the UK will give more military support to Ukraine than ever before, with a £4.5 billion boost. This will see the UK pr...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFootballDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 901515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support grassroots football.
Answer: The Government is investing £123 million this year to deliver pitches for grassroots football across the UK.Alongside this, Sport England has a Movement Fund, which offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to support grassroots sport, including f...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPhilosophy: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8936 on Religion: Education, whether locally agreed syllabuses on religious education must also take into account the teaching and practices of (a) humanism
Answer: Following the ruling in the Bowen vs Kent County Council case, the department published additional guidance for local authorities regarding the membership of Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACREs). The guidance sets out the department...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordReligion: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8936 on Religion: Education and with reference to her Department's Guidance for local authorities about membership of Standing Advisory Councils for Religio
Answer: Following the ruling in the Bowen vs Kent County Council case, the department published additional guidance for local authorities regarding the membership of Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACREs). The guidance sets out the department...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrants: Domestic AbuseHome OfficeTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure decisions on whether to grant Indefinite Leave to Remain under Appendix VDA are made (a) correctly and (b) with reference to appropriate evidence.
Answer: All applications are decided by a dedicated and specialised casework team in accordance with Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse which sets out the requirements to be met to qualify for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) where a relevant relationship h...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11810More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of Official Development Assistance is spent on (a) fragile and (b) conflict-affected states.
Answer: In 2023, 64 per cent (£1.4 billion) of the of the UK's country-specific bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) was of scored to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) 2022 States of Fragility which provides a list fra...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBuildings and Housing: Solar PowerMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9543 on Housing: Construction, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the fitting of solar panels on new homes and
Answer: The Government’s approach to building regulations remains technology-neutral, to ensure housebuilders have the flexibility to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions for their site. However, we appreciate the benefits of solar panels, inc...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has carried out research into the impact of AI in education settings on children's wellbeing.
Answer: Artificial intelligence (AI) represents an opportunity to give our schools’ leaders and teachers a helping hand with classroom life, but only if the technology is safe and reliable and risks are managed appropriately.The department has undertaken a range ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of conducting research on the impact of social media design on children's mental health.
Answer: Research is critical to ensure the safety of the products we interact with daily. This includes online platforms.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is considering options for research into the impact being online has on children and wil...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: Hate CrimeDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of creating a statutory requirement to log centrally incidents of hate at (a) schools and (b) colleges.
Answer: The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010. The Public Sector Equality Duty also requires public bodies, including maintained schools and academies, to have due regard to the need to el...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support peacebuilding efforts by Israeli and Palestinian civil society.
Answer: This government has been clear; we are committed to pursuing a lasting solution to the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, including through achieving a two-state solution. We continue to support efforts to this end through our aid programmes, which assist civi...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimals: FireworksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the (a) health and (b) welfare of (i) pets and (ii) wild animals during fireworks season in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: Existing fireworks legislation controls the sale, availability, and use of fireworks. There is an 11pm curfew in place for the use of fireworks, with later exceptions only for the traditional firework periods. Using fireworks outside the curfew hours is a...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCanada: HinduismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Canadian counterpart on reports of anti-Hindu hatred in that country.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Joly engage regularly on a wide range of topics. They last spoke on 15 October. The UK will continue to work with its partners to tackle all forms of extremism to ensure the safety of our communities. We are clea...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordReligion: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure faith groups are regularly consulted on locally agreed syllabuses for religious education.
Answer: Religious education (RE) is an important subject that should provide pupils with an opportunity to learn about a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs. RE should help pupils to better understand the values and traditions of different religious...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHinduism: Religious BuildingsHome OfficeTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Hindu places of worship.
Answer: We are committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion and we will not tolerate anti-Hindu hatred in any form. Government and police routinely assess potential threats to ensure that protective measures are in place to p...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHinduism: Hate CrimeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to tackle anti-Hindu hatred in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their race or religion and the Government continues to work with police and community partners to monitor and combat this. This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely pr...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHinduism: AylesburyDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) teachers are given training in and (b) schools have high-quality resources to support teaching on Hinduism in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Aylesbury cons
Answer: Religious education (RE) is an important subject that should provide pupils with an opportunity to learn about a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs. RE should help pupils to better understand the values and traditions of different religious...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHinduism: AylesburyDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that Hinduism is taught in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: Religious education (RE) is an important subject that should provide pupils with an opportunity to learn about a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs. RE should help pupils to better understand the values and traditions of different religious...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Gender Based ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle violence against women and girls in the asylum system.
Answer: The health and safety of asylum seekers is of paramount importance to the Home Office. We are committed to delivering an asylum process that is gender sensitive – building on the wider Government strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. All de...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to process Community Ownership Fund round 4 applications.
Answer: This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed its commitment to the communities' sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them.Communities will rightly be seeking cla...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDiabetes: Eating DisordersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of care available for Type 1 diabetics with diabulimia; and if he will take steps to improve such provision.
Answer: Type 1 Disordered Eating (T1DE), also referred to as diabulimia, is a relatively newly acknowledged condition. NHS England has provided funding for T1DE services across the National Health Services’ regions over the last five years, to help develop servic...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: Freedom of ReligionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Bangladeshi counterpart on the right to freedom of religion in that country.
Answer: The UK is committed to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all, as guaranteed under international human rights law and promoting respect and tolerance between different religious and non-religious communities. In July, the Foreign Secretary and I expressed ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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