James McMurdock MP: written questions 2024
224 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Security Benefits: Bank ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that her proposed policy of accessing benefit claimants' bank accounts does not disproportionately impact (a) people with disabilities and (b) other vul
Answer: The Eligibility Verification measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and othe...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure students have access to a broad curriculum that supports diverse career pathways, especially in schools undergoing staffing reductions.
Answer: The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE.The review will seek to deliver an excellent foundation in core subjects of reading, writing and maths, alongside...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what early intervention measures are in place to identify (a) financial mismanagement and (b) declining performance in academy schools.
Answer: Ofsted routinely inspects academies and must notify my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education when an academy is causing concern. Where an academy is causing concern, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has powers t...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of exploring alternative funding models for academy schools.
Answer: The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. This treats academies and local authority-maintained schools equivalently.In 2025/26, as in previous years, loca...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues academy trusts on implementing uniform policies.
Answer: The department publishes non-statutory guidance for all publicly funded schools, including academies, to support them in developing and implementing their school uniform policy. It covers a range of issues relating to uniform including supporting schools ...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential long-term impact of (a) leadership changes and (b) staff reductions in academy schools on trends in the level of (i) academic performance and (ii) student well-be
Answer: The government has a central mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost life chances for every child. High-quality teaching is the factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s education. This is why the department will recruit 6,500 ...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StaffDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help academy schools under financial pressures handle the potential loss of experienced staff; and what support her Department offers staff facing possible redundancy.
Answer: The department supports academy trusts to have the capability to manage their resources effectively by providing high-quality advice, support and development to help schools protect against financial difficulty. Where academy trusts are experiencing signi...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: AccountabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has plans to review the adequacy of transparency requirements for academy trusts, including (a) financial reporting and (b) decision-making processes.
Answer: The government is clear that strong accountability is non-negotiable. That is why it has committed to bring multi-academy trusts into the inspection system, to ensure every part of our school system is driving forward the best outcomes for children. The p...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: South Basildon and East ThurrockDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure a smooth transition of schools from the Ortu Federation to the Mossbourne Federation in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.
Answer: Departmental officials have worked closely with the Ortu Federation and Mossbourne Federation since the decision was taken to transfer the schools. As well as supporting both trusts to complete the necessary legal and financial processes, the department h...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: Public ConsultationDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has plans to (a) introduce and (b) increase the requirements whereby academy trusts engage with local communities when implementing major changes.
Answer: The department’s ‘Making significant changes to an academy’ guidance, sets out the process academy trusts must follow when making changes to an academy, such as expansion or removal of capacity, by more than 30 places, or a change in age range. Academy tr...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: Curriculum and StaffDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that academy trusts consult with the wider school community in cases where significant (a) staffing and (b) curriculum changes are proposed.
Answer: The government has a central mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost life chances for every child. High-quality teaching is the factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s education. This is why the department will recruit 6,500 ...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure budget constraints in academy schools do not disproportionately affect provisions for students with special educational needs.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.All schools are re...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in levels of academy staffing on the range of subjects offered in those academies for students already enrolled in (a) GCSE and (b)
Answer: The government has a central mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost life chances for every child. High-quality teaching is the factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s education. This is why the department will recruit 6,500 ...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures are in place to support academy schools rated as (a) inadequate and (b) requires improvement by Ofsted in tackling problems related to (i) leadership, (ii) the curriculum and (iii) student outcome
Answer: The department is focused on driving high and rising standards across all our schools, with a particular focus on those judged to be in need of additional support and intervention.The School Improvement Offer provides ten days of support from a system lea...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to ensure adequate financial oversight of academy trusts; and how often financial audits are conducted of underperforming trusts.
Answer: The government is clear that strong accountability is non-negotiable. That is why it has committed to bring multi-academy trusts into the inspection system, to ensure every part of our school system is driving forward the best outcomes for children. The p...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: East of EnglandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with National Grid about the estimated cost of the Norwich-to-Tilbury pylon project.
Answer: Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisa...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPylons: Nature ConservationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of electricity pylons on wildlife.
Answer: Developers of electricity transmission projects and all nationally significant infrastructure projects in England and Wales must assess the impacts of their proposals. This includes conducting assessments of projects’ impacts on the environment and habita...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPylons: Countryside and ForestsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of large electricity pylons on (a) green spaces and (b) ancient woodlands.
Answer: Developers of electricity transmission projects and all nationally significant infrastructure projects in England and Wales must assess the impacts of their proposals. This includes conducting assessments of projects’ impacts on the environment and habita...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPylons: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of large electricity pylons on housing prices.
Answer: The Government does not assess the impact of new transmission network infrastructure on house prices. Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for th...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of integrating new automated external defibrillators into existing national databases to help increase (a) the accessibility and (b)
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of automated external defibrillators in (a) residential areas where cardiac arrests are most prevalent and (b) other residential are
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators and Public HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with housing developers to support (a) the installation of automated external defibrillators and (b) other public health initiatives.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) mandating and (b) incentivising the inclusion of defibrillators in (i) existing housing estates and (ii) urban developments.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the (a) long-term maintenance and (b) functionality of publicly accessible defibrillators.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to collaborate with (a) emergency services, (b) local councils and (c) charities to coordinate automated external defibrillator (i) installation and (ii) maintenance.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in September 2023, t...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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