Jim Shannon MP: written questions 2025
1100 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving Tests: Waiting ListsDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of waiting times for practical driving tests on the duration of the validity of driving theory tests.
Answer: It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Identity Services for Children and Young People Independent ReviewDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with the British Medical Association on its response to the Cass review.
Answer: My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, met with the Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), on 31 July 2024, where the BMA’s response to the Cass Review was raised.While we respect the BMA’s right to undertake an ev...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Northern IrelandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on funding to support small and medium-sized businesses starting up on high streets in Northern Ireland.
Answer: This government is committed to resetting relations with the Devolved Governments, to work collaboratively and deliver the best outcomes for people across the UK, including the people of Northern Ireland. To this end, the Deputy Prime Minister visited Nor...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: InfrastructureCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22606More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of an IT shutdown initiated by hostile foreign actors on (a) the NHS and (b) other critical digital infrastructure.
Answer: The Cabinet Office works with Departments across Government, and the National Cyber Security Centre, to assess and tackle cross-cutting risks to the UK’s critical infrastructure. The cyber threat is dynamic and grows more complex each year, with implicati...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 902102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure small businesses can post parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland without completing customs declarations.
Answer: The Windsor Framework removes the need for customs declarations for the overwhelming majority of parcels sent by businesses in Great Britain to consumers in Northern Ireland and instead, parcel carriers will continue to collect standard commercial data re...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordZoos: SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of zoos.
Answer: The Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (the Zoo Standards) set out, amongst other things, requirements which licensed zoos in England are expected to meet with regard to public and animal safety. Defra is currently working to update the...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of levels of energy prices in 2024.
Answer: The Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us harness clean energy and have less reliance on foreign volatile energy ma...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHarassment: WomenWomen and EqualitiesTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22266More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on protecting women from online harassment.
Answer: Equalities Ministers have regular discussions with their colleagues across Government about tackling online harassment as part of the Government's commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. These include the Safer Streets Mission Bo...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLighting: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to promote the use of energy saving lightbulbs in domestic properties.
Answer: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills. Consumers can use the Government advice site (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) to get tailored recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency. There is...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices and Further Education: Young PeopleDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage more young people into (a) further education and (b) apprenticeships.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The government is developing a comprehensive strategy for post‐16 education and skills, to break down barriers to opportunity, support the development of a skilled ...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase the availability of spirometry testing in primary care.
Answer: NHS England is continuing to support the restoration of local spirometry services and is enhancing capacity through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). These initiatives provide structured pathways for general practitioners (GPs) to refer patients for es...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the number of spirometry tests carried out in Community Diagnostic Centres.
Answer: NHS England continues to support the restoration of local spirometry services and is enhancing capacity through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Spirometry tests are a minimum core test required of all standard or large CDCs. The Department does not c...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: PupilsMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on support for victims of rape and sexual assault who are under 18 and in the education system.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring that all victims of crime, including child victims of rape and sexual assault, have the support that they need to cope with their experiences and move forward with their lives. My Department provides funding to ove...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChina: Falun GongForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of China's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.
Answer: The environment for freedom of religion or belief across China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.This Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of rel...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Syrian counterpart on the protection of Christians in that country.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of an inclusive political process with interim Foreign Minister Al Shaybani during a meeting in Riyadh on 12 January. In December, senior Foreign Office officials met with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholism: RehabilitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of people referred for alcohol addiction support.
Answer: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities publishes adult substance misuse treatment statistics annually which includes the numbers of adults aged 18 and over in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services in England. The latest publication i...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: IncomeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of income for farmers in 2024.
Answer: The Government has committed to support farmers through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26. We publish regular accredited official statistics on farm income in England and other data related to farm businesses...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVitiligoDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in the UK have been diagnosed with vitiligo.
Answer: The Department does not hold data on the number of people in England who have been diagnosed with vitiligo. Data relating to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved governments.
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPaternity LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on introducing more flexible paternity leave.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that employed parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and family responsibilities.The Employment Rights Bill will increase the flexibility of Paternity Leave. This Bill will make Paternity Le...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability: EmploymentWomen and EqualitiesTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21985More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help tackle disability discrimination in workplaces.
Answer: The Government is fully committed to the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), which protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace. The Act prohibits direct and indirect disability discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable adjustment...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHMP Hydebank Wood: Solar PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his Northern Irish counterpart on the new solar farm installed at Hydebank Prison.
Answer: DESNZ officials meet regularly with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss matters relating to renewables, including solar. Solar energy is at the heart of our Clean Energy mission and solar farms, alongside rooftop installations, will play an ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: EmploymentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of community energy projects on local employment.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role community energy projects play in many different areas, including tackling climate change and providing local employment opportunities. Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will provide funding and support t...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical Equipment: EnergyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of electricity on people with health conditions requiring medical devices which use electricity.
Answer: The Department began an assessment process on patient support for at home medical equipment energy costs in August 2024 with a review of existing policy provision. This work includes consideration of the impact of the cost of running electrical medical eq...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the most recent review of the frozen pensions policy was.
Answer: There has been no recent review of the policy. The policy on the uprating of UK State Pensions paid overseas is a longstanding one of successive Governments, which has been in place for over 70 years. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regar...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who emigrate to (a) Canada and (b) Australia are aware that their state pensions will be frozen.
Answer: For a number of years, advice has been provided to the public that the UK State Pension is not uprated overseas except where there is a legal requirement to do so - for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that allows for uprating. Information on...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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