Andrew Snowden Portrait

Andrew Snowden

Conservative - Fylde

561 (1.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024

Opposition Assistant Whip (Commons)

(since November 2024)

Crown Estate Bill [HL]
29th Jan 2025 - 6th Feb 2025
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
28th Oct 2024 - 31st Oct 2024


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Andrew Snowden has voted in 221 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

12 Nov 2024 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - View Vote Context
Andrew Snowden voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 18 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 41 Noes - 378
View All Andrew Snowden Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op))
(13 debate interactions)
Pat McFadden (Labour)
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
(6 debate interactions)
Keir Starmer (Labour)
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
(5 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(15 debate contributions)
Home Office
(13 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(11 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(9 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Crown Estate Act 2025
(528 words contributed)
Finance Act 2025
(281 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Andrew Snowden's debates

Fylde Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

I believe joining the EU would boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability & freedom. I believe that Brexit hasn't brought any tangible benefit and there is no future prospect of any, that the UK has changed its mind and that this should be recognised.


Latest EDMs signed by Andrew Snowden

13th October 2025
Andrew Snowden signed this EDM on Wednesday 29th October 2025

National inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse

Tabled by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
That this House expresses its deep concern at the continued lack of visible progress in establishing the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, announced by the Government in June 2025; notes that, four months later, no Chair has been appointed, no Terms of Reference have been published, …
24 signatures
(Most recent: 29 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 14
Independent: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Labour: 2
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
3rd September 2025
Andrew Snowden signed this EDM on Thursday 4th September 2025

Free speech and the use of armed police

Tabled by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
That this House expresses its deep concern at the arrest of writer Graham Linehan by armed police officers at Heathrow Airport on allegations relating to online speech; notes with alarm that such disproportionate action risks undermining free expression in the United Kingdom; believes that police resources should be prioritised towards …
15 signatures
(Most recent: 15 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 8
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
View All Andrew Snowden's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Andrew Snowden, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Andrew Snowden has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Andrew Snowden has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Andrew Snowden has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
12th Sep 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question on Table Office: Financing, if the Commission will make an assessment of the potential merits of temporarily increasing staffing levels in the Table Office during peak periods.

The tabling of questions is driven by demand from Members and it is therefore difficult to predict peak periods of activity. The Chamber and Participation Team keeps under review appropriate staffing levels for the procedural offices, taking account of Member demand and the fact that the House Administration is undertaking a Savings and Improvement Programme.

12th Sep 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 30400 on Table Office: Finance, if the Commission will review the staffing levels for the Table Office, in the context of the number of written questions published in this Session to date.

There are currently no plans to review staffing levels for the Table Office. The Chamber and Participation Team keeps under review appropriate staffing levels for the procedural offices, taking account of Member demand but mindful of the fact that the House Administration is undertaking a Savings and Improvement Programme.

9th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the membership of the Women’s Business Council reflects geographical diversity; and what steps she took to encourage businesswomen from the North West to apply.

The Women’s Business Council was established to advise the government on maximising women’s contribution to economic growth. The Council’s members are senior business people and entrepreneurs who are leaders on gender equality in the workplace.

This Government is committed to strong regional membership - which can drive opportunities for growth right across the country. Current members are based in the north west, south west and the south east and we will continue to look for inspirational leaders from across the UK as the Council’s work progresses.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
15th Oct 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the effective prosecution of the perpetrators of winter fuel payment scams targeting pensioners.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises the serious harm caused by such scams targeting vulnerable and older people, including those exploiting winter fuel payments. The CPS will prosecute any such cases referred that meet their legal test.

The CPS’ approach to tackling fraud and protecting vulnerable victims is set out in the CPS Economic Crime Strategy 2025 Final Progress Report which was published in May 2025. The CPS continues to engage with Age UK and other civil society partners on a broad range of economic crime issues to understand victims’ concerns and improve support.

Although the CPS cannot disaggregate its Fraud and Forgery Principal Offence Category Data to identify the number of prosecutions specifically related to winter fuel payment scams, since 2021, the CPS has maintained strong performance in fraud prosecutions, securing conviction rates of over 85%.

