Alex Sobel MP: written questions
123 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to introduce mandatory requirements for AI developers to disclose information about their systems.
Answer: Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at ...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: Western SaharaCabinet OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63057More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much of the UK's trade with Morocco is with Western Sahara.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th June is attached.
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMorocco: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63056More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he had discussions with his Moroccan counterpart during the formulation of the UK-Morocco Joint Communiqué on whether Morocco’s willingness to engage in discussions i
Answer: On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary co-chaired the 5th session of the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Rabat with Minister Nasser Bourita. Discussions were wide-ranging and constructive, reflecting the strong bilateral relationship and shared commitment to a...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: SyriaHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 58258 on Asylum: Syria, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting Syrian asylum seekers in the UK the right to work throughou
Answer: Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This policy applies to Syrian nation...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal Injuries Compensation: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support her Department provides to victims of violent crimes who have been waiting more than twelve months for a decision on their Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claim.
Answer: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the 2012 Scheme) does not prescribe a time limit for applications to be decided.The majority of applications are decided within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own facts and assessed based on ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCriminal Injuries Compensation: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will support the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to reduce claim processing times.
Answer: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the 2012 Scheme) does not prescribe a time limit for applications to be decided.The majority of applications are decided within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own facts and assessed based on ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinerals: XinjiangDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the use of Uyghur slave labour in supply chains that include critical minerals.
Answer: This Government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for t...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: ApplicationsHome OfficeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the evaluation of the move-on period pilot extension; and whether her Department plans to further extend the pilot.
Answer: In December, the Home Office operationalised a pilot to extend the grace period to 56 days. It is important that we take the necessary time to evaluate the impact of the interim measures, including overall net costs to taxpayers, before deciding whether t...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFundraising: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to require that tipping sliders on online fundraising platforms can be dragged to zero.
Answer: Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in Engl...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFundraising: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Fundraising Regulator on the transparency of tipping sliders on online fundraising platforms.
Answer: Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in Engl...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFundraising: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps with the Fundraising Regulator to help ensure compliance by social fundraising platforms with its guidance on the prominence of a zero fee or tip option.
Answer: Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in Engl...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: SyriaHome OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to process the outstanding asylum applications of Syrians in the UK.
Answer: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office has withdrawn the Country Policy Information Notes and Guidance relating to Syria and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions.The pause is being kept under constant review and when...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published in May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the settlement rule
Answer: The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route was launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s passing of the National Security Law. The route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their tie...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: StudentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51421 on Students: Personal Independence Payment, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work: Reforming B
Answer: We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We are mindful of the impact ...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: StudentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51421 on Students: Personal Independence Payment, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of consulting with students who rece
Answer: The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out a range of proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support and opened a public consultation on certain reforms. The consultation welcomes all views, and we hope that a wide range of voices...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: ResettlementHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54339More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to provide an additional resettlement quota for Afghan refugees in Pakistan identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement.
Answer: Between 2021 and March 2025, over 34,000 individuals have been resettled and relocated through the Afghan Resettlement Programme. The latest immigration statistics can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-ye...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the next set of Greening Government Commitments will be published for the years 2025-2030.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 April 2025 to PQ 45716.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: Government DepartmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 326 his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, HC 314, published on 18 December 2024, what recent progress has been made on (a) creating a natural asse
Answer: Defra is making progress on creating a natural asset register presented within an accessible geospatial mapping format and developing a cross-Government nature strategy. A geospatial natural capital register of the Defra group estate has now been develope...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) technical and (b) financial support he is providing to Ukraine to help (i) identify and (ii) document casualties of the war in that country.
Answer: We condemn Russia's barbaric assault against Ukraine's civilian population. From 24 February 2022 to 30 April 2025, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 45,001 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 13,134 killed and 31,867 injured. A...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: Personal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, on students
Answer: No assessment has been made. The Department does not hold data about the student status of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming B...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Moroccan Ambassador on the recent occupation of further territory in Western Sahara.
Answer: Officials regularly meet and discuss with our Moroccan partners, in addition to regional and international partners, on the issue of Western Sahara. The UK continues to support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Self-determination of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 27839 on Western Sahara: Politics and Government, whether he supports a referendum on self-determination for the people
Answer: The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK also supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, P...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Sanitary ProductsDepartment for EducationTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the period product scheme will continue within schools in the year 2025-26.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Leeds and Central Headingley to the answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 30133.
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCrossbowsHome OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41188 on Crossbows, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing the (a) Government's response to that consultation and (b) steps the Govern
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April, Official Report Volume 766, column 26 and 27. The Government will shortly publish our response to that call for evidence and this will set out the next steps we intend to take.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFertility: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45812More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with NHS England to support ICBs to improve the availability of treatments for fertility patients.
Answer: In the light of broader pressures on the National Health Service and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.The National Institu...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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