Julian Smith MP: written questions 2025
111 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Veterinary Services: VacanciesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60013More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce veterinary workforce shortages.
Answer: Defra is exploring various avenues to improve the short- and long-term capacity issues. Defra has increased engagement across the veterinary profession and other stakeholders, to find a sustainable solution, ensuring the ongoing provision of high-quality ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing its Review of the Whistleblowing Framework.
Answer: The previous Government commissioned a review of the UK’s whistleblowing framework. This report, conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, is currently being reviewed by the Department of Business and Trade and will be published in due course.
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPeatlandsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the projected funding gap for peatland restoration in the Great North Bog region between 2025 and 2028 on (a) rural employment an
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands, and in our manifesto, we committed to expanding nature-rich habitats such as wetlands and peat bogs. This will contribute to ensuring nature’s recovery, one of Defra’s five priorities. Peatl...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPeatlands: Landscape Recovery SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure continuity of funding for peatland restoration between the closure of the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme and the full implementa
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands, and in our manifesto, we committed to expanding nature-rich habitats such as wetlands and peat bogs. This will contribute to ensuring nature’s recovery, one of Defra’s five priorities. We ha...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: MediationAttorney GeneralTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54258More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of using mediation in disputes in which the Government is a party in a (a) private and (b) public law capacity.
Answer: The Government conducts litigation in accordance with the relevant court rules and considers the individual circumstances of a dispute before deciding on an appropriate course of action, which may include mediation and other forms of alternative dispute r...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: MediationCabinet OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54257More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making a renewed Government commitment to resolving disputes across Departments through mediation.
Answer: It is a long-standing convention that we do not disclose publicly specific details on the processes of Cabinet collective decision-making, to protect the safe space for collective decisions. This Government is taking a missions-led approach to governing, ...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: MediationTreasuryTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54256More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with HMRC on the effectiveness of using mediation in tax disputes.
Answer: HMRC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service can help in cases where there is a dispute. An HMRC mediator will work with the customer, their agent and the HMRC caseworker to explore points that might have been misunderstood and try and reach agreem...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordClass Actions: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she had made an assessment of the potential merits of the use of mandatory mediation in (a) group actions and (b) class action claims.
Answer: The merits of mediation are considerable. It offers parties a swifter and less costly way to resolve legal disputes and can save parties the time and cost of going to court, thus saving sitting days and reducing the court backlog.The Government has no pla...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSick Leave: Mental HealthDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of using mediation to facilitate an (a) easier and (b) speedier return to the workplace for people off work for (i) stress and (ii) mental heal
Answer: Employment Advisors in the jointly owned DWP-DHSC ‘Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies programme’ provide advice and support to those suffering with stress and/ or mental health conditions to remain in or return to work. Though not formal mediati...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the grievance and complaints process in employment claims to mandate mediation.
Answer: The Government has not made a decision to introduce mandatory mediation in Employment Tribunal claims. We are continuing to explore and assess the potential merits of options to utilise more mediation and alternative dispute resolution in the context of t...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: MediationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of increasing the use of mediation in the planning process.
Answer: My Department has had no recent discussions with stakeholders about the increased use of mediation within the planning system.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCompetition Appeal Tribunal: MediationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the use of mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answer: The Government supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve regulatory disputes. However, the decision on whether to use mediation, and whether it is appropriate in a particular case, is primarily a matter for the parties in any...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the enforcement of third party litigation funding agreements following the PACCAR judgement.
Answer: The Government recognises the critical role litigation funding plays in ensuring access to justice.I have engaged with relevant stakeholders on the enforcement of third party litigation funding agreements and the wider market following the PACCAR judgment...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring an independent alternative dispute resolution process for the resolution of disputes in relation to online safety betwee
Answer: The Online Safety Act 2023 requires platforms to put in place reporting and complaints processes to resolve disputes. In the first instance, service providers are best placed to respond to individual complaints on online safety. However, the Act 2023 requ...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: ComplaintsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on reform of the parental complaints process to include mandatory mediation.
Answer: It is important that parents and carers have the right to raise complaints with schools and feel they are able to do this and have their concerns heard and addressed by schools. Schools are required to have a complaints policy in place and to act in compl...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the expansion of mandatory mediation to higher value claims.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice continues to engage with stakeholders to explore ways that Dispute Resolution can be used across various jurisdictions. No decision has been made to introduce mandatory mediation to higher value claims, and options to use different...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConstitutional and Administrative Law: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the use of mediation in administrative justice claims.
Answer: Administrative justice issues extend across a very broad range of diverse disputes and jurisdictions. The Government continues to engage with stakeholders on the use of Dispute Resolution across various jurisdictions.
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Claims: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to encourage higher attendance rates at the Small Claims Mediation Service.
Answer: Since the introduction of integrated mediation for small claims under £10,000 in the county courts in 2024, attendance at mediation appointments has been mandatory. As part of the litigation journey, parties are required to attend a free, one-hour mediati...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Claims: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Small Claims Mediation Service on the introduction of mandatory mediation for small claims.
Answer: The HMCTS Small Claims Mediation Service has been closely involved in the implementation of mandatory mediation for small claims in the county courts, working together with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the service and its staff are fully prepare...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDispute Resolution: Small BusinessesMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has had recent discussions with Lawtech UK on the feasibility study for an SME online dispute resolution platform.
Answer: In 2021, LawtechUK delivered a feasibility study for the development of an online platform that could assist smaller businesses in recovering unpaid debts. The study demonstrated how the platform could be established and become financially self-sustaining...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of mandatory self-regulation on third party litigation funders.
Answer: The Government recognises the critical role litigation funding plays in ensuring access to justice.Following the PACCAR judgment, concerns have been raised about the need for greater regulation of the litigation funding market, which currently operates a ...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: NegligenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the use of the current mediation scheme for medical negligence disputes.
Answer: NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHS Resolution is committed to the use of dispute resolution, including the use of mediation and is working with claimant lawyers and its own lawye...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Dispute ResolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of increasing the use of mediation to resolve building disputes.
Answer: My Department has had no recent discussions with stakeholders about the increased use of mediation within the planning system.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) the Competition and Market Authority and (b) other sectoral regulators on the use of mediation to resolve regulatory disputes.
Answer: The Government supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve regulatory disputes without the expense of litigation.However, the decision on whether to use mediation, and whether it is appropriate in a particular case, is primaril...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness and Consumers: Class ActionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of class actions on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.
Answer: Supporting consumers (including businesses) in accessing redress is of the utmost importance to this Government, and how consumer protection could be improved is kept under regular review.So-called ‘class actions’ are just one avenue for consumers to seek...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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