Abena Oppong-Asare
Labour - Erith and Thamesmead
First elected: 12th December 2019
Shadow Minister (Women's Health and Mental Health)
(since September 2023)1 APPG membership (as of 8 Apr 2024)
Ethnic Minority Business Owners7 Former APPG memberships
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Business Owners, Crossrail, Dance, Equipment for Disabled Children, Hockey, Thalassaemia, Women in ParliamentDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2019 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 of Health and Social Care)
(28 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(236 debate contributions)
(38 debate contributions)
(34 debate contributions)
(31 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(10,417 words contributed)
(6,683 words contributed)
(6,059 words contributed)
(5,976 words contributed)
Erith and Thamesmead Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 16,501 signatures (1.29%)
of 75,578 signatures (0.16%)
of 203,494 signatures (0.06%)
of 16,501 signatures (1.29%)
of 203,494 signatures (0.06%)
of 75,578 signatures (0.16%)
of 65,201 signatures (0.13%)
Petition Closed
Increase the HMRC Mileage Rate from 45p/mile to 60p/mile
Gov Responded - 11 Oct 2022 Debated on - 3 Jul 2023 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 1 year, 8 months ago
The HMRC mileage rate for reimbursing the use of private cars (e.g. for employees but also volunteers) has been fixed at 45p/mile (up to 10,000 miles) since 2011. The lack of any increase since then is a serious disincentive to volunteer drivers particularly as fuel has gone up again recently.
Petition Closed
VALERIE'S LAW Compulsory Training for Agencies Supporting Black DV Victims
Gov Responded - 6 Jul 2021 Debated on - 28 Mar 2022 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 2 years, 5 months ago
Make specialist training mandatory for all police and other government agencies that support black women and girls affected by domestic abuse. Police and agencies should have culturally appropriate training to better understand the cultural needs of black women affected by domestic abuse.
Petition Closed
Introduce charges on carbon emissions to tackle climate crisis and air pollution
Gov Responded - 30 Mar 2021 Debated on - 1 Nov 2021 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 2 years, 8 months ago
Air pollution kills 64,000 people in the UK every year, yet the Government provides annual fossil fuel subsidies of £10.5 billion, according to the European Commission. To meet UK climate targets, the Government must end this practice and introduce charges on producers of greenhouse gas emissions.
Petition Closed
Introduce Mandatory Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting
Gov Responded - 30 Jul 2020 Debated on - 20 Sep 2021 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 7 months ago
Much like the existing mandatory requirement for employers with 250 or more employees must publish their gender pay gap. We call upon the government to introduce the ethnicity pay gap reporting. To shine a light on race / ethnicity based inequality in the workplace so that they can be addressed.
Petition Closed
Improve Maternal Mortality Rates and Health Care for Black Women in the U.K.
Gov Responded - 25 Jun 2020 Debated on - 19 Apr 2021 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 7 months ago
Black Women in the U.K. are 5 times more likely to die during pregnancy and after childbirth compared to White Women (MBRRACE, 2019). We need more research done into why this is happening and recommendations to improve health care for Black Women as urgent action is needed to address this disparity.
Petition Closed
Give all key workers a 100% tax and Nat. Ins. holiday through COVID-19 crisis
Gov Responded - 27 Apr 2020 Debated on - 14 Dec 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 6 months ago
The government is helping private firms to protect jobs by paying up to 80% of staff wages through this crisis. If it can do this why can it not help key workers who will be putting themselves/their families at risk and working extra hard under extremely challenging and unprecedented circumstances.
Petition Closed
Give government workers a fair pay rise
Gov Responded - 16 Oct 2020 Debated on - 14 Dec 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 3 months ago
During the pandemic government workers have delivered vital public services and kept our country safe and secure. After ten years in which the real value of civil service pay has fallen, many face hardship. The Government must start to restore the real value of their pay with a 10% increase in 2020.
Petition Closed
Scrap removal of free transport for under-18s from TfL bailout
Gov Responded - 10 Aug 2020 Debated on - 30 Nov 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 3 months ago
To not decide to scrap free travel for those who are under 18. As a teenager who has relied so much on free travel, it has allowed for me to go to school without the worry of an extra expense and explore around the beautiful city of London also. Destroying free travel would hurt so many of us.
