Alex Burghart Portrait

Alex Burghart

Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar

5,980 (12.4%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 8th June 2017

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(since July 2024)

Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

(since November 2024)

Alex Burghart is not a member of any APPGs
5 Former APPG memberships
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Assistive Technology, Boxing, Children, Looked After Children and Care Leavers
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
27th Oct 2022 - 5th Jul 2024
Procurement Bill [HL]
25th Jan 2023 - 21st Feb 2023
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
20th Sep 2022 - 27th Oct 2022
Pension Dashboards (Prohibition of Indemnification) Bill
19th Oct 2022 - 26th Oct 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
16th Sep 2021 - 6th Jul 2022
Skills and Post-16 Education [HL] Bill
24th Nov 2021 - 7th Dec 2021
Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill
22nd Sep 2021 - 27th Oct 2021
Standing Orders
1st Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
18th Dec 2017 - 25th Feb 2019
Work and Pensions Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 11th Feb 2019


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Alex Burghart has voted in 48 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Alex Burghart Division Votes

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
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(12 debate interactions)
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(10 debate interactions)
Angela Rayner (Labour)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
(5 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Northern Ireland Office
(18 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(16 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(3 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Alex Burghart's debates

Brentwood and Ongar 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).

Alex Burghart has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Alex Burghart

Alex Burghart has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Alex Burghart, 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.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Alex Burghart

Wednesday 9th October 2024

Alex Burghart has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Alex Burghart has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
21st Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Office for Equality and Opportunity formally recognises any (a) genders, (b) sexual orientations and (c) gender identities.

There is no list of genders, sexual orientations or gender identities formally recognised by the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to commission an equality impact assessment on the proposed commencement of the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010.

The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to actively consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. To ensure effective implementation, we will certainly give due regard to the equality impacts of commencement.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8129 on Ministers: Workplace Pensions, what the percentage employer contribution to the Parliamentary Contribution Pension Fund for the Ministerial Pension Scheme is in the 2024-25 financial year.

The exchequer contribution to the Ministerial Pension Scheme in the financial year 2024–25 is 10.5% of pay per annum.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) he and (b) the Paymaster General has met the Ulster Farmers Union since the general election.

Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are published quarterly on GOV.UK

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) Civil Service Pensions holds data on the salary of each civil servant.

  1. The Cabinet Office holds data of the salary of each civil servant as at the 31st March in each year, through the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey collection.

  2. The pension scheme administrator, MyCSP, holds essential contribution, salary and other scheme data which is provided by employers monthly via an electronic monthly interface.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the members of the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee.

The Committee is chaired by the Government Lead Non-Executive. Membership includes two other Departmental Non-Executive Directors and the Chair of the Senior Salaries Review Body. The Civil Service members are: the Cabinet Secretary/Head of the Civil Service, the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office, the Chair of the Senior Leadership Committee, and the Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury. The Director of Senior Talent in the Cabinet Office also attends in an advisory capacity.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether framework agreements with Arm’s Length Bodies can be unilaterally changed by Departments.

As per the guidance set out by HM Treasury Framework Agreements are agreed between the department and the Arm’s Length Body jointly and then submitted to the Treasury Officer of Accounts.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the framework agreement between his Department and the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) is an independent advisory non-departmental body of the Cabinet Office. As was the case when the honourable member was a Minister in the department, there is not currently a Framework Document between HOLAC and the Cabinet Office. As with all independent advisory bodies, the Government keeps its arrangements with HOLAC under review to ensure they reflect current best practice and standards of corporate governance.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list all formal notifications his Department has submitted to the Commissioner for Public Appointments since 4 July 2024.

Since 4 July 2024 the Cabinet Office has engaged with the Commissioner for Public Appointments to seek approval of Senior Independent Panel Members for two recruitment campaigns: the Chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Public Appointments (ACOBA).

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether framework agreements between his Department and Arms Length Bodies are approved by Ministers.

