Alberto Costa MP: written questions
95 published records · newest first.
Written questions
CybercrimeHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to increase the number of police officers with expertise in tackling cyber crime in the next three years.
Answer: We are committed to ensuring we have the workforce needed to tackle the threat of cyber crime and protect our people and businesses. Since 2017, in partnership with local Police and Crime Commissioners, the Home Office has directly funded a national netwo...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCybercrimeHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that every police force has specialist officers trained to investigate cyber crime.
Answer: We are committed to ensuring we have the workforce needed to tackle the threat of cyber crime and protect our people and businesses. Since 2017, in partnership with local Police and Crime Commissioners, the Home Office has directly funded a national netwo...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCybercrimeDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of technical support offered by technology companies to people who report cyber crime incidents affecting their products.
Answer: The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (2022) places a legal obligation on the manufacturers of internet-connected devices to offer a vulnerability reporting process. This means anyone - including users, security researchers and cy...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDisclosure of InformationMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether forthcoming legislative proposals on the use of non-disclosure agreements would apply retrospectively.
Answer: Victims are always able to report crimes to the police under the common law, even if their Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) suggests otherwise and irrespective of when the NDA was entered into. However, since 1 October 2025, section 17 of the Victims and Pr...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing mutual recognition of commercial pilot licences between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Saf
Answer: The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Agreements on UK-EU licensing recognition must be established through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and agreed by...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding strategies his Department is considering to ensure hospices remain (a) competitive and (b) sustainable.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance states that ICBs mu...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: Labour TurnoverDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to support hospices to (a) attract and (b) retain their workforce.
Answer: Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. As independent organisations, charitable hospices are responsible for their own recruitment and employment terms. They ar...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government and Social Care OmbudsmanMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an independent appeal or review mechanism for complainants who are dissatisfied with decision
Answer: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's decisions on complaints are typically final, and can only be challenged through the courts on points of law. The government has no plans to change this.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPortugal: British Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that British nationals who are the victims of violent attacks are adequately supported by the British Embassy in Portugal; and w
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the UK's embassies, high commissions and consulates provide consular support to British nationals abroad. We are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year, around the world. In Portugal, we have staff ...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTelevision: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the regulation of televised advertisements depicting (a) violent imagery, (b) knifes and (c) other weapons during family viewing hours; and what steps s
Answer: Although we have not had specific such conversations with Ofcom, we take the issue seriously. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) co-regulates broadcast advertising under contract with Ofcom and its sister organisation, the Broadcast Committee of Ad...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: HomelessnessMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of homelessness among armed forces veterans; and what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help pr
Answer: This is a Government that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am working across Government to ensure veterans across the UK have access to the support they need on housing, as well as health, employment and other areas. In November 202...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Social Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that armed forces veterans are given priority status on local authority housing registers.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need within the framework of legislation under which certain categories of people must be given priority.By law, local authorities must give ...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSheltered HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring forward proposals to (a) support and (b) incentivise the resale of retirement or sheltered housing units.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40972 on 1 April 2025.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEmpty Property: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce a statutory exemption from the long-term empty homes council tax premium for properties that have been inherited and are being marketed
Answer: When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEmpty Property: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department monitors the number of households charged the council tax premium on long-term empty homes following (a) bereavement and (b) inheritance.
Answer: When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ProsecutionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Apr 2025WithdrawnUIN 43186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of private prosecution cases brought by the RSPCA heard in the Crown Court since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Sentencing Act 2021.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ProsecutionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of private prosecution cases brought by the RSPCA being heard in the Crown Court since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Sentencing Act 2021.
Answer: Based on extracted management information data, the RSPCA has initiated 15,070 prosecutions since the Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in April 2007. This figure is taken as of September 2024 in line with published statistics.There have been 198 Cr...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ProsecutionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of private prosecution cases brought by the RSPCA being heard in the Crown Court and the Magistrates Court since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Answer: Based on extracted management information data, the RSPCA has initiated 15,070 prosecutions since the Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in April 2007. This figure is taken as of September 2024 in line with published statistics.There have been 198 Cr...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBovine Tuberculosis: VaccinationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to offer farmers badger vaccination in 2025 to tackle bTB in wildlife populations.
Answer: Badger vaccination is proven to significantly reduce the risk of infection and spread of disease within badger populations. The Government is committed to strengthening the evidence on how badger vaccination reduces TB in cattle. We know this is crucial f...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBovine Tuberculosis: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to issue supplementary cull licences in 2025.
Answer: The Government has started work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy, to continue to drive down disease rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and to end the badger cull by the end of this Parliament. Licensing and authorisation decisions are ...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSign Language: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Ofqual on the timing of the first teaching of the British Sign Language GCSE.
Answer: The development of a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE is an important step toward fostering greater recognition of BSL as a language, and the government is committed to developing a qualification that benefits both students and the wider deaf community.Th...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSign Language: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects the first BSL GCSE course to begin.
Answer: The development of a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE is an important step toward fostering greater recognition of BSL as a language, and the government is committed to developing a qualification that benefits both students and the wider deaf community.Th...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPlastics: Waste ManagementDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to assess the potential toxicity of bioplastics; and whether he plans to introduce specific toxicity testing requirements beyond existing waste mana
Answer: Chemical substances, including monomers, which are constituent components of bioplastics manufactured in or imported into the UK are subject to the requirements of our regulatory framework. This includes UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation &...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPlastics: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) define and (b) set standards for the use of (i) biodegradable and (ii) compostable plastics.
Answer: A Circular Economy Taskforce of experts has been convened from across government, industry, academia and civil society to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government and ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMicroplastics: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains, published in Nature Medicine on 3 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the pot
Answer: Microplastics have been widely detected in the environment – in the air, soils, rivers, and the seas. We are aware there is still much work to be done to strengthen our understanding of the impacts of microplastics in the water and wider environment. Defr...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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