Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jayne Kirkham this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 317 · this parliament
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the intervals between cervical screenings on instances of cervical cancer.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Southport on 30 June 2025 to Question 60149.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a replacement to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme.
Legislation was introduced in July 2023 that prevents English Producer Organisations submitting new operational programmes and the extension of existing programmes that would end on or after 1 January 2026. This effectively closed the scheme in England.Our approach to future funding for horticulture will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature, and we are going further to develop a 25-year farming roadmap to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come. Horticulture will also be considered within our new food strategy, to develop a food system that unlocks the food sector’s economic potential, strengthens food security, tackles obesity so we can give our children the best start in life, and protects our planet for future generations.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support and (b) incentivise the adoption of (i) lower impact and (ii) highly selective fishing methods in UK waters; and whether he plans to reform the gear approval process to reduce barriers to innovation.
We strongly support the use of gear that is more selective and which lowers the environmental impacts. We have been promoting this through a number of routes, including fisheries funding, measures introduced through annual consultations and negotiations with the EU and other coastal states, and through our Fisheries Management Plan programme. The Seafish Industry Authority (“Seafish”) are currently looking at how to overcome barriers to the adoption of new gear. In order to achieve maximum conservation benefits, and to be in line with international best practice, it is crucial that any approval processes are robust and are based on the best available scientific evidence.
If he will bring forward his planned timeline for consulting on the future of the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme.
A number of generating stations under the Renewables Obligation scheme come to the end of their support in 2027. The Government is aware that may affect their commercial viability. We are assessing the impact that the end of support will have on security of supply, clean power 2030 and the environment. No decisions have been made on future support.
When she will publish the consultation on the earned settlement scheme.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement on trends in the level of NHS staffing levels.
A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found at the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UKWe will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An impact assessment will be developed alongside any finalised policy.
How many people in prison convicted under joint enterprise law have autism.
The Ministry of Justice does not collect centrally information on whether a person in prison has autism, or whether their conviction related to joint enterprise.
When the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will come into force.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
Whether the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will apply retrospectively.
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
What steps she is taking to help ensure the sustainability of early years providers.
The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity. We want 75% of children to achieve a good level of development by the end of reception by 2028. By focusing on child development rather than just childcare, the government aims to ensure that children are better prepared for school and future learning.In 2025/26 alone, we plan to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements. This is a more than 30% increase compared to 2024/25, as we roll out the expansion of the entitlements.As announced at the Spending Review, the government will provide an additional £1.6 billion per year by 2028/29, compared to 2025/26, to continue the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents. Employment Allowance is being increased to protect businesses by providing relief of up to £10,500 per annum on their employer Class 1 National Insurance Contributions liabilities from 6 April 2025. Early years childcare providers are entitled to claim the Employment Allowance if they are private businesses or charities, and we expect the vast majority will be eligible to do so.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement on (a) higher education and (b) research.
A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found at the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An impact assessment will be developed alongside any finalised policy.
Whether she has reviewed the effectiveness of legislation relating to joint enterprise.
Joint enterprise is a complex area of law which is not set out in statute but evolves through case law. It is an important principle ensuring that those who act with others to commit crimes are held to account.The Government is aware of concerns about the use of joint enterprise, and understands its importance, particularly in terms of the consequences that can result from convictions. The Crown Prosecution Service is collecting data on joint enterprise homicide/attempted homicide cases and will publish a report later this year. In addition, the Law Commission review of criminal appeals is considering the “out of time” appeals process which is an issue of relevance to historic joint enterprise cases decided before the 2016 case of Jogee.
What progress his Department has made on issuing payments to terminally ill veterans under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.
The Ministry of Defence has made significant progress in issuing payments to terminally ill Veterans under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme. All eligible terminally ill Veterans who have applied for the Dismissed or Discharged payment have been paid. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.
How many payments have been issued under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.
As of 9 June 2025, 44 Veterans had received payments through the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS). Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed. We have been prioritising payments to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.
Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks as a condition of being a councillor.
Disclosure and Barring Service checks (‘DBS checks’) for local government members are currently optional; it is for individual local authorities to adopt eligible DBS checks as they feel necessary.I am considering the benefits and disbenefits to potential changes in local government member DBS check policy.
Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing stronger (a) censure and (b) sanction options for serious breaches of member codes of conduct in local authorities.
In December 2024 the Government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The Government Response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
What assessment she made made of the potential impact of the Crime and Policing Bill on levels of protections for (a) bank, (b) building society and (c) banking hubs workers.
Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.Our definition of a ‘retail worker’ is intentionally narrow given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, and the assault took place in the course of their work. The Government does not plan to include bank, building society or banking hub workers within the new offence.Assaults against workers in these sectors are already an offence (common assault) under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and are covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public, including public-facing roles in banks and building societies.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 50758 on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Sexual Dysfunction, which regulatory options are under consideration; and what his planned timeframe is for the review.
Following the next meeting of the Expert Working group (EWG), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will seek advice from the Commission on Human Medicines on the recommendations of the EWG, on a wide range of regulatory options for the communication of the risk of sexual dysfunction where symptoms continue after taking antidepressants.Once the regulatory procedure is completed, a public assessment report will be published which will contain the evidence underpinning any regulatory action. The MHRA anticipates that regulatory action will be finalised in Autumn 2025.
What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) transgender and (b) intersex (i) people and (ii) groups are consulted on Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
The EHRC has opened its consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that fire and rescue services have the (a) personnel and (b) life saving equipment they need to safely respond to incidents of (i) flooding, (ii) wildfires and (iii) other extreme weather events.
The 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement, published on 3 February by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG), sets out funding allocations for all local authorities, including Fire and Rescue Authorities. Standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each Fire and Rescue Authority.MHCLG also supports fire and rescue authorities in responding to flood incidents by providing national resilience High Volume Pump (HVP) capability comprising 45 HVPs.Additionally, since 2024 the government has funded a national resilience wildfire advisor to consider whether additional national wildfire capabilities might be needed within the Fire and Rescue Services and to increase the coordination approaches across the sector.The Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure Fire and Rescue Services have the resources they need to protect communities.