Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jonathan Davies this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 143 · this parliament
What progress she has made on improving the process by which people can apply for and obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate.
This Government is committed to protecting trans people, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect.We have already delivered our manifesto commitment to equalise all existing strands of hate crime to ensure that hate crime committed on the b...
What plans her department has to improve retention of experienced and senior teachers in mainstream schools.
Retaining experienced teachers is at the heart of the government’s pledge for 6,500 additional expert teachers. Details of the delivery plan were published in February and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-...
What progress she has made on improving the process by which people can apply for and obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support local authorities in the provision of adult social care.
Baroness Casey is leading an independent commission into adult social care to help shape the reforms needed to realise a National Care Service. But councils can make a difference to improving care via their role as commissioners, and I am working with the minister for care to support local authorities in doing so. This is backed by around £4.6 billion additional funding available for adult social care in 2028–29 compared to 2025–26. This includes £500 million for the first Fair Pay Agreement to improve adult social care worker pay and conditions.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of producing guidance for local authorities on a) the opportunities to reallocate s.106 funding for stalled projects, and b) making it clearer to local authorities that reallocation is permissible.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in utilising unspent s.106 funds.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing for greater pooling of section 106 funds between local authorities to free up unspent funding.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the government is taking to (a) promote the use of recycled water, (b) support water companies to harvest the benefits of recycled water and (c) increase public awareness that recycled water may be a way to reduce demand on the supply of potable water.
The Government recognises the benefits of water reuse, specifically greywater and rainwater recycling play a key role in ensuring our homes and businesses can be water efficient. This was set out in the Water White Paper, which committed to facilitating the adoption of reused water and review the right to connect to water supply for domestic and non-domestic purposes, freeing up potable water supply for growth. The Government is also exploring how water-efficient technologies, including greywater and rainwater reuse, can be supported through the review of the Building Regulations (2010). The Government will continue to work with Ofwat, water companies and developers to encourage and support their delivery of water and wastewater efficiency and reuse measures.
Communities and Local Government, what support he is providing to assist local authorities in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates.
The government does not provide any direct financial or other support to assist Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates. LPAs can use Section 106 planning obligations to secure a commitment from developers to deliver infrastructure that is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. LPAs may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within a Section 106 agreement. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210) and the answer given to Question UIN 112724 on 3 March 2026.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of powers held by (a) Government and (b) local authorities to compel housing developers to complete works so that infrastructure can be adopted on newly developed housing estates.
The government does not provide any direct financial or other support to assist Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates. LPAs can use Section 106 planning obligations to secure a commitment from developers to deliver infrastructure that is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. LPAs may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within a Section 106 agreement. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210) and the answer given to Question UIN 112724 on 3 March 2026.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s delivery of the Cultural Protection Fund on (a) strengthening support for communities connected to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and (b) promoting international cultural partnerships.
The CPF supports communities to safeguard cultural heritage threatened by conflict and climate change regardless of UNESCO World Heritage status. Funded projects strengthen individual, community and societal identity alongside protecting cultural heritage. The fund is well placed to strengthen support for communities connected to UNESCO World Heritage Sites if that is part of the project scope, and has done for many previous projects.DCMS has confirmed a further £9m of funding to the CPF until March 2029. A new call for projects will launch in June 2026. While UNESCO sites may apply, and some have received funding from the CPF in the past, applicants must demonstrate local significance.In 2026, CPF will also take on the stewardship of the Culture in Crisis programme, which will convene international heritage actors to learn from each other and international cultural partnerships.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the British Council in delivering the Cultural Protection Fund in support of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in conflict-affected and fragile regions.