Over the last five years, more than £458 million has been recovered through CPS-obtained confiscation orders, with £95 million returned to victims by way of compensation.

Ellie Reeves
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
10th Sep 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Fylde of 4 September 2025, Official Report, column 435, in which areas the pilot schemes of weekly listing meetings are being run; and if he will make it his policy to publish the outcomes of those schemes.

This Government is working hard to reduce the court backlog through record number of sitting days in courts and record investment as part of the Spending Review.

The following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas have regular meetings with Police Witness Care Units and court centres: East Midlands, North West, South East, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, East of England, London South, Mersey-Cheshire, North East, Thames and Chiltern and SEOCID International, London and South East Division.

These meetings are informal and provide opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of trials.

The CPS is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and HM Courts & Tribunals Service to identify and potentially scale up best practice and has recently conducted a survey in collaboration with both with the aim of creating a national operating model in the future.

Ellie Reeves
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
26th Jun 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish the guidance issued to the Crown Prosecution Service on the application of the public interest test in cases involving freedom of expression.

All guidance issued to Crown Prosecutors to assist their decision making is available here: Prosecution guidance | The Crown Prosecution Service. The overarching Code for Crown Prosecutors issued by the Director for Public Prosecutions provides guidance on how to apply the Public Interest Test in all cases that are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Cases involving freedom of expression issues can come in many forms, and so the relevant guidance will be followed by prosecutors depending on the facts and circumstances of the alleged conduct and the relevant statutory provisions.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Jun 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Crown Prosecution Service uses information about recorded non-crime hate incidents in deciding whether to (a) bring charges and (b) recommend bail conditions.

All factual matters material to a criminal sentence must be admitted by the offender or proven in a court to the criminal standard using admissible evidence. By definition, the recording of a previous incident as “non-crime” is unlikely to meet that standard.

The Code for Crown Prosecutors sets out the general principles a prosecutor must apply when making a decision as to whether there is sufficient evidence, and whether it is in the public interest, to authorise criminal charges against a suspect. The Crown Prosecution Service has published guidance on bail, the focus of which is on ensuring that the Court is provided with the relevant information to enable it to come to a proper decision as to whether or not to grant bail, with or without conditions. This will be fact specific to the circumstances of the alleged offence and the defendant. The administrative police recording of an earlier incident or allegation, which has previously been determined not to have been a crime, is unlikely to have any relevance to the question of bail.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Jun 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the recording of non-crime hate incidents on the sentencing of individuals in future criminal proceedings.

All factual matters material to a criminal sentence must be admitted by the offender or proven in a court to the criminal standard using admissible evidence. By definition, the recording of a previous incident as “non-crime” is unlikely to meet that standard.

The Code for Crown Prosecutors sets out the general principles a prosecutor must apply when making a decision as to whether there is sufficient evidence, and whether it is in the public interest, to authorise criminal charges against a suspect. The Crown Prosecution Service has published guidance on bail, the focus of which is on ensuring that the Court is provided with the relevant information to enable it to come to a proper decision as to whether or not to grant bail, with or without conditions. This will be fact specific to the circumstances of the alleged offence and the defendant. The administrative police recording of an earlier incident or allegation, which has previously been determined not to have been a crime, is unlikely to have any relevance to the question of bail.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Nov 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the number of prosecutions for people found to be driving under the influence of drugs.

Enforcement of drug driving legislation and how available resources are deployed is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine in conjunction with local crime and policing plans, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes cases that are referred to it by the police.

The Government has announced more than half a billion pounds of additional central government funding for policing next year to support the Government’s Safer Streets Mission.

Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, introduced in 2015, aligned enforcement of drug driving with that of drink driving by introducing a strict liability offence to avoid the need to prove impairment. CPS management information shows that in the financial year 2023/2024, 25,559 offences were charged under this section which proceeded to a first hearing in the magistrates’ courts.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of care workers working for less than the National Living Wage in Fylde constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 16th October is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support his Department has provided to bereaved families of infected individuals who died without receiving compensation to ensure awareness of the new registration process.

