Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions 2025
395 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Forests: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97002More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of deforestation regulations under the Environment Act 2021 on smallholder farmers; and what steps the Government is taking to ensu
Answer: The Government recognises the need to prevent UK consumption of forest-risk commodities from driving deforestation while minimising impacts on low-income smallholder farmers in the Global South. We acknowledge their vital role in producing essential commo...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: GraduatesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of leaving the EU single market on graduate employment opportunities.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring graduates have the skills and support needed to succeed in the modern economy, which is why the Industrial Strategy will provide an additional £1.2bn of investment in the skills system by 2028-29.The Department for ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Henley and ThameDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme will be reintroduced in Henley and Thame constituency.
Answer: Our priority currently is to provide gigabit-capable coverage to as many premises as possible in Henley and Thame constituency through our Project Gigabit contracts, rather than through other schemes.Project Gigabit contracts give better certainty of deli...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: AgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of Farming in Protected Landscapes funded projects on children; and whether she will bring forward policy proposals to fund these p
Answer: Since its launch in 2021, the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme has provided funding for nearly 11,000 farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Parks and National Landscape bodies to deliver projects that benefit the c...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Seasonal Workers and Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) what assessment has the Department made of the impact that delays in UK Visas and Immigration processing times are having on the ability of hospitality businesses to recruit seasonal and skilled w
Answer: UKVI are not currently experiencing any delays against our published service standards for either Seasonal or Skilled Workers.These can be found at:Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UKVisa processing times: applications outside the U...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 10 October 2025 on the handling of the transitional protection remedy by teachers’ pensions.
Answer: I can confirm that a response to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 10 October 2025 was sent on 8 December 2025.
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: MotorwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the sufficiency of current driving instruction in equipping new drivers with the knowledge and practical skills required for safe motorway driving, including appropria
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to promote voluntary motorway lessons with approved instructors after theory test success, ensuring that all drivers can gain appropriate experience in a structured, supportive environment. However,...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: InquiriesHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in appointing a chair to the National Inquiry into group based child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Answer: On 9 December 2025 the Home Secretary announced to Parliament the appointment of Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair of the new Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as Panel.The Chair will consult on the d...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTomographyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94809More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that diagnostic imaging in the NHS is reported within 4 weeks.
Answer: Ensuring patients receive their diagnostic test results quickly is a priority for the Government. NHS England’s guidance, published in August 2023, sets out that imaging reports must be provided within four weeks, or 28 days, of image acquisition. All Nat...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) delays and (a) improve communication in the processing of Access to Work applications for (i) disabled people requiring essential equipment to remain in
Answer: We recognise the importance of clearing the backlog, which is why last year we increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practises. We remain committed to reducing waiting times for claims, prio...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: 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 record
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