James MacCleary MP: written questions 2025
225 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Water: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to ensure that (a) rivers, (b) streams and (c) lakes are protected from pollution.
Answer: We are taking action to address agricultural pollution and support farm businesses. We are, as a priority, working with farmers and environmental groups to improve farm pollution regulations to ensure they are simple and effective. We are also doubling fu...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on (a) (i) hedgerow and (ii) soil restoration, (b) pollinating wil
Answer: Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Sustainable DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to farm sustainably.
Answer: The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, foo...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) child psychologists and (b) other qualified specialists to assess severely disabled children for (i) ADHD and (ii) other neuro
Answer: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments and support, in line w...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to enter into alternative dispute resolution following confirmation of the Judicial Review into the reasons the Government decided not to pay compensation to women born in t
Answer: The government has apologised for the maladministration and committed to learning the lessons from the investigation. The decision not to set up a compensation scheme is now subject to live litigation and the High Court has granted permission for a full h...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she mas made of the number of women born in the 1950s who have died since the publication entitled Government response to PHSO’s Investigation into Women’s State Pension age, published on
Answer: The Department has made no assessment.
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWines: IndiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Indian Government on reducing tariffs on English wine.
Answer: The UK Government seeks the best possible outcome for UK businesses in all aspects of negotiations and ongoing market access engagement with other governments, based on industry engagement and economic analysis.Under the UK-India FTA we agreed a review me...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: India and USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether English and Welsh wine was discussed during trade deal discussions with (a) India and (b) the US.
Answer: The UK Government seeks the best possible outcome for UK businesses in all aspects of negotiations and ongoing market access engagement with other governments, based on industry engagement and economic analysis.Under the UK-India FTA, we agreed a review m...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: SafetyHome OfficeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help protect supermarket delivery drivers from (a) threats, (b) abuse and (c) violence.
Answer: This Government recognises the dedicated work delivery drivers do, especially when their efforts support the most vulnerable in our society. We are determined to protect them from any form of assault, whether verbal or physical, as part of our wider work ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to remove the two-child benefit cap as part of the Tackling Child Poverty strategy.
Answer: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious Child Poverty Strategy which we will publish in the autumn. We are considering all available ...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) the timely availability of pollution data, (b) that water companies are held to account for sewage discharges and (c) that improvements to storm o
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. We are putting water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act has introduced new powers to ban ...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Human Rights and Press FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Georgian counterpart on (a) human rights and (b) the independence of the media in Georgia.
Answer: On 15 May I raised my wide-ranging concerns about recent repressive legislation on civil society, media, and the opposition; restrictions on freedom of assembly and arbitrary arrests; and growing anti-Western rhetoric with high-level representatives of Ge...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the political situation in Georgia on (a) UK-Georgia bilateral relations and (b) UK support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic
Answer: I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from fu...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his affiliates on support for Georgian democracy; and whether he is considering sanctions
Answer: I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from fu...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recent imprisonment of Georgian opposition leaders (a) Mamuka Khazaradze, (b) Badri Japaridz
Answer: I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from fu...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFreehold: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect (a) freehold property owners and (b) freehold property owners in new build housing estates from high maintenance fees.
Answer: The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair chargeWe will consult this year on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for th...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNoise: NuisanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the remedies available to people who are experiencing noise disturbances.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for investigating noise disturbances brought to their attention under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990. If they agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, ...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordReading: Parents and CarersDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of parents and carers reading to children in the early years on the mental wellbeing of (a) children and (b) parents and carers.
Answer: Reading with young children supports not only early literacy but also emotional wellbeing, for both children and their parents or carers. Shared reading helps build secure attachments, supports emotional regulation and creates positive routines that help ...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of community activities at supporting families with children in the early years.
Answer: The government recognises the important role of community-based activities in supporting families during the early years. Through Family Hubs, we are working with local authorities and voluntary sector partners to deliver place-based, peer-led support for...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: LiteracyDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish plans to strengthen the home learning environment to support literacy (a) in the early years and (b) for school age children.
Answer: This government is committed to strengthening the home learning environment to support literacy and school readiness as part of the Plan for Change. In 2025/26, we are investing £10.7 million through Family Hubs in home learning environment services to he...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of promoting a culture of reading for pleasure in the home on the development of children (a) in early years and (b) of school age.
Answer: This government is committed to strengthening the home learning environment to support literacy and school readiness as part of the Plan for Change. In 2025/26, we are investing £10.7 million through Family Hubs in home learning environment services to he...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of learning through play in early years education.
Answer: The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all early years providers must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life and is prepared for school. The framework is clear that children le...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she plans to establish family hubs across the country.
Answer: On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that, the governme...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordResident Doctors: EmploymentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to prioritise UK medical school graduates for foundation year one posts.
Answer: The Government is committed to developing homegrown talent and to giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our National Health Service.At the same time, we will always welcome internationally educated staff, who remain an important p...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordResident Doctors: EmploymentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that all deaneries adhere to a reasonable timeline for allocating F1 positions.
Answer: We are aware that there is a delay in the allocation of some foundation year one doctors’ programme details and work schedules. We have asked NHS England to urgently tackle this issue. We know there is more to do and NHS England is working to ensure that ...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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