Ben Goldsborough Portrait

Ben Goldsborough

Labour - South Norfolk

2,826 (5.7%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024


Ben Goldsborough has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Ben Goldsborough has voted in 277 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op))
(11 debate interactions)
Shabana Mahmood (Labour)
Home Secretary
(8 debate interactions)
Angela Rayner (Labour)
(6 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
HM Treasury
(14 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(9 debate contributions)
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Legislation Debates
Ben Goldsborough has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
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South Norfolk 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

We urge the Government to exempt BN(O) visa for Hongkongers from the proposed immigration reforms. We think the current ILR terms must remain unchanged:

1. Five years of UK residency
2. B1 level English proficiency
3. Passing the Life in the UK Test

Do not apply the proposed 10-year ILR rule to existing Skilled Worker visa holders. Keep the 5-year ILR route for those already in the UK on this visa. Apply any changes only to new applicants from the date of implementation.

We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.


Latest EDMs signed by Ben Goldsborough

Ben Goldsborough has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Ben Goldsborough, 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.


Ben Goldsborough has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Ben Goldsborough has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Ben Goldsborough has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Ben Goldsborough has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


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
15th Sep 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she has considered taking legislative steps to ensure that leaders of UK political parties publish their tax returns.

Under the MPs Code of Conduct, the Leaders of UK political parties who are MPs are required to declare any financial interest which might reasonably be thought to influence their actions, however there is no requirement in the parliamentary rules for Leaders, or any other MP, to publish their tax returns. The Government has no plans to introduce requirements for the leaders of UK political parties to publish their tax returns.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many heat pumps are installed on Government property.

Information on specific technologies such as heat pumps used across the Government estate is not held centrally. Across the office estate managed by Cabinet Office’s Government Property Agency, there are 2 buildings which are heated in part by heat pumps.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the number of jobs created via foreign direct investment in South Norfolk constituency in the last 12 months.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) works closely with local authorities and investment partners to monitor and support the impact of foreign direct investment in the South Norfolk constituency.

Foreign direct investment in the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area resulted in 14 FDI projects and the creation of 516 new jobs in 2023-24, including both single-site and multi-site projects. While this area covers South Norfolk, specific statistics for the parliamentary constituency are not published due to confidentiality concerns.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help support food producers from Norfolk to increase exports.

DBT provides a wide-ranging package of export support for food and drink businesses in Norfolk and across the whole of the UK. This includes educational support to upskill food producers via our Export Academy and one to one support from International Trade Advisors and our extensive overseas network, with trade advisors promoting UK food in over 100 countries. Overseas we deliver a comprehensive programme of trade shows, trade missions and events to connect exporters with buyer and new market opportunities. Our UK Export Finance agency helps companies access export finance, with a dedicated finance manager covering Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

5th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many and what proportion of workers aged above 16 years old are paid within 50p of the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in (i) East Anglia and (ii) Norfolk.

The Low Pay Commission publishes a report that provides a coverage of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) each year, shortly before the rates are updated in April. The report provides a Local Authority and Regional breakdown of NMW and NLW coverage, including those paid below or within 5p of the applicable rate. Data on those who are within 50p of the rates is not provided as part of the report.

5th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of workers that will be affected by the increase to the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in Norfolk.

In total, over 3 million workers are expected to receive a pay rise due to increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage in April 2025.

We will also publish an Impact Assessment alongside the legislation that implements the increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. The Impact Assessment will provide a regional and country breakdown on the number of workers benefitting from an increase.

25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help increase horticulture exports.

The Department for Business and Trade provides a comprehensive package of support to increase exports, including the Export Support Service, UK Export Finance and a network of trade advisers across the UK and overseas. The department remains committed to breaking down market access barriers affecting the horticultural industry, and to opening up new markets for horticultural exports through trade agreements.

21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the number of households that are in fuel poverty in (a) South Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk.

The latest statistics for the number of households in fuel poverty in 2022 in administrative areas and parliamentary constituencies in England can be found in the published sub-regional fuel poverty statistics, in Tables 2 and 4: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of the regulatory framework for ensuring public consultation on energy transmission projects and (b) take steps to ensure that statutory consultations on such projects include consultation on construction options.

For England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 sets out the consultation requirements that developers of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), including electricity transmission projects, are required to follow. In April 2024, new guidance was published for NSIPs which sets out the consultation milestone that requires developers to demonstrate that they have consulted adequately with communities. The developer’s statutory consultation needs to show compliance with the energy National Policy Statements, including in relation to construction. In Scotland, the Scottish Government’s good practice guidance sets out the expectations and requirements for consultation.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing community benefit for electricity infrastructure projects in the local community of (a) £50,000 (b) £200,000 and (c) £500,000 per electrical substation.

