Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kim Johnson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 414 · this parliament
Whether it is her Department’s policy to prioritise the enforced removal of individuals who are care leavers formerly looked after by a local authority; and what mandatory safeguarding and best interests assessments are required prior to any decision to forcibly remove in such cases.
Awaiting answer.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding the treatment within the immigration system of care leavers formerly looked after by local authorities in the context of enforced removals; and whether it is her Department’s policy to prohibit the enforced removal of care leavers from the UK.
Awaiting answer.
What legal basis under international law underpins the Government’s definition of “defensive operations” in relation to support for United States military activity.
Awaiting answer.
Whether he reviews target-level information before approving United States missions supported from UK bases.
Awaiting answer.
What definition he uses for defensive operations in relation to United States use of UK bases and airspace.
Awaiting answer.
Whether missions supported from UK bases are approved on a case-by-case basis.
Awaiting answer.
Whether Government authorisation is required for refuelling, staging, maintenance, intelligence support and overflight, in addition to aircraft launching from UK territory.
Awaiting answer.
What UK locations, including civilian airports, have been used to support United States aircraft transiting to operations in the Middle East since the start of the Iran conflict in February 2026.
Awaiting answer.
Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) recognise and (b) protect vessels carrying British personnel and civilians and lost to hostile action in a way that is comparable to military maritime graves; if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to do this; if she will consider extending a framework consistent with international principles on underwater cultural heritage to Government-owned wrecks in international waters; and whether the wreck of the SS Tilawa will be considered for designation as a protected heritage site.
The sinking of the SS Tilawa, and many other merchant vessels during the world wars, represents a tragic loss of life that we must all strive to remember and reflect upon. It is right that we honour and recognise this sacrifice and strive to ensure the grave sites of those who have been lost receive appropriate protection. While the specific scope and purpose of the Armed Forces Bill preclude such an extension to merchant wrecks, we will continue to ensure underwater cultural heritage receives the highest levels of protection available in accordance with international law and best practice.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take diplomatic steps to encourage the government of Japan to (a) acknowledge the sinking of the SS Tilawa in 1942 and (b) provide goodwill closure to known survivors and victims.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 March 2026 in response to Question 128238.
Whether the review of the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate will (a) take into account the latest data published by Autotrader showing that the average price of a new Electric Vehicles is now lower than petrol vehicles and (b) consider the role of the ZEV mandate in helping to achieve this outcome.
The long-committed Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate Review will be published by early 2027 and we will begin engagement this year. This Review will take into account a wide range of data to understand ZEV market conditions.
How many people serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection in (a) prison and (b) the community have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a consequence of their sentence.
The information is not held in the format requested.
Whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of recent changes to planned core education hours in public sector prisons on its compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.
The Department complies with the ongoing Public Sector Equality Duty to have due regard to the potential equality impacts of decisions to make changes to the provision of education in prisons at both a national and local level. Changes to planned core education hours vary across different prisons because the national funding formula for prison education has been refreshed, to ensure that allocations are a fair reflection of prison population, function and regional cost differences. Governors and Heads of Education, Skills and Work undertake needs analysis to understand the characteristics and needs of their local prison population, and commission education based on this information. New Core Education contracts also have strengthened requirements around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Providers are required to adhere to the Public Sector Equality Duty, and must continuously maintain an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion action plan to ensure equity of access to learning.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2026 to Question 112445 on Shipping and with reference to section 4 of her Department's publication entitled Seafarers in the UK Shipping Industry: 2025, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) level of the availability and (b) uptake of ratings apprenticeships.
The Department remains committed to increasing the number of seafaring jobs and ratings apprenticeships in the UK. The apprenticeship levy remains available for use in the maritime industry, including for ratings apprenticeships in England, and the Department and MCA continues to fund 50% of a cadetship through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) fund, which was recently increased to £19.4m. Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, with ratings apprenticeships available in England in areas including deck rating, marine engineering and officer of the watch. Officials are engaging with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the uptake of maritime apprenticeships, particularly in areas where industry has reported skills shortages. We regularly discuss relevant areas with other Departments. The recommendations of the review of the effectiveness of funding for UK seafarer training are being assessed by officials.
