Luke Akehurst MP: written questions
80 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Unmanned Marine Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech delivered at the ADS Annual Dinner on 28 January 2025, what progress he has made on the Wasp system.
Answer: The Wasp system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing and further details will be set out in due course.
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech delivered at the ADS Annual Dinner on 28 January 2025, what progress he has made on the Gravehawk system.
Answer: The Gravehawk system is a rapidly developed bespoke air defence system, jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. This innovative system, which is able to retrofit air-air missiles for ground-based air defence, can use Ukrainian missiles already in their arme...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOccupied Territories: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s policy paper entitled UK-Occupied Palestinian Territories development partnership summary July 2023, published on 17 July 2023, whether he
Answer: Education is an essential component of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and critical to building the foundations for a sustainable and lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people, grounded in a two-state solution. It is therefore essential that...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: North EastDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to improve service provision for people with (a) Tourette's syndrome and (b) other tic disorders in the North East.
Answer: The Government has pledged to reform the National Health Service so that it better meets the needs of patients. This includes the current engagement exercise, which will help to shape the 10-Year Health Plan. This will be published in spring 2025 and is e...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Activities and Food ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will extend funding for the holiday activities and food programme beyond 21 March 2025.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for North Durham to the answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 24633.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMayors and Police and Crime Commissioners: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to revert the voting system for (a) mayoral and (b) Police and Crime Commissioner elections to the supplementary vote system.
Answer: With regards to Mayoral elections, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.The Government also has no plans at this time to change the voting system for Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAbsent VotingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the requirement to renew postal vote applications every three years.
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 21147 on 9 January 2025.The Government has no plans to remove either requirement.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAbsent Voting: National InsuranceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the requirement to provide a National Insurance number when registering for a postal vote.
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 21147 on 9 January 2025.The Government has no plans to remove either requirement.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: Proof of IdentityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the requirement to present voter ID at polling stations.
Answer: As our manifesto made clear, the government will address the inconsistencies in the voter identification policy so that all legitimate electors have the opportunity to vote. We are continuing to assess and review the policy and if any further changes are ...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: HamasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the stability of the (a) hostage and (b) ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure the release of (i) Keith Siegel and (ii
Answer: We welcome the release of three hostages in Gaza, including dual British national Emily Damari. The ceasefire agreement must be implemented in full. The UK is working with international partners to ensure the stability of the ceasefire agreement and to se...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTibet: DamsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23546, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the Kamtok Dam project.
Answer: This Government stands firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (P...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services and Taxis: InsuranceDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) insurance requirements and (b) enforcement mechanisms are in place for (a) private hire and (b) delivery drivers.
Answer: All drivers must have the correct insurance cover for the purpose they are using their vehicle for, and the police may check this when stopping a vehicle. The Government takes uninsured driving seriously and tackles this through Continuous Insurance Enfor...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTibet: DamsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of China's Kamtok Dam project on the (a) environment, (b) society and (c) economy in Tibet.
Answer: The Government would refer to credible external sources, including those from the United Nations, in relation to the impact of China's Kamtok Dam project. For example, in July 2024 a letter was issued from 13 UN Special Rapporteurs finding the project ris...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether drones have been used by the military regime against civilians in Myanmar.
Answer: We continue to monitor the escalation of the conflict in Myanmar closely, including the use of drones by the Myanmar military. The UK strongly condemns the military's use of airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main Line: North EastDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned East Coast Main Line timetable change in December 2025 on local rail services in (a) County Durham and (b) the North East.
Answer: An assessment suggested Chester-le-Street calls on Trans Pennine Express be increased to hourly services, which have now been implemented. As well as the LNER London to Newcastle trains be increased from two trains per hour to three trains per hour, now s...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Empty PropertyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in levels of retail and commercial units that are vacant in (a) Chester-le-Street, (b) Sta
Answer: This government is committed to revitalise town centres and stimulate economic growth by addressing persistent vacancy rates in town centres like Chester-le-Street and Stanley. High Street Rental Auctions, which came into effect in December 2024, give loc...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: North of EnglandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Biggest investment into hospices in a generation, dated 19 December 2024, how much of the £100 million funding will be allocated to the Nor
Answer: We are working closely, and at pace, with NHS England on this once in a generation funding boost. We will set out the details of the funding allocation and dissemination in the coming weeks.
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOperating Theatres: Fire PreventionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) mandatory training and (b) policies on surgical fires within all NHS hospital settings.
Answer: In 2023, the Centre for Perioperative Care published revised National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs2). The standards were designed to reduce misunderstandings or errors, and to improve team cohesion. The NatSSIPs2 include a requiremen...
Answered 3 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUnemployment: North DurhamDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 901816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of young people out of work, education and training in North Durham constituency.
Answer: We published new analysis alongside the Get Britain Working White Paper which shows that there are 45,000 young people out of work, education and training across the North East.Those young people are being failed.The data is not robust enough to be broken...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRadiotherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients requiring radiotherapy start their treatment with 31 days of a doctor deciding on their treatment plan.
Answer: We understand that cancer patients are waiting longer than they should for the care they need, and we are taking action to address this. The Government is committed to improving cancer care and reducing waiting times for treatment, including for radiother...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRadiologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the NHS long-term health plan complements the National Cancer Strategy in the context of the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of (i) radiographer
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver three big shifts in the focus of healthcare, from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.The Department will also refresh the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to fit the transformed health s...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid Scheme: Social Security BenefitsMinistry of JusticeTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal aid provision in cases relating to disputes in the benefits system.
Answer: This Government inherited a legal aid system facing significant challenges. The Ministry of Justice has recently undertaken a lengthy, evidence-based, and wholesale review of the operation of civil legal aid across all eleven categories of civil legal aid...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with local partners to ensure the availability of (a) parenting and (b) other programmes to improve the mental health of (i) infants, (ii) children and (iii) young people ment
Answer: The Government has a bold new ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. Launched in August 2022, the three-year Family Hubs and Start for Life programme provides approximately £300 million to 75 local authorities in England with high l...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGuided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Surface to Air Missile Centre command and control systems, (b) Giraffe Agile Multibeam radars and (c) Land Ceptor launcher and missile systems comprising the Sky Sabre system are deployed in (i) the
Answer: We do not routinely disclose the locations or numbers of these platforms in the interests of security and operational effectiveness.
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on integrated air and missile defence in each financial year since 2010.
Answer: Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) is cross-government, multi-layered approach, utilising a wide range of advanced capabilities alongside our Allies as an international effort. There has been wide-ranging investment across the full range of IAMD ca...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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