Bell Ribeiro-Addy Portrait

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Labour - Streatham

First elected: 12th December 2019



Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Bell Ribeiro-Addy has voted in 768 divisions, and 8 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Mar 2021 - Coronavirus - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Labour No votes vs 176 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
30 Dec 2020 - European Union (Future Relationship) Bill - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Labour No votes vs 162 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 521 Noes - 73
30 Dec 2020 - European Union (Future Relationship) Bill - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Labour No votes vs 162 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 521 Noes - 73
3 Nov 2021 - Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Labour No votes vs 53 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 44
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Labour No votes vs 142 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Labour No votes vs 124 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
10 Jan 2022 - Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Labour No votes vs 148 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 458 Noes - 53
12 Sep 2023 - Dangerous Drugs - View Vote Context
Bell Ribeiro-Addy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Labour No votes vs 130 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 404 Noes - 36
View All Bell Ribeiro-Addy 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
Priti Patel (Conservative)
(10 debate interactions)
Chris Philp (Conservative)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(6 debate interactions)
Nigel Evans (Conservative)
(6 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(53 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(28 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Public Order Act 2023
(2,249 words contributed)
Nationality and Borders Act 2022
(1,986 words contributed)
Finance Act 2021
(1,816 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Bell Ribeiro-Addy's debates

Streatham 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).

Petition Debates Contributed

The Home office is charging almost ten times the actual processing cost of indefinite leave to remain application fee from overseas health care workers. The Government should stop making profit from foreign health workers and instead seek to retain those foreign doctors and nurses in our NHS.

Amend legislation to make it a legal requirement for a driver to stop & report accidents involving cats.

Ensure any ban fully includes trans people and all forms of conversion therapy.

Endometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.

Much like the existing mandatory requirement for employers with 250 or more employees must publish their gender pay gap. We call upon the government to introduce the ethnicity pay gap reporting. To shine a light on race / ethnicity based inequality in the workplace so that they can be addressed.

Currently, it is not compulsory for primary or secondary school students to be educated on Britain's role in colonisation, or the transatlantic slave trade. We petition the government to make education on topics such as these compulsory, with the ultimate aim of a far more inclusive curriculum.

Black Women in the U.K. are 5 times more likely to die during pregnancy and after childbirth compared to White Women (MBRRACE, 2019). We need more research done into why this is happening and recommendations to improve health care for Black Women as urgent action is needed to address this disparity.

The University and College Union has repeatedly called on its members to strike. However, strikes are ineffective if students, not employees are the main source of revenue. For this to change, government needs to step in and require universities to reimburse tuition fees lost due to strike action.

All students should be reimbursed of this years tuition fees as universities are now online only due to COVID-19, with only powerpoints online for learning materials which is not worthy of up to £9,250. Furthermore, all assessments are being reconsidered to ‘make do’ and build up credits.

As students are unable to access facilities or continue with their eduction at their university setting in the following semester, we would like to request that the government considers refunding tuition payments for Semester 3.

The quality of online lectures is not equal to face-to-face lectures. Students should not have to pay full tuition fees for online lectures, without experiencing university life. The Government should require UK universities to partially refund tuition fees while online teaching is implemented.

Students across the UK have returned to University to be told our learning will be predominantly online for the foreseeable future. The Government should therefore lower our tuition fees and we should receive a partial refund for the effects this will have on our learning and university experience.


Latest EDMs signed by Bell Ribeiro-Addy

22nd March 2024
Bell Ribeiro-Addy signed this EDM on Monday 25th March 2024

Four-day working week

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
That this House understands the importance of exploring the possibility of a shorter working week, including a four-day week, which trials have shown can benefit workers, employers, the economy, society and the environment; recognises that companies in the world's biggest four-day week trial saw healthy growth, with an average revenue …
23 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Scottish National Party: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Independent: 1
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
22nd March 2024
Bell Ribeiro-Addy signed this EDM on Friday 22nd March 2024

Office of National Statistics and mandatory attendance at workplaces

Tabled by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
That this House expresses support and solidarity with the 1,200 Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) union members working for the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in Newport, Titchfield, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh who are currently balloting for industrial action over mandatory attendance at workplaces; notes that there was …
27 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 20
Scottish National Party: 5
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Bell Ribeiro-Addy's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Bell Ribeiro-Addy, 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.



