Oliver Dowden MP: written questions
181 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Drax Power: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the December 2022 report by the Drax company secretary into whistleblowing activity including the transcripts of discussion
Answer: DESNZ has not seen and does not hold any such report relating to whistleblowers at Drax. As part of its 2023-4 investigation into Drax, Ofgem considered a broad range of documents and sources, including statements from whistleblowers. Ofgem's investigatio...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support local highway authorities in improving their road maintenance rating.
Answer: The Government has confirmed a record £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years, providing longer‑term funding certainty for authorities to improve the condition of England’s roads. Where authorities encounter challenges and rec...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Hertfordshire County Council on improving their road maintenance rating.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertsmereDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on supporting pothole repairs in Hertsmere constituency.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help support the maintenance of highways in Hertfordshire.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many serious vehicle accidents have resulted from potholes in (a) Hertsmere constituency and (b) Hertfordshire since 2015.
Answer: The Department’s reported road collision statistics do not identify the cause of collisions. However, reporting police officers can assign up to 6 road safety factors which they believe may have contributed to the collision occurring. The number of collis...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertsmereDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the condition of road networks in Hertsmere constituency.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure local authorities repair potholes in Hertfordshire.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Hertfordshire County Council on potholes.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: HertsmereDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase pothole repairs in Hertsmere constituency.
Answer: Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is responsible for maintaining local roads in the Hertsmere constituency. The Department provided £35,671,790 in highways maintenance funding to HCC for the 2025/26 financial year and has confirmed a further £180,402,000...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she intends to introduce mandatory address verifications on driving license applications.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences and Motor Vehicles: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the policy of verifying addresses for vehicle registrations and driving licenses.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFraud: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA is taking to reduce the number of people using addresses not belonging to them for driving license applications.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving License and Motor Vehicles: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with the DVLA on levels of fraud.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licenses and Motor Vehicles: FraudDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA are taking to reduce levels of address fraud for vehicle registrations and driving licenses.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences and Motor VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce address checks for driving licenses and vehicle registrations.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: IranHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112190More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support is in place for Iranian nationals seeking to visit family members in the UK.
Answer: The Home Office does not currently provide additional support for Iranian nationals seeking to visit family members in the UK. Foreign nationals can apply for a visit visa to visit the UK and the UK welcomes genuine visitors.We are rolling out the use of ...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power: RegulationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of Ofgem’s ability to scrutinise Drax.
Answer: We work closely with Ofgem to seek continuous improvement to scrutiny processes. Under Drax’s Low-Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference from 2027, day-to-day scrutiny of biomass sustainability will be provided by the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LC...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power: FinanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) environmental and (b) ethical standards required for the continued provision of support to Drax.
Answer: In February 2025, DESNZ concluded a consultation on a “transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass generators”. This included a comprehensive assessment of sustainability criteria for biomass used in the UK, as well as broader environmental and...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the workforce capacity in cancer and diagnostic services.
Answer: The Department has not made a formal assessment, but the development of the National Cancer Plan has highlighted areas where there are higher vacancy rates in some areas of the country. The Department and NHS England will work with the royal colleges to e...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer and DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the recruitment freezes on cancer and diagnostic departments.
Answer: The Department has not made a formal assessment, but the development of the National Cancer Plan has highlighted areas where there are higher vacancy rates in some areas of the country. The Department and NHS England will work with the royal colleges to e...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer and Radiology: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help recruit in clinical oncology and radiology.
Answer: The Department has not made a formal assessment, but the development of the National Cancer Plan has highlighted areas where there are higher vacancy rates in some areas of the country. The Department and NHS England will work with the royal colleges to e...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreen BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning Practice Guidance on the Green Belt, how the Department defines (a) large built-up areas, (b) towns and (c) historic towns.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 and the Green Belt guidance updated on 27 February 2025 do not introduce a definition of large-built up area, town, historic town or village. In the absence of an up-to-date loca...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to protect local democracy when changing the referral criteria to require Local Planning Authorities to notify the Department where they intend to refuse
Answer: The power to call in planning applications is a long-established one. Decisions on call-in are a question of jurisdiction and not a view on the merits of any given application. The policy on call in, as set out in a Written Ministerial Statement of 26 Oct...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning Obligations: Railway StationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will make it a requirement for developers of sites near rail stations to contribute to Section 106 monies to help deliver future accessibility improvements
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 90834 on 21 November 2025, UIN 111724 on 2 March 2026, and UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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