Ellie Chowns MP: written questions
232 published records · newest first.
Written questions
MV Solong and MV Stena Immaculate: AccidentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the level of pollution caused by the collision between the Solong and Stena Immaculate.
Answer: Defra is working with multiple organisations including the Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the PREMIAM (Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring) to assess the impact of this incident ...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordManahel al-OtaibiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi counterpart on the case of Manahel al-Otaibi.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have monitored the case of Manahel Al-Otaibi and will continue to do so. We have raised the case with the Saudi authorities. The British Embassy in Riyadh has attempted to observe Ms Al-Otaibi's trials. W...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEarwax: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support ICBs to offer community wax removal services to people requiring them.
Answer: The Department does not have plans to intervene in locally led arrangements for the provision of ear wax removal services. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning ear wax removal services in local areas in line with the recommendations fo...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling CommissionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the progress of the Gambling Commission’s investigation on allegations under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 relating to bets placed on the date of the
Answer: The Gambling Commission is continuing its investigation into potential criminal offences of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 in relation to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election. It would be inappropriate to comment whil...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: SubversionHome OfficeTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 35504 on Elections: Subversion, whether the Defending Democracy Taskforce plans to consider evidence on alleged Kremlin-linked interference in past
Answer: We have robust systems in place to defend the UK from all forms of malign state interference in UK democratic processes, including from Russia.The Defending Democracy Taskforce brings together Ministers from across Government, along with representatives f...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to (a) the level of and (b) eligibility criteria for (i) disability and (ii) incapacity benefit payments on child poverty.
Answer: Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change.The Strategy will look at all available l...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSexual OffencesHome OfficeTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the incident rate per thousand people of (a) rape and (b) other sexual offences in (i) Herefordshire and (ii) each of the other 14 comparators areas in the Mos
Answer: The Office for National Statistics publishes information on rates per population for offences recorded by the police in England areas and Wales, by offence group and Community Safety Partnership level (CSP). Data for the CSP of Herefordshire, and the 14 r...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to remove time limits on disabled persons concessionary bus passes to improve access to (a) education, (b) work and (c) other opportunities.
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNatural History: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18517 on Natural History: GCSE, what progress she has made in her consideration of next steps on the implementation of a new GCSE in Natural History.
Answer: This government recognises the importance of providing all children and young people with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to understand and develop a connection to the natural world, access green careers, and thrive in life and work in a world with a...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Carbon EmissionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the updated Future Homes Standard.
Answer: The Government understands the urgency of introducing new energy efficiency standards so that as many homes as possible are built to be zero-carbon ready. We are committed to implementing the Future Homes Standard this year, and we are taking the time to ...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: HerefordshireTreasuryTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35934More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the level and threshold of (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) business rates relief on the hospitality sector in Herefordshire.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on indi...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: SubversionCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35505More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 6 February 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, column 803, if he will mak
Answer: ISC reports, including the Russia report, contain highly classified material which would damage the operational capabilities of UK intelligence agencies if published unredacted. All ISC reports go through a number of administrative stages and processes be...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: SubversionCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35504More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Intelligence and Security Committee report entitled: Russa HC 632 published 21 July 2020, if he will open an investigation into alleged Kremlin-linked interference in UK elections.
Answer: We are committed to ensuring we have robust systems in place to defend the UK from all forms of malign state interference in UK democratic processes. The Defending Democracy Taskforce brings together Ministers from across Government, along with representa...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDoctors: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the next iteration of the (a) NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and (b) 10-year Health Plan will include targets for increasing medical specialty training places in (i) anaesthetics and (ii) oth
Answer: We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists and all other medical specialities, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We have launched the 10-Year Health Plan which will set ou...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether funding for additional higher anaesthetic training places will continue in 2025-26.
Answer: We are committed to training the staff we need, including anaesthetists and all other medical specialities, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We have launched the 10-Year Health Plan which will set ou...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: Food Insecurity and Natural ResourcesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on the ability of recipient countries to respond to (a) resource scarcity and (b) food in
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending ...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, columns 631-634, what assessment he has made of the potent
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA), including that the UK will continue to play a key role in tackling climate change. Detailed decisions on how ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: Climate ChangeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on climate security.
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA), including that the UK will continue to play a key role in tackling climate change. Detailed decisions on how ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFish Farming: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of new legislative measures to protect the welfare of farmed fish.
Answer: Current legislation already provides protection for farmed fish kept for the production of meat or other products whilst on farm and during transport. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any protected animal, ...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Herefordshire to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Labour TurnoverDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential reasons for health professionals leaving the NHS, to the lowest available data level; and what steps his Department is taking to promote imp
Answer: NHS England publishes quarterly data on the broad reasons for staff leaving and staff movements in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations, support organisations, and central bodies in England. This is published as part of the NHS Work...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFossil FuelsTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34130More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of Government (a) subsidies and (b) support to fossil fuel companies in the last 12 months.
Answer: The UK does not give any subsidies to fossil fuel companies and follows the International Energy Agency’s definition of a fossil fuel subsidy.Where data is available, estimates of the cost of tax reliefs available to oil and gas companies are published on...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason the Government uses the marginal cost pricing system for electricity.
Answer: The wholesale electricity market, like most commodity markets worldwide, is based on marginal pricing. This reflects the value of consuming or generating an additional unit of electricity at any given time and ensures that generators increase or decrease ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMusculoskeletal Disorders: Ethnic GroupsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce health disparities amongst ethnic minority communities in the treatment of (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions.
Answer: The Race Equality Foundation’s report, Musculoskeletal conditions and Black, Asian and minority ethnic people: addressing health inequalities, commissioned by what was then Public Health England, identified that some Black, Asian and minority ethnic group...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPain: WomenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34127More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the gender pain gap for women.
Answer: Through the call for evidence for the Women’s Health Strategy, women told us that they had not always been listened to by healthcare professionals and that more needs to be done to improve research, evidence, and data on women’s health. It is unacceptable...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →