Charlie Dewhirst MP: written questions 2026
686 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cabinet Office: Public AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 20 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128580More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the merit ranking was of the Cabinet Secretary in the competition when she applied in the previous Cabinet Secretary recruitment process.
Answer: I refer to my answer for 113705. In accordance with data protection regulations, we do not provide information about candidates in Civil Service recruitment processes.
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTreasury: FurnitureTreasuryTabled 20 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128433More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much her Department has spent on podiums used for Ministerial press conferences since 4 July 2024.
Answer: Government lecterns and podiums are regularly used at press conferences and speeches. This is managed on a case by case basis, depending on the location. Associated costs may be included within wider event production costs and therefore is not readily ava...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: WalesWales OfficeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 908716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the planned visitor levy on the Welsh economy.
Answer: The Welsh tourism industry is thriving. The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism. In 2024, British residents alone took over 7 million overnight trips in Wales. I’m pleas...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFisheries: UK Trade with EUScotland OfficeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU on Scotland's fishing sector.
Answer: The UK Government remains steadfast in our commitment to maintaining world-leading food safety and animal health standards. All food and drink products imported into the UK must comply with our regulatory standards. But we want to limit red tape for our e...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the availability of refrigerant as part of the review of responses to the F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown
Answer: Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The c...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown.
Answer: Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The c...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear WeaponsTreasuryTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123365More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the inclusion in the UK Government Green Financing Framework, November 2025, paragraph 2.12, of the new exclusion of "Facilities intended for the production of
Answer: The Green Financing Framework, updated in 2025, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that deliver a direct and positive environmental impact. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise is cr...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson returned his (a) laptop, (b) iPhone and (c) iPad after he left the (i) Head of Mission role and (ii) civil service.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 March to question 120357.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121601More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether people mentioned in the Government return to the Humble Address were consulted on any (a) exclusions and (b) redactions in the material that was released prior to publication.
Answer: I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23 February and the Government’s statement on 11 March which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruc...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121111More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 Mar
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transpa...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121110More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 Mar
Answer: The Government does not comment on the resourcing decisions taken by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121109More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his statement of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 364, on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion, whether he has consulted lawyers in the Metropolitan Police.
Answer: As per the statement from the Metropolitan Police on 4th February 2026, they are asking us to refrain from publishing any relevant documents that could prejudice their investigation. We do not comment on ongoing police investigations. The Government stand...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121108More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his statement of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 364, on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion, for what reason he did not receive the request to approve the exit payment to
Answer: I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that ...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: EmailCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121101More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 110810 on Cabinet Office: Email, when John Pond's archived emails will be publicly disclosed by National Archives.
Answer: The Cabinet Office holds within its records 118 emails which include the ‘John Pond’ email address. Cabinet Office records are transferred to The National Archives in the usual way, in accordance with Section 3 (4) of The Public Records Act, 1958.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: EmailCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121096More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 110810 on Cabinet Office: Email, how many John Pond emails have been archived.
Answer: The Cabinet Office holds within its records 118 emails which include the ‘John Pond’ email address. Cabinet Office records are transferred to The National Archives in the usual way, in accordance with Section 3 (4) of The Public Records Act, 1958.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: DismissalCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121095More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Employment Appeal Tribunal of Mr P Easton v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025], whether the Government People Group has provided guidance on dismissing a civil servant for di
Answer: Individual departments are responsible for their own discipline policies and guidance, which detail formal processes and procedures. These policies align with the Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code, which set out the standards and be...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was paid for unused annual leave when he left the Civil Service, in addition to the exit payment.
Answer: No.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to W
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transpare...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121078More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who had a role in the vetting process for Lord Mandelson.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transpa...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRecruitment: FraudDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) his department and (b) ACAS have issued on whether an employee can be summarily dismissed for gross misconduct if they lie or deceive when applying for the job.
Answer: There is government guidance on GOV.UK on summary dismissal for reasons relating to gross misconduct. Acas has issued both a statutory Code of Practice and non-statutory guidance covering gross misconduct. These do not specifically mention dismissal for l...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordControlled Burning: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Mar 2026WithdrawnUIN 121074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences for winter burns of vegetation in England have been granted by her Department in the last year; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications f
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordControlled Burning: ScotlandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences for winter burns of vegetation in England have been granted by Defra in the last year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her polici
Answer: No Heather and Grass Burning Licences have yet been granted in the 2025-2026 burning season. Whilst a number of the applications we have received have been determined, others are still being processed. Both Heather and Grass Burning, and wildfire are devo...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHempDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department intends to take steps to support the uptake of industrial hemp farming, in the context of challenges around licensing and investment in the sector.
Answer: Defra recognises the valuable addition industrial hemp can provide to farmers when planning their crop rotation. The responsibility for the regulation of industrial hemp and licencing for cannabis cultivation in the UK lies with the Home Office. After fur...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPalace of Westminster: Repairs and MaintenanceTreasuryTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119621More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2025, to Question 85191, on Parliament: Public Expenditure, how much of the (a) resource and (b) capital expenditure in each year was notionally allocated to support Restoration
Answer: It would be for Parliament to confirm these allocations.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordProductivityDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on productivity; and what information his Department holds on the OBR having made such an assessment.
Answer: The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. It cites academic evidence linking stronger employment protections to improved productivity and highlights that better job security, wellbeing, and reduced undercutting of g...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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