Damien Egan MP: written questions
96 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to promote alternative testing methods that reduce the use of animals in scientific research.
Answer: On 11th November the Government published “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”.The strategy outlines our vision where animals are only used in research and development in excep...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what regulatory framework his Department has in place to oversee AI systems capable of autonomously (a) developing and (b) modifying their own programming.
Answer: AI is a general-purpose technology with a wide range of applications, which is why the UK believes that the vast majority of AI systems should be regulated at the point of use. A range of existing rules already apply to AI systems including data protectio...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEar, Nose and Throat Conditions: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist appointments.
Answer: Cutting elective care waiting times, including for ear, nose, and throat services (ENT), is a key priority for the Government. Between July 2024 and June 2025, we delivered 5.2 million additional appointments, compared to the previous year, more than doub...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: TrappingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of mandating the use of alternatives to snares for animal control practices.
Answer: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra has not made an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of any particular alternatives to snares for animal control practices. This Government ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department plans to take to support the expansion of residential solar panel installations.
Answer: The Government continues to support the installation of rooftop solar PV in various ways, for example through the Smart Export Guarantee, which enables households with solar panels to receive payment for excess electricity that is sold back to the grid. W...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure parents of children with SEND are informed of (a) their rights and (b) the protections available to them.
Answer: The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to publish a Local Offer, setting out in one place information about provision they expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area w...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVoyager AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract since its commencement in 2008.
Answer: The RAF Voyager fleet provides value for money by serving as a versatile asset for air-to-air refuelling, strategic airlift, and VIP transport. Under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, Air Tanker is required to provide the Department with thei...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: In-flight RefuellingMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will specify future air-to-air refuelling requirements.
Answer: The future requirement for all military capabilities is being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, which is due to be published this year.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of pavement parking on levelks of (a) wellbeing, (b) social isolation and (c) economic opportunities of disabled people.
Answer: The Government fully understands the serious problems that vehicles parked on the pavement, and other obstacles on the pavement, can cause for pedestrians, especially for people with mobility or sight impairments and disabled people with wheelchairs, pram...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Cycleways and Public FootpathsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of walking, wheeling and cycling routes on disused railways to access to new housing sites.
Answer: The provision of walking, wheeling and cycling routes plays an important role in new developments and has wide ranging benefits, including reducing impacts associated with traffic, as well as supporting health and wellbeing. The National Planning Policy F...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Active TravelDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the cost of creating new walking, wheeling and cycling routes on disused railways.
Answer: Local authorities are empowered to decide where investment is made in their areas. As such, it is for local authorities to consider whether disused railway lines would be suitable for active travel routes and to work with National Highways, in their role ...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPalestine: EducationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of whether the Palestinian Authority education curriculum (a) for 2025-2026 and (b) in general meets UNESCO standards for (i) peace an
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 29 October to question 79968.
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCycle to Work Scheme: Self-employedTreasuryTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77201More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the cycle to work scheme available to people who are self-employed.
Answer: The Cycle to Work scheme is a benefit-in-kind provided by employers to their employees. A benefit-in-kind is a form of non-cash remuneration provided by employers to their employees. Income tax and National Insurance contribution relief is provided on the...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: First AidDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing introducing compulsory first aid training for teachers.
Answer: The provision of first aid training is a matter for early years, schools and colleges as employers who are best placed to make decisions about the training and development required to meet the needs of their staff and pupils.The department publishes guida...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to ensure that information in official leaflets on (a) access to and (b) guidance on benefit entitlements is accurate.
Answer: To ensure information is accurate, all new and amended leaflets are subject to a quality assurance process where content is checked and approved by subject matter experts before publication. In addition, the department undertakes an annual uprating review...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: EmploymentTreasuryTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77198More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support the hospitality sector with increased employment costs.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the hospitality sector across the UK. The UK hospitality sector is largely made up of small businesses. The Government has protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to employer National Ins...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on the maintenance of historic religious buildings.
Answer: Since 2010, the Government has returned over £400 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples through the grant scheme. This has helped protect our listed places of worship and enabled them to continue their work as centres of worship and ...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Safety Regulator: StandardsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken by the Building Safety Regulator to process (a) applications and (b) approvals on levels of employment in th
Answer: The department recognises the importance of Gateway 2 approvals to the supply of new homes and the construction sector. That is why the government announced in June 2025 changes to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). These reforms include delivering oper...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAcademic Year: HolidaysDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of taking (a) one and (b) two week holidays with family during school term time on the long-term educational performance of primary school c
Answer: Research by the Children’s Commissioner in 2023 found that any amount of term-time holiday is associated with lower GCSE results. This research is accessible here: https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2023/11/CC-REPORT-_-Attendance-and-At...
Answered 18 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Activities and Food ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for the Holiday activities and food programme after 31 March 2026.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Bristol North East to the answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 73205.
Answered 3 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children nearing the end of life can access palliative care at home.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs are responsibl...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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