Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions 2026
55 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: FraudHome OfficeTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ?what estimate her Department has made of the number of asylum applications which contain repeated narratives and evidence across multiple, unconnected claims; and what steps her Department is taking
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FraudHome OfficeTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the trends in the level of fraud and misrepresentation in asylum applications; and what steps her Department is taking to strengthen the identification of fraudulent cl
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordHeat PumpsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department's recognition of air-to-air heat pumps as a qualifying technology under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be reflected in (a) guidance and (b) encouragement to devolved go
Answer: The Warm Homes Plan set out measures to support the deployment of air-to-air heat pumps, including providing grants under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and removing other barriers to uptake. The BUS is only available to eligible properties in England an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 23616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on providing Barnett consequential funding to the Northern Ireland Executive to support a domestic heat pump scheme comparable to the Bo
Answer: The NI Executive will be provided with Barnett consequential funding as a result of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Any additional Barnett from this or other funding measures will be confirmed at the Autumn Budget. It is for the Executive to decide how they al...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHM Coastguard: Voluntary WorkDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has made of the potential impact of moving to a volunteer-with-expenses model for Coastguard Rescue Officers from September 2026 on recruitment, retention and
Answer: Plans to move the Coastguard Rescue Service to an expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead. We will now take time to gather the robust information required to understand the full operational implications of future decisions, as well as...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19604More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the £10 million England fund to cover the travel costs of children with cancer was calculated; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the fund across the UK.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer she received on 10 February in response to Question 110553, and I repeat that the Department continues to work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to share expertise in this area, and identify...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether families in Northern Ireland are eligible for the £10 million cancer travel fund for children.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer she received on 10 February in response to Question 110553, and I repeat that the Department continues to work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to share expertise in this area, and identify...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the equity of applying different State Pension uprating rules to pensioners based on country of residence for identical levels of National Insurance contributions.
Answer: UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no pl...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19601More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial impact of not uprating the State Pension for recipients living in countries without a reciprocal social security agreement on pensioner
Answer: UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no pl...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCompanies House: Proof of IdentityDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of issues with the identity verification process with Companies House, particularly the impact on charities.
Answer: The identity verification requirements introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 apply only to charities that are incorporated as companies limited by guarantee. In these circumstances, trustees are required to verify their i...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCompanies House: Proof of IdentityDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he is taking steps to streamline the identity verification process with Companies House.
Answer: Companies House designed its identity verification process to enable individuals to meet the requirements of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 while minimising burdens on business wherever possible.Identity verification is generally a...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMotability: Rural AreasDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will consider widening the eligibility criteria for the Motability mileage allowance extension.
Answer: Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the te...
Answered 22 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMotability: Rural AreasDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the postcodes eligible for the Motability mileage allowance extension for rural areas.
Answer: Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the te...
Answered 22 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMedical Treatments: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the EQ-5D-5L quality of life value set will be adopted in NICE technology appraisals.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is planning to adopt the EQ-5D-5L value set and has recently consulted on proposed changes to its guidance development manuals. NICE is now considering the responses to the consultation and expe...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGender Based Violence: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Answer: I speak regularly to colleagues across this House, across Government and across the Northern Ireland Executive, raising the issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.Making progress on this matters enormously to me and to Government. P...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordParental LeaveDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure parity of baseline parental leave rights, including the standard two-week entitlement, for parents regardless of their partner’s leave arrangements.
Answer: The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.The Review will conclude in ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordParental LeaveDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of parental leave entitlements, particularly in cases where one parent receives extended employer-supported paternity leave while the other parent is (a) inel
Answer: The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.The Review will conclude in ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage Allowances: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6953More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her officials have had discussions with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office on the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate of 45 pence per mile.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6923More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate on small and medium-sized enterprises and mobile workers in rural regions, including in Northern Ireland.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6922More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce an indexation mechanism linking the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate to (a) inflation and (b) motoring cost indices.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6921More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAllergies: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NICE on the introduction of EURneffy for use in the emergency treatment of serious allergies.
Answer: Following the approval of an adrenaline nasal spray by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in July 2025, the Government is considering whether any amendments to Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are appropriate...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3499More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the eligibility criteria for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme as it applies to PhD students whose stipends are not classifie
Answer: Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3497More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of excluding postgraduate stipends from the definition of qualifying income for Tax-Free Childcare on families where one parent is undertaking doctoral research funded by a
Answer: Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic ExpenditureTreasuryTabled 20 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128318More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential Barnett consequences arising from the proposed expansion of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answer: The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is being delivered in England, Wales and Scotland. Responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland sits with the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the UK Government will provide funding for the Norther...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →