Oliver Dowden MP: written questions
332 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Employment SchemesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that Local Get Britain Working plans (a) are designed in partnership with community-led housing organisations and (b) reflect local labour market needs.
Answer: The Jobs Plus pilot which began in summer 2024 is an exciting test of how housing and community-led employment support can help engage social housing communities. The first report, due this summer, will help us understand how Jobs Plus or similar models m...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment SchemesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to support the national rollout of (a) JobsPlus and (b) other community-led employment programmes following the conclusion of the pilot phase.
Answer: The Jobs Plus pilot which began in summer 2024 is an exciting test of how housing and community-led employment support can help engage social housing communities. The first report, due this summer, will help us understand how Jobs Plus or similar models m...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: FinanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will take steps to increase levels of transparency in litigation funding.
Answer: The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in ensuring access to justice.Following the PACCAR judgment, concerns have been raised about the need for greater regulation of the litigation funding market, including the p...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) tackle, (b) prevent and (c) monitor poor quality care in council-commissioned care homes.
Answer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for health and social care in England. The CQC monitors, inspects, and regulates adult social care services, including council-commissioned care homes, to make sure they meet fundamental stand...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: Off-payroll WorkingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and HMRC of the number of people currently practicing in the hair and beauty sector using disguised employment practices.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. However, we are clear that disguised employment practices such as false self-employment are unacceptable. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid th...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: TaxationTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33929More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to tackle disguised employment practices in the hair and beauty sector.
Answer: HMRC is committed to ensuring that the tax system operates fairly and efficiently and creates a level playing field for compliant businesses. Most businesses pay what they owe but a minority fail to register with HMRC or only declare a portion of their ea...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Personal Care ServicesTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33928More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on hair and beauty sector.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, the impacts on individu...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: VATTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33927More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the British Hair Consortium's report entitled Securing the future of UK hairdressing and beauty: the economic, fiscal and s
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: ApprenticesCabinet OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33926More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many apprentices are working in the hair and beauty sector.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th February is attached.
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: EmploymentCabinet OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33925More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are currently employed in the hair and beauty sector.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th February is attached.
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: VATTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33924More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the British Hair Consortium commissioned CBI Economics report entitled Securing the future of UK hairdressing and beauty: the
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to support the hair and beauty sector.
Answer: This Government recognises the significant economic and social value of the hair and beauty industry.That is why we have committed to reforming business rates from 2026-27 with a permanently lower multiplier for retail, leisure and hospitality properties,...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the UN on reports that Hamas hostages have been held in UNRWA facilities.
Answer: We welcome the fact that the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said there should be independent investigations into any misuse of its facilities by Palestinian armed militants, including Hamas. Follo...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his counterpart in Israel and (b) the United Nations on reports of potential links between Hamas and UNRWA.
Answer: We welcome the fact that the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said there should be independent investigations into any misuse of its facilities by Palestinian armed militants, including Hamas. Follo...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertfordshire County Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Hertsmere Borough Council or Hertfordshire County Council on local government re-organisation. Officials do meet regularly with councils and followi...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HertsmereMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Hertsmere Borough Council or Hertfordshire County Council on local government re-organisation. Officials do meet regularly with councils and followi...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what plans she has to introduce legislative proposals for a ministerial directive to
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s ambition for universal coverage of Strategic Authorities with access to devolution in England. We are committed to introducing the English Devolution Bill in this session, subject to parliamentar...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she has issued on deciding between alternative local government reorga
Answer: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. The invitation includes guidance on issues of local identity among other matters, all of which will...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what steps she is taking to ensure local identity is respected in local government r
Answer: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. The invitation includes guidance on issues of local identity among other matters, all of which will...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to tackle losses to community pharmacies arising from delays in price concessions and drug tariffs.
Answer: The Drug Tariff is updated monthly and sets out reimbursement prices to be paid to pharmacy contractors for medicines dispensed. When the market price of a generic medicine suddenly increases, concessionary prices can be granted in that month, increasing ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to expand the Pharmacy First scheme.
Answer: Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delive...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to support community pharmacies.
Answer: Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delive...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFilmDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure growth in the British film industry.
Answer: The Government’s Industrial Strategy will prioritise the creative industries.We will ensure that the sector can continue to drive growth, boost opportunities and help people to fulfil their creative potential across the UK, including in Hertsmere. Our sup...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFilmDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the film industry in (a) England and (b) Hertsmere.
Answer: The Government’s Industrial Strategy will prioritise the creative industries.We will ensure that the sector can continue to drive growth, boost opportunities and help people to fulfil their creative potential across the UK, including in Hertsmere. Our sup...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: ParkingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the NHS Car Parking guidance.
Answer: NHS Car Parking guidance was last updated in October 2022 under the previous government. The Department has no plans to review the guidance. Free hospital car parking is available to groups most in-need, including National Health Service staff working ove...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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