James MacCleary MP: written questions 2025
225 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Lewes-Uckfield Railway LineDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will conduct a feasibility study into the restoration of the Wealden railway line from Lewes to Uckfield; whether an impact assessment has been conducted since 2008 on restoring that line; and if she wil
Answer: Successive studies over the last two decades have indicated that the significant costs associated with re-instating the line between Lewes and Uckfield would exceed the benefits to passengers across Sussex. As such, our current focus remains on improving ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical Records: DatabasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) transparency and (b) public trust in the collection and sharing of NHS patient data.
Answer: Strong public trust is critical for the collection and sharing of National Health Service patient data, and transparency is key to building that trust and retaining public confidence.NHS England publishes a range of documentation to maintain transparency ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support community-led developments; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the funding available for such
Answer: The government recognises that community-led housing delivers a wide range of benefits, including additional housing supply, empowering communities, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy.A range of funding sources are av...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) community information websites, (b) hobbyist forums and (c) other small (i) websites and (ii) discussion forums are not disproport
Answer: Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope user-to-user and search services must assess for risks of illegal content and harm to children. Ofcom is the independent regulator for this regime. It sets out what steps small low-risk providers need to take to fulfi...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on its target to build 1.5 million homes during this Parliament.
Answer: The government’s Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings.The department publishes a quarterly rele...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Relations with EU: Public OpinionCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27399More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has commissioned opinion polling on public attitudes towards (a) Brexit, (b) the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, (c) the Windsor Framework and (d) the UK's relationship with t
Answer: The Government Communication Service is not commissioning opinion polling on these topics.
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in improving road safety on rural roads; and if she will take steps with East Sussex County Council to help improve road safety on the C7 road be
Answer: The Department recognises that the majority of road fatalities (according to the latest statistics) occurred on rural roads (60%) with fewer fatalities on urban roads (35%) and motorways (5%). We have awarded local authorities £185.8 million of funding be...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the (a) fair treatment and (b) legal representation of British citizens detained abroad.
Answer: In cases where a British national is detained overseas, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) can provide information about the local legal system to help individuals understand what to expect and their rights, including any right to a s...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of gambling advertising on (a) mental health, (b) wider public health, (c) family relationships and (d) financial wellbeing;
Answer: There are a range of robust rules in place to ensure that gambling adverts, wherever they appear, are socially responsible and do not exacerbate harm.The Gambling Commission is further strengthening protections on marketing to improve customer control ove...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Cross Border CooperationDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost of consultancy to (a) negotiate and (b) implement new cross-border transport arrangements with the EU since January 2020 by (i) consultancy firm, (ii) contract value and (
Answer: No estimate has been made of the cost of consultancy by my department used during negotiation and implementation of new cross-border transport arrangements with the EU since January 2020. Since the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement came into effect on 31st Janua...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Mission to the EU: ConsultantsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many consultants were employed by UK missions to the EU to manage (a) trade and (b) regulatory issues in the financial year (i) 2022–23 and (ii) 2023–24; what the cost of
Answer: The UK Mission to the EU has approximately 67 Full Time Equivalent staff working on economic diplomacy: these are primarily related to managing regulatory issues and promoting trade. Resources of other missions supporting the devolved administrations are ...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: ConsultantsCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25918More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of total government expenditure on external consultants to assist with EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement implementation since 5 July 2024, broken down by (a) department, (b) consult
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not hold a central estimate of the total government expenditure on external consultants to assist with EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement implementation. This is due to the responsibility for implementing the agreement sitting a...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Protocol: ContractsTreasuryTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25917More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contracts related to the Northern Ireland Protocol have been (a) awarded and (b) extended without competitive tender since 4 July 2024; what the reason was; and what the total expenditure on those contracts
Answer: No such contracts have been awarded or extended by HM Treasury.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: ConsultantsTreasuryTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25916More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish the (a) number, (b) name, (c) value and (d) duration of consultancy contracts awarded by HMRC on the Northern Ireland Protocol since 31 January 2020.
Answer: The information requested can be found at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/dfa702cb-97dc-427a-a0bd-a7bece4af9f9?origin=SearchResults&p=1
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordClassics: State EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on students' education of the ending of the Latin Excellence Programme mid-GCSE year; and whether funding for the programme will continue until the end of th
Answer: The Centre for Latin Excellence has contacted all the schools involved in the Latin Excellence Programme and has received assurances that all pupils due to take Latin GCSE this summer will continue to do so. The department is working closely with the Cen...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20386 on Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, when she will publish the outcomes of the departmental business planning process on the futu
Answer: On the 22nd of January, I was pleased to announce that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme would continue from March 2025 to March 2026 with a budget of £23m. Further details can be found here in the Written Statement.
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with local authorities on parish and town councils, in the context of her Department's proposals to reorganise local government structures.
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper was clear that “We know people value the role of governance at the community scale and that can be a concern when local government is reorganised. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorga...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Parks: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the local government reorganisation plans will include provision on (a) planning responsibilities held by the South Downs National Park Authority for Lewes and (b) other
Answer: The government’s proposals for local government reorganisation will not change the planning responsibilities held by the South Downs Park Authority or any other national park. National Park authorities will remain the local planning authority for their ar...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNigeria: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23658More
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 reported killings of religious minorities in Nigeria; and what diplomatic steps his Departme
Answer: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all in Nigeria and beyond. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not believe in. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fo...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVetting: SussexHome OfficeTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average processing time for Disclosure and Barring Service checks conducted through Sussex Police.
Answer: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent from the Home Office. Accordingly, the Home Office does not hold the information requested on the average processing time for DBS checks conducted through Sussex Police.My officials hav...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to update guidance on how funds are allocated to GP surgeries in places with high demand such as Seaford, East Essex.
Answer: There are currently no plans to update how funding is allocated to general practice (GP) surgeries. GP practices receive funding through a range of income streams in return for providing services specified in the GP contract. ‘Global sum’, which is the fu...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support communities with high levels of housing growth where necessary infrastructure is not in place; and if she will have discussions wit
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.Local development plans sh...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: PayDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support college teachers who did not receive the 5.5% pay rise; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of tying pay increases for(a) college and (b) school teache
Answer: Further education (FE) colleges, rather than government, are responsible for setting and negotiating pay within colleges. Colleges are not bound by the national pay and conditions framework for school teachers, but are free to implement their own pay arra...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Travel Authorisations: Trade CompetitivenessHome OfficeTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of airside transit electronic travel authorisation on the UK's international competitiveness.
Answer: The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme was launched to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK. ETAs form part of our long-term plan for a more efficient UK border, with a g...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of not allowing carers to be vaccinated for Covid-19 on people requiring care.
Answer: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains th...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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