Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish a consultation on the regulation of frontier AI systems.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects the UK will be ready to enter the carbon market linking the UK’s emissions trading scheme with that of the EU.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK and the EU have agreed to work towards linking the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) as announced at the Sumit on 19 May.
To that end the UK and the EU have agreed the parameters for linking agreement, which will be subject to upcoming negotiations. The UK is now working closely with the EU to agree a timetable for negotiations.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it his policy to reconstitute Skills England as an independent body.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Skills England has been established as an executive agency of the Department for Education, a model of arm’s length body with a clearly defined status, established and governed in line with Cabinet Office guidance. As an executive agency, Skills England will be sufficiently independent so that it can focus on the delivery of its functions, at arm’s length from the department, while also ensuring sufficient proximity to inform decisions on skills policy and delivery quickly and efficiently. In carrying out its functions, Skills England will be scrutinised and supported by its independent chair and board.
In line with good practice for new arm’s length bodies, the government has committed to review Skills England between 18 and 24 months after it is set up. This review will include an assessment of whether the executive agency model is enabling Skills England to deliver its objectives.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to fund (a) rural and (b) coastal (i) infrastructure and (ii) services.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in coastal and rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities.
In addition to funding for sustainable farming and nature recovery, the Government has confirmed investment of over £1.9 billion over four years into broadband and 4G connectivity, and £2.3 billion of Local Transport Grant funding for smaller cities, towns and rural area. This funding addresses the key blockers to growth in rural areas.
On 19 May, we launched the “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” that will invest £360 million over the next 12 years to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure effective (a) collaboration and (b) transparency across (i) Government strategies and (ii) public bodies.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I have regular meetings and discussions with Cabinet colleagues to ensure close collaboration and transparency on strategy development, most recently on the Industrial and Trade Strategies, which were the result of close working across government departments and public bodies.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered convening a cross-agency taskforce with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority, (b) Prudential Regulation Authority, (c) British Business Bank, (d) HM Treasury and (e) Lending Standards Board to develop a joined-up strategy to embed the ethnicity code across the financial system.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government’s approach to support equitable outcomes for businesses led by ethnic minorities and other underserved groups is to work with the financial services sector, building on a shared commitment to fairness and equality and exchanging knowledge of good practice.
Earlier this year the government published a Call for Evidence on small business access to finance, which included the experiences of ethnic minority-led businesses and other underserved groups, and will be publishing our response to this in the Autumn and the further steps we will take.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Prudential Regulation Authority on (i) monitoring and (ii) supporting equitable outcomes for ethnic minority businesses.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government’s approach to support equitable outcomes for businesses led by ethnic minorities and other underserved groups is to work with the financial services sector, building on a shared commitment to fairness and equality and exchanging knowledge of good practice.
Earlier this year the government published a Call for Evidence on small business access to finance, which included the experiences of ethnic minority-led businesses and other underserved groups, and will be publishing our response to this in the Autumn and the further steps we will take.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to ensure that a proportion of shared ownership homes are adapted to be accessible to those with physical disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that a proportion of new build homes are adapted to be accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025.