The previous government’s response to the consultation on community benefits for transmission network infrastructure was published in November 2023. This document outlines that, when combined with bill discounts and additional benefits for underground cables and substations, these levels of wider benefits could lead to benefits to society with an estimated value between £1.5bn - £7.8bn if improved acceptability reduces delays to network build. These benefits come from reduced network constraint costs and emissions savings.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-benefits-for-electricity-transmission-network-infrastructure

It is important for this Government that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it. We are currently considering how to ensure communities benefit from living near new onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he is undertaking a review of the eligibility criteria for community benefits for electricity transmission.

It is the Government’s priority to build support for developments by ensuring communities directly benefit, as per the commitments set out in the election manifesto. As such we are reviewing how to most effectively deliver community benefits for communities living near new electricity transmission network infrastructure.
Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing energy bill discounts of (a) £10,000 over ten years to people within 200 metres and (b) £20,000 over 20 years for people within 500 metres of an energy infrastructure project.

It is important for this Government that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it. We are currently considering how to ensure communities benefit from living near new onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to encourage communities to support renewable energy network connection infrastructure in their localities.

It is important for this Government that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it. We are currently considering ways that ensure communities benefit from living near new onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.

Strategic network planning will reduce the overall impact of infrastructure through coordination where appropriate. Networks plans take account of environmental and community impacts, alongside deliverability and economic cost, at every stage of network planning.

National Grid Electricity System Operator is developing the Electricity Transmission Design Principles.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing (a) £50,000, (b) £200,000 and (c) £500,000 per kilometre of overhead line to local authorities affected by new electricity infrastructure projects.

The previous government’s response to the consultation on community benefits for transmission network infrastructure was published in November 2023. This document outlines that, when combined with bill discounts and additional benefits for underground cables and substations, these levels of wider benefits could lead to benefits to society with an estimated value between £1.5bn - £7.8bn if improved acceptability reduces delays to network build. These benefits come from reduced network constraint costs and emissions savings.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-benefits-for-electricity-transmission-network-infrastructure

It is important for this Government that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it. We are currently considering how to ensure communities benefit from living near new onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing (a) £10,000, (b) £40,000 and (c) £100,000 per kilometre of underground line to local authorities affected by new electricity infrastructure projects.

The previous government’s response to the consultation on community benefits for transmission network infrastructure was published in November 2023. This document outlines that, when combined with bill discounts and additional benefits for overhead cables and substations, these levels of wider benefits could lead to benefits to society with an estimated value between £1.5bn - £7.8bn if improved acceptability reduces delays to network build. These benefits come from reduced network constraint costs and emissions savings.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-benefits-for-electricity-transmission-network-infrastructure

It is important for this Government that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it. We are currently considering how to ensure communities benefit from living near new onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of promoting community-owned energy projects in the East of England to (a) help achieve Net Zero targets and (b) provide greater support for infrastructure construction in localities affected.

Community projects will play a crucial role in the Government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, by saving families money and improving communities’ energy security.

Through the Government’s Local Power Plan, which will be delivered by Great British Energy, we will put local communities and stakeholders at the heart of the energy transition. Great British Energy will collaborate with private energy companies, local authorities, and cooperatives to roll-out small and medium-scale clean energy projects. This will save families money and ensure communities directly benefit from local developments.

Michael Shanks
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate funding for (a) innovation and (b) development in technology in South Norfolk constituency.

In 2021/22, UKRI invested £478 million in East Anglia.

For example, Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme is allocating up to £7.5 million to help SMEs in the East of England agri-tech and food technology cluster to grow. Norfolk County Council is one of the Launchpad’s partners.

Other UKRI investments in the region include the Next Generation Infrastructure programme, delivered jointly by the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory; and the Earlham Institute-coordinated BioFAIR, which will establish a transformative digital research infrastructure for life sciences.

15th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle antisocial behaviour in libraries.

Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances.

Libraries aim to deliver their services and activities within a safe and comfortable environment. The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 provides for a local authority to make byelaws regulating the use of and the conduct of persons in their public libraries.

The revised public library byelaws for England were published in March 2025, following close consultation between DCMS and Libraries Connected. The byelaws are intended to help libraries deliver their service within a safe and comfortable environment, to safeguard library property and to make libraries places everyone can enjoy. They assist the library workforce to deal with disruptive behaviour and allow for flexibility in dealing with local concerns.

Ian Murray
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Youth Investment Fund money has been allocated to (a) organisations, (b) authorities and (c) other entities with premises within South Norfolk constituency in each year since applications were open.

