The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 168 tabled · 168 answered

Written questions by Burgon.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Burgon this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.

Department:All (168)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (44)Department for Work and Pensions (43)Department of Health and Social Care (28)Ministry of Defence (11)Cabinet Office (7)Department for Education (6)Department for Business and Trade (6)Treasury (5)Home Office (5)Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (5)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (3)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2)

Showing 6180 of 168 · this parliament

← PreviousPage 4 of 9Next →
3 Sept 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56288 on Arms Trade: Israel, if he will now publish the Research Report: Long-Range Shootings or Shootings of Minors that was included in evidence in Al-Haq v Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Reply

In line with the long-standing practice under successive governments, we do not routinely publish the detailed analysis on which assessments of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) compliance are based.

3 Sept 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61511 on F-35 Aircraft: Israel, what information his Department holds on the re-export of UK-made F-35 components from Israeli suppliers to the global F-35 programme.

Reply

We are clear that Israel must stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately lift restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. We have suspended export licences to Israel that could be used in military operations in Gaza. The UK is the only producer of certain critical components, not least for the F35 global spares pool. Suspending the UK’s contribution to the F-35programme would have serious implications for NATO and international peace and security.

15 Jul 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21325 on Social Security Benefits: Appeals, whether her Department has been able to recover the backlog of mandatory reconsideration cases.

Reply

The PIP Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) backlog was on track to be cleared in March 2025. However, intakes have been higher than anticipated, which meant the backlog was not cleared as predicted. We are increasing resources available for PIP MRs by recruiting decision makers. In April 2025, the median MR clearance time was 61 and 59 calendar days for new claims and DLA reassessments respectively, a reduction of 10 and 12 days respectively in relation to the last quarter.

15 Jul 2025·Ministry of Justice·Answered
Asked

Whether her Department plans to take steps to reduce the waiting time for appeal hearings in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).

Reply

We are working to reduce the outstanding caseload across the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, which includes the Social Security and Child Support jurisdiction. This is key to reducing the waiting time for tribunal hearings.HMCTS continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the recruitment of additional Judges, the deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology.Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal can be found at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

20 Jun 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

What estimate her Department has made of the number of people in poverty who will lose financial support as a result of her Department's proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment.

Reply

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. This includes estimated impacts of the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment entitlement rules on the number of people in poverty. However, it does not have estimated impacts regarding those already in poverty. The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out a broad package of plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will continue to carefully consider the impacts of reforms as we develop our detailed proposals for change.

20 Jun 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

What estimate her Department has made of the number of Personal Independence Payment recipients who (a) rely on that payment to work and (b) might lose money as a result of her Department's proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment eligibility criteria.

Reply

Some 17% of PIP claimants are in employment. No assessment has been made on the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients who rely on their PIP payment to work. However, an assessment has been made on the number of PIP recipients who might lose money as a result of the proposed changes to eligibility, and can be found in the ‘The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill: Change to Personal Independence Payment eligibility requirement from the Department for Work and Pensions - June 2025’ impact assessment, in table 3, found at the following website: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament (https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3988/publications). Many people who are no longer entitled to the Daily Living component of PIP will still, however, receive the mobility component. Table 3 outlines that by 2029/30, a minimum 4-point score requirement would result in an estimated 60,000 current PIP claimants (as at October 2026) moving from the enhanced rate of PIP daily living to the nil rate, and 320,000 current PIP claimants (as at October 2026) moving from the standard rate of PIP daily living to the nil rate. It would also result in an estimated 40,000 new claims not being entitled to the enhanced daily living component and 390,000 new claims not being entitled to the standard daily living component (post October 2026). Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected. The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period. The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30. Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

20 Jun 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
Asked

What information his Department holds on the transportation of F-35 parts from London Stansted Airport to Israel.

Reply

DBT publishes data on the licences granted for the export of controlled goods. Enquiries related to data on the final exports of specific products should be referred to HMRC.In September, we suspended direct exports of F-35 components from the UK to Israel, where these are for use by Israel (and not for re-export from Israeli suppliers to the global F-35 programme).Military exports transiting the UK do not require a licence if they comply with certain handling conditions, do not include specific goods and are not bound for specific destinations, as set out in Article 17 of the Export Control Order 2008.

12 Jun 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on the application of the global humanitarian principles of (a) humanity, (b) impartiality, (c) independence and (d) neutrality in relation to Israel's policies in Gaza.

Reply

On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement with 26 other humanitarian donors, which directly called on Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity. This statement referenced humanitarian principles, underscoring that humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone. Further, our statement to the UN Security Council on 13 May was clear that the UK will not support any aid mechanism that prioritises political or military objectives or puts civilians at risk. The UK government has repeatedly called on the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under International Humanitarian Law to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary has reiterated this in his recent calls with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar.

12 Jun 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the funding of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Reply

The Foreign Secretary has been clear with Foreign Minister Sa'ar that Israel must allow unrestricted aid into Gaza. In their latest call, the Foreign Secretary shared concerns about the rising risks of famine and starvation in Gaza, as well as the new aid delivery system, including the reduction of aid delivery points in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary was clear that aid cannot be used as a weapon of war. In our statement to the UN Security Council on 13 May, we made clear that the UK will not support any aid mechanism that prioritises political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk. The UK supports the UN and humanitarian partners. We have endorsed the UN's plan for delivery of aid put forward on 16 May - it is based on humanitarian principles, has built in mitigations against aid diversion and uses established mechanisms to deliver at the scale required. We call on Israel to urgently engage with the UN to ensure a return to a full and unhindered resumption of the safe delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles.

