James McMurdock MP: written questions
3238 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Probate: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of probate cases.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, alongs...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordProbate: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the current average processing time is for probate applications; and how that compares to each of the last five years.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, alongs...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: NutritionDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current school food standards in improving children’s nutritional outcomes.
Answer: The School Food Standards set the mandatory nutritional framework for food and drink provided in state‑funded schools in England. They are designed to ensure children receive the energy and nutrients they need during the school day, while giving schools f...
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126974More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with road haulage providers on the potential impact of fuel duty on their sector.
Answer: The Government is taking action to ensure that fuel at the pump remains affordable. At Budget 2025, the Government extended the 5p-per-litre cut for a further five months, until the end of August this year. The Government has also cancelled the increase i...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to introduce transitional protections for students already enrolled on courses affected by changes to funding eligibility.
Answer: As part of the department’s wider work to protect public money in higher education, we take swift and proportionate action to identify fraud and error in the student finance system.We work closely with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to ensure student fin...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Student Loans Company on its approval of funding for courses later deemed ineligible.
Answer: As part of the department’s wider work to protect public money in higher education, we take swift and proportionate action to identify fraud and error in the student finance system.We work closely with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to ensure student fin...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFeed-in TariffsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the feed-in-tariff export payments in the context of the contribution of small-scale renewable generators to demand on the national grid.
Answer: The Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme closed to new applicants in 2019, with existing tariffs maintained and only adjusted for inflation annually. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), introduced in January 2020, replaced the FIT export payment with a market-led m...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: Small BusinessesHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether recourse is available to businesses where delays in inspection result in significant financial loss.
Answer: HMG takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to customs enforcement. HMRC understands the importance of consumers receiving their consignments on time and has robust procedures to help maintain the flow, whilst ensuring risks are managed. Document...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contingency plans are in place to help tackle surges in inspection demand at ports.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information is provided to importers on the expected timeframe for inspection of their containers.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: Small BusinessesHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place for importers to escalate cases where delays risk significant commercial loss.
Answer: HMG takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to customs enforcement. HMRC understands the importance of consumers receiving their consignments on time and has robust procedures to help maintain the flow, whilst ensuring risks are managed. Document...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how containers awaiting inspection are prioritised, including whether perishable or time-sensitive goods are given priority.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: Small BusinessesHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises affected by delays in the release of legally imported goods.
Answer: HMG takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to customs enforcement. HMRC understands the importance of consumers receiving their consignments on time and has robust procedures to help maintain the flow, whilst ensuring risks are managed. Document...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border Force: StandardsHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department collects data on storage costs incurred by businesses as a result of delays in Border Force inspections.
Answer: HMG takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to customs enforcement. HMRC understands the importance of consumers receiving their consignments on time and has robust procedures to help maintain the flow, whilst ensuring risks are managed. Document...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in container inspections on importers, including (a) storage charges and (b) sales.
Answer: HMG takes a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to customs enforcement. HMRC understands the importance of consumers receiving their consignments on time and has robust procedures to help maintain the flow, whilst ensuring risks are managed. Document...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: London Gateway PortHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many containers are awaiting inspection at London Gateway Port.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: London Gateway PortHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time is for a container inspection at London Gateway Port.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many containers have been held for more than (a) 7 days, (b) 14 days and (c) 21 days awaiting inspection in the last year.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the longest recorded waiting time for a container awaiting inspection was at UK ports in the last 12 months.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets have been set for improving the speed and accuracy of container inspections over the next three years.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to increase the proportion of containers inspected.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of risk-based targeting in identifying non-compliant or high-risk shipments.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used to determine which containers are selected for inspection.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border Force: VettingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average length of time taken to complete security and background checks on border force applicants.
Answer: BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) checks are required for Home Office roles. Checks for external applicants include the following:Civil Service eligibility;right to work / ID / address checks;employment history verification;health checks (where ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: ShippingHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the most common categories of non-compliance identified during container inspections are.
Answer: Border Force operates a risk‑based approach to container security, focusing resources on identifying and intervening against higher‑risk movements of goods rather than physically inspecting all shipping containers entering the UK.The Home Office does not ...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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