Petition Closed
Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials
Gov Responded - 11 Nov 2020 Debated on - 23 Nov 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years ago
The Government should explore using the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force involved in any human rights abuses by the Nigerian police.
Petition Closed
Increase pay for NHS healthcare workers and recognise their work
Gov Responded - 4 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 7 months ago
I would like the government to review and increase the pay for healthcare workers to recognise the work that they do.
Petition Closed
Reduce or scrap the immigration health surcharge for overseas NHS Staff.
Gov Responded - 29 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 7 months ago
To revoke the Immigration Health Surcharge increases for overseas NHS staff. The latest budget shows an increase of £220 a year for an overseas worker to live and work in the UK, at a time when the NHS, and UK economy, relies heavily on them.
Petition Closed
We would like the government to consider social care as equally important to NHS
Gov Responded - 20 Apr 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 7 months ago
We would like the government to support and regard social care: financially, publicly and systematically on an equal par as NHS. We would like parliament to debate how to support social care during COVID-19 and beyond so that it automatically has the same access to operational and financial support.
Petition Closed
Give non-British citizens who are NHS workers automatic citizenship
Gov Responded - 6 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Abena Oppong-Asare's petition debate contributionsclosed 3 years, 6 months ago
Give NHS workers who are EU and other Nationals automatic UK citizenship if they stay and risk their own lives looking after the British people during the COVID crisis.
Latest EDMs signed by Abena Oppong-Asare
Temporary universal basic income
Tabled by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)That this House calls on the Government to introduce a temporary universal basic income or an emergency measure to help freelancers and the self-employed effected by the covid-19 outbreak.
(Most recent: 15 Sep 2020)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 49
Scottish National Party: 28
Liberal Democrat: 9
Independent: 6
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Alba Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Alliance: 1
CCTV in care homes
Tabled by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)That this House recognises that people living in residential care homes represent some of the most vulnerable members of society most of whom have made commendable contributions to society over the course of their working and social lives; welcomes the Government’s ongoing review of social care policy; notes that there …
(Most recent: 15 Sep 2020)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 16
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Conservative: 2
Scottish National Party: 2
Independent: 1
Plaid Cymru: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Abena Oppong-Asare, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Abena Oppong-Asare has not been granted any Urgent Questions
2 Adjournment Debates led by Abena Oppong-Asare
Abena Oppong-Asare has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
3 Bills co-sponsored by Abena Oppong-Asare
Offensive Weapons Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Firearms and Hate Crime Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Luke Pollard (LAB)
Wellbeing of Future Generations (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)6 Other Department Questions
The Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service (PHWS) is responsible for the Parliamentary defibrillators. The Parliamentary Safety Team is responsible for First Aid training which includes the defibrillator training programme.
There are 32 defibrillators located across the entire Parliamentary estate. All Defibrillator locations are listed and available on the parliamentary intranet. Posters detailing defibrillator locations will shortly be displayed on notice boards in buildings across the estate. The defibrillators are located in open wall cabinets in public, high risk or high traffic areas and signed accordingly.
New maps of each floor have been designed detailing defibrillator locations in the Palace of Westminster (PoW), Portcullis House (PCH), and Cromwell Green and are available on the parliamentary intranet. Maps for the rest of the buildings are currently under design and will be made available once complete. There will be further publicity on the locations of the defibrillators.
Training to use the defibrillators is included within First Aid Training courses. Security Teams and PHWS undergo training in defibrillator use. Ad hoc requests for additional training can be made to the Clinical Nurse Advisor or any of the PHWS team who will manage this accordingly. We work closely with the London Ambulance Service to ensure our defibrillator programme is delivered to the highest of standards and within best practice guidance as detailed by the Resuscitation Council UK.
Defibrillators are designed so that anyone can turn on (whether trained or not) and will be provided with prompts and directions for use.
The Administration Committee will look at this further after the Summer Recess. Officials will be in touch with the hon. Member so that she may contribute her views.
The Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service (PHWS) is responsible for the Parliamentary defibrillators. The Parliamentary Safety Team is responsible for First Aid training which includes the defibrillator training programme.