The delivery of compensation, including the opening of a registration service, is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA opened their registration service on 9th October to allow people to register their intent to claim online. Those who are unable to register online or who require additional support can call IBCA’s dedicated registration support line on 0141 471 8886. Additionally, an individual can ask someone to register on their behalf. This could be a family member, trusted adult, legal representative, carer or someone with power of attorney. IBCA has worked with infected blood charities and community groups to raise awareness of the registration service opening.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s new registration service is accessible to claimants who (a) are digitally excluded and (b) have limited digital literacy.

The delivery of compensation, including the opening of a registration service, is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA opened their registration service on 9th October to allow people to register their intent to claim online. Those who are unable to register online or who require additional support can call IBCA’s dedicated registration support line on 0141 471 8886. Additionally, an individual can ask someone to register on their behalf. This could be a family member, trusted adult, legal representative, carer or someone with power of attorney. IBCA has worked with infected blood charities and community groups to raise awareness of the registration service opening.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Crown Commercial Service considered the (a) cost and (b) accessibility of the RM6277 framework to small independent recruitment agencies during the design and tendering process.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) considered bidding costs and accessibility for small independent agencies in the design and tendering of RM6277: Non‑Clinical Staffing, including lotting, proportionate evaluation and market engagement.

Small-medium enterprises, including small independent recruitment agencies, secured over 70% of places across lots 1 to 6 and 46% in lot 7. This is in line with the government’s strategy to back small and medium-sized businesses.

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the RM6277 framework agreement on small and medium-sized recruitment agencies supplying non-clinical staff to the NHS.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) designed the RM6277 Non Clinical Staffing commercial agreement with small-medium enterprise (SMEs) accessibility in mind. SMEs secured over 70% of places across lots 1 to 6 and 46% in lot 7.

CCS commercial agreements are not mandatory, and provide a compliant route to procure common goods and services. It is the responsibility of each organisation, including the NHS, to determine whether to use a framework.

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
14th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Government of Service, HCWS939, what criteria will be used in the recruitment process for the three new independent members of the Ethics and Integrity Commission.

I refer the Honourable Member to the recruitment advert for the Ethics and Integrity Commission Independent Member roles which was published on Monday 13 October 2025. The full details, including the essential criteria, can be found on the public appointments website at: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9003

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate she has made of the total value of funds likely to be recovered through the Voluntary repayment of Covid-19 funding scheme by 31 December 2025.

This government is leaving no stone unturned to investigate and recover public funds lost to fraud and error during the pandemic - getting back what is owed to the British people.

At the recommendation of the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, the government launched the Voluntary Repayment Scheme on September 12th. The scheme is one element in a wider package of measures recommended by the Commissioner and will provide crucial learnings for his final report.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) has not made an estimate of the value of funds likely to be recovered. The scheme is subject to uncertainty due to its novel nature, the time elapsed since the pandemic, and the time it takes for departments to report recovery success back to the PSFA. However, the PSFA will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the scheme’s impact once it’s concluded.

The scheme will continue to provide individuals who received money from COVID-19 support schemes which they did not need or were not eligible for, an opportunity to repay until December 2025, before the introduction of new investigatory powers in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Record fraud crackdown saves half a billion for public services, published on 24 September 2025, if he will set out how the AI fraud prevention tool will be deployed across departments; and whether training will be provided to civil servants to use it.

The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator is another example of how this government is staying one step ahead of fraudsters, making sure public funds are protected and used to deliver public services for those who need them most.

The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator is already being deployed and will be available to all departments by November, offering public bodies access to the latest AI advancements without the additional costs of building and hosting their own solutions.​

We've designed the tool with usability in mind. Users can upload schemes via a GOV.UK​-style frontend, and the AI will assess how fraudsters are likely to target them. The Public Sector Fraud Authority will also continue to provide user training to support wider adoption and usage across government.​

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set how the Public Sector Fraud Authority is working with local authorities to prevent fraud at the local level.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) works closely with local authorities to prevent fraud through the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), which is one of the PSFA’s key data and analytics services.

