Ashley Fox Portrait

Ashley Fox

Conservative - Bridgwater

1,349 (3.4%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024

Opposition Assistant Whip (Commons)

(since November 2024)

Select Committees
Justice Committee (since October 2024)
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art (since February 2025)
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill (since May 2025)
Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill (since June 2025)
Employment Rights Bill
20th Nov 2024 - 16th Jan 2025


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Ashley Fox has voted in 243 divisions, and 3 times against the majority of their Party.

12 Nov 2024 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - View Vote Context
Ashley Fox voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 18 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 41 Noes - 378
16 May 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Ashley Fox voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative No votes vs 78 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 243 Noes - 279
16 May 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Ashley Fox voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 76 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 288 Noes - 239
View All Ashley Fox 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
Justin Madders (Labour)
(29 debate interactions)
Shabana Mahmood (Labour)
Home Secretary
(16 debate interactions)
Greg Smith (Conservative)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Energy Security and Net Zero)
(15 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Business and Trade
(65 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(29 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(23 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(19 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Ashley Fox's debates

Bridgwater 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).

Petitions with most Bridgwater signatures
Petition Debates Contributed

Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12570 to £20000. We think this would help low earners to get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income.


Latest EDMs signed by Ashley Fox

4th June 2025
Ashley Fox signed this EDM on Wednesday 4th June 2025

Mauritius Treaty

Tabled by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
That the Agreement, done at London and Port Louis on 22 May 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, should not be ratified.
107 signatures
(Most recent: 1 Jul 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 92
Reform UK: 5
Independent: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
Labour: 1
12th February 2025
Ashley Fox signed this EDM on Monday 24th February 2025

Local Government

Tabled by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 137), dated 10 February 2025, a copy of which was laid before this House on 11 February 2025, be annulled.
22 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Feb 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 22
View All Ashley Fox's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Ashley Fox, 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.


Ashley Fox has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Ashley Fox has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Ashley Fox


A Bill to amend Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to add Special Constables to the list of those granted the right to take time off work to perform their duties.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th July 2025

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
2 Other Department Questions
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

The data requested is not held centrally. The Office for Equality and Opportunity is not a standalone department, and Ministerial offices are located across various Government departments.

12th Sep 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Our Get Britain Working plan will support more disabled people and people with health conditions to enter work and stay in it. We will devolve power to local areas to join up work, health and skills support for local people.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of staff in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

The Attorney General’s Office have 10 people on flexible working arrangements which represents 17.24% of the workforce. Of these 8 are on a compressed hours arrangement.

Ellie Reeves
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of staff in her Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions her Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

On 24 October 2024 the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time.

If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.

Published data on office attendance for 102 Petty France is available https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-headquarters-occupancy-data.

Ellie Reeves
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

No. There are not any requirements for Attorney General's Office staff to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person.

The Government Legal Department (GLD) has staff based in five sites across the country; 102 Petty France, London; 1 Ruskin Square, Croydon; 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds; 2 Rivergate, Bristol; and Three New Bailey, Manchester. GLD staff in each of these locations are expected to book a desk using the dedicated desk booking system; client-based legal teams follow local protocols.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate books desks for staff attending both their offices through systems run by the GLD for London and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (as the major occupier) for the York office.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has staff based in 37 sites across the country, a full list of which is annexed to this answer. CPS staff in each of these locations are expected to book a desk using the dedicated desk booking system; client-based legal teams follow local protocols.

Staff at the Serious Fraud Office are not required to book a desk in advance to attend the office.

Lucy Rigby
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th Nov 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9603 on Attorney General: Buildings, how many individual desks were occupied in her Department’s HQ office in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff assigned to that HQ workplace attended the office in person on average in the same period.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is based in one location in London, at 102 Petty France. For the period 28 October to 22 November 2024, an average of 27 desks were occupied. For the same period, 57 civil servants were assigned to work at the AGO and on average 27 members of staff attended the office in person at any one time (this figure does not take account of annual leave, sickness, attending training or other government buildings).

Sarah Sackman
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
6th Nov 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9603 on Attorney General: Buildings, how many civil servants are assigned to work in her Department's headquarters in London; and how many individual desks are available in the headquarters office.

