Mark Sewards MP: written questions 2026
144 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Midwives and Nurses: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Graduate Guarantee for newly qualified nurses and midwives; and what metrics will be used to measure its impact.
Answer: NHS England is actively monitoring future nursing and midwifery student numbers and will continue to assess the efficacy of the 2025/26 Graduate Guarantee as a mechanism. There are a range of measures to support students, universities, and clinical educat...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMidwives and Nurses: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many newly qualified nurses and midwives are expected to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27; and how many Band 5 nursing and midwifery vacancies were
Answer: The Nursing and Midwifery Council publishes data twice a year on the makeup of its professional register, and this includes information on the number of people trained in the United Kingdom who have joined the register for the first time, which will be a ...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to repeal the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.
Answer: This Government is taking a consistent, long term, and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK interests. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 exists to promote trade with the Hong Kong Special Administrative...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHong Kong Economic and Trade OfficeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to (a) review and (b) revoke the privileges and immunities currently afforded to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London under the Hong Kong Econ
Answer: This Government is taking a consistent, long term, and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK interests. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 exists to promote trade with the Hong Kong Special Administrative...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNational SecurityHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) data protection and (b) privacy safeguards are in place to ensure the security of (i) home addresses and (ii) other personal information belonging to people considered vulnerable to targeting
Answer: It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters. However, we continually assess potential threats to individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK and are front foote...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Security: ChinaHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources have been allocated to (a) Cantonese and (b) Mandarin translation and linguistic capabilities for investigations conducted under the National Security Act 2023.
Answer: Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanc...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHong Kong Economic and Trade OfficeHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations are currently underway into potential foreign interference activities linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
Answer: It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters.The verdicts in the recent trial represent the first convictions under the National Security Act related to China and send a...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Armed ForcesDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to maximise the portability of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision for children of Armed Forces families when they move between (a) local authority areas wit
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Redundancy PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to NHS employers on the relationship between partial retirement and entitlement to contractual redundancy payments.
Answer: Contractual redundancy terms are set out in the Agenda for Change NHS terms and conditions of service handbook under section 16, more specifically paragraph 16.6, for National Health Service staff who are on Agenda for Change contracts in England or those...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Redundancy PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that NHS staff who took partial retirement and subsequently apply for Voluntary Redundancy are not disadvantaged in their entitlement to contractual redundanc
Answer: Entitlement to contractual redundancy payments is set out in the Agenda for Change NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, under section 16, for National Health Service staff that are on Agenda for Change contracts in England, or those whose terms r...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: MediaHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of potential impacts of activities of Iranian state-affiliated media organisations, including Press TV, operating in the United Kingdom on the public; and whether she has
Answer: We work closely with a range of partners to tackle malign state-backed influence and interference in our society. Where there is clear evidence that Iranian-linked or aligned organisations are undertaking unacceptable activity, the Government will respond...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCryptocurrencies: RegulationTreasuryTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126899More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK financial regulations in preventing hostile states, including Iran, from exploiting cryptocurrency platforms accessible in the United Kingdom to raise funds.
Answer: The UK has a robust anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and sanctions regime to counter hostile state activity.Cryptoassets are in scope of the UK’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, which require regulated firms to appl...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Security: IranHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that Press TV is being used to identify and assess individuals in the United Kingdom for potential recruitment by
Answer: The Government's first priority is our national security, and we will use all the tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from state threats. Where there is clear evidence that Iranian-linked or aligned organisations are undertaking unacc...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSanctions: IranForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that Iranian regime-linked actors are soliciting cryptocurrency donations from individu
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 5 February in response to Question 109571.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: SubversionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Lord Walney’s March 2026 report entitled Undue Influence: The Iranian Regime’s Abuse of the UK Charity System, if she will ensure that charities subject to live Charity Commissi
Answer: The Charity Commission is alive to the threat of hostile foreign state influence in charities and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. Any allegation or evidence of criminal offences, including terrorism, is r...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: SubversionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Lord Walney’s March 2026 report entitled Undue Influence: The Iranian Regime’s Abuse of the UK Charity System, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Charity Commis
Answer: The Charity Commission is alive to the threat of hostile foreign state influence in charities and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. Any allegation or evidence of criminal offences, including terrorism, is r...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: FraudDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Government’s 2026 Fraud Strategy on levels of fraud facilitated through online platforms before the Online Safety Act duties
Answer: While the OSA continues to be implemented, fraud is a ‘priority offence’ under the Act, with platforms already required to mitigate against criminals using their services and to remove scam content if it appears. Ofcom has existing robust powers to act wh...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: FraudDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps to hold online platforms accountable for fraudulent advertising on their services prior to the full implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answer: While the OSA continues to be implemented, fraud is a ‘priority offence’ under the Act, with platforms already required to mitigate against criminals using their services and to remove scam content if it appears. Ofcom has existing robust powers to act wh...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrous Oxide: MisuseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the health risks associated with inhaling nitrous oxide.
Answer: The Department has worked with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Association to develop lesson plans on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, which include specific references to the dangers of nitrous oxide. The lesson plans target primary and seco...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrous Oxide: MisuseHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) police forces in tackling the misuse of nitrous oxide in public places and the associated littering of discarded canisters.
Answer: The Government is aware of concerns about nitrous oxide misuse in public places and littering of discarded canisters, which places a burden on communities and local authorities.Nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrous Oxide: SalesHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve enforcement against (a) people and (b) businesses supplying nitrous oxide unlawfully.
Answer: Nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 since 2023. It is an offence to produce, supply, possess or import nitrous oxide, regardless of canister size, except for activities explicitly exempt under the 1971 Ac...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrous Oxide: SalesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the unlawful (a) sale and (b) supply of nitrous oxide.
Answer: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force on 8 November 2023, classifying nitrous oxide as a Class C drug. It is illegal to produce, supply, import or export nitrous oxide where a person knows, or is reckless as to whether, it wi...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSurgical Mesh Implants: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of establishing a compensation scheme for women who have experienced harm associated with pelvic mesh implants.
Answer: The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including options for financial compensation.The Government h...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid Scheme: Translation ServicesMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Legal Aid Agency in ensuring solicitors use qualified and security-vetted interpreters in legally-aided family proceedings.
Answer: Interpreters play a crucial role in family court proceedings, ensuring that individuals who do not speak English or have hearing impairments can fully participate and understand the legal process. For most family court proceedings, His Majesty’s Court and...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to address regulatory gaps where rooftop solar installation companies and asset owners (a) cease trading and (b) withdraw support.
Answer: We are overhauling the system of standards and protections for energy efficiency and solar and battery installations. Measures announced in the Warm Homes Plan will ensure that consumers can have confidence in measures they take to improve the energy effi...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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