Ministers have direct involvement in approving the strategy, outputs and objectives of Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). This ensures that ALBs remain aligned and can effectively deliver the commitments and objectives of the government. Ministers are responsible for the appointment of the Chair and Board Members, in most circumstances, through open and fair competition. The Board, once appointed, is responsible for maintaining accountability of senior officials to Ministerial objectives.

Framework Agreements are usually approved by the Principal Accounting Officer / Permanent Secretary on behalf of the department. However when revising a Framework Agreement, or establishing a new ALB, the relevant Minister will be engaged on the contents of the document.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether non-executive director appointments to HM Revenue and Customs are classified as regulated public appointments.

The bodies and offices that are classified as regulated appointments are listed, by department, in Schedules 1 and 2 of the Public Appointments (No. 2) Order in Council 2023. Appointments to the Board of HM Revenue and Customs, as a non-ministerial department, are not classified as regulated public appointments.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals' sub-committees.

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known as the HD Committee) has one sub-committee, the Advisory Military Sub-Committee. The terms of reference for this committee can be found on gov.uk.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether senior representatives of Tiktok are classified as as senior media executives for the purposes of gov.uk transparency returns by Ministers, special advisers and senior officials.

Guidance on ministers’, special advisers’, and senior officials’ transparency returns is published on GOV.UK and includes details of who would be considered senior media figures for these purposes.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government response of January 2024 to the17th Report of the House of Lords Constitution Select Committee of Session 2022/23 on Permanent Secretaries: their appointments and removal, HL 258, published on 20 October 2023, what progress he has made on updating the Senior Appointments Protocol; and if he will publish the updated Protocol.

The Senior Appointment Protocol is being updated and will be published in due course.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Government procurement cards have been issued across the Civil Service.

The number of Government procurement cards issued across the Civil Service is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on (a) new furniture, backdrops and fittings in and (b) other refurbishment of the 9 Downing Street Press Briefing Room since 30 May 2024; and on what items this was spent.

No money has been spent on new furniture, backdrops, fittings or other refurbishment of the Press Briefing Room in 9 Downing Street since 30 May 2024.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many private secretaries each Minister in his Department has.

There are 34 members of staff, at multiple grades, who support the seven Cabinet Office ministers.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants (a) are members of the Alpha pension scheme, (b) are members of the Partnership pension scheme and (c) have opted out of both schemes.

As at 31 October 2024, there were 588,623 active members of the alpha pension scheme. As well as civil servants, the Civil Service Pension arrangements cover employees of certain non-Civil Service organisations, such as non-Departmental Public Bodies, if they meet the Cabinet Office policy on eligibility for entry and legislative requirements on funding.

As at 30 June 2024 there were 8,748 active members of the partnership scheme.

As at 31 October 2024, a total of 3,894 people had opted out and were not members of either pension scheme.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to increase the pay bands of Permanent Secretaries.

The Government is committed to delivering value for money for the taxpayer. We will publish written evidence to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) later this year, and will consider any recommendations from the SSRB on the remuneration of Senior Civil Servants, including Permanent Secretaries, when it reports next year.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enact reforms to the House of Lords other than those set out in the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill.

The Government’s manifesto set out a number of commitments to reform of the House of Lords. The manifesto was clear that, as an immediate reform, it would introduce legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill has now completed its passage through the House of Commons and had its first reading in the House of Lords on 13 November 2024.

This is the first step in reform of the House of Lords and it is right that the Government focuses on completing the passage of this Bill.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Office for Statistics's press release entitled New partnership between statistical authorities of the UK and the EU, published on 9 October 2024, what role Ministers had in approving this arrangement; and if he will publish the text of the agreement and any associated documentation.

Article 730 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) negotiated between the UK and EU in 2021 provides that ‘Eurostat and the United Kingdom Statistics Authority may establish an arrangement that enables cooperation on relevant statistical matters’.

