Helen Maguire MP: written questions 2024
44 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Housing AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of not increasing Local Housing Allowance rates in 2025-2026 on families.
Answer: The decision to maintain Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates at current levels for 2025/26 considered a range of factors such as, rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, the Government’s missions and wider fiscal context and the fact that rates were increa...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Ofwat on the enforcement of existing laws to protect waterways.
Answer: Ofwat regularly meet with Defra, other Government departments and regulators to discuss enforcement policy and activities. As part of their investigation into all water companies, earlier this year Ofwat proposed fines of £168 million for three companies ...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EducationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to (a) improve the financial educational resources and tools available for adults who are no longer in formal education and (b) increase awareness of the resources currently avail
Answer: Given the current cost of living it is essential for individuals to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage their finances. DWP invests in upskilling their staff to increase their confidence in guiding customers through conversati...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDemocratic Republic of the Congo: Peace NegotiationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) progress towards a resolution, (b) support civilians and (c) work diplomatically with regional partners to secure peace in the Demo
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting the Luanda process which aims to bring about sustainable peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and encourages continued engagement and delivery on commitments by all parties. The postponement of the tripartite s...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSugar Beet: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department provides farmers to (a) research and (b) implement natural defences to aphids instead of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Answer: The UK Government has provided research funding through the Farming Futures Fund to look at the potential for precision breeding in producing virus-resistant varieties of sugar beet. Separately, the British Beet Research Organisation is operating an indus...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPreventive Medicine and Public Health: Youth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of youth services on (a) the Government’s prevention agenda and (b) achieving positive outcomes for public health.
Answer: Youth services play a vital role in supporting the Government’s prevention agenda and for achieving positive outcomes for public health. These services provide early intervention and support that can prevent the development of more serious health and soci...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: SewersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government on the potential impact of targets for newly-built homes on the capacity of smalle
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demand an...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of regulating the prices for electric vehicle charging points.
Answer: The Government is committed to making EV charging infrastructure affordable and accessible. Energy suppliers providing energy to EV chargepoints are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem does not currently set a limit for the price that can be charged for the resale ...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEducational Psychology: Labour TurnoverDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase levels of retention of educational psychologists beyond the minimum period they are required to remain in their local authority after their training is completed.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, breaking down the...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time is between first inquiry and enlistment for candidates wishing to serve in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army.
Answer: The new Government inherited a crisis in recruitment. We have made it a priority to address this with a series of work streams designed to increase recruitment and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve to improve retention. Many factor...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on (a) weapons, (b) ammunition and (c) armoured fighting vehicles in (i) 2022/2023 and (ii) 2023/24; and what estimate he has made of such spending in 2024/25.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and therefore it has not been possible to provide the answer within the allotted time frame. I will write to the hon. Member with an update in due course and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ICTMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's (a) computers, (b) laptops, (c) phones and (d) USB sticks were (i) lost and (ii) stolen in each month in 2024.
Answer: The table below shows the number of computers, USBs, phones and laptops which were either lost or stolen in each month in 2024. The data supplied below is only for incidents which have been closed. Number of computers, USBs, phones and laptops which were ...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: FinanceTreasuryTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20115More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) social and (b) economic impact of increasing investment in preventative upstream services such as youth work.
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out the Plan for Change for this government, with early intervention at the centre of the government's priorities, including giving children the best start in life, putting police back on the beat, and ending hospital backlogs. ...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordYoung PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) scope of and (b) timeline for producing the National Youth Strategy is.
Answer: This Strategy, co-produced with young people and the youth sector, will better coordinate youth services, bringing power back to young people and their communities, and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector.Over the coming months, we will be develo...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20113More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people were (a) killed and (b) wounded by a (i) licensed and (ii) previously licensed firearm in each of the last ten years.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Lady’s Parliamentary Question of 13 December is attached.
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordComputer Misuse Act 1990Home OfficeTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the consultation entitled Review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which closed on 6 April 2023.
Answer: The Computer Misuse Act (CMA) plays a vital role in ensuring that the UK has the right legislative framework to allow us to tackle cyber harms. The Government is committed to ensuring the CMA remains up to date and effective to tackle criminality.As part ...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDisability: Cost of LivingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 901820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the impact of increases in the cost of living on disabled people.
Answer: The extra costs disability benefits are not means–tested, paid regardless of any income or savings and worth up to £9,580 a year, tax free.They were uprated by 6.7 per cent from April and will be uprated by 1.7 per cent from next April subject to Parliame...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPostal Services: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on the future of Royal Mail's delivery of the Articles for the Blind service.
Answer: Section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011 outlines the minimum requirements of the universal postal service and includes the requirement that free-of-charge postal services are provided to people who are blind or partially sighted. Earlier this year, I m...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge Scheme: ChildrenDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the eligibility criteria for the Blue Badge scheme to include children under three requiring bulky mobility aids.
Answer: There are already specific criteria in place to assess the need for a Blue Badge for children under three years old who require the use of bulky mobility aids. The Department has no plans to amend the current eligibility criteria.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planned 10% cut to his Department's headcount on military capability.
Answer: We are currently reviewing the civil service workforce required to deliver Defence’s strategy, and to align with the Chancellor’s announcement on public spending and the recent budget. We are committed to having an agile and sustainable workforce with the...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordKidney Diseases: Mental Health Services and Social ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the (a) mental health and (b) social needs of kidney patients.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs, including kidney patients, and where eligible, for meeting those needs. Where individuals do not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local aut...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordIncontinence and Urology: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) urology and (b) continence services.
Answer: NHS England published the Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff, and which is available at the following link:http...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordOrgans: DonorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help encourage more people to become organ donors.
Answer: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation across the United Kingdom. The Department works closely with NHSBT to identify opportunities to encourage people to record their wishes on the Organ Donor Register, as we know that approxi...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle health inequality caused by childhood poverty.
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and its commitment to raising the healthiest generation of children in history.The Department is working closely with the Child Poverty Taskforce to ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren: PovertyDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) pre-school, (b) primary school and (c) secondary school-aged children living in poverty other than through the provision of free school meals.
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances for every child. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and to prosper.The Minist...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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