Wendy Morton MP: written questions 2025
1301 published records · newest first.
Written questions
ApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to expand apprenticeship opportunities in high-demand sectors.
Answer: This Government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer which will deliver greater flexibility for employers and learners, and support the industrial strategy. At Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced additional inve...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to help improve work incentives within the benefits system and reduce long-term economic inactivity.
Answer: At the heart of our reforms is the principle that those who can work should work, but if you need help into work the government should support you, and those who can’t work should be supported to live with dignity. We’ve recently published draft regulatio...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to accelerate planning decisions and increase housing supply, particularly in areas with acute demand.
Answer: The government has taken a range of steps to accelerate planning decisions and increase housing supply. In December 2024, we published a revised pro-growth National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). We are currently consulting on further reforms to the NP...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to accelerate grid upgrades to support energy security and industrial investment.
Answer: The electricity network companies are responsible for building, owning and operating the grid, and Government is working with them, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to accelerate the delivery of critical network infrastructure and reform the ...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: ImportsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of domestic energy production, including North Sea activity, on levels of imported energy.
Answer: The North Sea is a highly mature basin, and its natural decline would not be reversed by further licensing. New licences awarded in the last decade have made only a marginal difference to overall oil and gas production. Further exploration and production ...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to reduce regulatory burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answer: The Small Business Plan outlines how we are supporting SMEs across the UK through the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlock billions of pounds in finance and remove unnecessary red tape.We have also co...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Cost EffectivenessTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100935More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of potential efficiency savings in public services that could reduce pressure on public spending while maintaining service quality.
Answer: This government is relentlessly targeting waste and driving efficiencies to make sure we are getting the best possible value for taxpayer money.
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth and ProductivityTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100934More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to bring forward supply-side reforms aimed at improving productivity in key growth sectors of the economy.
Answer: Economic growth is the first mission of this government, driving up prosperity and living standards across the UK. We are prioritising long-term productivity growth.For example, the Government is committed to reducing the administrative costs of regulatio...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxationTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100933More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the UK’s international tax competitiveness relative to comparable OECD economies; and what consideration she is giving to measures that would encourage investment and business growth.
Answer: The UK has an internationally competitive, territorial corporate tax regime, which is an essential component of growth and industrial policy in the UK. The Government published its Corporate Tax Roadmap at Autumn Budget 2024, which included a commitment t...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorismHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current counter-extremism programmes; and whether she plans to introduce further measures to tackle extremist activity and protect public safety.
Answer: This Government takes extremism seriously and we are committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to address this issue.Efforts to counter extremism span a broad range of Government and law enforcement activity and we must persist in...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordKnives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to expand the use of stop-and-search powers in areas with persistently high levels of knife crime.
Answer: Stop and search is an important power that helps the police to get knives off our streets and save lives.Police have powers to search any individual or vehicle where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will find offensive weapons. Where serious v...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordKnives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to expand the use of stop-and-search powers in areas with persistently high levels of knife crime.
Answer: Stop and search is an important power that helps the police to get knives off our streets and save lives.Police have powers to search any individual or vehicle where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will find offensive weapons. Where serious v...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent police recruitment and deployment changes on neighbourhood crime levels.
Answer: The Government published a performance framework in April 2025 which sets out how forces will be held to account. It includes measures on crime and other key indicators, including growth of neighbourhood policing.The framework outlines to forces and the p...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of removals of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK; and what assessment she has made of current capacity for enforced returns
Answer: The government has set out plans to increase returns in the policy paper entitled “Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy”, updated on 21 November 2025. This can be viewed on gov.uk at Restoring Order and Co...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current deterrence measures aimed at reducing illegal Channel crossings; and what further steps she plans to take to prevent small-boat arri
Answer: The Government has taken significant steps to address illegal migration and its Plan for Change sets out our ambition to secure borders and control immigration. We are committed to tackling illegal migration and the criminal networks which facilitate it. ...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: West MidlandsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 December 2025 on Support for Young People, HCWS1137, what evidence underpinned the selection of Birmingh
Answer: The government is investing over £1.5 billion in tackling youth unemployment and inactivity, including £820 million for the expanded Youth Guarantee and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy. This will provide young people aged 16–24 with greater su...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSector-based Work Academy Programme: West MidlandsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 December 2025 on Support for Young People, HCWS1137, what steps he is taking to ensure that expanded Sector-based Work Academy Programmes in West Midlands gr
Answer: DWP’s Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) – which offer training, work experience and a job interview to DWP customers seeking work – help employers with immediate and future employment needs by upskilling benefit claimants to fill local job vaca...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 December 2025 on Support for Young People, HCWS1137, and the ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, what modelling his Department
Answer: From the next academic year, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for all eligible people aged under 25 at non-levy paying employers, essentially small and medium sized enterprises. Currently, this only happens for apprentices aged 16-21...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: West MidlandsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 December 2025 on Support for Young People, HCWS1137, what assessment he has made of the readiness of Jobcentre Plus districts across the West Midlands, inclu
Answer: We have already taken the first steps towards delivering a Youth Guarantee, to ensure that all 16–24-year-olds in Great Britain can access support to find work, training, or an apprenticeship. We have launched Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, anno...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTreasury: Video RecordingsTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100876More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the treasury spends on external videography services annually.
Answer: In 24/25 HMT spent £16,831 on external videography services. In 25/26, HMT have spent £11,160 as at 30 November 2025 on external videography services. These figures are inclusive of the use of external videography services to make training videos for the ...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTreasury: Scotland and WalesTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100875More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent on her visit to Wales and Scotland in early December 2025, including staffing, accommodation, expenses and security.
Answer: As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ domestic travel. As a police protected minister, we do not comment on the specific arrangements in place for the Chancellor for security r...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: MarketingDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effect of introducing the Great British Rail branding on existing regional identities and heritage railway liveries; whether she plans to permit local or heritage-specific va
Answer: In developing the new brand for Great British Railways (GBR), the Secretary of State has carefully considered how to preserve Britain’s iconic railway history. With that in mind, many heritage names like Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Rail...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: MarketingDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for implementing the Great British Rail branding across (a) rolling stock, (b) stations, (c) staff uniforms and (d) digital platforms; what estimate she has made of the cost of eac
Answer: The Department is working to develop a rollout plan for the GBR branding, with a focus on maximising opportunities to ensure value for money, such as repainting trains when they were due to be repainted by their leasing companies. The brand rollout will b...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: MarketingDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Great British Rail branding designs currently in circulation are the final approved versions; what stages of design development or ministerial approval remain outstanding; what consultation has take
Answer: The railway today features a huge variety of conflicting signage standards, driven by the wasteful approach in of rebranding operators each time the franchise changed – creating a fragmented and confusing system for passengers, and in some cases not reach...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: MarketingDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what external agencies or consultants her Department or its arm’s-length bodies have commissioned to design the branding, logo and visual identity for Great British Rail; whether those contracts were subject to
Answer: The brand unveiled on 9 December 2025 was developed in-house by staff at the Department for Transport with support from a livery design specialist who works for a train operator in public ownership. This approach was chosen to ensure good value for money ...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →