James McMurdock MP: written questions 2026
3310 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sudan: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-se...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnglish Language and Mathematics: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is being provided to schools and colleges in areas with higher than average rates of students not achieving a grade 4 in GCSE a) English and b) Maths.
Answer: The department has committed £27.7 million this financial year to raise reading standards. We are introducing a statutory reading check for pupils in year 8 to help ensure schools are identifying and providing targeted support to pupils.In the 2025/26 aca...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnglish Language and Mathematics: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce the proportion of young people who do not achieve a grade 4 in GCSE a) Maths and b) English by age 19.
Answer: The latest available data for the 2023/24 academic year shows that by age 19, 76.3% of young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock had achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and 69.8% in GCSE maths, compared with national averages of 82.9% and 7...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEnglish Language and Mathematics: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the difference in attainment rates in GCSE a) English and b) Maths by age 19 between South Basildon and East Thurrock and the national average.
Answer: The latest available data for the 2023/24 academic year shows that by age 19, 76.3% of young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock had achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and 69.8% in GCSE maths, compared with national averages of 82.9% and 7...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of staff perceptions of staffing levels and their ability to deliver safe patient care in the NHS.
Answer: The Department assesses the state and sentiment of the National Health Service workforce through the annual NHS Staff Survey.The full findings of the NHS Staff Survey is available at the following link:https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/results/national-resu...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce national minimum staffing level guidance for NHS services.
Answer: There are no plans to introduce national minimum staffing level guidance. Staffing levels are determined locally, supported by national guidance and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.Guidance from the National Quality Board entitled Safe, sustainab...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: Agency WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust spent on agency staff in each of the last three financial years.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Agency WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost difference between NHS bank staff and agency staff.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Agency WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce NHS spending on agency staff.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSafety: Public OpinionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to address factors linked to public perception of safety such as a) litter and b) graffiti.
Answer: To improve public perception of safety with regard to litter and graffiti, the Government has enabled and supported local action by providing a clear legal framework of statutory powers and responsibilities of local councils and setting national standards...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of public satisfaction levels following reports of anti-social behaviour to a) the police and b) local authorities.
Answer: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSE...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help increase public confidence in reporting anti-social behaviour to the police.
Answer: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSE...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social Behaviour: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of anti-social behaviour on people’s decision to move home.
Answer: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSE...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help improve reporting rates for anti-social behaviour.
Answer: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSE...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the level of underreporting of anti-social behaviour incidents.
Answer: Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSE...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFossil Fuels: ProductionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of domestic oil and gas production policy on the UK fertiliser manufacturing sector.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of oil and gas for a wide range of industrial and manufacturing purposes, including in the production of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers. Oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s ener...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFossil FuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the a) pharmaceutical, b) chemical and b) agricultural sectors on future availability of oil and gas derived feedstocks.
Answer: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. The Govern...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFossil Fuels: ProductionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of declining domestic oil and gas production on UK manufacturing sectors.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of oil and gas for a wide range of industrial and manufacturing purposes, including in the production of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers. Oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s ener...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power and Wind PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the amount of backup generation capacity required to support a) wind and b) solar electricity generation.
Answer: The Capacity Market is government’s main tool for ensuring continued security of electricity supply in Great Britain. It is technology neutral and provides incentives for all forms of capacity, including generation, storage, consumer-led flexibility and i...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power and Wind PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of UK electricity demand was met by a) wind and b) solar generation during periods of low wind and low sunlight in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Department does not hold this data. Half-hourly demand figures and estimated wind and solar generation for Great Britain, are published by NESO. Weather data is available from the Met Office.
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power and Wind PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the capacity factors of a) wind and b) solar electricity generation in the UK.
Answer: The capacity or load factors of wind and solar electricity generation in the UK depend on several factors, including site location and technology choices. The department publishes estimates of capacity factors for generic installations of solar PV, onshor...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Innovation and TechnologyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Powering the farms of the future with £50 million tech investment, published on 14 April 2026, what plans she has to continue
Answer: The Investor Partnerships initiative is part of the Farming Innovation Programme. An interim evaluation, published in 2025, shows that the programme is on the right track to deliver long term improvements to productivity and the environment, and Defra con...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Innovation and TechnologyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Powering the farms of the future with £50 million tech investment, published on 14 April 2026, what steps her Department is ta
Answer: The Investor Partnerships initiative is part of the Farming Innovation Programme. An interim evaluation, published in 2025, shows that the programme is on the right track to deliver long term improvements to productivity and the environment, and Defra con...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Innovation and TechnologyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Powering the farms of the future with £50 million tech investment, published on 14 April 2026, what metrics her Department wil
Answer: The Investor Partnerships initiative is part of the Farming Innovation Programme. An interim evaluation, published in 2025, shows that the programme is on the right track to deliver long term improvements to productivity and the environment, and Defra con...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Innovation and TechnologyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Powering the farms of the future with £50 million tech investment, published on 14 April 2026, what her planned timeline is fo
Answer: Defra is derisking decisions on new technologies through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which can aid the affordability of agri-tech tools. Grants are available to a range of farms, including small and medium farms. The final round opened on 1...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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