Alex Sobel MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government: AuditMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reinstating mandatory independent external audits of local authorities.
Answer: Independent external audits of local authorities are mandatory. Under Section 4 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, all ‘relevant authorities’ must have their accounts externally audited. All local authorities in England are relevant authoriti...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordClean Energy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she accepts the conclusion in ADE: Demand's No Home Left Behind that low-income households are effectively paying five times more than wealthier families for clean heat; and what imme
Answer: Through the Warm Homes Plan (WHP), the Government is rolling out cost-effective, clean energy technologies that reduce bills including solar, batteries, and heat pumps. Low-income households can access fully-funded grant support through the Warm Homes: Lo...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrants: EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 27270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of a) the levels of incorrect Negative Verification Notices being issued in cases where the Employer Checking Service database has not updated in time to
Answer: All requests made to the Employer Checking Service (ECS) that could result in a Negative Verification Notice are checked and approved before issue. Where an employer believes that a Negative Verification Notice has been incorrectly issued, they should con...
Answered 14 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrants: EmploymentHome OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 27269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will consider introducing a standalone physical or digital document to demonstrate proof of Section 3C status.
Answer: The Government has no plans to introduce a separate physical or standalone digital document to evidence section 3C status. People whose permission is extended under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 can generally use Home Office online services to ev...
Answered 14 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordUltrasonics: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions her Department has had with the Health and Care Professions Council on the creation of a dedicated statutory register for sonographers.
Answer: The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public. The National Cancer Plan set out a commitment to review the evidence and enga...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordUltrasonics: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the absence of statutory regulation for sonographers on patient safety.
Answer: The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public. The National Cancer Plan set out a commitment to review the evidence and enga...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordUltrasonics: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress she has made on the review of statutory regulation for sonographers; and when she expects to publish the findings of that review.
Answer: The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public. The National Cancer Plan set out a commitment to review the evidence and enga...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 21379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Heat Networks Cost of Heat Research, what estimate her Department has made of the potential cost impact on consumers of not capturing heat wasted from data centres
Answer: Data centres will be an important source of low-carbon heat for heat networks. DESNZ has agreed to fund several projects across England where heat is being recovered from data centres because they can offer very low-cost heat which would otherwise go to w...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 21378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Heat Networks Cost of Heat Research, what consideration she has given to the role of strategic zoning in reducing the cost of heat for consumers.
Answer: As set out in the Warm Homes Plan, heat network zoning in England (and the establishment of local Zone Coordination Bodies) will help to lay the groundwork for a more place-based approach to heat. Zoning gives local government greater certainty on where d...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 21377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the ADE: Heat Networks Cost of Heat Research recommendation for a targeted electricity discount.
Answer: `As we set out in the Warm Homes Plan, we will need to go further to reduce electricity prices for heat networks. The government intends to consult on options to reduce costs and make electrification an economically rational choice for a wider range of bu...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 21376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the findings of the ADE: Heat Networks Cost of Heat Research, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to create a level playing field on carbon for the heat network
Answer: We thank the ADE for their research. The government is clear that zoning will support the development of low-cost, low-carbon heat networks across England. We recognise that some heat networks will need time to meet the zoning emissions limits that will b...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDisabled Students' AllowancesDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 21375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to undertake further engagement with (a) disabled students, (b) suppliers of specialist assistive technology and (c) other stakeholders before implementing changes to Disabled Stude
Answer: The consultation was an opportunity for students with disabilities, stakeholders and suppliers to provide evidence to inform future policy. The responses are currently being analysed and no final decisions have been made.
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVideo Games: InternetDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure future online safety regulation does not have unintended consequences for the online gaming industry.
Answer: Proportionality is a core principle of the Online Safety Act and is in-built into its duties. Ofcom must consider the size and risk level of different types of services when recommending steps providers can take to comply with their duties. Ofcom has comm...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVideo Games: InternetDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the online gaming industry on its impact on the economy.
Answer: This Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector which brings economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK. DCMS estimates the UK video games sector generated £4.4bn in GVA in 2024, a 5.1% increase from 2023 whe...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, whether his Department plans to provide guidance on the expectations for reliability and planning for de
Answer: The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place. Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated gov...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, whether his Department has plans to ensure that Regional Energy Strategic Plans support industrial sites
Answer: The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place. Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated gov...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, what steps he is taking to help ensure that technologies which deliver whole system savings, such as the
Answer: The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place. Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated gov...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: NoiseDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in preparing the Heathrow Expansion Appraisal Report, what consideration her Department gave to modelling the potential monetised costs of noise pollution from expansion.
Answer: The Heathrow Expansion Appraisal Report estimates monetised disbenefits of noise to be approximately -£1.6 billion (2024 prices) over a 60-year appraisal period. This reflects the estimated increased noise exposure causing health, annoyance and sleep dist...
Answered 10 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: NoiseDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimates her Department has made of the monetised costs of aircraft noise pollution for communities under Heathrow flight paths exposed to noise above 43 decibels, with reference to the recent Aviation Ni
Answer: The Department does not routinely monetise the costs of noise from existing noise sources and has not made an estimate of such costs for communities under Heathrow flight paths exposed to noise above 43dB.
Answered 10 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: LabellingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of requiring food labels to declare levels of potassium and phosphate content.
Answer: The labelling of packaged foods and drinks plays an important role in helping individuals access the information they need to make informed choices about the food they buy. Food labelling legislation sets out the information that must be displayed on a pr...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordElectronic Government: Data ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the Department will publish a version of the GOV.UK One Login Data Protection Impact Assessment.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 April 2026 to Question UIN 125374.
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Department can provide a list of the housing associations that are participating in the Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities scheme.
Answer: The Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme is a specialist form of Shared Ownership. The government has confirmed that HOLD will continue to be funded through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) where proposals me...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps were taken to encourage housing associations in Leeds to partake in the Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities scheme.
Answer: The Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme is a specialist form of Shared Ownership. The government has confirmed that HOLD will continue to be funded through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) where proposals me...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps were taken to encourage housing associations to partake in the Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities scheme.
Answer: The Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme is a specialist form of Shared Ownership. The government has confirmed that HOLD will continue to be funded through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) where proposals me...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordChild Trust FundTreasuryTabled 25 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13205More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her policy is on introducing automatic release of funds from unclaimed adult-owned Child Trust Funds.
Answer: The Government is aware of proposals for the automatic release of funds in unclaimed matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts. These savings belong to the account holders and are held by private sector providers. The Government does not have the authority ...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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