Josh MacAlister MP: written questions
40 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bluetongue Disease: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers in the north of England reliant on cross-border stock movements following the extension of the bluetongue virus restricted zone.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 4 June 2025 to question UIN 57569. We continue to work closely with industry representatives to ensure that keepers are kept up to date with developments and that issues and concerns are addressed promp...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: WalesWales OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the steel industry in Wales.
Answer: Welsh steel has a bright future under this government. Our improved deal with Tata Steel UK has delivered £1.3 billion investment and protected over 5,000 jobs.We have committed a further £2.5 billion for steel over the course of this Parliament with our ...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTennis: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to invest in tennis facilities following the end of the Park Tennis Project.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the Natio...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the provision of mental health services in rural areas.
Answer: Integrated care boards are responsible for providing mental health services to meet the needs of their local populations.As part of our plan for change, we will reduce delays and provide faster treatment.We are working with NHS England to transform mental...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: Foster CareCabinet OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24291More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister's Office offers employees who are foster carers (a) flexible working, (b) paid time off for (i) training and (ii) settling a new child into their home and (c) other support.
Answer: Foster carers provide an incredibly important role and the Government is keen to support any employees providing foster care. Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make t...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: Foster CareMinistry of JusticeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home and
Answer: Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make two statutory requests for flexible working in any 12-month period. This will include requests to support employees who undert...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Foster CareMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settlin
Answer: At MHCLG:(i) Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make two statutory requests for flexible working in any 12-month period. This will include requests to support employee...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Foster CareMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home and
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Main Top Level Budget areas offer flexible working to all employees (role permitting), and legislation provides a day-one right to submit a request for flexible working. Foster Carer’s Leave is available, including up to five...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Foster CareForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) set
Answer: Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make two statutory requests for flexible working in any 12-month period. This will include requests to support employees who underta...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: Foster CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into
Answer: The Department is keen to encourage employees to become foster carers, and to support those already providing foster care or care for their family and friends by providing time off where necessary. Fostering related leave, which forms part of our special ...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Foster CareDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their
Answer: All employees of DWP, including foster carers, have access to flexi time and can exercise their legal right to request other kinds of flexible working. Specific provision exists for foster carers to have paid time off for their initial assessment, trainin...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Foster CareDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home an
Answer: The Department for Transport does not have a specific policy to support foster carers (except where staff are fostering to adopt and may be eligible for adoption leave). It has policies to support carers, including parental leave, paid and unpaid special ...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Foster CareDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new
Answer: There is no central cross-government wide policy for foster care leave. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does offer employees who are foster carers flexible working, but not paid time off for training or settling a new child in...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Foster CareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a ne
Answer: Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make two statutory requests for flexible working in any 12-month period. This will include requests to support employees who underta...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero: Foster CareDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child
Answer: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does offer our employees who are foster carers flexible working but not paid time off for training or settling a new child into their home. The Department provides a strong offer to all staff with re...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Foster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24280More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home an
Answer: Employees at the department have a statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day of employment. Employees can make two statutory requests for flexible working in any 12-month period and this will include requests to support ...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Foster CareDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child int
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a number of policies which support employees who are foster carers and, subject to line manager approval, include:A dedicated fostering employee policy where employees may be granted 5 days paid leave and up...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: Foster CareDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into thei
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade allows foster carers to take paid special leave for both training and to settle a new foster child into their home. Employees also have the statutory right to request flexible working which applies from the first day ...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAmericium: Space TechnologyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory in expanding the development of americium so it could be used by the space industry.
Answer: The Department is supporting the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL)’s work to extract americium from the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory at Sellafield for the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) ENDURE Programme. This includes supporting UKNNL ...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Nuclear LaboratoryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory is able to conduct commercially beneficial research.
Answer: The Government published its Strategic Review of the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) establishing a bold vision for its future (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762a4b1ff2c870561bde75b/strategic-review-of-the-national-nuclear-labor...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of issuing a Regulation 12 determination under the Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004 co
Answer: In his role as Justifying Authority for nuclear energy, the Secretary of State can consider a broad class or type of practice under Regulation 12 of the Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004. A determination to justify a...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular ReactorsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the small modular reactor competition run by Great British Nuclear, whether his Department is taking other steps to support the development of privately (a) funded and (b) o
Answer: Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Government’s nuclear delivery body, is pushing forward with the small modular reactor competition – at the Autumn Budget it was confirmed GBN had entered negotiations with the four remaining bidders, with final decisions e...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the total costs awarded by the Planning Inspector to the appellant due to unreasonable behaviour of the planning authority in the d
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on whether a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning application for a clean energy project without justification. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate on the numb...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of in how many cases the Planning Inspectorate has found that a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning appli
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on whether a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning application for a clean energy project without justification. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate on the numb...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrescriptionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the NHS England and College of Operating Department Practitioners working group has made on prescribing rights.
Answer: In late 2020, NHS England launched a series of public consultations seeking views on proposals to amend the responsibilities for the prescribing, supply, and administration of medicines for the following professionals:dental hygienists and dental therapis...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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