Rupert Lowe MP: written questions
1189 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ResearchDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero: ResearchDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not hold this information centrally. The information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: ResearchDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The cost of feasibility studies conducted by the department on school building capital projects that did not proceed in the last 5 years is £8,689,888.These costs are made up of capital funding, property costs, professional and technical services, staff a...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: ResearchDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: ResearchDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not maintain central records of feasibility study costs for projects that did not proceed.The information requested is not held in a format that would allow us to provide a comprehensive answer. To collate this i...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: ResearchCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106032More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile PhonesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an estimate of the total number of active mobile phone (a) connections (b) contracts/subscriptions in the UK.
Answer: Ofcom's Telecommunications Market Data Update, published on the 15th of January 2026, shows that the number of active mobile phone subscriptions in the UK was 91 million as of the end of September 2025. This figure represents an increase of 895,000 subscr...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: VaccinationCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105495More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will launch an inquiry into vaccine harms and excess deaths during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Answer: Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones and those who continue to suffer because of the pandemic. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was established in 2022 under the Inquiries Act. The Government is fully committed to supporting the work of ...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Work ExperienceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a work experience scheme for relevant Ministers to shadow small business owners.
Answer: This government is committed to hardwiring the voice of SME owners and entrepreneurs into government policy. For example, as part of co-designing our Plan for Small Business launched in July 2025, DBT Ministers engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs acr...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Great YarmouthHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to the public purse of translation and interpretation services by her Department for asylum seekers in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last five years.
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylumHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of asylum (a) support payments, (b) accommodation and (c) associated services.
Answer: The full cost of asylum support is disclosed in the Departments published Annual Report and Accounts and includes support payments, accommodation and all other support services.A link to the text on the 2024-25 Home Office Annual Report and Accounts (ARA)...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what weekly financial support is provided to asylum seekers, including cash payments and vouchers; and how many people receive this support.
Answer: The level of the allowance given to those supported under section 95 and section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is reviewed each year to ensure it covers an asylum seeker’s “essential living needs”. Full details of the items that are considered ...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: ContractsHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a list of all companies that are contracted by the Department to provide asylum related services.
Answer: The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligi...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Translation ServicesHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total annual cost of interpretation and translation services for asylum seekers in each of the last three years.
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: InterpretersHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contracts her Department currently holds with (i) ClearVoice and (ii) other interpretation providers for asylum and migration services.
Answer: The Home Office does not hold any contract with ClearVoice.The Home Office has a contract above threshold with ‘thebigword’ Group Limited.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant HelpHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any contracts her Department holds with Migrant Help include 24-hour service provisions.
Answer: The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligi...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant HelpHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total value of contracts her Department holds with Migrant Help, broken down by financial year since 2020.
Answer: The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligi...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant HelpHome OfficeTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contracts her Department has with Migrant Help for the provision of services to asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligi...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Licensing LawsHome OfficeTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of licensing laws for supporting rural and community pubs.
Answer: Hospitality businesses are vital to our communities, both in town centres and in rural areas. As well as providing local jobs and supporting local supply chains, they help create places where people want to live, work, visit and invest.No assessment has b...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: FoodDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help support pubs in sourcing and promoting British-produced food and drink.
Answer: The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultu...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Hospitality IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104013More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the profitability of pubs and hospitality venues.
Answer: Tackling affordability is the Government’s number one priority and we recognise the challenges businesses, such as pubs and hospitality venues, face in securing appropriate, fair and competitively priced energy contracts. The Government believes that our ...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104012More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered raising the employer National Insurance threshold for hospitality businesses.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government increased the Employment Allowance for National Insurance contributions (NICs) from £5,000 to £10,500. Furthermore, businesses can claim employer NICs reliefs for employees under-21s and under-25 apprentices on earnin...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104011More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on labour-intensive hospitality businesses.
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 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: ApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of hospitality apprenticeship schemes in tackling labour shortages in the pub sector.
Answer: Apprenticeships are one of the ways in which employers in the hospitality sector can fill skills gaps and address labour shortages. Employers in the sector have developed a number of apprenticeships including the Level 2 Food and Beverage Team Member, Lev...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104009More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered freezing or reforming alcohol duty on draught products sold in pubs.
Answer: At Budget 2025 the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would be kept constant in real terms by uprating it in line with by Retail Price Index (RPI) on 1 February 2026. This decision balances the important contribution of alcohol producers and the hospi...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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