Stephen Gethins MP: written questions
97 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Inland Border FacilitiesTreasuryTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75655More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse of (a) building border inspection facilities, (b) operating border inspection facilities annually since construction and (c) in total was since the UK left the EU.
Answer: Customs infrastructure at Inland Border Facilities (IBFs) is essential to protect the UK by ensuring risk-based checks on goods entering and leaving the country can take place. The cost to HMRC of building and setting up both enduring and temporary sites ...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Products: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75654More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement on the future use of Border Control Posts.
Answer: Work is ongoing to confirm what the future requirements for activities at the border will look like under an SPS Agreement, including what will happen to operations at Border Control Posts (BCPs). The Government recognises that there are questions that wi...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Border FacilitiesTreasuryTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75653More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much her Department has spent on inland border facilities for customs checks since 2020.
Answer: Customs infrastructure at Inland Border Facilities (IBFs) is essential to protect the UK by ensuring risk-based checks on goods entering and leaving the country can take place. HMRC has spent a total of £495m since 2020 on IBFs. This figure represents all...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: InspectionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many inspections Border Control Posts have conducted since 2022; and at what cost to the public purse.
Answer: Checks at Border Control Posts (BCPs) are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. To protect the integrity of this approach, we cannot share data on volumes of inspections. Regarding the cost to the public purse, the only UK Government run BCP is ...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 30 May 2025.
Answer: I can confirm that a response to the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry’s letter of 30 May was issued on 26 June 2025.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41875, when she plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 31 January 202
Answer: I apologise for the delay in responding to your correspondence, I will respond as soon as possible.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration ControlsHome OfficeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, when she plans to publish further information on the expansion to the p
Answer: As part of our Plan for Change, this Government is taking decisive action to bring net migration down and restore control over the immigration system.In July we began implementing the first set of reforms outlined in the Immigration White Paper – Restorin...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDarwin PlusDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Darwin Plus on maintaining the British Overseas Territories' environmental heritage.
Answer: Darwin Plus remains a funding programme that continues to improve outcomes for the unique biodiversity and environmental heritage of the UK Overseas Territories and we note the strong support for that continuation. Defra has confirmed funding for the cont...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDarwin PlusDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reinstating Darwin Plus.
Answer: Darwin Plus remains a funding programme that continues to improve outcomes for the unique biodiversity and environmental heritage of the UK Overseas Territories and we note the strong support for that continuation. Defra has confirmed funding for the cont...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWorld War II: PolandMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing unredacted access to the war records of ancestors of members of Polish forces who fought alongside the British Army in World War Two.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no plans to provide unredacted access to the records of service of Polish military personnel who served alongside British Forces during World War Two. The MOD assesses the release of information on a case-by-case basis in...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: Telephone ServicesTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74452More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the average wait time for callers to HMRC helplines; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for callers to HMRC helplines.
Answer: HMRC publishes its call waiting times on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC. Last year, HMRC recruited and deployed additional customer service ad...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Overseas Territories: ExportsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on export tariffs for the British Overseas Territories.
Answer: We recognise the impact tariffs have on the Overseas Territories exporting to the EU, particularly the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha. These tariffs stem from the fact that the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement agreed by the previous UK gover...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support state-level institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Answer: The UK remains committed to the stability and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including supporting its state institutions and the Office of the High Representative. On 17 June, the Foreign Secretary and I underlined that commitment t...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on offering support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the rule of law.
Answer: Following the appeal ruling by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) against Milorad Dodik, former President of Republika Srpska, we have worked with European and international counterparts to stress the importance of respect for the judgement and tha...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: Freezing of AssetsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) EU, (b) Canadian and (c) US counterparts on the release of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Answer: Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and is causing Ukraine. This is a matter that must be considered collectively, and we are working urgently with our partners across the G7 and European Union to consider all lawful avenues to make Russia pay. I...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFreezing of Assets: RussiaTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68439More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her Belgian counterpart on releasing frozen Russian assets for use by Ukraine.
Answer: The Chancellor regularly speaks to her G7 and European counterparts to progress matters in the UK national interest. Supporting Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia remains a priority. The Government is firmly committed to ensuring Russia pa...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFreezing of Assets: RussiaTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68438More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her Canadian counterpart on releasing frozen Russian assets for use by Ukraine.
Answer: The Chancellor regularly speaks to her G7 and European counterparts to progress matters in the UK national interest. Supporting Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia remains a priority. The Government is firmly committed to ensuring Russia pa...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: EU CountriesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has made to her EU counterparts on ensuring that UK citizens enjoy the same access to (a) museums, (b) historical sites and (c) other visitor attractions as EU citizens d
Answer: We would welcome moves by EU partners to promote greater access to their museums, especially considering the free access we provide to our national museums and galleries, but we are not members of the EU.
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: International Criminal CourtForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the United States sanctioning of the Prosecutor and judges of the International Criminal Court.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has had multiple discussions on sanctions on the International Criminal Count (ICC) with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Successive UK and US administrations have taken a different view on the ICC - for example, the UK are signato...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVideo GamesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation protecting the operability of purchased video games.
Answer: The Government is aware of concerns relating to the operability of video games including the life-span of licensed, online-only video games. We appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has responded ...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: SyriaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Syrian counterpart on that country's recognition of (a) South Ossetia and (b) Abkhazia.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has not discussed Syria's recognition of South Ossetia or Abkhazia with his counterpart.
Answered 29 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent arrests of political leaders in Georgia.
Answer: I am deeply concerned by the recent, politically motivated, sentencing of prominent Georgian opposition leaders. On 23 June, I urged Georgian Dream to stop misusing the judiciary to silence opposition voices, and to release all political prisoners.The For...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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