Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions 2024
75 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: BabiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of testing newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy.
Answer: Work is already underway to assess the potential merits of testing newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).This is following the UK National Screening Committee’s two-fold recommendation in 2023, to simultaneously develop a new cost-effectiveness...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGluten-free Foods: PrescriptionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to help support people with Coeliac disease with the cost of food; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of widening access to gluten free product
Answer: We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living. Our extensive arrangements to help people afford National Health Service prescription charges mean that almost 89% of prescription items in England are already provided free of c...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the recommendation from the French health authority that the RSV vaccine should be provided to (a) 75-80 a
Answer: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the government on immunisation programmes.In line with JCVI advice, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for adults tur...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish real world evidence on the effectiveness of the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in the 75-80 cohort; how much such evidence has been collected; and whether such evidenc
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency is working on vaccine effectiveness analysis within the 75 to 80-year-old age group for this winter season 2024 to 2025. We are collating data on respitatory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalisations in England and general pract...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDementia: Care WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on dementia care in his plans for social care workforce reform; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making dementia training mandatory for adult s
Answer: Providers must provide sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled, and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service. Staff must receive the support, training, professional development, supervision, and appraisals t...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNational LandscapesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing protections for (a) the Chilterns national landscape and (b) other national landscapes under the national pla
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that our most important and cherished landscapes are appropriately protected so they can be enjoyed by future generations.Planning policy is clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise the character ...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordReparation by OffendersMinistry of JusticeTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the implementation of restorative justice in the criminal justice system.
Answer: This Government supports the use of restorative justice, which is why, under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (‘the Victims’ Code’), all adult victims must be told about the option of restorative justice and how to access it. We also provide Poli...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14860More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed business property relief changes on small family businesses.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to restore economic stability, fix the public finances, and support public services. The Government published information about the refo...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMarriage: CeremoniesMinistry of JusticeTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling (a) non-religious belief organisations and (b) Humanists to conduct legally binding weddings as religious organisations.
Answer: We are aware that non-religious belief organisations, such as humanists, have long been campaigning to conduct legally binding weddings. Given marriage is such a valued part of our society, I hope you will understand that as a new Government we will need ...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordKinship Care: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of increasing the provision of financial support available to kinship carers.
Answer: The department recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children and this government is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve. Kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordChiltern Railways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of services provided by Chiltern Rail from Haddenham and Thame Parkway station.
Answer: The Department monitors the adequacy of train services from all train stations, including Haddenham and Thame Parkway. Chiltern Railway provide a frequent service with three trains per hour during peak times and two trains per hour during the off-peak ser...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRoyal Botanic Gardens KewDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on the potential impact of moving the Kew herbarium to Thames Valley Science Park on the stud
Answer: Defra officials are engaged with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on development of the New Herbarium Project proposal. Kew’s Herbarium collections are some of the largest and most important in the world, holding over seven million vascular plant specimens, col...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: CorrespondenceTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12671More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking with HMRC to help ensure taxpayers receive prompt responses to queries.
Answer: HMRC recognise that their service levels have been below published standards, and they are committed to improving customer service performance.To improve their services and meet published standards, HMRC are deploying additional customer service advisers ...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of 22 July 2024 from the hon. member for Henley and Thame about step down beds at Chiltern Court, Henley on Thames.
Answer: I received the hon. Member’s letter and replied on 6 November 2024.
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSpeed Limits: FinesDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, If she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow (a) police forces and (b) local councils to keep speeding fines from fixed point cameras to fund further safety measures on the highway network.
Answer: There are no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow (a) police forces and (b) local councils to keep speeding fines from fixed point cameras to fund further safety measures on the highway network. Money from fines and penalty receipts, incl...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) increase (i) capacity and (ii) coordination among mental health services to ensure people receive treatment close to home, (b) provide free prescriptions to people with
Answer: As part of our mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future, we are committed to shifting care out of hospitals and into the community, close to people’s homes. NHS England is currently piloting neighbourhood based, open access community ...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMembers' Constituency Work: Henley and ThameMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will meet the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame to discuss an urgent constituency matter.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice Ministerial team conducts engagement with Members on their constituency matters on a routine basis and I would encourage the Member to contact the relevant Minister through the usual channels.
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Older PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to include retirement property leaseholders as a separate category in planned lea
Answer: Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will honour its manifesto commitment to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end.We will enact remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage, tack...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Domestic ServiceHome OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report entitled 12 Years of Modern Slavery, published by Kalayaan on 16 June 2024, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating the pre-2012 v
Answer: We keep all policies and immigration routes under review. There are a number of protections in place for overseas domestic workers (ODWs) designed to minimise the risk of exploitation.ODWs are able to change their employer without notifying the Home Offic...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNutrientsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to meet the UK’s commitment under the Global Biodiversity Framework to reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half by 2030.
Answer: Policy in this area is a devolved matter. The UK Government recognises the need to go further on addressing nutrient pollution and supporting nature to recover. We have already committed to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will s...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the implementation of further protections for (a) nature and (b) biodiversity in National Landscapes.
Answer: The new Government is committed to making Protected Landscapes (National Parks and National Landscapes) greener, wilder, and more accessible. We are currently considering the best way to do this. To support this, Defra is working with Protected Landscapes...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: OxfordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include greater protection of the Oxford Green Belt in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Answer: The Government has no plans to include in the National Planning Policy Framework additional protections for Oxford Green Belt beyond those that apply to all green belts in England.
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: VATTreasuryTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10607More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of VAT rules applying to (a) cakes, (b) confectionary and (c) food; and if she will take steps to increase levels of business understanding of VAT ratings for new produ
Answer: The Government’s policy on the VAT rules relating to a) cakes b) confectionary and c) food is well established and guidance is readily available on GOV.uk for businesses to consult when deciding on the VAT liability of a product. The Government keeps all ...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Employment and TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expedited tests for people who require a driving license to secure (a) training or (b) employment in key worker roles.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards. For practical driving test candidates, DVSA is still offering the Mobile Emergency Worker (MEW)...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfant FoodsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward regulations on the composition of (a) toddler and (b) other so-called growing up formula milks.
Answer: The Government has not made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation on the composition of ‘toddler’ or ‘growing up’ milks. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) 2023 report, called Feeding young children ag...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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