Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
A bill to make provision for the accreditation of child contact centres; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 to create criminal offences relating to dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, in particular applying to pedal cycles, electrically assisted pedal cycles and electric scooters; and to require a review of the impact of the dangerous use of electric scooters on other road users.
A Bill to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 to create criminal offences relating to dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, in particular applying to a pedal cycle, an electrically assisted pedal cycle, and an electric scooter
A Bill Amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 to create criminal offences relating to dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, in particular applying to a pedal cycle, an electrically assisted pedal cycle, and an electric scooter
A bill to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 to create criminal offences relating to dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, in particular applying to a pedal cycle, an electrically assisted pedal cycle, and an electric scooter
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Following the initial findings of cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) virus in Norfolk in August 2024, Defra implemented a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) around the affected premises and humanely culled infected animals to prevent potential spread. Our risk assessments had indicated the risk of incursion was high given the circulating disease in Europe and warmer weather.
After confirmation of BTV-3 on further premises and evidence of local transmission of bluetongue virus, in accordance with the bluetongue disease control framework we replaced the TCZ with a Restricted Zone and are no longer culling animals in this zone. This Restricted Zone prevents all ruminants, camelids and their germinal products moving outside the zone and potentially spreading disease. The Restricted Zone initially covered Norfolk and Suffolk and was subsequently extended to Essex.
Following suspicion of disease in cattle at a premises near Withersea, East Riding of Yorkshire, a case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 4 September. This is in an area previously free of bluetongue. A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been implemented and the affected animal will be culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission.
Defra and APHA continue surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments. Defra has also permitted the use of vaccines for BTV-3, under certain circumstances, in the high-risk counties of south east England.
The Government continues to monitor the outbreak closely.
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, including commitments on the use of 'Not for EU’ labels, as well as taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market.
We are committed to working closely with industry on the rollout of ‘Not for EU’ labelling requirements for goods for sale in NI moving through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. We will carefully consider the views of business on this issue, including those in response to the public consultation undertaken by the previous Government on extending that requirement GB-wide.
The government is considering how best to implement its ambitions on sustainable drainage.
Railway 200 is a partner led initiative to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Network Rail are leading the initiative in partnership with industry, Government and a wide range of other partners including the Heritage Railway Association. Many heritage railways are playing an active part with events planned throughout the year and advertised on the Railway 200 website under the Railway 200 banner.
The programme is encouraging all heritage railways across the country to join the celebrations with a ‘whistle off’ at midday on 1 January 2025 and Visit Britain are a key partner, encouraging more tourists to visit events throughout the year.
This government is carefully reviewing the position it has inherited on HS2 and wider rail infrastructure and will set out detailed plans in due course. These will include our plans for a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required.
Where any land and property asset has been acquired compulsorily, or via statutory blight and is no longer required, then it will be sold subject to the Crichel Down Rules. These require government departments, under certain circumstances, to offer back surplus land to the former owner or the former owner’s successors at the current market value.
In the majority of cases, where agricultural land acquired for HS2 is not required operationally, former owners are offered the opportunity to continue to use and farm the land. This is documented by way of either a licence or Farm Business Tenancy depending on the circumstances and proposed use of the land.
Those who cycle on public roads are encouraged, but not required, to take out some form of insurance, and many cyclists have insurance cover through their membership of cycling organisations. Any change requiring cyclists to have insurance before cycling on the public highway would be likely to have unintended consequences such as putting many people off cycling. This would have adverse impacts on health and congestion.
It is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be hired in e-scooter trials areas. The e-scooters used in the rental trials are covered by full motor vehicle insurance policies.
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Statistics on road casualties reported to police, including where pedestrians are injured in collisions with pedal cycles or e-scooters, are published annually.
However, this data does not attribute causation to collisions which means that it is not possible to determine in how many cases deaths or injuries to pedestrians were the result of dangerous or careless cycling.
We have made no assessment of the impact on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) of incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. However, pedal cycles and Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) do not require insurance, so they have no impact on the MIB.
The Government regularly meets with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to discuss issues around micromobility insurance.
General practices (GPs) and primary care have been receiving a smaller proportion of National Health Service resources, and we’re committed to reversing that and shifting the focus of care out of hospitals and into the community. Additionally, we acknowledge the pressing challenge of ensuring that rural areas have the resources to continue serving their patients.
We have already invested £82 million to recruit 1,000 newly qualified GPs to combat this, and our 10-Year Health Plan will outline steps to shift care from hospitals back to the community and to a Neighbourhood Health Service, which will bring together vital health and care services, ensuring healthcare is closer to home. We will also train more doctors to increase capacity and take the pressure of people currently working in the system.
The Government has published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms, and further explanatory information at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-are-the-changes-to-agricultural-property-relief.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
Rural crime can have devastating consequences for rural communities. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime and disorder in rural areas. Under our reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will deliver 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers, across England and Wales, including in rural areas, to speed up response times and build public confidence.
It is for Chief Constables and PCCs, as operationally independent leaders and elected local representatives, to decide how best to deploy resources to manage and respond to individual crimes and local crime priorities, including rural crime. The National Rural Crime Unit provides police forces across the UK with specialist operational support in their responses to rural crime.