Chi Onwurah MP: written questions 2026
80 published records · newest first.
Written questions
AI Growth Zones: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department will take to prevent further withdrawal of planned AI investment from the UK, in the context of OpenAI’s decision to pause its Stargate UK project.
Answer: Decisions on investment are a matter for private companies. The Government has been clear that it will encourage and support investments that will enable UK firms and people to benefit. Many of the large-scale AI infrastructure projects in the UK have bee...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAI Growth Zones: North EastDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the decision by OpenAI to pause its Stargate UK investment on the AI Growth Zone in the North East of England, and wha
Answer: Since the announcement of the North East AI Growth Zone, there has been no change to energy pricing or the regulatory environment in the UK. We engage regularly with developers and other stakeholders for the North East AI Growth Zone and are encouraged th...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Lone ParentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available through his Department and Jobcentre Plus to help single parents with childcare responsibilities find suitable part-time employment.
Answer: As set out in our Child Poverty Strategy, this Government is committed to boosting family incomes, supporting single parents and reducing the earnings gap within couple households by transforming employment support and removing barriers to work. The Gover...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available through his Department and Jobcentre Plus to help disabled people find suitable part-time employment.
Answer: We are committed to providing disabled people who want to work with the right support to find employment, including part-time work and self-employment, that meets their specific circumstances and ambitions. In addition to Work Coach support, our Pathways ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordICT: ExpenditureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department must approve IT spend above a certain value.
Answer: Yes. The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, must approve all digital and technology spend above certain values.
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordScience and TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has considered which aspects of (a) AI, (b) quantum, (c) space and (d) bioengineering the UK will seek to lead in.
Answer: The Government made a series of long-term commitments to developing UK leadership on AI, quantum, space and engineering biology through the Industrial Strategy and the AI Opportunities Action Plan.We have established the £500m Sovereign AI Fund to support...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence and Digital Service Providers: EU LawDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the exclusion of UK tech companies from the EU Cloud and AI Development Act.
Answer: The PM has been clear that UK-European collaboration in science and technology is extremely important to the UK. We are engaging with European Commission to understand the development of the proposed EU Cloud and AI Development Act and assess its impact o...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: International CooperationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Government plans to increase technology collaboration with like-minded international partners to support the UK’s sovereign capability in artificial intelligence and emergin
Answer: The Government is pleased to be working with international partners to support a thriving AI ecosystem in the UK, seizing the benefits of partnership and driving accelerated adoption of AI. Through international collaboration, including initiatives like E...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: Data ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has a strategy for achieving UK technology sovereignty; and if she will make a statement.
Answer: The Government seeks to build sovereign capability in critical technologies, as set out in the June 2025 Modern Industrial Strategy and the accompanying Digital and Technologies Sector Plan. This approach reflects the importance of strengthening domestic ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: SoftwareDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department requires the use of open-source software, open standards or open interfaces as part of its oversight and approval of major IT procurement across Government.
Answer: As of February 2025, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), through its incorporation of the Government Digital Service (GDS), requires full consideration be given to the use of open standards and open-source software. DSIT oversigh...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDigital Service Providers: USADepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has held discussions with (a) Microsoft, (b) Amazon Web Services and (c) Palantir regarding the potential implications of the (1) US Cloud Act, (2) Patriot Act and (3) entit
Answer: The Secretary of State has not held specific discussions with these companies on these matters.The Government takes a balanced approach to cloud services, ensuring public sector systems are secure, resilient, and effective, while benefiting from global in...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordICTDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what minimum UK capabilities she has identified as necessary across (a) AI computing, (b) cloud infrastructure, (c) cybersecurity and (d) data governance to reduce dependence on foreign
Answer: The Government has identified the need to strengthen capability across a range of critical technologies, as set out in the Modern Industrial Strategy (2025) and the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan (2025), including building UK capacity in AI computin...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: ICTDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is working on a common definition of technology, AI and digital sovereignty for use a) within her department b) across government.
Answer: This is a highly complex and evolving policy area with no single internationally agreed definition. Countries use the term differently depending on their economic, security, resilience and diplomatic priorities. As this is an area of policy that covers nu...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the UK’s level of dependence on foreign manufactured Common Information Models (CIMs); and what steps his Department is taking to ensure the resilience an
Answer: Common Information Models are used across a range of UK CNI sectors. This includes telecommunications, where CIMs enable interoperability between different network management and operational systems. They support efficient operation and automation in comp...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMedical Equipment: ProcurementDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the NHS is not dependent on single suppliers of medical products.
Answer: Central procurement processes through NHS Supply Chain include a range of measures to prevent the dependency on single suppliers of medical products.When designing strategies, at category and sourcing strategy stages, NHS Supply Chain completes a category...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordImports: IsraelDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 85759, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Israeli measures to extend control of areas in the West Bank on the Government's abi
Answer: The UK is clear that Israel's illegal settlements, and decisions designed to further them, are a flagrant violation of international law. We will take concrete steps, in accordance with international law, to counter settlement expansion, and to challenge ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordWest Africa: BananasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that UK trade policy supports the sustainability of rural communities in West Africa that are reliant on the banana export
Answer: The UK's Economic Partnership Agreements and Developing Countries Trading Scheme provide West and Central African partners with preferential access to the UK market, supporting growth, employment, and development of resilient agricultural supply chains. T...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAfrica: BananasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what step she is taking with his African counterparts to help ensure that women in the West and Central African banana trade are supported and employed.
Answer: The UK's Economic Partnership Agreements and Developing Countries Trading Scheme provide West and Central African partners with preferential access to the UK market, supporting growth, employment, and development of resilient agricultural supply chains. T...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: IndustryDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 907895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support industrial heritage.
Answer: This Government is proud to support industrial heritage, which is central to our nation's history. Last year, the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund supported a wide range of industrial heritage sites, including £1 million for the Woodhorn Colliery in Northumb...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAI Growth Zones: Job CreationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many projected jobs for each AI Growth Zone are (a) tied to building and construction of data centres, (b) permanent on-site operational jobs in data centres, (c) data-centre roles
Answer: Through AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), we aim to crowd-in tens of billions of pounds in private investment and drive growth, with AIGZs announced so far expected to create over 15,000 jobs.AIGZs are designed to accelerate data‑centre build‑out and attract subst...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of potential impact of the new US vehicle connectivity rules on UK automotive exports to the US; and if he will make a statement.
Answer: Given that the software rules apply from Model Year 2027 and the hardware rules from 2029, many manufacturers are still assessing their supply chains and how to remain compliant. This information is commercially sensitive, so I cannot comment on individua...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Capital InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of her Department's (a) capital investment exposure to, (b) potential capital spending requirements resulting from and (c) overall investment portfolio resi
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does not hold any direct capital investments in companies listed on US equity markets.DSIT’s capital portfolio consists of investments approved on a case‑by‑case basis against agreed criteria, a...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: USADepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for UK energy grid procurement policies of the Strider report on US grid dependency on Chinese components.
Answer: The protection and security of the energy sector is an absolute priority of this Government. My department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are res...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHolocaust: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on (a) tackling the proliferation of fake AI generated Auschwitz photographs on social media and (b) the potential impact of those photographs on
Answer: The government is deeply concerned about the spread of antisemitic content and dealing with it is a priority for this government. We recognise that AI-generated content can undermine trust and spread hate online. Under the Online Safety Act (OSA), enforce...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Statement UIN HCWS1044 on 11 November 2025, what procedures and circumstances led to the 2007 research report not being provided to his predecessor.
Answer: The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age. This was because findings from a 2007 report had not been drawn to ...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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