Sonia Kumar MP: written questions
77 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Domestic Abuse: Older PeopleHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support elderly domestic abuse victims.
Answer: From April 2025, the Home Office has allocated nearly £800,000 to Hourglass to provide specialist helpline and advocacy support for older victims of VAWG.We will also publish a new national commissioning statement on VAWG to improve the provision of suppo...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBank Services: Small BusinessesTreasuryTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900575More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure SMEs have equitable access to finance from banks.
Answer: The Government has an ambitious agenda to support UK SMEs and drive growth across bank and non-bank lending. We have increased the British Business Bank’s funding, bringing their capacity to £25.6bn, to support initiatives such as the Growth Guarantee Sch...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: Domestic AbuseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory, specialist domestic abuse training for all housing officers in England.
Answer: The Government has not undertaken an assessment of mandating specialist domestic abuse training for all housing officers in England. Local authorities, under their statutory duties in Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, are required to assess the need ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInvestment: WomenDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that support programmes provide meaningful access to all types of finance, as well as investment education and readiness support, such as training, mentoring, and guid
Answer: Backing women-led businesses across the regions is a priority for this government. To tackle access to finance, the government-backed Invest in Women Taskforce has secured commitments of £635 million to be invested in women-led businesses across the UK. T...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordInvestment: WomenDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to (a) monitor and (b) report on the gender investment gap, such as tracking year-on-year venture capital and angel investment into female-founded companies; and whether targ
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade tracks year-on-year venture capital and angel investment in women-led businesses through its Investing in Women Code, a partnership between government, trade associations in the finance sector, and their members. Star...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordInvestment: WomenDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a co-investment fund with diverse angel investors.
Answer: The British Business Bank's Angel Co-Fund programme already invests alongside syndicates of Business Angels. Every £1 invested by the Angel Co-Fund has leveraged around £5 from Angel syndicates.The Bank is also expanding its Angel Syndicate Programme to s...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Health ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how he is using allied health professionals to support soldier rehabilitation.
Answer: All Armed Forces personnel are supported by dedicated and comprehensive rehabilitation services. Allied health professionals play a crucial role in supporting the treatment and rehabilitation of Armed Forces personnel in the UK and on operations to ensure...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: DefibrillatorsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to help ensure that defibrillators which have reached the end of their operational life will in state-funded schools in England will be replaced and funded by her Department.
Answer: In 2023, the department provided over 20,000 defibrillators to state-funded schools in England. The programme aimed to ‘plug the gaps’ in existing provision to ensure that all schools have access to a device.Defibrillators provided by the department are f...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: DefibrillatorsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mental health support is available to school staff who experience psychological harm as a result of witnessing or administering the use of a workplace automated external defibrillator on a pupil or colleag
Answer: Schools are best placed to understand what support may be most appropriate for their staff and should have standard operating procedures in place, including aftercare, should an incident occur where a member of staff witnesses or administers use of an aut...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: ChildrenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907382More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help protect children in Iran from actions taken by the Iranian authorities.
Answer: The killing and brutal repression of peaceful protesters in Iran is horrific. Iranians must be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest without fear of reprisal.The Iranian government must immediately end the violence, uphold fundamental rights an...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAutism and Learning Disability: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure mental health support is provided to adults with autism and special needs.
Answer: We are recruiting 8,500 more mental health workers by the end of this Parliament, to help to ease pressure on busy mental health services. The Mental Health Act reforms will ensure people with a learning disability, autistic people, as well as people wit...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectrical Safety: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people are adequately protected from unsafe or unregulated electrical work in homes, particularly where such work is carried ou
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 101292 and 101294 on 6 January 2026. The Government takes electrical safety very seriously but has seen no need to establish a mandatory national register of electricians modelled on the Gas Safe Reg...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricians: RegistrationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Health and Safety Executive has assessed the potential merits of establishing a single mandatory national register of electricians under its statutory oversight, mode
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 101292 and 101294 on 6 January 2026. The Government takes electrical safety very seriously but has seen no need to establish a mandatory national register of electricians modelled on the Gas Safe Reg...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectrical SafetyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of enforcement mechanisms relating to electrical safety and compliance with Part P regulations; and whether his Department plans to st
Answer: Neither the Department, nor the Ministry of Justice, hold information on enforcement action broken down by which part of the building regulations was breached. Local authority building control teams have powers that enable them to intervene where it is fo...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectrical Safety: ProsecutionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many prosecutions have been brought under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales in each year since their introduction in 2005; and if the Department will pu
Answer: Neither the Department, nor the Ministry of Justice, hold information on enforcement action broken down by which part of the building regulations was breached. Local authority building control teams have powers that enable them to intervene where it is fo...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes PlanDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the public health impacts of the Warm Homes Plan, especially regarding both indoor and outdoor air quality; and what metrics her Department pl
Answer: The Warm Homes Plan will set out a strategy to improve health outcomes through the upgrade of British buildings. This includes measures that mitigate the health risks associated with living in a cold home (such as respiratory disease), exposure to poor ai...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: HealthDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 906997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure freedom of expression for women's health publications on social media.
Answer: We recognise the importance of access to trusted health information. The Act does not prevent users from publishing legal content or children and adults from accessing relevant health information. Once the remaining duties come in, large platforms will no...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to raise the maximum reimbursement Student Finance England can provide for incorrect advice above £500.
Answer: Student Finance England is a service provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC).The SLC is a non-departmental public body and therefore is issued its own delegated authority letter by the department. However, its delegated authority limits cannot exceed ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: RehabilitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who suffer from severe gambling addiction receive prompt treatment.
Answer: National Health Services receive over 1,000 referrals for gambling addition each quarter, with plans to expand capacity.In April, the new statutory levy on gambling operators came into effect to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-rel...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMusculoskeletal Disorders: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 906540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a modern service framework for musculoskeletal conditions.
Answer: Over a third of people in England live with musculoskeletal conditions, a major cause of economic inactivity. We are advancing Modern Service Frameworks for those conditions where we can swiftly and significantly raise the quality of care and productivity...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMediation: DudleyMinistry of JusticeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mediation services on resolving disputes for residents in Dudley; and what steps he is taking to ensure equality of access to those services.
Answer: The Government encourages the use of dispute resolution such as mediation, to allow parties to resolve their disputes earlier and more consensually, which saves them time, money and stress, and reduces the waiting time for a judicial hearing for cases tha...
Answered 6 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Freedom of ExpressionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of (a) the prevalence of shadow banning on social media platforms and (b) its potential impact on freedom of expression and online transpar
Answer: The Online Safety Act ensures accountability for tech companies for the safety of their users while upholding freedom of expression online. The Act does not prevent adults from seeking out legal content.The Act requires the largest services to have clear ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMusculoskeletal Disorders: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of implementing a Modern Service Framework for musculoskeletal conditions.
Answer: Everyone in the NHS is responsible for delivering high-quality care. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelera...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Digital TechnologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72818More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the guidance on Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006 to ensure clarity and consistency for NHS Trusts engaged in developing digital health initiatives; and if he will take steps to eng
Answer: Since May 2024, the Department and NHS England have been delivering a national programme of public engagement on health and social care data. To date, over 8,600 members of the public have been engaged. The aim is to understand people’s views on how their...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: DudleyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timeline is for implementing digital transformation initiatives in the Dudley area; and what metrics he will use to measure success.
Answer: We are using technology to help health and care professionals communicate better and enable people to access the care they need quickly and easily, when it suits them. Dudley Council is implementing digital technologies to support person-centred care, inc...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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