The Attorney General’s Office is based in only one location in London, at 102 Petty France. I refer the Hon Member to the first line of my response to UIN 9602 tabled on Wednesday 6 November 2024. Please also refer to my response to UIN 9603 tabled on Friday 25 October 2024.

Sarah Sackman
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Following the dissolution of the last Parliament on 30 May 2024 and before the General Election on 4 July 2024, and prior to the appointment of the Attorney General and I, officials in the Attorney General’s Office arranged for the two ministerial offices to be modestly refurbished. The refurbishment was completed on 30 June 2024 and the costs are set out below.

DescriptionCost
Painting and decorating£3,510.95
Replacement of carpet tiles£6,448.51
IT monitor£151.00
Sarah Sackman
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Solicitor General, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of her Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

For the period 2 to 27 September 2024, there were 54 civil servants assigned to work in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and 42 desks available.

The AGO superintends the Law Officers’ Departments: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Government Legal Department (GLD), HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), and Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Further information on the Law Officers’ Departments is set out below.

As of 30 September 2024, the CPS had a headcount of 7,286 allocated against 4,347 desks.

The GLD has staff based in five sites across the country: 102 Petty France, London; 1 Ruskin Square, Croydon; 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds; 2 Rivergate, Bristol; and Three New Bailey, Manchester.

For the period 2 to 27 September 2024, the table below shows a breakdown of the number of civil servants based in GLD offices and the number of desks in each office.

Please note that data for 102 Petty France, London, includes 10 HMCPSI staff, which share this office.

Location

Number of civil servants assigned to work in GLD offices

Number of desks in office

102 Petty France, London

1509

737

1 Ruskin Square, Croydon

86

100

7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds

244

100

2 Rivergate, Bristol

106

38

Three New Bailey, Manchester

135

60

HMCPSI also shares office space with the CPS in Foss House, York. For the same period, HMCPSI had 10 civil servants assigned to work in Foss House.

As of 30 September 2024, the SFO had 534 permanent employees and 133 temporary agency workers, a total of 667 people. The total number of desks available is 432.

Sarah Sackman
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

As many flexible working arrangements, including compressed hours working, are agreed and recorded at a team level, the information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

Cabinet Office staff are encouraged to book desks, but it is not mandatory.

Similarly, of the Cabinet Office's arm's length bodies that directly employ their own staff, none mandate booking a desk in order to attend the office in person.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
2nd Dec 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 12890 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ministers’ Private Offices, what items were purchased to equip the office of the additional Minister.

All furniture and AV equipment has been, and must be, sourced from the GPA's Approved Supplier's catalogue.

An itemised breakdown of spending is as follows (all costs are excluding VAT unless otherwise specified):

Furniture for existing Ministerial Offices:

  • Chairs x 6 - £7,384

Two of the chairs are in use within the Secretary of State's office and the other four are used in other areas of the office.

Furniture for new Ministerial Offices:

  • Height adjustable desk - £1,566
  • Armchair - £1,033
  • Meeting Chairs x 14 - £12,964
  • Furniture to house AudioAV equipment - £4,158.42
  • Delivery, installation and dismantling and re-positioning of existing furniture - £1602.07 (including VAT)

The number of Ministers in DESNZ increased by one following the general election, the result of which was a higher than usual spend to facilitate the creation of an additional office.

Cost of Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves:

  • Porterage for over 5 days and rental of crates for 90 days - £13,387.93
  • Floor power alterations within the Ministerial Office, their Private Office and Waiting Room - £2,241.24

Porterage was carried out between 5-15 July. All other work was commissioned on, or after, 15 July and completed by, or before, 19 October.

The Floor Power Alterations were to install additional power boxes within the floor due to the increased space utilisation. Please note this item was not correctly identified and included in the response to PQ UIN 12890.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
2nd Dec 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 12890 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ministers’ Private Offices, if she will published an itemised breakdown of that spending.

All furniture and AV equipment has been, and must be, sourced from the GPA's Approved Supplier's catalogue.

An itemised breakdown of spending is as follows (all costs are excluding VAT unless otherwise specified):

Furniture for existing Ministerial Offices:

  • Chairs x 6 - £7,384

Two of the chairs are in use within the Secretary of State's office and the other four are used in other areas of the office.

