Kerry McCarthy MP: written questions
99 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Universal Credit: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the disabled child addition to Universal Credit among eligible claimants.
Answer: DWP’s digital Universal Credit (UC) application pathway uses automated prompts to ask claimants proactively whether any children are disabled. Where this is confirmed, the system guides them through the relevant eligibility criteria, helping ensure the co...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of automating eligible claimants' entitlement to the disabled child addition to Universal Credit.
Answer: DWP’s digital application process uses automated prompts to identify where a claimant has a disabled child and guides them through the relevant eligibility criteria, helping ensure the correct addition is applied at the point of claim. This is currently t...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: CharitiesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the Government is doing to reduce non-commodity costs affecting energy bills for charities.
Answer: Our Clean Power 2030 mission is essential to cutting electricity prices for good. By accelerating the transition to clean, homegrown electricity, we are working to shield end-users from the volatility of fossil fuel prices and to deliver reliable, afforda...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the safety and availability of public access to waterways for recreation and wellbeing.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure that this access is safe and appropriate. As part of this, Defra has committed in its new Environmental Improvement Pla...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWaste: LandfillDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects further policy measures to be introduced to prevent biodegradable waste from entering landfill.
Answer: Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill has a key part to play in tackling climate change. In February 2025, Defra published a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming Incentive: Organic FarmingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that organic farming is appropriately supported within the relaunched Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, in the context of increasing trade balance for organic pr
Answer: We recognise the importance of organic farming. The new SFI offer will continue to support sustainable farming by strengthening the environmental foundations of farm profitability. Healthy soil, clean water and thriving pollinators are essential to our lo...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMethane: Departmental CoordinationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is working with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments.
Answer: We are working closely with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments. Alongside the Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan, we published our Methane Action Plan detailing historic progress on methane abatement...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: NutritionDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental and health impacts of their School Food guidance in the context of the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission; and how she plans to respond to the Commission’s P
Answer: The department is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating. We are continuing our work to revise the School Food Standards and are engaging experts across the sector, incl...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: Public ConsultationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will publish the results of the Department's consultation on the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets: raising integrity.
Answer: The Government welcomes the many responses to the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets consultation. Officials are undertaking analysis of the responses received and the Government intends to publish its response in the first half of this year.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSoft Drinks: TaxationTreasuryTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108604More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure coherence between the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and other Government frameworks, including nutrient profiling, dietary guidance and restrictions on foods high in fat, su
Answer: When considering the reforms to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) announced at Budget 2025, HM Treasury worked closely with the Department for Health and Social Care throughout the process, including to consider whether the SDIL minimum sugar content t...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool MilkDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits to children’s health and inclusion of expanding the School Milk Scheme to include fortified plant-based alternatives.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Defra regularly reviews the administration and outcomes associated with the School Milk Subsidy Scheme, most recently following the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s assessme...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool MilkDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will review current guidance under the school milk scheme to ensure consistency with NHS Eatwell guidance, which includes fortified dairy alternatives such as plant-b
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Milk and relevant dairy products only are eligible under the School Milk Subsidy Scheme. There are no plans to amend the scheme requirements to include non-dairy drinks or associated pr...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOctopuses: AquacultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce legislation to prohibit (a) octopus farming in the UK and (b) imports of commercially-farmed octopus.
Answer: The Government have no current plans to prevent the import of farmed octopus products to the UK. Defra is not aware of any plans to establish octopus farming in the UK. Any such plans would be subject to relevant existing regulatory regimes.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordForests: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to question 91282, what assessment she has made of the relative merits of (a) the forest-risk commodities regime and b) the approach of the E
Answer: The UK and the EU share the common commitment to tackle deforestation in supply chains. The UK is continuing to monitor and engage with international frameworks on deforestation, including measures such as the EU Deforestation Regulation, and their impact...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordForests: CommoditiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2025 to question 85098, when she will bring forward due diligence measures on forest-risk commodities.
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 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFood Supply: Supply ChainsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact global deforestation and desertification on the UK’s national food security, supply chains and food prices.
Answer: The UK imports 40% of its food and is therefore exposed to supply chain risks such as deforestation and desertification via food security and price impacts associated with food imports. Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threat...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBiodiversityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish in full the Global Ecosystem Assessment report.
Answer: Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. The Government publishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, including on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on GOV.UK.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSomaliland: Recognition of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the decision by Israel to recognise Somaliland and the implications for the UK's own policy on recognition.
Answer: It is the UK's long-standing position that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for authorities in Mogadishu and Hargeisa to decide through a consultative process and dialogue, in line with the principles of the UN charter.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the EU legacy Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme on UK growers, fresh food supply chains and consumers; and what plan
Answer: The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home-grown produce that helps to feed the nation. The EU Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme was limited to Producer Organisations, with only about 20% of the sector benefit...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBreasts: Plastic SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women in the Bristol East constituency have been affected by faulty PIP breast implants.
Answer: The role of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is to monitor all incidents that are reported to us, making sure that these incidents are investigated fully and that any necessary action is taken. The poly implant prothèse (PIP)...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHate CrimeHome OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish a new national Hate Crime Action Plan.
Answer: The Government is determined to tackle all forms of hate crime wherever in the country it occurs, and whoever is responsible for committing it. We expect the police to fully investigate these appalling offences and work with the Crown Prosecution Service ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHuntingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that trail hunting is not used as a cover for the illegal hunting of wild mammals with dogs.
Answer: This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and we will consult on how to deliver a ban in the new year.
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHunting Act 2004Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has received recent representations on breaches of the Hunting Act 2004.
Answer: Enforcement of the Hunting Act is an operational matter for the police. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law.
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOpioids: RehabilitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will expand substitution therapy interventions for those with opioid dependency.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need, and this includes the provision of opioid substitution treatment such as methadone and both oral and long-acting injectable buprenorphine.On 2...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugs: RehabilitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will expand access to drug detoxification services for people with substance abuse problems.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need as part of their public health responsibilities, and this includes the provision of drug detoxification services.In line with recommendations i...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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