Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions 2025
395 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Immigration: Republic of IrelandCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85603More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to (a) update or (b) consolidate the legal framework governing the rights of Irish citizens in the UK, including the (i) Ireland Act 1949 and (ii) post-Brexit guidance.
Answer: We remain firmly committed to both the Good Friday Agreement and protecting the integrity and security of the Common Travel Area, which provides reciprocal rights for Irish citizens in the UK and UK citizens in Ireland. The UK Government and Irish Governm...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: Republic of IrelandDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to enable Irish passport holders to apply for UK driving licences online.
Answer: Customers with an Irish passport can already use GOV.UK to verify their identity to renew an existing photocard licence, replace a lost, stolen, damaged or defaced licence and notify of a change of address. A further enhancement to the online service is s...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUtilities: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy (a) of the rules governing utilities companies' use of the highway when carrying out emergency repairs and (b) the level of risk of abuse of those rules by utilities
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that street works, including emergency repairs by utilities companies, are managed efficiently and with minimal disruption. The current legislative framework provides highway authorities with effective ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent data his Department holds on the number of NHS-funded IVF cycles provided in each Integrated Care Board area.
Answer: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs), and we expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. No guidance has been provided...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFertility: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to ICBs to ensure that patients are informed of local IVF eligibility criteria at the point of referral to fertility services.
Answer: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs), and we expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. No guidance has been provided...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPolycystic Ovary Syndrome: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that women with polycystic ovary syndrome receive (a) timely and (b) equitable access to fertility assessment and treatment under NHS pathways.
Answer: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excelle...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Republic of IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that automated systems used by public bodies do not misclassify Irish citizens as requiring EU settled status documentation.
Answer: The automated systems used by public bodies are the responsibility of the relevant organisation. Where a public body carries out automated checks with the Home Office, such checks will generally confirm whether the person holds a valid immigration status....
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: AgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of IVF age limits on women who delay starting families for (a) educational, (b) career and (c) financial reasons.
Answer: The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services. ...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of national funding allocations to Integrated Care Boards to support the delivery of levels of IVF treatment recommended by NICE.
Answer: No assessment has been made. Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institut...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that Integrated Care Boards implement National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on access to NHS-funded IVF treatment.
Answer: The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services. ...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce delays in the property buying process.
Answer: On 6 October 2025, the government published a consultation on proposals to improve to the home buying and selling process. It can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProtestHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on the potential impact of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 on the right to peaceful protest.
Answer: The right to protest is a fundamental part of our democratic society, and people are free to express their views peacefully within the law. The Home Office continues to engage regularly with policing partners on the application of legislation in the conte...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMedia: RegulationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82180More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with Ofcom on the effectiveness of the regulatory principles used to determine if an investigation should be carried out into comments made by media outlets.
Answer: Ofcom, by law, carries out its investigations independently of the Government. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament, and the standards and objectives which underpin Ofcom’s rules and procedures are set out in legislation. Decisions over whether or not to in...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGivinostatDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on Innovative Medicines funding for givinostat.
Answer: Department officials have regular discussions with NHS England on a number of topics, including funding for innovative medicines.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPatients: TravelDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support NHS patient transport for (a) elderly people and (b) other patients.
Answer: Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) are designed to provide transport for patients who have particular clinical or mobility needs that necessitate such support, which may include elderly or vulnerable patients. The eligibility criteria for NE...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool Rebuilding ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to ensure that funding through the School Rebuilding Programme is spent in line with (a) net zero standards and (b) sustainability goals.
Answer: The department commits to a wide range of actions in our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, including a requirement that all new school buildings we deliver are net-zero carbon in operation and are adapted to climate change. The strategy can be a...
Answered 18 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: AdvocacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the robustness of protections for patient advocates' (a) personal care interactions with NHS services and (b) their advocacy for patients.
Answer: For people who find it difficult to understand their care or find it hard to speak up, ‘Someone to speak up for you advocates’ are available to act as a spokesperson for them. They can help with a wide range of support needs, including understanding the c...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordConveyancingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve transparency in the purchasing property process.
Answer: On 6 October 2025, the government published a consultation on proposals to improve to the home buying and selling process. It can be found on gov.uk here.The consultation includes proposals to require sellers and estate agents to provide upfront property ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMalicious Communications Act 1988Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
Answer: The Online Safety Act introduced a number of communication offences, which were commenced in January 2024, including the false and threatening communications offences. The new communications offences have replaced the equivalent offences in the Malicious ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Management Companies: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to assist local planning authorities in holding management companies to account for the maintenance of (a) roads and (b) public spaces under their remit.
Answer: Estate management companies will usually agree standards for maintaining newly built developments with the developer at the time that the site is handed over to them. Where these standards are replicated in the agreement between the estate manager and the...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Management Companies: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that management companies are maintaining newly built developments to agreed standards.
Answer: Estate management companies will usually agree standards for maintaining newly built developments with the developer at the time that the site is handed over to them. Where these standards are replicated in the agreement between the estate manager and the...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of NHS tariff thresholds on pharmacies' ability to source medicines.
Answer: Evaluations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ensure that spend on new medicines represents a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources.NICE thresholds should not have any impact on pharmacies’ ab...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to reduce the level of medicine access inequalities in England; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on this matter.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England based on an evaluation ...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to decrease the level of the impact of medicine shortages on patients.
Answer: The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. In August, the Government published a policy paper, ‘Managing a...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure medicine shortages do not impact clinicians' ability to prescribe medicines that are best suited to the patient.
Answer: The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. In August, the Government published a policy paper, ‘Managing a...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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