John Cooper MP: written questions 2025
77 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 907120More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations she has received on the potential impact of the planned rise in fuel duty on motorists.
Answer: At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflati...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: Arts and MediaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken for the AI and Copyright consultation on the media and creative industries.
Answer: The government consulted on several topics relating to the interaction between copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). We have carefully analysed the responses and continue to engage extensively on this issue, including through technical working group...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Dumfries and GallowayDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average wait time is for a driving test at the a) Stranraer, b) Newton Stewart and c) Castle Douglas driving test centres.
Answer: The average waiting time for a practical driving test at Stranraer, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas is 24 weeks. These test centres are all remote outstations served by driving examiners from the main test centres of Stranraer and Newton Stewart one day...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolutionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish Government prior to the meeting between the First Minister of Scotland and the Leader of Sinn Fein on 26 November 2025 in Dublin
Answer: Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Governments are entitled to have discussions with Ireland on matters within devolved competence. These meetings are not routinely attended by UK Government officials but the Foreign, Commonwe...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolutionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95182More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she had with the Scottish Government prior to the meeting between the First Minister of Scotland and the President of Ireland on 26 November 2025 in Dublin;
Answer: Under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Governments are entitled to have discussions with Ireland on matters within devolved competence. These meetings are not routinely attended by UK Government officials but the Foreign, Commonwe...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Border Force: Port of CairnryanHome OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of Border Officers employed at the Port of Cairnryan a) during the day and b) in the evening.
Answer: In the interests of maintaining border security, Border Force does not routinely disclose information of a port-specific nature.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: FerriesHome OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants were apprehended between Stranraer and Belfast in each of the last three years; and how many of those were apprehended during a) daytime and b) evening sailings.
Answer: To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.Information about illegal migrants encounter...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: FerriesHome OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants have been apprehended onboard ferry sailings between Stranraer and Belfast in each of the last three years.
Answer: To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.Information about illegal migrants encounter...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: Port of CairnryanHome OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants have been apprehended at the Port of Cairnryan in each of the last three years.
Answer: To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.Information about illegal migrants encounter...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Dumfries and GallowayDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who are currently trying to book a driving theory test in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a key performance indicator (KPI) to provide theory test candidates with a test appointment within 28 days of their preferred date which is measured as a regional average. Despite unprecedented levels of ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Dumfries and GallowayDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average wait time is for 1) a driving theory test and 2) a driving test in Dumfries and Galloway constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a key performance indicator (KPI) to provide theory test candidates with a test appointment within 28 days of their preferred date which is measured as a regional average. Despite unprecedented levels of ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Dumfries and GallowayDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of (a) driving theory tests and (b) driving tests in Dumfries and Galloway constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a key performance indicator (KPI) to provide theory test candidates with a test appointment within 28 days of their preferred date which is measured as a regional average. Despite unprecedented levels of ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 906385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answer: I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act. The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: SubscriptionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87203More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on platform fees for digital subscriptions.
Answer: The Government has consulted on how refunds should work when consumers exercise their statutory cooling-off rights (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime). We are analysing all the responses, including in relation to ...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNewspaper PressDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cooling-off period proposals in section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on printed news products.
Answer: The Government has consulted on how refunds should work when consumers exercise their statutory cooling-off rights (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime). We are analysing all the responses, including in relation to ...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade AgreementsScotland OfficeTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 905883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of visits abroad by Scottish Government Ministers on UK trade policy.
Answer: The Hon Gentleman, not the Scottish Government, can be assured that it is the UK Government that has delivered trade deals with India, the United States, the European Union. As the former trade policy Minister, I have some experience in these matters. In ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUnited KingdomWales OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 905161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on strengthening the Union.
Answer: The Spending Review demonstrated how our two Labour Governments are investing in Wales’ future and strengthening our Union for generations to come.With a record settlement for the Welsh Government, an historic investment of at least £445m into Welsh rail,...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: ConvictionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to review the convictions of postmasters affected by Capture errors in instances where those convictions have not already been quashed.
Answer: There is no definitive number or record of the number of convictions related to Capture. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has received 31 pre-Horizon applications to date. Incomplete due to the passage of time complicates confirming they are Ca...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon It System: CompensationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on providing (a) redress and (b) justice for people affected by Capture software.
Answer: There is no definitive number or record of the number of convictions related to Capture. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has received 31 pre-Horizon applications to date. Incomplete due to the passage of time complicates confirming they are Ca...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: ConvictionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of postmasters convicted as a result of failures in the Capture software; and how many of those convictions have been quashed.
Answer: There is no definitive number or record of the number of convictions related to Capture. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has received 31 pre-Horizon applications to date. Incomplete due to the passage of time complicates confirming they are Ca...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: JapanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department had with the Scottish Government on the planned visits of the Scottish Government's (a) Minister for Business and Employment to China and Japa
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and our Embassies in Beijing and Tokyo engaged with Scottish Government officials in support of the visit of the Scottish Government's Minister for Business and Employment to China and the visits of Ministe...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordScottish Government: China and JapanScotland OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department had with the Scottish Government on the planned visits of the Scottish Government's (a) Minister for Business and Employment to China and Japan in April 2025 and (b) Cabinet Secre
Answer: The Scotland Office, in coordination with the FCDO, regularly engages with the Scottish Government to discuss and coordinate overseas ministerial visits. This ongoing engagement ensures alignment with UK foreign policy objectives. Discussions of this natu...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWales Office: Civil ServantsWales OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many permanent civil servants in her Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent
Answer: There are no permanent Civil Servants in my Department without assigned posts and no permanent Civil Servants are placed in a people action team, priority movers list, redeployment register, talent pool, or skills match hub in the most recent period for w...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordScotland Office: Civil ServantsScotland OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many permanent civil servants in his Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) tal
Answer: The Scotland Office has no permanent civil servants without assigned posts and no staff are placed in the referenced categories.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Office: Civil ServantsNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many permanent civil servants in his Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register,
Answer: At any point in time, there is likely to be a small number of individuals who have been displaced due to restructures within their cost centres or, for example, have returned from a loan from another department and their role no longer exists. The exact n...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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