Every parliamentary written question tabled by Tom Morrison this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 554 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Government is working with international partners to ensure that new HIV prevention technologies are affordable and accessible to populations most at risk.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 January in response to Question 101723.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to have GCSEs to enter apprenticeships on young people with disabilities, learning difficulties and neurodivergence.
Young people are not required to hold GCSE qualifications in English and/or maths before starting an apprenticeship. Apprentices under the age of 19 are funded to achieve up to a level 2 qualification in English and/or maths (where they do not already hold one) before the end of their apprenticeship, putting them in the best position to progress in their life and career. This can be a GCSE or functional skills qualification. Further flexibility is in place for apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability, where there is evidence this is likely to be a barrier to them completing their apprenticeship. In these cases, they are able to achieve an entry level 3 functional skills qualification to complete. Since August 2024, this flexibility has been available to apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability but without an Education Health and Care Plan.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK Government is playing internationally to support equitable access to long-acting HIV prevention technologies, including long-acting PrEP, in low-income settings.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 January in response to Question 101723.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on protecting global HIV funding and increasing progress towards ending AIDS by 2030.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 January in response to Question 101723.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the requirement to resit Maths and English GCSEs until passing on young people starting their careers and pursuing vocational further education and apprenticeships.
Level 2 English and mathematics skills are essential for progression in work and further study, and providers are required to continue teaching English and/or mathematics to students aged 16 to 19 without these skills. Learners aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship are required to achieve English and/or maths qualifications as an exit requirement.The department does not set entry requirements for further education (FE) courses and guidance is clear that decisions to enter students into English and mathematics exams should be based on readiness to improve their grade.The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper outlined further support for providers to improve outcomes for all students, on study programmes. We have introduced teaching hours requirements and will also introduce new Level 1 preparation for GCSE qualifications. We are working with the FE Commissioner to share effective practice. Proposed reforms to level 2 and 3 vocational and technical pathways will also be designed to ensure there is sufficient time to continue studying English and mathematics.
What support she is providing to students who want to pursue a creative course for further education but cannot due to not obtaining English and Maths GCSEs despite resits.
Level 2 English and mathematics skills are essential for progression in work and further study, and providers are required to continue teaching English and/or mathematics to students aged 16 to 19 without these skills. Learners aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship are required to achieve English and/or maths qualifications as an exit requirement.The department does not set entry requirements for further education (FE) courses and guidance is clear that decisions to enter students into English and mathematics exams should be based on readiness to improve their grade.The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper outlined further support for providers to improve outcomes for all students, on study programmes. We have introduced teaching hours requirements and will also introduce new Level 1 preparation for GCSE qualifications. We are working with the FE Commissioner to share effective practice. Proposed reforms to level 2 and 3 vocational and technical pathways will also be designed to ensure there is sufficient time to continue studying English and mathematics.
What steps she is taking maximise the public sharing of evidence on which assertions by the VOA are made; and how the VOA's duty to taxpayer confidentiality will be used when responding to queries.
The Valuation Office Agency publishes valuation information for transparency while ensuring the protection of taxpayer confidentiality in line with its duty under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. The VOA published draft valuations from the 2026 Revaluation of Business Rates alongside Autumn Budget, so ratepayers can see the Rateable Values on which their bills will be based from 1 April 2026. To increase transparency, VOA also provided customers with information on comparable properties to help them understand how their rateable value has been determined.
What steps she is taking to ensure transparency in the work of the VOA.
The Valuation Office Agency publishes valuation information for transparency while ensuring the protection of taxpayer confidentiality in line with its duty under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. The VOA published draft valuations from the 2026 Revaluation of Business Rates alongside Autumn Budget, so ratepayers can see the Rateable Values on which their bills will be based from 1 April 2026. To increase transparency, VOA also provided customers with information on comparable properties to help them understand how their rateable value has been determined.
In each of the last 5 years, a) how many complaints to his Department have resulted in a consolatory payment being made to benefit recipients in recognition of delays or errors made by DWP; and b) what is the total amount of those consolatory payments in each of the last 5 years.
