James McMurdock MP: written questions 2025
1340 published records · newest first.
Written questions
European Space Agency: ExpenditureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the return on investment from UK contributions to the European Space Agency in the past three years.
Answer: Independent monitoring and evaluation analysis conducted in 2025 found that for every £1 the UK contributes to ESA programmes leads to £7.49 (approximately €1: €8.49 based on daily exchange rate from European Central bank) directly benefiting the UK econo...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpace TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK Space Agency's report entitled Size and health of the UK space industry 2024, updated on 20 August 2025, when she will publish data on the contribution of the s
Answer: The ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ is an annual study published by UK Space Agency. This study includes a measure of GVA (Gross Value-Added) for the sector, as well as an estimate for the percentage share of GDP for activities underpinned by s...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are in place to allow the collection of child maintenance arrears after a qualifying child ceases to be a qualifying child; and what guidance his Department has issued to receiving paren
Answer: If Paying Parents fail to meet their financial obligation to their children, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has a range of strong enforcement powers including deduction from earnings orders and bank accounts, removing a parents passport or driving li...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the equitableness of the Child Maintenance Service's (a) fee structure and (b) case prioritisation (i) where a paying parent has multiple children acros
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service operates on the principle that both parents have financial responsibility for their child, including their food and clothing, as well as contributing towards the associated costs of running the home that the child lives in. I...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of eligible cases have the Child Maintenance Service used enforcement powers in including (a) liability orders, (b) bailiff action, (c) passport revocation and (d) driving licence revoca
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring that children receive the financial support to which they are entitled. Where a paying parent fails to meet their obligations under a statutory child maintenance arrangement, enforcement action ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of paying parents who have (a) avoided and (b) reduced child maintenance payments through (i) advance benefit payments and (ii) other similar me
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) recognises the importance of ensuring that child maintenance payments are made fairly and consistently, and that children receive the financial support to which they are entitled.In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancello...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that child maintenance arrears owed under previous Child Maintenance Service schemes are recovered effectively.
Answer: The main focus of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is to collect money owed to children who will benefit today, thereby preventing the build-up of arrears under CMS. Arrears owed under previous Child Support schemes are at least 12 years old. It is a k...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBanking HubsTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89101More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data her Department holds on (a) the number of people who lack access to in-person banking services and (b) the demographic profile of banking hub users.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll o...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBanking Hubs: EssexTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89100More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking in (a) the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) Essex to encourage the establishment of banking hubs in towns which lack in-person banking services.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll o...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordExercise: EssexDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what resources have been allocated to (a) schools, (b) leisure centres and (c) youth clubs in Essex to deliver the objectives of the Let’s Move campaign.
Answer: The Let’s Move campaign launched on the 3rd November and the Department has since been sharing its campaign resources with partners across Essex who are working to increase physical activity in the area and/or who have significant reach with parents of th...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordExercise: South Basildon and East ThurrockDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of awareness of the Let’s Move campaign in South Basildon and East Thurrock Constituency.
Answer: The localised Let's Move campaign is designed to inspire children ages 7 - 11 and their families to build more movement into their everyday lives. The campaign, which launched on 3rd November, is being piloted in targeted areas of Sandwell, Lancashire, Es...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPylons: East of EnglandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of pylon infrastructure along the Norwich-Tilbury coastline on (a) protected coastline habitats, (b) birdlife and (c) other species
Answer: Due to the role of ministers in the planning system, we are unable to comment on individual planning applications. Any project must comply with all relevant regulations, including the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which protect des...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Nature Recovery SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to ensure that planning and infrastructure projects are consistent with the (a) priorities and (b) targets set out in local nature recovery strategies.
Answer: Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) set out nature recovery priorities for their area and where action could best be taken on the ground to achieve those priorities. All public authorities must “have regard” to LNRSs and Planning Practice Guidance has...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Nature Recovery SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that local nature recovery strategies are (a) implemented in full and (b) that their targets are monitored.
Answer: Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are strategies whose primary purpose is to identify where action for nature recovery and wider environmental improvement would be more effective. Defra will work closely with responsible authorities to deliver prior...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of regional variation in (a) participation and (b) progression rates for foundation apprenticeships.
Answer: The first seven foundation apprenticeships became available in August 2025 focussed on four industrial strategy and priority areas: construction and the built environment, engineering and manufacturing, health and social care, and digital. In line with ot...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the apprenticeship £2,000 employer incentive payment in supporting progression into employment.
Answer: The first seven foundation apprenticeships became available in August 2025 focussed on four industrial strategy and priority areas: construction and the built environment, engineering and manufacturing, health and social care, and digital. In line with ot...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of foundation apprentices who progress into (a) sustained employment and (b) higher-level apprenticeships within six months of completion.
Answer: The first seven foundation apprenticeships became available in August 2025 focussed on four industrial strategy and priority areas: construction and the built environment, engineering and manufacturing, health and social care, and digital. In line with ot...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: PricesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of Question 21 October 2025 to Question 84026 on housing prices, what data he uses to inform targeted housing policy.
Answer: My Department uses a wide range of data sources to inform the development of policy. Public sources include the English Housing Survey; ONS datasets on house prices, rents and affordability; and Departmental statistics on housing supply, affordable housin...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTimesharing: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84448 on Timesharing: Regulation, whether his Department is considering taking steps to (a) require licensing and bonding of management companies,
Answer: There are no current plans to consider licencing and bonding of timeshare management businesses. All companies are required to file audited accounts subject to certain exemptions, in particular for micro-sized companies, which may prepare and file simplif...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTimesharing: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84448 on Timesharing: Regulation, whether his Department plans to (a) review and (b) extend the 14 day exit right in the Timeshare, Holiday Product
Answer: Enabling consumers to exit timeshares is a balance between protecting consumers wanting to leave and the interests of the business and those customers who remain and share admin costs. The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulat...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Ground RentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 81148 on Leasehold: Ground Rent and to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 74455 on Ground Rent: Newcastle upon Tyne
Answer: Some of the most problematic ground rent terms involving clauses doubling more quickly than every 20 years have already been subject to enforcement action by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as unfair contractual terms. If leaseholders find dev...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: MigrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on (a) the cost to the public purse of providing NHS services to non-UK nationals and (b) what proportion of this cost the NHS Health surcharge covers.
Answer: National Health Service care is provided free at the point of use to people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, including people who were born abroad, if they are not subject to immigration controls. As free at the point of use access to th...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: MigrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the price of the NHS Health surcharge for visa applications.
Answer: The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is paid as a part of a migrant’s visa application. This was last increased in February 2024, to £1,035 per year. The level of the IHS is continually under internal review, to ensure it best reflects the predicted ave...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Foreign NationalsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the circumstances in which non-UK nationals can use the NHS free of charge.
Answer: The Department has no plans at present to review the circumstances in which non-United Kingdom nationals can use the National Health Service free of charge.We continue to work with NHS England to ensure that the system of cost recovery from overseas visit...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDegreesDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the alignment between degree subject provision and priority occupations identified by Skills England.
Answer: The Skills England report, ‘Assessment of Priority Skills to 2030’ sets out that in higher education (HE) over half (53%) of employed recent education leavers are in priority occupations (see table below).The HE sector is independent and individual instit...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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