Mark Sewards MP: written questions
215 published records · newest first.
Written questions
OppressionHome OfficeTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated digital online reporting mechanism for victims of transnational repression.
Answer: The Government, in consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing trained professionals to ...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on waiting times for learner driver tests and approved driving instructor qualification tests.
Answer: As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues. In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and...
Answered 9 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time is between the recruitment of a driving examiner and that examiner conducting practical driving tests.
Answer: As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues. In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and...
Answered 9 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress her Department has made on reducing waiting times for practical driving tests.
Answer: As the Minister for Roads, I regularly meet with officials from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss these, and other issues. In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and...
Answered 9 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGeoengineering: ResearchDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what oversight mechanisms apply to research or testing in the UK relating to (a) solar radiation management and (b) atmospheric aerosol deployment.
Answer: The Government is not deploying Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), including stratospheric aerosol injection, and has no plans to deploy these technologies given the significant uncertainties surrounding their potential climate and environmental impacts....
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAir PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are available for members of the public to report concerns about (a) persistent aircraft trails, (b) air quality and (c) atmospheric pollution.
Answer: Members of the public can report air quality and pollution concerns to their local authority, which has statutory responsibility for reviewing and assessing local air quality and investigating complaints relating to smoke emissions and certain other sourc...
Answered 14 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of monitoring of emissions from aircraft operating in UK airspace.
Answer: The Government considers that existing arrangements provide a robust basis for monitoring aviation emissions. Aircraft operators are required to monitor and report verified CO2 emissions annually under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and, where appl...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeating: Carbon EmissionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Aug 2026Awaiting answerUIN 23723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that local planning authorities support the installation of low-carbon heating technologies in conservation areas.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: Conservation AreasDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planning restrictions in conservation areas on the installation of domestic heat pumps.
Answer: While responsibility for planning policy primarily sits with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) the two departments work closely on these issues and recognise the importance of ensuring that planning requirements do not cre...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily ProceedingsMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of parents' access to remedies where new evidence emerges following the conclusion of Family Court proceedings.
Answer: A party may be able to appeal against a decision made in family proceedings, where there are grounds to do so. Such appeals have strict timescales in which to be undertaken. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeal-a-decision-i...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFamily Proceedings: AppealsMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of appeals processes in Family Court proceedings involving child protection cases.
Answer: A party may be able to appeal against a decision made in family proceedings, where there are grounds to do so. Such appeals have strict timescales in which to be undertaken. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeal-a-decision-i...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enforce animal welfare regulations relating to the killing of piglets on commercial pig farms.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, on 4 June 2026 to PQ UIN 3739.
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Ofsted’s early years inspection framework in distinguishing between isolated management failures and serious failings when determining inspection outcomes.
Answer: The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. It is committed to ensuring that all children receive high-quality early education in safe and nurturing settings. As an independent, non-min...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMortgagesTreasuryTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23717More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of mortgage lending practices for buy-to-let properties on housing affordability for owner-occupiers.
Answer: The Government is committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many households as possible. To improve housing affordability and help people into homeownership, we continue to take steps to increase the supply of housing. In Decem...
Answered 4 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Small BusinessesDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of borrowing costs on small businesses in the construction sector.
Answer: The Government recognises that borrowing costs can affect cash flow, investment decisions and growth prospects for small businesses, including those operating in the construction sector. We continue to monitor economic conditions and engage regularly with...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: FinanceDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to improve access to affordable finance for established small businesses experiencing temporary financial pressures.
Answer: The government is committed to helping viable smaller businesses access the finance they need, including through the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS). GGS helps smaller businesses access finance where they may otherwise struggle to do so through the commerci...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Aug 2026Awaiting answerUIN 23714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the wider use of standardised timber-frame housing designs on the delivery of new homes.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Aug 2026Awaiting answerUIN 23713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using pre-approved standard housing designs to accelerate the planning and delivery of new homes.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restrictions on employment for skilled workers who have submitted an application to remain in the UK on their application following the loss or
Answer: Those holding skilled worker visas who have had their leave cancelled following their sponsor’s licence revocation have 60 days to find an alternative means to remain in the UK. This can be within the Skilled Worker route or via another route for which th...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeadaches: PharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include migraine and other headache conditions within the Pharmacy First initiative.
Answer: As part of Pharmacy First minor illness consultations, pharmacists can already provide advice and recommend over-the-counter treatments for headaches and migraines. Pharmacists can also supply emergency medicines to patients already prescribed regular mig...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHeadaches and Neurology: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to reduce waiting times for neurology and headache clinic appointments.
Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraine: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to reduce waiting lists for patients with migraine.
Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHeadaches: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the waiting list for treatment for headache and migraine is across the NHS.
Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraine: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out of services for chronic migraine in the community.
Answer: The Government is committed to shifting more care from hospitals into community settings, ensuring that patients with chronic conditions such as migraine can access care closer to home. We support integrated, multidisciplinary models of care that bring to...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSwimming: SafetyDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to swimming and water safety education for primary school pupils.
Answer: Swimming and water safety are vital life skills, and every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and know how to keep themselves safe around water before they leave primary school.The PE national curriculum makes specific reference to swimmin...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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