Every parliamentary written question tabled by Charlie Dewhirst this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 845 · this parliament
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.
Pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 117764, on Opposition: Domestic Visits, whether the (a) MOD or (b) Armed Forces have guidance on this issue in relation to visits to military sites.
The Ministry of Defence is eager to facilitate more engagement with Parliamentarians, and we are proactively doing so given the importance of Defence within the national conversation. Defence Ministers are committed to ensuring the Department is being more transparent and engaged with MPs from all parties, supporting visits to sites across the UK to meet our brave Service men and women. Parliamentarians can seek approval to visit an establishment, including requests for media or photography in advance, and these are approved on a case-by-case basis noting security protocols and sensitivities. The most effective route remains to contact the Parliamentary Engagement Lead for the relevant Service in the first instance. Constituency MPs or MPs for immediately neighbouring constituencies may arrange visits directly with local establishments.
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/
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86672, on Palantir, whether Officials from the UK Embassy in Washington communicated with Global Counsel over the visit.
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.
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.
What the merit ranking was of the Cabinet Secretary in the competition when she applied in the previous Cabinet Secretary recruitment process.
I refer to my answer for 113705. In accordance with data protection regulations, we do not provide information about candidates in Civil Service recruitment processes.
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
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.
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.
Pursuant of 17 March 2026, to Question 118785, on Palantir, for what reason no formal record of the meeting was produced.
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.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111851 on Law Officers: Equality, whether her Department's document entitled Attorney General's Guidance on Legal Risk, published on 6 November 2024, will be updated to reflect the proposed socio-economic duty when enacted.
The public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities is not yet in force in England. Once in force, the duty will require public authorities (including the Law Officers), when making decisions of a strategic nature about how to exercise their functions, to have due regard to the desirability of exercising them in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage.The Attorney General’s Guidance on legal risk is intended to assist lawyers and others advising on lawfulness and legal risk in government, by setting out a common framework to assess risk. At such time that the duty comes into force, the Law Officers will have due regard to it in deciding whether any updates to this guidance are required.
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 24 February 2026 to Question 113596 on Mission Boards, if she will publish the current terms of reference of the Safer Streets Mission Board; and whether any changes have been made to those terms of reference since the Mission Board was established.
The Safer Streets Mission Board was established as a Cabinet Committee. As with other Cabinet Committees, its detailed terms of reference are not routinely published.
Pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 112206, on Palantir: Contracts, whether communications were sent by Lord Mandelson in relation to the contract with Palantir.
As the Secretary of State for Defence has previously set out, Lord Mandelson had no influence or involvement in the Defence Enterprise Agreement with Palantir. Based on the information held by the Ministry of Defence, the Department is not aware of any communications sent by Lord Mandelson in relation to the contract with Palantir.
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.
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.
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.
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU on Scotland's fishing sector.
The UK Government remains steadfast in our commitment to maintaining world-leading food safety and animal health standards. All food and drink products imported into the UK must comply with our regulatory standards. But we want to limit red tape for our exporters as much as possible. As my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor advised the House on 24 March, we aim to conclude negotiations with the EU this year on the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. This will positively impact food prices in our shops and make it easier to trade with our biggest market. This is good news for Scottish exporters in seafood and many other sectors.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown.
Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The consultation asked respondents questions about the assumptions underpinning the proposal and potential impacts of the proposal which could include availability of refrigerants.
Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the availability of refrigerant as part of the review of responses to the F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown consultation.
Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The consultation asked respondents questions about the assumptions underpinning the proposal and potential impacts of the proposal which could include availability of refrigerants.