Freddie van Mierlo Portrait

Freddie van Mierlo

Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame

6,267 (11.8%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024


1 APPG membership (as of 28 Mar 2025)
Babies (Pregnancy to Age 2)
Freddie van Mierlo has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Freddie van Mierlo has voted in 68 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Freddie van Mierlo Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Andrew Bowie (Conservative)
Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
(4 debate interactions)
Daniel Zeichner (Labour)
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(4 debate interactions)
Emma Hardy (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Transport
(9 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(6 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(6 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Freddie van Mierlo's debates

Henley and Thame Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Freddie van Mierlo has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Freddie van Mierlo

22nd April 2025
Freddie van Mierlo signed this EDM on Friday 25th April 2025

Introduction of the Hillsborough Law and the 36th anniversary

Tabled by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
That this House supports the urgent introduction of the Hillsborough Law to ensure justice, transparency and accountability in public inquiries and inquests; recognises the tireless campaigning of the Hillsborough families and survivors, who have fought for over three decades for the truth to be acknowledged and for meaningful reform; notes …
33 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 32
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
9th December 2024
Freddie van Mierlo signed this EDM on Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Domestic Abuse Offences

Tabled by: Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
That this House acknowledges the pervasive and deeply harmful impact of domestic abuse on survivors; notes that, while the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse, there is no specific criminal offence for domestic abuse in England and Wales; further notes that many domestic abuse cases are prosecuted under broader …
48 signatures
(Most recent: 24 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 43
Independent: 2
Green Party: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Freddie van Mierlo's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Freddie van Mierlo, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Freddie van Mierlo has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Freddie van Mierlo has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Freddie van Mierlo has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Freddie van Mierlo has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
15th Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Independent review of children's social care: final report, published on 23 May 2022, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on care experience and caring as protected characteristics.

We know care leavers have some of the worst long-term life outcomes in society. We are therefore committed to ensuring children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in education, employment and training. Through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill we will be driving forward our commitments on children’s social care, including improved support for care leavers.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 24 September 2024, care leavers under age 25 will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. We have also established a care leaver Ministerial Board, which brings together Ministers from key Departments, to improve support for care leavers across Government.

On the specific question of protected characteristics, the Government often receives requests for new characteristics such as "carer experience"” to be added to the Equality Act 2010. While many of these carry merit, it would not be practical to legislate because of the public and private sector burdens that this would create. The Equality Act 2010 will already protect many care leavers under the indirect discrimination provisions, because a disproportionately high number are likely to be from an ethnic minority and/ or have a disability. They may also benefit from the age discrimination protections in the Act.

3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support British bakeries.

We intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties from 2026 - 27. Ahead of these changes being made, we have extended retail, hospitality, and leisure relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.

The Government will protect the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance Contributions at all. We are also working with businesses to understand their barriers to growth and High Streets will be a key pillar of our forthcoming Small Business Strategy.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of uptake of Shared Parental Leave and (b) how this will inform future policies to support fathers in taking early parental leave.

Information provided by employers to HMRC shows that in 2023/24 (the latest year for which full year data is available), 17,200 individuals were in receipt of Statutory Shared Parental Pay.

The government is committed to supporting working families. The Employment Rights Bill will make Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave ‘day one’ rights. We have committed to review the parental leave system, ensuring it offers the best possible support to working families. Planning work is already underway.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the length of parental leave in other OECD countries.

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending paternity leave.

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of the statutory two week paternity leave on the economy.

Paternity Leave supports working people. Access to family-friendly rights means that working people can enjoy a better work-life balance that benefits wellbeing, morale, productivity and retention.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave, including Paternity Leave, offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient energy supply to meet demand in the next 10 years.