Since 2016, DCMS and the British Council have partnered to deliver the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF). This fund safeguards cultural heritage at risk due to conflict and climate change. The fund responds to open calls to protect heritage that is significant to the communities closest to it, regardless of UNESCO World Heritage status. Since 2016 DCMS has awarded £56m to the British Council and the CPF has awarded over 150 grants to projects in 20 countries. DCMS has confirmed a further £9m of funding to the CPF until March 2029. The British Council’s plans remain ambitious over the coming period, opening a new call for applications in June 2026. As reported in the 2019 tailored review of the British Council, DCMS feels the CPF has made a significant contribution to the department’s priorities. Three evaluations of the CPF have been published and the evaluation of the CPF’s 2022-2025 programme will be published in spring 2026.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the contribution of the British Council’s delivery of the Cultural Protection Fund on the safeguarding and long-term preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Since 2016, the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) has worked to safeguard cultural heritage globally threatened by conflict or climate change. It supports projects significant to local communities through open calls, irrespective of UNESCO status. The CPF has delivered projects in UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Bamiyan in Afghanistan, Lamu Old Town in Kenya and Aleppo in Syria. The safeguarding of heritage, both tangible and intangible, is core to all projects delivered by the CPF. DCMS is positive about the impact the CPF has had on keeping international cultural heritage sites and culturally significant objects safe, as reported in the 2019 Tailored Review of the British Council. Three evaluations of the CPF have been published and the evaluation of the CPF 2022-2025 programme will be published in spring 2026.
Media and Sport, whether the forthcoming Places of Worship Renewal Fund will provide grants for adaptations, alteration and the addition of facilities alongside repairs.
Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be published in due course.
Media and Sport, whether the forthcoming Places of Worship Renewal Fund will be open to non-listed as well as listed buildings.
Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be published in due course.
What guidance her Department provides to opposite‑sex civil partners wishing to marry but unable to convert their civil partnership without first declaring an irretrievable breakdown of their relationship.
I refer the Hon. member back to the answer to PQ 32163, answered on 3rd March 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards the introduction of a new China Fast Stream.
I refer the Hon. Member to the statement made to the House by the previous Foreign Secretary on 24 June 2025. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is enhancing the talent pipeline of China experts by creating a specialised China Pathway within the FCDO's Fast Stream programmes. Starting with the 2026 Fast Stream intake, the China Pathway will enable a small number of new entrants to undertake a structured programme of China-focused jobs and training, including in Mandarin Chinese.
What progress has been made on appointing people or groups to develop curriculum content following the recent tender process.
In light of the government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the department has now completed a tender process for the procurement of suppliers who will draft the reformed Programmes of Study for the National Curriculum. The names of suppliers appointed to the framework and offered call off contracts will be confirmed in due course.
What steps his Department is taking to support NHS staff employed in Band 2 roles with pay and conditions.
On 22 May, the Department accepted the headline pay recommendations made by the independent NHS Pay Review Body. This means Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in England, including Band 2 staff, have received a 3.6% uplift, giving them an above forecast inflation pay rise for the second year in a row. The process for the 2026/27 pay round is already underway, with the Department publishing its evidence to the Pay Review Bodies on 30 October.We have also agreed to provide the NHS Staff Council with a funded mandate to negotiate changes to the AfC pay structure. We will work in partnership with the NHS Staff Council to implement these changes for 2026/27.We continue to work in partnership with stakeholders, including trade unions and employers, to implement a suite of non-pay measures to improve working conditions for National Health Service staff, such as tackling violence against NHS staff and improving the application of the Job Evaluation Scheme.
Whether he plans to support the continued (a) development and (b) implementation of NHS England’s elective toolkit for aortic dissection in the context of the planned abolition of NHS England.
The Department will continue to support the implementation of NHS England’s acute aortic dissection toolkit which was published in 2022 by NHS England.In collaboration with the ‘Earnest’ trial, NHS England will undertake a stocktake of implementation progress, the findings of which will be shared with regional commissioning teams and clinical networks to support further action as required.NHS England’s national team is also working with the vascular and cardiac professional societies to develop a type B, elective aortic dissection toolkit, which is anticipated for publication in 2026.