Every parliamentary written question tabled by David Chadwick this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 350 · this parliament
Whether she plans to extend the list of accepted occupations for counter signatories of passports.
The current list of recognised professions is set out in guidance here: Confirming ID: referees (accessible) - GOV.UK. The guidance explains that these are examples of accepted professions rather than a definitive list. Similar professions will be considered.Customers can call the Passport Adviceline if they have questions about a passport application.
When his Department plans to publish a plan for improving the Access to Work Scheme.
Following the close of the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation,we are considering responses to the consultation and continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to raise any concerns about the text of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with the Treaty secretariat.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 December 2024 to Question 18645.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken a detailed examination of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 December 2024 to Question 18645.
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that housing repairs work is integrated into the upgrades that are required as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
Consumers considering home retrofit work are encouraged to engage with installers who take a ‘whole house’ approach considering the needs of the individual property, including where repairs may need to be made. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will outline the policy proposals it will bring forward to improve up to 5 million homes. We will publish more details soon.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the effectiveness of the Small Producer Exemption under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.
To ensure the effectiveness of the small producer exemption under the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, we will keep these thresholds under review, noting that any changes, such as raising the exemption threshold, would impact on disposal fees and recycling obligations for those producers who remain obligated. We will conduct a proactive review of this after two years, allowing time to assess the impact of the scheme and ensure that it remains fair, proportionate, and effective in driving environmental outcomes without placing undue burden on small businesses.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to encourage the USA and Russia to enter discussions on a new nuclear weapon treaty to replace the NEW START Treaty.
The New START Treaty is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russian Federation; any replacement treaty is a matter for the US and Russia. The UK regularly raises issues related to strategic risk reduction, including arms control with the USA and Russia through the expert-level P5 process. Genuine and verifiable strategic arms control among the largest Nuclear Weapons States can be a positive step for global security. However, following Russia's decision to suspend participation in New START verification measures in 2023, future approaches need to be based on concrete, and verifiable actions.
What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of support offered by the Access to Work Scheme for people that wish to be self-employed.
Access to Work (AtW) is a personalised grant which supports the recruitment and retention of disabled people in employment including providing support for people who are self-employed. In 2024/5 Access to Work supported 7,080 self-employed customers. We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed. We are continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives, on all aspects of our proposals.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects Ofwat's replacement to be in place.
The Government will respond to Sir Jon Cunliffe’s recommendations in full via a White Paper, published for consultation this autumn, and a new water reform bill that we will introduce early this Parliament. This Government has confirmed that it will abolish Ofwat and bring water functions from four different regulators into one – a single regulator responsible for the entire water sector. Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions and enforcement responsibilities in full.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the final report of the Independent Water Commission, published on 21 July 2025, what progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of that report.
The Government is immediately taking forward a number of Sir Jon’s recommendations. We will establish a new statutory water ombudsman, end operator self-monitoring and introduce Open Monitoring.Subject to consultation this autumn, the Government will abolish Ofwat and merge its functions to form a single new regulator, which will include a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning. Until the new regulator is fully established, existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions.The Government will clarify its expectations through a Strategic Policy Statement and ministerial direction, expected to be published later this year. The full response to Sir Jon’s recommendations will be set out in a White Paper for consultation this autumn and a new water reform bill to be introduced early this Parliament.
What steps her Department is taking to help tackle covid-19 small business loan fraud.
