Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Snowden this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,381–1,400 of 2,153 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58584 on Undocumented Migrants: Biometrics, for how long is biometric data retained when it is collected from individuals who have entered the UK unlawfully.
In most cases the Home Office usually retains biometrics (facial image and fingerprints) taken from foreign nationals, including people who have entered the UK unlawfully, for a period of up to 15 years, but may do so for longer in certain circumstances.
What recent steps she has taken with relevant authorities to help increase the safety of bus drivers in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
The Government have introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which focuses on delivering safe, more reliable bus networks. The Bill sets requirements for mandatory training on how to recognise and respond appropriately to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour, on buses for staff, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public or with issues related to the travelling public. Provisions in the Bus Services (No.2) Bill would also give all local transport authorities (LTAs) the power to make bus byelaws, which can be enforced by local authority officers on vehicles and at bus stations and stops. This, combined with targeted enforcement should lead to safer networks. Transport Safety Officers or Transport Safety and Enforcement Officers are also already operating in some areas. All LTAs in England are required to publish Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) with information on how they intend to improve services in their area. LTAs have been informed that BSIPs should include plans on how LTAs and local bus operators will work together to ensure that bus services are safe and perceived to be safe by all. This may include measures such as appropriate passenger safety training for bus drivers to deal with emergency situations on or off the bus and encouraging bus operators to liaise with local police and other stakeholders to address safety concerns.
If her Department recognises (a) student nurses and (b) other essential vocational trainees as "working" for the purposes of childcare eligibility.
On 7 July, we published our Best Start in Life strategy, which sets out how we will make real change happen for families across the country.The working parent entitlement is aimed at eligible parents who wish to start working or work more hours, which is why this entitlement is conditional on work. To be eligible, parents must earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage, which is equivalent to £195 per week/£10,158 per year in 2025/26, and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year. Students of all academic levels may be eligible for the entitlement if they meet the eligibility criteria, including the income criteria.We recognise the value of parents continuing in education and provide a range of support for students in higher education to support them with childcare. If they meet the eligibility criteria, students can also apply for the Childcare Grant and Parental Learning Allowance.
Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support libraries in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires the Secretary of State to “superintend and promote the improvement of the public library service provided by local authorities in England”. To assist this function the department regularly monitors and reviews changes to local authority library service provision, and engages with local authorities to discuss issues related to their respective library service.I understand that as at 31 December 2023, Lancashire County Council’s statutory library provision consisted of 64 static libraries (63 run by the local authority and one community run) and a mobile library service consisting of five vehicles. Six of the static libraries are located in the Fylde constituency.The Secretary of State announced in February 2025 a further £5.5 million of the Libraries Improvement Fund for 2025-26 to enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology. Lancashire County Council has previously received around £165,000 from this fund to support a project at Burnley library.The government is committed to getting local government back on its feet. The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils' Core Spending Power on 2024-25.
Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support amateur theatre in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
The government supports the arts predominantly through Arts Council England (ACE). Through their main funding programme, the 2023-2027 National Portfolio Investment Programme, ACE is providing over £100 million in grants per year to around 195 theatres across the country. Across all their funding programmes, including lottery schemes, for the financial year 2024-25, ACE awarded around £300 million to theatres/theatre based organisations.While the Arts Council does not have a funding classification for ‘amateur’ theatre specifically, in 2024 they supported the Spot On Festival in Poulton-le-Fylde with over £50k of funding. Spot On works to bring professional performing arts to village halls, libraries, pubs and open spaces across Lancashire. As a combined arts festival, they worked with 30 professional performing arts shows and 8 local groups and provided a number of outreach activities as part of the festival, including drama workshops. Details of all Arts Council Funding in Fylde and Lancashire can be found on their website here: https://culture.localinsight.org/#/mapAmateur Theatre groups across Lancashire and Fylde are able to apply to Arts Council England’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants, which provides over £100 million of support annually to individuals and organisations.
If he will make an estimate of the change in average household energy bills in (a) England and (b) Fylde since July 2024.
Ofgem publishes historical price cap amounts, including broken down by region: Energy price cap (default tariff) levels | Ofgem. The data is not available at constituency level. The main reason for the increases to the price cap since 2022 is an increase in wholesale energy costs which are influenced by international fossil fuel markets which we cannot control. This is why our Clean Power 2030 Mission is so vital. The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from next winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.