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
10 Other Department Questions
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make BS 8300 a legal requirement.

Individual departments are responsible for ensuring that the provisions of the Equality Act are delivered across their department. The Disability Action Plan consultation document set out the Government's work over the last 12 months as well as planned work in 2023/24. This included highlighting work undertaken by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on accessibility and building regulations, and their plans in the upcoming months.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department plans to take to support the Ministry of Justice on delivering the Young Women's Strategy.

My Equality Hub officials and I work closely with the Ministry of Justice on a range of issues, including those relating to gender. We will continue to work with our colleagues at the Ministry as they work to bring together best practice and evidence about how to support young women, and provide the right services at every stage of their journey through the criminal justice system.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
23rd Jan 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Living in Love and Faith consultation, what discussions he has had with senior Church leaders on the Bishops' proposal to be put to General Synod on the outcomes of that consultation.

I have held discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London as part of my briefing on the House of Bishops’ response. As Second Church Estates Commissioner it is my intention to attend the General Synod debate on Living in Love and Faith, and to convey to the Synod the views that have been presented to me in Parliament.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, in the context of the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process and the forthcoming General Synod, whether the Commissioners have made assessment of the potential impact of the Church of England's exemptions from the Equality Act 2010 on LGBT+ people.

The National Church Institutions have made no such assessment. The exceptions in the Equality Act are for all religious organisations rather than for the Church of England specifically. It is unlikely that any of the exceptions will be engaged by Living in Love and Faith and therefore no assessment has been carried out.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
22nd Feb 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle hair discrimination in (a) dress code policies in schools and (b) places of work.

The Equality Act 2010 covers both education and employment settings.

In formulating its school uniform policy, a school must consider its obligations not to discriminate unlawfully under equality law. The Department for Education provides guidance to help schools understand how the Equality Act affects them and how to fulfil their duties under the Act. The guidance makes clear to schools that decisions related to appearance, including on hair, must be made in accordance with their responsibilities under the Equality Act.

In the workplace, any absolute ban on someone’s ability to manifest their religious beliefs through a chosen hairstyle could constitute direct discrimination because of religion and therefore would be likely to be unlawful, while a ban on hairstyles associated with a particular ethnicity could constitute indirect discrimination because of race which would require the employer imposing the ban to justify why it was necessary, for instance because of health and safety reasons.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the timescale is for allowing churches to resume choir singing; and what guidance will be published for churches on resuming choir singing safely during the covid-19 outbreak.

The timescale for allowing churches to resume choral singing is a matter for Public Health England and the Government. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on the 9th July, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
25th Jun 2020
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England has taken to provide financial support to single parish churches to avoid the redundancy, salary review and staff restructuring of employed musicians.

In March, the Church Commissioners and Archbishops’ Council announced over £75m of liquidity support to dioceses and cathedrals. This money included allowing dioceses in financial need to access up to three months forbearance on sums required for the national clergy payroll [or clergy stipends] for a limited period and paying monthly grants in full for 2020. In May the National Church Institutions announced a diocesan grant scheme supported by the Church Commissioners, which totalled up to £35m of sustainability funding.

The Church Commissioners are unable to make grants directly to Parochial Church Councils and parish churches. Parishes employ staff such as musicians, assistants, and lay workers in a variety of ways. Where the Parochial Church Council directly employs an individual, the individual would have been eligible to be placed on furlough under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
25th Jun 2020
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that church musicians and choirs can safely resume their work as soon as possible under Government guidelines; and what assessment the Church has made of the implications for its policies of medical evidence on the transmission risk of choirs and congregations in church settings.

The Church of England is working with the Government and Public Health England to restore choirs and singing to services as soon as it is safe to do so. There has been limited research available for Public Health England to use to make an informed assessment about the safety of singing, and the choir of Salisbury Cathedral is currently participating in a study organised by Public Health England to enable it to make these decisions in an informed manner. We await further guidance from the Government and Public Health England once these trials have been concluded.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackling inequalities experienced by the BAME community as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Guided by medical and scientific expertise, the Government has implemented significant measures to reduce the spread of the virus in all communities, especially for people who may be at higher risk. This includes targeted testing of occupations and groups at higher risk; guidance for NHS organisations on how to enhance their existing risk assessments particularly for potentially at-risk groups within their workforce; and translating the latest information into multiple languages and forms to meet accessibility needs.

