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 2,341–2,360 of 3,503 · this parliament
What discussions she has had with Essex County Council on the impact of the We Rise Business Mentoring Programme on (a) youth employment and (b) skills development.
The department does not hold data on the impact of the We Rise Business Mentoring Programme, as it is part of the ‘Essex Year of Opportunity’, a campaign by Essex County Council. Departmental officials and Essex County Council regularly discuss how to improve opportunities for young people in Essex.
What steps he is taking to align the Construction Skills Mission Board to (a) training provision and (b) (i) local and (ii) regional labour needs.
To ensure employers can work collaboratively to secure the workforce needed to meet future demand, the Government is sponsoring a new Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB). Chaired by Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace, the Board will provide strategic leadership to the construction sector and develop an Industry led Construction Skills Action Plan. The CSMB will work closely with Government to ensure that industry is well aligned to key initiatives within the Construction Skills Package, including Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, and industry placement development, ensuring these programmes reflect industry needs. It will work closely with training providers to align curricula with modern construction practices and sustainability standards. The Board will work collaboratively with Mayoral Combined Authorities and local partners to support the effective use of devolved funding and ensure interventions reflect regional priorities. Skills England will take a national view of skills gaps and work with local partners including Mayoral Strategic Authorities to ensure provision meets the needs of learners and employers. This approach ensures national programmes remain responsive to local priorities while maintaining consistency in quality and outcomes.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 86589 on Construction: Apprentices and Training, how the Construction Support Package is being allocated by (a) region and (b) type of training.
On 23 March 2025, the Government announced a construction support package worth £625 million to tackle the acute shortage of skilled workers in the construction sector. (a) By Region Construction Skills Package funding for initiatives including Industry Placement Support, FE Teacher Industry Exchange, and capital support to Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will be devolved to Mayoral Combined Authorities where they exist. Skills Bootcamps are delivered nationally through provider contracts. (b) By Type of Training The package includes a range of interventions, including:Skills Bootcamps: short, intensive training to meet immediate skills needs.Foundation Apprenticeships: funding to encourage new industry entrants.Uplift High Value Course Premium: paid to FE providers for eligible courses/studentsFree Courses for Jobs: Additional qualifications added to the national course list.Industry Placement Support: placements in industry for learners in FE on eligible coursesConstruction Technical Excellence Colleges: 10 new CTECs and associated capital investment.Project-Based Capital: Employer-led skills provision.
Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure growth of the data centre sector is compatible with (a) wider land use and (b) environmental objectives.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. In 2024, this was updated to provide particular support to key industries such as digital infrastructure, including data centres, as drivers of growth across the economy. Additionally, the government are proposing Data centres to be included as a type of development that could be capable of being directed to proceed through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime. This Government will publish a National Policy Statement (NPS) on data centres which will provide a clear policy framework for site selection, emphasising locations that minimise conflicts with housing, agriculture, and other strategic land uses.In regard to environmental objectives, some UK data centre operators are implementing energy-efficient measures under a Climate Change Agreement, and our Clean Power Action Plan will support the growth of new energy intensive industries like data centres. As many new data centres have a large energy requirement, the AI Energy Council is working with regulators, energy firms, and tech companies to secure sustainable power. We also encourage developers to plan for water availability, prioritize non-potable use, embed efficiency and reuse, and engage early with suppliers.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, updated on 12 December 2024, what steps he is taking to support local planning authorities in assessing the impact of data centre development on (a) electricity grid capacity, (b) land availability and (c) other local infrastructure.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should pay particular regard to facilitating development to meet the needs of a modern economy, including by identifying suitable locations for uses such as data centres.The Framework also makes clear that Planning policies and decisions should recognise and address the specific locational requirements of different sectors.The availability of land for specific uses and developments is a matter to be considered locally though plan and decision-making.A policy paper on delivering AI Growth Zones was published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 November 2025. The paper sets out actions that the government is taking to support proposals for data centres, including through the provision of additional planning capacity, forthcoming updates to national planning policy and a new National Policy Statement for Data Centres to support NSIP applications. The policy paper can be found on gov.uk here.
If he will publish data on (a) the average waiting time from referral to first appointment and (b) other assessment capacity for ADHD in each Integrated Care Board.
For the first time, NHS England published management information on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment waiting times at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, and data is now released each quarter, with the latest release in August 2025. Data on ADHD waiting times at an integrated care boards (ICB) level is not currently held centrally. NHS England has released technical guidance to ICBs to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits and diagnosis data as well as publishing more localised data. NHS England intends to publish data at an ICB level in 2026/27. NHS England established an independent ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. The final report was published 6 November, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.
Whether her Department plans to join the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for the technical workstreams. The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.
What guidance her Department provides to councils on encouraging the use of kinship care arrangements.
The department’s statutory guidance on the purpose, principles for practice and expected outcomes of children’s social care that should be achieved so children and young people can grow up to achieve and thrive is in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.The second outcome of the national framework sets out the expectation that children’s social care “needs to consider how to unlock family networks and identify kinship carers to be a source of support, whenever children and young people need help, protection, or care”.The support available to help embed the national framework in practice is available in the accompanying advice. Further, the kinship care statutory guidance for local authorities sets out a framework for the provision of support to kinship families, and how family networks can be engaged to support the needs of children throughout the children’s social care system, including those unable to live with their parents.
If she will publish a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme by region of the UK.
Statistics are available online covering the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme which was open from 2021-2025, including a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under that scheme by region of the UK and the proportion of purchases under that scheme made by first-time buyers. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/official-statistics-on-the-mortgage-guarantee-scheme
What information her Department holds on the proportion of mortgages issued under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to first-time buyers in the last five years.