Great Britain is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term (Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024). The government’s mission is to secure our energy supply with home-grown, clean power – and we have set out the steps to achieve this in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. These include: cleaning up a dysfunctional grid system by prioritising the most important projects; speeding up decisions on planning permission by empowering planners to prioritise critical energy infrastructure; and expanding the renewable auction process to stop delays and get more projects connected.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the boiler upgrade scheme to include (a) heat batteries and (b) other low carbon heating technologies.

The Government is committed to incentivising properties to transition to cleaner, affordable heating. At present, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, does not apply to alternative electric heating technologies, such as heat batteries. We are targeting support at technologies, like heat pumps, that current evidence suggests offer the greatest potential to decarbonise our buildings.

However, the Government will keep its position on alternative electric heating technologies under review and make further assessments as the evidence base develops. Our Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for adopting Standard Assessment Procedure 10.2, in the context of the Home Upgrade Grant 2 project; and whether residents that have missed out on solar batteries will be able to apply for their system to be upgraded.

We are introducing improvements to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) modelling in early 2025, known as Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure 10 (RdSAP 10), to improve accuracy. EPC assessors will soon be able to record if a consumer has installed solar batteries. The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG 2) will run until March 2025 and will be succeeded by the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG). Details of the policy on retreating low-income households that received upgrades under HUG 2 were published on 23rd September as part of the WH:LG guidance.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) people and (b) businesses are not disrupted by loss of mobile phone network coverage in areas where coverage previously existed.

UK mobile operators have committed to close all legacy 2G and 3G mobile services by 2033, with some operators having already turned off their 3G networks. The government is working in conjunction with Ofcom and the telecoms industry to minimise disruption and ensure that people and businesses are 4G and 5G ready. This includes close engagement with critical sectors such as the emergency services.

As well as maintaining our commitment to our target of 95% of the UK geography being covered by 4G, our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame of (a) 21 November 2024 and (b) 13 January 2025, what steps his Department is taking to reconsider the inclusion of Ewelme in Project Gigabit for Oxfordshire.

Based on the latest information shared by broadband suppliers regarding their commercial build plans in the area, we currently expect most premises in Ewelme to gain access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection from commercial operators without the need for support through Project Gigabit.

We are seeking to bring any remaining premises in Ewelme, that are unlikely to be reached by these plans, into one of the Project Gigabit contracts being delivered by Gigaclear in Oxfordshire. There will also be a wider review of the area this year, which will involve consulting with various suppliers regarding additional interventions to connect premises in Ewelme if required.

We have responded with further details to both items of correspondence to which the hon. Member refers.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps is he taking to ensure that all villages are included the rollout of broadband infrastructure.

The Government is committed to the rollout of fast, reliable broadband to all parts of the UK. So far we have over 30 Project Gigabit contracts in place, filling in gaps that are not being met commercially, predominantly in rural areas. This includes a contract across South Oxfordshire which will provide approximately 3,500 premises in the Henley and Thame constituency with access to gigabit-capable broadband.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what further steps he plans to take to help ensure the safety of children on (a) social media apps and (b) other online platforms, in the context of the use of virtual private networks by criminals to target vulnerable young people.

The Online Safety Act makes search and user-to-user services, including social media services, responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms. The Act contains strong protections for children, safeguarding them from harmful and illegal activities online, even when these are proliferated by users using virtual private networks.

The regulatory regime is designed to be tech-neutral, allowing Ofcom to revise its codes and guidance as new risks emerge.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 40119 on Members: Correspondence, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of a reduction in access to UK’s National Trails on the work of (a) VisitBritain and (b) VisitEngland.

DCMS has not specifically undertaken a formal assessment of the impact of any potential reduction in access to the UK’s National Trails on the work of VisitBritain or VisitEngland.

However, we recognise that access to National Trails plays a role in supporting rural tourism and promoting the natural and cultural assets of England, which are central to the work of VisitEngland. VisitBritain also promotes outdoor and nature-based tourism as part of its international marketing activity to showcase the UK’s diverse visitor offer.