12 Jun 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of Israeli funding of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Reply

The UK is appalled by reports of mass casualty incidents, in which civilians and aid workers have been killed, at and near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution sites. The funding streams of the GHF have not been shared with the UK. The UK has been clear that we will not support any aid mechanism that prioritises political or military objectives or puts civilians at risk. On 4 June, we were firm at the UN Security Council that the new aid model is inhumane and Israel needs to end its restrictions on aid now. We support the UN and endorse its plan for delivery of aid put forward on 16 May - it is based on humanitarian principles, has built in mitigations against aid diversion and uses established mechanisms to deliver aid safely and at the scale required.

10 Jun 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the blockages are that are preventing the safe (a) delivery and (b) distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Reply

Israeli restrictions on aid have created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza with civilians in desperate need of a variety of aid. We called on Israel to lift restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza in our statement to the UN Security Council on 16 July. The announcement of "tactical pauses" by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to allow humanitarian corridors to open is essential but long overdue and currently insufficient to address need. We continue to call on Israel to allow for a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza, including allowing the entry of more types of aid such as medicine, fuel and shelter. We set this out clearly along with 30 other partners in a UK-led joint statement on 21 July. The government of Israel must facilitate the issue and renewal of visas for humanitarians providing vital services on the ground. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 22 July to reiterate the importance of facilitating the safe delivery of aid at scale, condemning civilian deaths at aid sites.

6 Jun 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 53578 on Genocide Convention, whether his Department made an assessment of the merits that Israel was in breach of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in July 2024.

Reply

The UK's long-standing policy is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. It should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process.In the context of export licensing, Criterion 1 of the UK's Strategic Export Licensing Criteria requires respect for the UK's international obligations and commitments. We have carefully collated, reviewed and assessed relevant evidence concerning the Gaza conflict. In September, we took decisive action, stopping exports to the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with all our legal obligations, including those under the Arms Trade Treaty and Genocide Convention, and we remain wholly committed to international law.

2 Jun 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
Asked

If he will publish the Research Report: Long-Range Shootings or Shootings of Minors included in evidence in the case of Al-Haq v Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Reply

We do not comment on live litigation. The Foreign Secretary has determined that Israel is not committed to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in operations in Gaza. A summary of the assessment resulting in the September suspension decision can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-international-humanitarian-law-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account/summary-of-the-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account.

30 May 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of airstrikes carried out by Israel in Gaza between October 2023 and September 2024, (b) the number of those his Department has examined for potential breaches of international law and (c) the number of those examined that were assessed as potentially involving violations of international law.

Reply

Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments, which assess Israel's compliance and commitment to IHL in the conflict in Gaza, use data on verified incidents, including but not limited to airstrikes, provided by a third-party specialising in geolocation. We do not track every single incident or airstrike as part of this process.While the assessments have raised concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access, the treatment of detainees, and forced displacement, we have not been able to reach a determination in relation to the conduct of hostilities due to the lack of sufficient, verifiable evidence. To determine a possible breach in this area requires access to sensitive specific information related to individual incidents, such as the intended targets, anticipated military advantage and anticipated civilian harm, which is often not available to us.

20 May 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a determination under the Genocide Convention.

Reply

The UK's long-standing policy is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. It should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process. As a party to the Convention, the UK is fully committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide as appropriate under the Convention.

20 May 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it remains his policy that any determination as to whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza is a matter for a competent national or international court.

Reply

The UK's long-standing policy is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies.

7 May 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

If she will make it her policy to launch a public consultation on the measures outlined in Annex A of her Department's Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025.

Reply

The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out our plans and proposals for reform to health and disability benefits and employment support. This includes some urgently needed reforms to PIP eligibility and Universal Credit rates that are not subject to consultation but on which Parliament will fully debate and vote. We included these changes in the Green Paper to allow readers to see the proposals in wider context and so they can provide more informed views. The Green Paper does consult on many key elements of the reform package, including employment support and Access to Work, which are at the centre of our plans to improve the system for disabled people. We hope that a wide range of voices will respond to the consultation, and we are holding a programme of public consultation events across the country to help facilitate input. We are also developing other ways to facilitate the involvement of stakeholders and disabled people in our reforms. In addition to the consultation itself, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups of people together for specific work areas and our wider review of the PIP assessment will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience.

7 May 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
Asked

What estimate his Department has made of potential additional costs to his Department of the provisions outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published in March 2025.

Reply

The Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and our mission-driven approach relies on regular cross-Government collaboration. The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to understand the impacts of the Green Paper and the associated consultation, and will continue to do so as the package is developed in detail.

7 May 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's estimate that there will be an additional 250,000 people in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30 as a result of modelled changes to social security on levels of health inequalities; and whether she plans to publish a health impact assessment.

Reply

The figure referred to does not take account of increased employment as a result of the Green Paper changes, or of other initiatives such as the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy. Further information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, alongside information published at the Spring Statement.Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UKA further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

7 May 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of potential additional costs to her Department of the provisions outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published in March 2025.

Reply

This Department makes regular assessments of spending pressures; these take account of various factors including new policy. The Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper is an open consultation led by the Department for Work and pensions which seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support. The consultation closes on 30 June 2025. As such, it is not current policy, and a full assessment will be made in the usual way at the appropriate time.

← PreviousPage 4 of 9Next →
Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.