Sarah Champion MP: written questions 2026
62 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Criminal Injuries CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken is to conclude an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Answer: I refer the honourable Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2026 to Question 8809: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-06-10/8809.Figures up to 31 March 2025 are available in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Author...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNitrous Oxide: SalesHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to further regulate the sale of nitrous oxide cannisters.
Answer: Since November 2023, nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import or export nitrous oxide where ...
Answered 18 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInternational Science Partnerships FundDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what is the a) total funding and b) contribution from Official Development Assistance for the International Science Partnerships Fund in the financial years 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29
Answer: The International Science Partnerships Fund has an Official Development Assistance allocation of £93 million in Financial Year 26/27, and £64 million in each of Financial Years 27/28, 28/29 and 29/30, totalling £285 million over this Spending Review perio...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBeavers: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the establishment of a dedicated Beaver Mitigation Fund to support farmers in managing localised impacts such as flooding.
Answer: Support for living alongside beavers is provided through a rigorous risk assessment in the wild release licence application process and the existing management framework laid out in the 5-step beaver management approach. This is be backed up by support th...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish ODA allocations by country and thematic area.
Answer: As per the Minister for Development's letter of 1 June to the International Development Committee, we remain committed to publishing the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) country Official Development Assistance allocations in, or befor...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHM Prison and Probation Service: VettingMinistry of JusticeTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what was the average time taken to complete HM Prisons and Probation Service staff security vetting for each quarter of the last 12 months.
Answer: Within HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS), security vetting is carried out to ensure individuals who wish to take up employment within the organisation can uphold the security and integrity standards expected of their role and ensure prisons and pro...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFood SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of agroecology on (a) food security and (b) food prices.
Answer: Defra’s assessment of evidence on agroecological practices, including organic and other environmentally friendly systems, indicates that these approaches can enhance biodiversity and soil and biomass carbon at farm level. However, there are further profit...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship Scheme: RiversDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce a mechanism to incentivise the creation of river habitat corridors across neighbouring farms to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.
Answer: Farmers and land managers can already work together to create river habitat corridors across neighbouring farms through Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. Farmers can consider Feasibility Studies to support this. The scheme already includes actions supp...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Health: Developing CountriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Official Development Assistance funding will be provided to the UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team project in the financial years 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29.
Answer: The following table shows the amount of funding the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team is due to receive in Official Development Assistance funding from the Department:Financial YearTotal2026/27£8,000,0002027/28£8,000,0002028/29£8,000,000Total£24,000,000...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBeavers: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to make long-term funding available to farmers to (a) support them to make space for beavers and (b) improve land-use through beaver presence.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra recognises the benefits beavers can bring to the environment and is committed to supporting farmers and land managers to live alongside them. Defra is working...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSlaveryHome OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government conducted an impact assessment prior to introducing changes to the Modern Slavery statutory guidance on the 11th May 2026, pertaining to the change in credibility guidance and t
Answer: Policies are regularly kept under review, and impacts are assessed as part of any proposed changes. An Equality Impact Assessment was completed as part of this process.
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordForced LabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Apr 2026Awaiting answerUIN 130091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of new Chinese Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security on companies doing due diligence to check for forced labour.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle conflict-related sexual violence and sexualised abuse in the West Bank in the context of (a) incidents occurring in the pre
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided by the Foreign Secretary to the Member for Tooting at the last session of departmental oral questions on 21 April.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorways: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the current average distance between dedicated emergency refuge areas, excluding slip roads and junctions, on All Lane Running Smart Motorways.
Answer: My previous answer on 27 April 2026 set out that the average distance between places to stop in an emergency is now less than a mile (around 0.9 miles). Design standard GD301 sets out the new spacing standard (around 3/4 mile where feasible and 1 mile max...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorways: Safety MeasuresDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the current average distance between emergency refuge areas on All Lane Running Smart Motorways.
Answer: National Highways has completed construction of 151 additional emergency areas across the All Lane Running smart motorway network, through the National Emergency Area Retrofit programme. Across every All Lane Running motorway, the average distance between...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: SlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the planned consultation on banning the use of high-concentration carbon dioxide gas stunning for pigs will include a proposed timetable for phasing out that method.
Answer: As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorways: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Third Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2021–22, Rollout and safety of smart motorways, HC26, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emergency refuges on All Lane Ru
Answer: National Highways has completed construction of 151 additional emergency areas across the all lane running (ALR) smart motorway network through the National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme. National Highways is evaluating the effectiveness of the...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSlaveryHome OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps their department will take to ensure all police forces will be kept updated to latest trends and best practice relating to modern slavery and human trafficking now support through the Moder
Answer: Modern slavery crimes are complex to investigate and prosecute, and ensuring a consistent and coordinated national policing response to modern slavery remains a priority for the Home Office.The Department worked closely with the Modern Slavery and Organis...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEthiopia: SudanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Ethiopian counterpart on evidence published by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab on the use of Ethiopian Nati
Answer: The UK continues to monitor the evolving situation between Ethiopia and Sudan closely. Any further escalation would risk destabilising the region and carries a high risk of human rights abuses and atrocities. The Foreign Secretary discussed the conflict w...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordShellfish: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to include decapod crustaceans in the Animal Welfare Act 2006; and if she will publish a timeline for an announcement on that decision.
Answer: The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. We set out in our Animal Welfare Strategy that we will develop this evidence base through research and continued stakeholder ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHuman Trafficking and SlaveryHome OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether their department plans to collect and publish data on the number of modern slavery and human trafficking police investigations, after this is no longer done by the National Police Chiefs’ Coun
Answer: The Department has been working closely with the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit (MSOICU) to review the programme’s functions and agree contingency arrangements to ensure key functions are preserved following the programme’s closure. T...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSeabedForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Greenpeace’s report entitled Equity, Benefit-Sharing and Financial Architecture in the Internat
Answer: The Government keeps its policies in relation to climate, nature and marine protection under regular review, informed by a wide range of stakeholder views and expert analyses, including those mentioned by the Hon Member.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurs: FarmsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the working group on fur, announced in the Animal Welfare Strategy, will include virologists and environmental scientists with expertise in the public health and environmental
Answer: As set out in the animal welfare strategy, Defra will bring together a working group on fur, with involvement from both industry experts and those who support restrictions on the trade in fur to explore concerns and the different ways in which they could ...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Chevening Scholarships ProgrammeHome OfficeTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Chevening Scholars have subsequently claimed asylum in the UK.
Answer: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people claiming asylum where the latest leave held prior to claim was a study visa is published in table Asy_D01a of the ‘Asylum claim...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFishing Vessels: MonitoringDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring remote electronic monitoring systems on all pelagic freezer trawlers of 100 meters or more operating in English waters
Answer: Defra has laid out plans to implement REM in five priority fisheries in English waters, including pelagic trawls, over 24m, operating in English waters. This fishery includes pelagic freezer trawlers over 100m. The fisheries were selected via an evidence ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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