1 Former APPG membership
Environmental, Social, and GovernanceDivision Voting information
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.
Sparring Partners
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
(10 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(8 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(25 debate contributions)
(23 debate contributions)
(6 debate contributions)
(6 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(6,899 words contributed)
(3,674 words contributed)
(2,597 words contributed)
(1,866 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Sikka, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Lord Sikka has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Lord Sikka has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 28 Written Questions
(View all written questions)Registered political parties are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in respect of any of their functions.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
For contracts awarded under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, this information is not collated centrally. Departments are responsible for making their own procurement decisions.
The Procurement Act 2023, which went live on 24 February, requires all suppliers bidding for public sector contracts to register via a central digital platform and declare any relevant convictions and exclusion information. The strengthened exclusions and new debarment provisions in the Act enable and, where appropriate, require the exclusion of suppliers convicted of relevant offences.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Lord Sikka
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
31 January 2025
Dear Lord Sikka,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish their latest data on winter deaths; what criteria they will use to calculate them; and whether they have any plans to return to a static reporting date (HL4448).
The ONS previously published a regular release on winter mortality in England and Wales. However, following the recent consultation on health and social care statistical outputs[1], this release has been paused to enable a review of the methodology and timeliness of the statistics to be completed. Once the review is complete, a proposal on the future status of this output will be published.
The ONS does publish regular statistics on deaths registered each week[2] which may be of interest to you. This includes deaths registered over the winter period as well as estimates of excess deaths using the methodology that was implemented in February 2024[3].
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All convictions which met the conditions of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024 (and that were not overturned by the Courts prior to the legislation coming into effect) were overturned at the point of Royal Assent.
As of 28 February 2025, all 111 individuals on the Overturned Convictions scheme had received an interim payment, of which 68 individuals had reached a full and final settlement. On the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme, 407 individuals had received an interim payment, of which 273 individuals had reached a full and final settlement.[1]
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-office-horizon-financial-redress-data-for-2025/post-office-horizon-financial-redress-data-as-of-28-february-2025
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty’s Government takes the failure of companies to file statutory accounts seriously.
Companies House routinely takes prosecution action against company directors who fail to file their company’s accounts. In addition, financial penalties are applied when accounts are delivered late. These actions are aimed at ensuring that companies meet their statutory obligations. Over 97% of companies meet their obligations to file statutory accounts.
Companies House are aware of concerns that have been raised about the highlighted company. Companies House will look into these matters further and, where necessary, take appropriate action.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty’s Government takes allegations of suspicious company filings and any concerns raised seriously. As such, the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets has asked Companies House to investigate the allegations surrounding Avis Capital Limited.
Companies House are aware of concerns that have been raised about the highlighted company. Where such concerns are raised, Companies House will look into these matters further and, where necessary, take appropriate action.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
6 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Lord Sikka's Defra questions)The Environment Agency prosecutes Water and Sewerage Companies (and the courts hand down fines) for environmental offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations and other offences including polluting discharges to water and land, breaches of environmental permit conditions and obstruction of investigations.
Below is a breakdown of the 150 million in fines issued to water companies since 2015, as mentioned in Baroness Hayman of Ullock’s remarks on 29 January.
Water and Sewerage Company | Sum of Total Fine (£) |
Anglian Water | £5,475,000.00 |
Northumbrian Water | £807,000.00 |
Severn Trent Water | £4,056,000.00 |
South West Water | £3,406,834.00 |
Southern Water | £92,024,000.00 |
Thames Water | £37,721,000.00 |
United Utilities Water | £2,816,000.00 |
Yorkshire Water | £4,678,750.00 |
Grand Total | £150,984,584.00 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has no intention to nationalise water companies.
Nationalisation would put a huge burden on the public purse at a time when public finances are already stretched and would not fix the root of the problem.
If the whole industry was nationalised, shareholders and debt holders would need to be compensated, which could cost over an estimated £90 billion [this is based on Ofwat’s Regulatory Capital Value 2024 estimates]
Instead, this government is focused on tackling the public’s immediate concerns to clean up the nation’s polluted waterways and turn around the sector’s performance, focusing on improving the privatised regulated model.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In all of Ofwat's price determinations since privatisation, Ofwat has set the allowed return by reference to a notional capital structure. Ofwat uses a notional capital structure as it protects customers from bearing the risk of companies' actual financing decisions and it sets a signal to companies and investors on regulatory expectations about the allocation of risk within the capital structure. The use of the notional structure means it is companies and investors, rather than customers, that bear the risks of their capital and financing choices where the financing arrangements depart from the notional structure.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Regulatory Capital Value (RCV) of a water company represents the net stock of investment that has been contributed by debt and investors over time in delivering their investment activities. This is used by Ofwat for the purposes of setting its regulatory determinations.
