Elsie Blundell MP: written questions
275 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Electronic Government: Proof of IdentityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of using the Gov.uk One Login to verify identity on people who (a) do not have photo ID and (b) are visually impaired.
Answer: Inclusion is at the heart of GOV.UK One Login. The service provides multiple ways for users to prove their identity, including a no photo ID route which involves answering security questions.GDS regularly tests designs with disabled users, including visua...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPrisoners' Release: Gender Based ViolenceMinistry of JusticeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to protect women and girls from violent offenders who have been released.
Answer: This Government was elected with a landmark mission: to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. The ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy’ sets out stronger perpetrator management, including the commitment to nation...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChild Sexual Abuse Material: SentencingAttorney GeneralTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105484More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions she is having with the Ministry of Justice on expanding the Unduly Lenient Sentencing Scheme to include victims of technology-assisted child sexual abuse.
Answer: The Protection of Children Act 1978 already includes ‘pseudo’ images of children within the definition of indecent images. Therefore, any sexualised images of children produced by AI will already be covered by the legislation surrounding indecent images, ...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Energy System Operator: ReformDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reform the National Energy Security Operator.
Answer: On 1 October 2024, the Secretary of State established the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to support the energy transition including a more strategically planned approach to the energy system. NESO, a public corporation, was designed to operate ind...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that an increasing number of hospitals and healthcare settings are equipped to diagnose endometriosis swiftly.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis.Patients waiting for an endometriosis diagnosis may receive diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MR...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIsraeli SettlementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions related to illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 17 September 2025 to Question 74580.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps are being taken to strengthen European support for Ukraine.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my opening statement in the general debate on Ukraine held on 14 January.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIsraeli Settlements: Overseas CompaniesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance has been issued to UK companies regarding involvement in settlement-related construction and infrastructure projects.
Answer: Guidance for businesses can be found on the Overseas Business Risk page for Palestine: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-palestine/overseas-business-risk-the-occupied-palestinian-territories. There are clear risks related t...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxis: Working ConditionsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to engage with PHV drivers employed by large national operators on their terms and working conditions.
Answer: Department for Transport Ministers and officials engage with operators, trade representation groups, and trade unions on the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. Thanks to the Government’s Employment Rights Act, over 18 million workers ...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxis: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to regulate the service fee charges (commission) charged by large national PHV operators that they draw from their drivers' journeys.
Answer: Subject to any obligations under employment law, the commercial terms under which drivers and operators contract are a matter for those parties.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxis: Working ConditionsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help improve the working conditions of PHV drivers working for large national operators such as Uber.
Answer: Department for Transport Ministers and officials engage with operators, trade representation groups, and trade unions on the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. Thanks to the Government’s Employment Rights Act, over 18 million workers ...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBasic Skills and Financial Services: Secondary EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105338More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of financial literacy and basic life skills education in secondary schools.
Answer: The government is committed to strengthening pupils’ foundational understanding of financial education in mathematics and citizenship following publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review final report in November 2025. The department will engage w...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBasic Skills and Financial Services: Secondary EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to include financial literacy and life skills education as a mandatory and assessed part of the secondary school curriculum.
Answer: The government is committed to strengthening pupils’ foundational understanding of financial education in mathematics and citizenship following publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review final report in November 2025. The department will engage w...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105336More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the level of interest rates on student loans.
Answer: Student loans are subject to interest to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a borrower’s mo...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPupils: AbsenteeismDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help reduce the level of school absences among working class students.
Answer: Absence is a key barrier to opportunity. Children need to be in school to achieve and thrive. The government recognises that some pupils, including those eligible for free school meals, face additional barriers to regular attendance. This is why the depar...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve SEND provision in mainstream schools.
Answer: The department has announced plans for special educational needs and disabilities reform, with further information available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving.An inclusive education system for all children a...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPupils: Working ClassDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve levels of attainment among working class pupils.
Answer: Too many children are held back by their background. That is why, through the Opportunity Mission, we will break the link between background and future success.The ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ White Paper establishes the department’s plan to impro...
Answered 10 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: FurnitureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring at least 10% of social housing stock to be let as furnished.
Answer: From 2 July to 12 September last year, we consulted on a reformed and modernised Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes.As part of that consultation, we sought views on how guidance might be used to encourage and support landlords to ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 906721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to expedite nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Answer: The government made 21 decisions on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the first year of this Parliament. This compares with the first year of the last Parliament in which only 15 decisions were made and represents the highest numbe...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness and Sleeping Rough: WomenMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will consider a) adopting a gender-informed definition of rough sleeping and homelessness, b) providing local authorities with tools, resources, and guidance on gathering a
Answer: The Government recognises that women experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping have different experiences and needs to men.The Government introduced a new question in the Rough Sleeping Monthly Management Information to capture the gender of those slee...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInfant FoodsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations in the report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition entitled Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years, last updated 8 May 2024.whether she plans to
Answer: Two research projects have been commissioned that will consider the impact of commercially manufactured baby foods on dental health. These are based on research recommendations made in the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Feeding young ch...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInfant FoodsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that industry follows Commercial Food and Drink Voluntary Industry Guidelines on health claims.
Answer: Voluntary guidelines published in August 2025 require commercial baby food and drink businesses for children under 36 months to restrict implied nutrition and health claims on labels. These claims can lead to parents overestimating the healthiness of the ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInfant FoodsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the appropriate amount of (a) iron and (b) vitamins is in food marketed for children under 36 months.
Answer: Children’s early years provide an important foundation for their future health and strongly influence many aspects of wellbeing in later life.The Department has regulations in place that set nutritional, compositional, and labelling standards for commerci...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to undertake formal evaluation of the Trailblazer schemes currently in operation; and when that will be published.
Answer: Trailblazers were launched from April 2025 across 17 areas and are testing more localised delivery approaches to support young people and those who are economically inactive to move closer to the labour market. The Trailblazer areas are required to demons...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) performance metrics and (b) outcome indicators his Department is using to assess Trailblazer schemes; and what role (i) improving mental health, (ii) tackling social isolation and (ii) supporti
Answer: Trailblazers were launched from April 2025 across 17 areas and are testing more localised delivery approaches to support young people and those who are economically inactive to move closer to the labour market. The Trailblazer areas are required to demons...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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