Lauren Edwards MP: written questions
50 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Growth and Skills LevyDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of funding through the growth and skills levy will employers be able to spend on non-apprenticeship training.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Rochester and Strood to the answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 40142.
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGrowth and Skills LevyDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to provide guidance to (a) providers and (b) employers on the growth and skills levy.
Answer: The apprenticeship funding rules for the 2025/2026 academic year were published on 15 May 2025 on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-rules-2025-to-2026.These include guidance for employers and providers on the gro...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGrowth and Skills LevyDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Growth and Skills Levy effectively reduces skills gaps identified by Skills England.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Rochester and Strood to the answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39389.
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: Risk ManagementMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she plans to provide (a) additional (i) funding and (ii) other resources and (b) guid
Answer: On 5 February I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. Local gov...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Information SharingCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49247More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to share data between Departments on matters that affect trends in the level of the cost of living.
Answer: The Government has set out a Plan for Change, outlining our ambitious yet achievable milestones, including raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom to ensure working people have more money in their pockets. The Government is working to...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordClean EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903861More
Question: What steps he is taking to work with his European counterparts on cross-border energy projects to achieve clean power in the UK by 2030.
Answer: Cross-border cooperation with our European neighbours is vital for our energy security. Through the government’s wider reset of relations with Europe we have strengthened our relationship with key partners, and will work together to secure our safety, sec...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, when she plans to communicate decisions on unitary structures.
Answer: On 5th February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. In this invitation I set out the timelines for the submission of proposals for each area. Once proposals have been su...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ContractsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how existing local authority third party contracts for the new unitary authorities with end dates beyond the proposed vesting dates will be managed, in the context of her proposa
Answer: The potential impact of local government reorganisation on individual areas will be a matter for local councils to consider as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. It is essential that councils developing proposals for reorganisation continue ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: WomenDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of British Business Bank funding is dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs by sector.
Answer: The British Business Bank delivers most programmes via third parties, limiting data on gender and sectoral breakdowns, however it aims to increase gender data in 2025.The Start Up Loans programme is an example of where gender data is held, and since 2012,...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of functional skills requirements on access to apprenticeships; and what the cost of Functional Skills training for people who already have a degree was in e
Answer: The government has announced changes to the rules relating to achievement of English and mathematics qualifications as part of an apprenticeship for those aged 19 or over at the start of their programme. Upskilling in English and mathematics will continue...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGrowth and Skills Levy: ICT and TechnologyDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Growth and Skills Levy enables people to retrain in (a) technology and (b) digital skills.
Answer: The government is developing a comprehensive strategy for post‐16 education and skills to break down barriers to opportunity and support employers to develop the skilled workforces they need to help drive economic growth.Skills England has been establishe...
Answered 21 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the provision of apprenticeships in AI.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring both learners and employers have access to crucial digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills that have the potential to increase productivity and create new high value jobs in the UK economy. To achieve this, ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to review the adequacy of apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rates for accurately capturing learner outcomes.
Answer: The department recognises there is a wide range of reasons for non-achievement of an apprenticeship, and that is why we hold training providers to account for quality delivery through the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework, which encompasses a wide r...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to review compulsory functional skills requirements for apprentices who do not hold a GCSE or Level 2 equivalent qualification in English and maths.
Answer: The government has announced changes to the rules relating to achievement of English and mathematics qualifications as part of an apprenticeship for those aged 19 or over at the start of their programme. Upskilling in English and mathematics will continue...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Mental HealthCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24072More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to support good mental health among civil servants.
Answer: The Civil Service provides its employees with a comprehensive range of health and wellbeing tools and policies to ensure that employees remain in work or return to work as quickly as possible following absence due to ill health. The Cabinet Office is full...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBanks: VandalismHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on tackling?vandalism of bank branches.
Answer: The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour, including acts ...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: KentHome OfficeTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of referrals made to the Prevent programme in relation to people from (a) Rochester and Strood constituency, (b) Medway and (c) Kent in each of the
Answer: The Home Office does not publish data on the number of referrals made to the Prevent programme below regional levels because it could enable a threat picture to be built which could be used for terrorist purposes.The number of referrals made to the Preven...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an estimate of the total value of investment made in research and development in the (a) public and (b) private sector in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Office for National Statistics routinely publishes official statistics on Gross Expenditure on Research & Development (GERD), including breakdowns of expenditure by sector. These statistics show the total value of R&D performed, for each of th...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordClean EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking with his European counterparts to ensure that (a) cross-border energy projects and (b) the GridLink interconnector in Rochester and Strood constituency are completed t
Answer: The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan outlines our approach to delivering a clean electricity system, including our approach to cross-border energy projects. It expects 12-14GW of electricity interconnection by 2030, up from the 9.8GW currently installed. Unde...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of General Practitioners in rural communities.
Answer: We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring that rural areas, including West Dorset, have the resources to continue serving their patients. To address this, we will increase capacity in general practice (GP) and ensure rural areas have the necessary w...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to improve training for teachers to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in (a) mainstream and (b) specialist education.
Answer: The government has a central mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost life chances for every child. This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative p...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EuroTreasuryTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17434More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 13971 on Financial Services: Euro, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate against the risk of the EU not extending its equivalence decision for UK cent
Answer: As set out in my previous response, it is a decision for EU authorities whether to extend further the Article 25 EMIR decision for UK CCPs. As the Bank of England has noted previously, there are financial stability risks which might arise from EU firms ha...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EuroTreasuryTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13971More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her European Union counterparts on the future of EU denominated clearing in the UK beyond June 2025.
Answer: The EU took the decision in early 2022 to extend its equivalence decision for UK central counterparties, made under Article 25 of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, until June 2025. Equivalence decisions are made on a unilateral basis by EU au...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on establishing the Office for Clean Energy Jobs; and when he plans to publish its terms of reference.
Answer: The Office for Clean Energy Jobs (‘the Office’) has been established within DESNZ. The Office will focus on developing a skilled workforce in core energy and net zero sectors, crucial to meeting our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. Recogn...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FranchisesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Buses Bill would make local authority trade companies eligible to bid for bus franchises.
Answer: As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, ensuring networks meet the needs of ...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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