Chi Onwurah MP: written questions
398 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Government Departments: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.99 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, over what period will £80 million be invested in corporate services across Government;
Answer: The multi-year investment relates to the Matrix Shared Services Transformation programme, which plays an important part in driving a modern digital government, giving people a more satisfying experience and their time back in nine government departments. ...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit and Shared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.96 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, by what process the figure of £500 million to invest in Project Gigabit and the Shared
Answer: The Autumn Budget set out funding of over £500m in 2025/26 for Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network. This only referred to the capital funding for these programmes, resource is allocated separately. The funding allocation is based on estimated del...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordManufacturing Industries: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, by what process the figure of £37 million for the Made Smarter programme was arrived at
Answer: We will announce further details on the allocation of the R&D budget in 2025/26 in due course. We will ensure we continue to build on the success of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge, which has supported more than 400 organisations, of which over ...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversities: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13203More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, by what process the support for the commercialisation of university research will be al
Answer: DSIT and UK Research and Innovation are designing a new process to allocate this funding. This will build on engagement earlier in the year with the university sector on how to design proof-of-concept funding. While the benefits realised will depend on th...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, how much he plans to spend over what time period on an extension of the Innovation Acce
Answer: The Government will extend the Innovation Accelerators pilot for a year to continue to bolster high-potential innovation clusters in the Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. We will announce further details on the allocation of t...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHorizon Europe: Investment ReturnsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 August 2024, HC 295, whether he has made an estimate of the return on investment in Horizon (a) this year and
Answer: We expect to contribute over £8bn to Horizon Europe between 2024-2027, and are aiming for UK researchers to be awarded the maximum amount possible through successful funding bids. Our priority is to boost UK application and success rates to maximise this ...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 4.94 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 August 2024, HC 295, whether this applies to all UK universities; and what metric she will use to assess whet
Answer: The Autumn Budget 2024 announces at least £6.1 billion of funding for core research, growing this allocation at least in line with inflation. Core research funding directly and indirectly supports universities through a range of programmes, including comp...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceTreasuryTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12938More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11881 on Research Finance, if her Department will publish a tabular summary of Capital DEL allocated in the Budget to research and development by Department for
Answer: The departmental research and development (R&D) allocations for 2024-25 are set out in the table below. The numbers represent departmental plans as of Autumn Budget 2024, which reflect underspends identified through the Public Spending Audit 2024-25, ...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: FinanceTreasuryTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12054More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.19 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, whether the funding for growth-driving sectors will be allocated to the Department for Business and Trade.
Answer: This government is committed to delivering a modern Industrial Strategy. The Budget took a first step towards supporting our growth driving sectors, by providing funding in 2025-26 for life sciences manufacturing, allocated to the Department for Science, ...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12053More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the evidential basis is for the calculation that the increase in his Department’s R&D budget to £13.9 billion is a rise by 8.5% in real terms.
Answer: DSIT’s capital budget in 2024/25 was £13.3bn, with £12.5bn allocated for investment in R&D. As outlined in the Autumn Budget 2024, DSIT’s R&D allocation has risen to £13.9bn in 2025/26, a £1.4bn cash-terms uplift.Using the latest OBR GDP deflator ...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11884More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on higher education institutions.
Answer: Although my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, did not announce new funding for the higher education (HE) sector, we have since announced measures across fees, maintenance and wider HE reform to address financial pressures faced by the se...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to paragraph 3.70 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what funding his Department has allocated to extend the Innovation Accelerators program
Answer: The Government will extend the Innovation Accelerators pilot for a year to continue to bolster high-potential innovation clusters in the Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. We will announce further details on the allocation of t...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11882More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.19 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will publish an allocation breakdown of the £20.4 billion spending on research and development for 2025-26.
Answer: To fully harness the potential of the UK's excellent science base and to foster a dynamic investment economy, the Budget protects record levels of government research and development (R&D) investment with £20.4 billion allocated in 2025-26. This is al...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11881More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if her Department will publish a tabular summary of Capital DEL allocated in the Budget to research and development by Department.
Answer: To fully harness the potential of the UK's excellent science base and to foster a dynamic investment economy, the Budget protects record levels of government research and development (R&D) investment with £20.4 billion allocated in 2025-26. This is al...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Table 4.14 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, whether the £14.7bn capital DEL funding settlement for the Department for Science, Innovation a
Answer: DSIT has been allocated an R&D budget of £13.9 billion in 2025/26 within its capital DEL settlement. This includes funding for the full costs of association to EU research programmes, including Horizon Europe, and additional funding for the Horizon Gu...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy Supply: BuildingsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which organisation is responsible for ensuring the connection of large energy user buildings.
Answer: Depending on the capacity they require, large energy users can connect to either the low-voltage distribution network or the high-voltage transmission network. The networks are owned by private companies that are solely responsible for ensuring the delive...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNorthumberland Line: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of (a) stations and (b) rolling stock on the Northumberland Line.
Answer: The six new stations on the Northumberland Line are being constructed in accordance with the appropriate accessibility standards and will need to demonstrate compliance as part of their acceptance into service. The rolling stock will be in compliance with...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas VisitorsHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what system replaced the AI streaming tool used for visit visa applications discontinued in 2020.
Answer: The Global Visa Risk Streaming (GVRS) system which was operated by UK Visas and Immigration for streaming visit visa applications was discontinued on 3rd August 2020 but did not use Artificial Intelligence (AI). The current workflow routing solution, Comp...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas VisitorsHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the affordability of the visit visa application process for applicants from (a) low and (b) middle income countries.
Answer: The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review. Where we make fee changes in legislation, an Impact Assessment is published.
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTrade AgreementsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to amend negotiating objectives in active free trade agreement negotiations.
Answer: Economic growth is the first priority of this government. To deliver on this, one of our first steps after taking office was to announce that we were resuming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with: the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, South...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Newcastle upon TyneCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10717More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to enable more civil servants to relocate from London to Newcastle upon Tyne.
Answer: The Civil Service is committed to establishing a strong presence in regions and nations across the United Kingdom, including in cities such as Newcastle upon Tyne. The Civil Service should be connected to and representative of the communities it serves as...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMembers: ICTHouse of Commons CommissionTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8444More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress the Commission has made on enabling (a) generative AI and (b) other new technologies to support members.
Answer: The House Authorities, in conjunction with the House of Lords administration and Parliamentary Digital Service, have been actively exploring the potential for AI, and other new technologies, to support the work of Members. A recent example includes the cr...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on guidance to energy companies on the maximum credit they can hold of their customers' funds before reducing the direct debt or offering a refund.
Answer: Ministers have discussed with Ofgem the need to drive higher standards of service for energy customers. Ofgem requires suppliers to ensure that payments are set to avoid building up excessive credit balances, including taking regular meter readings. Exces...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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