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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 Nov 2025
Asylum Policy

"I hope we can all agree that a strong immigration system does not have to be cruel. When the Tories painted over murals for refugee children, the number of small boat crossings still went up. When they threatened deportations to Rwanda, guess what? The number of crossings still went up. …..."
Sarah Owen - View Speech

View all Sarah Owen (Lab - Luton North) contributions to the debate on: Asylum Policy
Written Question
Housing: Fire Prevention
Monday 17th November 2025

Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure fire safety for new (a) high rise buildings, (b) complex or mixed use developments and (c) sites with known access or water-supply constraints and (d) other new build major residential developments.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has taken steps to strengthen fire safety in all new buildings, including those that are high-rise, complex, or located on constrained sites.

The Building Safety Act 2022 established the Building Safety Regulator, which since October 2023 has acted as the Building Control Authority for Higher Risk Buildings. Fire safety is considered from the earliest design stages through Planning Gateway One and Gateway Two.

Approved Document B (Fire Safety) is subject to continuous review. Updates since 2017 include the ban on combustible materials in external walls over 18 metres, sprinkler requirements for buildings over 11 metres, evacuation alert systems, and provision for second staircases in buildings over 18 metres, which will apply to new buildings where applications are submitted after 30 September 2026.

For complex or mixed-use developments, applications are assessed by multi-disciplinary teams. Where standard guidance is insufficient, expert advice should be sought.

For sites with access or water-supply constraints, developers must demonstrate compliance with fire service access provisions or justify alternative approaches.

All new residential developments, regardless of size, must comply with the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety). Approved Document B provides statutory guidance on how these requirements may be met in common building situations, but developers may choose alternative approaches provided they can demonstrate compliance with the functional requirements of the Regulations.

Division Vote (Commons)
17 Nov 2025 - Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Owen (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 305 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 143 Noes - 318
Division Vote (Commons)
17 Nov 2025 - Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Owen (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 304 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 147 Noes - 318
Division Vote (Commons)
12 Nov 2025 - Energy - View Vote Context
Sarah Owen (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 315 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 97 Noes - 336
Division Vote (Commons)
12 Nov 2025 - Taxes - View Vote Context
Sarah Owen (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 306 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 101 Noes - 316
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 11 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions

"Court backlogs cause painful waits for survivors of rape and sexual assault. The system fell apart under the previous Government, meaning that only around 3% of rape reports result in a charge. What is the Minister doing to reduce the waiting times for cases of rape and sexual assault?..."
Sarah Owen - View Speech

View all Sarah Owen (Lab - Luton North) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 11 Nov 2025
BBC Leadership

"Whatever the position regarding Donald Trump, who has said far worse than what was shown in the wrongly edited clip, the only ones rubbing their hands with glee during this debacle are those who do not want a free press—those politicians who have deep pockets lined by goodness knows who, …..."
Sarah Owen - View Speech

View all Sarah Owen (Lab - Luton North) contributions to the debate on: BBC Leadership
Written Question
Sexual Offences: Victims
Tuesday 11th November 2025

Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support victims of rape and sexual violence through the court system.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

I recognise that the experience of attending court can be distressing, particularly for vulnerable victims, such as those of rape and sexual violence.

Special measures can help vulnerable witnesses who may otherwise feel unable to give evidence.

The Ministry of Justice-funded Witness Service also provides on-the-day support to victims at court.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 30 Oct 2025
Sudan: Protection of Civilians

"The massacre of civilians at El Fasher maternity hospital is just the latest in a series of atrocities in Sudan, and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women face famine and malnutrition. Sexual violence is widespread, and the Rapid Support Forces are using rape as a weapon of war, in blatant …..."
Sarah Owen - View Speech

View all Sarah Owen (Lab - Luton North) contributions to the debate on: Sudan: Protection of Civilians