James McMurdock MP: written questions 2026
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Written questions
Iron and Steel: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 109496 on Iron and Steel: Imports, what recent steps he has taken to help increase the availability of UK-produced (a) crude, (b) semi-finished and (c)
Answer: This government has committed up to £2.5 billion to the sector, in addition to the £500m for Port Talbot and a £400 million increase to the investment at Sheffield Forgemasters, as well as cutting electricity costs, changing procurement rules and working ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether the additional capacity funding will be provided (a) to all local authorities and (b) only to local a
Answer: Up to £63 million new funding will be made available to help all local councils across the 21 reorganisation areas best deliver local government re-organisation and builds on the £7.6 million provided last year.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on whether the 2027 local elections will procee
Answer: The government remains committed to the indicative timetable set out in July, with elections to the new councils scheduled for May 2027.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether he has also received legal advice on proceeding with the local elections in Basildon in 2027.
Answer: I refer hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement made on 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115143More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether legal advice was considered when the 2025 local elections were postponed.
Answer: I refer hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement made on 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether he plans to publish the legal advice cited in that letter.
Answer: I refer hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement made on 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: CrewHome OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle (a) human trafficking and (b) employer abuse affecting seafarers.
Answer: The Government takes reports of labour exploitation and human trafficking very seriously, including employer abuse against seafarers, and we remain committed to tackling the crime of modern slavery – wherever it occurs.The Home Office funds the Gangmaster...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115140More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to support the wellbeing of seafarers.
Answer: My Department works domestically and internationally to improve seafarer welfare. The UK takes a leading role at the IMO to secure greater protections for seafarers, including at recent meetings on seafarer fatigue and working hours. The Maritime and Coas...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity Generation: StandardsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115139More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help improve the (a) resilience and (b) reliability of the electricity distribution network.
Answer: Government works closely with industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and reliability of electricity infrastructure, networks and assets. This is to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure an effective resp...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: FacilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that HGV drivers can take rest breaks with appropriate facilities.
Answer: Through the HGV parking and driver welfare match funding grant scheme the Department for Transport and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance truck stops across England. This significant investment is in add...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: ParkingDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of secure parking spaces for HGV drivers.
Answer: The Department for Transport published the National Survey of Lorry Parking on 29th September 2022 which highlighted what improvements to lorry parking facilities were most needed. The survey showed an average shortage of around 4,500 HGV parking spaces f...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of participation in Level 7 apprenticeships on skills shortages in regulated professions.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of age-based funding changes for Level 7 apprenticeships on uptake of those apprenticeships.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to introduce transitional arrangements for apprentices currently undertaking Level 6 programmes who had planned to progress to Level 7 under the previous funding framework.
Answer: This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade. Since January 2026, the government no longer ...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of Level 6 apprentices who were intending to progress to Level 7 apprenticeships who will no longer be eligible.
Answer: This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade. Since January 2026, the government no longer ...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the viability of expanding the utilisation of compressed air energy storage in the energy grid.
Answer: There is already 2.8GW of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) on the GB electricity system, which is a form of Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES). The government agrees that GB needs more LDES, which is why the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan envisages an ...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHydroelectric Power: StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the viability of expanding the utilisation of pumped hydroelectric storage in the energy grid.
Answer: There is already 2.8GW of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) on the GB electricity system, which is a form of Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES). The government agrees that GB needs more LDES, which is why the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan envisages an ...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: Due to the operational nature of the department, a significant proportion of DWP roles — particularly customer-facing and telephony positions—are required to be carried out from the office to ensure customers receive consistent and timely support. Hybrid ...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOffice for Equality and Opportunity: Conditions of EmploymentWomen and EqualitiesTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114479More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: The Office for Equality and Opportunity have 99% of their staff with office based contracts, with the remaining 1% with remote-working contracts (home-workers). We operate a ‘hybrid’ approach, led by business needs, and as a result many employees will wor...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTreasury: Conditions of EmploymentTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114478More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: HM Treasury is an office‑based organisation. Staff are employed on office‑based contracts and may work remotely under the Department’s hybrid working policy, which expects at least 60% office attendance. Hybrid working is an informal arrangement and not c...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: In the Department for Transport the majority of employees are assigned to an office or a specific workplace location within their contract. Hybrid working is not a contractual form of working and as it is agreed within individual teams based on business n...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: 99.86% of the workforce has an office-based contract.0% of the workforce has a hybrid working contract. Hybrid working is a non-contractual arrangement under which employees are expected to spend 40-60% of their working hours in the office as the norm (wi...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: Conditions of EmploymentMinistry of JusticeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not offer remote or hybrid working contracts at the point of recruitment, with all employees having one of the Department’s offices or properties as a contractual base location.Hybrid working is an informal, non-contractual ar...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Conditions of EmploymentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: The department had 3925 payroll active staff on 31st January 26, of these 145 had home working contracts, the remaining 3780 will have office-based contracts. Staff with office-based contracts can work some of the time from home, consistent with the Depar...
Answered 6 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHome Office: Conditions of EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answer: The Home Office offers only office‑based and home‑working contracts.Contract TypeProportionOffice-based workers96.57%Contractual Home Workers3.43%
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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