There are 32 defibrillators located across the entire Parliamentary estate. All Defibrillator locations are listed and available on the parliamentary intranet. Posters detailing defibrillator locations will shortly be displayed on notice boards in buildings across the estate. The defibrillators are located in open wall cabinets in public, high risk or high traffic areas and signed accordingly.
New maps of each floor have been designed detailing defibrillator locations in the Palace of Westminster (PoW), Portcullis House (PCH), and Cromwell Green and are available on the parliamentary intranet. Maps for the rest of the buildings are currently under design and will be made available once complete. There will be further publicity on the locations of the defibrillators.
Training to use the defibrillators is included within First Aid Training courses. Security Teams and PHWS undergo training in defibrillator use. Ad hoc requests for additional training can be made to the Clinical Nurse Advisor or any of the PHWS team who will manage this accordingly. We work closely with the London Ambulance Service to ensure our defibrillator programme is delivered to the highest of standards and within best practice guidance as detailed by the Resuscitation Council UK.
Defibrillators are designed so that anyone can turn on (whether trained or not) and will be provided with prompts and directions for use.
The Administration Committee will look at this further after the Summer Recess. Officials will be in touch with the hon. Member so that she may contribute her views.
The UK continues to encourage developed countries to increase their climate finance commitments for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries through the UK's G7 and COP26 Presidencies. At the COP President Designate’s request, Germany and Canada are leading the development of a $100 billion Delivery Plan. This will demonstrate, in advance of COP26, how developed countries will mobilise $100 billion a year through to 2025. President Biden has made a major step towards achieving the $100 billion goal, announcing recently at the UN General Assembly that the US is doubling their climate finance to $11.4 billion in 2024.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
An equalities assessment was carried out on the Coronavirus Act and was published on the 28 July. - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-act-2020-equality-impact-assessment
We are undertaking a wide range of analysis to support decision making across government. We are keeping Parliament and the wider public updated on the analysis of covid including through several survey publications on business and social impacts available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-statistics-and-analysis#social-impacts.
More broadly, equality impacts have been identified as part of an ongoing process to support policy development and have been a key part of the decision-making process. The responsibility for equalities impact assessments lies with departments, who take this responsibility very seriously.
It is important to note that protected characteristics refer to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation; the Equality Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of any of these characteristics.
President of the Board of Trade
We have been thoroughly considering both legislative and non-legislative options to stop this out-dated and harmful practice, and support victims. My officials are working at pace on the matter, and we will outline plans to end conversion therapy practices once we have completed this work. We know that a whole society approach will be needed to truly end conversion therapy and we will continue to engage key stakeholders to stop this abhorrent practice.
President of the Board of Trade
The Government Property Agency is responsible for commercial negotiations, which are ongoing and therefore commercially sensitive.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Feethams House currently has 300 work-points. Work is underway to increase capacity prior to the construction of the new permanent home on the Brunswick site.
The Darlington Economic Campus forms an important part of the Government's Places for Growth (PfG) programme – an initiative that supports the commitment to relocate 22,000 roles outside of London and the South East by 2030. The DEC permanent solution will accommodate over 1,400 civil servants.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Domestic & Economic (Efficiency and Value for Money) Committee is a Cabinet Committee.
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees is not normally shared publicly.
It is the Government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office. The Government has been clear that the responsibility for supporting disabled candidates sits with political parties and that the EnAble Fund was an interim measure to give parties time to put their own support in place.
The government is committed to seeing more people with disabilities standing for local elections and becoming councillors. As part of the DLUHC funded 2022/23 local government sector support programme, delivered by the Local Government Association and launched in April this year, DLUHC supports a scheme which includes:
a coaching programme for disabled councillors to support them as resilient and confident leaders of their communities;
a campaign to attract more people with disabilities to stand for council elections and a new ‘Be a Councillor’ guide for disabled candidates who are considering standing for the 2023 elections;
a bespoke leadership development programme for disabled councillors, which provides councillors with unique networking opportunities and support.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer chairs the Domestic and Economic (Efficiency and Value for Money) Committee.
