Chi Onwurah MP: written questions 2025
231 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Public Sector: Artificial IntelligenceTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67327More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how her Department plans to quantify the (a) costs and (b) savings associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence in (i) health, (ii) defence, (iii) education and (iv) other public services; and whether she
Answer: The government has committed to invest in upgrading essential digital infrastructure, modernise public services and drive a major overhaul in government productivity and efficiency by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Spending Revi...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxationTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67326More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the levels of resilience in the UK tax system of a shift from labour-intensive to capital-intensive economic models.
Answer: It is vital the tax system supports our growth mission. The Government is focused on unleashing the potential of people across all nations and regions of the UK, with an ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate. The Government continues to keep all elem...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFiscal Policy: Artificial IntelligenceTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67325More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department's long-term fiscal modelling includes assumptions on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on levels of productivity.
Answer: The OBR is the government's official forecaster and is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook. Its annual publication of its Fiscal Risks and Sustainability (FRS) report includes biennial long-term projections and analysis of major...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic Policy: ICTTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67324More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has issued guidance to the Office for Budget Responsibility on the potential inclusion of (a) technological disruption and (b) artificial intelligence in its long-term economic modelling.
Answer: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster responsible for assessing the UK economic and fiscal outlook. All judgements underpinning these forecasts, including estimates of the impacts of Artificial Inte...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67323More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on levels of youth employment in the North East.
Answer: A detailed assessment of the policy has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, an...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: AccessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish further details on plans to expand the provision of (a) palliative and (b) end of life care in community settings as outlined in the 10-Year Plan for Health.
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more con...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: AccessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the 10-Year Plan for Health delivers equitable access to (a) palliative and (b) end of life care across all communities.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifica...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordObesity: North EastDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on strategies for reducing child obesity in the North East.
Answer: As part of our Health Mission, the Government is committed to ensuring that people live well for longer. This includes tackling the determinants that underpin stark health inequalities to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and po...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordScience and Discovery Centres: STEM SubjectsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the contribution of science and discovery centres to (a) UK STEM education, skills and career pathways, (b) inclusion and (c) public understanding of science.
Answer: The department has no formal relationship with science and discovery centres and has therefore not made an assessment of their impact on education. We know many schools work with partners to enrich and supplement students’ core curriculum.
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversities: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support universities in (a) meeting student recruitment and (b) space targets in the context of current immigration policies.
Answer: The government has been clear that we welcome international students who meet the requirements to study in the UK. Higher education (HE) providers in the UK hosted 732,285 international students in the 2023/24 academic year, who come from all over the wor...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBreakfast ClubsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Government’s free breakfast club early adopter programme on children’s (a) welfare and (b) educational outcomes.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering on its pledge to provide a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged children.Breakfast clubs offer much more than just food, serving as a welcoming space for children, providing valuable ...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade: North EastDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK’s 2025 Trade Strategy on (a) economic growth and (b) employment in the North East.
Answer: The Government published its Trade Strategy on 26 June, which was positively received by business. The Government will work closely with stakeholders on the implementation of the strategy, to ensure that resources are prioritised to deliver on key commitm...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential economic impact of the UK-US trade deal on businesses in the North East.
Answer: The Prime Minister, Business Secretary and other Ministers across government have been engaging widely on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) with business organisations and companies from across the economy, including in the North East.This deal pro...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that SMEs are not required to submit the same data to different government (a) departments and (b) agencies.
Answer: We want to free up business owners to focus on running their businesses and our SME Strategy will set out steps to reduce duplication and streamline data-sharing across Government.This includes simplifying and digitising forms and exploring how services l...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordScience and Discovery Centres: STEM SubjectsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of science and discovery centres' on (a) science communication, (b) public engagement and (c) the level of interest in STEM skills amongst sch
Answer: The Government has not conducted an assessment of interest in science and discovery centres among school students. The financial sustainability of Science and Discovery Centres was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as entrance fees are a significant inco...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordInnovation: Greater LondonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his planned timeline is for the rollout of innovation and growth hubs in London; what level of economic investment is expected to be allocated to those hubs in London over the next five years; and
Answer: The government is supporting innovation clusters nationwide, including the Department for Science and Innovation and Technology (DIST) led £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, with at least £30 million allocated to London and additional fundin...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation and TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) training and (b) education pathways align with the skills required in the (i) artificial intelligence, (ii) fintech, (iii) medtech and (iv) green industry.
Answer: Through our Industrial Strategy, published in June 2025, this government will ensure the skills system and employment support align with strategic economic priorities, including the needs of priority growth sectors such as digital and technologies, clean ...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordScience and Technology: Greater LondonDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department holds data on the number of vacancies in the science and technology sectors in London.
Answer: DSIT does not hold vacancy data specifically for the Science and Technology Sectors in London.
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will steps to ensure that the proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill supports the establishment of common levels of cyber security with the UK's international partners.
Answer: The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will better safeguard UK national security by strengthening our cyber defences and ensuring the essential and digital services people and businesses rely on every day are better protected.Cyber threats do not respect...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Anti-social BehaviourHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the average market value of off-road bikes that have been (a) seized and (b) destroyed under powers introduced in 2025 to help tackle antisocial behaviour.
Answer: Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets.The Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehi...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) civil society as part of negotiations towards digital trade ambitions outlined in the General
Answer: The UK and US are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, improving access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. The deal opens the way to a future UK US tech...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take steps through a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence to (a) mandate safety-by-design principles, (b) mitigate potential harms and (c) prevent AI-gen
Answer: As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction a...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Data ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to require social media platforms to enable users to transfer their (a) data, (b) content and (c) connect
Answer: Article 20 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) already provides individuals with a right to ‘data portability’. It applies where an individual has provided their personal data to one data controller based on consent or a contract and wa...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus Business Interruption Loan SchemeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65759More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many and what proportion of Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme payments have been paid to the loaning bank following (a) default and (b) bankruptcy by the business to which the loan was
Answer: As at 31 March 2025, 8,755 (9.0% of the total) Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) loans have had the government guarantee paid out. The monetary value of the guarantees paid out is £996.3mn, or 3.9% of the total the CBILS draw down value. Th...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main Line: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which technologies will deliver improved wifi access on the East Coast Main Line.
Answer: The Department continues to work closely with Network Rail and industry to look at solutions to improve connectivity on trains, which includes rolling out rail 5G on the rail network. Following the spending review, funding has been made available to inves...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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