How many pancreatic cancer specialist nurses are employed in the NHS in England.
The Department does not hold information on the number of full time equivalent pancreatic cancer specialist nurses employed in the National Health Service in England.The Nursing and Midwifery Council does not require any specific post-registration education programme to be undertaken in order for a registered nurse to become a pancreatic cancer specialist nurse. Employers develop specialist roles to meet community and service need locally.
What steps his Department is taking to improve early diagnosis rates for pancreatic cancer.
The Government recognises that pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose early. Its symptoms are often vague and non-specific, meaning many patients are diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. This underlines the critical importance of improving routes to earlier diagnosis.To address this challenge, the National Health Service has implemented non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways across England. These services support faster and more accurate diagnosis for patients who present with symptoms that do not clearly indicate a specific type of cancer, including those often seen in pancreatic cancer. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, ensuring more patients benefit from quicker access to the right investigations.The NHS has launched a £2 million initiative, funding 300 general practices (GPs) to identify pancreatic cancer early by screening high-risk patients over 60 years old with new diabetes diagnoses and unexplained weight loss for urgent testing. More than 300 GPs across England will begin using the initiative, with dozens rolling it out now, and the rest to be up and running in the autumn.Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer care, including for pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. The NHS England Cancer Programme commissions clinical cancer audits, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary, increase the consistency of access to treatments, and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. Rather than a single audit, NHS England commissions ten audits, by tumour type, including for pancreatic cancer. On 12 September 2024, the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published its State of the Nation Report on Pancreatic Cancer, and the initial recommendations are informing improvements in treatment and care.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 65159 on Undocumented Workers: Sharing Economy, how many reports of suspected (a) asylum seekers and (b) irregular migrants working in the gig economy have resulted in enforcement action in each of the last three years.
The Hon Member will be aware the that Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill contains new measures requiring companies operating in the gig economy to carry out employment checks on all individuals working for them, further strengthening our controls against illegal working, and it is a matter of regret that the Hon Member and his colleagues voted against those measures at the third reading of the Bill on 12 May 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 65159 on Undocumented Workers: Sharing Economy, whether gig economy platforms are required to report suspected illegal working; and what action is taken against platforms that fail to do so.
The Hon Member will be aware the that Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill contains new measures requiring companies operating in the gig economy to carry out employment checks on all individuals working for them, further strengthening our controls against illegal working, and it is a matter of regret that the Hon Member and his colleagues voted against those measures at the third reading of the Bill on 12 May 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 65158 on Undocumented Migrants: Fingerprints, what procedures are followed if biometric data cannot be collected at the time of encounter due to (a) age and (b) other limitations.
Where biometric data cannot be collected at the time of encounter, the Biometric Enrolment: Policy Guidance – GOV.UK sets out the procedures that should be followed. Children under five are not required to provide fingerprints, though facial photographs should be taken. In cases involving individuals who are medically or physically unable to provide biometric data, the reason is recorded, and collection is deferred until the individual is able to comply except in circumstances where fingerprints can never be enrolled.
With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Giving every child the best start in life, published on 7 July 2025, what progress has been made in awarding financial incentives to early years teachers in disadvantaged areas.
The commitment to champion early years teachers was announced on 7 July 2025 in the ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy. The department wants the important role they play to be properly recognised. We want to grow the number of early years teachers, with the long-term aim of having one in every setting. To support this commitment, the new financial incentives policy will give all new and existing qualified early years teachers in eligible nurseries serving the most disadvantaged areas £4,500. We are in the early stages of developing this policy and will provide further details on eligibility and the delivery method in due course.
If she will issue guidance on whether gig economy platforms are required to report suspected illegal working.
The Hon Member will be aware the that Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill contains new measures requiring companies operating in the gig economy to carry out employment checks on all individuals working for them, further strengthening our controls against illegal working, and it is a matter of regret that the Hon Member and his colleagues voted against those measures at the third reading of the Bill on 12 May 2025.
How much was the cost to the public purse of assessing Hamas' appeal against proscription.
No assessment of those costs has yet been carried out.
What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of regional variation for access to treatment for pancreatic cancer.
