Oliver Dowden MP: written questions
332 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Plastics: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to help reduce waste caused by single use plastics.
Answer: This Government has already taken a number of steps to help reduce waste caused by single use plastics. We have banned the supply of single-use vapes, effective from 1 June 2025. From this date onwards all vapes sold in the UK must be rechargeable and ref...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPlastics: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made in helping to reduce the amount of plastic waste.
Answer: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics – a future where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to econo...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPlasticsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the use of plastic.
Answer: This Government has already taken a number of steps to help reduce the use of plastic. We have banned the supply of single-use vapes, effective from 1 June 2025. From this date onwards all vapes sold in the UK must be rechargeable and refillable. We have ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPost-mortemsMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the timescale permitted for a second post-mortem examination.
Answer: Once a death has been reported to a coroner, the deceased person’s body remains in the legal control of the coroner until released for burial or cremation. During this time, decisions relating to the body, including on whether to order a post-mortem exami...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPost-mortemsMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to reduce the timescale allowed for a second post-mortem examination.
Answer: Once a death has been reported to a coroner, the deceased person’s body remains in the legal control of the coroner until released for burial or cremation. During this time, decisions relating to the body, including on whether to order a post-mortem exami...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: SubsidiesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of Drax to receive biomass subsidy in the context of whistleblowing allegations against that company.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCybersecurity: CertificationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to align the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Essentials certification with the insurance industry’s standards to protect organisations against cyber risk,
Answer: The government is engaging insurers and brokers to encourage clear, proportionate conversations about cyber risk and good cyber hygiene. Insurers typically take risk‑based approaches to underwriting and the government is encouraging the inclusion of funda...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDrax Power: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the candour and transparency of the Drax power station in its dealings with the Government.
Answer: The Low Carbon Dispatchable CfD signed with Drax sets out consequences in the event Drax have misrepresented information provided to HMG used when agreeing the strike price. This includes the right to revise the strike price or terminate the agreement und...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSecondary Education: HertsmereDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many state secondary school places are available within Hertsmere constituency.
Answer: School level data on state-funded schools with capacity in any of the year groups from reception to year 11 is published in the annual publication available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity/2024-25. T...
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertsmereDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress she has made on improving rail accessibility in Hertsmere constituency.
Answer: This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. At Elstree & Borehamwood station, full step-free access was delivered under the Access for All progr...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to determine the (a) process and (b) timings for identifying future Access for All projects.
Answer: Funding for future rounds of the AfA programme will be considered as part of the next Spending Review. The process for identifying future projects has not yet been finalised, but we are committed to reforming the programme as we move towards the establish...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the amount of money used for accessibility improvements at railway stations from Section 106 agreements.
Answer: Since the Access for All (AfA) programme launched in 2006, there has been a steady increase of third party contributions from local sources, including from Section 106 agreements.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGreen BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 111727, for what reason his Department has not introduced a definition of large built-up area, town, historic town or villa
Answer: The government’s Green Belt policies as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) make reference to large built-up areas, as well as towns and historic towns. These are established terms with the Framework. We have not introduced prescripti...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on funding for accessibility improvements at railway stations from Section 106 agreements.
Answer: My Department engages regularly with the Department for Transport on a range of issues. Alongside highways contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy, Section 106 agreements are a well-established mechanism for making development acceptable in pl...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: Multiple OccupationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local planning authorities on efficiently preparing Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for houses in multiple occu
Answer: The procedure for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to make an Article 4 direction is laid out in Schedule 3 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, which is available on gov.uk here. Additional guidance can ...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: Multiple OccupationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have introduced Article 4 directions to restrict the number of houses in multiple occupation.
Answer: Since 1 January 2023, 45 local planning authorities have notified the Secretary of State of ‘Article 4’ Directions removing permitted development rights in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: EnfieldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the New Towns Taskforce has undertaken a consultation on the proposed new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.
Answer: The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. On 28 September 20...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: EnfieldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the New Towns Taskforce has undertaken a consultation on the proposed new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield with Hertfordshire County Council.
Answer: The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. On 28 September 20...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: EnfieldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the New Towns Taskforce has undertaken a consultation on the proposed new town at Crews Hill and Chase Park, Enfield.
Answer: The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. On 28 September 20...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many data centre developments have been granted consent under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
Answer: To date, no data centres have been granted consent under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of data centre developments have been granted consent by local planning authorities on green belt land since July 2024.
Answer: My Department does not hold the information requested.Although it collects and publishes quarterly planning application statistics, which can be found on gov.uk here, it does not collect separate figures on data centre developments that have been granted ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of data centre developments have been granted consent by local planning authorities since July 2024.
Answer: My Department does not hold the information requested.Although it collects and publishes quarterly planning application statistics, which can be found on gov.uk here, it does not collect separate figures on data centre developments that have been granted ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he collects data on the number of data centre developments that have been granted consent by local planning authorities.
Answer: My Department does not hold the information requested.Although it collects and publishes quarterly planning application statistics, which can be found on gov.uk here, it does not collect separate figures on data centre developments that have been granted ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFilm and Television: Self-employedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support parents and carers with childcare flexibility in the freelance screen industries.
Answer: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport recognises that the freelance workforce is crucial to the success of the UK's world-leading creative industries, and we are committed to listening to the voices of the self-employed as we develop policies for the...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFilm and Television: StaffDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased commissioning concentration among a small number of global studios and streamers on (a) employment conditions, (b) rat
Answer: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport recognises that the freelance workforce is crucial to the success of the UK's world-leading creative industries, including the screen sector, but we understand that many self-employed workers in the creative indu...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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