Every parliamentary written question tabled by Desmond Swayne this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 89 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations she to the Government of Russia on the prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other peaceful religious groups under extremism legislation in the last 12 months.
Awaiting answer.
Innovation and Technology, which company's commercial plans to supply broadband in Godshill prompted the decision to remove Godshill from the contract with Wessex Internet as part of Project Gigabit.
Awaiting answer.
If he will remove the requirement to set up a personal injury trust, placed on awards from Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for the purposes of Universal Credit, if claimants with such awards are to benefit from the capital disregard beyond one year.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 12-month limit on capital disregard applied to Armed Forces Compensation Scheme lump sum payments in Universal Credit on injured veterans and their families with caring responsibilities when a personal injury trust has not been entered into.
Awaiting answer.
How the Government is responding to evidence that domestic violence is a significant precursor to fatal knife crime involving children.
Preventing tragedies and building a society where children are free from the fear that knife violence will affect them is the driving force behind the recent publication of ‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope: A Plan to Halve Knife Crime’.The Government’s plan acknowledges that adverse childhood experiences, such as domestic abuse, can substantially impact children and young people throughout their lives. This is why a core pillar of our plan consists of supporting young people, addressing the root causes of knife crime, acting early to prevent the childhood harms and traumas that can increase the risk of knife violence later in life.The ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse’ strategy, which sets out the government’s vision and actions for halving violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse, places children and young people at its heart, particularly in relation to prevention and early intervention. We continue to learn lessons from domestic homicide reviews and child death reviews, and welcome research exploring this important issue.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made regarding the protection of Christian communities and other religious minorities in Sudan .
Awaiting answer.
If he will modify proposals by Motability to reduce the standard mileage allowance and increase the excess mileage surcharge in order to accommodate the needs of of rural drivers with essential mobility needs.
Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The Department for Work and Pensions meets quarterly with Motability Foundation, to discuss the Scheme’s operation. The changes to the leasing package were announced on 26 March and include reducing the mileage allowance from 20,000 per year to 10,000 per year. Changes only apply to new leases and there are no changes to the mileage allowance for existing leases. Motability Foundation has advised that approximately 75% of customers on the Scheme already use fewer miles than the proposed new mileage allowance. Motability understands that this will affect customers differently and is keeping these changes under review.
When he plans to answer the letter of 27th February from Valerie Lambert regarding hospital appointments booked by the 111 telephone service.
I responded to the Rt. Hon. Member’s correspondence on 24 April 2026.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will instruct the Rural Payments Agency to implement a manual system to process applications for ELM schemes on Common land.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) recognises the importance of commons to the delivery of environmental outcomes. The RPA is currently assessing how common land can access Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and is actively exploring both on and off system options, testing feasibility. Once this assessment is complete, the RPA will engage external stakeholders to discuss its planned approach.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will review the adequacy of her Department's travel advice for Hong Kong, in the context of recent reports of enforcement actions, under the National Security Law, regarding electronic devices in the possession of travellers; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of those reports on UK travellers and journalists operating in the territory.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps its travel advice under constant review, and last updated its advice for Hong Kong on 1 April to reflect its assessment of the situation on the ground.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of using the specialist sector to complement the inclusive mainstream sector; and what steps she is taking to (a) support and (b) invest in special schools and specialist colleges.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Whether her Department plans to ensure that children and young people will have a right to be educated in a specialist placement if their complex needs cannot be met in a mainstream educational setting.
In line with our proposed reforms, children with complex needs, who need a Specialist Provision Package(s) and a placement within a specialist setting, will have their provision guaranteed in their education health and care plan. Specialist Provision Packages will provide comprehensive, evidence-based and nationally consistent support.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking diplomatic steps to hold the recently inaugurated President of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 April in response to Question 124592.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will increase humanitarian support to Myanmar’s refugees, internally displaced people and civil society in 2026.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 April in response to Question 124595.
What estimate she has made of the potential impact of the exclusion of refined products from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from January 2028; and what estimate she has made of the potential impact on the UK economy were refined products to be included in the mechanism.
The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector. Following a strategic and technical assessment by HMG, it has been decided not to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to refined oil products in January 2028. Assessing the case for and feasibility of including refined oil products within the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at a later date is a priority. We are continuing to work with the sector to assess the options.
Whether she plans to include refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at a future date; and if she will take measures to support the fuels sector whilst it is excluded from a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector. Following a strategic and technical assessment by HMG, it has been decided not to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to refined oil products in January 2028. Assessing the case for and feasibility of including refined oil products within the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at a later date is a priority. We are continuing to work with the sector to assess the options.
What plans she has for SEND practitioners to be provided with training on how to support children with speech, language and communication challenges.
The department recently announced an investment of £15 million to establish new speech and language therapist (SaLT) advanced practitioners in every integrated care board geographical area, to get more SaLTs working in educational settings. These advanced practitioners will be qualified speech and language therapists.The government is also investing £200 million to give all staff in schools, colleges and early years settings the training they need to better support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with speech, language and communication needs in mainstream settings.This is in addition to £3.4 million being invested this year in the Early Language Support for Every Child programme, helping to identify and respond to speech and language needs, continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention, which has demonstrated significant impact on speech and language skills particularly for disadvantaged pupils, and an expansion of English Hubs programme from the 2026/27 academic year to include intensive language and literacy support.
What plans she has for the National Inclusion Standards to include (a) speech and language therapists, (b) any other experts on speech, language and communication challenges.
New National Inclusion Standards will set out evidence-based tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs. This will include evidence for targeted support to address barriers to learning and participation related to specific areas of development. One of these proposed areas of development is Speech, Language, and Communication.We will establish an independent, expert panel to develop National Inclusion Standards. The panel will be composed of a range of experts across both research and practice in supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. They will also engage wider experts to test the development of the Standards. This will include, for example, ensuring expertise from speech and language therapists and other relevant experts is incorporated.
What steps he is taking to support the resumption of inquests that were discontinued by previous legislation.
The Troubles Bill will restore the small number of Troubles-related inquests that were already in progress but then halted by the previous government’s Legacy Act. Inquests that had not started will be subject to an assessment by the Solicitor General to independently consider whether each case is most appropriately dealt with by the reformed Legacy Commission or the coronial system.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Government of China on the potential merits of the release of Pastor Ezra Jim Mingri.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to question 75048 on 16 September.