The 2024 Lievesley Review of the UK Statistics Authority included a recommendation to prioritise the establishment and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Eurostat in line with Article 730 of the TCA. The Government’s response, led by then Minister Baroness Neville Rolfe, was to agree and stated that: ‘The Cabinet Office supports these recommendations. Given the UKSA’s international standing there should be a continued emphasis on their role as a thought leader among our international peers.’

Following the July election Cabinet Office Ministers have received progress reports on activity to deliver against this recommendation and welcome the new arrangements that are now in place.

The publication of the text is a matter for the Office for National Statistics, which operates independently as a Non Ministerial Department.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason his Department's About Us web page lists the Government's priorities for 2021-22.

This page has been amended and will be updated further in due course.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to use 36 Whitehall.

The 36 Whitehall building is not in use and there are no current plans to bring it back into use.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 37 of his Department's publication entitled Transforming public procurement, what progress has been made on readying the Central Digital Platform.

The Central Digital Platform is an online system that will be established by the Procurement Act 2023 to improve transparency and efficiency in public procurement.

The Central Digital Platform is currently being developed and will be operational and ready for use when the new procurement regime comes into force on 24 February 2025. Cabinet Office is working with e-procurement systems providers and contracting authorities to ensure their readiness.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) purpose and (b) function is of the 10 Downing Street data science team.

The purpose of 10 Downing Street Data Science Team is to ensure that the best available data and evidence is available for use in government decision making, in particular to advise the Prime Minister, other senior ministers and senior civil servants.

The function of the team is to build predictive models, to assess metrics and to provide advice on the evidence base for policy making; and to track and monitor delivery of government priorities. We use data from government departments, other public sector bodies and open source data.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timetable is for appointing the Head of the National Security Unit for Procurement.

The Head of the National Security Unit for Procurement has been appointed.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) headcount and (b) budget is of the 10 Downing Street data science team.

There were 21 FTE staff in post as of 31 July 2024, with a standing headcount of 25.

The budget for the 2024/25 year is £2.347m. This budget covers headcount, with funding for incidental expenditures coming from a flexible central pot.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the letter of 30 September 2024 from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster letter to the Senior Salaries Review Body, when the Office for Pay Review Bodies was set up.

The Office of Manpower Economics was set up in 1971. Its name was changed to the Office for the Pay Review Bodies on 1 October 2024, to reflect better the role of the organisation.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which (a) Departments, (b) arms length bodies and (c) Government programmes have (i) migrated to and (ii) plan to migrate to One Login.

All major government departments have committed to onboarding their services to GOV.UK One Login, and are actively developing delivery plans. They are supported by our Onboarding and Engagement team who share best practices and provide advice and assets to enable technical service teams to onboard their services smoothly.

As of December 2024, users can access over 50 government services across multiple government Departments, within GOV.UK One Login. The list of public-facing services can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/using-your-gov-uk-one-login/services.

Some services are still in an early testing phase and are currently available to only a select group of users, therefore not listed in the service list.

We expect to have onboard over 100 services next year, with more to follow. Future services to include those from HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, Companies House, Office for Public Guardian, and the Department for Education.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2024 to Question 1967 on Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, by when he plans to have the agreed full-time headcount of 70 staff employed.

i.AI is building to a full complement of 70FTE. Recruitment was paused due to the pre-election period and will resume shortly.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that departments have access to high quality predictive modelling.

Predictive modelling is widely used across government departments, including DSIT, and is implemented by analysts from the various analytical professions. These professions are brought together by the ONS-based Analysis Function, which co-ordinates analytical standards, including learning and training resources, and quality assurance. The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), which is now part of DSIT, is driving cross-government AI-adoption plans which will increase departments’ access to high quality predictive modelling. CDDO develops standards and guidance for AI adoption, including the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards which support the National Data Strategy commitment to explore an appropriate and effective way to deliver greater transparency on algorithm-assisted decision making in the public sector.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the (a) current and (b) planned full-time equivalent headcount of i.AI is.