The NFI specialises in data matching, which involves comparing sets of data electronically, such as the council tax records of an authority, against other records held by the same or another authority, to see to what extent they match.

The NFI is vital in tackling fraud in local authority spending. This includes the removal of fraudsters from social housing properties, ensuring they go to those families in genuine need, and cracking down on blue badge fraud - of which 22,000 fraudulent permits were cancelled in the last year alone. It also has a strong record of delivering outcomes for local authorities. To date, the NFI has detected, prevented and recovered over £3bn in fraud and error.

The NFI is collaborating closely with local authorities to tackle fraud in other areas of local spending. For example, the introduction of the Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025, will once again ensure that fraud in adult social care spending can be identified and investigated by local authorities.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press notice entitled Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers, published on 23 September 2025, if he will set out the criteria used to determine whether a staff network event directly benefits an organisation.

In circumstances where organisers believe that the event could be attended during working time, it will be for the Senior Civil Servant signing-off the event to determine whether it is directly related to a business outcome or individual learning and development. Where this is the case individuals would also need to obtain line manager approval before attending.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press notice entitled Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers, published on 23 September 2025, how many civil service staff network events were considered inappropriate in the 12 months prior to the issuance of the guidance on civil service staff networks.

The Cabinet Office does not hold data relating to the number of events deemed inappropriate.

Anna Turley
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new businesses have registered in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Fylde constituency in each of the last five years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th October is attached.

Josh Simons
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be established.

The Ethics and Integrity commission was established on 13 October 2025. Further information is in my Written Ministerial Statement, 'Government of Service', published the same day.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
12th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many visits by Ministers in his Department took place in constituencies represented by (a) Labour, (b) Conservative and (c) other hon. Members in the period between 4 July 2024 and 2 July 2025.

This information isn’t centrally held.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
9th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers left government employment as a result of the government reshuffle; and what was the total cost of (a) severance and (b) compensation payments to those individuals.

In line with the Model Contract for Special Advisers, when a special adviser’s appointing minister leaves office special advisers’ contracts are automatically terminated.

The Model Contract states special adviser severance entitlement. The cost of severance payments is stated in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
9th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has the Government spent on updating (a) government websites, (b) signage, (c) stationery and (d) other branded materials as a result of changes in (i) ministerial titles and (ii) departmental structures following the reshuffle.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold information or data on this topic.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
9th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish an account of the total cost of the government reshuffle, listing totals for (a) redundancy payments, (b) severance payments, (c) relocation costs, and (d) administrative costs associated with ministerial changes.

Severance reform

This Government has reformed ministerial severance payments to ensure that payments are both proportionate and fair. Ministers are now expected to forgo their entitlement to a ministerial severance payment if they have served in office for less than six months or leave office following a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. Ministers who return to office within three months of leaving will be asked to forgo their salary until the end of that three-month period and ministers who have seriously breached the Business Appointment Rules will be expected to repay any severance payment received.

Severance payments

Details of severance payments received by ministers and special advisers are routinely published in the relevant department’s Annual Report and Accounts. Any severance costs associated with the September reshuffle will be included as part of the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts which will be published in late summer 2026.

Relocation costs

Relocation costs are not recorded by the Cabinet Office

Administrative costs

Any administrative costs associated with the reshuffle will be part of the costs of running the department and will not be published separately in the Annual Report and Accounts.

Chris Ward
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
8th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide a breakdown of Government spending on advertising via social media platforms broken down by Department, over the last 12 months.

As with any media planning approach, channels are selected based on their ability to engage with relevant audiences in alignment with the government's strategic objectives.

The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spending on communications to ensure efficiency and that the appropriate strategy is implemented. We will not spend more than is needed to be effective and ensure best value for the taxpayer.

Please see the breakdown below of spend on social media broken down by department between 1st August 2024 and 31st July 2025.

Please note that this may not be the complete spend as the Cabinet Office does not centrally manage Departmental social media spend directly.