While responsibility for public access and National Trails policy rests with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), DCMS continues to work closely with Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, including Experience Oxfordshire, to ensure England’s natural landscapes can support the growth of a sustainable and resilient visitor economy.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contribution on (a) local animal shelters, (b) other small charities and (c) the whole charitable sector; and what steps she is taking to help mitigate the impact on that sector.

DCMS Ministers have met with representatives from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to discuss this issue and are aware of their concerns about the impacts of the increase to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs). The government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that more than half of businesses (including charities) with NICs liabilities will either gain or see no change next year.

We are also expanding eligibility of the Employment Allowance by removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, to simplify and reform employer NICs so that all eligible employers now benefit. Businesses and charities will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.

Within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving. More than £6 billion in charitable reliefs was provided to charities, Community Amateur Sports Clubs and their donors in 2023 to 2024. The biggest individual reliefs provided are Gift Aid at £1.6 billion and business rates relief at nearly £2.4 billion.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the letter of 17 February 2025 from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame on the ongoing closure of the Thames Path National Trail at Marsh Lock near Henley on Thames.

This is not the responsibility of this Department and I gather the Member has already received a response from DEFRA.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
19th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the letter of 4 February 2025 from the hon. Member for Henley and Thames on the Stop Killing Games Campaign.

My Department has provided a response to the Hon Member. The Government has also responded to a recent petition on this issue.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of financial support provided to (a) the River and Rowing museum in Henley-on-Thames and (b) other museums outside London.

We have made no such specific assessment about the River and Rowing museum, but we are keen to see museums outside London flourish. Funding is tight, but DCMS oversees the £86m Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), which invests in museum infrastructure nationally and the Chancellor announced a package of new cultural infrastructure funding at the Autumn Budget, to build on existing capital schemes. The Budget also recommitted to the cultural tax reliefs, which provide important revenue support for museums and arts organisations.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
19th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support the recruitment of qualified learning support assistants.

The government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce. School support staff, including learning support assistants, play a vital role in children’s education. They are crucial to ensuring we give children the best possible life chances.

The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The body will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake.

The SSSNB will help address recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This, in turn, will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
5th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Initial Teacher Training to support Early Career Teachers to manage a variety of needs in the classroom.

High-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the department is committed to ensuring that all pupils receive excellent support from their teachers.

The Teachers’ Standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. All initial teacher training (ITT) providers must ensure that their courses enable trainee teachers to meet the Teachers’ Standards, to be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

The ITT Core Content Framework and Early Career Framework (ECF), for trainee and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) respectively, cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, and from September 2025, will be superseded by the combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of ITT and those delivering provider-led early career training to create their curricula. From September 2025, all ECTs will be entitled to a two-year induction that is underpinned by the ITTECF, known as the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE).

The department’s review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. There is now significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, some of which has been adapted from the new National Professional Qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators, to be relevant for trainees and ECTs. We have edited existing statements to improve inclusivity for SEND throughout the framework including, for example, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils.

From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of ECT training to develop SEND training materials. This approach was tested with SEND educational experts, with the consensus being that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ is the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND.

The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and have recently committed to a full review of the ECTE in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for ECTs. This review will focus on the support we provide new teachers in teaching pupils with SEND.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
4th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to ensure young people receiving therapy funded by the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue to receive this therapy beyond March 2025.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on how we will allocate our budget for the next financial year. Decisions regarding the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) are being made as part of these discussions and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are agreed, therapy which starts before March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
26th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing individual health plans for every child with epilepsy.

Statutory guidance on supporting pupils at school with medical conditions recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. The guidance can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce6a72e40f0b620a103bd53/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf. Healthcare plans can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom. The school, healthcare professionals and parents should agree, based on evidence, when a healthcare plan would be appropriate.