In addition to these measures, on 4 June as Minister for Equalities, I announced Government’s next steps to address the disparities identified in the Public Health England (PHE) Report “COVID-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes”. The Minister will be working with the Race Disparity Unit (RDU) and the Department for Health and Social Care with support from officials across other departments and their agencies to carry forward this vital work. This includes reviewing the effectiveness and impact of current actions being undertaken by relevant government departments and their agencies to directly lessen disparities in infection and death rates of COVID-19.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
27th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment her Department has made of the findings in the recent report published by Big Brother Watch titled Ministry of Truth: The Secretive Government Units Spying On Your Speech.

I refer the Hon. member to the answers given to PQs 148800, 148801, 148802 on 28 February 2023.

The Rapid Response Unit was used to understand the spread of information and potential disinformation, and help inform how the Government communicates effectively with the public.

Online disinformation is a serious threat to the UK, which is why we brought together expertise from across government to monitor disinformation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. These units used publicly available data, including material shared on social media platforms, to assess UK disinformation trends and narratives. They have since been disbanded and the learning and expertise is now being replicated across the wider Government Communications Service.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Rapid Response Unit has collected information on (a) sitting Members, (b) former Members, (c) political activists and (d) political organisations since the Unit's formation.

The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was created in 2018 to strengthen the Government’s ability to deal with the challenge of identifying disinformation being spread online. It ran throughout the pandemic, but has since been disbanded. The RRU monitored news and information being shared and engaged with online, using only public and openly available information to do so. In analysing social media trends to identify key narratives and themes, in some instances it collected published material on organisations or individuals with a public profile.

Where the RRU identified instances of misinformation which were gaining traction it would highlight that information within Government to the relevant department to take action if they felt it was required.

The RRU was a small team with less than 10 members of staff and an annual staffing budget up to £450,000.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding has been provided to the Rapid Response Unit in each year since that unit's formation.

The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was created in 2018 to strengthen the Government’s ability to deal with the challenge of identifying disinformation being spread online. It ran throughout the pandemic, but has since been disbanded. The RRU monitored news and information being shared and engaged with online, using only public and openly available information to do so. In analysing social media trends to identify key narratives and themes, in some instances it collected published material on organisations or individuals with a public profile.

Where the RRU identified instances of misinformation which were gaining traction it would highlight that information within Government to the relevant department to take action if they felt it was required.

The RRU was a small team with less than 10 members of staff and an annual staffing budget up to £450,000.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Rapid Response Unit was formed; and for what purpose.

The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was created in 2018 to strengthen the Government’s ability to deal with the challenge of identifying disinformation being spread online. It ran throughout the pandemic, but has since been disbanded. The RRU monitored news and information being shared and engaged with online, using only public and openly available information to do so. In analysing social media trends to identify key narratives and themes, in some instances it collected published material on organisations or individuals with a public profile.

Where the RRU identified instances of misinformation which were gaining traction it would highlight that information within Government to the relevant department to take action if they felt it was required.

The RRU was a small team with less than 10 members of staff and an annual staffing budget up to £450,000.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister received advice on prospective Cabinet members' financial and tax affairs when considering Cabinet appointments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 25 January 2023, Official Report, Columns 1001 – 1012.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to end male primogeniture.

Reform of the succession to the hereditary peerage raises a variety of complex issues and therefore any changes need careful consideration and wider engagement.

4th Jun 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will allow up to 60 people to attend weddings after the 21 June 2021.

We recognise that any restrictions on weddings may be disappointing for those planning such events. We do not wish to keep restrictions in place for any longer than we have to.

At Step 4, which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the Government aims to remove all restrictions on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions.

The decision on whether to proceed to Step 4 will be taken a week in advance of 21 June in order to take into account the latest data. Guidance will then be updated as soon as possible.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Dec 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to grant British citizens living abroad lifelong entitlement to vote.

