Every parliamentary written question tabled by James McMurdock this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,001–2,020 of 3,691 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will publish the new assessment of the financial impact of estate management charges on homeowners, and when this assessment is expected to be completed.
I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).
What steps her Department is taking to monitor the financial resilience and tax arrangements of companies holding Private Finance Initiative contracts.
The Government’s preferred financing model for any type of infrastructure project is the one that offers the best value for money. Proposals are appraised on a case-by-case basis using the Green Book. Public sector contracting authorities directly manage Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts and are responsible for monitoring and managing their respective contracts to ensure value for money. Since 2020, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), formerly Infrastructure and Projects Authority, has provided advice and training directly to contracting authorities to support them in navigating issues relating to PFI projects (operational and expiry-related). PFI payments are made by “unitary charge”, which are not broken down by underlying cost drivers. Therefore, the proportion of payments that are (a) capital repayment, (b) interest and (c) service charges is not readily available, nor is data on costs which have arisen because of inflation and indexing. Data on PFI and PF2 projects can be found at the following weblink: PFI and PF2 projects: 2024 Summary Data - GOV.UK
What assessment she has made of the energy efficiency of electric heavy goods vehicles.
The Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Demonstrator programme will report on the impacts of weather, terrain, driver behaviour, and payload on efficiency and range of electric HGVs. Over 150 vehicles are now operational in UK fleets with a further 150 due to enter service by March 2026. A trial of 20 electric HGVs in public sector fleets ran between April 2022 and September 2023 and information including total miles travelled, energy consumption, and vehicle range were published and are available online at http://bett.cenex.co.uk.
What the annual cost to the public purse was of active Private Finance Initiative contracts in the most recent financial year for which data is available.
The Government’s preferred financing model for any type of infrastructure project is the one that offers the best value for money. Proposals are appraised on a case-by-case basis using the Green Book. Public sector contracting authorities directly manage Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts and are responsible for monitoring and managing their respective contracts to ensure value for money. Since 2020, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), formerly Infrastructure and Projects Authority, has provided advice and training directly to contracting authorities to support them in navigating issues relating to PFI projects (operational and expiry-related). PFI payments are made by “unitary charge”, which are not broken down by underlying cost drivers. Therefore, the proportion of payments that are (a) capital repayment, (b) interest and (c) service charges is not readily available, nor is data on costs which have arisen because of inflation and indexing. Data on PFI and PF2 projects can be found at the following weblink: PFI and PF2 projects: 2024 Summary Data - GOV.UK
What plans she has to fund infrastructure to support the logistics industry.
This Government is taking signification action on infrastructure used by logistics. National support for the road haulage industry includes joint investment with industry in lorry parking and driver welfare facilities of up to £35.7 million. This is in addition to up to £30 million joint investment by National Highways and industry to improve lorry parking on the strategic road network (SRN). The Government is also investing £25 billion in the SRN over the next 5 years. At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government committed a further £891 million to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing, to enable the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation. The most significant road building scheme in a generation, this will relieve congestion at the Dartford Crossing, improve connectivity across the UK and to major ports, improving resilience and reliability for freight. To support decarbonisation, the Government has invested up to £120 million in the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator, alongside up to £30 million in the Depot Charging Scheme. The Plug‑in Truck Grant also helps reduce the upfront cost of zero‑emission HGVs. The recent Spending Review saw average annual funding increase for the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline over the next four years which will support rail freight growth. My department is updating planning and regulatory processes for ports, including the National Policy Statement for Ports. The Government is working with the National Wealth Fund, which has committed at least £5.8 billion of its capital to five sectors, including ports.
How many Private Finance Initiative contracts include index‑linked payment mechanisms; and what the estimated additional cost has been as a result of inflation over the last five years.
The Government’s preferred financing model for any type of infrastructure project is the one that offers the best value for money. Proposals are appraised on a case-by-case basis using the Green Book. Public sector contracting authorities directly manage Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts and are responsible for monitoring and managing their respective contracts to ensure value for money. Since 2020, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), formerly Infrastructure and Projects Authority, has provided advice and training directly to contracting authorities to support them in navigating issues relating to PFI projects (operational and expiry-related). PFI payments are made by “unitary charge”, which are not broken down by underlying cost drivers. Therefore, the proportion of payments that are (a) capital repayment, (b) interest and (c) service charges is not readily available, nor is data on costs which have arisen because of inflation and indexing. Data on PFI and PF2 projects can be found at the following weblink: PFI and PF2 projects: 2024 Summary Data - GOV.UK
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British citizens have participated in the UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme.
The Young Leaders Programme was launched in 2023 and aims to strengthen ties between the UK and Italy, the third largest economy in the EU, the UK's 9th largest trading partner, and a key NATO ally. The programme promotes collaboration between young UK and Italian professionals, including in trade and commercial fields, and its 26 participants to date have been evenly split between citizens of the two countries. The UK allocated £20,000 to the programme in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, our selection process is still open for 25/26 and we have allocated £46,500 in 2025/26 to reflect the increasing number of participants and the activities of the alumni network for past participants.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, whether he plans to bring forward measures ensuring that local people get the opportunity to buy homes first.
As set out in the government’s manifesto, we are committed to working with local authorities to give younger buyers the first chance to buy homes in their area. My Department will set out further details in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of livestock worrying on the finances of farming communities.
