Helen Maguire MP: written questions
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Written questions
Kinship Care: Parental LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory entitlement to paid leave for kinship carers.
Answer: The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering, all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of animals that have been used for animal testing in each year since 2022.
Answer: The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted each year. The number of procedures is not equal the number of animals that have been used in procedures that year...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: Animal WelfareHome OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of animal testing on animal welfare.
Answer: The Government takes the welfare of animals used in science extremely seriously. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) is the UK’s framework governing the use of animals in research. ASPA enables the limited use of animals in science for soc...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to reduce animal testing.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2025 to Question UIN 91769.
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: UniformsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with schools on the effectiveness of the three-item cap on branded uniform.
Answer: Whilst many schools are taking action to reduce costs, too many families still tell us that the cost of school uniform remains a financial burden. This is why we have introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren's Play: Primary EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will review best practice guidance for play-based learning for five to seven year-olds.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell to the answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 117074.
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordResidential Family CentresDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support Ofsted in processing the backlog of applications for the a) registration and b) inspections of residential family centres.
Answer: Twenty Residential Family Centres have been registered by Ofsted since 1 April 2025, with three registrations rejected following a registration visit. Ofsted undertake a range of checks as part of the registration process, including ensuring Residential F...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordExtracurricular Activities: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how her Department plans to measure progress towards her target for reducing the enrichment gap; and what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to do so.
Answer: The Government's National Youth Strategy is a 10-year plan designed to ensure that every young person nationwide has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them, and a community they feel a part of. Halving the participation gap in enriching activities be...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordExtracurricular Activities: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to begin delivery of the Enrichment Expansion Programme; and how her Department plans to work with selected schools to roll out the programme.
Answer: As part of the Government’s ambition to halve the participation gap, DCMS, in partnership with DfE, will invest £22.5 million through the Enrichment Expansion Programme (EEP). This funding will support up to 400 schools in areas of greatest need across En...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of GPs that will be needed to ensure that patients deemed clinically urgent are dealt with on the same day.
Answer: As a result of actions taken by the Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015. As of 31 December, there are also over 43,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) direct patient care staff working in GPs. We are...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordObesity: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of paying GPs a bonus to prescribe patients weight loss drugs on savings to the NHS over a (a) one, (b) five year and (c) 10 year per
Answer: The 2026/27 GP Contract introduces new incentives through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for general practitioners to prescribe weight loss drugs. At this stage, the Department has not made quantified estimates of net costs to the National Healt...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSport England: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England as a statutory planning consultee on the future provision of playing fields, pitches and
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026, and UIN 112696 on 2 March 2026.
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLeasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what timetable his Department has set for laying secondary legislation relating to deferment and capitalisation rates under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026 and to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278).
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLeaseholdMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what transitional arrangements apply to leaseholders pursuing enfranchisement claims while awaiting implementation of the new valuation framework.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026 and to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278).
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChina: Nuclear WeaponsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she and Cabinet colleagues have had with their Chinese counterpart on the expansion of China's nuclear weapons.
Answer: We engage in regular dialogue with China on security matters at both official and ministerial levels. These exchanges include discussions on nuclear weapons, conducted bilaterally as well as through the P5 process, which brings together the five nuclear w...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her proposed timetable is for publishing her Department's white paper related to Schools and SEND.
Answer: On 23 February, we published two major documents: the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ Schools White Paper and the SEND Consultation Document. Together, these set out our plans to build an education system that will ensure that children and young peop...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: SurreyDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the average time taken by Surrey County Council to repair a reported pothole in each month since July 2024.
Answer: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the average time taken by Surrey County Council to repair reported potholes. Operational decisions on the management and repair of local roads rest with the local highway authority, which has a dut...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help increase pothole repairs.
Answer: The Government has provided a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years. This new four-year funding settlement is in addition to the Government’s investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 millio...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support community pharmacies from the potential impact of changes to the living wage, national insurance and business rates.
Answer: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.In 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increa...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Care: ICTDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve digital infrastructure and IT connectivity for community care in primary care settings.
Answer: In 2026/27, and as per the Medium Term Planning Framework – delivering change together 2026/27 to 2028/29, all integrated care boards and community health services providers must identify and act on productivity opportunities, including ensuring teams hav...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the publication of the National Cancer Plan, if he will present the Plan's annual summary of progress to the House.
Answer: A reformed National Cancer Board, jointly chaired by the Department and an independent representative, will track progress and provide regular updates to ministers.Across the life of the plan, ministers will publish an annual summary of progress, along wi...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: PathologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the National Cancer Plan, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that there will be enough pathologists to support the Plan’s delivery.
Answer: The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will strengthen the cancer workforce, including for diagnostics, such as pathology. The plan sets out sustainable workforce growth, focused not on simply expanding numbers but on ensuring staff are properly trained...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Care WorkersHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of including social care roles within any public service concession.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As p...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Care WorkersHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain criteria on the number of staff in the social care sector.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As p...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Care WorkersHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain criteria on the social care workforce in Epsom and Ewell constituency.
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As p...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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