Statistics are available online covering the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme which was open from 2021-2025, including a breakdown of the number of mortgages issued under that scheme by region of the UK and the proportion of purchases under that scheme made by first-time buyers. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/official-statistics-on-the-mortgage-guarantee-scheme
Media and Sport, if she will review the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for (a) the Common Ground Fund and (b) other capital funding schemes at helping to increase levels of support for community organisations seeking to acquire their first building.
The Government recognises the importance of community spaces and buildings which offer vital resources for communities across the country.The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has policy responsibility for community assets and community development. In September 2025 MHCLG launched the Common Ground Award to invest capital funding into VCSE sector organisations that are bringing people together from different backgrounds, supporting the cost of constructing or renovating facilities, or the purchasing of equipment to deliver services. Organisations are not required to own the property from which they operate to be eligible for the Award.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have policy responsibility for community ownership and has not conducted its own assessment of the eligibility criteria or impact of capital funding schemes.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) train scheduling and (b) barrier down-time on the number of unsafe crossing attempts by (i) pedestrians and (ii) drivers.
It is for Network Rail, as the operator of Britain’s rail network, to manage the risks at level crossings and to implement protective measures to manage those risks accordingly, consistent with its statutory obligations. Network Rail will consider numerous factors to inform its approach and ensure the safety of the public, from the frequency of services and pedestrian and road traffic volume at the crossing, to user behaviour and historical incident data, among other things. As it is the safety duty holder, it is best placed to make judgments on how best to mitigate risks at level crossings to ensure users are kept safe.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of capital funding schemes that exclude organisations without property holdings on community development.
The Government recognises the importance of community spaces and buildings which offer vital resources for communities across the country.The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has policy responsibility for community assets and community development. In September 2025 MHCLG launched the Common Ground Award to invest capital funding into VCSE sector organisations that are bringing people together from different backgrounds, supporting the cost of constructing or renovating facilities, or the purchasing of equipment to deliver services. Organisations are not required to own the property from which they operate to be eligible for the Award.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have policy responsibility for community ownership and has not conducted its own assessment of the eligibility criteria or impact of capital funding schemes.
What plans she has to make funding available for infrastructure upgrades at (a) railway crossings and (b) (i) road and (ii) pedestrian bridges in (A) areas experiencing significant increases in freight traffic and (B) East Tilbury.
The Government recognises the benefits that infrastructure upgrades in East Tilbury could bring to the local community. However, we must target our investments to maximise growth and deliver value for taxpayers. The Spending Review 2025 settlement highlights the Government’s continued commitment to investing in rail and supporting schemes that drive maximum growth. The settlement represents an increase in funding compared with what has been spent on rail enhancements in recent years.
What steps she is taking to discourage pedestrians and motorists from attempting to cross when barriers or lights are active at level crossings in East Tilbury.
Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, is responsible for the safety of users at East Tilbury level crossing. It is aware of the risks posed to pedestrians and motorists at the crossing, which are reflected in the measures in place to manage these risks, including manually operated barriers and CCTV. To support further improvements in safety, Network Rail plans to hold a safety event with the local community to raise awareness of the risks associated with East Tilbury level crossing and to discuss how misuse can be reduced.
Communities and Local Government, with refence to his Department's oral statement of 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, col 767, whether it remains his Department's policy that it does not hold elections to bodies that will not exist.
The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislation that establishes new unitary councils to replace scheduled elections with elections to the new councils. For Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock I anticipate there will be elections to new unitary councils in May 2027.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November to Question 87207 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what democratic safeguards his Department will introduce to ensure that voters are not denied the chance to vote in the 2026 local elections due to their councillors requesting another cancellation.
The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislation that establishes new unitary councils to replace scheduled elections with elections to the new councils. For Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock I anticipate there will be elections to new unitary councils in May 2027.
Innovation and Technology, if she will make a comparative assessment of the (a) growth and (b) global market share of the space industry in (i) the UK and (ii) other G7 countries.
As part of its ongoing space policy development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) already makes comparative assessments of the growth and global market share of the UK space industry, drawing on data from a wide range of countries (including other G7 economies). These assessments ensure that the UK’s space sector performance is understood in its international context, using the latest available evidence.The UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2024 report estimated the total income of the UK space sector to be £18.6 billion in 2022/23 and the 2023 report Expanding Frontiers has details about countries’ percentage market shares. DSIT will continue to analyse and monitor data on the UK’s place in the global space industry.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received requests from (a) Thurrock, (b) Essex, (c) Basildon and (d) any other Essex council to cancel the 2026 local elections.
The Department has received no formal requests to postpone elections from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock that were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. In terms of cancelling elections, I expect the secondary legislation that establishes new unitary councils to replace scheduled elections with elections to the new councils. For Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock I anticipate there will be elections to new unitary councils in May 2027.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 87207 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether considers Thurrock's financial circumstances to be sufficiently strong justification for cancelling the 2026 elections; and whether he considers those circumstances to be equivalent to Surrey's.
On the handling of Thurrock Council’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.Our starting point remains for all elections in 2026 to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.The elections in May 2026 to the new councils of East Surrey and West Surrey will replace scheduled council elections, subject to Parliament. Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock are on a different timeline and I have today updated the House on the consultation on their proposals for unitary councils. We anticipate elections to any new councils in May 2027, with a ‘go live’ date for new authorities of April 2028. We are not cancelling elections in Thurrock in May 2026.