James McMurdock MP: written questions
830 published records · newest first.
Written questions
BoatsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small commercial vessels.
Answer: My department works closely with the Maritime Coastguard Agency on regulations, including the new proposals for small commercial vessels, to ensure that they evolve alongside technology and alternative fuels while maintaining safety. The UK is committed t...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoats: SafetyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on their new proposed safety code for small commercial vessels.
Answer: My department works closely with the Maritime Coastguard Agency on regulations, including the new proposals for small commercial vessels, to ensure that they evolve alongside technology and alternative fuels while maintaining safety. The UK is committed t...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.
Answer: The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill was announced at the King’s Speech. It will be introduced in this session of Parliament, as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Ground RentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57065 on Leasehold: Ground Rent, what her planned timetable is for that proposed legislation.
Answer: The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation. Further details will be announced in due course.
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSixth Form Education: LocationDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure pupils do not have to travel out of their area to access suitable sixth-form options.
Answer: Proposed changes to mainstream sixth form provision need to improve choice and attainment for all pupils. Academies wishing to make changes to their sixth forms can do so by applying to the department to make a significant change. The distance that pupils...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSixth Form Education: QualificationsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) schools and (b) trusts to (i) establish and (ii) expand sixth forms offering academic qualifications in (A) areas with unmet demand and (B) other areas.
Answer: New or expanded school sixth form provision needs to improve choice and attainment for all pupils. Academies wishing to add sixth form places can do so by applying to the department to make a significant change, demonstrating a clear need for additional p...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: DisadvantagedDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the extent of potential regional disparities in academic post-16 provision.
Answer: The department publishes annually the attainment of students at the end of their 16 to 18 study in England, including for A levels and other academic level 3 qualifications. Key headline statistics are broken down by geographical areas based on school and...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStray Dogs: AdoptionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of granting permissions for shelters to allow the public to adopt stray dogs as a means to reduce the number being euthanised.
Answer: The Environmental Protection Act 1990, sets out a minimum hold period of seven days for stray dogs that are brought into shelters. After this time if the owner has not been identified, the dog may be rehomed or humanely euthanised. Under the Act, local au...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Housing: RegistrationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure animal shelters are (a) appropriately registered and (b) operating ethically.
Answer: Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must comply with statutory welfare requirements set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and re...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: Prison SentencesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of custodial sentences for perpetrators of (a) animal abuse and (b) animal neglect.
Answer: Defra regularly meets the RSPCA and other stakeholders to discuss animal welfare issues affecting the sector including any trends in animal welfare offences. Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Ac...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of animal (a) abuse and (b) neglect.
Answer: Defra regularly meets the RSPCA and other stakeholders to discuss animal welfare issues affecting the sector including any trends in animal welfare offences. Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Ac...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: RegistrationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a registration system for pet dogs.
Answer: We have no plans currently to introduce a registration system for pet dogs. Since 2016, all dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped and registered with a compliant database. A separate registration system for pet dogs is therefore not necessary.
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: TaggingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that dogs being cared for by (a) charity and (b) rescue centres are (i) spayed, (ii) neutered and (iii) microchipped.
Answer: Defra engages regularly with a range of stakeholders across the animal welfare and charity sectors, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices. Under the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, it is a requirement for...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStray Dogs: EuthanasiaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of stray dogs being euthanised in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the euthanasia of stray dogs.The obligations for dealing with stray dogs are laid down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and the responsibility for implementing these obligations lies with each local authori...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: Animal BreedingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulations on dog breeding licenses.
Answer: We know climate change presents challenges to the agricultural sector. The government is offering a New Deal for Farmers to help address this. We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to saf...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of powers held by local authorities to remove travellers from unauthorised encampments on public land.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: EssexMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when local elections will take place in Essex.
Answer: Yes. Local elections in Essex will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: EssexMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local elections will take place in Essex in 2026.
Answer: Yes. Local elections in Essex will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that levels of funding do not adversely impact inclusive education practices in mainstream schools.
Answer: In the 2025/26 financial year, 17.8% (£8.6 billion) of the schools national funding formula (NFF) has been allocated for additional needs, including factors that correlate with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This supports schools with ...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) support and (b) protect inclusive education strategies for high needs pupils.
Answer: The recent funding settlement means a significant investment in the support available for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pupils within mainstream schools, as well as protecting support currently in place. It will enable us to transform ...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: EssexDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of pressures on the High Needs Block on the wider school budget in Essex.
Answer: In the 2025/26 financial year, 17.8% (£8.6 billion) of the schools national funding formula (NFF) has been allocated for additional needs, including factors that correlate with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This supports schools with ...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSixth Form Education: BasildonDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to support the expansion of academic Sixth Form provision in Basildon.
Answer: Proposed changes to mainstream sixth form provision need to improve choice and attainment for all pupils and be able to demonstrate a clear need for additional post-16 places. Academies wishing to expand their sixth forms can do so by applying to the depa...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: SecurityDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools in close proximity to (a) high-traffic areas and (b) hospitals are able to access funding for (i) perimeter fencing and (ii) other essential security infrastructu
Answer: The department supports local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary-aided school bodies, which are responsible for keeping their estates safe and well-maintained, by providing capital funding, delivering major rebuilding programmes, and offering guida...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to identify immigrants who arrive illegally on small boats.
Answer: We collect biographic and biometric data from all those arriving illegally in the UK. Checks are then run against a range of data sources to identify relevant information.
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBadgers: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help educate (a) the public and (b) landowners on their legal obligations in relation to badger protection.
Answer: The UK Badger Persecution Priority Delivery Group, of which Defra is a member, recently re-launched its Operation Badger initiative. Operation Badger aims to increase awareness of the many types of criminal activity such as illegal trapping, poisoning, an...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →