Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Court of ProtectionMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Court of Protection in (a) issuing granted orders and (b) training for staff.
Answer: Court orders in the Court of Protection are prepared and approved by the Judiciary before being sealed and sent to the parties by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Regular management checks are conducted to review court processes, with additional trainin...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGluten-free Foods: PrescriptionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will direct NHS England to update the guidance on gluten-free food prescriptions in the document entitled Prescribing Gluten-Free Foods in Primary Care: Guidance for Clinical Commissioning Gr
Answer: NHS England currently has no plans to update the guidance. NHS England’s guidance on prescribing gluten-free foods in primary care was developed in 2018 to communicate to the then clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The guidance stated that CCGs may fur...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the availability of (a) practical and (b) theory driving tests is commensurate with the expected number of applicants at any given time.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) practical test booking service is live, and candidates are advised to check for new appointments regularly. Test appointments are released on a rolling 24-week basis, and slots are added as soon as they bec...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMeat: SmugglingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the (a) amount of funding and (b) current measures being used by the Border Force to seize illegal meat.
Answer: Successful Border Force-led operations resulted in the interception, seizure and safe disposal of some 114 tonnes of meat illegally imported into the United Kingdom in 2024. We are not complacent about illegal meat smuggling, which may pose threats to ani...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising Ukraine visa schemes to create a potential UK settlement pathway, such as where people have no family or home to return to in Ukraine
Answer: The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened to applications on 4 February 2025, which enables Ukrainians in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes to apply for a further 18 months’ temporary permission to remain in the UK.We recognise the Ukrainian gove...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency: InternetDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to improve DVSA’s online booking service to ensure it can handle the demand for driving tests without technical issues.
Answer: As set out in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 2024/25 business plan, DVSA is beginning the process of replacing its booking system. The system has many uses including: booking and scheduling of all practical driving and riding testsrecord...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention of driving examiners in high cost of living areas.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) examiner recruitment campaigns continue to be successful but, like many employers, DVSA is finding the job market extremely competitive. As it moves through each recruitment campaign, DVSA will continually ...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: ICTDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure the interoperability of NHS IT systems and (b) reduce duplication across NHS IT systems.
Answer: Regulations will be introduced shortly to Parliament to commence section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022 and establish the process for preparing and publishing information standards, which will be mandatory for public and private health and adult socia...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Initial Teacher Training to support Early Career Teachers to manage a variety of needs in the classroom.
Answer: High-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the department is committed to ensuring ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February to Question 31562 on Sewage: Waste Disposal, what his planned timeline is for the conclusion of the commission to recommend reforms to reset the w
Answer: On 27 February the Commission launched a wide-ranging Call for Evidence, which is open for views from all interested parties until 23 April. This will inform the Commission’s recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments with final recommendations to c...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: Henley-on-ThamesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the ecological status of Holton Brook.
Answer: The ecological status of Holton Brook (The Holton Brook and tributaries) is currently classified as having ‘Bad’ ecological status overall. This status is driven mainly by a deterioration to invertebrate status from ‘Poor’ to ‘Bad’ in the 2022 classificat...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29734 on Thames Water, what discussions he has had with Ofwat on the potential impact of (a) the High Court-approved restructure
Answer: The Secretary of State meets with a wide range of stakeholders on a regular basis. The Government and Ofwat continue to carefully monitor the situation with Thames Water, and Ofwat is working closely with the company to strengthen its long-term financial ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMeat: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the (a) amount of funding for and (b) effectiveness of the current measures used by the Border Force to seize illegal meat.
Answer: Successful Border Force-led operations resulted in the interception, seizure and safe disposal of some 114 tonnes of meat illegally imported into the United Kingdom in 2024. We are not complacent about illegal meat smuggling, which may pose threats to ani...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to ensure young people receiving therapy funded by the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue to receive this therapy beyond March 2025.
Answer: The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on how we will allocate our budget for the next financial year. Decisions regarding the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) are being made as part of these discussion...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHormone Replacement TherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure patients have access to (a) oestrogen and (b) testosterone HRT implants in the context of supply difficulties from the US.
Answer: Oestrogen and testosterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants are not licenced in the United Kingdom. The Department is working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to ensure safe access to these products. We...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35138More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the overseas scale rates.
Answer: The Overseas Scale Rates are an administrative easement and do not limit the amount an employee can claim for. They reduce the need to provide evidence to support an employee’s claim for tax relief.Employees travelling overseas for work have the same enti...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile PhonesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) people and (b) businesses are not disrupted by loss of mobile phone network coverage in areas where coverage previously existed.
Answer: UK mobile operators have committed to close all legacy 2G and 3G mobile services by 2033, with some operators having already turned off their 3G networks. The government is working in conjunction with Ofcom and the telecoms industry to minimise disruption...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPaediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the meeting between PANS PANDAS and his Department on 19 November 2024, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for research into that condition.
Answer: We are supportive of the progress made by PANS PANDAS UK and the PANS PANDAS Steering Group to undertake a national surveillance study, develop a clinical guideline, and produce guidance for professionals, children, young people, and families.Funding for ...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding SocietiesTreasuryTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34531More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate (a) financial and (b) other support for communities with a building society but not a banking hub.
Answer: The Government recognises the value that building societies bring to their members in local communities across the country, and the value of their 30% share of the UK’s branch network. However, I recognise that most building societies do not provide curre...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGardens: PlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of plastic grass on (a) biodiversity and (b) nature.
Answer: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers,...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHeart Diseases: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of levels of young people dying from sudden cardiac death in (a) England and (b) other European countries; and what steps he plans to take to reduce levels o
Answer: The treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease is a priority for the Government. We want people to have the best chance of survival from cardiac arrest, and rapid intervention is central to improving outcomes. NHS England has published a national ...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: EpilepsyDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing individual health plans for every child with epilepsy.
Answer: Statutory guidance on supporting pupils at school with medical conditions recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. The guidance can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce6a72e40f0b620a103bd53/suppor...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirlines: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of commercial protections for airline passengers.
Answer: Air passenger rights remain a priority for the Department for Transport, and continues to consider options to ensure passengers have the best possible protections whilst travelling by air. This includes ensuring aviation is accessible for all passengers. ...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax and Stamp DutiesTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34158More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a proportional property tax as a replacement for (a) stamp duty and (b) council tax.
Answer: Council Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) are reliable and important sources of revenue for both the Exchequer and Local Authorities. They raise over £50 billion each year to help pay for essential public services. Any reforms to the property tax system ...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGivinostatDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with (a) Duchenne UK and (b) other patient advocacy groups on steps to increase access to the givinostat early access programme.
Answer: The Department has not had any discussions with ITF Pharma UK about the resources or guidance available to National Health Service trusts participating in the early access programme (EAP) for givinostat.Department officials have had discussions with colle...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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