Furniture for new Ministerial Offices:

  • Height adjustable desk - £1,566
  • Armchair - £1,033
  • Meeting Chairs x 14 - £12,964
  • Furniture to house AudioAV equipment - £4,158.42
  • Delivery, installation and dismantling and re-positioning of existing furniture - £1602.07 (including VAT)

The number of Ministers in DESNZ increased by one following the general election, the result of which was a higher than usual spend to facilitate the creation of an additional office.

Cost of Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves:

  • Porterage for over 5 days and rental of crates for 90 days - £13,387.93
  • Floor power alterations within the Ministerial Office, their Private Office and Waiting Room - £2,241.24

Porterage was carried out between 5-15 July. All other work was commissioned on, or after, 15 July and completed by, or before, 19 October.

The Floor Power Alterations were to install additional power boxes within the floor due to the increased space utilisation. Please note this item was not correctly identified and included in the response to PQ UIN 12890.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9615 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ministers' Private Offices, how much the Government Property Agency spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items.

The Government Property Agency has confirmed £42,095.42 excluding VAT was spent on new furniture and fittings plus other refurbishment (including moves) in relation to private offices for the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero ministers. This is broken down as follows;

  • New Furniture and Fittings - £28,707.49

  • Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves - £13,387.93

It should be noted that the number of Ministers in DESNZ increased by one following the general election, the result of which was a higher than usual spend to facilitate an additional office.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of (a) his Department’s and (b) Government Equalities Office offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of (a) his Department's and (b) Government Equalities Office offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

Owing to security considerations, I am unable to provide information specifically relating to the number of desks in each office for which you have requested information. However, the total full-time equivalent headcount of Civil Servants is provided in the table below:

Cabinet Office

6,331

Government Equalities Office

136

Sub Total

6,467

ALB’s

1,114

Total

7,581

The Government publishes the monthly average number of staff working in Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) buildings, published on a quarterly basis at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each Office for National Statistics office in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Question of 17 October is attached.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each office of the Office for National Statistics; and how many desks are available in each office.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Question of 17 October is attached.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

The total cost (excl. VAT) spent on refurbishments to ministerial private offices since the dissolution of the last Parliament is £2,954.67, of which £1,911.93 was for painting. The remainder was spent on television installations, three sets of coasters, and five standing mirrors. The majority of refurbishment costs were incurred before rooms were assigned to or occupied by current ministers.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in 10 Downing Street since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office. No expenditure has been made since the dissolution of Parliament.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of civil servants in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting flexible working practices. Employees may request alternative working patterns to help balance their professional and personal responsibilities, as long as business requirements are met. Compressed hours enable an individual to complete their contracted full-time weekly hours across longer daily working hours over fewer days, with no change to their salary.

In most instances, staff are not required to record flexible working arrangements within the central HR Management system, as these agreements are managed directly with their line manager. Consequently, we are unable to provide the numbers.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

On 24 October 2024 the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time. Due to space constraints the department has set the requirement of 40% for delegated grades.

The department does not hold information on the number of staff who have met the minimum office attendance target. See Civil Service Headquarters occupancy data for published information covering departmental headquarters building occupancy. The department introduced a process to record office attendance information from 4 August 2025. This data is not yet available.

Staff who operate under the department’s hybrid working policy are expected to meet the minimum office attendance requirements. If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.

Kate Dearden
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41654 on Trade: Occupied Territories and Western Sahara, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the potential impact of recognising Western Sahara as a part of Morocco on British businesses.

DBT and FCDO frequently engage on how best to deliver the government’s growth mission, including by supporting UK exports and investment across North Africa.

The Department for Business and Trade’s team in Morocco focusses on the business opportunities which will create the most value for the UK economy. An example of this is the work the Department is doing on infrastructure projects, ahead of Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Douglas Alexander
Secretary of State for Scotland
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41654 on Trade: Occupied Territories and Western Sahara, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact on British businesses of the UK recognising Western Sahara as a part of Morocco.

DBT and FCDO frequently engage on how best to deliver the government’s growth mission, including by supporting UK exports and investment across North Africa.

The Department for Business and Trade’s team in Morocco focusses on the business opportunities which will create the most value for the UK economy. An example of this is the work the Department is doing on infrastructure projects, ahead of Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Douglas Alexander
Secretary of State for Scotland
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

Desk booking systems are in use at several DBT’s offices, including its London headquarters. Except for offices at Caxton House, London, it is not compulsory for people to book a desk for them to attend the office in person.

