Sarah Edwards MP: written questions
82 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Electronic Government: ContractsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make it his policy to transition government digital services to (a) free and (b) open-source providers.
Answer: Where appropriate, the Government makes use of free and open-source providers. The Digital, Data & Technology playbook provides guidance on sourcing and contracting for digital, data and technology projects and programmes. Cabinet Office & Governm...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: MicrosoftCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65920More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government paid Microsoft for digital services for the last 12 months for which data is available.
Answer: Full information on government spend with Microsoft is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office (CO), as individual departments and public bodies are responsible for their own procurement and contractual arrangements. However, the Crown Commercial Service...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who is liable for the cost of repairing damage incurred from installing insulation under the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Answer: All installations under government energy efficiency schemes, including the Great British Insulation Scheme, must be carried out by a TrustMark registered business. TrustMark registered installers are required to provide consumers with guarantees from a T...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government and Social Care OmbudsmanMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Answer: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman underwent an independent peer review in 2023-24 facilitated by the International Ombudsman Institute. The review and the LGSCO’s response to its recommendations can be found on the LGSCO’s website.
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what provisions his Department has put in place to help ensure the professional competency of firms that install insulation with support from the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Answer: We recognise the importance of facilitating a competent and robust supply chain. All installations under government energy efficiency schemes, including the Great British Insulation Scheme, must be carried out by a TrustMark registered business. This incl...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLung Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy for all lung cancer patients to be routinely screened for ROS1 biomarkers.
Answer: The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) provides genomic testing in the National Health Service. Testing is delivered by the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs and directed by the National Genomic Test Directory. The test directory comprises of a full list of cli...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of rates of early (a) detection and (b) treatment of brain tumours.
Answer: Survival rates for brain cancer, as with several other cancers, remain too low. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving outcomes, as the chances of survival are significantly higher when cancer is detected at an early stage. That is why early diagnosis r...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the proportion funding his Department provides for cancer research that is allocated to brain tumour-related research.
Answer: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24, reflec...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBile Duct Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of regional differences in access to treatment for cholangiocarcinoma patients.
Answer: The Department is committed to reducing waiting times for cancer treatment and improving access to treatment across England, including for cholangiocarcinoma patients. We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and ...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which month the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee's review on financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules will be published.
Answer: The Migration Advisory Committee were commissioned to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules in September and the review is expected to take approximately 9 months.
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Clinical TrialsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure more cancer patients have the opportunity to take part in CAR T-cell therapy clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to maximising the United Kingdom’s potential to lead the world in clinical research, with the aim of ensuring that all patients, including those with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesavin...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the suitability of councils to enforce planning infringements made by their own authority.
Answer: It is for local planning authorities to ensure they have appropriate systems in place to deal with investigating alleged breaches of planning control by other parts of their local authority. Each local authority has their own code of conduct to ensure the...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, whether people under 22 in receipt of benefits will lose those bene
Answer: We are consulting on delaying access to the health element of UC within the reformed system until someone is aged 22, on the basis that the savings generated would be reinvested into work support and training opportunities for this age group to support th...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPeru: Indigenous PeoplesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Peruvian counterpart on the provision of assistance to indigenous people after the 2022-23 political protests.
Answer: The UK is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Peru, including the specific challenges faced by indigenous communities. Our Ambassador to Peru and his team regularly meet representatives of indigenous communities to understand the challenges f...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPeru: DemonstrationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Peruvian counterpart on investigations into the responsibilities of (a) senior police officers and (b) other civilian authorities in t
Answer: We hold regular discussions on human rights at senior levels with the Peruvian Government including the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Women and Vulnerable Populations, and other stakeholders and have raised concerns about threats to human rights defe...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOrganised Crime: FreightMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing guidance on the sentencing of freight crime.
Answer: This Government is highly aware of the rising frequency of freight crime and the significant and damaging impact it can have on businesses and drivers. We are determined to crack down on it.We are committed to tackling crime and restoring public confidenc...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFreight: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Staffordshire Police to reduce rates of freight crime.
Answer: This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFreight: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact on business of freight crime in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands; and if she will undertake an assessment of trends in the level of fre
Answer: This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFreight: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to tackle freight crime.
Answer: This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are carefully monitoring the increases in its frequency. The experience of cargo theft, where criminals are ripping the sides of lorries and...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department will publish the revised Environmental Improvement Plan for 2025.
Answer: The Government has concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). We published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. Publication of the revised EIP will follow later this year.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Animals: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a digitalised equine ID and traceability system to prevent illegal export of (a) horses, (b) donkeys (c) and ponies.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government recognises the importance of the equine sector to the UK economy and of improving equine identification and traceability. We have no current plans to...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: Hospitality IndustryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37339More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure hospitality businesses are not double charged for the handling of their waste, in the context of the introduction of extended producer responsibil
Answer: Under packaging extended producer responsibility, packaging producers are only liable for fees that cover the management of packaging waste collected from households. The regulations therefore make a distinction as to what is "household packaging&quo...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGlass: PackagingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37338More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made on the potential impact of extended producer responsibility for packaging on the glass industry.
Answer: Defra officials have engaged extensively with the glass sector in developing these reforms since 2019. Minister Creagh met with British Glass on 21 October 2024 and attended a glass re-use roundtable hosted by the British Beer & Pub Association on 14 ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgages: Government AssistanceTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37337More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help support mortgage prisoners.
Answer: The Government understands the challenges that mortgage prisoners face and will work with regulators and the industry to ensure that this issue is properly considered. There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers across...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: PrisonsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that healthcare treatment provided to prisoners with mental health conditions is adequate.
Answer: The Prison Mental Healthcare service specification reinforces that prison healthcare, including care for people with mental health problems, should provide excellent, safe, and effective services and interventions to all prisoners, equivalent to the servi...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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