This Government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in this Government's National Youth Strategy will be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector, and will be dependent on Spending Review decisions.

Over £120,000 has been invested in South Norfolk and an additional £1.4 million in the wider Norfolk County through the Youth Investment Fund.

The Secretary of State’s Written Statement, of 15 May 2025, sets out the Department’s 2025/26 funding for youth programmes - an investment of over £145 million - to provide stability to the youth sector and ensure young people can continue to access opportunities, as we transition to the new National Youth Strategy.

The package of funding includes £79.4 million of reprofiled Youth Investment Fund Phase 2 to ensure the successful delivery of projects scheduled for completion in 2025/26. This includes the pipeline of 25 Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) projects.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of funding allocated through the Youth Investment Fund has been allocated to (a) Town and (b) Parish Councils in each year applications were open.

This Government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in this Government's National Youth Strategy will be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector, and will be dependent on Spending Review decisions.

Over £120,000 has been invested in South Norfolk and an additional £1.4 million in the wider Norfolk County through the Youth Investment Fund.

The Secretary of State’s Written Statement, of 15 May 2025, sets out the Department’s 2025/26 funding for youth programmes - an investment of over £145 million - to provide stability to the youth sector and ensure young people can continue to access opportunities, as we transition to the new National Youth Strategy.

The package of funding includes £79.4 million of reprofiled Youth Investment Fund Phase 2 to ensure the successful delivery of projects scheduled for completion in 2025/26. This includes the pipeline of 25 Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) projects.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much money released by the Dormant Assets scheme has been allocated to (a) England, (b) East Anglia and (c) Norfolk in each year since the scheme began.

As of 2023/24, a total of £826 million has been allocated from the Dormant Assets Scheme to England, with DCMS responsible for this portion of funding. This is broken down by year as follows: 2011/12: £39.9 million; 2012/13: £41.6 million; 2013/14: £70 million; 2014/15: £41.1 million; 2015/16: £30.7 million; 2016/17: £79.1 million; 2017/18: £128 million; 2018/19: £59.8 million; 2019/20: £57.6 million; 2020/21: £75.6 million; 2021/22: £44.8 million; 2022/23: £77.9 million; and 2023/24: £79.9 million.

To date, this has been distributed by four independent, expert organisations set up with the explicit purpose of delivering dormant assets funding: Youth Futures Foundation, Fair4All Finance, Better Society Capital, and Access: The Foundation for Social Investment. Dormant assets funding seeks to address entrenched societal challenges through long-term, innovative programmes at a national scale, and is not allocated on a regional basis.

Examples of how dormant assets funding has benefited East Anglia and Norfolk include Fair4All Finance investing £88,240 in community finance organisations in Norwich to support people in vulnerable circumstances by improving their access to fair and affordable financial products and services. Additionally, Asperger East Anglia received a £35,000 loan from Access’s Growth Fund, funded by dormant assets.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
15th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of young people classed as NEET in South Norfolk constituency.

Local authorities have statutory duties to support young people into education and training, including identifying and helping those who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Under the September Guarantee, local authorities are required to ensure that all 16 and 17-year-olds receive an offer of a suitable place to continue in education or training. The government monitors NEET data and liaises with local authorities regarding their duty to track and support young people who are NEET, or are at risk of becoming NEET.

We have invested over £7.5 billion in 16 to 19 programme funding during the 2024/25 academic year. However, we are aware of the particular challenges around access to education and training in Norfolk which relate to the local provider market. Departmental officials are working closely with these local authorities to actively address the issues.

Josh MacAlister
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
11th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the proportion of funding for commercial early years providers that comes from voluntary contributions.

As the entitlements are expanded, it is vitally important that they remain accessible and affordable for families.

Providers can ask parents to pay for consumables. However, in line with a recent High Court judgment, charges must not be mandatory or a condition of accessing a funded place.

The department publishes data on the proportion of income providers get from parent-paid fees, entitlement funding and other income in our annual provider finances report. The most recent report is for 2023 and is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673b14b8fc572967fe66a92e/Providers__finances_Evidence_from_the_2023_Survey_of_Childcare_and_Early_Years_Providers.pdf.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the updated school food standards promote the procurement of food from local producers and growers.

The department is engaging with stakeholders on revising the school food standards, to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history.

Schools are responsible for their school meals service and how and where they choose to buy their produce. Schools can voluntarily follow the government's buying standards.

Additionally, The National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February 2025, underscores the government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts, which we believe our high-quality British producers are well-placed to meet.

Alongside this, the government’s wider food strategy will create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system, boosting our food security, improving our health, ensuring economic growth, and delivering environmental sustainability.

As with all aspects of the school food standards review, we will consider our approaches to procurement of locally grown produce.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department calculated the funding rate for each (a) child and (b) age group for early years provision.

The hourly funding rate for the early years entitlements varies to reflect the costs of delivering provision to different ages. The department knows, from listening to the sector and from our own regular research, that the cost of delivery is highest for younger children due to tighter staffing ratios and, consequently, higher staff costs, as staffing makes up the most significant proportion of provider costs.

Each local authority receives an hourly rate for each entitlement, determined by the early years national funding formulae (EYNFF). The EYNFF targets funding to local authorities where it is needed most, reflecting the relative needs of the children and costs of delivering provision in that area. Local authorities are responsible for setting individual provider funding rates in consultation with their providers and schools forum, and fund providers using their own local funding formula.

Further details of how early years entitlements funding is distributed, including a detailed methodology document on the EYNFF and operational guidance, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-funding-2025-to-2026.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to compare best practice in (a) the UK and (b) other countries in the development of its policies on early years provision.

The department meets with Ministers and officials from across the UK and other nations to discuss developments, approaches and best practice in the provision of early education and childcare. International evidence, such as the OECD’s Education at a Glance publication, is used to identify high performing and innovative early years systems and inform policy development. England is a member of the British-Irish Council, in which we actively engage to collaborate on a wide range of education matters, including early education and childcare across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of full-time early years places at school-based nurseries.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The 2024 Department for Education Provider Survey shows that there were 322,000 registered places at school-based nurseries in 2024.

School-based nurseries are one part of this country's childcare and early years market.

Nurseries located on a school site can operate under different delivery models, such as nursery classes run by the school, a private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nursery leasing space on a school’s premises or operating on the school’s behalf, or provision run by a childminder, or group of childminders, leasing space on a school premises.

School-based nurseries are more likely to be led by graduate qualified staff, which is associated with higher quality provision for children. Additionally, the benefits of school-based nursery provision, including transition to school, were highlighted by many teachers working in schools with a nursery in the Kindred Squared school readiness report.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the disparity in progress 8 attainment between students who (a) are and (b) are not eligible for free school meals (i) in South Norfolk constituency and (ii) nationally.

Too many children are held back by their background, with gaps between disadvantaged children and their peers opening early and widening throughout their education. These gaps are not acceptable, which is why the Opportunity Mission will break the link between young people’s background and their success by helping all children achieve and thrive wherever they are in the country.

High and rising standards in every school, delivered though excellent teaching and a shared, knowledge-rich and engaging curriculum, are at the heart of the mission. Great schools need great teachers, and the quality of teaching is the single most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for children, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why the department has moved quickly by beginning work to recruit 6,500 expert teachers and launching the Curriculum and Assessment Review that will look closely at the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve, in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or with special educational needs or disabilities.

New Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams will drive higher standards, supporting all state schools by facilitating networking, sharing best practice and enabling schools to better access support, and learn from one another, in addition to providing bespoke intervention packages to driving up outcomes where standards are slipping.

To further support disadvantaged children, pupil premium funding is allocated to schools to support the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils and is worth over £2.9 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

Alongside this, in 2025/26, 10.6% (£5.1 billion) of the schools national funding formula (NFF) has been allocated through deprivation factors and 17.8% (£8.6 billion) has been allocated for additional needs overall. Furthermore, in 2025/26, on average, the most deprived schools have attracted the largest per pupil funding amounts through the schools NFF. This will help schools in their vital work to close attainment gaps and break down barriers to opportunity.

The department is also committed to offering free breakfast clubs in all state-funded schools with primary-aged pupils, ensuring every primary school child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school. From April 2025, up to 750 early adopter schools will be funded to provide access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes that includes food.

More widely, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education co-chairs the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce which will drive cross-government action on child poverty, starting with the development of an ambitious child poverty strategy, which will be published later this year.

14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much additional funding her Department has allocated for special educational needs provision by Norfolk County Council since the Autumn Budget 2024.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Following the Autumn Budget, the department is providing an increase of almost £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Norfolk County Council is being allocated over £153 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £11.1 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is an 8% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.

As also announced at the Autumn Budget, the department is receiving compensation in recognition of the increase in national insurance contributions paid by schools and other state-funded SEND provision. That funding is additional to the £1 billion increase in high needs funding. Due to timing constraints, it will be provided as a separate grant, alongside the 2025/26 DSG for local authorities, and the department will provide further information on the allocations as soon as possible.

14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support children in foster care and (b) the work of foster carers (i) in South Norfolk constituency and (ii) nationally.

