Every parliamentary written question tabled by Charlie Dewhirst this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 859 · this parliament
Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will respond to the consultation entitled F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown before Whitsun recess.
Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.
With reference to the Cabinet Office press release, Ministers rip up consultation culture, of 26 March 2026, if he will publish the revised guidance on Equality Impact Assessments.
The Government has committed to speeding up decision making and delivery for the British people. As part of this, a proportionate approach is being taken to equalities impact assessments, so that they improve policy and outcomes. Guidance for public authorities is already available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-equality-duty-guidance-for-public-authorities/public-sector-equality-duty-guidance-for-public-authorities.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107385 on Ofwat: Equality, whether Ofwat intends to amend its policy approach; and if she will ask Ofwat to use the Equality Act terminology of sex when referring to protected characteristics.
As previously stated, Ofwat's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy makes reference to "gender" largely in relation to the outcomes of, and insight from, statutory Gender Pay Gap reporting. Ofwat has confirmed that it will amend its EDI strategy to provide further clarity on where commitments and actions relate to the protected characteristic of sex and/or gender or gender reassignment.
With reference to section 5 of the Government Efficiency Framework, published on 24 November 2025, if she will publish the most recent quarterly efficiencies report provided to her department by each government department and public body in scope of the reporting requirements.
Departments are required to report their efficiency savings within the performance section of their Annual Reports and Accounts (ARAs) from 2026-27.
Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 118358, on Clean Energy Mission Board: Membership, which delivery partners were in attendance at its most recent meeting.
The most recent meeting of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission Board was in November 2025. At that time it was still a Cabinet Committee and specific information about attendance and discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees is not normally shared publicly.
With reference to the letter dated 10 September 2025 from the Strategy Directorate at the Department for Energy Strategy and Net Zero, dated 10 September 2025 and deposited in the House of Commons Library on 13 March 2026, if he will provide the equivalent information on domestic flights for each Minister from September 2025.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for steps following the recent consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain.
Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.
Pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 112826, on Global Counsel: Palantir, whether Global Counsel staff were in attendance at the meeting on 27 February 2025; and whether the office of the UK Defence Attache received communications from Global Counsel after that event.
Global Counsel staff were not present at the Prime Minister’s visit to Palantir on 27 February 2025. The UK Defence Attache has not corresponded or met representatives of Global Counsel since July 2024.The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.Any contracts for any firm go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.
Whether Inter Mediate is on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register.
It would not be appropriate to comment on whether specific entities have registered under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.Certain information registered under the scheme is published on the public Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register, where the registration relates to political influence activities and where no exception to publication applies. Registrations under the enhanced tier are not published unless they relate to political influence activities, and there are circumstances in which registration details will not be made public, for example where publication could create a risk to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.The Government does not intend to provide details of registrations beyond those that appear on the public register, as doing so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the scheme’s objectives.However, the Government will be publishing an annual report on the operation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will include, among other things, the number of registrations under both tiers, the number of information notices issued, and the number of persons charged with or convicted of offences under the scheme. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
With reference to the Areas of Research interest gov.uk page published by the Government Office for Science, whether she plans to update her Department’s area of research interests.
The Home Office will be publishing updated Areas of Research interest later this year.
With reference to the policy paper entitled UK–China memorandum of understanding, 2025, published on 27 February 2026, for what reason the agreement signed in March 2025 was published in February 2026.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether nominated three referees were nominated as part of the vetting process for Lord Mandelson.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
How much her Department has spent on podiums used for Ministerial press conferences since 4 July 2024.
Government lecterns and podiums are regularly used at press conferences and speeches. This is managed on a case by case basis, depending on the location. Associated costs may be included within wider event production costs and therefore is not readily available to report on.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70519 on Public Inquiries, what the total cost to the public purse of the Southport inquiry is at the most recent date for which data are available.
The total costs for the Southport Inquiry have not yet been published. However, the inquiry will be expected to publish its costs periodically and intends to make these available in due course on its website, which is available here: https://www.southport.public-inquiry.uk/
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2026 to Question 108241 on Mission Boards, which (a) internal and (b) external members attended the most recent meeting of the Break Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission Board.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2025, to Question 23032, on Home Office: Flags, which unit of her Department decided which flags would be flown from the Department’s buildings in 2025.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) manages the protocol around flying the Union Flag from Government buildings, publishing the designated days list to that effect each year.Home Office's other flag-flying is managed by Home Office Facilities Management (FM) providers at 5 sites, and by the Government Property Agency at 2 sites, and is signed off by the Deputy Director for Workplace Services and Projects (and shared with the Director for Property and Security, the DG for Chief Operating Officer Group and the Permanent Secretary’s office.Any additional flags besides the flags of England, Scotland and Wales (flown on national days) would only be flown with sign off from the Permanent Secretary.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84664 on Universities: Admissions, what assessment has been made by (i) her Department and (ii) Office for Students on whether university admissions are materially determined by (a) the postcode of the applicant or (b) the parental occupation of the applicant.
Higher education (HE) should be a gateway open to all who have the ability and desire to pursue it. Our Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out our vision for a reformed system that helps everyone with the desire and aptitude to access high quality HE, breaks down the barriers to opportunity, and supports growth.While universities are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions, it is essential that the students they admit are likely to succeed. Contextual admissions allow universities to consider an applicant's individual circumstances and background alongside their attainment, to better understand their potential. The Office for Students (OfS) provides guidance on the use of contextual admissions and expects providers to ensure policies are evidence-based and evaluated.OfS monitors equality of opportunity, including access to HE, through its Equality of Opportunity Risk Register. HE providers are required, under Condition F1 of the OfS regulatory framework, to publish annual transparency information on applications, offers, acceptances and registrations broken down by sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic background.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment with the EU on (a) AI and (b) crypto regulation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Whether communications between the Sovereign and the Government are in scope of Government responses to Humble Addresses.
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.
Pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 86239 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, what the value was of that invoice.
I refer the Honourable Member to the response to PQ 74185