The Government is committed to scrapping the arbitrary rule that prevents British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from participating in UK parliamentary elections.

The Government is considering the appropriate legislative vehicle to deliver votes for life, which is a manifesto commitment, and we will make an announcement on our intentions in due course.

30th Oct 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for all publicly-funded building projects first to investigate retrofitting of existing buildings.

The Government has already put in place a number of measures that require decision-makers in the public sector to consider refurbishment and retro-fitting improvements to existing buildings, rather than commissioning new-build solutions automatically.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
15th Oct 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister is responsible for auditing the algorithms used by Government; and what steps that Minister takes to audit those algorithms.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ83803 on 10 September 2020.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Oct 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on transparency on Government algorithms.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ83803 on 10 September 2020.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to undertake a (a) reassessment of and (b) civil society consultation on UKEF's support for Mozambique LNG before any work on the project restarts.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project.

Given these discussions, I am unable to comment further for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) her Department and (b) UKEF have had with Total Energies on (i) lifting the force majeure and (ii) restarting work on the Mozambique LNG project.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project.

Given these discussions, I am unable to comment further for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress UKEF has made on (a) determining scope one and two and (b) estimating scope three emissions in its portfolio until 2050.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) publishes a partial scope one and two emissions inventory in its Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), consistent with the Greening Government Commitments.

The ARA also includes a partial scope 3 emissions inventory, including emissions associated with business travel, and (since financial year 2020/2021) estimates of its financed emissions. UKEF’s ARAs are laid in Parliament annually and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-annual-reports-and-accounts.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the report by Jean-Christophe Rufin entitled Report on the socioeconomic, humanitarian and human rights situation in the PalmaAfungi-Mocímboa area, published by Total Energy in May 2023, whether she has made an assessment of the extent to which the recommendations from that report (a) have been implemented and (b) will be implemented before any work resumes on the Mozambique LNG project.

The Mozambique LNG Project sponsors have developed, and are currently implementing, an Action Plan to address the recommendations set out in the report by independent expert, Jean-Christophe Rufin. M. Rufin has been commissioned monitor the implementation of the Action Plan.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to encourage UK-listed companies to pay the real living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Government is responsible for setting the statutory minimum wage rates. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has gained international respect for their high-quality work. Therefore, it is right that we continue to take the expert and independent advice of the LPC when setting the minimum wage rates. The key distinction between the LPC rates and the Living Wage Foundation’s Voluntary Living Wage, is that LPC calculations consider the impact on businesses and the economy.

We commend employers who pay above the National Minimum Wage/National Living Wage when they can afford to do so. The Living Wage Foundation are clear their measure is voluntary.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
28th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing neonatal care leave and pay before April 2025.

We are committed to introducing Neonatal Care Leave and Pay as quickly as possible. Work is ongoing across Government to deliver these new entitlements.

Delivery requires updates to HM Revenue and Customs IT systems, support for employers and payroll providers to implement changes, guidance for employers and individuals, and for Parliamentary consideration of a significant amount of secondary legislation. These actions will take approximately 18 months.

It is also necessary to align the ‘go live’ date with the start of a tax year. This means April 2025 is the earliest date for the introduction of Neonatal Care Leave and Pay.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
22nd Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to commence the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.

Provisions in the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 will commence ahead of the planned implementation date for the new entitlements, in April 2025. Work is ongoing across Government to deliver these new entitlements.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on measures the Government is taking to improve the quality of human rights assessments used to inform UK Export Finance's decisions.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) strictly follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights (ESHR) risks and impacts of relevant projects. Where UKEF provides support to such projects it undertakes on-going ESHR monitoring over the period of that support.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on making an assessment of the human rights situation in Cabo Delgado and UK Export Finance's potential future support for Mozambique LNG.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) strictly follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights (ESHR) risks and impacts of relevant projects. Where UKEF provides support to such projects it undertakes on-going ESHR monitoring over the period of that support.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on making an assessment of the human rights situation relating to the Mozambique LNG project.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) strictly follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights (ESHR) risks and impacts of relevant projects. Where UKEF provides support to such projects it undertakes on-going ESHR monitoring over the period of that support.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will review the TotalEnergies-commissioned assessment by Jean-Christophe Rufin of the humanitarian situation in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique before taking a decision on whether to release UKEF support for Mozambique LNG ahead of operations restarting this year.

