Every parliamentary written question tabled by Luke Akehurst this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 201–220 of 323 · this parliament
What steps he is taking to expand the UK industrial footprint for Boxer vehicle assembly to increase surge capacity in the event of a prolonged conflict.
We have made significant investments in the UK industrial base, including factories, the workforce, and supply chains, to support the manufacture of Boxer vehicles. The Boxer programme is now in full production, with the potential to accommodate additional orders for surge delivery or export customers.
What assessment he has made of the potential operational risks arising from reliance on funding from European allies in Ground-Based Air Defence and Integrated Air and Missile Defence.
Whilst the UK works with European partners on a range of air and missile defence issues, the UK is not reliant on funding from European allies for our Ground Based Air Defence or Integrated Air and Missile Defence capabilities. His Majesty’s Government announced a £1 billion UK spend on Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review. Further announcements on Integrated Air and Missile Defence investment will be made within the Defence Investment Plan.
What assessment has been made of whether current and planned orders for Starstreak and Lightweight Modular Missiles are sufficient to replenish stockpiles provided to Ukraine.
We are committed to investing more in munitions as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and details of what we will be investing in will be in the Defence Investment Plan.
What (a) current and (b) planned capabilities the UK has for defence against attacks by (i) cruise missiles, (ii) drone swarms and (iii) ballistic missiles.
Current capabilities which would be used to defeat cruise missiles, drone swarms and ballistic missiles include existing Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force capabilities. Type 45 destroyers, Ground Based Air Defence, Combat Air platforms and supporting air defence sensing and command and control, as well as Counter-Uncrewed Air System capabilities would all play a part in a response. His Majesty’s Government announced a £1 billion UK spend on Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review which will shape future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Further announcement on Integrated Air and Missile Defence investment will be made within the Defence Investment Plan. We have also recently approved £318 million for dragonfire which will help support protection against air threats with the first system being installed on a type 45 destroyer in 2027.
Whether government departments meet duties to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled staff.
All government departments are subject to the Equality Act 2010, which places a legal duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled staff and job applicants where they would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage. Government Departments meet this duty by providing adjustments such as assistive technology, flexible working arrangements, specialist furniture, interpreters, and accessible workplaces. The Department for Work and Pensions leads the Disability Confident scheme in its capacity supporting disabled people into work, which encourages all employers, including government departments, to recruit, retain and develop disabled people and those with health conditions.
What steps he is taking to help prevent retaliatory actions against staff who have made internal disclosures about disability discrimination.
As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, the Department for Work and Pensions take seriously its responsibility to support all staff, including those with a disability, who make disclosures about discrimination and preventing any retaliation.The department has a number of mechanisms, including dedicated harassment, grievance, and HR policies and processes; regular promotion of Speak Up Safely Line and Ambassadors for Fair Treatment providing confidential, and if required anonymous support and guidance. We also provide wellbeing support (including mental health first aiders), as well as promoting a transparent and supportive approach to workplace adjustments, ensuring staff feel safe when disclosing disabilities.
Whether his Department will introduce Access to Work Adjustment Passports for all claimants.
Health Adjustment Passports are voluntary and available to everyone with a health condition or disability. The Health Adjustment Passport enables disabled people to move more easily into employment and between job roles and reduces the need to repeat personal information about their disability. The Passport supports transitions into employment by providing a tool to enable disabled people to have structured conversations with employers about disability. It acts as a transferable record of the adjustments needed, along with sign posts to available support including Access to Work (AtW). If an individual chooses to share the passport with their employer, it can help to raise the visibility of adjustments and highlight support available, including AtW. In the event the user applies for AtW support, the passport can aid an assessment by providing health and disability information beforehand, enabling support to be put in place more quickly. Further information on the Health Adjustments Passport can be found on: Health Adjustment Passport - GOV.UK
What recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Health Adjustment Passport in supporting disabled people to (a) enter and (b) remain in employment.
Health Adjustment Passports are voluntary and available to everyone with a health condition or disability. The Health Adjustment Passport enables disabled people to move more easily into employment and between job roles and reduces the need to repeat personal information about their disability. The Passport supports transitions into employment by providing a tool to enable disabled people to have structured conversations with employers about disability. It acts as a transferable record of the adjustments needed, along with sign posts to available support including Access to Work (AtW). If a user chooses to share the passport with their employer, it can help to raise the visibility of adjustments and highlight support available, including AtW. In the event the user applies for AtW support, the passport can aid an assessment by providing health and disability information beforehand, enabling support to be put in place more quickly. Further information on the Health Adjustments Passport can be found on: Health Adjustment Passport - GOV.UK
Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87510 on Internet: Children and Young People, when the Media Literacy Vision Statement will be published.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is developing a Media Literacy Vision Statement in close collaboration with other government departments. The Vision Statement will set out a shared, whole-of-government vision for a safe, informed, media literate society. It will outline how media literacy will be embedded across key policy areas including education, public services, digital inclusion, and community resilience. We will announce publication in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on the Stanley South neighbourhood in North Durham constituency.