Arms length bodies have their own individual policies and procedures relating to desk booking.

27th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the average length of wait was to receive the result of an application for a Standard Individual Export Licence using the SPIRE system between January to July 2024.

Between 1 January and 30 June 2024, the median processing time for Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications submitted on SPIRE and processed to first outcome was 16 working days.

The Export Control Joint Unit’s (ECJU) current performance targets are to complete 70% of applications for SIELs within 20 working days, and 99% within 60 working days.

The Export Control Joint Unit publish comprehensive statistics every quarter about export licence applications, which includes our median processing times. The most recent publication covers the quarter up to June 2024. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Douglas Alexander
Secretary of State for Scotland
6th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 9607 on DBT: Buildings, how many individual desks were occupied in his Department’s headquarters in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available.

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

6th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 9607 on DBT: Buildings, how many civil servants are assigned to work in his Department's headquarters in London; and how many individual desks are available in that office.

I refer the (Rt.) Hon. Member to my response to question 9606, tabled on 16th October 2024.

Please see below a summary of the number of staff assigned by each location and the number of desks per location as of 30th September 2024:

DBT Hub

Headcount

Desk Numbers

Belfast

63

16

Birmingham

403

216

Cardiff

145

66

Darlington

248

100

Edinburgh

92

56

Greater Manchester

171

65

London

4010

1500

*Regional Offices

194

141

Total

5326

2160

*We have several offices across the country that are listed under Regional Offices, it would exceed the word count if these were to be listed in totality.

16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Since the dissolution of the last Parliament, the Department for Business and Trade has not spent any money on:

a) new furniture or fittings for Minister’s offices or

b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices

16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published today, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of his Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

Please see below a summary of the number of staff assigned by each location and the number of desks per location as of 30th September 2024:

DBT Hub

Headcount

Desk Numbers

Belfast

63

16

Birmingham

403

216

Cardiff

145

66

Darlington

248

100

Edinburgh

92

56

Greater Manchester

171

65

London

4010

1500

*Regional Offices

194

141

Total

5326

2160

*We have several offices across the country that are listed under Regional Offices, it would exceed the word count if these were to be listed in totality.

29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

The Department’s flexible working policy sets out the types of formal and informal flexible working available to our employees.

All eligible employees have a statutory right to request flexible working arrangements, including, for example, part time working and compressed hours.

In addition, some informal flexible working arrangements within the parameters of the policy are managed locally. Central information on the proportion of Departmental employees with flexible working arrangements is therefore not held.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

Employees are expected to spend a minimum of 40% of their working hours in the office. Office attendance requirements are managed locally to ensure employees are meeting the requirements, and no central data is held on this.

Line Managers are responsible for ensuring the requirements are met and taking steps to address any non-compliance, including consideration of disciplinary action should that be necessary.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

Civil servants who work in the Department’s office locations are asked to book a space to work from the office. In 12 buildings this is a booking for a specific desk, and in 3 buildings it is for an unspecified working space on a particular floor within the building.

Desk booking services for arm’s-length bodies within the Department are not centrally held, and would come at disproportionate cost to the Department in producing this information.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has agreed to meet with the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

There are 571 desks in 55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place. The average daily building attendance between week commencing 16 September through to week commencing 7 October was 900. The average number of daily building attendees exceeds the number of desks due to usage of meeting rooms and other parts of the building.

Figures are provided for the Department’s main London occupation at 55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place only, which are two adjacent conjoined buildings, and the only office location where attendance figures enabling desk occupancy to be calculated are available, and which is occupied solely by the Department’s staff.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of his Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

The number of civil servants assigned to the Department’s office locations, and how many desks are available in each office location, are shown below:

Location

Headcount

Desks

Overall

4569

1688

Aberdeen, Crimon Place

101

62

Belfast, Erskine House

4

8

Birmingham, Victoria Square House

239

78

Bristol, Rivergate House

6

35

Cambridge, Eastbrook

1

1

Cardiff, Companies House

223

56

Darlington, Feethams House

124

43

Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth House

176

86

Leeds, Wellington Place

2

3

London, 22-26 Whitehall

227

439

London, 55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place

2969

571

London, Caxton House

41

30

London, Old Admiralty Building

28

35

Newcastle, Citygate

5

5

Nottingham, Apex Court

3

3

Salford, Trinity Bridge House

420

233

Notes:

In all locations except 55 Whitehall and 3-8 Whitehall Place, London and Old Admiralty Building, London, the Department’s staff are located in shared spaces with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The desk figures shown are for both Government departments.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether there will be any exceptions to the planned phasing out of gas boilers in favour of heat pumps in all homes by 2035.

