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1737342

registered interest
date	28/10/2024
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Energy Supply: Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which organisation is responsible for ensuring the connection of large energy user buildings.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	11251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2024 answer text <p>Depending on the capacity they require, large energy users can connect to either the low-voltage distribution network or the high-voltage transmission network. The networks are owned by private companies that are solely responsible for ensuring the delivery of connections and regulated independently by Ofgem. The distribution network is owned and operated by six Distribution Network Operators across Great Britain. The transmission network is owned by three Transmission Owners and operated by the National Energy System Operator.</p> answering member constituency Rutherglen answering member printed Michael Shanks question first answered 31/10/2024 12:27:13 answering member 4998 label Biography information for Michael Shanks
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1736479

registered interest
date	23/10/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Civil Servants: Newcastle upon Tyne
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to enable more civil servants to relocate from London to Newcastle upon Tyne.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2024 answer text <p>The Civil Service is committed to establishing a strong presence in regions and nations across the United Kingdom, including in cities such as Newcastle upon Tyne. The Civil Service should be connected to and representative of the communities it serves as well as delivering a high quality of service for citizens across the whole of the UK. Further plans will be set out in due course, aligned with the upcoming Spending Review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Queen's Park and Maida Vale answering member printed Georgia Gould question first answered 28/10/2024 14:25:08 answering member 5305
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1736480

registered interest
date	23/10/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Trade Agreements
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to amend negotiating objectives in active free trade agreement negotiations.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2024 answer text <p>Economic growth is the first priority of this government. To deliver on this, one of our first steps after taking office was to announce that we were resuming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with: the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey.</p><p>Having carefully reviewed our negotiation objectives we have now started talks with some of these key partners. We will not sacrifice quality for speed and will only agree deals that are mutually beneficial.</p> answering member constituency Lothian East answering member printed Mr Douglas Alexander question first answered 28/10/2024 17:49:51 answering member 632 label Biography information for Mr Douglas Alexander
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1736481

registered interest
date	23/10/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Overseas Visitors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the affordability of the visit visa application process for applicants from (a) low and (b) middle income countries.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review. Where we make fee changes in legislation, an Impact Assessment is published.</p> answering member constituency Feltham and Heston answering member printed Seema Malhotra question first answered 28/10/2024 15:55:04 answering member 4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1736482

registered interest
date	23/10/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Overseas Visitors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what system replaced the AI streaming tool used for visit visa applications discontinued in 2020.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2024 answer text <p>The Global Visa Risk Streaming (GVRS) system which was operated by UK Visas and Immigration for streaming visit visa applications was discontinued on 3<sup>rd</sup> August 2020 but did not use Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p><p> </p><p>The current workflow routing solution, Complexity Application Routing Solution (Visits) (CARS(V)), does not use AI and each visit visa application is decided on a case-by-case assessment against the requirements of the Appendix V Immigration Rules.</p><p> </p><p>UK Visas and Immigration have published detailed guidance on the current workflow routing system: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complexity-application-routing-solution-visits-caseworker-guidance/complexity-application-routing-solution-visits-carsv-accessible" target="_blank">Complexity application routing solution (visits) (CARS(V)) (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p> answering member constituency Feltham and Heston answering member printed Seema Malhotra question first answered 28/10/2024 15:53:19 answering member 4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1736484

registered interest
date	23/10/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Northumberland Line: Access
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of (a) stations and (b) rolling stock on the Northumberland Line.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10721
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2024 answer text <p>The six new stations on the Northumberland Line are being constructed in accordance with the appropriate accessibility standards and will need to demonstrate compliance as part of their acceptance into service. The rolling stock will be in compliance with the appropriate accessibility standards.</p> answering member constituency Wakefield and Rothwell answering member printed Simon Lightwood question first answered 30/10/2024 17:13:02 answering member 4943 label Biography information for Simon Lightwood
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1733289