On 25 September the government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, which will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 of Great Britain’s most in-need neighbourhoods over the next decade. The Stanley South neighbourhood in North Durham was selected as one of the areas to receive long-term funding and support from the programme. This investment will help build a stronger community in Stanley South, create a thriving local place, and empower residents to take back control of their neighbourhood. Funding will support a locally led Pride in Place plan shaped around local priorities, with the community represented through a dedicated Neighbourhood Board to ensure that investment reflects local needs and ambitions.
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Child Maintenance Service does not deduct excessive amounts from non-resident parents.
When negotiating arrears agreements and arrangements, CMS must consider all the circumstances of the non-resident parent and the case. The main aim is to get on-going maintenance payments flowing and to recover arrears as quickly and reliably as possible. The most severe measures are restricted to those parents who wilfully refuse or culpably neglect to pay their maintenance.
What steps his Department is taking to improve transparency in Child Maintenance Service (a) calculations and (b) deductions (i) in general and (ii) where deductions from earnings orders are applied.
The Child Maintenance calculation is based on the paying parent’s gross income, verified through HMRC data. To improve transparency, the CMS has enhanced data sharing with HMRC to ensure accurate income assessments, including unearned income such as dividends and rental income. Whenever a calculation is made both parents are notified of the amount, the reason for the calculation and how the calculation has been made enabling parents to challenge assessments they believe do not reflect the paying parent’s true financial position. The online portal, My Child Maintenance Case, allows parents to view all prior calculations. The CMS applies general deductions through either voluntary arrangements or enforcement mechanisms. To improve transparency, the CMS has published guidance on Gov.uk detailing how these processes are applied. Deductions from earnings orders (DEO) are a key enforcement tool used when a paying parent fails to meet their obligations. To improve transparency in this area, the CMS has issued clear employer guidance on how DEOs operate, including legal obligations, calculation methods, and reporting requirements. This includes ensuring employers receive formal written instructions from the CMS before any changes to deductions are made, preventing unauthorised or unclear adjustments. The protected earnings rate ensures that short term variations in earnings do not allow deductions to reduce a paying parent’s net income below a minimum level required for essential living costs. Additionally, the CMS provide paying parents with notice of enforcement action and the opportunity to appeal or request a reconsideration of their maintenance calculation before a DEO is applied. The Department continues to review and refine CMS processes to ensure they are transparent, fair, and effective in delivering financial support to children in separated families.
What estimate his Department has made of the backlog of cases within the Child Maintenance Service; and what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to (a) process new applications and (b) resolve disputes.
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) have no application or Mandatory Reconsideration (dispute) backlogs. CMS is working on modernising service delivery with an aim of making services more cost efficient, effective, and timely. Both the applications and the Mandatory Reconsideration (dispute) process have been developed by improving customer communications, introducing digital options for making and progressing applications and disputes. Improved data sharing through enhanced collaboration with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and improvements to DWP systems to increase accuracy and speed of service. Additionally, we are investing in improving training and guidance products and ensuring all of our services are resourced at stable levels that meet demand. The CMS continues to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and continue to build on these improvements. His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service have responsibility for appeals on CM decisions.
What training is provided to Child Maintenance Service caseworkers to ensure fair treatment of non-resident parents for (a) complex or disputed and (b) other cases.
All Child Maintenance Service Case Workers are provided with the Decision Making and Welfare of the Child topics during new entrant learning. These cover the principles of the decision-making process, gathering different types of evidence, applying the balance of probabilities, ensuring impartiality in the decision-making process in relation to resident and non-resident parents, and, where appropriate, the importance of considering the impact on any child who will be affected by the decision. These principles are reinforced throughout the learning, for example, in deciding the number of nights of care for a shared care decision. Child Maintenance Service Caseworker learning is standardised to ensure a consistent decision-making process and to allow for transparency if the decision is disputed in the future.
Whether people who act as (a) anchors, (b) presenters and (c) regular contributors for Press TV are required to register under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
What assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to North Durham constituency of returning the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Investment Reserve to members.
As at 30 October 2024, there were 222 members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in North Durham. Any transfer of the reserve would be used to enhance member benefits.
Whether the Islamic Human Rights Commission is required to register under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
How many investigations have been opened under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme into (a) the Islamic Human Rights Commission, in the context of Iran’s Al-Quds Day in the UK, (b) David Miller, in the context of the Iranian state channel Press TV and (c) other activities connected to Iran.
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October to Question 79968 on Palestine: Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Palestinian Authority on seeking an independent audit into the implementation of the curriculum reform.
The Foreign Secretary met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 1 November. As part of their conversation they discussed educational reforms. The UK continues to monitor and advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue. In the meantime, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through the British Consulate in Jerusalem, engage regularly with the Palestinian Authority on many areas, including education reform.
Innovation and Technology, which (a) Department and (b) Minister will lead on the online guidance hub for parents and carers on children and young people’s online safety and the Media Literacy Vision Statement.
DSIT is the policy lead for media literacy and is committed to improving media literacy through coordinated cross-government work and collaboration with Ofcom and civil society. Minister Narayan is responsible for media literacy strategy, ensuring clear leadership and co-operation across departments. The Media Literacy Vision Statement will set out a clear direction and a joined-up approach across government, including how to empower parents and carers to better support young people online.DSIT is working in close collaboration with the Department for Education to develop a dedicated ‘parent hub’ providing guidance on media literacy and online safety for parents and carers.