As a new team i.AI is still recruiting to fill the agreed full-time headcount of 70 staff. The current equivalent headcount is 43.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the most up-to-date figures for the (a) number of applications, (b) number of placements and (c) location of placements for the Turing Scheme.

The figures for the number of Turing Scheme applications and placements were recently published on GOV.UK and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turing-scheme-funding-and-assessment-outcomes-2024-to-2025.

For the 2024/25 academic year, education providers and other eligible organisations from across the UK have been allocated over £105 million to send more than 43,000 students on study and work placements across the globe. Around 23,000 (53%) of these opportunities will be for participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

More applications were successful this year than ever before, with significantly higher interest in the scheme from colleges and schools and more competitive, high quality applications overall.

The Turing Scheme received 755 applications, compared with 619 last year. 642 applications were successful, including 118 more schools than last year and 44 more further education providers, with participants expected to travel to over 160 destinations around the world.

With regard to the location of Turing Scheme placements, providers are currently in the process of replanning their placements following the announcement of finalised funding allocations. As such, the department is unable to currently confirm these details. However, it will publish further information on destinations in due course.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Multiply maths initiative.

Multiply is the government’s UK wide programme for improving adult numeracy. Multiply provision spans from supporting to build confidence with numbers through to full maths qualifications.

The department provides funding to all local areas in England to deliver adult maths programmes with a focus on improving the functional numeracy of adults, breaking down barriers to participation in adult basic skills, and improving labour market outcomes. The following information therefore relates to the Multiply programme in England.

Local areas have welcomed the programme and the flexibility to deliver innovative approaches to drive learner demand. As of April 2024, over 120,000 learners have participated in a Multiply course in England. There was a 5.8% increase in adult participation in education and training in 2022/23 and an increase of 4.6% in 2023/24. Local areas have informed us that most of this rise is driven by Multiply courses.

The extensive Multiply programme evaluation is ongoing and will conclude in winter 2025/26.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many skills bootcamps have been delivered in each of the last three years, by (a) local authority area and (b) discipline.

The department is awaiting finalised data for the 2023/24 financial year from providers so cannot provide data for this year.

The department has published separate reports on the implementation of Skills Bootcamps for the 2022/23 (Wave 3) and 2021/22 (Wave 2) financial years, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e9a3f824c4f1826d81bcbd/Skills_Bootcamps_Wave_3_Implementation_Report.pdf and here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d5bdfd701781e1b341db13/Evaluation_of_Skills_Bootcamps_Wave_2_Implementation_Report_updated_2024.pdf.

These reports include breakdown of Skills Bootcamp starts by region and course type (discipline). The department does not include breakdowns by local authority area in these reports and is referring to Skills Bootcamps starts with these figures.

  1. Table 1 (page 21) of Wave 3 report: Breakdown of applicants and starts for Wave 3 and Wave 2 Skills Bootcamps (course type)
  2. Table 5 (page 25) of the Wave 3 report: Applications and starts by Government Office Region
  3. Table 4 (page 26) of Wave 2 report: Applications and starts by Government Office Region

To note:

  • Totals are lower than the reported total starts because some management information (MI) records do not have an accurate postcode, or no postcode listed. Totals also do not reflect any updates to starts figures that the department makes to its published statistics releases, following publication of the implementation report.
  • The number of starts in the Wave 3 MI data is slightly higher than the published starts data which was due to challenges with the HGV data and accurately calculating starts. The starts release was a more conservate estimate of starts compared to the MI.
  • At Wave 2, Rail was classified as part of Skills Bootcamps in Green Skills.
Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her oral statement of 24 July 2024, Official Record, col 697, on Education and Opportunity, what plans her Department has to consult (a) external stakeholders and (b) people who have undertaken T-Levels during its review of post-16 qualification reform at level 3 and below; if she will publish the (i) name of the person leading and (ii) terms of reference for that review.

