Ellie Chowns MP: written questions
460 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Partnership for a Lead-free FutureForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the United Kingdom joining the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future; and whether she plans to do so.
Answer: The UK keeps opportunities to engage with relevant international initiatives under review, including where they align with our development, health and environmental objectives. No formal assessment has yet been made of the merits of UK membership of the P...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: DisadvantagedDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to (a) improve rural digital inclusion and (b) to address the specific needs of older people.
Answer: The Government’s ambition is simple: everyone, whatever their circumstances, should be able to get connected and get online, safely and with confidence.In the year since the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, over a million people have been supported to get o...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: CompaniesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to WPQ UIN 129429 answered on 28 April 2026, whether he has had recent discussions with Ofgem on the adequacy of the non-financial support offered by energy companies to people livin
Answer: My Ministerial team and I meet with Ofgem regularly to discuss a range of issues, including how the retail market works for vulnerable consumers. Ofgem require suppliers to identify and support vulnerable domestic consumers’ needs, make it easy for them t...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces Covenant: Public BodiesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how he plans to ensure that the Armed Forces Covenant is interpreted and delivered consistently by public bodies.
Answer: The Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty is designed to be flexible and does not prescribe specific outcomes, allowing public bodies to respond in a way that reflects their local context and circumstances. It ensures that policy development and implementation...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: New ZealandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the New Zealand Government's proposed prohibition on findings of tort liability for greenhouse gas emissions on the UK-New Zealand Fre
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade monitors developments that may affect the implementation of the UK–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), including through its continued compliance monitoring processes.We are committed to ensuring the effective imp...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: TemperatureDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that children in school are not exposed to excessively high temperatures during periods of hot weather.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Herefordshire to the answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 13129.
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWork Capability Assessment: Chronic IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to help ensure that an existing claimant with a new or worsening health condition can request a review of their capability for work and have it reassessed with the same priority gi
Answer: We prioritise initial assessments for new benefit customers to ensure that people receive the correct entitlement and employment related support as early as possible. Reassessments are carried out when there is capacity in the system to do them. We have n...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: AuditMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in increasing local audit market supply since his department published its paper on 'Local audit reform: A strategy for overhauling the local audit sys
Answer: Since publication of the local audit strategy, Public Sector Audit Appointments has secured two-year contract extensions with firms. This has helped to stabilise local audit market supply while the Government implements wider reforms to strengthen market ...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLitterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to (a) engage companies in action to reduce litter, including in relation to non-biodegradable packaging dropped as litter, and (b) engage the general public in a
Answer: Defra issued ‘Reducing litter caused by ‘food on the go’: A voluntary code of practice for local partnerships’, which is aimed at businesses. It provides a framework to help businesses and other relevant organisations to reduce the litter that comes from ...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) local authorities, (b) technology providers, and (c) other Government departments about the potential merits of using AI-enabled cameras on (i) bin lorries and (
Answer: The Department for Transport has opened the market for road condition monitoring technology to encourage innovation and efficiency in highway maintenance. A new data standard published in September 2024, allows local highway authorities to use a wider ran...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordReligion: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration she has given to reinstating the Religious Education Initial Teacher Training bursary for 2026/2027 and future years.
Answer: Initial teacher training (ITT) bursaries are offered to incentivise more applications to ITT courses. As such, we review bursaries annually to take account of recruitment to date, forecast economic conditions, and assess teacher need in each subject. The ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordReligion: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11047More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what action she is taking to increase the number of candidates accepted into Initial Teacher Training for Secondary Religious Education for this cycle.
Answer: Initial teacher training (ITT) bursaries are offered to incentivise more applications to ITT courses. As such, we review bursaries annually to take account of recruitment to date, forecast economic conditions, and assess teacher need in each subject. The ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordReligion: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of the Religious Education Initial Teacher Training bursary for 2026/2027 on teacher supply.
Answer: Initial teacher training (ITT) bursaries are offered to incentivise more applications to ITT courses. As such, we review bursaries annually to take account of recruitment to date, forecast economic conditions, and assess teacher need in each subject. The ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHuman Rights: BusinessForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK Statement for the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations published 20 October 2025, when her department will publis
Answer: The Government remains committed to the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Work on the UK's National Baseline Assessment is ongoing, and it will be published in the normal way in due course.
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFood Supply: Climate ChangeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the adaptation measures identified in the Met Office's May 2026 report entitled Climate Impact
Answer: The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. The National Adaptation Programme sets out the a...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: Religious Freedom and Women's RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is playing at the UN Human Rights Council in relation to women’s rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief in Afghanistan.
Answer: Further to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 9 June in response to Question HL416, which I have included below for ease:"Afghanistan is a focus country for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's strategy on freedom of religion ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the risks faced by women from religious minority communities in Afghanistan.
Answer: Further to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 9 June in response to Question HL416, which I have included below for ease:"Afghanistan is a focus country for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's strategy on freedom of religion ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the findings and recommendations relating to the home buying and selling process set out in the letter of the Housing, Communities and
Answer: The Committee’s recommendations closely align with our proposals to improve the home buying and selling system. We note the Committee’s request for a response to its findings and recommendations ahead of the House rising for summer recess on 17 July 2026 ...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInternational Criminal CourtForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take diplomatic steps to encourage the Lebanese Government to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Answer: The UK Government is a supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute and remains committed to promoting accountability for the most serious international serious crimes. The UK encourages all states to engage constructively with...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Road Safety Strategy, what steps she has taken to implement the Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment pilot trials in new regions.
Answer: The Department for Transport has supported all local authorities that have asked for help with Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment (PRIME) trials. The Department remains open to further involvement and will continue to cons...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Road Safety Strategy, what steps she is making to update guidance on (a) local speed limits and (b) speed camera use.
Answer: My Department is planning to hold an initial workshop later this month, which will serve as an opportunity to begin shaping the direction of the programme. During this session, DfT officials will engage with a range of stakeholders and representatives fro...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Road Safety Strategy, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of the proposed rural roads categories.
Answer: The Road Safety Strategy sets out the Government’s intention to explore whether the proposed rural road categories are appropriate at a local level and to assess their potential for wider national application. The Department’s forthcoming work on rural ro...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship Scheme and Sustainable Farming Incentive: Common LandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on the Malvern Hills Trust and other landscape managers of the decision to exclude common land from Sustainable Farming Incentive or Countrys
Answer: Defra understands the importance of Common land and recognises the importance of bringing them under these schemes. For technical reasons, commons groups will not be able to apply for SFI on common land when the application window opens later this month o...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSudan: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendation in Human Rights Watch's report entitled From Bogotá to El Fasher, publishe
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 June to Question 4500.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Restoration Fund: RiversDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the fines levied against water companies since October 2023 a) has been b) is going to be reinvested into river restoration projects; and if she will put mechanisms
Answer: On 20 January 2026, Government announced alongside the White Paper that the next tranche of £29 million in water company fines will support further local water improvement projects through catchment partnerships, the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WE...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →