Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jayne Kirkham this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 343 · this parliament
Whether businesses that re-power existing buses will be eligible for future government funding rounds for zero-emissions buses.
The Government is committed to supporting the full transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs). In March, we announced up to £73.2m in additional funding to support the delivery of approximately 484 ZEBs across 10 projects in England, on top of £38 million a...
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of trends in notices to quit issued under paragraph 31 of the Electronic Communications Code; and what comparative assessment she has made of tho
The Government wants operators to work collaboratively with site providers to reach agreements for siting mobile infrastructure. Masts may be removed or relocated for a range of reasons, and this is a commercial matter for the parties involved. The Depart...
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of implementing sections 61 to 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on existing mobi
The Government wants operators to work collaboratively with site providers to reach agreements for siting mobile infrastructure. Masts may be removed or relocated for a range of reasons, and this is a commercial matter for the parties involved. The Depart...
Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a register of mobile sites and their legal status to monitor telecoms masts at risk of removal after a site pr
The Government wants operators to work collaboratively with site providers to reach agreements for siting mobile infrastructure. Masts may be removed or relocated for a range of reasons, and this is a commercial matter for the parties involved. The Depart...
What steps he is taking to promote industrial growth in Cornwall.
Through the Industrial Strategy, we are supporting industrial growth in Cornwall through targeted investment, innovation and local partnership. Through programmes such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Freeports and the £30m Kernow Growth Fund delivered b...
Whether the new work and study immigration routes will be open to nationals from Myanmar.
In the Restoring Order and Control statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced ...
Whether the new community sponsorship safe routes will be open to nationals from Myanmar.
In the Restoring Order and Control statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced ...
Whether she has considered financing the provision of EpiPens for all children in an educational establishment.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to maximise UK food security in the context of climate instability.
Steps being taken to maximise food security in the context of climate instability include: An £11.8 billion allocation to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on nature-friendly farming, with Environmental Land Management Schemes to £2bn by 2028/29. £120 million in funding, starting this year, to improve productivity, trial new technologies and drive innovation across the agricultural sector. £70 million of this funding has been allocated to Farming Innovation Programme grants, supporting investment in new technologies to boost Britain’s food security. Defra investment, with the Met Office Hadley Centre, in the Food, Farming and the Natural Environment programme strengthen the evidence base on adaptation options and identify and evaluate key adaptation measures to improve agri-food sector, resilience.
What assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the time taken and (b) effectiveness of the General Optical Council's action in cases of malpractice.
The Department has regular discussions with the General Optical Council (GOC) on regulatory matters.While the GOC is an independent regulator responsible for managing its fitness to practise processes, the Government expects the GOC to take steps to improve the efficiency and timeliness of case handling.In March 2026, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published its 2024/25 performance review of the GOC, concluding that that it met all 18 Standards of Good Regulation, including those relating to fitness to practise. The PSA found that most fitness to practise investigations were timely and adequate, with risks managed appropriately. However, the PSA identified some areas for improvement which the GOC is addressing through an action plan. The PSA will monitor the progress of this plan as part of its continuous oversight of GOC’s performance.In parallel, the Department is progressing wider, longer-term reforms to the regulatory frameworks of the healthcare professional regulators. These will enable them to be more responsive to changes in the health and care workforce and give them the flexibility to modernise their fitness to practise processes whilst maintaining public protection.
Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.
Defra is preparing a Sector Growth Plan for the horticulture sector, following the first meeting of the Farming and Food Partnership Board in March. Defra officials are meeting with horticulture sector experts to shape an industry-led, sector-owned plan that brings together Government and industry expertise. The plan will identify key industry challenges and opportunities to boost productivity and profitability, while cutting environmental impact, and taking into account market realities and government priorities.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the Child Maintenance Service to issue a deduction from earnings order rather than a deduction of earnings request to HM Paymaster General when the paying parent is a member of the armed forces.
Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEO) are applied as a method of payment where the Child Maintenance Service deducts maintenance directly from the Paying Parent’s wages. The DEO is primarily used to enforce payments but can be set up voluntarily. Deduction from Earnings Requests are similar to a Deduction from Earnings Order but used for Paying Parents who are serving members of the Armed Forces. The Child Maintenance Service can only request a deduction to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and, unlike with civilian employers, they cannot order or enforce payments. MOD policy aims to comply with requests; however, if the Paying Parent is committed to operational duties MOD may suspend the collection of debt. The Child Maintenance Service takes action to ensure the correct method of payment is applied by identifying whether a Paying Parent is in the Armed Forces through its use of Real Team Information (RTI) Data taken from HMRC. This provides up to date information about Pay As You Earn income as the information submitted by employers online is displayed in RTI immediately. To ensure that the correct method of payment is used for a Paying Parent who is serving in the Armed Forces, caseworkers are provided with step-by-step procedural instructions and training.
Whether she has considered the potential merits of making farmers with land in a Self-Invested Personal Pension eligible for Agricultural Property Relief.