Ofwat calculates an efficient totex (total expenditure) allowance for each company, covering operating, maintenance, and enhancement costs. Totex is funded in one of two ways; pay-as-you-go expenditure funded through revenue allowances, or long-term investment funded through the RCV and run-off from the RCV over time. Pay-as-you-go expenditure generally reflects forecast operational costs. Capital costs are generally added to the RCV, with the RCV run-off allowance providing companies with a funding allowance for carrying out activities such as maintenance.
As the RCV represents only the net stock of investment for delivering investment activities, it takes no account of intragroup debt and interest payments. Ofwat set the allowed return for companies on the basis of a notional capital structure which makes no assumption about the need for intragroup debt and interest payments. Where such arrangements exist, these arrangements are not funded in the determinations that are set by Ofwat and are matters for companies and their investors.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will not let companies get away with illegal activity and where breaches are found, the regulators will not hesitate to hold companies to account.
The Water (Special Measures) Bill will provide the most significant increase in enforcement powers to the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period, which is due to start in April this year.
Details of the enforcement action taken against water companies by regulators are available on the relevant regulator’s websites.
Enforcement action by Drinking Water Inspectorate can be found on the DWI website.
Enforcement action by Ofwat can be found on the Ofwat website.
Enforcement action by the Environment Agency can be found on the EA website.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since they were introduced in 1998, all applicants for a first photocard driving licence have been required to provide official evidence of identity.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Total estimates of benefit expenditure and estimates of fraud and error across all benefits can be found at: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK
As outlined in DWP Annual Reports and Accounts 2023 to 2024 on page 103, there were 655 prosecutions but a breakdown by benefit is not available.
Debt Management Unit’s total recovery in 2023-24 amounted to £2.81 billion (excluding Housing Benefit recovered by local authorities but including £46 million Housing Benefit debt recovered by DWP), page 133 of the DWP Annual Reports and Accounts 2023 to 2024.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on amounts of State Pension by gender are available at DWP Stat-Xplore. The table below provides information on the Median State Pension amount for (i) people who reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016 and will get the basic State Pension and may get earnings-related additional State Pension, and (ii) those who reached State Pension age on or after 6th April 2016, who get the new State Pension. The information in the table below is based on the latest available quarter ending May 2024.
| Median Weekly Pre-2016 SP (bSP) May 2024 (£) | Median Weekly Post-2016 SP (nSP) May 2024 (£) |
Male | 219.93 | 220.96 |
Female | 191.04 | 220.53 |
Total | 204.06 | 220.74 |
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is aware of 61 Post Office members of staff who were prosecuted by DWP between 2001 and 2006. Each of the cases involved welfare-related fraud offences. In most cases this involved encashment of stolen benefit payment order books. There is no evidence that any of the cases prosecuted by DWP relied on the Horizon system. They followed lengthy, complex investigations, relying on multiple sources of evidence.
Until 2012, DWP prosecuted its own cases. The cases were handled by DWP Solicitors who would instruct Counsel to represent DWP at Court. In March 2012, the prosecutorial function of the DWP was assigned to the Crown Prosecution Service.
In the early 2000’s the Department moved to paying benefits automatically into people’s bank accounts which significantly reduced the opportunity for benefit fraud, including potential offences by Post Office staff.
To assist, please find attached a table setting out the information the Department holds for each of the 61 cases. The information includes the date of conviction, the location of the court, and the sentence (outcome) for each of the 61 cases.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is aware of 61 Post Office members of staff who were prosecuted by DWP between 2001 and 2006. Each of the cases involved welfare-related fraud offences. In most cases this involved encashment of stolen benefit payment order books. There is no evidence that any of the cases prosecuted by DWP relied on the Horizon system. They followed lengthy, complex investigations, relying on multiple sources of evidence.
Until 2012, DWP prosecuted its own cases. The cases were handled by DWP Solicitors who would instruct Counsel to represent DWP at Court. In March 2012, the prosecutorial function of the DWP was assigned to the Crown Prosecution Service.
In the early 2000’s the Department moved to paying benefits automatically into people’s bank accounts which significantly reduced the opportunity for benefit fraud, including potential offences by Post Office staff.
To assist, please find attached a table setting out the information the Department holds for each of the 61 cases. The information includes the date of conviction, the location of the court, and the sentence (outcome) for each of the 61 cases.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Transcripts of court judgments are available upon application HMCT, DWP does not hold transcripts of court judgments. The DWP case files referred to in the question have been destroyed in line with data protection legislative requirements.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Crown Dependencies (CDs) and Overseas Territories (OTs) are separate legal jurisdictions to the United Kingdom and responsible for their own domestic affairs including, in those CDs and OTs with provisions for financial services, the responsibility for regulation and company registry in their jurisdictions.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 amends the Companies Act 2006 to mandate identity verification requirements for those setting up and controlling companies in the UK. This will apply to directors and PSCs (people with significant control) of existing companies and any new companies being incorporated. Companies registered in the CDs and OTs with a place of business or branch in the UK will also be required to have their directors and PSCs identities verified.