The department will keep the statutory guidance under review as we take forward our commitment to delivering an inclusive mainstream system.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will work with local authorities to ensure Education, Health and Care plans are updated post annual review for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to take into account the potential impact on the transition to KS3 and post-16 education.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The SEND code of practice is clear that all children and young people with SEND should be prepared for adulthood. All local authorities must set out the support available to help children and young people with SEND move into adulthood as part of their local offer. This should be co-produced with children, young people and their families to ensure it meets local needs. The department expects activity to support effective preparation for adulthood to be embedded within provision across every age and stage of education, starting as early as possible.

If a local authority issues an education, health and care (EHC) plan, it has a statutory duty to review the plan as a minimum every 12 months. This is to review the child or young person’s progress towards achieving the outcomes specified in the plan and to consider whether the outcomes and supporting targets remain appropriate.

For children and young people with an EHC plan, there must be a focus from year 9 onwards on preparing the young person for adulthood as part of their plan’s annual review. This focus must continue until the young person’s EHC plan ceases.

An EHC plan must be reviewed and amended in sufficient time prior to a child or young person moving between key phases of education, to allow for planning for and, where necessary, commissioning of support and provision at the new institution.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward proposals to finalise the care placements for children in care to align with applications to post-16 education.

The department recognises the critical importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked after child’s life. Under the ‘Care planning, placement and case review’ guidance and regulations, the child’s allocated social worker should do everything possible to minimise disruption to their education. School changes should be minimised, and any necessary transitions well planned and supported.

All looked after children must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP), which is an ongoing record of their education and training which should describe what needs to happen to enable them to reach their full potential. The PEP should set out arrangements in place to minimise disruption to the child’s education and training where a change in their educational arrangements is unavoidable.

Local authorities have a number of duties to accommodate eligible care leavers and to support them to pursue education or training. This includes contributing to expenses incurred by the young person in living near the place where they will receive that education or training.

Further education (FE) and higher education (HE) play important roles in giving care leavers the skills they need to succeed in life. To ensure care experienced students are supported to gain the qualifications needed to access these destinations, we have rolled out post-16 funding which can be used for raising attainment through interventions such as additional tutoring or mentoring. The department is also making the virtual school head role for children with a social worker statutory, enabling earlier intervention to address the educational barriers these children can face.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
3rd Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Children’s social care final report (MacAlister,2022), published on the 23rd of May 2022.

Reforming children’s social care is critical to giving hundreds of thousands of children and young people the best start in life. This government has already moved quickly to set out its plans for a whole-system and child-centred approach to reform and our actions are informed by the findings of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

In November, the department published its ambitious, wide ranging plans in ‘Keeping children safe, helping families thrive’, setting the wheels in motion to break the cycle of crisis intervention and rebalance the system back towards earlier help for families. In addition, in December the department introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This is a landmark piece of legislation, introducing a series of measures with a focus on delivering a joined up system to stop vulnerable children falling through cracks in services.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of increasing the provision of financial support available to kinship carers.

The department recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children and this government is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve. Kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this.

At Budget, the department recently announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance in up to ten local authorities to test whether paying an allowance to cover certain costs, such as covering day to day costs, supporting them to settle into a new home with relatives, or affording activities to support their wellbeing, can help increase the number of children taken in by family members and friends. This trial will help the department make decisions about future national rollout.

This is the single biggest investment made by government in kinship care to date. This investment could transform the lives of vulnerable children who can no longer live at home.

Departmental officials and I will continue to work across government to implement the new kinship allowances trial and to learn from this to inform any future policy.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2022-23 on The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976, HC270, published on 6 July 2022, if she will apologise for the historic role of the Government in forced adoptions; and if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that suitable mental health support is made available for adult adoptees.

The department has the deepest sympathy with everyone affected by historic forced adoption. The practice was abhorrent and should never have taken place.

The department is committed to supporting adopted adults. Regulations have already been changed to make it easier for adults to access therapy, and we are providing funding to Adoption England’s Improving Adoption Services for Adults project, which is designed to maintain relationships and offer support.

