Freddie van Mierlo MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
National Trails UKDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose fo...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Trails UK: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of increasing funding for National Trails above 2012 levels and (b) impact of not increasing funding for National Trails on th
Answer: As part of the Defra business planning process, we assess the requirements, opportunities and impacts of all projects that we fund. These are carefully considered within the wider context of spending review before final decisions are made. Further details...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Trails UK: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settl...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordParental LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the length of parental leave in other OECD countries.
Answer: Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention. The Government has committed to conduct a review of the w...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPaternity LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending paternity leave.
Answer: Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention. The Government has committed to conduct a review of the w...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPaternity LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of the statutory two week paternity leave on the economy.
Answer: Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention. The Government has committed to conduct a review of the w...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria he plans to use to evaluate the respiratory syncytial virus immunisation method to protect infants in the June 2025 review.
Answer: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antenatal maternal vaccination programme for infant protection began in England on 1 September 2024. The first uptake data will be published on 30 January 2025.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes evaluati...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase the uptake rate of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
Answer: The maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme launched on 1 September 2024, and is being delivered by general practices and commissioned maternity services. NHS England has been working with systems, stakeholders, and partners to in...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uptake rate was of the RSV vaccine by pregnant people in each of the last three years; and if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the upt
Answer: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antenatal maternal vaccination programme for infant protection began in England on 1 September 2024. The first uptake data will be published on 30 January 2025.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes evaluati...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMethylphenidate: ShortagesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October to Question 9576 on Methylphenidate: Shortages, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the supply of methylphenidate for ADHD since October 2024.
Answer: The Department continues to work hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. As a re...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Buildings: VATTreasuryTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25552More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to provide VAT relief on the rethatching of listed buildings.
Answer: To preserve heritage, restorative work carried out on listed buildings previously benefited from a zero rate of VAT. However, this relief was abolished in 2012, as it was primarily used to carry out extension work unnecessary for heritage purposes. Withdr...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: ContractsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) the funding provided through and (b) other aspects of general practitioner core contracts.
Answer: We have announced a proposed £889 million uplift for general practices (GPs) in 2025/26, and set out the proposed areas of contract reform which will help us to deliver on our commitments. This is the largest uplift to GP funding in years, reversing the r...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGP SurgeriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of Integrated Care Boards taking steps to help general practitioners set up new practices.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a delegated responsibility for planning and commissioning healthcare services to meet the reasonable needs of the people for whom they are responsible. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPregnancy: Henley and ThameDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of access to (a) ultrasound and (b) other scans during pregnancy in Henley and Thame constituency.
Answer: Antenatal care can start as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant. This can be done by contacting a midwife or general practitioner, or by referring herself direct to a maternity service. There will be two ultrasound scans at 11 to 14 weeks and at 18 to 2...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCaesarean SectionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that pregnant women are informed of their rights to an elective C-section.
Answer: NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services recognises the importance of listening to women and families. It aims to ensure that women have clear choices, supported by unbiased information and evidence-based guidelines, and ...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTrains: Henley-on-ThamesDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of diesel train availability on the Twyford to Henley-on-Thames branch line.
Answer: Train operators are responsible for ensuring that they make adequate rolling stock available to meet the needs of their customers. Currently, there are no issues with the diesel fleet availability on this line.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWool: PricesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of wool prices in the last (a) 6 months, (b) 12 months and (c) 8 years.
Answer: British Wool, a public body, is responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted through open auction and will reflect global market developments in price and availability. This Government has made no asse...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: ChildrenWomen and EqualitiesTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24372More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Independent review of children's social care: final report, published on 23 May 2022, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on care experience and caring as protected characte
Answer: We know care leavers have some of the worst long-term life outcomes in society. We are therefore committed to ensuring children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in ed...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWoolDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect British wool businesses.
Answer: We have a proud tradition of wool production in this country. We recognise the sheep sector’s immense contribution to rural life, local economies, and iconic landscapes across the different countries of the UK. British Wool is a public body that works on ...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSheep: Livestock IndustryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British sheep farmers.
Answer: The Government has committed to support the farming sector, including sheep farmers, through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26. Our environmental land management schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incen...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMaternity Pay: Multiple BirthsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help support families with the costs of raising (a) twins and (b) children of multiple births; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of her maternity pay policie
Answer: There are two types of maternity pay available to pregnant working women:Statutory Maternity Pay paid by employersMaternity Allowance paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible women (including the self-employed and women in employment who a...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHartley Pensions: InsolvencyTreasuryTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24068More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to allow Hartley pension holders to transfer their pensions funds to other administrators.
Answer: The Government is actively monitoring the situation of Hartley Pensions and offers our sympathies to the affected customers. Hartley Pensions is a self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) provider and is therefore the responsibility of the Financial Conduc...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordJapan: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department took to support the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in August 2024; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the non-attendance
Answer: We have consistently been represented at the Nagasaki peace ceremony by our Ambassador or a senior diplomat since 2010. Last year was no different: the British Embassy's Minister Counsellor Political, our second most senior diplomat in Japan at the time, ...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordADHD: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent the illegal sale of ADHD medication for recreational use.
Answer: The illegal sale and supply of human medicines is recognised as a significant challenge for regulators across the world. Medicines purchased from websites that are illegally trading can be harmful to health, as the products received are generally unlicens...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordADHD: DrugsDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ADHD medication shortages on children in school.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other cou...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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