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Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Department Debates
(44 debate contributions)
(24 debate contributions)
(12 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(20,511 words contributed)
(16,798 words contributed)
(7,591 words contributed)
(3,897 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Jackson of Peterborough, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
1 Bill introduced by Lord Jackson of Peterborough
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to disapply the European Union Free Movement Directive 2004/38/EC; and for connected purposes
Wednesday 31st October 2012
Lord Jackson of Peterborough has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)20 Other Department Questions
Political opinion is not a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010. The Office for Equality and Opportunity, like its predecessors, does not provide guidance on matters not covered in equalities legislation. Guidance on religion and philosophical belief has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the subject also forms part of the Commission's statutory code of practice.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
None of these organisations are paid members or affiliates of Stonewall.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The government expects regulators to ensure organisations comply with their legal requirements. Should regulators wish to go beyond the scope of the 2010 Act’s requirements, that is a matter for them, but they should not seek to label such additional requirements as arising under the 2010 Act.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to the Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP on 30 January 2025 by Minister Gould which states that:
‘Government departments are responsible for decisions about whether to buy services from third sector organisations to support equality, diversity and inclusion in their organisations. Currently no government department is a member of Stonewall’.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers’ meetings are a matter of public record, and are published periodically on gov.uk.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As previously indicated, the Government has and will continue to meet with stakeholders both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation. Such meetings will be disclosed in due course as part of relevant Departmental transparency releases on gov.uk and more generally when we are ready to share our approach to this legislation.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There has been no engagement with governments of international jurisdictions on conversion practice policies since the election of the new government.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Ministry of Defence answered the question for written answer (HL1878) on 5th December 2024. As is sometimes the case when a Minister asks for further contextual information, a response may be later than the target 10 days. As Leader of the House I continue to remind Ministers of the 10 working day target.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
All Government Ministers are fully aware of their responsibility to respond to questions for written answer within the 10 day target. When further information is required from other departments it may take longer to answer.
I have personally reminded Ministers of the 10 day target for their department. My office also routinely contacts departments who have breached the target, reminding them of their duty to ensure the target is met and to ascertain the reasons why deadlines have been missed.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
I refer the Noble Lord to my answer to his previous question (HL2460), given on 26 November.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As outlined in my previous answer of 29 October (HL 1459), officials have and will continue to engage with international and devolved governments as part of their work relating to conversion practices. Clearly, any country’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area depends on their legal framework and context.
We are currently working toward publication of the draft Bill later this session and will engage Parliamentarians across both Houses and key stakeholders on our proposals in further detail.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have liaised with a range of international counterparts in relation to conversion practices policy. The Government will continue to engage with a range of other jurisdictions as well as domestic stakeholders, as policy in this area develops. We are committed to listening to all viewpoints and concerns with respect.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Conversion practices are abuse and must be stopped. This Government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
Officials routinely liaise with international counterparts regarding their work relating to conversion practices. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context.
We will continue to engage with counterparts as well as domestic stakeholders as policy in this area develops and are committed to listening to all viewpoints and concerns with respect.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Conversion practices are abuse and must be stopped. This Government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
The Government is aware of work ongoing in Scotland regarding their plans to ban conversion practices. We will continue to engage with counterparts across the devolved administrations as policy in this area develops.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped.
As with all legislation, the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
To be clear, any ban must not cover legitimate psychological support, treatment, or non-directive counselling. It must also respect the important role that teachers, religious leaders, parents and carers can have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.
Dear Lord Jackson,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking what steps are being taken to expedite the timely publication of marriage and divorce statistics by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (HL8355), and what assessment has been made of the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom (HL8356).
The latest published statistics on marriages[1] and divorces[2] in England and Wales are for 2022. Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales, 2023[3] will be published on 2 July 2025. Marriages in England and Wales, 2023[4] is provisionally scheduled for publication in November 2025, alongside Civil partnerships in England and Wales, 2023[5].
The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019 (which came into force on 4 May 2021) has resulted in a new electronic registration system replacing the paper marriage register. This has improved the timeliness of the submission of religious marriage entries to the General Register Office (GRO) who in turn supply these to the ONS. Following this change to the way marriages are recorded, the ONS have been working to improve the timeliness of publication of marriage statistics and to consolidate the release of marriage and civil partnership statistics to improve accessibility for users and to bring the reference periods in line.
Marriage, civil partnership and divorce statistics incorporate rates as part of the publication; these rates use population estimates by marital status[6] as denominators so these estimates need to be available prior to calculation. The ONS aims to balance the need for timely legal partnership statistics with the timing of publication, and revisions to, population estimates by marital status in order to provide the most accurate rates possible. Estimates for 2023 and 2024 are provisionally scheduled to be published in November 2025.
The ONS does not assess the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom.
However, in our National Population Projections[7] we analyse past trends in fertility rates to produce a projection of future fertility for the UK. These projections are widely used to support policy making. The numbers of people in each life stage are important when considering dependency ratios, which inform government financial planning. A common measure is the old-age-dependency ratio (OADR), which is the number of people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age. It is projected that OADR for the UK will increase from 278 in mid-2022 to 289 in mid-2032, reaching 302 by mid-2047.
The ONS has published a UK population projection explorer tool[8] which allows users to vary the assumptions for future fertility, net migration and life expectancy to see the impact on the size and age structure of the UK population over the next 50 years.
The ONS publishes marriage and divorce statistics for England and Wales only. National Records for Scotland (NRS)[9] and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA[10]) are responsible for the publication of marriage and divorce statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
[1] Marriages in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[2] Divorces in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[3] Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[4] Marriages in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[5] Civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[7] National population projections - Office for National Statistics
[8] UK population projection explorer - Office for National Statistics
[9] National Records of Scotland (NRS)
[10] Home | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.
Dear Lord Jackson,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking what steps are being taken to expedite the timely publication of marriage and divorce statistics by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (HL8355), and what assessment has been made of the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom (HL8356).
The latest published statistics on marriages[1] and divorces[2] in England and Wales are for 2022. Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales, 2023[3] will be published on 2 July 2025. Marriages in England and Wales, 2023[4] is provisionally scheduled for publication in November 2025, alongside Civil partnerships in England and Wales, 2023[5].
The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019 (which came into force on 4 May 2021) has resulted in a new electronic registration system replacing the paper marriage register. This has improved the timeliness of the submission of religious marriage entries to the General Register Office (GRO) who in turn supply these to the ONS. Following this change to the way marriages are recorded, the ONS have been working to improve the timeliness of publication of marriage statistics and to consolidate the release of marriage and civil partnership statistics to improve accessibility for users and to bring the reference periods in line.
Marriage, civil partnership and divorce statistics incorporate rates as part of the publication; these rates use population estimates by marital status[6] as denominators so these estimates need to be available prior to calculation. The ONS aims to balance the need for timely legal partnership statistics with the timing of publication, and revisions to, population estimates by marital status in order to provide the most accurate rates possible. Estimates for 2023 and 2024 are provisionally scheduled to be published in November 2025.
The ONS does not assess the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom.
However, in our National Population Projections[7] we analyse past trends in fertility rates to produce a projection of future fertility for the UK. These projections are widely used to support policy making. The numbers of people in each life stage are important when considering dependency ratios, which inform government financial planning. A common measure is the old-age-dependency ratio (OADR), which is the number of people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age. It is projected that OADR for the UK will increase from 278 in mid-2022 to 289 in mid-2032, reaching 302 by mid-2047.
The ONS has published a UK population projection explorer tool[8] which allows users to vary the assumptions for future fertility, net migration and life expectancy to see the impact on the size and age structure of the UK population over the next 50 years.
The ONS publishes marriage and divorce statistics for England and Wales only. National Records for Scotland (NRS)[9] and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA[10]) are responsible for the publication of marriage and divorce statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
[1] Marriages in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[2] Divorces in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[3] Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[4] Marriages in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[5] Civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[7] National population projections - Office for National Statistics
[8] UK population projection explorer - Office for National Statistics
[9] National Records of Scotland (NRS)
[10] Home | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Our policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are various configurations of ministerial meetings. Cabinet committees are publicly listed on GOV.UK
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Various forms of Ministerial meetings take place.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance applies to the Civil Service workforce. That includes arm’s-length bodies that fall within the Civil Service. Affiliations, services or subscriptions to external organisations fall within the scope of external EDI expenditure, as set out in paragraph 7 of the guidance.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Neither the Government Legal Department nor the Government Recruitment Service are paid members or affiliates of Stonewall. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government and we do not therefore hold information on any of its memberships or affiliations.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The data from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Review will be published in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The data from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Review will be published in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are currently no infringement cases against the UK before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
In 2020, the European Commission launched infringement case INFR (2020)2202 against the UK. The case concerns the implementation of aspects of the Free Movement Directive into UK law while the UK was an EU Member State and during the transition period.
The proceedings are ongoing, and on 25 October, the UK Government responded to a Reasoned Opinion which had been issued by the European Commission on 25 July.
There are no immediate plans to report to Parliament on these proceedings but this will be kept under review.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government engages with the European Commission and Member States on a range of issues relating to the rights of British nationals in the EU, including the issuing of documentation to UK citizens residing in the EU. We have consistently raised, both bilaterally with individual Member States and with the European Commission, the need to improve the speed at which documentation is issued in certain Member States. We also raise this issue through the structures created under the Withdrawal Agreement, such as the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights. We will raise this issue again at the upcoming Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights on 14 November.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has no such list. The Government uses terms which are designed to be inclusive, easy to understand and accessible to everyone.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Allocation of working time spent on cross-government staff networks is an agreement between the staff network volunteers and their departments as employers.