The department will continue to review the offer, including looking to learn from the approach of the devolved nations and will consider how we can collaborate across the government to provide support.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of SEND services in Henley and Thame constituency; and if she will have discussions with Oxfordshire County Council on (a) the level of and (b) the process for receiving funding for SEND provision.

The last local area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for Oxfordshire was in July 2023, which identified widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND. The report, published on 15 September, included four areas for priority action:

  • The local area partnership should evaluate the quality and impact of services and joint working more effectively in order to inform improvements.
  • Leaders should improve their strategic approach to transition planning at all ages.
  • Leaders must continue to develop their oversight, strategy and commissioning arrangements of suitable alternative provision.
  • Leaders across the partnership should continue to address the long waiting times for children and young people requesting support from health services and those awaiting assessments.

Every child and young person with SEND should have access to high quality services, and where a council does not meet requirements to provide appropriate support for these children, the department will take action to prioritise their needs and bring about rapid improvement.

Oxfordshire County Council was issued with an Improvement Notice on 9 November 2023. This sets out the steps the department expects the local authority to take in raising standards in their SEND services. The department is working closely with its partners in NHS England to monitor, support and challenge the local area partnership to making the necessary improvements, including through regular monitoring meetings, which focus on the impact of actions taken on improving the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families. Oxfordshire County Council are committed to working closely with us to improve their SEND services.

Oxfordshire County Council’s high needs funding allocation for children and young people with complex SEND is over £111 million for the 2024/25 financial year, including funding for teachers’ pay and pension costs. In addition, this government has allocated Oxfordshire Council an extra core schools budget grant of £1.3 million to help with special schools’ costs. The department does not collect data or information on the Council’s process for allocating this funding on to specific provision in the Henley and Thame constituency.

Oxfordshire are part of the Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme which provides £1 million in grant funding to support local authorities to provide more effective SEND services by meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND at an early stage and with the right level of support. The department monitors Oxfordshire's progress in the DBV programme through quarterly reporting and meetings with the local authority.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
17th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that Ofwat's enforcement case investigation into Thames Water is (a) performed and (b) concluded in a timely manner.

It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on an ongoing investigation. We have a system of independent environmental and economic regulation, and the recently introduced Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers for the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period. This includes powers for Ofwat to set rules on remuneration, governance, and financial reporting. The Government will continue to work with regulators to hold water companies to account on poor performance and to drive improvements which benefit customers and the environment.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward regulations on the composition of bread marketed as sourdough.

The Government has no current plans to introduce regulations to specifically cover the composition of ‘sourdough bread’. The UK maintains high food standards including on requirements relating to food labelling and information. Existing legislation ensures the labelling and marketing of food, including sourdough products, does not intentionally mislead consumers.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
27th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mark the 30th anniversary of the Thames Path National Trail; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the trail at Marsh Lock Horsebridge on the (i) anniversary and (ii) tourism to the Henley and Thame constituency.

There will be a programme of events in the summer of 2026 celebrating the history and importance of the Thames Path National Trail.

The Environment Agency recognises the importance of Marsh Horse Bridge to the community within the Henley & Thame constituency and the role it plays supporting tourism along the Thames Path National Trail.

The Health, Safety, and Wellbeing of river users is the Environment Agency’s foremost consideration. The current condition of the bridge is such that closure was the only option to keep people safe.

The Environment Agency is in regular contact with National Trails, to ensure it has the latest information on the bridge closure. It has published details of a diversion route on their website to ensure progress along the trail is not significantly hampered by the bridge closure.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 37093 on Environment Agency: Finance, if he will take steps to fast track the flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid funding application for the (a) repair of the Horsebridge at Marsh Lock and (b) restoration of the Thames Path National Trail.

The Government’s Spending Review process will consider all of the investment requests relating to the non-tidal Thames navigation assets. The Environment Agency (EA) will then develop its medium-term capital delivery programme based on the benefits, opportunities, and risks of each of its candidate projects.