The Government recognises that pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose early. Its symptoms are often vague and non-specific, meaning many patients are diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. This underlines the critical importance of improving routes to earlier diagnosis.To address this challenge, the National Health Service has implemented non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways across England. These services support faster and more accurate diagnosis for patients who present with symptoms that do not clearly indicate a specific type of cancer, including those often seen in pancreatic cancer. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England, ensuring more patients benefit from quicker access to the right investigations.The NHS has launched a £2 million initiative, funding 300 general practices (GPs) to identify pancreatic cancer early by screening high-risk patients over 60 years old with new diabetes diagnoses and unexplained weight loss for urgent testing. More than 300 GPs across England will begin using the initiative, with dozens rolling it out now, and the rest to be up and running in the autumn.Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer care, including for pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. The NHS England Cancer Programme commissions clinical cancer audits, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary, increase the consistency of access to treatments, and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. Rather than a single audit, NHS England commissions ten audits, by tumour type, including for pancreatic cancer. On 12 September 2024, the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published its State of the Nation Report on Pancreatic Cancer, and the initial recommendations are informing improvements in treatment and care.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a national screening programme for pancreatic cancer.
In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and which supports implementation. The UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 annual call process to consider a new screening programme for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. The UK NSC decided to explore this proposal further, and the next step will be an evidence mapping process. Further information on the annual call process can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-annual-call-submitting-a-screening-proposal/uk-nsc-annual-call-how-to-submit-a-proposal
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 63143 on Defibrillators, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to ensure defibrillator manufacturers are encouraged to signpost buyers to register new devices with the Circuit network.
The Department for Business and Trade is not involved in the management or regulation of defibrillator manufacturers.The Circuit is the independently operated national automated external defibrillator (AED) database, developed by a partnership of the British Heart Foundation, the National Health Service, the Resuscitation Council UK, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives. The Circuit provides a national database of where defibrillators can be found so that ambulance services can quickly identify the nearest defibrillator.To improve patients' survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the Government committed to improving access to AEDs in public spaces and to reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED Fund, launched in September 2023, the Government approved a further £500,000 in August 2024 to fulfil existing applications to the fund.Applications to the fund were allocated based on where there is the greatest need, for instance remote communities with extended ambulance response times, places with high footfall and high population densities, hotspots for cardiac arrest including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people, and deprived areas.
With reference to her Department's policy paper Giving every child the best start in life strategy, published on 7 July 2025, whether each local authority is required to publish a Best Start Local Plan; how those plans will be monitored centrally; and what the enforcement mechanisms will be if a local authority fails to meet its commitments.
On 7 July, the government’s landmark strategy ’Giving every child the best start in life’ set out that we will spend close to £1.5 billion over the next three years on improving family services and early years education.Local authorities will be tasked with developing ambitious Best Start local plans to achieve the Plan for Change milestone of 75% of 5 year-olds achieving a good level of development by 2028, working in partnership with government. These plans should build on local authorities’ existing strategic planning materials, such as children and young people plans. They can also build on local innovation already in place as part of the government's test, learn and grow agenda, with projects to improve the uptake of family services in Manchester and Sheffield already showing the value of this approach.We are discussing with local authority representatives how best to implement the commitments set out in ‘Giving every child the best start in life’. Further information will be communicated to local authorities soon.
With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Giving every child the best start in life, published on 7 July 2025, how many best start family hubs are planned to be operational by April 2026.
On 7 July 2025, the government published ‘Giving every child the Best Start in Life’. This outlines the government’s commitment to deliver a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services, as well as creating and funding Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services.The department will provide over half a billion pounds of investment in the Best Start Family Service over the 2026/29 spending review period. Up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs will be rolled out following additional investment. Local authorities not currently funded through family hubs will receive development grants in 2025/26 to ensure national rollout from April 2026.We are working within the department and with the Department of Health and Social Care to share further information about what the spending review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme.
What the average waiting time is for ambulances in the Lancashire Ambulance Service area.
NHS England publishes monthly official statistics for ambulance service performance. Lancashire is served by North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS). The following table shows the most recent average response times for the NWAS, in hours, minutes, and seconds, broken down by category:Category namePerformance in June 2025Category 1 average00:07:15Category 2 average00:25:39Category 3 average01:42:46Category 4 average01:56:14Source: Ambulance Management Information dataset, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/ambulance-management-information/