Melanie Ward MP: written questions 2025
33 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Army: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will outline the steps and decision-making criteria for awarding the Army Collective Training Service contract.
Answer: The Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) will deliver the new Army Collective Training Service (ACTS) through a competitive process under Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. Prospective suppliers first completed a...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFootball: ScotlandDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is planning a further allocation of funding to support grassroots football in Scotland.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK benefit from high-quality sport facilities to help enable people to get active. The Government has committed at least £400 million to be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport f...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDarfur: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub for supporting the UK’s response to the situation in El Fasher, Darfur.
Answer: The Mass Atrocity Hub is now part of The Conflict and Atrocity Prevention Department, which has been working closely with the Africa Directorate and British Office Sudan since April 2023. Support has included assessing the risk of atrocities in Sudan, pro...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: EpilepsyDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to allow people with epilepsy who have been seizure-free for more than ten years while taking medication to apply for a driver's licence.
Answer: People with epilepsy can be issued with a licence to drive Group 1 vehicles (cars and motorcycles) after being seizure free for 12 months (whether or not they are taking medication to treat epilepsy) and as long as they are following their medical profess...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordJuries: Zero Hours ContractsMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of jury service on people employed on zero hour contracts.
Answer: Jury service is an important civic duty, and we want to help jurors feel supported as they undertake this important role. The Government has not made any specific assessment of the impact of jury service on people employed on zero-hour contracts. However,...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: Overseas InvestmentDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 18 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) UK charities and (b) the Charity Commission to ensure that charities do not invest in illegal settlements in occupied territory which are a violatio
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not issued such guidance to charities or to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Government and Charity Commission for England and Wales expect charities to act lawfully, in line with the charit...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBurntisland Station: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects Network Rail to have completed a feasibility study on making Burntisland railway station accessible.
Answer: This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgr...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: FifeDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress her Department has made on increasing driving examiner recruitment in Fife.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The driving test centres that serve candidates in Fife are Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy....
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLiving Wage and Minimum Wage: WalesWales OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 905162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage on people in Wales.
Answer: Up to 160,000 workers across Wales received a record pay rise through increases to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will see a real-terms pay increase of £1,400 per year, whilst 18-to-20-year...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMigraines: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a supply shortage of Aimovig on people who experience migraines.
Answer: The Department is aware of a recent short term supply issue with one strength of Aimovig. We worked with NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the devolved administrations to expedite resupply and have confirmed that st...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: DiscriminationTreasuryTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56680More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle ageism in the provision of financial services.
Answer: The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA requires firms...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: StandardsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to review the current accreditation process for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Answer: While the Government works closely with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), the Secretary of State does not formally review its accreditation process, given MCS’ independent status. MCS is introducing a wide-ranging reforms programme, and the ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Cowdenbeath and KirkcaldyDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for driving tests in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport S...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Voucher SchemesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory minimum expiry dates on gift vouchers.
Answer: The Department asked the Law Commission to examine the protection given to consumer prepayments, including gift cards and vouchers, and consider whether such protections should be strengthened. The Law Commission concluded that that there was no need to i...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCounselling and Psychiatry: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not made a formal assessment of the adequacy of the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists. The Government is clear that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportiona...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIbuprofen and ParacetamolDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring guidance on the sale of (a) paracetamol and (c) ibuprofen into law.
Answer: Paracetamol and ibuprofen are well-known medicines for pain, which, when taken in line with the recommended posology, have well-established safety profiles. The vast majority of patients use paracetamol responsibly, as an effective pain-reliever. However,...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on restarting civil-military cooperation with UNRWA.
Answer: The UK has repeatedly set out our grave concern about the Government of Israel's legislation on the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and our support for UNRWA's vital work to provide essential services...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: CompensationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency have received compensation through the Post Office Horizon redress schemes.
Answer: As of 31 March 2025, the total amount of redress paid has increased by more than three and a half times since the beginning of July 2024, with £892 million having now been paid to over 6,200 claimants. We do not provide information about redress recipient...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWarm Home Discount Scheme: Cowdenbeath and KirkcaldyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people are eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency.
Answer: The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (84%) of the residential premises in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency come from Kirkcaldy and Co...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAhmad Muna and Mahmoud MunaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on the arrest and detention of (a) Mahmoud Muna and (b) Ahmad Muna.
Answer: We are concerned by reports of the detention of Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna by the Israeli authorities. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv, and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, tweeted to express concern at the police raid, and to reiterate our support for ...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDormant Assets Scheme: ScotlandDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money released by the Dormant Assets scheme has been allocated to Scotland in each year since the scheme began.
Answer: To date, the Dormant Assets Scheme has unlocked over £1 billion for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes all funding between the four nations in the UK. This is done in accordance with the Distribution of Dormant Acco...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDormant Assets SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money has been released through the Dormant Assets scheme in each year since it began.
Answer: The Dormant Assets Scheme has unlocked over £1 billion of dormant assets for good causes. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes all funding between the four nations in the UK. This is done in accordance with the Distribution of Dormant Account M...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Maintenance Service: AppealsMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30819More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to reduce average waiting times to access independent tribunals to hear appeals from parents against Child Maintenance Service decisions.
Answer: Appeals against Child Maintenance Service decisions are heard by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, which is part of the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. Reducing the outstanding caseload is the key measure to bring down...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with the Manchester Breast Centre on the potential merits of providing additional support for their research into lobular breast cancer.
Answer: Cancer research is a critical priority for the Government. The Government does not ringfence funding for specific cancer types but is committed to supporting cancer research such as that conducted at Manchester Breast Centre. The Department for Science, I...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Broadcasting: RadioDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that all communities have access to local radio stations.
Answer: There are a wide range of local commercial and community radio services across the UK operating on analogue (FM/AM) and on digital radio. In addition, there are increasing numbers of commercial and community radio stations which are digital-only and have ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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