Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the status is of each of the 19 special free schools that have been in pre-opening phase since 2021 or prior.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
For those schools that have been in the pre-opening phase since 2021 or prior, the department is engaging with local authorities and trusts in the usual way and progressing work in line with our vision for the special educational needs (SEN) system.
As the hon. Member for Twickenham will appreciate, pipeline projects are at different stages of development and the department is prioritising operational decisions on those that are due to open in the shorter term. The department is, however, pleased to note that one of those 19 schools, Carew Academy, has recently officially opened and pupils have moved in as of April 2025.
The government is clear it wants to make sure all children with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs, restoring parents’ trust that their child will get the support they need.
As with all government investment, special and alternative provision free school projects will be subject to value for money consideration through their development, in line with the government’s vision for the SEN system.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 49434 tabled on 30 April 2025 by the hon. Member for Twickenham.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
With apologies to the hon. Member, a response has now been issued.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to restrict dual-use technology from being exported to Israel.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
On 2 September we took decisive action, suspending certain licences for exports of items for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) that might be used in military operations in Gaza – whether such licences covered military or dual-use goods – and we continue to review licence applications on this basis.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to update health costs of noise impacts in Transport Appraisal Guidance.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
TAG, or Transport Analysis Guidance, provides information on the role of transport modelling and appraisal. We keep our guidance and values under review with the aim of ensuring that they are based on the best available evidence and meet the needs of decision makers.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 13 March 2025 from the hon. Member for Twickenham, case reference MC2025-00007485.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department attaches great importance to providing timely responses to correspondence and is working hard to improve our processes, including through greater digitisation. A response to this letter was regrettably delayed by administrative error, for which the Department sincerely apologises. We issued a full response on 16 May 2025.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to establish an independent noise authority.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to a strong aviation noise policy and funds the Civil Aviation Authority to provide noise advisory functions, including provision of best practice on noise mitigation, as well as funding two major noise studies. There are no current plans to establish an independent noise authority.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of primary schools which will be exposed to noise pollution from Heathrow expansion proposals above (a) 45dB, (b) 51dB and (c) 54dB.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government supports airport expansion and has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. It expects any proposals to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.
Once proposals have been received the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which sets clear requirements to mitigate the impacts of expansion on the environment and affected communities, and which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set a minimum acceptable level of noise for Heathrow expansion proposals.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government supports airport expansion and has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. It expects any proposals to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.
Once proposals have been received the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which sets clear requirements to mitigate the impacts of expansion on the environment and affected communities, and which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 March 2025 from the hon. Member for Twickenham, case reference MW55193.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention replied on 19 May 2025.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 49038 tabled by the hon. Member for Twickenham on 29 April 2025.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The response to Written Parliamentary Question 49038 was published on 16 May 2025.