James McMurdock MP: written questions 2025
1340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Data Centres: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, updated on 12 December 2024, what steps he is taking to support local planning authorities in assessing the impact of da
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should pay particular regard to facilitating development to meet the needs of a modern economy, including by identifying suitable locations for uses such as data centres.The Framewo...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Land UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he collects data on the number of data centre developments consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime; and what estimate he has made of the
Answer: No data centres have yet been consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting process.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordADHD: Integrated Care BoardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish data on (a) the average waiting time from referral to first appointment and (b) other assessment capacity for ADHD in each Integrated Care Board.
Answer: For the first time, NHS England published management information on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment waiting times at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, and data is now released each quarte...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: TrainingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to align the Construction Skills Mission Board to (a) training provision and (b) (i) local and (ii) regional labour needs.
Answer: To ensure employers can work collaboratively to secure the workforce needed to meet future demand, the Government is sponsoring a new Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB). Chaired by Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace, the Board will provide strat...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Apprentices and TrainingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 86589 on Construction: Apprentices and Training, how the Construction Support Package is being allocated by (a) region and (b) type of training.
Answer: On 23 March 2025, the Government announced a construction support package worth £625 million to tackle the acute shortage of skilled workers in the construction sector. (a) By Region Construction Skills Package funding for initiatives including Industry P...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgage Guarantee SchemeTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89960More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme by region of the UK.
Answer: Statistics are available online covering the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme which was open from 2021-2025, including a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under that scheme by region of the UK and the proportion of purchases under that scheme made by f...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgage Guarantee SchemeTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89958More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the proportion of mortgages issued under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to first-time buyers in the last five years.
Answer: Statistics are available online covering the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme which was open from 2021-2025, including a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under that scheme by region of the UK and the proportion of purchases under that scheme made by f...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpace TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make a comparative assessment of the (a) growth and (b) global market share of the space industry in (i) the UK and (ii) other G7 countries.
Answer: As part of its ongoing space policy development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) already makes comparative assessments of the growth and global market share of the UK space industry, drawing on data from a wide range of countr...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) train scheduling and (b) barrier down-time on the number of unsafe crossing attempts by (i) pedestrians and (ii) drivers.
Answer: It is for Network Rail, as the operator of Britain’s rail network, to manage the risks at level crossings and to implement protective measures to manage those risks accordingly, consistent with its statutory obligations. Network Rail will consider numerou...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to make funding available for infrastructure upgrades at (a) railway crossings and (b) (i) road and (ii) pedestrian bridges in (A) areas experiencing significant increases in freight traffic
Answer: The Government recognises the benefits that infrastructure upgrades in East Tilbury could bring to the local community. However, we must target our investments to maximise growth and deliver value for taxpayers. The Spending Review 2025 settlement highlig...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLevel Crossings: TilburyDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to discourage pedestrians and motorists from attempting to cross when barriers or lights are active at level crossings in East Tilbury.
Answer: Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, is responsible for the safety of users at East Tilbury level crossing. It is aware of the risks posed to pedestrians and motorists at the crossing, which are reflected in the measures in ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Development: GrantsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of capital funding schemes that exclude organisations without property holdings on community development.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of community spaces and buildings which offer vital resources for communities across the country.The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has policy responsibility for community assets and...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Development: GrantsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will review the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for (a) the Common Ground Fund and (b) other capital funding schemes at helping to increase levels of support for community organisatio
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of community spaces and buildings which offer vital resources for communities across the country.The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has policy responsibility for community assets and...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordKinship CareDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to councils on encouraging the use of kinship care arrangements.
Answer: The department’s statutory guidance on the purpose, principles for practice and expected outcomes of children’s social care that should be achieved so children and young people can grow up to achieve and thrive is in the Children’s Social Care National Fr...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, col 767, whether it remains his Department's polic
Answer: The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislat...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 Novembr 2025 to Question 87207 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether his Department would consider another request to cancel elections on the
Answer: The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislat...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: EssexMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received requests from (a) Thurrock, (b) Essex, (c) Basildon and (d) any other Essex council to cancel the 2026 local elections.
Answer: The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislat...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November to Question 87207 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what democratic safeguards his Department will introduce to ensure that voters are no
Answer: The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislat...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 87207 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether considers Thurrock's financial circumstances to be sufficiently strong j
Answer: On the handling of Thurrock Council’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.Our starting point remains for all elections in 2026 to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.The elections ...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxation: International CooperationTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89875More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to join the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
Answer: The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for t...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: Offensive WeaponsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66600 on Slingshots: Regulation, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen the laws to protect wildlife from attacks with (a)
Answer: The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously, including those involving the use of catapults and slingshots. Although these are not listed as prohibited weapons in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, within this legislation, as well as the Wi...
Answered 2 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOffensive Weapons: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66600 on Slingshots: Regulation, what information her Department holds on the number of criminal offences committed of using a (a) catapult and (b) s
Answer: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of police recorded offences that involved hand-held catapults or slingshots.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffensive Weapons: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66600 on Slingshots: Regulation, what information her Department holds on the number of offences committed with hand-held catapults and slingshots ag
Answer: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of police recorded offences that involved hand-held catapults or slingshots.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpace Technology: Skilled WorkersDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of the skills pipeline to meet projected workforce demand in the space sector during the next ten years.
Answer: DSIT and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) routinely contribute to cross-government work to assess future demand and the current pipeline, such as Skills England’s Sector Skills Needs Assessments (June 2025). Further insight into the space sector is provided by ...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEuropean Space Agency: ContractsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of contracts awarded under European Space Agency programmes supported by UK funding have been secured by UK-based organisations since 2020.
Answer: Since 2020, ESA has awarded €2.05 billion worth of contracts to UK entities, spanning industry and academia. This has been distributed across more than 69,000 contracts to UK space sector. We are unable to provide the proportion of UK contracts awarded to...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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