The EA will only apply for funding towards maintaining structures which it has a responsibility to maintain. Where the Agency is the landowner for sections of the towpath it will consider what works it can progress within its maintenance and refurbishment programmes. Other landowners and risk management authorities will have the opportunity to consider restoration works to the Thames Path National Trail within their annual work programmes.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter of 12th February 2025 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame on a meeting to discuss the ongoing closure of the Thames Path National Trail at the Marsh Lock Horsebridge in Henley-on-Thames.

The Department has not received the hon. Member’s aforementioned letter of 12 February 2025; however, it did respond on 3 March 2025 to the hon. Member’s letter of 6 February 2025 regarding the Thames Path National Trail at the Marsh Lock Horsebridge. The Department was also transferred the hon Member’s letter of 17 February to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regarding the same topic, which was closed in light of the 3 March response. A further letter from the hon Member dated 10 March has been received and will receive a response as soon as possible.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 35545 on Environment Protection: Henley-on-Thames, if he will hold discussions with Ofwat on the adequacy of the progress on the improvement scheme at Horton-cum-Studley sewage treatment by Thames Water.

My officials and I have regular conversations with Ofwat and other regulators, to discuss a range of activities, including delivery by water companies.

Ahead of Price Review 24 (PR24), funding investment works through 2025 – 2030, the Horton-cum-Studley site has had further works identified to meet the government’s targets by reducing spills to no more than 10 per year and causing no adverse ecological impact. The exact delivery date of these works is officially to be confirmed.

In February 2025 Ofwat opened an enforcement case into Thames Water to investigate whether its delayed delivery of environmental improvements schemes has meant the company has breached its obligations. The focus of that investigation is schemes that were intended to be delivered in the 2020-25 period. Ofwat's investigation will keep under review if there is any further action to take in relation to the delivery of schemes planned for the PR24 period (2025-30).

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the new legal and financial processes required for a partnership funding model for Environment Agency projects.

The Government inherited an outdated funding formula for allocating money to proposed flood defences. Established in 2011, the existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes through a complex application process and also neglects more innovative approaches to flood management such as nature-based approaches and sustainable drainage.

We will be consulting on a new and simplified approach to funding floods projects in the coming months. This will include a review of the existing formula to ensure that the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are adequately taken into account when delivering flood protection.

The Floods Funding Policy consultation will be open to everyone, and we will be inviting all stakeholders to be part of the consultation. We will review all responses received to improve our approach to floods investment.

We will implement the new investment framework from April 2026.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the Environment Agency's grant in aid for navigation infrastructure.

Longer term Government funding decisions, including the Environment Agency’s grant in aid for navigation infrastructure, will be made at the next Spending Review.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the (a) amount of funding and (b) current measures being used by the Border Force to seize illegal meat.

Successful Border Force-led operations resulted in the interception, seizure and safe disposal of some 114 tonnes of meat illegally imported into the United Kingdom in 2024.

We are not complacent about illegal meat smuggling, which may pose threats to animal health, food safety and public health. That is why we are working closely with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue with the support of Border Force, Port Health Authorities and local authorities.

Border Force is funded by the Home Office.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February to Question 31562 on Sewage: Waste Disposal, what his planned timeline is for the conclusion of the commission to recommend reforms to reset the water sector regulatory system.

On 27 February the Commission launched a wide-ranging Call for Evidence, which is open for views from all interested parties until 23 April. This will inform the Commission’s recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments with final recommendations to conclude this summer.

These recommendations are expected to form the basis of further legislation. This will boost investability in the sector and contribute to economic growth, speed up delivery on infrastructure to support house building, clean up our waterways, address water scarcity and ultimately serve both customers and the environment.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the ecological status of Holton Brook.