The Government is committed to recouping public money lost in pandemic related fraud whilst also taking steps to provide value for money for UK taxpayers, working closely with law enforcement, counter-fraud agencies and commercial lenders. We are clear that fraud is not acceptable within these schemes, and businesses continue to be responsible for the loans they took out under any of the Covid loan guarantee schemes.We are providing significant funding to the British Business Bank and the Insolvency Service to combat loan fraud, including £10.9 million for the British Business Bank over three years to boost their counter fraud and assurance programme. The Insolvency Service has a proven track record in handling complex fraud and financial misconduct investigations. By the end of March 2025, its work had resulted in more than 2,000 director disqualifications, bankruptcy restrictions, 62 criminal convictions, and more than £6 million recoveries related to Covid loan guarantee scheme abuse.We have also appointed a fixed-term Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, to look at the issue of Covid fraud and recoveries at large, as we use every means possible to recoup public money lost in pandemic-related fraud. The Commissioner will be completing his work by the end of this year and will provide a report to be presented to Parliament.In the interests of transparency, the Government also publishes Covid loan guarantee performance data, which includes total values lent and repayment data. The latest version of this data was published in August 2025 and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-loan-guarantee-schemes-repayment-data-march-2025
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of constructing a direct rail link to Cardiff Airport.
The Wales Rail Board is responsible for assessing and recommending rail investments to support new and improved services in Wales. The approach of the Board is to promote improvements to services on the Vale of Glamorgan line, including to Rhoose, where there is an effective integrated bus link to Cardiff Airport.
What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of the development of a metro-style train service between (a) Cardiff, (b) Newport, (c) Bristol and (d) Bath.
There are no plans to change the existing train service between Cardiff and Bath which is operated by Great Western Railway (GWR). My officials are however in active discussions with Transport for Wales about the potential introduction of a new train service between West Wales and Bristol, which could also serve new stations along the South Wales corridor. The Department for Transport would need to be satisfied that any new service would be operationally robust and affordable for taxpayers.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of revising the system for remaining off the electoral register on the grounds of safety from a former abusive partner, so that applications do not need to be renewed annually with supporting evidence from a (a) doctor and (b) judge.
The government committed in its manifesto to improving voter registration. This commitment applies to every eligible elector. The current system requires individuals registered as anonymous electors to reapply annually to maintain their status. The government acknowledges that this requirement imposes an unnecessary burden on those electors.In its published strategy, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, the government committed to amending the legislation to extend the duration of anonymity period. This reform will mean that anonymous electors will no longer need to reapply each year, thereby streamlining the process and reducing barriers to participation.
Whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment of the potential impact of changes to inheritance tax relief for farmers on the Welsh language.
The Government is not under an obligation to carry out or publish a specific Welsh language impact assessment of tax policies. However, it is not expected there will be any material impact on the opportunities of individuals to use the Welsh language following these reforms.
Whether the Government plans to extend East-West Rail to (a) Cardiff, (b) Bristol and (c) Norwich.
East West Rail (EWR) is a new railway that will connect Oxford-Cambridge and cities and towns in between. The proposed service pattern on the line was set out in the EWR consultation in November 2024. There are key interchanges with major rail lines along the route and connections with long distance services will be subject to future decision.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of building a second Severn Tunnel or bridge specifically for rail services.
The strategic planning functions within Network Rail and Transport for Wales are considering the future capacity requirements of the South Wales Mainline. Their advice will be provided to the Wales Rail Board to inform the prioritisation of the government’s investment in Welsh rail services. Initial findings indicate that predicted future growth of services can be met through incremental upgrade of existing infrastructure.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the fees charged for (a) lowering, (b) relocating and (c) diverting the network by Openreach.
As the independent regulator for communications services, Ofcom regulates Openreach’s charges to ensure fair competition, so the government has not made any such specific assessment.
Whether she has plans for the electrification of the north Wales mainline.
Together with industry partners, we have identified a number of improvements on the North Wales Main Line which will deliver more immediate passenger benefits, including increasing the frequency of services in 2026, which will serve to strengthen the business case for future electrification. Following the Spending Review, we are funding these improvement works as part of the wider £445 million investment to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales — unlocking economic potential, improving connectivity, and supporting communities.
What is the total allocated budget for all five of the new railway stations to be built in south east Wales.
The government’s recent Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy has recognised Wales’ long-term infrastructure needs and will deliver at least £445 million of rail enhancements to realise them. The exact proportion of funding required to support individual enhancement schemes will be confirmed through further development activity currently underway by industry partners.