The Government has taken steps to address the financial impact of livestock worrying on farming communities through the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. The 2025 Act amends the 1953 Act, introducing new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying, modernising the definitions and scope, strengthening police powers to collect evidence and prosecute offenders, and increasing the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to publish a consolidated evaluation of digital engagement pilots undertaken by local authorities as part of the PropTech Innovation Fund.
Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents. My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme. Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future. The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.
What milestones remain before the full funding package for the Lower Thames Crossing is confirmed.
The Chancellor committed a further £891m to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing, the final tranche of Government support to enable the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation.There are a number of key activities to complete before the project is taken forward by investors, each with its own milestones. These activities include, for example, providing the project with the necessary legislative powers, enabling the appropriate regulation and devising and running a competitive process to attract investors whilst driving value for money for users. These will take place alongside the activities on the essential early works and utilities.
What estimate she has made of the potential cost to users of a Regulated Asset Base model for the Lower Thames Crossing.
The road user charging regime for the Lower Thames Crossing has not yet been set. The exact level of charges that are appropriate and how this interacts with the level of private investment will be the subject of future analysis and has not yet been finalised.Charges are necessary to cover the costs of providing the infrastructure, whether funded publicly or privately. Regulatory oversight will ensure transparency, fair pricing, and performance standards throughout the life of the asset to promote financial sustainability and user interests.
What assessment she has made of the relationship between road surface condition and road traffic accidents.
There have not been specific Department for Transport assessments on the risks posed by potholes to vulnerable road users, or on the relationship between road surface conditions and road traffic accidents. However, the Government recognises that defective road surfaces, including potholes, can present significant safety risks to vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists. Local highway authorities have a statutory duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain their road networks and must consider the needs of vulnerable groups when planning and delivering maintenance programmes. The Government is committed to tackling the poor state of our local roads. That is why we have made available an additional £500 million for local highways maintenance this financial year, and have confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion for the next four years. These funding increases will enable local authorities to invest in significantly improving the long-term condition of England’s road network, delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys. On Active Travel schemes where Active Travel England has been requested to inspect or assess existing layouts, available metrics can be used to score the scheme based on surface quality. It is for local authorities to determine the most appropriate road safety interventions, based on their knowledge of local conditions and the needs of their communities.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make his policy to publish the number of electors for each street.
The Government has no plans to make it its policy to publish the number of electors for each street. Electoral registers are maintained by local authority Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
What proportion of the risk of construction cost overruns for the Lower Thames Crossing would be borne by (a) taxpayers and (b) private investors under the Regulated Asset Base model.
The Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, which is the preferred financing option for the Lower Thames Crossing, is designed to reduce taxpayer exposure to funding risks. Regulatory oversight ensures transparency, fair pricing, and performance standards throughout the life of the asset to promote financial sustainability and user interests. The precise risk allocation for construction cost overruns between users, private investors and contractors has not yet been finalised and is subject to further development but will be primarily based on precedents from other projects undertaken through RAB models.
If she will publish a full funding profile for the Lower Thames Crossing, including the split between plans for public and private funding.
The Chancellor committed a further £891m at the Autumn Budget 2025 to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing. This brings the total public investment to £3.1bn, including spend to date. The latest cost assured estimate for the project is c.£10.6bn. The Department will continue to publish information on committed public expenditure for the Lower Thames Crossing through official reporting mechanisms.
What steps he is taking to ensure that enhanced focus on skills results in long-term employment outcomes for claimants.
The government’s ‘Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper’, published in October last year at Post-16 education and skills white paper - GOV.UK, set out the plan to give people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, support growth across the country, and drive national renewal. My Department recognises the importance of essential skills, (such as training in English, Mathematics and Digital skills) which are particularly relevant for unemployed claimants, for seeking and staying in work. The White Paper indicates the intention to review our adult essential skills offers to ensure it includes the skills most relevant to support progression into employment, education and training. In addition, we have developed foundation apprenticeships, offering a structured, supported route into skilled employment for young people who might otherwise be left behind. Also, through Local Get Britain Working plans we will support the development of a thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity for good work, to get on in work and where we increase the current employment rate.
What the total cost to date has been of Private Finance Initiative contracts for transport infrastructure projects.
The Government's Spending on Private Finance Initiative contracts is published annually by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pfi-and-pf2-projects-2024-summary-data.
What the total expected value is of the media strategy, planning, and buying contract awarded to WPP Media; and what estimated cost savings will result from reducing the number of suppliers under the new agreement.
WPP Media has been awarded a place on Lot 1 of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6364 Media and Creative Services agreement. The agreement, managed by CCS, will play an important role in ensuring that the UK public receives clear, accurate, and authoritative information from the government. By uniting media planning and buying under a single agency, the government will streamline its work to reach target audiences more effectively across diverse platforms. This consolidation is designed to drive value, improve operational efficiency, and ensure more effective media buying for every pound of public money spent. Spend and related savings will be determined by individual public sector bodies based on their specific requirements.
What the value of a) grants and b) other forms of financial assistance to charities working in the immigration sector was in each of the last three financial years.
The Government publishes data on grant funding annually in the Government grants register on gov.uk. Grant funding for the period 2023/24 is publicly available. Grants funding data for 2024/25 will be published in March 2026. Grants funding data for 2025/26 is scheduled for publication in March 2027.