What assessment she has made of the recommendations in the independent review of the effectiveness of funding for UK seafarer training, published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 13 April 2026.
The Department remains committed to increasing the number of seafaring jobs and ratings apprenticeships in the UK. The apprenticeship levy remains available for use in the maritime industry, including for ratings apprenticeships in England, and the Department and MCA continues to fund 50% of a cadetship through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) fund, which was recently increased to £19.4m. Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, with ratings apprenticeships available in England in areas including deck rating, marine engineering and officer of the watch. Officials are engaging with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the uptake of maritime apprenticeships, particularly in areas where industry has reported skills shortages. We regularly discuss relevant areas with other Departments. The recommendations of the review of the effectiveness of funding for UK seafarer training are being assessed by officials.
Further to the Answer of 17 February 2026 to Question 112445 on Shipping, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the (a) availability and (b) uptake of ratings apprenticeships in England and Wales.
The Department remains committed to increasing the number of seafaring jobs and ratings apprenticeships in the UK. The apprenticeship levy remains available for use in the maritime industry, including for ratings apprenticeships in England, and the Department and MCA continues to fund 50% of a cadetship through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) fund, which was recently increased to £19.4m. Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, with ratings apprenticeships available in England in areas including deck rating, marine engineering and officer of the watch. Officials are engaging with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the uptake of maritime apprenticeships, particularly in areas where industry has reported skills shortages. We regularly discuss relevant areas with other Departments. The recommendations of the review of the effectiveness of funding for UK seafarer training are being assessed by officials.
When she expects the joint HMRC and PCS evaluation of the Managed Service Provider Proof of Value trial will be completed and published.
HMRC is currently in the Proof of Value phase for the use of Managed Service Providers (MSPs), supported by a joint evaluation agreed with the PCS trade union. The evaluation covers service quality, productivity, customer experience and value for money, and is intended to inform any future decisions about MSP use. HMRC expects to complete the first phase of this evaluation in April, after which the findings will be reviewed internally and used to inform future decisions on the MSP approach. The evaluation will help ensure that any next steps are evidence‑based and aligned with service needs and value for money. Any future planning decisions will be made through normal business planning and Spending Review processes, informed by the evaluation evidence. The findings will be considered alongside operational need, value for money and commercial sensitivities, and used to shape HMRC’s future approach to the use of MSPs.
If she will make it her policy not to expand Managed Service Provider usage until the joint HMRC and PCS evaluation is concluded and reviewed.
HMRC is currently in the Proof of Value phase for the use of Managed Service Providers (MSPs), supported by a joint evaluation agreed with the PCS trade union. The evaluation covers service quality, productivity, customer experience and value for money, and is intended to inform any future decisions about MSP use. HMRC expects to complete the first phase of this evaluation in April, after which the findings will be reviewed internally and used to inform future decisions on the MSP approach. The evaluation will help ensure that any next steps are evidence‑based and aligned with service needs and value for money. Any future planning decisions will be made through normal business planning and Spending Review processes, informed by the evaluation evidence. The findings will be considered alongside operational need, value for money and commercial sensitivities, and used to shape HMRC’s future approach to the use of MSPs.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the earned settlement proposals on the number of applicants claiming caring benefits.
The Department has made no such assessment.
With reference to his Department's publication entitled Universal Credit Statistics updated on 17 March 2026 showing people with indefinite leave to remain were 2.7% of Universal Credit claims, whether his Department holds other information of migrants claiming benefits.
The latest statistics showing the percentage of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain by immigration status were published on 17 February 2026, and reported that in January 2026 the percentage of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain with the immigration status of indefinite leave to remain was 2.6%. Information relating to other benefits is not held on digital systems, in a way that allows it to be extracted for the publication as official statistics.