Mark Pritchard MP: written questions 2025
151 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Death CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time taken for medical examiners to issue death certificates.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, including the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Regulations 2024, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a de...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of VAT on school fees on the shared provision of (a) SEND support, (b) sporting facilities and (c) SEND school transport between the independent and state
Answer: The government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.At the Autumn Budg...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: TelecommunicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage train operating companies to improve on-train connectivity for (a) voice and (b) data services.
Answer: Department for Transport officials are working closely with the train operating companies and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to develop proposals to improve passenger mobile connectivity.
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Labour TurnoverDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a strategy to improve the retention of teaching staff in schools.
Answer: The within school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcome is high-quality teaching. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is therefore critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAntidepressantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with NHS England to review the (a) volume and (b) type of antidepressants prescribed on the NHS and their (i) side effects, (ii) long-term effectiveness and (iii) addictivenes
Answer: The National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are the relevant regulatory bodies in this area. While antidepressants can be helpful for some patients, NICE guidance recommends a range o...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAdvertising: ChildrenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Broadcasting Code by Ofcom on reducing the sexualisation of children through broadcast advertising.
Answer: The Advertising Standards Authority co-regulates broadcast advertising under contract with Ofcom and its sister organisation, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), sets the advertising codes. The codes require that advertisements must no...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMen: PublicityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28904More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will take steps to promote positive male role models.
Answer: We recognise that strong role models can be key in inspiring others, and in challenging harmful stereotypes. My officials work closely with male business leaders and campaigners to help make the case that steps to improve equality benefit everyone. They a...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCars: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 27999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs lost in the car manufacturing sector between July and December 2024.
Answer: The government produces estimates of the levels of employee and self-employed jobs by industry sector on a quarterly basis (Mar, Jun, September and Dec). Data on the number of jobs by industry sector in December 2024 will be published on 20th March 2025.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVideo Games: Classification SchemesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the Games Rating Authority on the classification of video games; and if she will take steps to reduce the sexualisation of children in video games.
Answer: The GRA’s decisions are made independently of the government, which is important to ensure impartiality. The GRA’s age ratings serve to protect the public and empower people to make informed gaming choices, whilst also recognising and respecting adult fre...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPornography ReviewDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he expects the report of the Independent Pornography Review to be published.
Answer: The Independent Pornography Review assesses the effectiveness of current pornography legislation, regulation, and enforcement. It is an important area of interest for this government. The Review has now just concluded. The government is assessing its find...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27134More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to ensure Inheritance Tax is not charged on death in service payments paid to relatives of armed forces personnel.
Answer: Members of the armed forces deserve our gratitude for their service and a pension that ensures dignity in retirement.The Government will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension into a person’s estate for inheritance tax p...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27133More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with his European Union counterpart on the potential merits of establishing a six months visa waiver scheme for citizens visiting EU Member States in the Schengen area to replace the
Answer: Both the UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the Schengen Borders Code allows fo...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Learning DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase the funding available to local authorities to provide living services for people with learning disabilities.
Answer: High quality, safe, and suitable homes can help people stay independent and healthy for longer and reduce the need to draw on health and social care provision.We are giving disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, more independence in ...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will meet with the US Energy Secretary to discuss (a) importing US-produced (i) Liquefied Natural Gas and (ii) oil and (b) imports from volatile regions.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero looks forward to meeting the new US Energy Secretary to discuss our shared values and interests across a full range of energy issues.
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDemocratic Republic of Congo: Peace NegotiationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support (a) peace and (b) stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).The UK condemns M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) advances in Eastern DRC as an unacceptable breach of DRC's sovereignty and calls for the immediate wit...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFootball: ClubsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the (a) Home Office and (b) Football Association on the potential merits of introducing lifetime club bans for people convicted of threats of violence against (i
Answer: Violence has no place in football. As private businesses, football clubs have a right to ban individual supporters from attending matches or accessing club facilities; a power rooted in their responsibility to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for a...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce age-related universal testing for prostate cancer.
Answer: Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom, due to the inaccuracy of the current best test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test.A UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) review, looking at whether to offer scree...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAdvertising and Broadcasting Programmes: ChildrenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will discuss with Ofcom potential steps to reduce the sexualisation of children in television (a) advertisements and (b) programmes.
Answer: Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code includes rules intended to protect the welfare and the dignity of people under eighteen who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes. Revisions to the Code are a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator.The Advertis...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFilm and Video Games: Classification SchemesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will discuss with the British Board of Film Classification the classification of (a) films and (b) video games; and if she will take steps to reduce the sexualisation of children through t
Answer: The classification system has addressed these issues under successive governments, but decisions regarding the classification of films are made by the BBFC and the Games Rating Authority, not the BBFC, is responsible for the classification of video games....
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: ShropshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25993More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will reinstate the four percent funding floor for Core Spending Power growth for Shropshire.
Answer: The current fiscal environment means the government cannot continue the poor value for money 4% Funding Guarantee. The government assesses that it does not use every pound of taxpayers' money most efficiently and that is it targeted on a transparent basis...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: ShropshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will reinstate the Rural Services Delivery Grant in the next local government financial settlement for Shropshire.
Answer: The government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. However, the Rural Services Delivery Grant did not properly account for need and a large number of predominantly rural councils receive nothing from it – that’...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Neurone Disease: Medical Treatments and ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support research into (a) the treatment of and (b) a cure for motor neurone disease.
Answer: The Department delivers research into motor neurone disease (MND) via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds a range of research into MND, including investing £8 million into EXPERTS-ALS, which is an early phase clinica...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: FraudHome OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make it a criminal offence to create fake online media accounts for public bodies and organisations where the communication of official and public inform
Answer: Under the Online Safety Act, all services in scope must tackle illegal content and activity which enables fraud, including activity through fake and anonymous accounts. The illegal harms duties will come into force in Spring 2025.More broadly, government ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPornography: InternetDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish an annual list of (a) social media companies and (b) search services sanctioned for failing to prevent pre-teen access to pornography including details of those sanct
Answer: Under the Online Safety Act, publishers of pornography online and user-to-user services that allow sharing of pornographic content have a duty to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing this.The Act requires Ofcom to produce ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlants: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase biosecurity against alien species located on imported (a) cut flowers and (b) ornamental plants.
Answer: The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) introduced a new risk-based approach to border controls. Goods have been categorised into the risk groups ‘High, medium and low’ and controls have been appropriately weighted against the risk. Certain EU medium-ris...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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