The department is committed to working to break down barriers to opportunity, harnessing talent and driving growth. In July this year, my Right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced that the department is undertaking an internal review of post-16 qualifications reform and has paused the planned defunding of qualifications that was due to go ahead on 31 July 2024. This was followed by a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 July, which can be read here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-07-25/hcws22.

The department understands that the sector needs certainty and will publish the outcomes of this review before Christmas.

Stakeholder views from all parts of the system will be important to contribute to the direction of future policy. Later this month departmental officials will begin engaging with providers, including those delivering T levels, awarding organisations and other key stakeholders.

In line with this being an internal review we will not publish the terms of reference. My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills is overseeing the review which is being undertaken by officials who the department does not intend to name.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support colleges and schools to (a) adopt T-levels and (b) expand their T-levels programmes in their settings in the 2025-26 academic year.

The government is committed to supporting the continued roll-out of T Levels to ensure young people have a choice of high quality options post-16.

T Level providers have access to a suite of support and resources to help them prepare for and deliver T Levels. This includes workforce support from the Education and Training Foundation, which helps with the teaching skills, subject knowledge and industry skills needed for successful T Level delivery. Further information about the resources available to T Level providers can be found here: https://support.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/13561653292818-New-resources-for-schools-and-colleges-added-all-in-one-place.

Providers planning to deliver T Levels for the first time can access a support package from the Association of Colleges, including help with planning, organisation and curriculum design.

The department has made practical tools and resources available to help providers source and deliver high quality industry placements and all providers have £550 allocated for each T Level student as part of their wider 16-19 funding allocation to help with these costs. T Level funding rates have also been uplifted by 10% for the 2024/25 academic year to help providers expand the number of T Levels offered and the number of students enrolled.

The department’s T Level ambassador network continues to champion the T Level programme with members sharing their experiences and passion for technical education. The network now stands at over 700 members including employers, providers, students and other organisations.

The department is introducing new T Level foundation qualifications that are specifically designed to support students’ progression to T Levels. Approved qualifications will be available for teaching from 2026.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 43(m) of the publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on developing legislative proposals to confirm the application of the Windsor Framework labelling requirements across the UK.

The Government confirmed at the end of September that we would no longer proceed with the introduction of mandatory GB-wide ‘not for EU’ labelling from the beginning of October 2024, as originally proposed. We will put in place the legislative powers necessary to apply labelling requirements across Great Britain in a targeted way, should that be needed to safeguard the supply of supermarket supplies into Northern Ireland. We will set out further details in due course and will not hesitate to intervene if necessary to support Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 3050 on Poultry: Import Controls, what certification is required to evidence that products are from unvaccinated ducks.

Currently, imports of vaccinated ducks cannot be certified as the animal health requirements in the Import Health Certificates cannot be met. Standard certificates for imports of products of animal origin and live animals, available on GOV.UK, are used.

Traders are regularly updated through industry groups, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency addresses technical operational queries via exports@apha.gov.uk .

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 August 2024 to Question 1969 on Poultry: Import Controls, what steps British businesses wishing to import French duck meat should take to certify that it comes from unvaccinated flocks.

France cannot currently export duck meat or products to Great Britain if they come from ducks vaccinated against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Importers must ensure their suppliers can certify that the products are from unvaccinated ducks. The French competent authority has been clear in advising their industry on the rules surrounding HPAI vaccination. Close collaboration with suppliers is crucial to ensure that certificates are accurately completed according to the flock's vaccination status. This is key to meeting UK standards and avoiding incorrectly certified imports

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the import ban on French ducks.

