Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of adequacy of the 18 month period for bereavement support payment.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments with a higher amount paid for those with children.
Longer-term financial support is delivered through the wider welfare system, including through Universal Credit, Child Benefit and other forms of local support where appropriate. The Government keeps the adequacy of all benefits under review.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce delays in access to diagnostic imaging for patients experiencing severe pain and inability to work while awaiting MRI scans.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the impact that delays in diagnostic imaging can have on patients, particularly those in severe pain or unable to work.
We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a core test within CDCs and at present we have 143 MRIs in 125 sites that provide it, having delivered nearly 2.9 million MRI tests since 2021. We have also funded new MRI scanners to increase access and availability to MRI scanning.
We are also supporting the National Health Service to increase workforce capacity, make better use of existing diagnostic equipment, and prioritise patients based on clinical need. These measures are helping to reduce waiting times and ensure patients with the most urgent needs are seen as quickly as possible.
To support people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions more broadly, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to reduce community MSK waiting lists. Patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management, and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions, including arthritis, backpain, and joint pain.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress his Department has made on the feasibility study into estimating the prevalence of forced marriage and FGM.
Answered by Natalie Fleet - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In 2023, the Home Office commissioned the University of Birmingham to conduct a study on the feasibility of producing a prevalence estimate of forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Building on this, “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, published in December 2025, committed to conducting an additional study to explore the viability of the University’s recommended approach to producing a national prevalence estimate. The additional study concluded in March 2026
The Government is currently reviewing the findings of both studies and considering next steps.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of value for money of current arrangements with private providers delivering NHS diagnostic services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - 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 Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of average waiting times between GP referral for suspected musculoskeletal conditions and receipt of MRI scans in Luton.
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 Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of communications blackouts in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the diaspora in the UK.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including reports of loss of life of both security personnel and civilians. We recognise that restricted internet and mobile data services in the region will be causing concern for diaspora communities in the UK, particularly those with family members in the area. The safety of British nationals is our top priority. On 6 June 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to the region. Our consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to any British nationals who require it. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with local authorities. I discussed the situation with Pakistani counterparts during my visit to Islamabad in June 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the safety of British nationals in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including reports of loss of life of both security personnel and civilians. We recognise that restricted internet and mobile data services in the region will be causing concern for diaspora communities in the UK, particularly those with family members in the area. The safety of British nationals is our top priority. On 6 June 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to the region. Our consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to any British nationals who require it. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with local authorities. I discussed the situation with Pakistani counterparts during my visit to Islamabad in June 2026.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what monitoring her Department is doing on rates of sexual harassment and assault in (a) bus companies and (b) bus services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Where people report incidents of sexual harassment and assault to the police, under the Home Office Crime Recording Rules, all reports of incidents will, unless immediately recorded as a crime, result in the registration of an auditable incident report by the police.
The Department is taking action to address such incidents through its work across government and with partners in industry and Local Transport Authorities, to ensure that everyone using bus services feels and is safe. That is why there are nine Departmental commitments within the cross-government ‘Freedom From Violence and Abuse Action Plan’, published 18th December 2025.
This includes mandating training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) on public transport, in the Bus Services Act 2025. The Department will publish statutory guidance to outline that the training should cover how to identify, respond appropriately to and, where possible, prevent ASB and Violence Against Women and Girls.
The Act also gives local transport authorities the power to create byelaws and deploy officers who can deal with anti-social behaviour and fare evasion on the bus network. Byelaws enable authorised officers to take enforcement action, including requiring individuals to leave vehicles or facilities and issuing penalties where appropriate, thereby protecting drivers.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure safety of all staff in bus companies, including engineers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is working across government and with partners in industry and Local Transport Authorities, to ensure that everyone, including staff in bus companies such as engineers, feel and are safe.
The Department works closely with industry, trade unions and local transport authorities to support the safety of all staff across the bus sector, including engineers and depot‑based workers. Employers are responsible for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and must comply with relevant health and safety legislation.
The Bus Services Act 2025 gives local transport authorities the power to create byelaws and deploy officers who can deal with antisocial behaviour and fare evasion on the bus network. It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the transport network to make sure it is a safe place for users and staff.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of multi-material, non-recyclable flexible packaging and plastic sachets.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme which charges fees to businesses that produce and/or supply household packaging. This incentivises packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and use easier to recycle packaging.
From 2026 onwards, pEPR fees will be higher for packaging that is not recyclable or is hard to recycle, including multi-material, non-recyclable flexible packaging and plastic sachets. Fees will be lower for packaging that can be easily recycled. Illustrative fees for 2026/27, published in December 2025, estimate that 45% of plastic packaging eligible for pEPR disposal fees will attract a ‘red’ rating and will therefore incur higher fees.