Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Murrison this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 94 · this parliament
How many members of the Irish Defence Forces have undertaken training in the UK in each year for which records are available and what arrangements exist for cost recovery.
Since 2017, a total of 158 members of the Irish Defence Forces have undertaken training on UK Ministry of Dfence-run courses. All costs have been fully funded by Ireland, including course fees and associated expenses.
What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of body armour currently supplied to the British Army in deflecting projectiles in (a) men (b) women.
We are committed to ensuring that our forces are equipped with the best possible kit for the future, both men and women. We are ensuring that our Service personnel are equipped with appropriate and sufficient protective equipment. As part of this commitment, we are delivering an update to body armour for all UK personnel through the Tactical Ballistic Plates (TBP) project. Assessments of the effectiveness of body armour are conducted as a key part of the selection process prior to any contract award. These assessments are carried out against a detailed set of performance criteria derived from a classified threat assessment, ensuring that the armour provides the required level of protection against relevant ballistic threats. The in-service hard armour plates and soft armour filler are subject to regular inspection and testing to ensure their continued integrity and the protection levels they are designed to provide for all personnel.
When will the British Army be provided with body armour designed to fit women.
The Ministry of Defence remains firmly committed to ensuring that our Service personnel are equipped with appropriate and sufficient protective equipment. As part of this commitment, we are delivering an update to body armour for UK personnel through the Tactical Ballistic Plates (TBP) project. Anthropometric data was used in the design of TBP. Plates will be available in four sizes, to better fit a broader range of personnel, including women. A comprehensive range of options will be assessed ahead of the TBP contract award, which is currently scheduled for December 2026. This evaluation will ensure that the new armour achieves the optimal balance between fit and the protection required for all our personnel. In-service dates will be confirmed once the contract has been awarded and the delivery schedule is finalised.
With reference to the policy paper entitled Draft Road Investment Strategy 3, published on 26 August 2025, when she plans to publish the final version; and when she plans to respond to the policy paper entitled M4 to Dorset Coast: Strategic connectivity study, published in December 2023.
The Department plans to publish the third Road Investment Strategy in March 2026, and this will include the latest position and proposed next steps in response to findings of National Highways M4 Dorset Coast Strategic Study.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department's negotiations with the Mauritian Government on control of the Chagos Islands made reference to UNCLOS Article 298.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 February in response to Question 110708.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish Treasury Counsel's advice on the potential impact of Article 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on potential legal challenges to UK sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 February in response to Question 110708.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what international dispute resolution mechanisms relating to Diego Garcia is the UK party to; and when they came into force.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 February in response to Question 110708.
Communities and Local Government, on what dates he has met with the Associated Retirement Community Operators to discuss the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on a) its members and b) its members' customers.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on tenancy opportunities for older people in the independent living sector.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on the number of extra housing units for older people in the independent living sector.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of whether current apprenticeship uptake will meet the estimated shortfall in qualified cyber security professionals, identified as being experienced by 30% of cyber firms in 2024 in the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2024 report.
The latest published data shows 590 cyber apprenticeship starts in England in 2023/24. As apprenticeship statistics are devolved, comparable UK‑wide data is not published on a consistent basis. Apprentices alone will not meet industry demand for cyber security professionals. That is why we are expanding multiple entry routes, including apprenticeships, higher education and non‑traditional pathways. Through the new Growth and Skills Levy, the Government will support 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people and unlock shorter training options that can support frontier sectors such as cyber. In addition, the £187 million TechFirst programme will fund up to 4,000 students, researchers and innovators entering frontier industries, and help local firms fill around 1,000 tech roles, including cyber security roles.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to A UK Cyber Growth Action Plan – Final Report (Command Paper CP 1406, September 2025), what progress her Department has made against this suggestion; and what metrics her Department plans to use to measure progress in embedding cyber skills more broadly across education, business, and regional initiatives.
We received the Cyber Growth Action Plan in September and are now working to incorporate the recommendations in the new National Cyber Action Plan. In the meantime, we have launched the £187m TechFirst programme to develop and support students across the UK to enter the cyber workforce alongside the wider digital and tech frontier industries. We also continue to support key initiatives such as the UK Cyber Security Council to standardise and embed cyber professional standards; Cyber Local grants to support regional efforts to support businesses and schools and Cyber Essentials certification scheme to help organisations protect themselves against the most common cyber security threats.
What the (a) completion and (b) achievement rates were for cyber security apprenticeships at (i) Level 3, (ii) Level 4 and (iii) Level 6 in each year since 2020.
The apprenticeship ‘National achievement rate tables’ are published in the Apprenticeships statistics publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/Apprenticeship retention and achievement rates for cyber security apprenticeships can be found here:2021/22 to 2023/24 academic years: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c4ef515c-602b-41dc-8709-08de69749f742018/19 to 2020/21 academic years are published in an underlying file accompanying the release: Apprenticeship Achievement Rates Standards and Frameworks We do not produce data on the number of employers who have offered cyber security apprenticeships.
How many employers have offered cyber security apprenticeships in each year since 2020.
The apprenticeship ‘National achievement rate tables’ are published in the Apprenticeships statistics publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/Apprenticeship retention and achievement rates for cyber security apprenticeships can be found here:2021/22 to 2023/24 academic years: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c4ef515c-602b-41dc-8709-08de69749f742018/19 to 2020/21 academic years are published in an underlying file accompanying the release: Apprenticeship Achievement Rates Standards and Frameworks We do not produce data on the number of employers who have offered cyber security apprenticeships.
When he plans to publish the Defence Investment Plan.
The Department is working flat out to deliver the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of tariffs on produce from North Africa on levels of cost to UK consumers of (a) tomatoes (b) lettuce (c) blueberries (d) cucumbers (e) olives (f) olive oil.
The UK–Morocco Association Agreement provides the framework for our £4.6 billion annual bilateral trade relationship, including trade in agri‑food products. Under Article 18 of the Agreement, both parties committed to meet and consider further tariff liberalisation for agriculture and fisheries products. Three rounds of discussions have taken place, most recently in October 2025. Both sides have agreed to work towards a mutually beneficial and balanced outcome.As part of the wider approach to strengthening agri‑food trade with North Africa, we are also engaging with partners such as Egypt and Tunisia to ensure our agreements remain modern, balanced and supportive of UK producers and consumers. These discussions reflect our commitment to deepening trade relationships across the region.Any future changes to our trading arrangements will be designed to support UK producers, strengthen the resilience of our food supply chain and ensure that consumers continue to have access to a wide range of affordable, high‑quality food.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on UK (a) consumers (b) producers of aligning the UK's tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in food with Morocco with those applying to the EU.
The UK–Morocco Association Agreement provides the framework for our £4.6 billion annual bilateral trade relationship, including trade in agri‑food products. Under Article 18 of the Agreement, both parties committed to meet and consider further tariff liberalisation for agriculture and fisheries products. Three rounds of discussions have taken place, most recently in October 2025. Both sides have agreed to work towards a mutually beneficial and balanced outcome.As part of the wider approach to strengthening agri‑food trade with North Africa, we are also engaging with partners such as Egypt and Tunisia to ensure our agreements remain modern, balanced and supportive of UK producers and consumers. These discussions reflect our commitment to deepening trade relationships across the region.Any future changes to our trading arrangements will be designed to support UK producers, strengthen the resilience of our food supply chain and ensure that consumers continue to have access to a wide range of affordable, high‑quality food.
Food and Rural Affairs, which tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in foodstuffs with Morocco she plans to remove following the 2019 Association Agreement.
The UK–Morocco Association Agreement provides the framework for our £4.6 billion annual bilateral trade relationship, including trade in agri‑food products. Under Article 18 of the Agreement, both parties committed to meet and consider further tariff liberalisation for agriculture and fisheries products. Three rounds of discussions have taken place, most recently in October 2025. Both sides have agreed to work towards a mutually beneficial and balanced outcome.As part of the wider approach to strengthening agri‑food trade with North Africa, we are also engaging with partners such as Egypt and Tunisia to ensure our agreements remain modern, balanced and supportive of UK producers and consumers. These discussions reflect our commitment to deepening trade relationships across the region.Any future changes to our trading arrangements will be designed to support UK producers, strengthen the resilience of our food supply chain and ensure that consumers continue to have access to a wide range of affordable, high‑quality food.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Housing Strategy will include a plan for Integrated Retirement Communities.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the New Zealand model of Integrated Retirement Communities in formulating the Housing Strategy.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.