We have provided the number of consolatory payments made in the last five years to benefit recipients in recognition of delays and errors made by DWP in the table below. YearNumber of Consolatory PaymentsTotal Gross Cost (£)2020/2131512943152021/226483525956.412022/238150674850.492023/247119684206.922024/256447643899.70
In each of the last 5 years, a) how many complaints have been made to his Department, b) how many of those complaints have been referred to the Independent Case Examiner, and c) how many of those referrals have resulted in payments or additional payments being made to the complainant.
a) The Department publishes a quarterly series of Official Statistics including DWP complaints received, closed and upheld by each business area, and categorisation of the reason for complaint:DWP Complaints Statistics to September 2025 - GOV.UKThe number complaints received in each quarter from September 2020 to September 2025 are available in Table 1 of the accompanying data tables:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693accf1c72b0f8ccf33d600/dwp-complaints-statistics-september-2025-data-tables.odsThe next release of the Official Statistics will be published in March 2026, containing data to 31 December 2025.b) The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) publishes an Annual Report each year. The reports include data relating to complaint intake volumes. The Independent Case Examiner’s Annual Reports are available on gov.uk.DWP complaints: Annual reports by the Independent Case Examiner - GOV.UKc) ICE is unable to confirm how many cases it recommended DWP pay financial redress for prior to 2023/24 as its data retention policy means this data is no longer available.Of the investigations ICE concluded in 2023/24, ICE recommended DWP pay financial redress in 1,388 cases. In 2024/25, the volume of cases where ICE recommended financial redress be paid by DWP was 1,332.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of freedom of religion or belief for Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of reports that allegations of blasphemy are being used to incite mob violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK Government is taking to encourage the Bangladeshi authorities to investigate and prosecute people responsible for mob violence against religious minorities.
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Government of Bangladesh regarding reports of the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on 18 December 2025.
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
What recent assessment she has made of support for pubs and breweries in light of the 40% business rates relief reducing in the same period as the VOA rate revaluation.
I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to UIN 101363.
If she will take steps to extend the qualifying criteria for Blue Badges to ensure that people with (a) Parkinson's and (b) other fluctuating conditions are eligible.
This Government fully recognises the importance of ensuring that the Blue Badge scheme supports those who have their mobility impacted by substantial and enduring disabilities and other health conditions. The current eligibility criteria are focused on the impact on an applicant’s mobility, rather than based on specific disabilities or conditions, and can be found on GOV.UK.Whilst Parkinson’s and other fluctuation conditions are not automatically eligible for a Blue Badge, applicants may still be eligible for a badge based on the evidence provided. Any decisions on an applicant’s eligibility are ultimately for the responsible local authority.
Whether he has considered the potential merits of conducting a review into the law of causation in clinical negligence, with a focus on increasing support and protection for families with late family members who were misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.
As announced in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. David Lock KC has not been specifically asked to conduct a review into the law of causation in clinical negligence as part of his work, but he is able to consider all aspects of the way clinical negligence law operates as part of his review.
What assessment they have made of variations in access to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) across Integrated Care Boards; and what steps they are taking to ensure consistency in prescribing for eligible patients.
Tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are legally required to fund NICE-recommended medicines, including obesity treatments, within three months of final approval. NICE granted a phased rollout of tirzepatide for obesity to manage National Health Service resources and establish new care pathways. ICBs have been legally required to fund tirzepatide for obesity so that prescribers can offer the treatment to eligible patients in specialist weight management services since March 2025 and in primary care from 23 June 2025. NHS England is providing support for ICBs, including providing:- additional funding to support the delivery of services within primary care and the cost of obesity medicines in line with interim commissioning guidance; and- a centrally funded wraparound care service ‘Healthier You: Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing’ for primary care to refer patients to. We do not hold information on whether each ICB provides access to specific medicines in its locality. ICBs are responsible for ensuring they meet their legal duties, including making funding for NICE-recommended medicines available.
Communities and Local Government, whether guidance is issued to local authorities on exercising discretion in parking enforcement cases involving unpaid carers attending emergency or time-critical caring responsibilities.
Municipal parking provision and enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is best for their own area. Many councils offer parking concessions or schemes for carers, such as a personal carers parking permit. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils’ website for further details of any local schemes. Furthermore, the Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England on Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions allows local authorities a discretionary power to cancel a Penalty Charge Notice at any point throughout the process. It can do this even when an undoubted contravention has occurred if the authority deems it to be appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Currently, there are no plans to amend this guidance. Unpaid carers are entitled to a range of benefits and financial support, including the new statutory right to 5 days of unpaid leave per year for caring introduced in April 2024. The government continually keeps under review ways to provide additional support to unpaid carers.
Whether her Department operates any concession or discretionary process for partner visa holders whose entry to the UK was delayed due to government-mandated COVID-19 travel restrictions and red-list hotel quarantine.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the department considered the impact on people qualifying for settlement and, as a result, concessions were put in place, including where discretion will be exercised regarding the qualifying period for settlement. These are set out in the Family Life guidance: Family life and exceptional circumstances: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK