Oliver Dowden MP: written questions
123 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Personal 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 recordNHS: ParkingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to next 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 recordWatford General HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the New Hospital Programme Review, in the context of Watford General Hospital.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, set out a credible and deliverable plan for the new hospital schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) on 20 January 2025, following the conclusion of the review of the NHP. The plan ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWatford General HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the New Hospital Programme review, when the (a) options and (b) recommendations for Watford General Hospital will be published; and when he plans to announce which hospitals will
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, set out a credible and deliverable plan for the new hospital schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) on 20 January 2025, following the conclusion of the review of the NHP. The plan ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: HertfordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to support NHS services in Hertfordshire, in the context of his Department's review of the New Hospital Programme.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, set out a credible and deliverable plan for the new hospital schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) on 20 January 2025, following the conclusion of the review of the NHP. The plan ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 24 October 2024 to Question 9472, what progress her Department has made on supporting leaseholders at Horizon Place in Borehamwood affected by cladding
Answer: The Ministry continues to work with developers to ensure that buildings are remediated, at no cost to leaseholders, under the developer remediation contract. On 2 December, we published a joint plan to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resi...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1688 on Planning, what progress her Department has made on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answer: Drafting of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill continues apace. We plan to introduce the Bill in Parliament in the coming months.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to postpone local authority elections in Hertfordshire in 2025.
Answer: My letter to local councils of 16 December 2024 (here) set out that the Government would only consider postponing elections for areas where the council concerned requested it and where it helps an area to deliver reorganisation and devolution to the most ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAmbulance Services: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the NHS funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, will be allocated to ambulance services.
Answer: The information requested is not held by the Department. The future allocation of National Health Service funding announced in the Autumn Budget will be decided by NHS England.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: London AllowanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending NHS Outer London Weighting to (a) Hertsmere and (b) Watford.
Answer: It is for the Pay Review Bodies to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements, and on the value of such supplements. As this is reflected in terms and conditions of service, any changes would need to be collective...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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