Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of embedding reflex genomic testing into the pancreatic cancer pathway.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has published guidance on the administration and application of the council tax premiums and exceptions.
However, the council tax premiums are not a mandatory requirement, and it is for local authorities to determine where the premiums will apply, taking into account local circumstances.
While the government has introduced a range of mandatory exceptions where the premiums will not apply, local authorities have considerable discretion to introduce further exceptions where they think appropriate to do so.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the answer of 14 September 2026, Question 28524, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for advisory and investment support to enable the existing oil and gas supply chain to transition their operations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the importance of supporting the oil and gas supply chain to diversify into clean energy and other growth sectors, while retaining skilled workers and strategically important industrial capability.
We have committed to taking further steps to provide clarity to industry by developing a comprehensive guidance package for supply chain businesses. We continue to work closely with the NSTA and through the North Sea Future Board to strengthen the resilience of supply chain companies and support them to transition.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the delay in publishing the Circular Economy Growth Plan on achieving the objectives of the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra remains committed to the objectives of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), including the circular economy goal to minimise waste.
The EIP Annual Progress Report, shows that we have progressed an ambitious programme of reform, investment and delivery activity across the Circular Economy commitments, supporting the broader objectives of the EIP.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what estimate she has made of the proportion of charcoal imported into Great Britain since 2021 that was produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020, and (b) what data her Department holds on charcoal imports from the Gran Chaco region of Paraguay.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is strengthening its approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains. As wood is one of the commodities intended to be covered by the proposed measures, the Government is considering the treatment of specific wood-based products, including charcoal, as policy development continues and ahead of consultation.
The Department is aware of recent reports linking charcoal sold in the UK to deforestation in the Gran Chaco region of Paraguay. The approach to defining the specific products in scope will be set out in Government's consultation for stakeholder feedback. We will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on our proposed policy.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Electoral Commission’s report on the 2026 England mayoral and local government election published on 14 September 2026, which recommendations the her Department intends to implement.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government will publish its response to the recommendations raised in the Electoral Commission's report on the 2026 England Mayoral and local government elections in the coming months.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support and extend specialist youth suicide prevention services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 September in response to Question 29148.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans she has to increase funding for mental health services, including funding for menopause education and training for healthcare providers, to ensure that women receive appropriate and timely care.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 September in response to Question 26409.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings in the report by War on Want and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians entitled Red Card: English Premier League Sportswashing of Israel’s Atrocities against the Palestinians, published on 18 May 2026 on sponsors of English Premier League football clubs.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Premier League football clubs are private entities and any business sponsorship arrangements are a matter for them. The UK remains of the firm view that the two-state solution is the best means to secure lasting peace, security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians. We are clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and undermine the viability of a two-state solution. On 8 September the Foreign Secretary announced a series of measures aimed at those who finance or facilitate illegal settlement expansion.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether charcoal will be a regulated product from the date forest risk commodity regulations come into force in Great Britain.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is strengthening its approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains.
As wood is one of the commodities intended to be covered by the proposed measures, the Government is considering the treatment of specific wood-based products, including charcoal, as policy development continues and ahead of consultation.
The approach to defining the specific products in scope will be set out in Government’s consultation for stakeholder feedback. We will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on our proposed policy.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the rate of Universal Credit for 16 to 24 year-olds receive with that of claimants aged over 25.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
This Government is committed to ensuring that every young person has the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential and succeed in work.
The lower rate of the Universal Credit standard allowance for customers under 25 is designed to maintain the incentive for young people to enter, remain in and progress in work, complemented by the employment support we provide to help young people develop their skills and build successful careers. The lower rate also reflects that the majority of young people live in someone else’s household and are therefore likely to have lower living costs.
Where young people do live independently or have extra living costs, Universal Credit provides additional support for eligible customers, including help with the cost of housing, children, childcare, disability-related needs, and caring responsibilities.