Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Snowden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 2,173 · this parliament
What discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the remit of the Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation.
The Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation will advise on how global finance cooperation can build a stronger Britain, boosting the country’s security and resilience. The Chancellor has a range of positive discussions with the Prime Minister and colleagues on such issues.
What discussions she has had with European counterparts on the development of international finance partnerships to support defence and security cooperation.
Awaiting answer.
What guidance she is offering passengers whose flights are impacted by jet fuel shortages.
UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel, and there is no need for passengers to change upcoming travel plans. It is important however that passengers are aware of their rights during any disruption and that is why the Government provides guidance through its Air Passenger Travel Guide advice page. In addition to this general guidance the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have also published specific information such as the Jet fuel and travel plans: what you need to know advice page and CAA summer travel advice page.
Whether any conflicts of interest assessment was undertaken prior to Gordon Brown’s appointment as Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation.
I refer the Hon Member to the Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments which sets out the process for making DMAs, available on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-ministerial-appointments
If he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 13 May 2026.
No. I refer the Hon Member to the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, published on gov.uk
How many additional police officers have been recruited since July 2024.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of police officers, as at 31 March and 30 September each year in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.The latest data on the number of police officers in post is available in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2025’ release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025.Data as at 31 March each year, going back to 31 March 2007 can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697255b5a1311bdcfa0ed8f3/open-data-table-police-workforce-280126.ods. However, the growth or decline of police officers in post as at 31 March each year does not necessarily reflect the number of police officer joiners throughout the year. The change in the number of police officers in post is the result of the combined influx of police officers joining and outflow of police officers leaving.The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the number of police officer joiners, for the year ending 31 March only and as such, information on the number of joiners since July 2024 is not available. Data for the year ending 31 March 2026 will be published in July 2026.Information on the number of police officers joining the police service between the years ending 31 March 2007 to 2025 can be found in the ‘Joiners Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697255e4d8adeaf266040568/open-data-table-police-workforce-joiners-280126.ods.
If he will make an assessment of the economic impact of the extension to the deadline for the decision on granting a Development Consent Order to the Morgan-Morecambe transmission assets.
Awaiting answer.
Whether local authorities in Lancashire will be eligible to partner with charities and independent fostering agencies when applying for funding through the Fostering Innovation Fund.
Lancashire County Council will be able to apply for the Innovation Fund as part of the Foster with Us fostering hub. The department encourages applications from areas working in partnership with other organisations, such as charities or independent fostering agencies.The Fostering Innovation Fund, which launched on 14 May, is open for bids from Regional Care Cooperatives (RCC) and end-to-end fostering hubs, including both existing and those who, at the time of the fund launch, are applying to become an RCC or end-to-end fostering hub. Only those who have been successful in their applications to become an RCC or fostering hub will be awarded funding. Further details can be found in the application guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-innovation-fund-application-guidanceWe will notify successful bidders in due course.
What plans he has to increase the number of specialist domestic violence courts.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment his Department has made of the fairness and accuracy of the current standards check system for Approved Driving Instructors.
When the current standards checks system was implemented in 2014, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducted a full consultation. The system has not changed and, therefore, there has been no formal consultation since those changes. The current process is designed in a way that any and all approved driving instructors (ADI) could be called for a standards check at any time by DVSA. When called for a standards check ADIs must demonstrate their ability to teach pupils as set out in the national standard for driver and rider training.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the number of elected councillors without the right to work in the UK.
Awaiting answer.
What recent formal consultation his Department has undertaken with Approved Driving Instructors and their representative bodies regarding the standards check system.
When the current standards checks system was implemented in 2014, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducted a full consultation. The system has not changed and, therefore, there has been no formal consultation since those changes. The current process is designed in a way that any and all approved driving instructors (ADI) could be called for a standards check at any time by DVSA. When called for a standards check ADIs must demonstrate their ability to teach pupils as set out in the national standard for driver and rider training.
Communities and Local Government, if he will set out a timetable for local government reorganisation in Lancashire.
The government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July 2025. Proposals for Lancashire were received by 28 November 2025 and were subject to statutory consultation from 5 February 2026 to 26 March 2026. The Secretary of State is considering the proposals against the published criteria, together with consultation responses and other relevant information, with a decision expected on which proposals will be implemented before the summer recess. Legislation will then be laid to provide for elections to new councils in May 2027 and a go live date for those new councils of April 2028.
What estimate he has made of the number of benefits payments to spouses in polygamous marriages (i) made in the past 12 months and (ii) expected to be made in the forthcoming 12 months.
The most recent published data (August 2025) from the Housing Benefit Single Housing Extract (SHBE) indicates that there are fewer than ten households where claimants are recorded as being in a polygamous marriage formed in another country. In these exceptional cases, there is no financial benefit as more would be paid in benefits if the additional person claimed as a single person. Polygamous marriages are illegal in the UK. Immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988. Benefit support is only available where the marriage took place in a country where the practice is legal.
What assessment he has made of the effect of excluding independent optometry practices from participation in publicly funded eyesight testing schemes on local economic activity.
National Health Service sight testing contracts can be held by specific individuals, including those practising in partnerships or corporate bodies meeting the requirements set out in The General Ophthalmic Services Contracts Regulations 2008.The commissioning of enhanced eye care services falls within the scope of the Provider Selection Regime, which integrated care boards must follow when procuring healthcare services.
Innovation and Technology, what progress her Department has made on providing full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policies on energy prices for households.
Tackling high energy costs is a central priority for the Government. The actions taken at the Autumn Budget have helped to protect consumers today, ensuring that from 1st April to the end of June, the price cap fell by £117 per year for a typical dual fuel customer paying by Direct Debit. In addition, around 6 million families are benefitting from the expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount. The Fuel Poverty Strategy also sets out a new plan for the Government to reduce energy costs for low-income households and lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.
What assessment his Department has made of the impact of long-term patient relationships in community optometry on continuity of eye care for elderly patients.
We recognise the value of providing care closer to people’s homes, including community optometry, which can support more personalised care and more continuity of care.Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local populations and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them. Eligible patients in England can access high street National Health Service sight testing services from any provider. Patients can return to the same provider through choice, and where this is not the case, patients can give consent for their new practitioner to request relevant clinical information from another optical practice. This enables the continuation of their optometric care.
What progress her Department is making towards delivering 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries.
Awaiting answer.
What recent estimate she has made of the total annual VAT payments by further education colleges in England.
Education services supplied by an “eligible body” are exempt from VAT. For VAT purposes, an “eligible body” broadly refers to most regulated, publicly funded, or not-for-profit education providers. This means no VAT is charged on supplies of education made by further education colleges, nor are further education colleges able to recover the VAT they have incurred on their expenditure.