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.
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 adequacy of levels of public awareness of the risk of wildfires posed by litter, included discarded glass bottles.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No assessment has been made of levels of public awareness of the risk of wildfires posed by litter, including discarded glass bottles. Government departments and agencies are working together on communications to raise public awareness of the fire risks associated with discarded glass bottles and disposable barbecues. This includes social media content, using influencer networks to extend online reach, and securing broadcast interviews for Government spokespeople to explain wildfire risks and what the public can do.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take in response to recent developments in Sudan, including the reported encirclement of El Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces, to (i) protect civilians from atrocities, (ii) secure humanitarian access, (iii) prevent famine, and (iv) ensure aid from the United Kingdom reaches local Sudanese organisations.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people fleeing violence around El Obeid and in the Blue Nile State.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic and humanitarian aid response steps he is taking to prevent loss of life in the city of El Obeid.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how he and the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan plan to respond to reports of sexual violence and drone strikes against civilians across Sudan.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to Science and Technology Facilities Council programmes on the UK's international scientific partnerships.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Major international subscriptions, including participation in world-leading facilities and collaborations, are being fully protected through Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)’s prioritisation decisions. This safeguards UK access, influence and leadership in international scientific partnerships. Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), as part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), completed an evidence-based prioritisation exercise to ensure its portfolio remains financially sustainable and focused on the highest-priority scientific opportunities. Options were assessed against scientific excellence, long-term research impact, strategic importance to the UK and international leadership. Prioritisation decisions relating to individual projects do not impact the UK’s overall commitment to membership of international research infrastructure like CERN and SKAO.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to Science and Technology Facilities Council programmes on regional growth and high-skilled jobs in regions of the country facing cuts.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), as part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), completed an evidence-based prioritisation exercise to ensure its portfolio remains financially sustainable and focused on the highest-priority scientific opportunities. As part of this process, STFC grant funding for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics postdoctoral researchers was maintained at 2025/26 levels, while PhD studentships and fellowships were also protected helping to sustain the UK's skills base, research expertise and long-term scientific capability.
STFC continues to invest in major research infrastructure that supports regional growth and high-skilled employment, including £327 million in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) between 2021 and 2030. Headquartered in the North West, SKAO is expected to unlock around £225 million of foreign direct investment and £280 million of additional UK economic value.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Israel to deter further settler violence in the village of Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given on 10 September to question 21391, and the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 8 September.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom's humanitarian funding in response to the August 2026 flash floods in Nepal is channelled directly to (a) local and (b) women-led organisations.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has announced a £5 million humanitarian response package for Nepal. This includes £3 million through the UN for urgent needs, including shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection; £1 million through Start Fund Nepal to support local organisations; £750,000 through the Red Cross movement; and up to £250,000 for UK humanitarian expertise and coordination. These organisations work through local partners. UK contributions to pooled funds and multilateral development banks, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are also helping to mobilise large-scale financial support. The UK is engaging partners to ensure protection, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and wider humanitarian services are responsive to the needs of women and girls. We continue to keep the need for additional humanitarian funding under review.