Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
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).
Reduce Indefinite leave to remain fees from £2389 to £243 for Health workers
Gov Responded - 1 Feb 2022 Debated on - 30 Jan 2023 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsThe 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.
Make it a legal requirement for drivers to stop & report collisions with cats
Gov Responded - 22 Feb 2022 Debated on - 9 Jan 2023 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsAmend legislation to make it a legal requirement for a driver to stop & report accidents involving cats.
Ensure Trans people are fully protected under any conversion therapy ban
Gov Responded - 12 May 2022 Debated on - 13 Jun 2022 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsEnsure any ban fully includes trans people and all forms of conversion therapy.
Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Gov Responded - 24 Aug 2020 Debated on - 1 Nov 2021 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsEndometriosis 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.
Introduce Mandatory Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting
Gov Responded - 30 Jul 2020 Debated on - 20 Sep 2021 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsMuch 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.
Teach Britain's colonial past as part of the UK's compulsory curriculum
Gov Responded - 30 Jul 2020 Debated on - 28 Jun 2021 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsCurrently, 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.
Improve Maternal Mortality Rates and Health Care for Black Women in the U.K.
Gov Responded - 25 Jun 2020 Debated on - 19 Apr 2021 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsBlack 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.
Require universities to reimburse students' tuition fees during strike action
Gov Responded - 21 Apr 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsThe 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.
Reimburse all students of this year’s fees due to strikes and COVID-19
Gov Responded - 5 Jun 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsAll 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.
Refund university students for 3rd Semester Tuition 2020
Gov Responded - 19 May 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsAs 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.
Require universities to partially refund tuition fees for 20/21 due to Covid-19
Gov Responded - 24 Sep 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsThe 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.
Lower university tuition fees for students until online teaching ends
Gov Responded - 30 Oct 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Bell Ribeiro-Addy's petition debate contributionsStudents 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.
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.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Bell Ribeiro-Addy has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Offensive Weapons Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Tax Reform Commission Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
National Eye Health Strategy Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Marsha De Cordova (Lab)
Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Bullying and respect at work Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rachael Maskell (LAB)
Bereavement Leave and Pay (Stillborn and Miscarried Babies) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Sarah Owen (Lab)
Abuse of Public-facing Workers (Offences) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Olivia Blake (Lab)
Transport (Disabled Passenger Charter) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Charlotte Nichols (Lab)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Business Standards Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - John McDonnell (Lab)
Equal Pay (Information and Claims) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Stella Creasy (LAB)
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reform of the succession to the hereditary peerage raises a variety of complex issues and therefore any changes need careful consideration and wider engagement.
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.
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.
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.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ83803 on 10 September 2020.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ83803 on 10 September 2020.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.