The standing members of the Domestic and Economic (Efficiency and Value for Money) Committee, as of 12 July 2022, are as follows:
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chief Secretary to the Treasury (co-Deputy Chair)
Minister of State (Brexit Opportunities & Government Efficiency) (co-Deputy Chair)
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General
Minister without Portfolio
The Chancellor of the Exchequer chairs the Domestic and Economic (Efficiency and Value for Money) Committee.
The standing members of the Domestic and Economic (Efficiency and Value for Money) Committee, as of 12 July 2022, are as follows:
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chief Secretary to the Treasury (co-Deputy Chair)
Minister of State (Brexit Opportunities & Government Efficiency) (co-Deputy Chair)
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General
Minister without Portfolio
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.
The covid memorial wall is a moving reminder of the heartbreak and grief suffered by families across the United Kingdom. Each heart is a reminder of the individuals who have died. I have met and continue to meet those bereaved by Covid-19. Details of my public engagements will be announced in the usual way.
Whilst the Government's immediate focus is on protecting the lives and livelihoods of the nation, building a fitting and a permanent memorial to the loved ones we have lost is something the Government is considering very carefully.
We will set out the Government’s proposed approach to this important matter in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The driving principle behind public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project, not just price alone.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.
Nonetheless, the Government has outlined a range of measures to support young people.
In July, the Chancellor announced a £500m package of support to ensure young people access the training and develop the skills they will need to go on to high-quality, secure and fulfilling employment. T Levels will play a key part in rebuilding the economy after the coronavirus outbreak, boosting access to high-quality technical education for young people
The first three courses launched in 44 colleges and other providers this September.
Further T Levels will be introduced in a phased rollout over the next four years.
Further Government support including the Job Retention Scheme and the Kickstart Scheme will support young people.
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
No one will be disenfranchised by confirming who they are. These are sensible plans to make our elections more secure. Everyone registered to vote will have the opportunity to do so. Any voter who does not have an approved form of ID will be able to apply, free of charge, for an electoral ID from their local authority.
Both the pilots and the Northern Irish experience demonstrate that showing ID does not reduce participation.
1 Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Questions
(View all Abena Oppong-Asare's DESNZ questions)NSTA analysis shows domestic gas production is on average almost four times cleaner than the process of producing and importing gas in LNG form. Reducing domestic production would not reduce end use emissions but could lead to billions of pounds going abroad and lost British jobs and tax revenues. New licences slow the decline in UK oil and gas production, boosting the UK's energy security, rather than increasing production above current levels. The UK remains on track to meet net zero by 2050.
The impact of North Sea exploration has been assessed by the UK Government in an Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment.
29 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Abena Oppong-Asare's BEIS questions)The Government will be working closely with the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) to manage the potential risks of fraud and gaming from the Energy Bill Discount Scheme. The Government is in the process of developing a robust set of fraud detection and prevention levers, which will support the delivery and implementation of the scheme.
Energy suppliers can provide the Warm Home Discounts payments to their customers at any point until the end of March each scheme year, although in many cases it will be paid earlier. The timing of the payment will also depend on how each customer pays for their energy.
While most households will receive their rebate automatically, without having to apply, this approach enables further households to be identified as eligible through manual means and allows energy suppliers time to resolve any issues with the Instructions to Pay. Therefore, the Government has not considered bringing forward the payment deadline.
The Government is committed to decarbonising industry in line with our net zero goals, while simultaneously transforming our industrial heartlands by attracting inward investment, future-proofing businesses, and securing high wage, high skill jobs. We are providing around £2 billion of funding to help industry to reduce emissions, save on bills and connect to low carbon infrastructure such as carbon capture technology.
The Government continues to engage with enforcement bodies and industry partners to strengthen our understanding of how to improve ethical work practices across all sectors including manufacturing.
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy does not have any direct employees, contractors, agency workers, relevant agencies and public bodies who receive a wage below, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
The Government expect landlords with a domestic electricity connection where tenants’ energy costs are included in their rental charges, to ensure that the £400 reduction is passed on to tenants. The Government held a technical consultation on the Energy Bills Support Scheme from 11 April to 23 May. The responses to this consultation are being analysed and a response will be published later in the summer.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As of 22 February 2022, Cabinet Office analysis has identified 3,761 loans as having been issued to companies incorporated after 1 March 2020. Businesses had to be established on or before 1 March 2020 to be eligible. However, some businesses may have been carrying out business before 1 March 2020 as sole traders and partnerships, and chose to incorporate subsequently. A legitimate business which changed its legal form in this way was still eligible for the scheme.
