James McMurdock MP: written questions 2026
3310 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Media: Animal WelfareDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with regulated online platforms on preventing the spread of social media trends that encourage acts of animal cruelty.
Answer: The Government recognises concerns about online content and trends that encourage or promote acts of animal cruelty.The Government and Ofcom have identified animal cruelty as one of the priority kinds of illegal harm under the Online Safety Act regulatory...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Animal WelfareDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of social media trends that encourage acts of animal cruelty.
Answer: The Government recognises concerns about online content and trends that encourage or promote acts of animal cruelty.The Government and Ofcom have identified animal cruelty as one of the priority kinds of illegal harm under the Online Safety Act regulatory...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Animal WelfareDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she provides to schools on addressing social media trends that encourage cruelty towards animals.
Answer: As part of the updated statutory relationships and health education guidance in primary schools and relationships, sex and health education guidance in secondary schools, pupils are taught about online safety and harms. This includes harmful content and t...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: InternetDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has held with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on online animal cruelty content since the publication of the Animal Sentience Committee’s Octo
Answer: Defra officials have engaged with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on online animal welfare content since the publication of the Animal Sentience Committee’s October 2024 report, including discussions on the implementation of animal c...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police forces are required to refer incidents of animal cruelty involving people under the age of 18 to a) safeguarding agencies and b) Youth Offending Teams.
Answer: Police forces are operationally independent from Government. Chief Constables and their officers are responsible for determining what action is appropriate in individual cases, including when information should be shared with relevant safeguarding partner...
Answered 27 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: OffendersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 committed by people under the age of 18 in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Government has not made an estimate of the number of animal welfare offences committed by individuals under the age of 18. Defra does not hold conviction data for animal welfare offences and is therefore unable to provide the information requested.
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDementia: NursesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Admiral Nurses are currently employed in England, broken down by Integrated Care Board.
Answer: No assessment has been made of admiral nurses in England, who are developed and supported by Dementia UK as an independent charitable organisation.Provision of dementia health services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS Engl...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDementia: NursesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of access to Admiral Nurses across regions in England.
Answer: No assessment has been made of admiral nurses in England, who are developed and supported by Dementia UK as an independent charitable organisation.Provision of dementia health services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS Engl...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDementia: NursesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to increase access to specialist dementia nursing support in areas where provision is limited.
Answer: The provision of dementia health care services, including specialist dementia nursing support, is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking accou...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDementia: Community NursesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of Admiral Nurses across England.
Answer: No assessment has been made of admiral nurses in England, who are developed and supported by Dementia UK as an independent charitable organisation.Provision of dementia health services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS Engl...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordOffenders: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed exceptional circumstances to deportation on the level of incentives
Answer: We have published an impact assessment of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Clause 20 clarifies Parliament’s view of how Article 8 ECHR rights should be balanced with the public interest in immigration control and deportations of foreign criminals. Foreign...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordOffenders: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed exceptional circumstances to deportation on the number of foreign c
Answer: We have published an impact assessment of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. We anticipate the measures within clause 20 will result in a reduction in the proportion of Article 8 decisions overturned following an appeal; a strengthened public interest test ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals AuthorityHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 19 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, whether a person will be required to demonstrate likely financial independence throughout the entire duration of any leave granted.
Answer: Clause 19 strengthens the existing financial independence considerations that form part of the public interest test in Article 8 cases.The provision will require decision makers to assess more rigorously an individual's ability to support and accommodate ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals AuthorityHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Clauses 9 and 11 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the expedited claims process when used as a result of a Clause 11 claims
Answer: These clauses will allow for faster progression of appeals. This will introduce greater efficiency into the system, by encouraging earlier disclosure, while maintaining fairness, independence and ensuring justice is done.
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals AuthorityHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Clause 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, what estimate she has made of the proportion of applicants who will have claims determined through the expedited claims process.
Answer: Clause 9 provides the Home Secretary with powers to set statutory timeframes for appeals and request expedition in certain cases, although the IIAA retains the final decision. The number and categories of cases subject to these statutory timeframes are ye...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals Authority: Immigration ControlsHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of establishing the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority on ministerial accountability for immigration decision-making.
Answer: As set out in the published Impact Assessment accompanying the Immigration and Asylum Bill, detailed plans including costs for the new authority are currently being developed. Further information will be shared in due course.
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Immigration Appeals Authority: Operating CostsHome OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of establishing and operating the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority.
Answer: As set out in the published Impact Assessment accompanying the Immigration and Asylum Bill, detailed plans including costs for the new authority are currently being developed. Further information will be shared in due course
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Data CentresMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of planning applications for large-scale data centres approved since 2020 have been located on greenfield land.
Answer: My Department does not hold the information requested. Although my Department collects and publishes quarterly planning application statistics here, it does not collect separate figures on data centre developments that have been granted planning permissio...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBrownfield Sites: Data CentresMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the availability of developed land suitable for data centre developments.
Answer: My Department has made no such assessment. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That proposed Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, makes clear that to support business investment and employment, development plan...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordLand: Data CentresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cumulative loss of agricultural land resulting from data centre developments.
Answer: The expansion of AI infrastructure is critical to the UK's long-term economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. Government is working with industry to improve understanding of the demand for agricultural land. National planning policy gives ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Job CreationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the number of permanent jobs created by large-scale data centre developments once operational.
Answer: Data centres can be significant sources of employment, both during construction and to operate and maintain the data centres once completed. These include highly specialised jobs across IT, engineering, cybersecurity, and support services. Data centres al...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Data CentresMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local planning authorities on assessing operational noise from data centres.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 70258 on 3 September 2025. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, inclu...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: Data CentresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed data centre developments on local water resources in areas experiencing water stress.
Answer: Water companies do not have to supply water to cool data centres. Data centres may be refused a supply connection if there are not sufficient water resources available. Government encourages developers to consider use of non-potable water, to embed water ...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: Data CentresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the volume of water expected to be required annually by AI-capable data centres.
Answer: Defra is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Environment Agency and water companies to improve understanding of data centre water demand. Defra is building the evidence base on water use, considering its implications th...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the competitiveness of the United Kingdom's AI research sector relative to that of the United States and China.
Answer: The UK has a thriving AI research ecosystem, with more than 5,800 AI companies, including global leaders like Isomorphic Labs, Arm and Wayve. These organisations are driving advances in scientific discovery and AI-enabled technologies. Reflecting this, th...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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