James McMurdock MP: written questions
830 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Secondary Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to reduce the number of local authority maintained secondary schools which are operating a deficit.
Answer: School funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in 2025/26, compared to 2024/25, taking total core school budgets to over £64.8 billion this year.The department offers various resources and guidance to help both maintained schools and academies to manage the...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability: South Basildon and East ThurrockDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to (a) primary and (b) specialist healthcare services for disabled people whose activity is significantly limited in South Basildon and East Thurrock const
Answer: Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local population, including disabled people.Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disa...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability: South Basildon and East ThurrockDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all households with at least one disabled resident have adequate access to (a) adapted housing, (b) support services and (c) local authority assistance in Sou
Answer: We recognise how important the right housing arrangements are in supporting people to live independently, and the need to support people to live behind their own front door wherever possible.In England, we fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of anaesthetic training places.
Answer: NHS England has funded 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. W...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: VacanciesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of how many (a) operations and (b) procedures are being prevented from happening due to a shortage of anaesthetists.
Answer: The Government recognises too many people have been waiting for National Health Service treatment, including for operations. The Government pledged to deliver an additional two million operations, scans and appointments, as a First Step to delivering on t...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of funded training places for doctors to specialise in anaesthesia.
Answer: NHS England has funded 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. W...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of anaesthetists in the NHS.
Answer: NHS England has funded 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. W...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaestheticsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the number of anaesthetists in the NHS.
Answer: NHS England has funded 70 additional training posts in anaesthesia in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. W...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFood BanksDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people accessing foodbanks who work (a) full time and (b) part time.
Answer: Statistics on the number of individuals living in families that have used foodbanks in the past 30 days and 12 months are published on Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/), including breakdowns by Economic Status of the Adult, in the Households B...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: BoysDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the education system for supporting the academic attainment of boys.
Answer: All young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from. That is why, through our work to deliver the Opportunity Mission, the department will improve opportunities and life chances across the country for a...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: BoysDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with secondary school teachers on the (a) attainment, (b) behaviour and (c) attendance of boys in schools in (i) England and (ii) Essex.
Answer: All young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from. That is why, through our work to deliver the Opportunity Mission, the department will improve opportunities and life chances across the country for a...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for secondary schools facing financial pressures that require (a) new facilities and (b) building repairs.
Answer: This government is committed to ensuring that secondary and other schools have the resources and buildings that they need to help every child achieve and thrive.The department supports academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies, w...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the quality of (a) buildings and (b) facilities in state secondary schools in England.
Answer: Ensuring schools and colleges have the facilities and buildings they need is a key part of the department’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life. The department supports local authorities, academ...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordClass SizesDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of growing class sizes on (a) the academic attainment of students and (b) the quality of lessons.
Answer: Our school system will drive high and rising standards, across every school and for every child. We aim to deliver these improvements through excellent teaching and leadership, a high-quality curriculum, robust accountability and faster school improvement...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSecondary Education: Class SizesDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of (a) the average class size in secondary schools and (b) the number of secondary school places available to young people in (i) England and (ii) Essex.
Answer: The department publishes information on class sizes in England in the annual accredited official statistics, ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’. The most recent data can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-sta...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: DebtsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of secondary schools in debt.
Answer: 83 local authority maintained secondary schools were operating a deficit at the end of the 2023/24 financial year, according to their financial reporting returns. Academy trusts are responsible for the combined accounts of all the academies within their t...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Political ImpartialityDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to promote transparency between teachers and parents on politically sensitive topics in schools.
Answer: In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-i...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Political ImpartialityDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department monitors political impartiality in schools.
Answer: In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-i...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Political ImpartialityDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure teaching materials used in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools are (i) politically impartial and (ii) present a balanced view of (A) political and (B) historical events.
Answer: In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-i...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Political ImpartialityDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with teachers on political impartiality in schools.
Answer: In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-i...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Political ImpartialityDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers remain (a) politically impartial and (b) balanced, in line with Section 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996.
Answer: In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-i...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with head teachers on (a) energy bills and (b) other costs for schools.
Answer: Overall core revenue funding for schools totals almost £61.6 billion this 2024/25 financial year. The overall core schools budget is increasing by over £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the core schools budget will total over £64.8 billi...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: DebtsDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in debt in (i) England and (ii) Essex.
Answer: The department trusts schools to manage their own budgets, and the vast majority are operating with a cumulative surplus, with only a small percentage having a deficit.The latest published figures for academies show that at a national level, 98% of academ...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of the solar projects under the Great British Energy scheme will include battery storage solutions.
Answer: Complementary technologies including battery power are in scope for use in the scheme where they would be beneficial. Whilst parts of the programme are still in development, 16 out of the initial list of 132 NHS projects published last week currently inte...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: SchoolsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has had recent discussions with head teachers on the rising cost of energy for schools.
Answer: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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