Chi Onwurah MP: written questions 2024
87 published records · newest first.
Written questions
River Tyne: BridgesDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential (a) economic and (b) cultural impact of the (i) state and (ii) inability to swing of the Newcastle upon Tyne Swing Bridge.
Answer: Responsibility for the mechanism and structure of the Swing Bridge lies with the Port of Tyne. Any such assessments are matters for the Port and relevant local authorities for the surrounding area. Whilst the Department engages actively with many UK ports...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Tyne: BridgesDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Port of Tyne on it's responsibilities to the Swing Bridge.
Answer: The department engages actively with many UK ports, including the Port of Tyne. However, the department has had no recent discussion with the port of Tyne on those specific points.
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Tyne: NavigationDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Port of Tyne on the navigability of the River Tyne and its performance as a navigation authority.
Answer: The department engages actively with many UK ports, including the Port of Tyne. However, the department has had no recent discussion with the port of Tyne on those specific points.
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: ReformDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her plans are for higher education reform; and what the role is of innovation in that process.
Answer: The government is committed to setting out a plan for reform of the higher education (HE) sector by the summer, focused on five priorities. We will expect our HE providers to:Play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantage...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: Local GovernmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024 , what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including local universities in
Answer: Universities are central to generating local economic growth. As magnets for talent and investment and anchors for clusters, they create centres of research and innovation excellence across the country. Enabling partnership working between local governmen...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, within what timeframe UKRI expects to deliver a future regional innovation funding programme.
Answer: We are developing a new local innovation funding programme to support high potential innovation clusters across the country, with delivery timelines subject to the outcome of the next phase of the Spending Review.Our new programme will build on our experi...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordInnovation: Local GovernmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of supporting non-Mayoral Stra
Answer: Building on our experience of delivering the UK-wide Strength in Places Fund, Innovation Accelerators and Launchpads programmes, we will develop a new local innovation funding programme that will bolster high potential clusters across the UK, including in...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: StaffDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many full-time equivalent members of staff at UKRI work on (a) local and (b) regional innovation partnerships.
Answer: UKRI’s leadership and staff routinely engage with stakeholders across the UK. Additionally, UKRI has several teams focussed on regional engagement, including:Innovate UK’s place engagement team, including a Director, Deputy Director and ten full time mana...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 69 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how much funding will be available to UK Research and Innovation to extend regional partn
Answer: Our ambition through the innovation commitments announced in the English Devolution White Paper is to generate innovation-led growth across the country, and help places make stronger contributions to a thriving national innovation ecosystem. Through UK Re...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Climate ChangeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Institution of Civil Engineers' report entitled ICE policy position statement: How can the UK’s infrastructure system be made more climate resilient?, published in March 2023, whe
Answer: The National Digital Twin Programme aims to determine how digital twins can support improvements in all aspects of the operation and performance of individual infrastructure assets, as well as networks and systems. This includes climate resilience in rela...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGlobal Challenges Research Fund and Newton FundDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20011More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure has been provided to the (a) Newton Fund and (b) Global Challenges Research Fund (i) in total and (ii) in each year since thei
Answer: Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend, by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on research and development (R&D) is as follows:(£m)20192020202120222023TotalGCRF391379220139841,430Newton Fund11999722415450Due to the Machin...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Development AidDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how the Official Development Assistance expenditure managed by the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was redistributed following the machinery of Government changes in Febr
Answer: No Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget was allocated to my department when it was created in February 2023 through the machinery of Government changes.
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what timetable her Department has for conducting a fairness analysis on the Advances Model artificial intelligence system in respect of potential bias according to race, sex, sexual orientation, religio
Answer: DWP is committed to continue iterating the fairness analysis method and improving the data available for future analyses for the machine learning Advances model. Fairness analysis will be completed at regular intervals, the results of which will continue ...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the equality impact assessment carried out prior to the introduction of the Advances Model artificial intelligence system.
Answer: DWP has considered the benefits and risks of publishing the results of Equality Impact Assessment. DWP has concluded it is not in the public interest to do so because it will undermine the effectiveness of the model as a fraud prevention control and there...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch and Scientists: VisasHome OfficeTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on visas for (a) scientists and (b) researchers.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring scientists and researchers have access to visas that work for them. The United Kingdom has a strong immigration offer for scientists and researchers, including the Skilled Worker and Global Talent routes, and we con...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNigeria: VaccinationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the expansion of immunisation programs in northern Nigeria.
Answer: The UK supports immunisation programmes in Nigeria through GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), the public-private global alliance that has helped vaccinate more than half the world's children against some of the world's deadliest disease...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNigeria: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK-Nigeria joint communiqué, published on 6 November 2024, what support for humanitarian action is included in the new UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership.
Answer: In the Financial Year 2024/25, UK humanitarian support to Nigeria totalled £33.5 million in life-saving assistance and has reached approximately 1 million people with our Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP), reducing mortality and increasing resi...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProteins: Novel FoodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the National Food Strategy will include the role of (a) alternative proteins and (b) engineering biology in the food supply.
Answer: Our ambitious food strategy will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system, and in doing so will consider elements of the food system that can contribute towards those outcomes.
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFood SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential for joint working on the proposed food strategy.
Answer: The issues the food sector faces cut across the work of many Departments, and also of Devolved Governments. Development of the strategy will be led by Defra, but this work will require a whole-of-government effort with involvement from several other Gover...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector Reform and Innovation FundTreasuryTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19687More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, and his Department's press release entitled Pat McFadden vows to make the state more like a start up as he deploys reform teams across country,
Answer: I refer the hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 11936 on 8 November 2024. The Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund allocates £165 million to a range of projects in 2025-26, including support for foster care, delivering apprenticeships and p...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's press release of 12 December 2024 entitled £100 million public-private health research boost from which budget is the public sector funding coming; a
Answer: The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme is enabled by circa £400m of funding from scheme members over 5 years.Approximately 75% of total Investment Programme funding will boost commercial clinical...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: Public BodiesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to increase the transparency in the use of artificial intelligence by public bodies.
Answer: The Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) establishes a standardised way for public sector organisations to publish information about how and why they are using algorithmic tools. The ATRS is mandatory for government departments and arm’s-len...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness and UniversitiesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the State of the relationship report 2024, published by the National Centre for Universities and Business on 5 December 2024, what steps he is taking to increase the n
Answer: The Government incentivises university-business interactions through funding for UKRI programmes. Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF), provided through Research England is the largest source of knowledge exchange funding to English universities, pr...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: EqualityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what training has been provided to civil servants in his Department on the public sector equality duty.
Answer: In June 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology published updated guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), available to all staff via the intranet. The guidance provides a clear framework on the principles of the duty, compl...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordScience and Technology: New BusinessesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) housing costs and (b) the cost of living on (i) start-ups and (ii) innovation in the (A) science and (B) technology sectors.
Answer: DSIT supports startups and innovation across the UK, including through the UK’s innovation agency - Innovate UK. Over the last two years, Innovate UK has awarded £5.2 billion funding to more than 7,000 businesses across the UK.Innovate UK published the St...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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