Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
735 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying the (a) proposed salary threshold and (b) RQF Level 6 requirements for Skilled Worker visas retrospectively to individuals already in t
Answer: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, sets out the Government’s proposed model for earned settlement, and accompanies the current public consultation on settlement reform, which is open until 12 February 2026. This proposes a qualification period for settlement...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of households currently paying higher council tax due to (a) incorrect and (b) inconsistent banding.
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has a duty to maintain an accurate list of all council tax bands. If the VOA becomes aware of an inaccuracy, it will update the list by adjusting the council tax band for the relevant properties.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGraduates: UnemploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of graduate (a) unemployment and (b) underemployment rates in the last five years.
Answer: The Department for Education publish yearly statistics on graduates in the labour market. This can be found here: Graduate labour market statistics, Calendar year 2024 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK. These graduate statistics are for graduates in...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Department will consider backdating State Pension increases in cases where delays were caused by administrative issues.
Answer: Any arrears will be backdated to the date on which the individual made their payment to HMRC.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the letter of 17 October 2025 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame to the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms regarding Access to Work delays.
Answer: The letter dated 17 October 2025 was responded to on 29 October 2025. The response was sent to the Member’s office on 29 October 2025.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Pension Centre: StandardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process applications to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before
Answer: The Department continually monitors processing times, including allocating additional resources and streamlining processes where possible and working collaboratively with HMRC.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the fairness of calculating student loan interest at RPI rather than CPI.
Answer: Interest rates are set in legislation in reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI) from the previous March, not the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and are applied annually on 1 September until 31 August. This ensures that over a period of years, interest rat...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the national literacy trust to deliver the national year of reading 2026.
Answer: This government has committed to strong foundations in reading and writing for all children and the National Year of Reading 2026 is an important part of our strategy for delivering on this commitment.The National Year of Reading is a UK-wide campaign to ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the National Maternity Taskforce includes balanced representation between (a) professional bodies and (b) families with lived experience of matern
Answer: The National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will be made of up a breadth of expertise. This will include people who bring clinical and international perspectives, those wh...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is he taking to ensure the transition to green energy is cost efficient for (a) his department with i. transmission systems, ii. distribution systems and iii. energy sources, and (
Answer: Network regulation is a matter for Ofgem, who regulates network operators through a price control process. Government supports Ofgem in developing a price control that delivers the transition to clean energy, while maximising value for money for consumers...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the current costs of energy per Kw/h compared to other European countries.
Answer: The Department publishes bi-annual statistical tables comparing the UK’s gas and electricity prices to the price of countries in the European Union. International energy price comparison statistics - GOV.UK These are provided in pence per kWh and are aggr...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: Planning PermissionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities have a clear process to follow for shared ownership and community benefit clean energy planning permission.
Answer: In the Clean Power Action Plan, we made it clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure they should feel tangible and enduring benefit of doing so. Shared ownership plays a key role in ensuring all communities can share the benefits from ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordClean EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Clean Power plan for helping those in fuel poverty and those currently using gas boilers in transitioning to clean greener energy.
Answer: We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. On 19 June 2025, we announce...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMeat: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to ensure there is adequate funding and checks at border security for veterinary and meat imports to protect the farming industry against importing issues like
Answer: Border checks undertaken by competent authorities are an important element of the system designed to manage biosecurity risks. The SPS controls at the border on EU goods implemented under the Border Target Operating Model provide assurance that the underl...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Machinery and Livestock: TheftHome OfficeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the theft of (a) farm equipment and (b) livestock.
Answer: We will be implementing the Equipment Theft Act, making it harder for criminals to sell on stolen vehicles and equipment and assisting the police with identifying the owner. The Act’s secondary legislation will require forensic marking to be applied to ne...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for the (a) development and (b) completion of the 25-year farming roadmap.
Answer: The Farming Roadmap will be published next year and will set the course of farming in England for the next 25 years. It will respond to the Farming Profitability Review (which will be published this December, ahead of Christmas) and will set out the Gover...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCourt of Protection: ApplicationsMinistry of JusticeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce the time taken for and costs associated with Court of Protection applications for care decisions and (b) ensure families have access to clear, publicly available
Answer: HMCTS is working to increase overall system capacity to decrease processing times across all types of applications. Measures taken include a targeted action plan to allocate additional administrative resources in response to higher demand, as well as trai...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of clause 9 (c)(5) of the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 on public information on water quality.
Answer: Regulation 9 of the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 amends Regulation 15A of the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 and requires the appropriate Minister to prepare and publish a report on the bathing season or seasons for that ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFree School Meals: OxfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the £2.61 meal rate paid to Oxfordshire schools for providing universal infant free school meals, taking into account rising (a) food, (b) energy and (c) staff co
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We spend around £600 million per year ensuring close to 1.3 million additional infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the i...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to support young people living in supported housing to move on.
Answer: We have invested over £1 billion in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year, which can be used flexibly to address a range of local needs, including support for young people. The Spending Review protects this record level of investment to tackl...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Feed and Cereals: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the role of importers and processors of grain and animal feeds in strengthening food chain security and resilience.
Answer: Food security is national security and is of the utmost importance. UK Food security is built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. Imports supplement domestic production and ensures tha...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: MiningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using closed mineral extraction sites to aid flood alleviation, rather than infilling with waste.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires that planning authorities should provide for restoration and aftercare of mineral sites at the earliest opportunity to be carried out to high environmental standards. This should include, through prov...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: RadiotherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025 provided to question 86540, how many new radiotherapy treatment machines will be provided to a) Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (b) Royal
Answer: As part of the Government’s £70 million investment in new radiotherapy treatment machines, the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will receive one LINAC radiotherapy machine to replace an existing machine. The Oxford University Hospitals Trust ...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 8 October 2025 provided to question 76507, (i) how many NICE Technology Appraisal approved therapies are not being provided in contravention of obligations by a) Oxford Un
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: OxfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to involve Oxfordshire residents in the decision-making process on local government reorganisation, including how communities will be consulted before final dec
Answer: On 5 February, the government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation. In that invitation, we set out that any proposals involving boundary chan...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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