Department

Spend on social media platforms

CABINET OFFICE

£917,392.78

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

£108,685.84

DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

£55,776.43

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

£5,790,404.71

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

£853,893.06

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS

£1,174,253.06

DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO

£168,576.98

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE

£2,932,130.17

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

£145,503.62

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

£1,689,076.17

UK EXPORT FINANCE

£336,808.09

FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

£455,653.02

HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS

£1,692,096.15

HOME OFFICE

£1,655,160.54

MINISTRY FOR HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

£528,370.47

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

£1,605,710.08

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

£5,938,304.99

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the performance of the national test of the UK Emergency Alert System conducted on 23 April 2023; and what lessons will be applied to the test on 7 September 2025.

The Government is committed to improving the Emergency Alerts system as it serves a crucial purpose helping to save lives in emergency situations by issuing an alert to all compatible mobile phones.

There was an initial 12 month evaluation period (April 2023 - April 2024) during which the government carried out analysis on the effectiveness of the system. This analysis allowed the government to assess the benefit of emergency alerts during life-threatening emergencies. Following this evaluation lessons have been taken after each activation of emergency alerts to ensure any necessary changes or technical improvements are made to improve the system.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the accessibility of the UK Emergency Alert System for people who are (a) visually and (b) hearing impaired.

We have ensured that the Emergency Alerts system works with voice reader software. This means that everyone who already has this and all other accessibility settings enabled on their phones should have the alert read out to them.

As part of the communications campaign, we have developed a British Sign Language information video explaining the upcoming national test.

We have also engaged with disability groups, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and Mencap. These charities conducted engagement campaigns to reach individuals with visual impairments to help them understand more about the alerts.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions his Department has had with mobile network operators on the (a) resilience and (b) reliability of mobile infrastructure to deliver emergency alerts during (i) power outages and (ii) network congestion.

The Emergency Alerts capability is reliant on mobile network operators’ infrastructure to issue alerts. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, UK communications providers have a statutory requirement to take appropriate and proportionate steps to identify risks to their resilience, reduce those risks, prepare for compromises and mitigate and remedy them when they do occur. These requirements are overseen by Ofcom. The Department has regular discussions with the UK’s mobile network operators and works in partnership with communications providers to ensure that their networks remain secure, resilient, and accessible, including during emergencies.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the UK Emergency Alert System integrates with (a) local authority and (b) regional emergency response plans.

The emergency services, whose role is to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency have the Emergency Alerting capability available to them 24/7/365 upon request. The established procedures have been closely designed alongside both national and regional emergency response plans.

Regular training is undertaken with local authorities, local resilience forums, and emergency services to familiarise them with the Emergency Alert capability and requesting processes.

Emergency Alerts are just one of many capabilities available to first responders on the ground to assist them in disseminating vital information and guidance, complementing a wide range of tools at the disposal of emergency services for communicating risks to life for example local news, radio, television, social media, or door knocking.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
15th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to secure defence infrastructure supply chains.

The Cabinet Office works closely with the Ministry of Defence to track and monitor risks to national security supply chains. The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will set out the government's approach to defence supply chain security and resilience.

14th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July to Question 65165 on Business: Lancashire, if he will provide the same data for the period between 2020 to 2024.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th July is attached.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
9th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last five years.

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.

Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service, as was the case under the previous administration.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of businesses that have ceased trading in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire each day since 1 July 2024.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th July is attached.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
26th Jun 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure defibrillators in public buildings are properly serviced.

The Government Property Agency maintains defibrillators across its estate inline with best practice (annual servicing) and is aligned to manufacturer’s guidelines. Defibrillators are also regularly visually inspected.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
25th Jun 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Department is responsible for ensuring that (a) Deliveroo and (b) gig economy platforms monitor users to ensure compliance with usage policies.

Regulatory oversight of gig economy platforms spans multiple departments and agencies depending on the specific aspect being regulated. For example, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology is responsible for data protection policy and legislation as it relates to personal data, and the Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the legislative framework on employment rights.

Platform usage policies are contractual matters between the companies and their users, with companies responsible for enforcing their own terms of service within the bounds of applicable laws.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
23rd Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the fraudulent registration of companies using private residential addresses through Companies House.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 strengthened Companies House’s powers to query or reject inaccurate or suspicious addresses, enabling the Registrar to act swiftly and decisively against misuse of residential addresses.

