Chi Onwurah MP: written questions 2025
231 published records · newest first.
Written questions
New Businesses: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how Innovate UK's Tech Readiness Levels relate to investment readiness.
Answer: Whilst some UKRI councils use Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) to determine funding eligibility, Innovate UK takes a more flexible approach, as there is no standardised way of applying them across sectors or non-technological projects. Innovate UK inste...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39835 on Social Media: Regulation, whether (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom has made an assessment of the impact of designating end-t
Answer: Ofcom is responsible for assessing the possible implications of its codes of practice and guidance under the Online Safety Act (OSA).As previously noted, the OSA does not ban any service design and the European Conventions of Human Rights (ECHR) requires ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much the Government spends on countering disinformation; and in which Departments this money is spent.
Answer: A number of departments, including DSIT, Home Office and the FCDO, work together to address risks to the UK from disinformation. Activities include analysis and policy work to reduce the spread and impact of disinformation online.We do not share our total...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: EqualityDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with UK businesses on the potential impact of President Trump's executive order on diversity, equality and inclusion practices.
Answer: The Secretary of State and Ministerial team engage in regular discussions with UK business on topics including this. Department for Business and Trade ministers have already this year hosted events launching the FTSE Women Leaders and Parker Review 2025 R...
Answered 14 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWorking Hours: Mental HealthDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of working night shifts on the mental health of workers.
Answer: Reducing ill health at work is an important area of focus for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as outlined in their strategic objectives. One of the ways this is achieved is supporting employers to protect their workers’ mental health and keep them ...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWorking HoursDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of working night shifts on (a) health, (b) safety and (c) productivity.
Answer: Reducing ill health at work is an important area of focus for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as outlined in their strategic objectives. One of the ways this is achieved is supporting employers to protect their workers’ mental health and keep them ...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVoluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and GrowthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the repayment rate for newer medicines under the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth on the UK life sciences sec
Answer: The voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access, and growth (VPAG) is a unique partnership between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry and includes a range of commitments to support innovation and improve National Health Service acce...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether GB Energy has a role in the decarbonising of pre-existing housing stock.
Answer: Great British Energy will develop, invest in, build, and operate clean energy projects across the UK. The Government is supporting decarbonisation of housing stock through other initiatives. We have committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years to the Warm...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to encourage the connection of residential developments to district heating schemes.
Answer: The Committee for Climate Change has recommended the government grows the heat network sector from providing 3% of national heat demand to 20% by 2050.To deliver this ambition we are transforming the heat network market through policies like heat network ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWorking Hours: HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43864More
Question: o ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on commissioning research into the health and productivity impacts of working night shifts.
Answer: The Department funds research into work and health through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). This includes research into the health and productivity impacts of working night shifts. The Department has recently commissioned researc...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInnovation and Research: ApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of apprenticeships as pathways into (a) research and (b) innovation careers.
Answer: There are a number of apprenticeships to support careers in research and innovation, including the level 6 product design and development engineer and level 6 materials science technologist.Apprenticeships deliver strong outcomes and high satisfaction rat...
Answered 14 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regional distribution of research and development funding.
Answer: DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9bn for the 2025/26 financial year, a real terms increase of 8.5% compared to 2024/25. This will include investments in our R&D system in every region of the UK.There will be a lag in the data showing the exact r...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how Innovate UK supports (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups in meeting the requirements of potential investors.
Answer: Innovate UK has several targeted approaches to support innovative SMEs that increase their investment readiness. From 2020-2024, SMEs supported by Innovate UK Business Growth have raised over £9bn in private sector investment. In its current spending revi...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DevolutionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to p. 69 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, which innovation partnerships she plans to continue; and what criteria his Department uses
Answer: In the English Devolution White Paper, we committed to support more local leaders, working in partnership with businesses and universities, to unlock their regions’ innovation potential.For example, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is deepening its regio...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: Business PlansDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has reviewed Heathrow Airport's business continuity plans.
Answer: The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector, therefore, it is the responsibility of industry to determine appropriate resilience plans and measures are put in place to minimise potential disruption. The Civil Aviation Authority (CA...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: Equal PayDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the pay gap between men and women working at UK Research and Innovation; and what steps he is taking to tac
Answer: UKRI published its sixth Gender Pay Gap report in March 2025. The report describes the steps that UKRI is taking across the organisation, including developing inclusive recruitment and career progression strategies.UKRI’s mean gender pay gap has narrowed ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSick Leave: Sickle Cell DiseasesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of working days that were lost due to the effects of sickle cell disorder in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Office for National Statistics publish annual statistics on sickness absence in the UK labour market, which includes the reasons for sickness absence. However, the reasons are not provided in this data at the level of detail of specific conditions, su...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking with (a) charities and (b) other organisations with expertise in domestic abuse to embed trauma-informed principles into the operation of the Child Maintenance Servic
Answer: I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 6 March to PQ 33879.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSickle Cell Diseases: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress on developing new treatments for sickle cell disorder; and whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps
Answer: Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as sickle cell disease. Priority four of the framework aims to improve access to specialist care, treatment, and drug...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: WomenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on the role women's health hubs in the 10-year health plan of the guidance by his Department entitled Women's health
Answer: We are committed to improving women’s health. This will be taken forward as an important part of the 10 Year Plan. The plan will draw on a range of evidence and analyses when establishing our priorities for rebuilding and reforming our health system over ...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Trade AgreementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including a ban on data localisation in the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Israel.
Answer: This government is committed to securing the best outcomes for the UK in our Free Trade Agreement negotiations. We are a strong supporter of modern and ambitious digital provisions which prevent unjustified data localisation requirements for UK businesses...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Trade AgreementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential risk that the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Israel may result in Israel firms having access to British public
Answer: The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. We have taken action in the Procurement Act 2023 to strengthen the rules around excluding suppliers which may be unfit to bid f...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Trade AgreementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Israel on whether (a) digital services, (b) cyber security and (c) Artificial Intelligence products included in a poten
Answer: Israel is an important trading and bilateral partner for the UK and remains a part of our trade negotiation programme but our Free Trade Agreement negotiations with them have not yet restarted.In September 2024, we suspended export licenses to Israel for ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPrimary Care: Digital TechnologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to continue funding for PCARP Digital Pathways in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answer: As part of the Primary Care Access and Recovery Plan for 2024/25, integrated care boards (ICBs) received non-recurrent funding to support the uptake of highly usable and accessible digital tools in practices. This funding is not separately available in 20...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSickle Cell Diseases: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42203More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of levels of research and development funding for sickle cell disorder.
Answer: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects and strategic investments, including research into sickle cell disease, for which UKRI had expenditure of approximately £0.2 million in 2023-24. UKRI also plays ...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →