John Cooper MP: written questions
71 published records · newest first.
Written questions
BBC: Royal ChartersDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of public accountability mechanisms for the BBC in the event of it being granted a permanent Charter.
Answer: The Culture Secretary has set out that while the structures and the funding for the BBC will continue to be negotiated every several years, she will seek to end the bizarre situation where if the Charter isn’t agreed in time, the BBC ceases to exist. More...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Small BusinessesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reducing complexity in export-control processes for defence SMEs.
Answer: Export control processes are designed carefully to facilitate responsible exports, balancing appropriate levels of control over defence-related exports with compliance requirements for business. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will work with the Department ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: InvestmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of a lack of long-term demand certainty on the ability of defence companies to raise external finance.
Answer: Delivering on the commitments made in the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy, we are developing a dedicated Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS). This is supported by a Defence Investors’ Advisory Group, bringing together s...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that compliance requirements relating to sanctions, export controls and anti-money-laundering rules do not have a disproportionate effect on defence S
Answer: DBT operates a clear, proportionate, and robust system of export controls and sanctions, promoting both UK prosperity and national and global security. DBT supports all exporters with their compliance obligations through a suite of regularly updated guida...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Small BusinessesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access of defence SMEs to basic banking services.
Answer: The government is committed to increasing direct spend with SMEs and are committed to ensuring they have a fair opportunity to win public contracts. As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, Ministry of Defence is backing British jobs, British indust...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: InvestmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent misconceptions about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainable finance rules from affecting access to finance for companies involved in lawful
Answer: As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS) is set to be published later in 2026. The DFIS will address barriers to financing and investment in the sector – including supporting businesses access finan...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: CropsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a carve-out for precision bred organisms from dynamic alignment under the proposed UK-EU SPS agreement has been agreed with the EU.
Answer: The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies. Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: CropsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to secure assurances from the European Union on a permanent carve-out for products authorised under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in any new Sa
Answer: The Government remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies. Under the UK‑EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that the UK's approach to crop protection authorisation is safeguarded under the proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
Answer: The UK-EU SPS agreement is under negotiation and pesticides regulations are in scope. The Common Understanding sets out that the United Kingdom, acting in respect of Great Britain, will dynamically align with all the relevant European Union rules. The Com...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordResearch: International CooperationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consideration he has given to the findings of the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report entitled Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact on th
Answer: The Department acknowledges the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report, which presents the globally competitive strength of Scotland’s higher education system and its importance in tackling shared global challenges. The Department suppo...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: International CooperationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the priorities set out in the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report entitled Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact have informed the Government’s approach to the
Answer: The UK Government recognises the important contribution that universities across the UK make to our economic growth, innovation and international standing. Our recently published International Education Strategy supports strong and sustainable long-term i...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: Economic Growth and InnovationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the findings of the British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland report, entitled Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact, on the contribution of univer
Answer: The UK Government recognises the important contribution that universities across the UK make to our economic growth, innovation and international standing. Our recently published International Education Strategy supports strong and sustainable long-term i...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Press: SubscriptionsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of upcoming changes to the subscription contracts regime on local and regional news publish
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business mod...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Press: SubscriptionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Policy paper entitled Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan of 17 March 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a 14-day cooling-off period on the
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business mod...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSubscriptions: ContractsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to engage with stakeholders on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
Answer: This government is committed to protecting consumers who enter subscription contracts. We have consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions regime (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK) which inc...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: ApprenticesMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many apprentices his Department recruited in each year since 2022.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice recruited the following number of new entrants directly into apprenticeship programmes in each year since 2022.Time period Number of new joiners through apprenticeship recruitment January 2022 – December 20222January 2023 – Decembe...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ApprenticesMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many apprentices his Department recruited in each year since 2022.
Answer: The table below includes both existing Ministry of Defence (MOD) Civil Servants who commenced an apprenticeship, and those Civil Servants recruited to the MOD as apprentices. It does not include Armed Forces apprenticeships. YearApprentices202270020238022...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOffice for Equality and Opportunity: ApprenticesWomen and EqualitiesTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122947More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many apprentices her Department recruited in 2025, compared to i) 2022 ii) 2023 and iii) 2024.
Answer: The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is part of the Cabinet Office. No external apprentices were recruited specifically into OEO in either 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.Although we did not recruit any apprentices, OEO remains committed to professiona...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: ApprenticesDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many apprentices her Department recruited in 2025, compared to i) 2022 ii) 2023 and iii) 2024.
Answer: The Department for Transport (central), excluding its executive agencies, recruited the following number of external apprentices:2025: 32024: 82023: Data cannot be provided. Our recruitment system (Oleeo VX) retains only two years of data in line with our...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordScotland Office: ApprenticesScotland OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many apprentices his Department recruited in 2025, compared to i) 2022 ii) 2023 and iii) 2024.
Answer: The Scotland Office has not recruited any apprentices in the requested timeframe.We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across the civil service to break down barriers to opportunity. The Scotland Office considers the use of apprenti...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: European Convention on Human RightsHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on levels of illegal immigration.
Answer: We are committed to the ECHR. But it must evolve to reflect modern challenges like mass migration and ability to protect the public. That is why we are working with international partners to modernise its application.We will also tighten how Article 8 is ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordScottish Government: Republic of IrelandScotland OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 908001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information his Department holds on whether the First Minister of Scotland discussed reserved matters with the Irish Leader of the Opposition on 27 November 2025.
Answer: International affairs are reserved under the Scotland Act, and it is essential that the UK speaks with one voice overseas. FCDO guidance on the overseas activity of devolved government ministers only covers ministerial-level engagement. Accordingly, UK Go...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Products: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with stakeholders in the agricultural sector on securing an SPS Agreement between the UK and the EU.
Answer: The Government is currently negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing trade barriers for British producers and retailers. Officials and ministers ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: CropsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the implementation of a common UK–EU SPS agreement is compatible with the operation of the Precision Breeding Act.
Answer: Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies. Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Scottish GovernmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in the context of his Department's responsibility for devolution oversight and national security, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Scottish Government’s Defence Se
Answer: This Government recognises the vital contribution that the Scottish defence industry has for the national security of the UK, while also being a key driver of economic growth. This is illustrated by the £2.5 million that this Government is providing to th...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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