registered interest
date	10/10/2024
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Members: ICT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress the Commission has made on enabling (a) generative AI and (b) other new technologies to support members.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	8444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2024 answer text <p>The House Authorities, in conjunction with the House of Lords administration and Parliamentary Digital Service, have been actively exploring the potential for AI, and other new technologies, to support the work of Members. A recent example includes the creation of the online portal for the registration of MPs’ financial interests released in spring 2024.</p><p>PDS is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft’s Co-Pilot AI tool, which includes AI for mailboxes. This could aid Members and staff in their management of day-to-day administrative activities and involves learning from Government departments which are testing its use. Before a pilot of Co-Pilot could happen within Parliament, there are important information rights protections to put in place to make sure that sensitive information is handled appropriately. Steps to put those protections in place are taking place in coming months.</p><p>Parliament’s Information and Digital Strategy sets out both an ambition to ensure that the Houses are exploring the opportunities and risks of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and to be more focused on meeting the needs of Members in the delivery of digital services.</p><p>To support these ambitions, an AI Working Group has been convened with representatives of departments across both Houses coordinating and considering how best to enable the use of generative AI. A Digital Innovation Lab has been established to provide a safe testing ground for the use of AI and other emerging technologies, and initial proofs of concepts are being developed for the use of AI to support the work of Hansard and the Table Office. House staff and PDS are working closely with Government departments to understand their use of AI (in particular the development of the Redbox tool which can summarise documents and briefings, and whether there is potential application in Parliament).</p><p>To support Members specifically, guidance is being prepared on the safe use of AI in relation to Parliamentary duties. AI learning materials are also being curated, as well as opportunities to learn more through seminar-style events. Both the guidance and learning should become available over the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney answering member printed Nick Smith question first answered 17/10/2024 15:59:21 answering member 3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1732943

registered interest
date	09/10/2024
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Energy: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on guidance to energy companies on the maximum credit they can hold of their customers' funds before reducing the direct debt or offering a refund.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	8135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2024 answer text <p>Ministers have discussed with Ofgem the need to drive higher standards of service for energy customers.</p><p> </p><p>Ofgem requires suppliers to ensure that payments are set to avoid building up excessive credit balances, including taking regular meter readings. Excess credit balances should be refunded promptly, upon request.</p><p> </p><p>Direct debit payments are designed to be flat across the year, meaning that energy accounts tend to build up a credit balance over the summer, when energy use low, with the reverse occurring over the winter months.</p> answering member constituency Peckham answering member printed Miatta Fahnbulleh question first answered 14/10/2024 15:22:04 answering member 5099
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1718860

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: WiFi
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) standard of wifi services provided by train operators, (b) trends in the standards of that service over the last three years and (c) effectiveness of incentives for train operators to provide high quality wifi services.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	26680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>In general under the Department’s National Rail Contracts and Service Contracts, wifi quality standards are for train operators to determine. <strong> </strong>In 2020, the Department commissioned Transport Focus to undertake research of the availability and quality of internet and voice connectivity available to passengers. This provided a snapshot of the comparative performance.</p><p>The choice of mobile operator(s) – used to provide the mobile connection between the on-train wifi systems and the internet – and the coverage and technology (3G, 4G or 5G) that is available serving the rail corridor can vary considerably by individual route and region. SWR are developing superfast 5G Wi-Fi technology, which will be installed between Earlsfield and Basingstoke in 2024. This superfast trackside solution will be fully integrated with their existing on-board Wi-Fi service, delivering an enhanced connectivity solution for SWR mainline passengers.</p><p>We continue to work closely with Network Rail to improve connectivity on the rail corridor and Project Reach is a Network Rail led transaction seeking private sector investment in rail telecoms.</p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Huw Merriman question first answered 21/05/2024 10:17:17 answering member 4442 label Biography information for Huw Merriman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1718865

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to table 6 of his Department’s publication entitled Child Maintenance Service statistics: data to December 2023, published on 26 March 2024, how much child maintenance had not been paid and needed to be collected through Collect and Pay in (a) each nation, (b) each region and (c) Newcastle Central constituency as of 31 December 2023.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	26681
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The data provided within table 6 of the Child Maintenance Service <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6601806ff1d3a0666832ac65/national-tables-child-maintenance-service-to-december-2023.ods" target="_blank">national tables</a> is based upon transactional financial data. CMS do not capture geographical data aligned to these transactions and as such it is not possible to apportion this information to geographical regions.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 21/05/2024 13:08:08 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah