Chi Onwurah MP: written questions
398 published records · newest first.
Written questions
London North Eastern Railway: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November to Question 13473 and the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14457 and 16158 on London North Eastern Railway: WiFi, what proportion of complaints about facilities on bo
Answer: For the period July to September 2024 London North Eastern Railway received 64 complaints relating to Wi-Fi reliability which equates to 0.75 per cent of all complaints received in that period.
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November to Question 13473 and the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14457 on London North Eastern Railway: WiFi, whether complaints about WiFi are included in the category ent
Answer: I can confirm that Wifi complaints fall into the "Quality on Train" - "Facilities on Board" category.
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: NationalisationDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining regional livery designs as railway franchises are brought back into public ownership.
Answer: The Department has not assessed the potential merits of maintaining regional livery designs as railway franchises are brought back into public ownership.
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTuring Scheme: Free School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of students with Turing grants who are eligible for free school meals attend an independent school.
Answer: The Turing Scheme is the UK Government’s global programme for students to study and work abroad. The Turing Scheme provides additional funding to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them to participate in international placements. All students...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTuring Scheme: Private EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) schools that have students with Turing grants are independent schools and (b) students that receive Turing grants attend independent schools.
Answer: For the 2024/25 academic year, over £10 million in funding was awarded to 298 successful schools projects from across the UK. This will provide funding for over 7,000 pupils to participate in placements overseas. Of these, 56% will be for participants fro...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordTuring Scheme: Free School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) schools and (b) students with Turing grants receive free school meals.
Answer: The Turing Scheme is the UK Government’s global programme for students to study and work abroad. The Turing Scheme provides additional funding to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them to participate in international placements. All students...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit and Shared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 14940, on Project Gigabit and Shared Rural Network, how Ofcom tests areas for compliance with their standard for good coverage.
Answer: Ofcom’s approach to testing compliance is available on Ofcom’s website. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/cellular-coverage/It involves a combination of desk-based assessment against the mobile network operators (MNO) cover...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit and Shared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 14940 on Project Gigabit and Shared Rural Network, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the minimum signal strength to s
Answer: Ofcom reports that a 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speed connection is needed to support video calls and a consistent connection to the internet, and our expectation is that this would support remote working. Most networks in the UK, including those ...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric BicyclesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reports of incidents involving (a) e-bike batteries and (b) conversion kits on consumer trust in e-bike technology.
Answer: While e-bikes and e-scooters are used safely by millions of people every day, unsafe, non-compliant or improperly used lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes can cause serious fires. Public safety is our priority, and this Department’s recent “Buy Safe. Be Safe...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of safety standards of imported e-bikes from outside the EU and (b) implications for his policies of risks associated with non-EU lithium-ion
Answer: UK product safety legislation requires manufacturers or importers placing products on the UK market, including e-bikes to ensure those products are safe. Those importing international products must ensure that they comply with UK product safety rules. Ear...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBicycles: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what data his Department holds on the potential impact of non-EU bicycle imports on (a) cycle distributors in the North East and (b) the bicycle manufacturing sector.
Answer: The Department does not hold data on the potential impact of non-EU bicycle imports on cycle distributors in the North East or the bicycle manufacturing sector. At the Budget, the Government announced we would be continuing funding for key business suppor...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBicycles: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) innovation and (b) growth in the bicycle manufacturing industry.
Answer: Small businesses and manufacturers are vital to high streets and communities, and essential to the success of the Government’s growth mission. At the Budget, the Government announced we would be continuing funding for key business support programmes in 20...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit and Shared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13205 on Project Gigabit and Shared Rural Network, what minimum service levels his Department expects 4G coverage delivered as par
Answer: The Shared Rural Network is delivering good 4G outdoor coverage across rural parts of the UK. For 4G networks, Ofcom defines good coverage based on the minimum signal strength required to deliver a 95% probability of making a 90-second telephone call succ...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 13206 on Government Departments: Finance, which Departments are included in the first tranche; what the new system is; and how the
Answer: The first full tranche includes Cabinet Office, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Business & Trade, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and Department for Energy Security & Net Zero plus associated Arm’s-Len...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: EqualityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his department is taking to help increase diversity in the research workforce.
Answer: DSIT is committed to increasing diversity in the research workforce. We are supporting the pipeline of diverse talent, for example through the CREST Awards and the UKRI funded STEM Ambassador programme. We are supporting UKRI’s EDI Strategy to ensure that...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to consult the research sector on the Government’s plans for 10 year budgets for R&D activities.
Answer: We recognise the importance of stakeholder engagement and are actively involving stakeholders from the research sector throughout the process. Further details on ten-year budgets will be set out in the Spring as part of the next phase of the Spending Revi...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMembers' Constituency Work: Artificial IntelligenceHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14618More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress the Commission has made in making AI technology available to help hon. members in their constituency work.
Answer: The House Administration actively considers how AI can benefit Members. This consideration has a number of threads:(1) Exploring the use of AITeams across Parliament are working together through Parliament’s AI Working Group to consider how AI may be used...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 13473 on London North Eastern Railway: WiFi, what period the most recent report covers; and whether that report is publicly available.
Answer: The Office of Rail and Road publishes complaints data on a quarterly basis for all rail operators. London North Eastern Railway also undertakes its own research to understand and respond to passenger needs. The latest Office of Rail and Road passenger com...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordShared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Shared Rural Network.
Answer: The Shared Rural Network (SRN) has already delivered substantial improvements to outdoor 4G mobile coverage across the UK. 4G coverage from at least one mobile network operator has increased from 91% when the programme was agreed in March 2020 to 94.9% ac...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: South EastDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to increase the amount spent on research outside the Greater South East by 40%.
Answer: This public R&D regional investment target is set out in the statement of missions laid in relation to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.Increasing productivity right across the UK is fundamental to our mission to kickstart economic growth. T...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: LegislationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Assuring a Responsible Future for AI, published on 6 November 2024, what assessment he has made of the role of legislation in dri
Answer: AI assurance supports organisations to demonstrate their compliance with existing – and future – standards and regulations. To complement the existing focus on proportionate, sector-specific regulation, the UK Government remains focused on its intention t...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCybersecurity: Small BusinessesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the (a) annual and (b) consolidated take up is of cyber essentials by small and medium sized businesses.
Answer: a) Cyber Essentials certificates awarded to small and medium sized businesses:i. November 2023 to October 2024: 41,162, including 9,680 Cyber Essentials Plus certificates.ii. November 2022 to October 2023: 26,674, including 7,966 Cyber Essentials Plus cer...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: ProcurementDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Assuring a Responsible Future for AI, published on 6 November 2024, what assessment he has made of the role that Government procu
Answer: We know that Government procurement is a powerful lever to drive innovation, giving businesses confidence to invest in and shape markets by signalling Government needs and intent, and this is no different with AI assurance. By embedding them in public sec...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: FinanceTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13474More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 12054 on Department for Business and Trade: Finance, whether the figures referenced are included in the £20.4 billion mentioned on page 65 of the Autumn Budget 2
Answer: The £20.4bn referenced on page 65 of the Budget document refers to all departmental research and development budgets for 2025/2026.This includes a research and development allocation for the Department for Business and Trade for 2025/2026 of £329m. This i...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLondon North Eastern Railway: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the quality of wifi on London North Eastern Railway services; and if she will have discussions with that company on improving that wifi.
Answer: The Department is working closely with London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to ensure all aspects of onboard experience, including WiFi, meet customers’ expectations. LNER reports on customer satisfaction to the Department every rail period and their most ...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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