Rachael Maskell MP: written questions
245 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Dental Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of provision of dental services on (a) children’s and (b) adults' oral health.
Answer: The recently published Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 provides the first picture of adult oral health in England for more than a decade. This shows that among dentate adults, those with at least one natural tooth, over two-fifths, or 41%, showed evidence o...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDental Services: ContractsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to secure a new NHS dental contract.
Answer: We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on shorter term improvements to the National Health Service dent...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPregnancy: Alcoholic DrinksDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that pregnant women are (a) asked about alcohol use at the earliest point in their pregnancy and (b) given healthcare to abstain from alcohol use throughout the dura
Answer: Pregnant women with alcohol problems are often highly vulnerable with multiple and complex support needs. The Government is committed to ensuring pregnant women with alcohol problems are supported to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and the foetus, a...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIdentity Cards: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101424More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy not to introduce ID cards.
Answer: On 26 September 2025, the Prime Minister announced plans for free digital ID to be available to all UK citizens and legal residents. This is not an ID card.
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIdentity Cards: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101423More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to help support people with poor digital connections to use a digital ID card.
Answer: The digital ID scheme will be underpinned with the principle that no one should be left behind. We recognise that not everyone has the same level of digital access or confidence, and that’s why the scheme will be accompanied by a major government digital ...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIdentity Cards: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101422More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to help support people who are digitally excluded to work, in the context of the implementation of the proposed digital ID card.
Answer: The digital ID scheme will be underpinned by the principle that no one should be left behind. Making this system work for everyone will be a top priority, including those who do not have smartphones, are elderly, or are less digitally confident, so everyo...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIdentity Cards: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101421More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether children and young people will be required to hold an ID card if they work.
Answer: On 26 September 2025, the Prime Minister announced plans for free digital ID to be available to all UK citizens and legal residents. This is not an ID card.The scope of the digital ID scheme is still in development and we are inviting the public to have t...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIdentity Cards: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101420More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to help prevent data breaches associated with the proposed digital ID cards.
Answer: The National Cyber Security Centre is advising the Government on how the new credential is built to the highest standard of security. This would operate a three lines of defence process - this helps ensure data is protected, fraud is deterred and detected...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented WorkersHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of the impact of digital ID on the number of undocumented workers in the grey economy.
Answer: Due to the hidden nature of illegal working, there is no reliable estimate on the scale of the issue.The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain emp...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSudan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on protecting women and girls in El Fasher, Sudan.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statements on Sudan made by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November, and by the Minister of State for International Development and Africa in the House of Lords debate on 27 November. We will provide further updates to the House...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Crimes of ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether protections against assaults for retail workers in the Crime and Policing Bill will apply to public transport workers involved in the retail of (a) refreshments and (b) rail products and ticke
Answer: Assaults against retail workers will be covered by a new offence which we are introducing via the Crime and Policing Bill. Our definition of retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of th...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Crimes of ViolenceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and British Transport Police on the potential merits of a standalone offence of assaulting a public transport worker.
Answer: There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The railway has its own dedicated polic...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Crimes of ViolenceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a standalone offence of assaulting a public transport worker.
Answer: There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The British Transport Police have a spe...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Crimes of ViolenceDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal protections against assaults at work for public transport workers.
Answer: There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts. The British Transport Police have a spe...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily Hubs: Adoption and Kinship CareDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to ensure family hubs are accessible for adoptive and kinship families.
Answer: Best Start Family Hubs (BSFHs) will be open to all families, including adoptive and kindship families. Best Start Family Hubs (BSFHs) are focused on universal, preventative services, targeting disadvantaged families. They can also serve as a non-stigmatis...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Kinship Care: Mental Health ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October to Question 78154, how much of the £500 million allocated to local authorities for Family Help services is being allocated to help adoptive and kinship families with post pl
Answer: Family Help reforms are being delivered nationally through the Families First Partnership programme, offering services to all families, including adoptive and kinship families.On 20 November, we announced additional investment of £547 million, bringing to...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: MalnutritionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of patient safety risks, including those relating to malnutrition, among people with severe and very severe ME/CFS in England.
Answer: In July this year, we published the final delivery plan (FDP) for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with thi...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeech and Language Therapy: RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures are being undertaken to recruit speech and language therapists.
Answer: The department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including speech and language therapy, for children and young people with special educational needs and disabil...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Kinship Care: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 78154 on Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, what steps she has taken to ensure (a) adoptive and (b) kinship families receive appropriate help f
Answer: The department is committed to rebalancing the children’s social care system, which is why we are rolling out the Families First Partnership programme. On 20 November, we announced additional investment of £547 million, bringing the total funding provided...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to announce the eligibility criteria for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) in 2026-27; whether her Department will provide funding for the ASGSF after April 2027; and, wi
Answer: The government has confirmed the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will continue in 2026/27 and that applications running into 2026/27 can now be made. Details of the ASGSF from April 2026 will be made available once departmental busi...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 67594 on Adoption Support Fund, whether the equalities impact assessment was drafted prior to the date of her Department's decisions to amend the Adoption and
Answer: The equalities impact assessment (EIA) was drafted prior to the decisions to amend the adoption and special guardianship support fund. Following the announcement of the changes to the Fund, the EIA was prepared for publication and subsequently made availa...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92027More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to assess the impact of the April 2025 changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, including (a) the reduction in the fair access limit and (b) reductions
Answer: The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund will enable as many children and families as possible to access support. So far this year, over 12,500 applications have been approved, including almost 1,000 applications for special...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 906025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to co-produce policy changes to mobility allowances.
Answer: The PIP mobility element is in scope of the Timms Review, which aims to ensure PIP is fair and fit for the future. We will co-produce the Review with disabled people, and their organisations to ensure lived experience is at the heart of its work. We will ...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPigs: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered introducing method of production labelling for pork products to help consumers that are seeking to avoid products from farrowing crates.
Answer: We will consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the government’s wider animal welfare strategy. On 12 June 2025, we published the summary of responses and the Government response to the fa...
Answered 8 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPigs: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to support farmers in Yorkshire to transition to free farrowing systems.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, Laurence Turner, on 3 April 2025, PQ UIN 41698.
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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