Many fraudulent or misused registered office addresses have been removed and replaced with default addresses and companies without appropriate addresses are struck off, protecting those whose details were used without permission.

Companies House’s systems improve continuously to detect and prevent unauthorised address use. The Government is considering the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation for increased powers to verify new and existing company addresses and will respond in November.

Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
22nd Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much of the £10 billion investment pledged by private firms at the Regional Investment Summit on 21 October 2025 is new investment; and how much had been previously pledged.

All of the £10billion of investment commitments pledged by private firms at the Regional Investment Summit on 21 October 2025 is new investment. Previously pledged investments were not included in this figure.

Chris McDonald
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria were used by his Department to determine eligibility for funding under the Pub is the Hub scheme.

The Government recognises the important role rural pubs and those in deprived areas can play in supporting their communities and the work of Pub Is The Hub in helping them improve their resilience by providing additional community services. That is why the Government has provided £440,000 to help Pub Is The Hub continue this important work.

In its 2025 report: PiTH-Social-Value-of-Pubsfinal.pdf, Pub Is The Hub highlighted over 40 diversification projects that could not be delivered due to a lack of funding. Eligibility for funding is determined by Pub is The Hub, which administers the scheme.

Kate Dearden
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
20th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which organisations have been awarded Pub is the Hub funding to date.

The Government recognises the important role rural pubs and those in deprived areas can play in supporting their communities and the work of Pub Is The Hub in helping them improve their resilience by providing additional community services. That is why the Government has provided £440,000 to help Pub Is The Hub continue this important work

In its 2025 report: PiTH-Social-Value-of-Pubsfinal.pdf, Pub Is The Hub highlighted over 40 diversification projects that could not be delivered due to a lack of funding.

Data on which organisations have been, and will be, awarded funding is held confidentially by Pub is The Hub.

Kate Dearden
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
16th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Mental Health Goals programme on growth in the life sciences sector.

The government expects the Mental Health Goals programme to support growth in the UK life sciences sector by creating a strong environment for precision psychiatry research, therefore attracting new industry investment. By fostering collaboration between industry, academia and the NHS, the programme contributes to the Life Sciences Sector Plan’s ambition to grow the sector to £150 billion by 2030 and position the UK as a global leader in health innovation.

Chris McDonald
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many companies subject to investigation for Bounce Back Loans fraud have been prevented from dissolving in (a) Lancashire and (b) Fylde constituency in the last 12 months.

This information is not centrally held by the Department for Business and Trade.

Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Record-breaking £150bn investment unveiled during US State Visit, published on 17 September 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of that business investment on economic growth.

No such formal separate assessment will be made, but we expect these investments to have significant economic benefits across the whole of the UK.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
10th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what responsibilities remain on liquidators of housing developers for resolving (a) legal title and (b) infrastructure issues impacting homeowners.

A liquidators’ statutory functions when winding up a company are to secure and realise any assets, distribute any funds generated to those entitled to them and generally act in the interests of the company’s creditors. In carrying out their statutory functions, liquidators are also obliged to have regard to their regulatory standards and code of ethics. This may extend to resolving legal title and infrastructure issues affecting homeowners if doing so is in creditors’ interests.

Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
3rd Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the (a) sale and (b) production of skimming devices used fraudulently steal card details.

The Home Office announced that an expanded fraud strategy will be published later this year, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, with a key focus of the strategy being combatting tech-enabled fraud.

Kate Dearden
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
1st Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) veterinary certification guidance, (b) trade missions and (c) inclusion in mentorship schemes on Lancashire producers.

We will continue to work with Defra colleagues to support businesses and producers where appropriate.

Trade missions are promoted widely to companies in Lancashire through direct marketing and partners. Following the mission to Food & Hospitality China, in November 2024, Lancashire companies have forecast increased sales from new international business.

International Trade Advisers provide support for eligible businesses that require tailored advice to grow their international sales. DBT has seven Food & Drink Export Champions in the North, one of which is based in Lancashire.

Blair McDougall
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)