Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with broadband providers on the adequacy of broadband (a) coverage and (b) speed in rural areas.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We recognise that reliable broadband underpins all aspects of modern life, including access to and modernisation of essential services.
The government, in consultation with industry set targets for broadband coverage in the UK. The government is committed to achieving 99% gigabit coverage by 2032, ensuring fast, reliable and future-proofed connectivity will be available to support consumer and business needs, including in rural communities.
Most gigabit-capable connections will be delivered commercially, so we are focusing government funds on the remaining areas of the country where commercial deployment is unlikely. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, 89% of premises benefiting from Building Digital UK (BDUK) subsidies were rural.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled ‘Government unveils biggest overhaul to water in a generation’ published on 19 January 2026, whether the roll-out of smart meters will remain voluntary for homeowners.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999, water companies do not have to ask customers before they install a water smart meter, but can only bill the customer (compulsory metering) where specific conditions are met. These conditions include where the property is in an area designated as under serious water stress, or where specific conditions are met, such as a change of occupier, a new property, or a swimming pool on premise. Any water company using these powers must show this approach represents value for money and has customer support in their Water Resource Management Plan consultations.
Moving to a metered supply can deliver water-use reductions of up to 17%. Improving water efficiency offers a win-win by reducing bills, supporting sustainable water supplies, and protecting the environment. Government's commitment to fairer bills and better data for customers in our White Paper seeks to maximise the benefits of this reduction in water usage for customers.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his letter to council leaders whose elections he is seeking to postpone published on 22 January 2026, what assessment he has made of the administrative impact on councils of running town and parish elections while district or county-level authority elections are postponed.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where a decision has been made to postpone local elections in an area, parish and town council elections will still be proceeding as planned, given they are outside of local government reorganisation.
Councils will deliver the elections they are required to and the costs of town and parish council elections can be passed on to those town and parish councils.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the trends of the levels of superfast broadband in (a) Orsett, (b) Bulphan, (c) Horndon-on-the-Hill and (d) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations reporting, as of July 2025 superfast coverage for Thurrock Local Authority was reported as 99% up from 97% in September 2023, and for South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency 99% up from 98%.
Network coverage data published by Ofcom does not include separate datasets for the villages of Orsett, Bulphan and Horndon-on the-Hill.
Superfast coverage in both Thurrock Local Authority and South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency now exceeds the national average of 98%, demonstrating excellent superfast coverage levels and positive progress in maximising the availability of these speeds in the area.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of banning phones in schools; and whether she plans to make banning phones in schools compulsory.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Mobile phones have no place in schools.
The department’s new, stronger guidance on mobile phones in schools is clear that all schools should be mobile phone-free by default. Pupils should not have access to their devices during lessons, break times, lunch times, or between lessons.
Research from the Children’s Commissioner, published in April 2025, shows that the overwhelming majority of schools - 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools - already have policies in place that limit or restrict the use of mobile phones during the school day.
The guidance will be implemented through behaviour management in schools, and by setting out clear expectations for teachers and school staff, while our Attendance and Behaviour Hub-lead schools will support other schools to implement and enforce a mobile phone policy where needed.
For the first time, Ofsted will check school mobile phone policy on every inspection, with schools expected to be phone-free by default. Ofsted will examine both schools' mobile phone policies and how effectively they are implemented when judging behaviour during inspections
In addition, a consultation will identify the next steps in the government’s plan to boost children’s wellbeing online, ensuring they have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has met with representatives of Kinship's #ValueOurLove campaign to discuss potential reforms to the kinship care system.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. The government is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve, and kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this.
Departmental officials and I regularly engage with the charity Kinship as well as other key sector stakeholders to discuss and consult on ongoing and future reforms to the kinship care system.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, whether he plans to issue guidance to Thurrock Council on planning 2027 local elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As per the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January, the necessary legislation will be laid shortly to postpone a minority of local elections in 2026, including Thurrock Council.
The Department has had a range of discussions with councils across the country in recent weeks about local government reorganisation and elections, including with Basildon Council and Essex County Council.
In relation to local elections in 2027, we anticipate that in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock these will be for any new unitary authorities that are announced following the recent statutory consultation. Once a decision is taken on which final proposal for unitary local government, if any, is to be implemented, we will bring forward a Structural Changes Order as soon as possible to give councils certainty. Officials in my Department, alongside the Electoral Commission and other sector bodies, support Returning Officers with some aspects of election preparation to ensure they are progressing effectively.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Basildon Council and (b) Essex County Council on local elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As per the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January, the necessary legislation will be laid shortly to postpone a minority of local elections in 2026, including Thurrock Council.
The Department has had a range of discussions with councils across the country in recent weeks about local government reorganisation and elections, including with Basildon Council and Essex County Council.
In relation to local elections in 2027, we anticipate that in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock these will be for any new unitary authorities that are announced following the recent statutory consultation. Once a decision is taken on which final proposal for unitary local government, if any, is to be implemented, we will bring forward a Structural Changes Order as soon as possible to give councils certainty. Officials in my Department, alongside the Electoral Commission and other sector bodies, support Returning Officers with some aspects of election preparation to ensure they are progressing effectively.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation published on 22 January 2026, whether he has had discussions on the postponement of Basildon's 2027 local elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As per the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January, the necessary legislation will be laid shortly to postpone a minority of local elections in 2026, including Thurrock Council.
The Department has had a range of discussions with councils across the country in recent weeks about local government reorganisation and elections, including with Basildon Council and Essex County Council.
In relation to local elections in 2027, we anticipate that in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock these will be for any new unitary authorities that are announced following the recent statutory consultation. Once a decision is taken on which final proposal for unitary local government, if any, is to be implemented, we will bring forward a Structural Changes Order as soon as possible to give councils certainty. Officials in my Department, alongside the Electoral Commission and other sector bodies, support Returning Officers with some aspects of election preparation to ensure they are progressing effectively.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of Thurrock Council's request to postpone the 2026 local elections following the cancellation of the 2025 local elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As per the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January, the necessary legislation will be laid shortly to postpone a minority of local elections in 2026, including Thurrock Council.
The Department has had a range of discussions with councils across the country in recent weeks about local government reorganisation and elections, including with Basildon Council and Essex County Council.
In relation to local elections in 2027, we anticipate that in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock these will be for any new unitary authorities that are announced following the recent statutory consultation. Once a decision is taken on which final proposal for unitary local government, if any, is to be implemented, we will bring forward a Structural Changes Order as soon as possible to give councils certainty. Officials in my Department, alongside the Electoral Commission and other sector bodies, support Returning Officers with some aspects of election preparation to ensure they are progressing effectively.