The Government’s position is not to force anyone to rip out a working boiler and will incentivise moves to cleaner, affordable heating.

The Government has started delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, which will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation, heat pumps and other home improvements to cut bills.

More detail will be set out in due course.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Local Power Plan will contain measures to increase the take up of cooperative energy schemes.

Yes. The aim of Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan (LPP) is to support a more decentralised and resilient energy system, with more local generation and ownership. By doing so, we are giving communities a stake in the transition to net zero as owners and stakeholders in clean power projects. The LPP will support Local and Combined Authorities, and Community Energy Groups, which could include energy cooperative schemes, to roll out small and medium-scale renewable energy projects. The LPP will increase the capability and capacity of these groups to build a pipeline of successful projects in their local areas, including through commercial, technical and project-planning assistance.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has had discussions with Ofgem on reducing electricity standing charges.

Although standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers, and are regulated by Ofgem, we know that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on them. The Government has worked constructively with the regulator on the issue of standing charges, and we are committed to lowering the cost of them.

Ofgem’s recently published discussion paper sets out the options for how standing charges could be reduced, including by moving some supplier operational costs off standing charges onto the unit rate, increasing the variety of tariffs available for consumer in the market, and in the longer term, reviewing how system costs are allocated. Ofgem's publication can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/call-for-input/standing-charges-domestic-retail-options.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his Department’s policy is on reducing electricity standing charges.

Although standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers, and are regulated by Ofgem, we know that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on them. The Government has worked constructively with the regulator on the issue of standing charges, and we are committed to lowering the cost of them.

Ofgem’s recently published discussion paper sets out the options for how standing charges could be reduced, including by moving some supplier operational costs off standing charges onto the unit rate, increasing the variety of tariffs available for consumer in the market, and in the longer term, reviewing how system costs are allocated. Ofgem's publication can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/call-for-input/standing-charges-domestic-retail-options.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
11th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to include in his Solar Roadmap a target for the proportion of UK solar energy that should be generated through the installation of solar panels on industrial or commercial roofs; and what incentives his Department plans to provide to encourage such installations.

The Solar Roadmap will be published after consultation with the relaunched Solar Taskforce, which will bring together Government and industry to discuss barriers to solar deployment. The nature of any targets included in the Roadmap will be for the Taskforce to consider.


At present, many smaller-scale commercial rooftop projects are covered by permitted development rights, which allow them to be installed without an application for planning consent. From next year, Future Buildings Standards will ensure that all newly-built commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future. Further measures to encourage rooftop installations will be considered by the Solar Taskforce.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours.

The Department’s flexible working policy sets out the types of formal and informal flexible working available to our employees.

All eligible employees have a statutory right to request flexible working arrangements, including, for example, part time working and compressed hours.

In addition, some informal flexible working arrangements within the parameters of the policy are managed locally. Central information on the proportion of Departmental employees with flexible working arrangements is therefore not held.

Currently, there are 289 employees formally working compressed hours.

Kanishka Narayan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target.

Employees are expected to spend a minimum of 40% of their working hours in the office. Office attendance requirements are managed locally to ensure employees are meeting the requirements, and no central data is held on this.

Line Managers are responsible for ensuring the requirements are met and taking steps to address any non-compliance, including consideration of disciplinary action should that be necessary.

Kanishka Narayan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department.

Civil servants who work in the Department’s office locations are asked to book a space to work from the office. In 16 buildings this is a booking for a specific desk, and in 3 buildings it is for an unspecified working space on a particular floor within the building.

Desk booking services for arm’s-length bodies within the Department are not centrally held, and would come at disproportionate cost to the Department in producing this information.

19th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9826 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Buildings, how many individual desks were occupied in her Department’s HQ office in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff assigned to that workplace attended the HQ office in person on average in the same period.

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications on a quarterly basis. The data is published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data