The majority of staff time spent on the Civil Service LGBT+ Network is voluntary and unpaid.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
3 Department for Business and Trade Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's DBT questions)The Department of Business and Trade decided not to award a grant to Heavenly Records. My Department has not had any engagement with Kneecap and is currently reviewing how the scheme operates, with the intention of introducing appropriate eligibility criteria for any future grant rounds, to address the risk that an artist or the applicant awarded support may say or behave in a way that could bring the scheme into disrepute.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has decided to pause the commencement of section 6 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL Act) to allow time to consider this within the wider context of our work to grow the economy and reset relations with the EU and Devolved Governments. Pausing the commencement of Section 6 gives businesses greater stability, and the Government remains free to reform inherited EU law in the best interests of our businesses and economy. While we do not currently intend to commence section 6, it remains open to us to do so at a later date.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government aims to strengthen arrangements on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the European Union. The regulatory environment for skills and professionals was on the agenda at the UK EU Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade on 24 October 2024. The UK’s approach to the recognition of professional qualifications was discussed under that agenda item. The Government is engaging with businesses to understand views on recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and EU and looks forward to discussions with the EU in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
6 Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's DSIT questions)This was an independent review by a leading academic. As such, the Government has not made an assessment of the approach to data collection.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to Question UIN HL5960 on 2 April 2025.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The People, Culture, and Environment (PCE) pilot aims to assess the feasibility of integrating PCE elements, to guide the development of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029. Government acknowledges the important role of a positive research culture in attracting and retaining diverse talent, which is essential for maintaining the UK's global competitiveness in research. Final decisions on REF 2029's structure, including any potential PCE weighting, will follow the pilot’s conclusion and further sector consultation. While the proposed weighting for PCE is 25%, EDI initiatives only form a small proportion of this.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This Government recognises the importance of skills as a crucial factor in maximising the potential of our semiconductor sector, driving growth, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK. My officials are collaborating with stakeholders across industry and academia to understand the challenges faced by the semiconductor sector in order to take the necessary steps needed to expand the talent pool for the long term. The newly announced Skills England will play a vital role in bringing together government, industry and training providers to address the skills needs of the coming decade.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Given the global nature of semiconductor supply chains, international collaboration is crucial for both the UK’s resilience and economic growth. The government is working closely with international partners on supply chain resilience and developing its semiconductor skills base, including by implementing partnerships covering these issues with Japan, the Republic of Korea and India. It will support UK semiconductor organisations to participate in the EU Chips Joint Undertaking and drive international collaboration on semiconductors within the OECD’s ‘Informal Network on Semiconductors’ and the G7 ‘Point of Contact’ group, to further collective understanding of supply chains and coordinate resilience efforts.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
1 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's DCMS questions)Jonathan Ashworth has visited our London office in a personal capacity on two occasions since July 2024.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The department respects the work of yeshivas and other institutions in providing education to the Jewish community.
Parents are legally allowed to educate their children at home, providing this education is suitable. However, the department is aware of rising numbers of children not on a school roll due to them either being home educated, attending full-time non-school alternative provision or missing education completely, and we are concerned that some of these children may not be receiving a suitable education or known to the local authority at all.
As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government will introduce compulsory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England. These measures will help authorities to identify children that need support and to take prompt, appropriate action when needed.
The government’s proposal to require registration with the local authority will not interfere with parents’ right to educate their child in a way and with methods as they think best and appropriate, provided that the education being received by the child is suitable.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children, in addition to reviewing the statutory guidance on relationships, sex and health education.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the Cass Review, before setting out next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children, in addition to reviewing the statutory guidance on relationships, sex and health education.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the Cass Review, before setting out next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
2 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's Defra questions)The Government is taking decisive steps to expedite the delivery of the Fens and Lincolnshire reservoirs as part of our long-term strategy to improve water resilience and support sustainable development in water-stressed regions. Both projects have recently been designated as Nationally Significant. This means that planning decisions will be made by the Secretary of State through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, rather than by local planning authorities. The DCO process consolidates multiple consents into a single application, helping to reduce duplication and avoid unnecessary delays.
These designations are intended to provide greater certainty for developers, regulators, and local communities, and to ensure a more efficient route through the planning system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The European Union (EU) has raised a dispute that the UK’s decision to prohibit fishing for sandeel within UK waters is not compliant with the Trade and Cooperation agreement (TCA). The dispute proceedings are confidential therefore there is little more I can say at this time.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government has formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October.
The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.
This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)