Desmond Swayne MP: written questions 2025
55 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture and Business: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75560More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) staffing, (b) system, (c) compliance and (d) other costs of (i) implementing and (ii) administering the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business
Answer: I refer to the answer given on 5 September 2025 at UIN 70546 :https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70546
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the government in Myanmar on the destruction of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Kachin State in March 2025; and what diplomatic steps s
Answer: The UK is deeply concerned by reports of attacks on places of worship, including the destruction of St Patrick's Cathedral in Kachin State. We remain committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all communities in Myanmar, and consistently rai...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding persistent attacks by Israeli settlers on Taybeh in the West Bank.
Answer: The UK Government condemns settler violence. We regularly raise settler violence with Israeli ministers and officials, and we are clear that the Israeli government must clamp down on settler violence and settlement expansion. The UK has taken action to ho...
Answered 29 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLeah SharibuForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has raised the religious persecution of Leah Sharibu in bilateral discussions with President Tinubu of Nigeria.
Answer: The UK strongly condemns Leah Sharibu's abduction and has repeatedly called for her release and the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA). We have raised Leah's case with the Government of Nigeria, and the Minist...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGrasslands: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will add irreplaceable meadows to the list of irreplaceable habitats.
Answer: Irreplaceable habitat includes some of England’s most ecologically valuable habitats. The list of irreplaceable habitats in the biodiversity net gain regulations reflects the non-exhaustive list of examples of irreplaceable habitat in the National Plannin...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Syrian counterpart on the murder of Mahmood Ghassa; and what steps he is taking to support the protection of religious minorities in S
Answer: The UK is engaging privately and regularly with the Syrian government at every level. We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians. I raised this with Syrian For...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answer: Last December, I laid a proposal for a draft remedial order in Parliament, representing the first step in fulfilling the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.I am continuing to speak to all interested parties about our forthcoming ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCameroon: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take diplomatic steps to support Christians in northern Cameroon who are facing (a) violence from and (b) displacement following Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks; and
Answer: The UK is supporting the Cameroonian authorities in the fight against terrorism in the Far North region of Cameroon, and assisting communities affected by violence and displacement. This includes via regular diplomatic engagement, both bilaterally and in ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEstradiolDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of Estradot for women who react poorly to other HRT treatments.
Answer: There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy products, and the vast majority are in good supply. Currently, there are limited supplies of Estradot (estradiol) patches, which may be available to local pharmacies to order. We are working with the sole supp...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 58548 on Insulation: Housing, if he will hold discussions with mortgage providers on the provision of advances for properties with timber ro
Answer: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Officials continue to engage with lenders and the industry to seek a resolution for those facing difficulti...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: AllergiesDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the statutory responsibilities of schools for children with allergies are (a) monitored and (b) assessed.
Answer: Governing bodies must ensure that the arrangements they put in place are sufficient to meet their statutory responsibilities and that policies, plans, procedures and systems are properly and effectively implemented. This includes the duty under Section 10...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with mortgage providers on making advances on properties with timber roofs insulated with sprayed foam.
Answer: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to inform the public about the level of risk of (a) moisture and (b) timber degradation following the application of sprayed foam insulant to typical domestic timber r
Answer: The Building Safety Regulator published research in March 2024 on the moisture risks from spray foam insulation, which showed that there are many situations where moisture risks are likely to be low, including when insulations are made in line with BS 525...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWorkplace Pensions: Index LinkingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the recommendations of the Third Report of Session 2023–24 of the Work and Pensions Committee, Defined benefit pension schemes, published on 26 March 2024, HC 144, whether she plans to
Answer: We are committed to considering and reflecting on what we have heard regarding the issue of Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme rules on the indexation of pre-1997 pension accruals. We understand it is an important issue for those affe...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNigeria: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of attacks on communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt; and what steps his Department is tak
Answer: The UK is closely monitoring recent reports of violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt. Intercommunal violence has a devastating effect on communities. The root causes are complex and frequently relate to competition over resources, historical grievances, and c...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNew ForestDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) review and (b) update the Ministers mandate for the New Forest.
Answer: The Minister’s Mandate, first introduced in 1971, is mainly concerned with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Crown lands of the New Forest. The Protected Landscapes Duty requires relevant authorities such as Forestry England to ...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship Scheme: New ForestDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to replace the higher level stewardship provision to commoners in the New Forest.
Answer: We want to provide these Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders with some certainty and continuity until they can move into the new ELM offer and to provide support so they can continue delivering environmental outcomes on their land. We will pr...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Lymington: TidesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information the Environment Agency has received from the Oceanographic School at Southampton University on hightide levels at Lymington harbour.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has used a range of information from the Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO) based at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, the majority of this information is freely available from the CCO website (https://coastalmoni...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: Coastal AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what new arrangements HM Coastguard is planning for evacuating emergency medical cases from Hurst Castle and Hurst Spit.
Answer: HM Coastguard is not implementing new arrangements for the evacuation of emergency medical cases from Hurst Castle and Hurst Spit. In the event of a medical emergency HM Coastguard would work with our ambulance service colleagues and the site owners to a...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAlaa Abd El-FattahForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing sanctions on people associated with the detention of Alaa Abd El-Fattah in Egypt.
Answer: The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case in a letter to President Sisi on 4 May. The National Security Adviser als...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Health and DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 904057More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of spending on health and disability benefits by the end of the decade.
Answer: Incapacity and disability benefits spending is forecast to increase by £15.5 billion to £90.7 billion by 2029/30. This includes a rise in spending on working-age benefits from £10.3 billion to £65.4 billion. Without the 2025 Spring Statement measures, wor...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to restore online access to enable disabled drivers to confirm their duty-exempt status when renewing their vehicle licence.
Answer: A DWP service which enables disabled drivers to confirm their vehicle excise duty exemption when renewing their vehicle licence was upgraded on 12th March. An error with date formats affected disabled drivers with a September Date of Birth. They had to fo...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903496More
Question: What steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answer: The approach taken by the previous Government to address legacy was wrong. It caused immense pain to victims and survivors, and in many respects has been found to be unlawful. In December, I laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order in Parliament, to rem...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWar Graves: Seas and OceansMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect Royal Navy war graves in international waters.
Answer: The term “war graves” is one which applies to the final resting places of fallen soldiers on land, and locations designated as a war grave by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. However, as a matter of customary international law, all naval warships, ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: DebtsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will implement an energy debt relief scheme available to all customers.
Answer: In December, Ofgem published an updated debt strategy which included two consultations; one of which proposed an energy debt relief scheme for consumers who accrued debt during the energy crisis. The second consulted on ways to improve debt standards, gua...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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