Baroness Buscombe Portrait

Baroness Buscombe

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 23rd July 1998


1 APPG membership (as of 24 Jan 2024)
Gardening and Horticulture
Horticultural Sector Committee
31st Jan 2023 - 26th Oct 2023
Communications and Digital Committee
4th Mar 2020 - 20th Oct 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
15th Jun 2017 - 30th Jul 2019
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
21st Dec 2016 - 15th Jun 2017
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
3rd Dec 2015 - 27th Apr 2017
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
16th Jul 2015 - 12th May 2016
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
15th Jan 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Inquiries Act 2005 Committee
16th May 2013 - 26th Feb 2014
Shadow Minister (Education)
20th May 2005 - 11th Jan 2007
Shadow Minister (Education)
10th May 2005 - 11th Jan 2007
Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
26th Nov 2002 - 22nd Jun 2005
Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)
6th Jul 2004 - 20th May 2005
Shadow Minister (Home, Constitutional and Legal Affairs)
3rd Feb 2003 - 18th Nov 2004
Shadow Minister (Home, Constitutional and Legal Affairs)
10th May 2004 - 6th Jul 2004
Shadow Minister (Home, Constitutional and Legal Affairs)
29th Nov 1999 - 20th Nov 2002
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
21st Dec 1999 - 2nd Feb 2001
Shadow Spokesperson (Trade and Industry)
29th Jun 1999 - 27th Oct 2000
Shadow Spokesperson (Social Security)
30th Jun 1999 - 22nd Jun 2000


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Baroness Buscombe has voted in 337 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

7 Dec 2020 - Conduct Committee Report - View Vote Context
Baroness Buscombe voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative No votes vs 147 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 408 Noes - 24
15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Baroness Buscombe voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative Aye votes vs 125 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 112 Noes - 388
View All Baroness Buscombe Division Votes

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
Lord Markham (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(9 debate interactions)
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
(4 debate interactions)
Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat)
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(9 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(4 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(3 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Baroness Buscombe's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Buscombe, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Baroness Buscombe has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Baroness Buscombe has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 14 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
10th Jan 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of the environmental horticulture sector in helping the UK to reach its net zero targets.

Nature-based solutions, like restoring peat and planting trees, are key to tackling climate change and averting its impacts.

In recognition of the energy intensive nature of the sector, Controlled Environment Horticulture sites will be eligible to apply for Phase 3 of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. Phase 3 will open for applications later this month.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish a data dashboard showing the Tier 1 bank's management performance of Bounce Back Loans.

The British Business Bank is responsible for the administration of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The Bank intends to publish data on the performance of each scheme, including levels of prevented and suspected fraud.

The data will also include lender-by-lender information on the number and value of original facilities, and the number and value of claims settled under the terms of the scheme Guarantees.

This data will be made available to the public via the Bank website in the near future.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they paid out to Bounce Back Loan Scheme lending banks under the government-backed guarantee between 1 January 2022 and 30 April; and what percentage of this figure was attributed to fraud.

Data relating to settled claims and suspected fraud within the Bounce Back Loan Scheme is captured on a cumulative basis.

As of 31 March 2022, c.£351 million in settled claims on the scheme guarantee have been paid to lenders, of which c.£72 million [20%] have a suspected fraud marker as reported by lenders to the British Business Bank.

The lenders under the Scheme are not law enforcement agencies, it is the courts who determine whether or not a fraud has been committed. These statistics are an indicator of levels of suspected fraud rather than actual, proven levels.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Feb 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much HM Treasury has paid out to Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) lending banks under the state guarantee up to 31 January 2022; and what percentage of this figure was attributed to losses from fraud.

As of the end of December 2021, the British Business Bank, on behalf of government, has settled guarantee claims by lenders in relation to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme of £70m. Of this, less than 20% was flagged by lenders as suspected fraud. Figures for January 2022 are currently not available.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
29th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what engagement (1) the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and (2) the Gambling Commission, has had with (a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) the Home Office, and (c) the security services, ahead of the announcement on 15 March that Allwyn Entertainment UK was the Preferred Applicant for the fourth National Lottery licence; and whether the Ministry of Defence or the Home Office have approached either DCMS or the Gambling Commission in response to the announcement.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for running the competition for the fourth National Lottery licence. ​​Under the National Lottery Act 1993, the Commission must ensure that any person who either runs or benefits from the running of the National Lottery is fit and proper and that the Licensee’s operation meets high standards of propriety.

Fit and proper checks examine the identity, integrity, criminality and financial standing of those who run, or benefit from running, the National Lottery, or are applying to do so. As part of its duties under the Act, the Commission cannot award the licence unless it is satisfied that the proposed licensee is fit and proper. The Commission is required to revoke a licence if it becomes satisfied that the licensee is no longer, or indeed never was, fit and proper.

In addition, following the announcement of Allwyn as the preferred applicant in March 2022, standard vetting checks (Baseline Personnel Security Standard or BPSS level) are being carried out, on behalf of the Commission, by UK Security Vetting on key people connected with the proposal. These include Qualifying Direct Shareholders, which is any person who holds at least 5% interest in the licensee.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group report Growing a Green Economy: The importance of ornamental horticulture and landscaping to the UK, published in August, and accompanying plan Unlocking green growth: A plan from the ornamental horticulture & landscaping industry.

Defra recognises the crucial role that the domestic ornamental horticulture industry plays both in promoting people’s well-being and to the economy. The Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group (OHRG) report and associated action plan identifies how barriers to the sector’s growth can be unlocked through a collaborative approach between Government and industry.

Whilst no specific assessment of this has been made, Defra has been working closely with the OHRG and the sector to build on good work already happening within the industry, and will ensure that where Government can help, it will support the opportunities outlined in the report and its associated action plan.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Nov 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government whether an annual Christmas bonus for benefit claimants will be paid this year; if so, how many claimants will receive that bonus; and what the total cost will be, including administrative costs, to public funds.

The Christmas Bonus will be paid this year. The Christmas Bonus is an annual, tax-free, lump sum payment to pensioners and to working aged people who, during the relevant week (which is usually the first full week in December) are entitled to payment of certain qualifying benefits and who are resident in the UK, an EEA state or Switzerland.

The qualifying benefits are:

State Pension; Pension Credit; Widowed Mother's/Parent's Allowance; Widows' Pension; Industrial Death Benefit by way of Widow's or Widower's Pension; War Widow's Pensions; Long-Term Incapacity Benefit; Personal Independence Payment; Adult Disability Payment; Child Disability Payment; Transitionally-Protected Severe Disablement Allowance; Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Unemployability Supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes; Carer's Allowance; Mobility Supplement; War Disablement Pension (if over age 65); Armed Forces Independence payment; and contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)

In most cases the bonus is paid automatically with whichever qualifying benefit an individual receives, which ensures administration costs are kept to a minimum.

The number of benefit claimants expected to receive the annual Christmas bonus, based on 2022/23 forecasts are 16,443,000.

The total cost in real terms, based on 2022/23 forecasts is £164 million.

Source: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

25th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 19 January (HL5097), why they are unable to provide an answer as to when they expect to see the overall figure for benefit fraud reduce back to levels seen prior to March 2020.

The Department is determined to take decisive action and bring the collective weight of government to bear on this growing challenge

We stated in the recent Treasury Minutes (Government Response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-Second to the Twenty Sixth reports from Session 2021-22), that following confirmation from Her Majesty’s Treasury on the Department’s funding, we will be setting our Fraud and Error targets shortly.

5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the overall figure for benefit fraud to reduce back to the levels seen prior to March 2020.

We are developing the options for setting an overall fraud and error target. Targets will reflect the recent announcement of an additional £510m investment and the attendant initiatives we are developing to further reduce the fraud and error rate.

We will provide more information on this in our 2022 Annual Report and Accounts.

20th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how they ensure that the correct tax is paid by small high street businesses, such as barbers and nail salons, that only accept cash for their goods and services and do not provide receipts.

The Government is committed to creating a level playing field for all sectors by ensuring that everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time. Like all other businesses, those which exclusively accept cash must meet their tax obligations.

HMRC’s approach to tax evasion aims to tackle current non-compliance and change future behaviours. Their activities include national campaigns and specialist task forces that incorporate intensive bursts of activity in targeted high risk trade sectors (including the retail and service industry) and locations across the UK. HMRC also works with customer groups and third parties, such as other local and central Government agencies, to reduce error and fraud within these sectors. This includes providing customer education highlighting the importance of keeping accurate records.

HMRC take any report of suspected tax evasion seriously and operate a confidential Fraud Telephone Hotline and an online reporting tool available on GOV.UK.

Baroness Penn
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
2nd Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the fairness of staying time limits for UK visitors to the EU compared to those for EU visitors to the UK; and what plans they have to change UK staying time limits for EU visitors to match those for UK visitors to the EU, either by agreement with the EU or unilaterally.

The UK has a competitive offer for global visitors. All visitors to the UK from across the globe (including those from the EU) are permitted to come for up to 6 months maximum on any single visit as per our Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk),

There are no current plans to change the Visitor route duration period. The permitted length of stay for visitors to the UK does not depend on the length of stay available to UK citizens which inevitably vary globally. We operate our immigration system in the interest of the UK.

12th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any policy in place, expressed or implied, that prevents or deters ex-armed forces personnel from being accepted into any part of the police force.

Police officer recruits are welcomed from all backgrounds, subject to passing the recruitment standards set by the College of Policing. This includes those who have served in the military and our unprecedented recruitment campaign sought to promote and amplify these opportunities.

The Police Uplift Programme engaged with relevant organisations to encourage applications from those with armed forces experience and a specific military access pathway pilot, led by Nottinghamshire Police, has recently concluded. Further roll out of this scheme is currently being considered by the College of Policing as part of wider work on police entry routes.

A survey of new police officer recruits, conducted in 2022 as part of the Police Uplift Programme, found that 3% of the preceding year’s recruits had military experience prior to joining the police. However, the Home Office does not hold data to allow an assessment of whether this proportion reflects the backgrounds of the wider police force.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
12th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the current police force is made up of ex-armed forces personnel.

The Home Office does not hold information on serving officers’ professional background.

A survey of new police officer recruits, conducted in 2022 as part of the Police Uplift Programme, found that 3% of the preceding year’s recruits had military experience prior to joining the police. However, the Home Office does not hold data to assess whether this proportion reflects the backgrounds of the wider police force.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
12th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce requirements to prevent non-resident EU citizens from remaining in the UK for longer than 90 days out of 180 days, without obtaining a visa valid for 6 months at their own expense.

All visitors to the UK (including those from the EU) are permitted to come for up to 6 months, regardless of their nationality or whether they require a visa in advance of travelling to the UK.

Nationals of EU Member States do not currently require a visa to visit the UK.