Every parliamentary written question tabled by Munira Wilson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 401 · this parliament
How many people have been impacted by strokes in each of the last 5 years by a) age and b) region.
Information on the number of admissions to hospitals in England with a primary diagnosis of a stroke, disaggregated by region and by age in each year from 2020/21 to 2024/25, is shown in the attached table.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of additional powers for Ofsted to respond in cases where a school's SEN information report is not written in straightforward language that is accessible to young people and parents.
Ofsted’s school inspection toolkit makes clear that inspectors will consider the extent to which special educational needs (SEN) information reports are easily accessible when gathering evidence about special education needs and disabilities (SEND).As set out in our proposals for SEND reform, schools will be required to detail the support they provide through a new duty to produce an inclusion strategy. This will ultimately replace the current duty to produce SEN information reports. Schools will be required to ensure this report is easily accessible, so that parents and local partners can understand how inclusion is being delivered.Through its inspection framework, Ofsted will assess how leaders ensure the inclusion strategy is embedded in practice, and how staff are equipped to deliver it.We have proposed the creation of new National Inclusion Standards for the first time, based on evidence, to inform best practice in identifying barriers and meeting needs. We will work with Ofsted to ensure that these standards inform its inspections in the future.The consultation for these reforms is underway and we would encourage anyone with views on SEN information reports or our inclusion strategy proposals to participate.
What powers Ofsted have to respond where a school's SEN information report is not written in straightforward language that is accessible to young people and parents.
Ofsted’s school inspection toolkit makes clear that inspectors will consider the extent to which special educational needs (SEN) information reports are easily accessible when gathering evidence about special education needs and disabilities (SEND).As set out in our proposals for SEND reform, schools will be required to detail the support they provide through a new duty to produce an inclusion strategy. This will ultimately replace the current duty to produce SEN information reports. Schools will be required to ensure this report is easily accessible, so that parents and local partners can understand how inclusion is being delivered.Through its inspection framework, Ofsted will assess how leaders ensure the inclusion strategy is embedded in practice, and how staff are equipped to deliver it.We have proposed the creation of new National Inclusion Standards for the first time, based on evidence, to inform best practice in identifying barriers and meeting needs. We will work with Ofsted to ensure that these standards inform its inspections in the future.The consultation for these reforms is underway and we would encourage anyone with views on SEN information reports or our inclusion strategy proposals to participate.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to stop operator self monitoring of the water industry.
The Government has committed to ending ‘operator self-monitoring’ so water companies will no longer mark their own homework on pollution incidents. We are developing a new strengthened Open Monitoring approach for monitoring wastewater. This will be driven by greater digitisation and automation, making data accessible to the public in near-real time, and helping to restore public trust in the system. In parallel, we are optimising the current monitoring framework to improve our ability to assess the condition of the whole water environment. These measures build on the significant transparency reforms already delivered, including full coverage of event duration monitoring at storm overflows and the public release of near-real time spill data. By 2035, the government has committed to complete the rollout of continuous water quality monitors on all storm overflows. This work will support a transition to a more modern and transparent monitoring system and underpin future decisions on ending operator self‑monitoring.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Environment Agency's decision to introduce charge funded regulation.
The Environment Agency’s (EA) decision to introduce charge-funded regulation is enabled by the Water (Special Measures) Act, which allows the EA to recover the full costs of a broader range of enforcement activities from water companies. This approach is grounded in the polluter-pays principle and is intended to ensure that those responsible for environmental harm meet the costs associated with addressing it. Allowing the EA to recover these costs provides a more sustainable and transparent basis for funding its regulatory and enforcement work. This includes activities such as undertaking prosecutions and civil sanctions, responding to pollution incidents, revoking permits where necessary, and meeting future enforcement needs. The Government believes that increasing cost recovery in this way helps ensure that regulation of the water sector is both robust and properly resourced, supporting stronger environmental protections and more effective oversight.
What steps she is taking to support the innovation and development of second and third generation sustainable aviation fuel.
We are encouraging the innovation and development of sustainable aviation fuels through a number of policy measures: The SAF Mandate, introduced in January 2025, generates a demand for advanced fuels by capping HEFA SAF and having targets for second and third generation SAFs. We also encourage the development of such fuels through the Advanced Fuels Fund which is providing £63m to support 17 projects this year across a range of advanced SAF development including power-to-liquid. Support for the development of second and third generation SAFs will continue through the upcoming spending review period. We also fund the UK SAF Clearing House, which coordinates the testing and qualification of SAF. Over £223k of grant funding for fuel testing has been awarded since 2024.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many sewage works suffered a structural malfunction resulting in sewage discharge in each of the last five years.
The Environment Agency has published data on the number of water company wastewater pollution incidents by source, including from sewage treatment works, over the last five years. Water and Sewerage Pollution Incident Report for 2016-2024.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions has the Environment Agency brought on illegal sewage spills by water companies in each year from 2000.
