Michael Wheeler MP: written questions 2025
78 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal Experiments: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on animal testing of the ability of (a) organ-on-chip, (b) artificial intelligence and (c) advanced use
Answer: The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support approaches that replace, reduce an...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugs: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of recent developments in organ-on-chip technology on the generation of data on how organs react to potential new m
Answer: The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support approaches that replace, reduce an...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: Animal WelfareHome OfficeTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Animals in Science Regulation Unit is taking to (a) help ensure the maintenance of animal welfare standards at licensed facilities during periods of extreme heat, (b) monitor compliance
Answer: Licensed establishments are responsible for the welfare of animals in their care at all times, including during extreme weather. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), all such establishments must comply with legal requirements and sta...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugs: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Performance assessment and economic analysis of a human Liver-Chip for predictive toxicolog
Answer: The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support approaches that replace, reduce an...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNurses: SchoolsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the recruitment and retention of school nurses; how much funding was allocated for school nursing services in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial yea
Answer: The child health workforce, including school nurses, is central to how we support families to give their children the best start in life. We will ensure we have the staff we need so that children and their families are cared for by the right professional,...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: ApprenticesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses after January 2026; and w
Answer: While the Department for Education has announced that the funding arrangements for Level 7 apprenticeships are changing, we are working closely with partners to ensure that health and social care has access to the skilled workforce patients need, includin...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Young PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the report by Barnado's and Co-op entitled Deeper Roots, Stronger Futures: Unlocking the Potential of Food Partnerships with Young People
Answer: We will review this report as part of our work to develop a new National Youth Strategy. The Strategy is being co-produced with young people and stakeholders working with and for young people, and the breadth of issues it covers will be shaped by our enga...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Civil SocietyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to include a commitment within his Department’s upcoming food strategy to establish a Food Partnership in every local authority area with opportunities for young peop
Answer: The food strategy will articulate the outcomes we want from the food system enabling the Government, civil society, and the food industry work to shared goals and priorities. Local and place-based approaches will have a key role to play in delivery of the...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDiseases: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the data collated in the Centre for Human Specific Research's Recombinant Antibodies and Mimetics Databas
Answer: The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. Recombinant antibodies offer enhanced reliability, consistency, and specificity co...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: Supply ChainsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that lessons learned from the COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce will inform its approach to managing the shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).
Answer: The Department has not conducted a 360-degree supply and demand forecast for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). However, the Department is in regular discussion with suppliers of PERT on the latest stock availability and the actions that are be...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: Supply ChainsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has conducted a 360-degree supply and demand forecast for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to assess the long-term needs for patients.
Answer: The Department has not conducted a 360-degree supply and demand forecast for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). However, the Department is in regular discussion with suppliers of PERT on the latest stock availability and the actions that are be...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFootball Index: InsolvencyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the possible regulatory failures identified in the Review of the Regulation of BetIndex Limited: final report, publi
Answer: I refer my Honourable Friend to the answer I gave on 8 January 2025 to Question UIN 21381.
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power: ResearchDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) his Department, (b) UK Research and Innovation and (c) the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is taking steps to support the (i) research and (ii) development of (
Answer: The DESNZ Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) is currently funding research and development of high temperature gas reactors (as part of the Advanced Modular Reactor Research, Development & Demonstration Programme), coated particle fuels (as part of the Coate...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Personal Independence Payment recipients are in work in (a) Worsley and Eccles constituency, (b) Salford, (c) Wigan, (d) Greater Manchester City Region and (e) England and Wales.
Answer: For the proportion of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who are in work by different geographic breakdowns, please see table 1 below. Table 1: the percentage of PIP claimants who are in work by different geographic breakdownsGeographyPercentag...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a) how many applications were made to and (b) what the expenditure was from the Adoption and Special Guardian Support Fund in 2024-25.
Answer: In the 2024/25 financial year, the adoption and special guardianship support fund received 20,085 applications and all were approved. The expenditure was £60,355,181.91, comprising therapeutic services and administration of the fund.
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: Public ParticipationDepartment for EducationTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve links between grassroots sports clubs and schools, in the context of efforts to (a) improve physical education and (b) support participation in sport.
Answer: The government-funded School Games Organisers (SGOs) play a vital role in ensuring all children have access to local and inclusive sport and physical activity. With over 450 SGOs nationwide, they support schools in providing physical activity both during ...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: ClubsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage grassroots sports clubs to share their facilities with local communities.
Answer: The Government recognises that sports facilities are important to communities up and down the country. High-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Sport England, our arm’s length body that is responsible for physical activity and sport part...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: Public ParticipationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to develop strategies to bring (a) schools, (b) grassroots sports clubs and (c) other relevant organisations together to promote
Answer: The Government recognises that sports facilities are important to communities up and down the country. High-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Sport England, our arm’s length body that is responsible for physical activity and sport part...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: SportsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure existing sports facilities are not detrimentally impacted by changes to the planning system.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, equivalent or ...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: HealthDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential contribution of grassroots sports clubs in preventative healthcare.
Answer: Sport and physical activity including grassroots sports clubs play a vital role in preventing, and helping to treat and manage, a wide range of health conditions and in delivering the Government’s Health Mission.Latest evidence provided by Sport England s...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth GuaranteeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential contribution of grassroots sports clubs to providing (a) training, (b) experience and (c) other employment related skills as part of the Youth Gu
Answer: Sports, arts and culture play a vital role in our society and economy. They create hundreds of thousands of jobs, drive economic growth, and bring joy to millions. That is why we formed our initial Youth Guarantee partnerships with the Premier League, Cha...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEnglish Language: Teaching MethodsDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of incorporating (a) the use of ICT to plan, draft, edit and present written work and (b) other digital composition skills into the teaching
Answer: A strong foundation in reading and writing is crucial for children to achieve and thrive. As part of the government’s drive to improve reading and writing, the department will publish a writing framework this summer. This non-statutory guidance will be ai...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRelationships and Sex EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Preparing for Healthy Relationships toolkit developed by the Mayor of London to address violence against women and girls; and what asses
Answer: The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. Education has a crucial role to play in preventing and tackling harmful behaviour, helping children and young people to develop empathy, boundaries and respect...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSick Leave and Statutory Sick PayDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraphs 7.2 to 7.4 of her Department’s publication entitled Final stage impact assessment: Improve access to Statutory Sick Pay by removing the Lower Earnings Limit and removing the
Answer: There is no administrative data collected or recorded when an employee takes a sickness absence. The best evidence available uses findings from the Employee Survey (Employee research Phase 2: Sickness absence and return to work. Quantitative and qualitati...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated to (a) Salford City Council and (b) Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.for road maintenance in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.
Answer: Both Salford City Council and Wigan Metropolitan Borough are constituent members of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). During 2024/25, the Government allocated funds to GMCA through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), ...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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