Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
735 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Liquefied Petroleum GasDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the (a) consumption of liquefied petroleum gas by (i) classic cars and (ii) other vehicles and (b) availability of
Answer: DVLA transport statistics show a steady decline in the number of vehicles licensed on UK roads that run on LPG. At their peak in 2010 there were approximately 50,000 vehicles compared to 27,000 at the end of 2023. As the transition to zero exhaust emissio...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Agency: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of trends in the levels of real terms funding to the Environment Agency between 2010 and 2024.
Answer: Environment Agency (EA) funding is closely monitored to ensure that the EA can carry out its duties and functions effectively. Since 2010-11, the EA’s funding has risen from £1.3 billion to £2.1 billion in 2024-25. This is a real terms increase of just ov...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordIndependent Water Commission: EutrophicationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether nutrient pollution will be within the remit of the Independent Water Commission; and how the Commission will interact with the rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Pla
Answer: On 23 October, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system, to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for go...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has (a) held recent discussions with local stakeholders on (i) when bathing water status applications will reopen and (ii) the consultation of bathing water stat
Answer: Both Defra Minsters and officials have been engaging with stakeholders before and following the launch of the public consultation. Following this consultation and analysis of responses, we will consider the most appropriate time to reopen applications for...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the powers of the Environmental Agency to (a) monitor and (b) maintain bathing water (i) status and (ii) quality.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is the appropriate agency for monitoring and managing bathing waters in England. Their operational duties ensure the required testing and monitoring of bathing waters, and pollution risk forecasting during the bathing season. O...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure high quality water in bathing water designated areas inland.
Answer: Designated bathing waters are monitored by the Environment Agency (EA) throughout the bathing season which enables them to assess what action is needed to improve water quality. Sites which receive classifications of poor standard will be subject to an ac...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFloods: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8075 on Floods: Government Assistance, for what reason her Department's Property Flood Resilience grant scheme was not activated i
Answer: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) coordinates the Government’s Flood Recovery Framework (FRF). Although Defra’s Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant scheme is not part of FRF, it has always been activated alongside the FR...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: Take-upDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of (a) digital innovation and (b) patient data systems within the NHS.
Answer: NHS England is working closely with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Accelerated Access Collaborative to improve the process for uptake of innovative digital health technolo...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPhysician Associates: Finance and IncentivesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the (a) incentives and (b) funding for physician associates.
Answer: There is no current plan to review the funding for Physician Associates’ (PAs) training or pay. The Government has commissioned an independent review on the PA and Anaesthesia Associate professions. This review will consider the safety of the roles, and t...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPhysician Associates: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) patient knowledge of the training physicians associates receive and (b) information available in general practice for patients on physician
Answer: On 20 November 2024, the Government announced that it is establishing an independent review of the physician associate and anaesthesia associate professions. It will consider the safety of the roles, and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare ...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSpinal 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 record
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