Chi Onwurah MP: written questions
165 published records · newest first.
Written questions
West 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 recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes on 1950s-born women living in Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West constituency.
Answer: All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age. Estimates can be made using ONS 2021 Census Data on how many women born in the 1950s resided in each constituency in that year.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIntermarine UK: Migrant WorkersHome OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what mechanisms is InterMarine able to sponsor Highly Skilled Worker Visas .
Answer: The basis on which UK employers holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence can sponsor skilled workers to come to the UK is set out in the relevant Sponsor Guidance. This can be found on Gov.uk at: Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators - GOV.UK
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether recruitment agencies are permitted to sponsor Highly Skilled Worker Visas under current immigration rules.
Answer: The basis on which UK employers holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence can sponsor skilled workers to come to the UK is set out in the relevant Sponsor Guidance. This can be found on Gov.uk at: Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators - GOV.UK
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFuels: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the procurement and contract-management processes used for the Fuel Finder project; and what steps his Department is taking to ensur
Answer: A competitive and open tender process was run for Fuel Finder in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and government procurement policies and guidance. Evaluation criteria included quality, technical criteria and total cost. The Fuel Finder con...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordScience: Cabinet CommitteesCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105676More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Cabinet committee on Science and Technology has been replaced with a committee on Digital and Technology; and how matters related to science will be considered.
Answer: The membership and terms of reference of Cabinet committees is decided by the Prime Minister, as set out on gov.uk and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is a member of the Digital and Technology Committee. Matters related to sc...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: TheftHome OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with mobile phone companies on improving anti-theft technology.
Answer: The Government is determined to crack down on snatch theft and other crimes which target people's mobile devices. It is working closely with industry and law enforcement to help reduce these crimes.The Government hosted a mobile phone summit on 6 February...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 96656, if she will make an assessment of the a) the proportion of chatbots which use search and b) the characteristics of chatbots which
Answer: Chatbots that use search capabilities are designed to generate responses for users by actively searching the live web. This functionality means they would be captured by the Online Safety Act’s duties as a search service.The Secretary of State confirmed i...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information her Department holds on the proportion of chatbots deployed in the UK that use search-based functionality as part of their responses; and what assessment she has made o
Answer: Generative AI services, including chatbots, that allow users to share content with one another or that search live websites to provide search results are regulated under the Online Safety Act and must protect users from illegal content and children from h...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Health: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward a strategy for dental health research.
Answer: The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).Whilst there are currently no plans to develop a dental health research strategy, the NIHR continues to welcome funding appli...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: InnovationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2025 to Question 83750 on Health Services: Innovation, what mechanisms are in place to monitor and evaluate the successful adoption and diffusion of health inno
Answer: No organisations hold a statutory responsibility specifically to monitor or evaluate the rates of the successful adoption and spread of health innovation in the National Health Service. However, the NHS Business Services Authority, on behalf of the Office...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: CybersecurityDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department provides to school trusts to safeguard against cyber attacks and to protect children's personal data.
Answer: The department provides guidance to help schools build their cyber resilience in our Cyber Security Standards, which address the core principles of cyber governance, processes and strategy.We have also introduced a free interactive assessment tool, Plan Y...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the implications for UK waste disposal and consumer product policy of the levels of unwanted electrical items discarded annually by households which cou
Answer: We have not undertaken this assessment. The WEEE Regulations 2013 are designed to minimise the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) incinerated or sent to landfill sites. The regulations require producers of electrical equipment to t...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to align the UK with EU Directives 2024/1781/EU, 2024/1799/EU and 2024/825/EU.
Answer: The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy and is actively looking for opportunities to learn from and build on international best practices to explore what levers and interventions could work domestically.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps with the Office for Product Safety and Standards to ensure that regulations and repairability indexes for small electrical devices promote not only professional repair s
Answer: The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 require manufacturers of a number of products to provide certain spare parts to end-users as well as professional repairers. The Government continues to review ecodesign and...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInnovate UK: GrantsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Innovate UK will resume its Smart Grants funding stream to support innovation-led start-ups.
Answer: The Smart grants programme has been paused while Innovate UK redesigns its funding programmes to best suit the needs of innovative businesses and align to the objectives of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.However, Innovate UK has launched a new £130 ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Health: ExpenditureDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 85147, what proportion of health research and development has been spent on dentistry in each of the past three years; and how the decision to
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2025 to Question 85147 in which I noted that between 2022/23 and 2024/25 the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department’s research delivery arm, directly spent £18.2 mi...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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