It is not possible to confirm the proportion of Bounce Back Loans from each lender that have been identified as fraudulent.
Lenders are able to flag individual loans as suspected fraud, however this does not necessarily indicate that a fraud has taken place, as this is ultimately determined by the Courts.
The British Business Bank (BBB) is a company of which the Secretary of State is the sole shareholder. The directors of the company are responsible for supervising its activities as set out in the Companies Act. A Shareholder Framework Document governs the relationship between the shareholder and the BBB. This includes provision for a shareholder representative on the board.
The BBB is not (and has never been) a regulated bank, given its wholesale model, i.e. ordinarily delivering through delivery partners (c.130), with no direct relationship with SME borrowers. These delivery partners are typically regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and, in the case of banks, the Prudential Regulation Authority. The BBB itself does not carry out regulated activities.
The Covid-19 Counter Fraud Strategy Board has met on the following dates:
19-10-2020
03-11-2020
16-11-2020
30-11-2020
14-12-2020
11-01-2021
25-01-2021
08-02-2021
22-02-2021
08-03-2021
22-03-2021
08-04-2021
19-04-2021
04-05-2021
17-05-2021
14-06-2021
28-06-2021
26-07-2021
23-08-2021
04-10-2021
01-11-2021
06-12-2021
13-01-2022
07-02-2022
07-03-2022
04-04-2022
03-05-2022.
In order to be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme or the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, a business was required to be trading in the United Kingdom.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Schemes are delegated schemes, where customer relationships are managed by accredited lenders. We do not hold information on whether any loan recipients of these schemes have received subsequent sanctions.
In order to be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme or the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, a business was required to be trading in the United Kingdom.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Schemes are delegated schemes, where customer relationships are managed by accredited lenders. We do not hold data on whether recipients of borrowing via the schemes are Russian nationals or have registered interests in the Russian Federation.
The Department’s 2020-2021 Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) estimates a loss of £4.9 billion relating to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) because of fraud. This is based upon the sampling exercise work undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2020, details of which are set out in the ARA. The fraud and error estimate for the scheme, it was concluded, ranges from £3.6 billion to £6.3 billion, with the central estimate value being £4.9 billion (11.15%) of loan facilities.
More recent information from PwC suggests a reduction in the central BBLS fraud estimate to 7.5%. This estimate requires further verification as our work with lenders and government agencies to identify fraudulent loans continues.
The Department has been in correspondence with the National Crime Agency on the issue of fraud in respect of the coronavirus business support schemes on several occasions on each of the last three months. The details of the correspondence cannot be disclosed as this may prejudice live or future investigations. The Department continues to work closely with the NCA and other law enforcement agencies to tackle serious fraud and other criminality.
It is difficult to put a figure on the total being spent on tackling Covid fraud as our response involves the contribution of many partners organisations.
- BEIS and BBB’s response includes:
- Lender resource identifying fraud, providing information and intelligence for investigations/prosecution, referring appropriate cases to INSS and recovery procedures.
- INSS resource for enforcement procedures against companies and directors
- NATIS investigations, prosecutions and recoveries.
- Collaboration with a wide range of law enforcement agencies
- The core BEIS Covid loans team.
Funding for subsequent years will be determined through the current Business Planning Process.
The resource BEIS deployed in counter fraud was proportionate to the level of fraud risk.
The National Audit Office follow-up report into the Bounce Back Loan Scheme recommended the Department produces a formal strategy that sets out the longer-term ambitions, objectives and metrics for the impact of successful counter-fraud activity. We are considering the recommendation and will respond in due course.
The National Audit Office follow-up report into the Bounce Back Loan Scheme recommended the Department produces a formal strategy that sets out the longer-term ambitions, objectives and metrics for the impact of successful counter-fraud activity. We are considering the recommendation and will respond in due course.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan was clear on our aim for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for use across the economy. The forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy will set out what is required to build a hydrogen economy fit for 2030, Carbon Budget 6 and beyond, whilst maximising economic benefits. We will also consult on priority policies, including hydrogen business models, a low carbon hydrogen standard, and the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, published on 17 March, commits to work with the newly constituted Steel Council to consider the implications of the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee to ‘set targets for ore-based steelmaking to reach near-zero emissions by 2035’. Hydrogen-based steelmaking is one of the technological approaches being examined as part of this process.
