Mark Pritchard MP: written questions 2026
113 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Nuclear Weapons: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, ?what steps he is taking to ensure safeguards in the use of AI in the defence systems within the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
Answer: The delivery of defence capabilities enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) will be ambitious, safe and responsible. Research to identify, understand, and mitigate against risks of applying AI for sensitive defence affairs is underway. Routine nuclear de...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission research into the potential impact of the daily use of mobile phones on eye diseases and health-related conditions.
Answer: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is funding research into the possible health impacts of mobile phone use on health, although this has not focused on eye diseases. The NIHR Policy R...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordKidney Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish a Modern Service Framework on kidney disease.
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 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMacular Degeneration: Preventive Medicine and ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the NHS and social care services of age-related macular degeneration-related sight loss and (b) potential cost savings of increased funding
Answer: The Department has not made a specific comparative estimate of the cost to the National Health Service and adult social care of age‑related macular degeneration‑related sight loss. Whilst it is not possible to estimate the potential cost savings from incr...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEyesight: Innovation and ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to prioritise sight-loss conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, within (a) UK Research and Innovation's and (b) the Advanced Research and Invention Ag
Answer: The Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), funds research into vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), through a range of schemes. This research spans discovery science and fundamental me...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMacular Degeneration: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce (a) ring-fenced and (b) targeted funding for research into age-related macular degeneration; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of such funding on
Answer: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Research funds are not usually ringfenced into specific conditions and there is not a target for research funding into age-related ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEyesight: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of medical research funding has been allocated to eye research in each of the last five financial years; and what proportion of that funding has been directed towards age-related ma
Answer: The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. In the last five financial years it has awarded £26.2 million on eye research which has included £6.2 million on age related macula...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: English ChannelForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she will take to detain sanctioned Russian ships passing through the English Channel.
Answer: Further action against Russia's shadow fleet is critical to increasing economic pressure on Russia's war machine. We are also clear on the need to crack down on the dangerous and illicit practises that are employed by these vessels to evade sanctions and ...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the BBC on allowing licence fee payers to access the BBC app when overseas.
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) meets regularly with representatives of the BBC on a range of matters.The BBC is operationally independent, and decisions on whether and how the BBC makes its content and services, such as its respective ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordJeffrey EpsteinHome OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on whether the Security Service was aware of (a) the illegal activities of Jeffrey Epstein, (b) his relationship with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and (c) advice gi
Answer: It has been the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: Temporary AccommodationHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure illegal migrants accommodated in (a) hotels and (b) other government supported accommodation who leave that accommodation and do not report back within 72 hours are re
Answer: The Home Office provides accommodation and support to destitute asylum seekers under statutory provisions such as Sections 95 and 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This accommodation is non‑detained, and the Department does not have legal powers ...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: Temporary AccommodationHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure illegal migrants accommodated in (a) hotels and (b) other government supported accommodation are (i) kept securely within that accommodation and (ii) limited in the nu
Answer: The Home Office provides accommodation and support to destitute asylum seekers under statutory provisions such as Sections 95 and 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This accommodation is non‑detained, and the Department does not have legal powers ...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAspirin: Supply ChainsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) increase the availability of aspirin and (b) normalise aspirin supply chains.
Answer: The Department is aware of a recent disruption to the supply of aspirin dispersible tablets and are working with suppliers to understand the causes and aid a return to normal supply as soon as possible. Supply issues have been addressed, and stock is regu...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSenior Civil Servants: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109977More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will introduce pre-confirmation hearings before relevant select committees for permanent secretary appointments for government departments.
Answer: There are no plans to introduce pre-appointment hearings for Permanent Secretary roles.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDisclosure of InformationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take legislative steps to amend the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to protect whistleblowers from (a) illegal and (b) unethical work placed practices.
Answer: Workers in Great Britain are protected from detriment or dismissal under the whistleblowing framework in the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest and Disclosure Act 1998, if they ‘blow the whistle’ on wrongdoing and certain condit...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRadicalism: InternetMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to counter engagement with extreme online political content by members of the armed forces.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence remains vigilant to the risks associated with Service personnel engaging with extremist or extreme online political content and treats such matters with the utmost seriousness. Such behaviour is wholly incompatible with the values ...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEspionage: Civil ServantsCabinet OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 109974More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to counter espionage within the civil service.
Answer: The Government Security Group (GSG) is part of the Cabinet Office and is the centre of the Government Security Function. GSG is responsible for the oversight and coordination of protective security within all central government departments, their agencies...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordWellington Orbit: Icon Creative Foundations FundDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will review the decision taken earlier this year not to award funding to the Wellington Orbit from the Creative Foundations Fund.
Answer: The Creative Foundation Fund, announced in 2025 as part of the Arts Everywhere Fund, is being delivered by Arts Council England. The Arts Council makes decisions about which organisations and projects to fund independently of government and Ministers, whi...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTrident Missiles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will increase stockpiles of the component parts of the D5 Trident II.
Answer: Enabled by the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended for Trident in 1982, the United Kingdom buys title to an agreed number of a shared stock of Trident II D5 missiles from the United States of America (US). These missiles are maintained at the Kings B...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Workplace PensionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will convene the pensions forfeiture committee to meet and agree to cease the pensions of ex-UK armed forces personnel who are fighting in support of the Russian Federation's illegal war in Ukraine.
Answer: Pension forfeiture for public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, is governed by primary and secondary legislation, notably the Pensions Act 1995 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc....
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDiplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will introduce pre-confirmation hearings for ambassadorial candidates.
Answer: I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the appearances made before the Foreign Affairs Committee by the Foreign Secretary on 16 December 2025 and by the Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 3 November 2025.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: Hereford and LichfieldChurch CommissionersTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109082More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations she has received on the reduction in the budget for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme from (i) the Bishop of Hereford and (ii) the Bishop of Lichfiel
Answer: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced the replacement scheme to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on the 21st January.The National Church Institutions welcomed the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund and await details of how it will ...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIsraeli SettlementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what action she is taking to help stop illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answers given to Question 907375 on 20 January, Question 77510 on 15 October 2025, and Question 74580 on 17 September 2025.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Workplace PensionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any (i) UK and (ii) Commonwealth armed forces personnel have had their Armed Forces Pension revoked as a consequence of fighting with the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Answer: Pension forfeiture for public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, is governed by primary and secondary legislation, notably the Pensions Act 1995 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc....
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBallistic Missile Defence: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to defend the UK from (a) ballistic and (b) hypersonic missile attack.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific capabilities, as doing so could provide an operational advantage to those who may seek to harm the UK.The UK has a suite of capabilities to tackle the missile threat which is advancing, proliferating an...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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