Officials from UK Export Finance (UKEF) have not seen the assessment but will review it when it becomes available. The declaration by TotalEnergies of force majeure remains in place. Officials from UK Export Finance are monitoring the situation closely.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate she has made of when Totalenergies plans to lift the force majeure and restart work on the Mozambique LNG project.

The declaration by TotalEnergies of force majeure remains in place. Officials from UK Export Finance are monitoring the situation closely and will review new information as it becomes available.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
1st Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of infrastructure in the UK to (a) capture carbon from woody biomass burning at scale and (b) transport and store carbon dioxide.

As part of the cluster sequencing process, the Department has previously undertaken assessments of the potential CCUS capabilities of industrial clusters across the UK. The guidance and eligibility criteria for these assessments is available on gov.uk. The UK holds an estimated 78 billion tonnes of theoretical CO2 storage capacity in the UK continental shelf.

Whilst Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is not currently operating at scale in the UK, a 2021 evaluation of greenhouse gas removal technologies found BECCS to be at a technology readiness level of six out of a possible nine.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's consultation on a transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass generators, published on 18 January 2024, for what reason 31 March 2024 was chosen as the deadline for any party who considers they may be eligible for transitional support to contact her Department.

Biomass plays a key role in delivering a more secure, clean energy sector. Capturing emissions from power bioenergy with carbon capture and storage can remove significant volumes of CO2 from the atmosphere and support our net zero ambitions.

The date by which we have asked generators who consider they may be eligible to contact us is in line with the timeframes for potential negotiations which is outlined in the consultation. Any future formal eligibility assessment, subject to the outcome of the consultation, will be set out in the government response.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's consultation on a transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass generators, published on 18 January 2024, what steps she has taken to (a) cost and (b) carry out a cost/benefit analysis of the options for new subsidies in that consultation.

Any potential transitional support mechanism must be affordable and will be subject to rigorous value for money assessments to ensure tax and bill payer money is spent wisely. Further details of the cost-benefit analysis can be found in the Impact Assessment which accompanies the consultation publication.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to her Department's consultation on a transitional support mechanism for large-scale biomass generators, published on 18 January 2024, what steps she has taken to ensure that the subsidies proposed in that consultation would not allow biomass companies to receive subsidies without capturing any carbon.

The consultation on potential transitional support arrangements for large scale biomass generators is with the express intention of facilitating their transition to power BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) in future, which will deliver valuable negative carbon emissions.

Subsidies under the future power BECCS business model are not considered within the scope of this consultation on potential transitional support.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
10th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will launch a consultation before the summer recess on options for a new approach to consumer protection in the energy markets from April 2024 onwards, including on the introduction of a social tariff.

As set out in the autumn statement, Government is exploring the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, as part of wider retail market reforms. The Government will set out its proposals in due course.

Up to then, in response to higher prices, the Government have put in place the Energy Price Guarantee and provided significant additional support to help those who need it most through this winter and into 2023-24.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what reasons the UK has not joined Horizon Europe; and what her planned timescale is for negotiating the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.

On 7th September, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would associate to Horizon Europe. The Government has negotiated a bespoke deal in the UK’s national interest and UK scientists can participate confidently in Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme of research cooperation.

27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what purpose the Counter Disinformation Unit was formed.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads the UK government’s operational response to domestic disinformation threats online, ensuring the government takes necessary steps to identify and respond to harmful misinformation and disinformation.

20th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report by Big Brother Watch entitled Ministry of Truth: The Secretive Government Units Spying On Your Speech, published in January 2023.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) monitors narratives, trends and attempts to artificially manipulate the information environment online. It does not monitor individuals, however the content reviewed may incidentally include personal data, such as names and social media handles embedded within content published on publicly available sites. The CDU has a legal basis for collecting or processing any personal data as set out in Article 6(1)(e) of the UK GDPR, and the processing is necessary for us in our work as a public body and in the public interest.

Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s role is not to spot every instance of disinformation but where harmful content is identified in the course of the CDU’s work which may breach a platform Terms of Service, this may be referred to the relevant platform who will consider whether or not to take any action. The CDU’s work is consistent with the Government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet and as such no action is taken on any content originating from journalists or politicians.

20th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding her Department provided to the Counter Disinformation Unit in each year since that Unit's formation.

Addressing the challenges of disinformation is a whole of the government effort. The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) is a team within the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) which works in close partnership with other government teams. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed. It would not be appropriate to comment on funding levels publicly as doing so would give malign actors insight into the scale of our capabilities.

20th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Counter Disinformation Unit has collected information on (a) sitting Members, (b) former Members, (c) political activists and (d) political organisations since the Unit's formation.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) monitors narratives, trends and attempts to artificially manipulate the information environment online. It does not monitor individuals, however the content reviewed may incidentally include personal data, such as names and social media handles embedded within content published on publicly available sites. The CDU has a legal basis for collecting or processing any personal data as set out in Article 6(1)(e) of the UK GDPR, and the processing is necessary for us in our work as a public body and in the public interest.

Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s role is not to spot every instance of disinformation but where harmful content is identified in the course of the CDU’s work which may breach a platform Terms of Service, this may be referred to the relevant platform who will consider whether or not to take any action. The CDU’s work is consistent with the Government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet and as such no action is taken on any content originating from journalists or politicians.

8th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure landlords and letting agents are passing on the Energy Bill Discount to tenants in properties with a heat network.

If a heat network customer has a domestic electricity meter, they should already be in receipt of the Energy Bills Support Scheme. On 1 November, Government regulations came into force requiring intermediaries, such as landlords, to pass on energy bill support through to end users, such as tenants.

If a customer does not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, EBSS alternative Funding will provide a £400 support for energy bills. Eligibility, timescales and method of delivery will be announced shortly.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) maintain and (b) strengthen the rights of employees of umbrella companies.

The Government recently ran a Call for Evidence on the umbrella company market, which closed on 22 February 2022. Officials in HM Treasury and HMRC are working closely together to analyse the evidence submitted and will publish a summary of responses in due course. The Government is also continuing to work closely with business to improve compliance across the sector.

4th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that SMEs in Streatham are (a) kept up to date with any changes to covid-19 restrictions and (b) supported with any measures they may be required to take in response to those changes.

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has recognised the need to provide businesses, workers and the public with as much notice as possible of any changes to COVID-19 restrictions.

We published our Autumn and Winter plan for managing COVID-19 last September, including details of Plan B measures should they be required. Plan B measures are now in place to slow the spread of the virus and ease pressure on the NHS, while minimising the impact on lives and livelihoods.

The Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support for the economy through the pandemic to date, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK.

4th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support SMEs in Streatham that are experiencing cancellations and a decline in footfall during the covid-19.

Recognising that the rise of the Omicron variant means some businesses are likely to struggle over this period, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 21 December that additional support will be available for businesses who have been impacted by the new variant.

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant provides local councils with one-off grant funding to support hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in England. Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-omicron-hospitality-and-leisure-grant.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support businesses that are severely impacted by coronavirus and the rise of the Omicron variant, which are not eligible for other grant funding. Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-additional-restrictions-grant. Around 200,000 businesses will be eligible for business grants which will be administered by Local Authorities. The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund is open until March 2022.

The Recovery Loan Scheme is open to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes. At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced an extension of the scheme for SMEs from 1 January 2022 until 30 June 2022.

19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle discrimination against black (a) players and (b) ex-players in football.

There is no place for discrimination in sport, or in wider society. I am committed to ensuring sport does all it can to tackle racism and all forms of discrimination both domestically and internationally.

Fans can be charged with a Football Banning Order and fined if found to use racist slurs towards players at football games. Sentences can be more severe if it has been recorded as a hate crime.

The Government has also amended legislation to extend the use of Football Banning Orders, so that online abusers can be banned from stadiums for up to 10 years in the same way violent individuals are barred from grounds.

I would be happy to meet the Black Footballers Association to discuss black representation in football.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)