In order to support these efforts, the Government has announced a £250 million Clean Steel Fund to support the UK steel sector to transition to lower carbon iron and steel production, through investment in new technologies and processes. The decarbonisation of the steel sector and industry more widely will also be supported through the £1 billion CCUS Infrastructure Fund (CIF) and the £240m NetZero Hydrogen Fund.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Decarbonising UK industry is a core part of the Government’s ambitious plan for the green industrial revolution. The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy published on 17 March, commits to work with the Steel Council to consider the implications of the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee to ‘set targets for ore-based steelmaking to reach near-zero emissions by 2035’.
Hydrogen, electrification, and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) are the main technological options being examined as part of this process. The industry decarbonisation pathways technical annex of the strategy (pg. 153-155) presents two possible options for the decarbonisation of the iron and steel industry: Our wide-ranging support also includes: providing over £500m in recent years to help with the costs of energy; a £315m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, which aims to support businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and reduce carbon emission; and our £250m Clean Steel Fund that will support the decarbonisation of the steel sector.
Decarbonising UK industry is a core part of the Government’s ambitious plan for the green industrial revolution. The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy published on 17 March, commits to work with the Steel Council to consider the implications of the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee to ‘set targets for ore-based steelmaking to reach near-zero emissions by 2035’.
Hydrogen, electrification, and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) are the main technological options being examined as part of this process. The industry decarbonisation pathways technical annex of the strategy (pg. 153-155) presents two possible options for the decarbonisation of the iron and steel industry: Our wide-ranging support also includes: providing over £500m in recent years to help with the costs of energy; a £315m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, which aims to support businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and reduce carbon emission; and our £250m Clean Steel Fund that will support the decarbonisation of the steel sector.
The Safer Working guidance on close contact services was updated on 30 March ahead of reopening on Step 2. Extended treatments have not been banned. Since July 2020, the guidance has made clear that the personal care sector should keep appointments shorter as best practice and consider how the length of the appointment could be minimised to reduce the risk of transmission. We expect the personal care sector to continue to use their discretion and experience.
The Safer Working guidance was developed by BEIS with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive. An equalities impact assessment was undertaken when the guidance was first published in May 2020. It has been kept under constant review and updated regularly.
Since July 2020, the guidance has made clear that the personal care sector should keep appointments shorter as best practice and consider how the length of the appointment could be minimised to reduce the risk of transmission. We expect the personal care sector to continue to use their discretion and experience.
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is a discretionary scheme aimed at supporting businesses, including those that have not been mandated to close but have had their trade adversely affected by the nationalised restrictions. At Budget on 3 March, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £425 million will be made available via the ARG, meaning that more than £2 billion has been made available to Local Authorities since November 2020.
All data on Government allocations and Local Authority payments of the ARG is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides Local Authorities with discretionary funding to enable them to support businesses including those not mandated to close, but which have had their trade affected by the restrictions that have been put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives.
The flexibility of the ARG allows Local Authorities to provide support that suits their local area, to determine how much funding to provide to businesses and exactly which businesses to target. The scheme aims to support businesses when most needed, and Local Authorities should use this funding as quickly as possible. We are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that grants are delivered swiftly to businesses in scope of this funding.
All data on Government allocations and Local Authority payments of the ARG is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.
I meet with representatives from across the hospitality sector on a weekly basis to discuss the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on their businesses and the Government’s package of business support.
I recognise the important role the hospitality sector as an economic driver and as the heart of communities up and down the country. While the Government is committed to supporting the sector until the vaccines are rolled out and businesses can open without restrictions, I am also working with the sector as we plan for the longer-term recovery.
The Government does not have any plans to ban the sale of fireworks, but people must be careful to safely use fireworks at home and follow their instructions for use. People must follow the coronavirus restrictions in their local area. Information on local COVID alert levels across the UK can be found on the GOV.UK website.