The UK Government is committed to working with international financial centres, including the CDs and OTs, to help tackle illicit finance, including increasing the transparency of their corporate beneficial ownership registers. The UK's ultimate expectation of the CDs and OTs remains fully public registers.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Dame Linda Dobbs Review began in April 2017. The review was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020. It is now expected to be completed in 2025.
The review, and appointment of Dame Linda Dobbs, has been instigated by Lloyds Banking Group. No interim report is planned and the number of victims giving evidence has not been made public.
The review has stated it will cover the period from the acquisition of HBOS in 2009 to 2017, and examine relevant evidence from before 2009 to assess what ought to have been known at the time of the HBOS acquisition.
Once completed, the review’s findings will be shared with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which will then consider what action is appropriate to take.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a transaction tax paid on the purchase of the property in England or Northern Ireland. A range of complex factors influence house prices in the UK.
On SDLT, the Office for Budget Responsibility publishes its assumptions on the relationship between SDLT and property prices.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government regularly engages with a range of stakeholders across the financial services landscape, and it is important that communication can take place in a free and frank way.
The matter of HBOS Reading is first and foremost for the Financial Conduct Authority as the independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, and is subject to an ongoing review being led by Dame Linda Dobbs DBE.
The most appropriate form of investigation is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority to determine. However, the Government notes that the regulator has already undertaken an investigation into this matter, in addition to the Cranston Review and, latterly, the work of Sir David Foskett to ensure adequate compensation. The Financial Conduct Authority will receive a copy of the Dobbs Report in due course and will be able to consider whether any further action is appropriate.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government regularly engages with a range of stakeholders across the financial services landscape, and it is important that communication can take place in a free and frank way.
The matter of HBOS Reading is first and foremost for the Financial Conduct Authority as the independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, and is subject to an ongoing review being led by Dame Linda Dobbs DBE.
The most appropriate form of investigation is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority to determine. However, the Government notes that the regulator has already undertaken an investigation into this matter, in addition to the Cranston Review and, latterly, the work of Sir David Foskett to ensure adequate compensation. The Financial Conduct Authority will receive a copy of the Dobbs Report in due course and will be able to consider whether any further action is appropriate.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Institutional investment is vital for growth, and investment in starts ups and scale ups is an important part of that. The Myners Report contains valuable insights that are still valuable today. However, the pensions market in particular is now significantly different than it was in 2001. The Chancellor has launched a landmark pensions review which will focus on increasing investment, improving saver returns and tackling waste in the pensions system. This is alongside other major initiatives to drive economic growth such as the National Wealth Fund to mobilise private capital and institutional investment.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) regime was introduced in the Criminal Finances Act 2017. The number of UWOs obtained, wealth involved (estimated value of assets secured and estimated value of assets recovered) and number of prosecutions and convictions is outlined below.
Year | Number of operations that obtained a UWO | Estimated Value of Assets secured | Estimated Value of Recovery Order obtained | Number of Prosecutions/ Convictions |
2018 | 1 | £30,000,000 | £12,000,000 | NIL |
2019 | 3 | £113,200,000 | £10,000,000 | |
2020 | 0 |
|
| |
2021 | 0 |
|
| |
2022 | 0 |
|
| |
2023 | 1 | £1,800,000 |
| |
2024 | 1 | £275,000 |
| |
2025 | 1 | £1,500,000 |
| |
Total | 7 | £146,775,000 | £22,000,000 |
|
It is important to note that a UWO is only an investigatory order into an asset. A number of the UWO investigations listed that have not resulted in civil recovery proceedings are ongoing investigations. Any property subject to a UWO can be frozen whilst under an investigation which disrupts criminal activity but the property itself cannot be recovered using a UWO, it must be recovered through subsequent civil recovery proceedings. Civil recovery proceedings apply to assets rather than individuals so require no prosecution or criminal conviction.
The Government publishes statistics annually on the number of UWOs applied for and obtained. The most recent report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and convictions for a wide range of offences including for tax evasion under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 in the Outcomes by Offences data tool. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.
Since its introduction, there have been no prosecutions or convictions of corporations for the following two specific tax evasion offences recorded under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 in England and Wales:
1) Relevant body fail to prevent facilitation of UK tax evasion; and,
2) Relevant body fail to prevent facilitation of foreign tax evasion offence.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database has not recorded any prosecutions under section 36 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 since its introduction.
Please see the offence group classification which lists the offences available to view in the Outcomes by Offence tool available via the following link: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This provides information on the number of prosecutions, convictions, sentences and sentence outcomes in England and Wales.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)