Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions 2025
395 published records · newest first.
Written questions
UK Visas and ImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the UKVI waiting times for answering enquiries regarding (a) UK passports and (b) British National status.
Answer: For customer enquiries made to the Passport Adviceline, in August, the average speed to answer passport related calls was 16 seconds.
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) criminal and (b) civil measures to increase compliance with child maintenance payments.
Answer: 69% of Paying Parents due to pay via the Collect & Pay service actually paid some maintenance during the calendar quarter ending March 2025. This compares with 65% during the quarter ending March 2023. In the year to March 2025, the CMS arranged aroun...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Trails UK: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in levels of funding allocated to National Trails since 2018 on those trails.
Answer: The Government remains committed to enhancing access to nature and will continue to work closely with Natural England, National Trails UK and relevant partners to understand and respond to the needs of our National Trails. We know it requires significant ...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Footpaths: River ThamesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the diversions on the Thames path due to the closure of (a) Marsh Lock bridge and (b) Temple Footbridge.
Answer: We recognise the importance of National Trails as crucial connectors, not only for visitors keen to complete the trails, but as valued community pathways supporting local businesses and residents. We understand that the Thames Path National Trail Partners...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Trails UK: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the condition of (a) the Thames path, (b) The Ridgeway and (c) other National Trails.
Answer: The Government remains committed to enhancing access to nature and recognises the importance of National Trails as crucial links between urban and rural settings, allowing people to get closer to nature and experience the natural world. In addition to the...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Trails UK: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25560 on National Trails UK: Finance, what his timetable is for announcing the funding settlement for (a) National Trails UK, (b)
Answer: Funding settlements to National Trails UK are not announced, and individual National Trails are not funded separately. In 24/25 NTUK received a combination of funding through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, direct grants and Access for All funding.
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity Services: ReviewsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS Trusts will be involved in the Rapid National Investigation into maternity and neonatal services.
Answer: On 14 August 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the appointment of Baroness Amos as Chair of the Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, with further information available at the following link:...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: CorrespondenceCabinet OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74454More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made a recent assessment of the level of efficiency across government in answering correspondence from members of the public.
Answer: The Cabinet Office works with Government departments and agencies to monitor the quality and timeliness of correspondence, providing support and guidance as necessary.
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPower Failures: CompensationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of revising the compensation scheme for electricity consumers to include compensation for the inconvenience caused by power cuts of s
Answer: The Government expects energy companies to deliver the best support to customers. Ofgem monitors and enforces the Guaranteed Standards of Performance. Ofgem also regularly reviews and updates their compensation arrangements. The most recent changes were m...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity GenerationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74383More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help (a) ensure that energy consumers receive a reliable electricity supply and (b) reduce power cuts due to issues with the electricity distribution network.
Answer: Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for Government. DESNZ works closely with industry to continually improve and maintain the resilience the energy infrastructure, networks and assets to reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure an effectiv...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74381More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the tax-free childcare system on levels of administration for early years providers.
Answer: HMRC continually assesses the administrative impact of Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) on childcare providers, including those focused on early years provision, via customer feedback and internal system reviews. For many providers, once they have registered for ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has provided guidance to local authorities on (a) forecasting and (b) meeting childcare demand in areas of rapid population growth.
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The government is boosting availability and i...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-school Education: InfrastructureDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) early years and (b) childcare infrastructure keeps pace with housing growth in (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural areas.
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The government is boosting availability and i...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that the national review of Maternity Services (a) includes representations from (i) patients and (ii) campaign groups and (b) encour
Answer: On 23 June, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced an independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal services to understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and fa...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildbirthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) births and (b) elective c-sections occurred in each NHS trust in England in 2024.
Answer: The National Health Service routinely publishes data on maternity activity for NHS hospitals, including data relating to the number of births, the method of onset of labour, delivery methods, and places of delivery. An annual publication for this data, co...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSports Competitors: InternetDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of (a) trends in the level of online abuse of sport people and (b) the effectiveness of online safety provisions.
Answer: The government is extremely concerned by the online abuse of sportspeople and will continue working with the sports sector to tackle this.The Online Safety Act strengthens protections for public figures online. Harassment and hate crime are priority offen...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily Liaison OfficersHome OfficeTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces provide a family liaison officer in cases of (a) murder, (b) fatal accident, (c) unexplained death and (d) suicide.
Answer: We recognise that the role of the FLO is an important one, especially when supporting families during difficult times.However, decisions to assign an FLO in specific cases are made by individual police forces, and such decisions would therefore be an oper...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoptionDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has with the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies on the potential merits of issuing an apology to people affected by the adoption of children of unmarried women between 1949-1976.
Answer: Departmental officials have had, and will continue to have, discussions with the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly to understand and learn from their approaches. We are considering all aspects of this issue with the seriousness and sensitivity it...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-School EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of early years and childcare provision in areas experiencing significant housing development.
Answer: It is this government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26, we plan to provide over £8 billi...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the early years sector on reforming the funding model to improve sustainability and reduce bureaucracy.
Answer: The early years sector was widely consulted as part of the development of the Best Start in Life strategy, published by the department on 7 July 2025. This close working relationship will continue as we deliver on our commitment to consulting with the sec...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Cultural HeritageMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to bring into force the provisions of the section 102 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 to require planning authorities to have special regard to the d
Answer: The government is reviewing heritage planning policy in the context of wider reforms to the planning system. As part of that work, we will consider the outstanding measures from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 including the duty of regard to ce...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69487More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) transparency, (b) impartiality and (c) equality of the public procurement process for government contracts.
Answer: The Government has recently implemented the Procurement Act 2023 which has introduced significantly enhanced transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle. Alongside this, a new Central Digital Platform has been rolled out and captures this data in the...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April to Question 46551 on Thames Water, what recent progress Ofwat has made in its enforcement case investigation into Thames Water's potential breach of
Answer: It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on an ongoing investigation. We have a system of independent environmental and economic regulation, and the recently introduced Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enfo...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAntenatal Care: Public BodiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Jul 2025WithdrawnUIN 69156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regulatory body for antenatal education organisations.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAntenatal Care: Public BodiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regulatory body for antenatal education organisations.
Answer: As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are cutting the number of regulatory bodies as they are overwhelming the National Health Service system and taking focus away from the basics of patient care. The changes we are making will improve quality and sa...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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