It is important to protect animal health and welfare and avoid the economic impacts posed by disease incursion. Therefore, UK businesses importing duck products or meat must currently ensure they are sourced from unvaccinated animals. The Department understands the concerns of GB importers and remains in close dialogue with industry and the French authorities to seek further information relating to France’s Avian Influenza Vaccination Plan.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made with Moderna on the (a) manufacture of mRNA vaccines in the UK, (b) establishment of a global clinical trials base and (c) investment in UK-based research and development activities.

As part of the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership signed in December 2022, Moderna is building an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre will support the United Kingdom to be more resilient in the face of future pandemics and health emergencies. It is expected to become operational in 2025.

Moderna is also committed to substantial investment in research and development activities in the UK over the 10-year partnership. This includes running a significant number of clinical trials in the UK and funding grants for UK universities, including PhD places and research programmes.

Since the partnership was established, Moderna has launched 13 trials at over 80 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, including for Mpox, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna has funded a PhD at the University of Cambridge and four mRNA Access Partnerships across UK universities. This partnership will also create over 150 skilled jobs in the UK.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
5th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October to Question 6418 on Further Education: VAT, for what reason further education colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.

I refer the member to the answer given on the 14 November to PQ 13459.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8846 on Further Education: VAT, if she will set out the reasons why further education colleges are unable to recover the VAT they have incurred on their expenditure.

Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994 provides a scheme that allows local authorities (LAs) and similar public bodies to refunds of VAT equal to that incurred on purchases of goods and services relating to their statutory non-business activities. The scheme was introduced to prevent VAT falling as a burden on local taxation. As funding for maintained schools is channelled via LAs, maintained schools benefit from the scheme. Section 33B, which allows academies to recover the VAT they pay, was introduced in April 2011 to ensure that academies were not disincentivised from leaving LA control.

FE colleges and sixth forms are not eligible for VAT refunds as they do not fit the objectives of either Section 33 or Section 33B (protecting local taxation or encouraging academisation). Almost all sixth form colleges (the second most common type of FE college) have the choice to restructure as 16-19 academies, enabling the recovery of VAT under the refund scheme; however, many choose not to.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2024, to Question 12294, on Employer’s Contributions: Ministry of Defence, and with reference to Item 26 on page 118, Table 5.1, of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, on the allowance for impact of the National Insurance Contributions on public sector organisations, whether this will include funding to mitigate the NI insurance rise for (a) GPs, (b) NHS dentists, (c) NHS-funded hospices, (d) privately-funded hospices, (e) universities, (f) further education colleges, (g) children’s care homes, (h) care homes for the elderly which have residents funded by local authorities.

The Treasury routinely uses the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Item 26 on page 118, Table 5.1, of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will set out the methodological difference with the monetary figures listed for RDEL compensation to public sector employers and adult social care, in Table 3.2 in the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook, October 2024, CP1169.

The OBR memo line was incorrect and it has now been amended - Correction on 7 October 2024: The published Economic and fiscal outlook included an incorrect definition of the policy and its costs. We have made this correction to the highlighted cells above and detailed this correction in the Correction slip within the Economic and fiscal outlook.- to align with the published figure on page 118, Table 5.1, of the Autumn Budget 2024.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the VAT status is of further education colleges.

Education services supplied by an “eligible body” are exempt from VAT. For VAT purposes, an “eligible body” broadly refers to most regulated, publicly funded, or not-for-profit education providers. This means no VAT is charged on supplies of education made by further education colleges, nor are further education colleges able to recover the VAT they have incurred on their expenditure.

We are ending the VAT exemption for private schools. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge from 1 January 2025. This will include education and vocational training provided either at sixth forms attached to private schools or stand-alone private sixth form colleges. However, education and vocational training provided by further education colleges will not be subject to VAT.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the appointment of Ian Corfield as Director of Investment was through open competition.

Ian Corfield was appointed on a short-term basis to carry out urgent work in support of the government’s International Investment Summit in October. A full recruitment process could not have been completed in the time available. He has since been appointed, unpaid, as a direct ministerial appointment.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)