James McMurdock MP: written questions 2025
1340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Lower Thames Crossing: Finance: Private Finance InitiativeDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96051More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to use (a) public-private partnership, (b) concessions model, and (c) toll-based financing model for the Lower Thames Crossing; and what options remain under consideration.
Answer: The Government's preferred financing option at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. This funding approach accelerates progress by unlocking private capital, therefore reducing the financial burden on taxpayers and boosting economic growth. ...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLower Thames CrossingDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to publish regular progress reports detailing (a) expenditure, (b) contractual commitments and (c) updates on the funding position for the Lower Thames Crossing.
Answer: The Department and National Highways are committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates on the Lower Thames Crossing, including expenditure, contractual commitments, and the funding position, through established reporting mechanisms.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLower Thames Crossing: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risk of cost escalation in the Lower Thames Crossing project.
Answer: While the Development Consent Order (DCO) provides a fixed framework that limits scope-driven changes and offers higher cost certainty for delivery, it is important to note that at this stage of a project of this size and complexity there is always a leve...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLower Thames Crossing: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to confirm the remaining funding necessary to complete the Lower Thames Crossing.
Answer: The Chancellor has committed a further £891m to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing, the final tranche of Government support before private sector investment takes forward construction and long-term operation. The total Govern...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLower Thames Crossing: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96047More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a breakdown of all committed public expenditure for the Lower Thames Crossing project to date.
Answer: The Department will continue to publish information on committed public expenditure for the Lower Thames Crossing through official reporting mechanisms. To date, over £1.3bn has been spent on the project, including technical surveys, design, land purchase...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help increase public confidence in sentencing.
Answer: In October 2024, we commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review, led by former Lord Chancellor Rt. Hon. David Gauke. The Review was tasked with re-evaluating the sentencing framework to ensure that there is always a place in prison for dangerous offend...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordReoffenders: SentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sentencing guidelines in preventing reoffending among repeat offenders.
Answer: The Sentencing Council for England and Wales is a non-departmental public body set up to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. Its primary role is to issue guidelines on sentencin...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of geographical variations in sentencing outcomes across courts in England and Wales.
Answer: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent judiciary. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to publish sentencing outcome data broken down by court area.
Answer: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the independent judiciary. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the forthcoming integrated national transport strategy will include targets for improving rural bus a) coverage and b) frequency.
Answer: The integrated national transport strategy will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people wherever they live, addressing the main barriers people face in accessing good transport and empower local leaders to deliver better transport...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Older PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that bus service planning by local authorities considers the needs of older people who can no longer drive.
Answer: This Government knows that bus services can be a lifeline for many in rural areas and can be the only means of accessing essential services. Action is being taken to help improve local bus services across the country through the Bus Services Act 2025 whic...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of older people in rural areas who rely solely on bus services for travel.
Answer: This Government knows that bus services can be a lifeline for many in rural areas and can be the only means of accessing essential services. Action is being taken to help improve local bus services across the country through the Bus Services Act 2025 whic...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risks to (a) residents requiring urgent medical treatment and (b) other vulnerable residents when East Tilbury is cut off by level-crossing closures.
Answer: It is for Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, to assess and manage the risks at East Tilbury level crossing to ensure it remains safe for all users and the wider public, in accordance with its statutory safety duties.
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Network Rail on whether the isolation of East Tilbury during prolonged barrier closures constitutes a safety risk.
Answer: It is the responsibility of Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for East Tilbury Level Crossing, to assess and manage the risks associated with the crossing in accordance with its statutory safety duties. Network Rail looks at each level crossing ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on safety-risk assessments that consider the consequences for East Tilbury residents being cut off when the level-crossing barriers are down.
Answer: The Department does not hold this information. It is for Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, to assess the risks at East Tilbury Level Crossing and ensure these are managed appropriately to protect users and the wider publi...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of Network Rail’s compliance with its statutory safety duties in relation to the risk of isolation of East Tilbury when level-crossing barriers remain down for extended periods due
Answer: It is for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), as the independent regulator for rail safety in Great Britain, to assess Network Rail’s compliance with its statutory safety duties and enforce the law accordingly.
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Network Rail on the impact of prolonged closures on (a) community access and (b) local transport while undertaking its statutory duties to ensure safety at East Tilbury Level C
Answer: It is the responsibility of Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for East Tilbury Level Crossing, to assess and manage the risks associated with the crossing in accordance with its statutory safety duties. Network Rail also has a duty of care to su...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Network Rail has provided her with data on (a) barrier-down times, (b) duration of delays or (c) frequency of freight movements at the East Tilbury Level Crossing.
Answer: At this level crossing, there are around 150 scheduled passenger trains passing through each day and up to 45 freight services in both directions per day. During the last risk assessment, Network Rail identified that there were 102 level crossing activati...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCombined Authorities: EssexMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the initial funding arrangements for Essex's Combined County Authority will be put before Parliament.
Answer: On 4 December the Government made a Written Ministerial Statement announcing the funding for all areas on the Devolution Priority Programme, including Greater Essex.
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLogistics: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential economic impact on the UK logistics industry due to the recent changes to the EU's Entry/Exit System, and what actions are the Department taking to minimise disrup
Answer: The Entry-Exit System (EES) is an EU border security system being implemented across the EU. The UK Government is making every effort to engage with the EU as they roll out EES, to ensure border fluidity for UK citizens and businesses. This includes suppo...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions have taken place with EU counterparts to discuss exemptions or streamlined processes for UK HGV drivers under the Entry/Exit System.
Answer: EES is being implemented by the EU to improve border security. Ultimately, any exemptions or amendments to Schengen rules, which EES will reinforce, are a matter for Member States and the EU. Whilst the UK Government is making every effort to engage with ...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to strengthen the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys to ensure that deported migrants do not return to the UK.
Answer: We are continuously monitoring and evaluating the Agreement to ensure its continuing effectiveness, with a full evaluation to be completed at the end of the pilot period.As of Friday 28 November, 153 returns have taken place under the exchange agreement. ...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage countries with the highest numbers of asylum seekers to accept the return of failed applicants.
Answer: Strengthening international cooperation is key to improving returns and redocumentation processes to enable quick, safe, and dignified returns. The Home Office, working in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, has prioriti...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the use of return hubs will not be subject to external judicial scrutiny.
Answer: The Government has been clear we will continue to work with international partners to tackle the global migration crisis. Our guiding principle will always be that any partnership must be workable and meet our international obligations.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Workers: FinesHome OfficeTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to further raise fines levied against businesses found to be employing illegal workers.
Answer: Clamping down on illegal working is a critical part of this government’s Plan for Change, and as part of the strategy to tackle Organised Immigration Crime. Ensuring fairness, order and control within the immigration and asylum system.Where an employer is...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →