Andrew Snowden MP: written questions

Written questions

• House of Commons: CateringHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5267More

  Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the Commission is taking to ensure British suppliers are given preference in House of Commons catering contracts.

  Answer: Under current legislation and guidance, specifying the origin of goods or services is only permitted if it is necessary to do so in order for our requirements to be understood. Where possible and appropriate Parliament will endeavour to purchase British g...

  Answered 15 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Waste: ExportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5266More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure companies that have previously committed waste export offences remain subject to enhanced monitoring and compliance checks.

  Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) ensures that companies with a history of waste export offences remain subject to enhanced monitoring and compliance checks. This is done through an intelligence‑led, risk‑based approach to compliance and enforcement. Previous o...

  Answered 3 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Waste: ExportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5265More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many enforcement actions have been taken by the Environment Agency in relation to misclassified waste exports in the last five years.

  Answer: In the last five years, the Environment Agency (EA) has secured 6 prosecutions, accepted 3 enforcement undertakings and served 1 fixed penalty notice. In addition, 35 warning letters and 169 formal advice and guidance letters have been issued for lower-le...

  Answered 3 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Pre-school Education: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5262More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered issuing guidance to early years providers to ensure that penalty charges are not applied where delays are not attributable to parents and carers.

  Answer: Through the department’s Best Start in Life strategy, we are focused on reforming the childcare system, delivering on our plan for change.Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of funded, high-quality, flexible childcare, free of ...

  Answered 16 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Nurseries: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5261More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure nursery collection fees in cases where parents and carers are unable to collect children on time due to circumstances beyond their control are not used as an additional income s

  Answer: Through the department’s Best Start in Life strategy, we are focused on reforming the childcare system, delivering on our plan for change.Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of funded, high-quality, flexible childcare, free of ...

  Answered 16 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Care Homes: General PractitionersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5260More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms exist for care home providers to provide feedback on the effectiveness of GP and Care Co-ordination pathways.

  Answer: The Care provision, integration and continuity quality statement in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) current assessment framework looks to assess whether:people receive care and treatment from services that understand the diverse health and social care...

  Answered 3 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Care Homes: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5259More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of dedicated Care Home Teams on the quality and timeliness of clinical support provided to care home residents.

  Answer: The National Health Service is committed to ensuring the healthcare provision matches the needs of care homes registered with general practices (GPs). From 1 October 2020, primary care networks (PCNs) became responsible for the full Enhanced Health in Car...

  Answered 3 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Creative Foundations FundDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5257More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2026 to question 2879, what steps she is taking to ensure that organisations in constituencies such as Fylde are not disadvantaged by competition with larger metr

  Answer: The first round of the Creative Foundations Fund awarded £96 million to 74 arts and cultural organisations in England. Arts Council England received 117 eligible applications from organisations based in all English regions, and 78 local authorities. The g...

  Answered 5 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Creative Foundations FundDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5256More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2026 to question 2879, what the geographic distribution of applications to the first round of the Creative Foundations Fund was by region and local authority.

  Answer: The first round of the Creative Foundations Fund awarded £96 million to 74 arts and cultural organisations in England. Arts Council England received 117 eligible applications from organisations based in all English regions, and 78 local authorities. The g...

  Answered 5 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Sentencing: Young OffendersMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5253More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer on 29 July 2026 to question 3142 on youth reoffending rates, what comparative assessment he has made of the reoffending rate for (a) short custodial sentences, (b) longer custodial sentence

  Answer: Evidence from Ministry of Justice research using matched statistical analysis suggests that custodial sentences for children are associated with higher reoffending rates than either Referral Orders or Youth Rehabilitation Orders (and where custodial sente...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Integrated Care Boards: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5252More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to increase the accountability of Integrated Care Boards in relation to mental health prevention under the Health Bill.

  Answer: The Health Bill will strengthen the accountability of integrated care boards (ICBs), including for the delivery of mental health prevention, by increasing my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s oversight and intervention po...

  Answered 15 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Railways: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4627More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of provisions in the Railways Bill on existing and future open access rail services; and what steps are being taken to ensure that such services are support

  Answer: The Government has been clear that the open access sector will continue to play a role in delivering services where it represents best use of the network. The Railways Bill contains clear legislative safeguards to ensure non-GBR operators, including open ...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Internet: Counterfeit ManufacturingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4621More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether steps are being taken to ensure that online marketplaces apply verification tools and buyer protection systems to reduce counterfeit sales.

  Answer: The Government is committed to protecting intellectual property rights and supporting businesses and consumers. The UK maintains a robust legal framework requiring platforms to disable access to infringing listings when they have actual knowledge of it. T...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Organised Crime: Counterfeit ManufacturingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4620More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in tackling organised counterfeit networks.

  Answer: Operating within a complex enforcement landscape, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) is the only national police unit dedicated to combatting intellectual property crime and remains a key strategic partner in tackling domestic and cross-b...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Retail Trade: Counterfeit ManufacturingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4619More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with Trading Standards and police enforcement bodies on the seizure of counterfeit luxury goods.

  Answer: The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has not engaged directly with National Trading Standards or Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) on the specific question of luxury goods. However, PIPCU and Trading Standards routin...

  Answered 10 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Internet: Counterfeit ManufacturingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4618More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Intellectual Property Office’s new guidance for second-hand shoppers in reducing the purchase of counterfeit goods online.

  Answer: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is committed to raising consumer awareness of IP crime and infringement and the risks surrounding it. The new guidance for second-hand shoppers has been developed as part of a wider second-hand shopping campaign in p...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Private Education: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4617More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the VAT increase on private schools on demand for school places in state schools.

  Answer: HM Treasury published a tax information and impact note on applying VAT to independent school fees, which includes the government’s estimates of the number of pupils expected to enter the state sector as a result of this policy.

  Answered 16 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Holiday Accommodation: FyldeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4616More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Government policies on the (i) availability and (ii) cost of tourist accommodation in Fylde constituency.

  Answer: Parliament legislated for a national registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The government remains committed to implementing this registration scheme as soon as practicable to support sustainable tourism and...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Housing: LancashireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4615More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government policies on house prices in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire.

  Answer: My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of government policies on house prices in the Fylde constituency or Lancashire more generally.

  Answered 9 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Agriculture: TemperatureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4611More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support farmers affected by recent extreme high temperatures.

  Answer: The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service has developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. Adaptation options include those which could...

  Answered 3 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Armed Forces: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4610More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the readiness levels of the armed forces.

  Answer: We inherited a hollowed out and underfunded Armed Forces. The Strategic Defence Review sets out a path to war fighting readiness, and the Defence Investment Plan will set out the capabilities required to deliver the Strategic Defence Review. The readiness...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Courts: Digital TechnologyMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4609More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on court digitisation; and what steps he is taking to ensure data processing is secure and accurate.

  Answer: The HMCTS Reform Programme, which concluded in March 2025, delivered twelve digital services across the civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions and fully implemented the Common Platform across all 226 criminal courts in England and Wales.Use of these ser...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Prisons: OvercrowdingMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4608More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment has been made of trends in the level of prison overcrowding.

  Answer: Crowding data is published regularly in HMPPS’s Annual Digest, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2024-to-march-2025.The most recent data for the 12 months ending March 2025 shows:The crowding rate in prison...

  Answered 8 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Listeria Monocytogenes: PregnancyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4607More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether guidance is being issued to pregnant people to reduce the risk of infection from Listeriosis, including from ready-to-eat and chilled foods.

  Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the National Health Service already provide advice to pregnant people to help reduce the risk of infection from listeriosis, including advice on ready-to-eat and chilled foods, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/p...

  Answered 5 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Food PoisoningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4606More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role the Food Standards Agency is playing in reducing cases of food poisoning linked to contaminated poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products.

  Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for food safety and hygiene across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It sets and enforces standards across the food chain, working with local authorities and maintaining a direct presence in slaughterhous...

  Answered 5 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record