The Environment Agency has brought a total of 611 prosecutions against water companies for offences since 2000.
How many people have died from illness caused by exposure to sewage spills in rivers and seas by NHS Trust in each of the last 10 years.
Illnesses often have multiple possible sources, so individual cases cannot usually be attributed to a specific cause unless they are part of an epidemiologically confirmed outbreak. When outbreaks are identified, investigations assess potential sources such as lake or seawater exposure.Since 2020, no confirmed gastrointestinal outbreaks reported to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have been directly attributed to river or seawater exposure. Annual outbreak data is published by the UKHSA, with the 2025 report expected in Summer 2026.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many sewage discharges there have been into the (a) River Thames and (b) River Crane in the last five years.
The following water companies have permitted discharges of treated final effluent into the River Thames:Thames Water Utilities Ltd into the River Thames – 19Southern Water Services – 2Anglian Water Services – 4Albion Water – 1 35 of the most polluting Combined Sewer Overflows in London have now been intercepted by the London Tideway Tunnels. These have prevented 19 million tonnes of storm sewage polluting the River Thames since they became operational in 2025.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of taking steps to help protect animals from the grindadrap.
The UK strongly opposes the hunting of all cetaceans other than some limited activities by indigenous people for clearly defined subsistence needs. Cessation of the grindadrap, or “The Grind” would be a positive step in improving the conservation and resilience of these cetacean populations. The UK will maintain its strong support for the global moratorium on commercial whaling at this year’s International Whaling Commission (IWC70) meeting. UK Ministers and officials also continue to highlight our strong opposition to the practice at every appropriate opportunity, including during formal UK-Faroe Islands bilateral fisheries negotiations in November 2025, and through our diplomatic channels with the Faroese Representation in London. The UK will continue to advocate for the end of cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands at every appropriate opportunity. The Faroese Government is in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and opposition in the UK.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Twickenham of 17 November 2025 on the Teddington Direct River Abstraction.
I thank the Honourable Member for Twickenham for writing and apologise for the delay in response. I have followed this up with the department will and respond shortly.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the position paper by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities entitled The challenges around the increasing residential use of waterways.
Navigation authorities are not housing authorities. Defra will consider the matters raised in the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities position paper about the residential use of inland waterways, and will engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the housing-related and other issues that fall within its policy responsibilities.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring boat owners using canals and rivers to generate their own renewable energy power.
Consideration of the inland waterways sector is included in the Department for Transport’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (page 29) and accompanying Analytical Annex (page 12), published in 2025.
If the economic review of Heathrow expansion is seeking input from external experts.
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2026, to Question UIN 108285.
What external organisations are feeding into the review of the Airports National Policy Statement.
We have procured external experts to help inform our understanding of the links between air connectivity and the economy, and to undertake an Appraisal of Sustainability, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Health Impact Analysis and Equalities Impact Assessment to consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of Heathrow expansion. We are engaging with a range of external stakeholders to discuss the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review process and understand their views, as per the published Statement of Approach on Engagement. We have also requested technical information from Heathrow Airport Limited, as a potential promoter of the scheme informing the ANPS review, and as current airport operator, to inform the ANPS review, which has been published here.
If she will publish the (a) Aviation Night Noise Effects study and (b) Aviation Noise Attitudes Survey before the review of the Airports National Policy Statement is completed.
The Aviation Night Noise Effects and Aviation Noise Attitudes studies are currently being completed and are expected to be ready for publication before the review of the Airports National Policy Statement is concluded.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of including the weight of the vehicle in the review of Vehicle Excise Duty.
Vehicle Excise Duty is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. For certain vehicle classifications, VED liability is partially calculated in accordance with the vehicle’s weight, reflecting the greater road damage caused by heavier vehicles. For example, Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) VED rates are set based on a vehicle’s weight, suspension and trailer. The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the rise in Employer's National Insurance Contributions on businesses hiring women and young people.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in March 2026, which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances. The OBR expect that employment levels will rise in every year of the forecast, reaching 35.3m in 2030-31.The Government is committed to supporting young people to earn and learn. That is why we have recently announced that we will offer a guaranteed job to young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will provide an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This initiative forms a key part of the Government’s Youth Guarantee and will build upon existing employment support and sector-based work academies (SWAPs) currently being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)Employers can claim a number of employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers will pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270.
With reference to the policy paper entitled, Review of the Airports National Policy Statement engagement update, updated on 18 February 2026, on what date it made the requests to Heathrow Airport Ltd, and what date it received a reply.
The Department provided Heathrow Airport Ltd with a provisional list of requests on 5 February 2026 prior to publishing the list on 18 February 2026. The Department received a response from Heathrow Airport Ltd on 20 February 2026.