Assets do not qualify for agricultural property relief or business property relief when held within a pension. This is because the pension member is not treated for inheritance tax purposes as beneficially entitled to the underlying assets held by the pension scheme. This is consistent with the existing policy on the treatment of assets held by a pension scheme and there are no plans to make any changes.
What steps he has taken to protect whistleblowers in the NHS.
The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and detriment in employment on the basis that they have made a protected disclosure, as well as a right to seek remedy through an employment tribunal where this occurs. Separate regulations also protect National Health Service job applicants from discrimination on the grounds they have made a protected disclosure in the past. In addition to legal protections, there is a range of support in place for NHS workers who wish to report concerns, including local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, a National Freedom to Speak Up policy, and support from independent organisations such as Speak Up Direct. Through delivery of the 10‑Year Health Plan, we will ensure that the Care Quality Commission, as part of its existing inspection and regulatory responsibilities, takes account of whether NHS providers have effective Freedom to Speak Up arrangements, where this forms a relevant line of enquiry. Where relevant, this includes whether providers have effective whistleblowing arrangements in place and whether staff feel able to raise concerns safely without fear of detriment.
For what reason unpaid carers are not eligible for vaccination against Coronavirus, in the context of them being eligible for vaccination against flu.
The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.Although seasonal flu and COVID-19 can both cause severe disease, they differ in their epidemiology and pathology. As such, the population groups at higher risk of severe disease will not necessarily be the same for each pathogen and the JCVI has considered each programme individually.The JCVI advised in its autumn 2024 advice that, in the current era of high population immunity to COVID-19 and with all cases due to Omicron sub-lineages of COVID-19, currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against transmission and mild or asymptomatic disease. The JCVI therefore advised that the focus of the programme should be on offering vaccination where it directly protects an individual at higher risk. In line with this advice, unpaid carers ceased to be offered COVID-19 vaccination in autumn campaigns from autumn 2024. Eligibility for the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaigns has never included unpaid carers.The focus of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is on vaccination of older adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. These are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality.In line with JCVI advice for spring 2026 and autumn 2026, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered this spring and autumn to the following groups:- adults aged 75 years old and over;- residents in care homes for older adults; and- individuals aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed.The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
Whether he plans to take steps with the National Wealth Fund to provide funding for heat networks in rural and coastal areas such as Cornwall.
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) supports new and existing heat networks across England and Wales to adopt low carbon technologies. Applicants to the scheme are also encouraged to seek financing options from the National Wealth Fund and can opt to have their project information shared with the Fund for them to consider potential support. Heat network developers in coastal areas can contact the GHNF delivery partner, Triple Point Heat Networks, or consult the scheme guidance (Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF): Round 11 application guidance - GOV.UK) for further information.
Media and Sport, what capital funds are open to independent cinemas.
Independent cinemas are vital anchors for local communities, offering cultural access for people across the UK and helping to sustain our high streets. Cinemas based in not-for-profit mixed arts venues in England may meet the eligibility criteria for Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund; we estimate this applies to approximately 13% of the 218 full-time independent cinemas in the UK. Independent cinemas can also apply for various public funding schemes through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Arm's Length Bodies if they meet the eligibility criteria. For example, through the British Film Institute, cinemas can access support for audience-facing projects through the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund; and can join the BFI Film Audience Network and apply for funding to support projects that bring audiences together for screenings of UK independent and international films. This sector will also benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure venues, starting this year.
What steps he is taking to prevent further reductions in opening hours and patient access for community pharmacies.
Last year, the Government increased funding for community pharmacy to almost £3.1 billion, representing the largest uplift for any part of the National Health Service across 2024/25 and 2025/26.Pharmacies in areas of high health need and limited provision continue to receive additional support through the Pharmacy Access Scheme, helping to maintain reasonable access to NHS pharmaceutical services.The Department is consulting Community Pharmacy England on proposals for contractor reimbursement and remuneration for 2026/27 and will announce the outcome once the consultation concludes.The majority of community pharmacies are contractually required to open for a minimum of 40 core hours per week, with a small proportion required to open for 72 hours. If changes to pharmacy opening hours risk limiting patient access, integrated care boards can take action locally.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Cornwall a priority area for strategic heat network zoning.
Heat network zoning, due to come into force later this year, will grant new powers to local government to accelerate heat network development in areas where they will be the most affordable heating solution. We will support at least ten locations to establish their heat network zones soon after Heat Network Zoning Regulations go live. We will announce locations in due course which will be a result of assessing locations across England. Longer term DESNZ is looking to develop its pipeline of future zones, inviting strategic and local authorities to submit information by 29 May 2026.
Whether the Future Homes Standard will make solar batteries mandatory on new build homes.
Batteries aren’t mandated under the Future Homes and Buildings Standards because Building Regulations set performance‑based outcomes and do not mandate specific technologies. This ensures flexibility for developers and avoids locking in solutions that may not be suitable in every setting. Battery storage is permitted and encouraged, and we continue to welcome ambitious developers who choose to go further than the minimum requirements.