The ecological status of Holton Brook (The Holton Brook and tributaries) is currently classified as having ‘Bad’ ecological status overall. This status is driven mainly by a deterioration to invertebrate status from ‘Poor’ to ‘Bad’ in the 2022 classification. The reason for this deterioration is suspected to be the impact from invasive species, particularly North American Signal Crayfish. There are also existing Reasons for Not Achieving Good Status (RANGs) listed against diffuse agricultural pollution, continuous sewage discharge and physical modification to the waterbody. Macrophytes and Phosphate are also at ‘Poor’ status on the Holton Brook and have RANGs associated with continuous sewage discharge and diffuse agricultural pollution. All other ecological elements are at ‘Good’ or ‘High’ status.

For the next water company asset management period (AMP 8), investment period for 2025 – 2030, an improvement scheme at Horton-cum-Studley sewage treatment works has been identified as part of the Environment Act’s Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan. This will ensure the site operates its storm overflow no more than 10 times per year and causes no adverse ecological impact. Forest Hill STW and Stanton St John STW will have schemes in subsequent AMP periods to meet their Environment Act (2021) targets.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29734 on Thames Water, what discussions he has had with Ofwat on the potential impact of (a) the High Court-approved restructure of Thames Water and (b) Ofwat's decision to open an enforcement case on the delayed delivery of environmental improvement schemes on the stability of Thames Water.

The Secretary of State meets with a wide range of stakeholders on a regular basis.

The Government and Ofwat continue to carefully monitor the situation with Thames Water, and Ofwat is working closely with the company to strengthen its long-term financial resilience within the context of its licence and broader statutory obligations. We prepare for a range of scenarios across our regulated industries - including water - as any responsible Government would.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the (a) amount of funding for and (b) effectiveness of the current measures used by the Border Force to seize illegal meat.

Successful Border Force-led operations resulted in the interception, seizure and safe disposal of some 114 tonnes of meat illegally imported into the United Kingdom in 2024.

We are not complacent about illegal meat smuggling, which may pose threats to animal health, food safety and public health. That is why we are working closely with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue with the support of Border Force, Port Health Authorities and local authorities.

Border Force is funded by the Home Office.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of plastic grass on (a) biodiversity and (b) nature.

This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. The government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with problematic plastic products.

Defra recognises the importance of assessing the impacts of plastic grass on biodiversity and nature. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action from right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed.

The Government is committed to delivering our legally-binding biodiversity targets on species abundance, species extinction, habitat creation and restoration. The Environment Act 2021 introduced a number of policies that will support habitat restoration. For example, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work in tandem to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive, while conservation covenants will help secure habitat for the long term.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making insurance cover of properties at risk of flooding mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 February 2025, UIN 27724.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to provide insurance to properties at risk of flooding.

Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider. In 2023/24, Flood Re provided cover for over 280,000 household policies, and report that 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 15 or more insurers.

All insurance companies providing home insurance policies in the UK are required to pay the Flood Re Levy irrelevant of whether they cede policies to Flood Re or not. It is for individual companies to decide the policies they offer, and when to cede a policy to Flood Re.

Householders are encouraged to always shop around for the most suitable policy for their needs, including flood cover. For anyone struggling to find appropriate insurance we advise them to look at BIBA’s Flood Insurance Directory, which can be accessed online via www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance. Alternatively, BIBA’s Find an insurance service can be contacted on 0370 950 1790, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. Consumers must ensure the cover they choose provides appropriate cover for their circumstances.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26.

The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settlements for National Trails UK as soon as possible.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails.

The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails at this time.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of national trails to biodiversity gain.

We are aware of the wider benefits that national trails can bring for nature recovery and biodiversity gain.

The Coast to Coast National Trail was the first to include wider benefits in the National Trail proposal. This resulted in funding being allocated to nature recovery projects from the start of the establishment phase. We are mapping biodiversity projects associated with the trails and encouraging Local Nature Recovery Statements to consider the potential of National Trails.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)