Sarah Olney MP: written questions 2025
142 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Manufacturing Industries: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what steps he plans to take to support manufacturing businesses with high energy costs that are not part of the
Answer: This government recognises that high electricity costs are a key challenge for British businesses.Alongside commitments set out in the Industrial Strategy, our clean power mission is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our Clean Power 2030 ...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordManufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to support manufacturing industry before the British industrial competitive
Answer: This government recognises that high electricity costs are a key challenge for British businesses.Alongside commitments set out in the Industrial Strategy, our clean power mission is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our Clean Power 2030 ...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Industrial Competitiveness SchemeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what his Department's timetable is for publishing its consultation on a new British industrial competitiveness
Answer: From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour, which could benefit over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors, like automotive, and foundational manufact...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure the provision of accessible housing for disabled Ukrainian refugees.
Answer: We provide a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival to councils. Councils can use this funding flexibly to support households as best suits the local area, including using the funding for measures to support guests to access secure and appropriate accommo...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordJobcentres: RefugeesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help ensure that Jobcentre Plus services meet the needs of disabled refugees.
Answer: DWP works with partners and services to meet the needs of disabled refugees. This includes working with Migrant Help, the Refugee Employment Network; Home Office refugee liaison officers; referring to alternative provisions including English language prov...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase (a) translation and (b) levels of information support on the benefits system for disabled refugees.
Answer: Under the Equality Act 2010, DWP must make suitable provision to communicate with claimants where English is not their first language or who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. DWP provide Telephone Interpreting, Face-to-face interpreting, BSL i...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: RedundancyCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67414More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of redundancy plans for civil servants working at grades (a) AA/AO, (b) EO, (c) HEO/SEO, (d) G6/G7 and (e) SCS in each Government department.
Answer: Each department will take a decision on its individual size and shape as per the financial settlements that have now been agreed with HMT in the Spending Review.
Answered 2 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadbandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many households in the UK do not have access to broadband.
Answer: According to Ofcom, as of January 2025, 48,000 UK premises were unable to access decent broadband (defined as 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speed) from a fixed line or fixed wireless connection. Ofcom estimates that after rollout of publicly funded s...
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: Night FlyingDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with Heathrow Airport on flights being held in a holding pattern over residents' houses between 5:30 and 6:00am.
Answer: NATS is responsible for providing air traffic services at Heathrow Airport. There are defined flight routes and procedures for aircraft landing at Heathrow but for operational and safety reasons aircraft may be held in a holding pattern prior to landing. ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Income: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65352More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of increasing the Trading Allowance to £3,000.
Answer: The Trading Allowance allows individuals to earn up to £1,000 a year in trading or miscellaneous income tax-free, and this has not changed. The Government is increasing the Income Tax Self-Assessment reporting threshold from £1,000 to £3,000 gross within ...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish a consultation on the regulation of frontier AI systems.
Answer: Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at ...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Answer: The Government is neutral on the passing of this Bill and the principle of assisted dying. Should it be the will of Parliament for this legislation to pass, the Government would address the issue of funding at the appropriate time.In the meantime, I refer...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: Ethnic GroupsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered convening a cross-agency taskforce with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority, (b) Prudential Regulation Authority, (c) British Business Bank, (d) HM Treasury and (e) Lending St
Answer: The government’s approach to support equitable outcomes for businesses led by ethnic minorities and other underserved groups is to work with the financial services sector, building on a shared commitment to fairness and equality and exchanging knowledge o...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Ethnic GroupsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Prudential Regulation Authority on (i) monitoring and (ii) supporting equitable outcomes for ethnic minority businesses.
Answer: The government’s approach to support equitable outcomes for businesses led by ethnic minorities and other underserved groups is to work with the financial services sector, building on a shared commitment to fairness and equality and exchanging knowledge o...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartmental Coordination and Public BodiesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure effective (a) collaboration and (b) transparency across (i) Government strategies and (ii) public bodies.
Answer: I have regular meetings and discussions with Cabinet colleagues to ensure close collaboration and transparency on strategy development, most recently on the Industrial and Trade Strategies, which were the result of close working across government departme...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in the bus fare cap on (a) small businesses and (b) workers in rural areas.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of affordable public transport in keeping people connected and ensuring they can access their local towns.On 1 January, the government introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London until 31 Dece...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Coastal Areas and Rural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62740More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to fund (a) rural and (b) coastal (i) infrastructure and (ii) services.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in coastal and rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities. In addition to funding for sustainable farming and nature ...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSkills EnglandDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62737More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it his policy to reconstitute Skills England as an independent body.
Answer: Skills England has been established as an executive agency of the Department for Education, a model of arm’s length body with a clearly defined status, established and governed in line with Cabinet Office guidance. As an executive agency, Skills England w...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLifelong Learning EntitlementDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of lifelong learning grants.
Answer: The government recognises that lifelong learning is a core part of a sustainable higher education system which provides opportunities for all and offers learners greater flexibility in an ever-evolving economy. We are committed to supporting lifelong lear...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: EU Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects the UK will be ready to enter the carbon market linking the UK’s emissions trading scheme with that of the EU.
Answer: The UK and the EU have agreed to work towards linking the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) as announced at the Sumit on 19 May. To that end the UK and the EU have agreed the parameters for linking agreement, wh...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Bipolar DisorderDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed welfare reforms on people with bipolar disorder.
Answer: As I made clear in my statement to the House, Hansard, 1 July, col 219, any changes to PIP eligibility will come after a comprehensive review of the benefit, which I am leading, and which will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that re...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordShared Ownership Schemes: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to ensure that a proportion of shared ownership homes are adapted to be accessible to those with physical disabilities.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that a proportion of new build homes are adapted to be accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNight Flying: HealthDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of night flights on the health of people living underneath airport flight paths.
Answer: My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the Department of H...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHammersmith Bridge: ComponentsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on the fatigue life of components of Hammersmith Bridge.
Answer: My officials are in regular contact with their counterparts at both the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Transport for London regarding the condition of Hammersmith Bridge and options for repair.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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