Helen Maguire MP: written questions
304 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Homelessness: FamiliesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure councils have the resources needed to provide safe, stable housing for homeless families.
Answer: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBank Services: Voluntary OrganisationsTreasuryTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30414More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of fee-less community bank accounts being closed and replaced with fee-paying business accounts on (a) allotment societies and (b) other small voluntary organisa
Answer: The provision of banking services is a commercial decision taken by the banking sector. In response to feedback from community account holders about difficulties in securing and maintaining suitable current accounts, UK Finance launched a website in July ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Treatment: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle underperforming wastewater treatment plants.
Answer: The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address the performance of water companies who are not delivering for the environment or their customers. The Water (Special Measures) Bill will provide the most significant increase in enforcem...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: ChildrenMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the findings from the National Child Mortality Database, if her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to mandate local authorities to provide cots
Answer: These statistics are shocking. Homelessness levels are far too high and we are taking action to fix the current system that has left too many families without security or stability.The Homelessness Code of Guidance is clear that temporary accommodation sh...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will issue additional guidance to Integrated Care Boards on determining appropriate levels of funding for hospices to ensure equitable access to palliative care services across di
Answer: In England, palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To supp...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEpilepsy: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children with severe epilepsy can access second-generation cannabis-based medicines through the NHS.
Answer: The law allows United Kingdom specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs). Cannabis-based medicines licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are routinely available on the National He...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: DisadvantagedDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) maintenance grants and (b) other policies to help improve the level of participation of disadvantaged students in higher education.
Answer: The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background.The government continues to provide means-tested non-repayable grants to low income full time...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: ConstructionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional short term funding to hospitals who are the (a) second and (b) third phase of the New Hospital Programme to
Answer: The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is of vital importance to the Government. That is why repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a key part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Healt...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of aging hospital infrastructure on clinical outcomes.
Answer: The safety of National Health Service staff and patients is of vital importance to the Government. That is why repairing and rebuilding our hospital estate is a key part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Healt...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Thames Water on its financial viability.
Answer: Since July the Defra Secretary of State has met with water company Chief Executives and chairs, including Thames Water.
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new firearms licence certificates have been granted in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of new firearms licence certificates that have been granted in the statistical publication on firearm and shotgun certificates. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 M...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Workplace PensionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26662More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (a) value of unclaimed armed forces (i) preserved and (ii) deferred pensions; and what steps he is taking to pass those pensions to beneficiaries.
Answer: The answer to this question could only be provided at disproportionate cost as all Armed Forces’ pensions would require review and a forecast conducted to confirm they are payable and to give a value. However, it may be helpful to know that with regards t...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: CybersecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 on the (a) effectiveness and (b) operational capabilities of UK defence.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence operates within the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and we ensure that our activities are legally covered. We do not comment on details for security reasons. The Computer Misuse Act (CMA) plays a vital role in ensuring that the UK has th...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: CybersecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) increase the role of the private sector within the defence sector and (b) allow industry partners to carry out essential cyber defence activities.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works with multiple industry partners to carry out essential cyber defence activities. The Department works in a collaborative and integrated way across the technology and security sectors to deliver defensive cyber capabilit...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new firearms licence certificates have been granted in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of new firearms licence certificates that have been granted in the Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates publication. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 Ma...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHouseholds: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will take steps to support households with one-off unexpected costs including boiler repairs.
Answer: Budgeting Advances help Universal Credit customers meet intermittent miscellaneous expenses, such as buying essential items like furniture or household equipment. These advances ensure that low-income families that have an emergency financial need and do ...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability Living AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to provide financial support for families during the three-month waiting period before applying for Disability Living Allowance; and if she will make an assessment of the potent
Answer: The three month qualifying period is not a waiting period. Its purpose is to help establish that the disability or health condition, and the resulting care, supervision or mobility needs are of a long-standing nature. This ensures that disability benefits...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a national strategy to make properties built before 1920 more energy efficient.
Answer: The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe and the government recognises that there is no “one-size-fits-all" approach to tackle the UK’s diverse building stock, and the need to ensure more historic buildings are able to achieve Net Zero. The Depa...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAlmshouses: LicensingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of exempting alms-houses from Selective Licensing charges.
Answer: Registered providers of social housing are exempt from selective licensing. Almshouses are able to register as providers of social housing, and this exemption will apply for those that do.Local authorities are responsible for selective licensing schemes i...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2024 to Question 16652 on Military Bases, if his Department will now provide a response.
Answer: I’d like to thank the hon. Member for her question. As she will understand collating this data is a considerable exercise but I’m pleased to confirm that I wrote to her on 27 January 2025 and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20117 on Defence Equipment Expenditure, when his Department plans to send that letter.
Answer: The response to Question 20117 on Defence Equipment Expenditure is in the process of being finalised and will be sent shortly.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPalestinians: Recognition of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 902156 on Palestinians: Sovereignty, whether he has a planned timetable for recognising a Palestinian state.
Answer: The ceasefire marks the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability. Our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestini...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on recruitment consultants in each year since 2016; and how many personnel have been recruited to the (a) RAF, (b) Army, (c) Navy and (d) Marines in each year since 2016.
Answer: Since entering Government, we have taken immediate action to stop all non-essential Ministry of Defence consultancy spending. The information requested specifically on external recruitment consultants is not centrally held and could be provided only at di...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGreenland: USAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Denmark on the US interest in Greenland.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary and I have repeatedly and publicly made clear that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and government of Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmar...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWarships: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the (a) number of days and (b) proportion of expected lifespans that naval vessels spend in maintenance.
Answer: All Royal Navy ships rotate through planned operating cycles involving maintenance, upgrades, repair, training and deployment. This results in individual ships being at various levels of readiness at any one time in accordance with the Long-Term Operation...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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