Kerry McCarthy MP: written questions
99 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Horticulture: PeatDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the commitment to phase out the use of peat in horticulture is included in the sector growth plans for horticulture.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan integrates expertise in sustainability, agroecology and nature friendly farming. This expertise will shape the plan’s approach to productivity, innovation and nature friendly...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSquid: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk that jumbo flying squid imported from fisheries in the South Pacific and Argentine shortfin squid imported from the South West Atlantic may be
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSquid: ChinaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to increase scrutiny of squid imports from China.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHM Courts and Tribunals Service: Fees and ChargesMinistry of JusticeTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on extending court and tribunal fees to challenging Section 13 rent increases through the First-Tier Tribunal.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice keeps all fees under continuous review to ensure that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has the resources necessary to operate fairly and efficiently, while ensuring access to justice is protected for all.The Gover...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: RentsMinistry of JusticeTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending courts and tribunal fees to challenging Section 13 rent increases through the First-Tier Tribunal on the number of rent increase challe
Answer: The Ministry of Justice keeps all fees under continuous review to ensure that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has the resources necessary to operate fairly and efficiently, while ensuring access to justice is protected for all.The Gover...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool MilkDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 108602 on School Milk, what steps her Department is taking to ensure schools and Local Authorities are aware of the expectation that they make reasonable ad
Answer: The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at both lunchtime and at other times of the school day. They allow schools the freedom to provide plant-based drinks as needed, including plain soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium, ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFood SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what cross-government work her Department is undertaking to mitigate the risk of food shortages, supply chain disruption and food price inflation arising from global ecosystem collapse
Answer: The UK has a resilient food supply chain and is equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. Food security is built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. Whil...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Information Centre on Children of Offenders: DatabasesMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress has been made to update the National Information Centre on Children of Offenders online information resource.
Answer: The National Information Centre on Children of Offenders (NICCO) website was created in 2016 as a partnership between Barnardo’s and HMPPS. It was constructed to replace an earlier site called iHOP which Barnardo’s had developed jointly with the Departmen...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurniture and Waste Management: Health HazardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the exposure to chemical flame retardants on workers in (a) the upholstery industry and (b) the waste
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recognised the risks to textile workers who routinely handle finished fabrics, including those treated with fire-resistant finishes. HSE has produced a specific guidance page on its website which covers both the i...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChemicals: EU LawDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to align with EU REACH regulatory protections from chemical flame retardants.
Answer: The revised Environmental Improvement Plan, published 1 December 2025, includes a commitment to reform UK REACH, to enable protections that address chemical pollution to be applied more quickly, efficiently and in a way that is more aligned with our close...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: FurnitureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her department has made of the cost to local authorities of separating and incinerating waste upholstered domestic seating due to the presence of chemical flame retardant
Answer: The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), to which the UK is party, requires that waste containing POPs above certain thresholds be destroyed, rather than landfilled. Research by the Environment Agency (EA) in 2021 revealed that wa...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurniture: Fire PreventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, what steps his Department plans to take to improve labelling on chemical flame retardants in upholstered fu
Answer: The policy paper 'The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture', published on 22 January 2025, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurniture: Fire PreventionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will provide an update on the next steps he will take to reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to reduce the use of chemical flame retardants.
Answer: The policy paper 'The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture', published on 22 January 2025, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordForests: CommoditiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legislative steps she is taking to introduce regulations under section 116 and Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 on forest risk commodities in commercial activity.
Answer: The UK recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is carefully considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we wil...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordClimate Change: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will include a sub-commitment to nature and forests in the next round of international climate finance, ICF4.
Answer: Nature-based solutions, including forests, are among the most impactful and cost-effective climate solutions. Nature regulates our climate and is vital to climate resilience, both acting as a carbon source and sink, and helping us to adapt to the impact o...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the benefits and complications of ablation surgery for endometriosis patients.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on best practice in the care and management of patients with specific conditions base...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordForests: CommoditiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from businesses on clarity on forest risk commodities regulation.
Answer: We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. We also recognise that this sense of urgency and need for clarity is shared by business. This Government believes it is at its...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCarers: Holiday LeaveDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory right to paid leave for kinship carers.
Answer: The Government’s Parental Leave and Pay Review will conclude in early 2027 with a set of findings which outline next steps for implementing any reforms.In addition to considering, all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, the Review is...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to meet the travel costs of pensioners with cancer diagnoses.
Answer: The Department recognises that the cost of travel should not be a barrier to cancer treatment. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on whether medical students will qualify for maintenance grants when these are reintroduced.
Answer: This government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to attend higher education. We must, therefore, reform the higher education system to better support disadvantaged students.Maintenance grants w...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a respiratory Modern Service Framework on NHS provision in Bristol East constituency.
Answer: The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: EndometriosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what action his Department is taking to ensure (a) GPs and (b) GP nursing staff receive training on endometriosis.
Answer: General practitioners (GPs) and nurses are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including on endometriosis and women’s health issues in general, remains up to date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing profession...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Bristol EastDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time is to process a Personal Independence Payment appeal in Bristol East constituency.
Answer: The average time to process a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeal for all PIP appeals registered in the Bristol East constituency since PIP was introduced can be found below. Mean appeal processing time (weeks)Median appeal processing time (weeks)2...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFruit and Vegetables: ProductionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase production of domestic fruit, vegetables, pulses and legumes to strengthen the UK’s food security, in light of the findings of the Natio
Answer: The Government is committed to the horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home‑grown produce that helps to feed the nation. In December 2025, the Secretary of State announced the Farming & Food Partnership Board in response to the indepen...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMaternity Services: Working HoursDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to enforce guidance around Working Time Regulations in maternity services to encourage safe working practices in maternity care.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides readily accessible guidance to all employers on the Working Time Regulations 1998 on its website and is responsible for the enforcement of the maximum weekly working time limit, night work limits, and health ...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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