The government is committed to ensuring that every child in care grows up with the love, care and support they need to achieve and thrive. All foster carers receive the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) to cover the costs of looking after the children in their care. In the 2025/26 financial year, the NMA is being uplifted by 3.55%.

The government is supporting children in care by expanding the Mockingbird Family Model, which is an innovative evidence-based approach. Relationships are central to the design of the programme which involves six to ten satellite families grouped into a constellation around a hub home carer.

In South Norfolk, this is being delivered as part of the Foster East Recruitment Hub, which launched in 2024 and comprises 12 neighbouring local authorities, including Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Luton, Thurrock, Southend, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.

Across England, ten fostering regional programmes are live, working with 64% of all local authorities to collaboratively recruit and retain foster carers who will provide loving homes, local to the children who need them. An additional £15 million was announced to support this programme in the budget and the department intends to move towards full national roll out in the next financial year. The department welcomes discussions with other local authorities about our national expansion plans.

29th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of children and young people who were waiting for an Education, Health and Care Plan decision after (a) less than six months, (b) six months to a year, (c) one to two years, (d) two to three years, (e) three to four years, (f) four to five years and (g) more than five years in the latest period for which data is available, broken down by local authority.

The department publishes official statistics on Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans annually, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. This includes data at local authority level on the rate of EHC plans issued within the deadline of 20 weeks.

The attached table contains details of assessments in 2023 by local authority and by the duration, in days, between the date of the request for assessment and the date of the assessment outcome. This includes those for whom a plan was issued and those with the decision not to issue a plan, but excludes cases where the assessment was withdrawn.

The person-level data collection on EHC plans is in its second year. As a result, we expect the quality of data returns to improve over time, as the collection becomes established. In particular, the recording of the dates of the assessment request and the assessment outcome is subject to data quality issues, which become especially prominent when looking at a low level of granularity. For this reason, cases over two years have been aggregated, and where the date of request is missing or was recorded after the outcome date, this is marked in the table as ‘not available’. The department continues to work with local authorities in understanding and improving the data collection.

22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many families with a child with (a) special educational needs and (b) pathological demand avoidance have been issued with a (i) parenting order, (ii) education supervision order, (iii) school attendance order and (iv) fine for poor school attendance in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not held by this department.

The department collects aggregate data on the use of parenting orders, education supervision orders and penalty notices from local authorities in England through the annual parental responsibility measures attendance census. No information is collected on characteristics of the children concerned. The available data is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/parental-responsibility-measures.

The department collects aggregate data on school attendance orders issued and revoked from local authorities in England through the new collection on elective home education and children missing education. No information is collected on characteristics of the children concerned. The available data is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/elective-home-education.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to concentrate the responsibility for tackling illegal meat imports into fewer bodies.

Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce a digital tool for travellers to identify what they can bring into Great Britain.

Defra is considering this recommendation in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered compelling airports to display information communicating (a) the emergency ban on personal imports and (b) biosecurity threats from illegal imports.

International passenger transport operators, including airport operators, have certain responsibilities for drawing their customers’ attention to rules for personal imports. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to establish a taskforce for illegal imports of products of animal origin.

Defra is considering this recommendation in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to establish a permanent personal import policy for goods entering Great Britain from the EU.

Defra keeps the rules for personal imports of meat and dairy products from the EU under review. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle illegal meat imports through passenger routes.

Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to estimate the amount of illegal meat that enters Great Britain.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency has a project aiming to improve estimates of illegal meat imports. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of bluetongue vaccinations for farmers.

Vaccine pricing is a commercial decision, which is the responsibility of manufacturers, wholesalers and veterinarians. Defra has worked closely with manufacturers to ensure that safe and effective vaccine is available for use in the UK, and to overcome supply challenges.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the uptake of bluetongue vaccinations.

In response to emerging disease, Defra’s Secretary of State permitted the use of 3 bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the United Kingdom in September 2024, subject to licence. By working closely with manufacturers, Defra has ensured that safe and effective vaccine is available for use in the UK and helped overcome supply challenges.

Animal keepers are strongly encouraged to discuss vaccination with their vet to determine if it is right for their animals. Defra works closely with stakeholders to explore options and to develop recommendations for livestock vaccination as a preventative measure against BTV-3 in the UK. Defra also supports nationwide information and awareness campaigns such as the industry-led Battle Bluetongue campaign launched in 2025.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the sale of foreign meat labelled as being of British origin.

The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. Food from elsewhere in the world that is simply re-packaged in the UK, without any further processing, does not confer UK origin on it and therefore any suggestion that the food is from the UK would be misleading.

If processed foods, such as bacon or sausages, and composite foods, such as pies and ready meals, list that they are made in the UK but their primary ingredient is from another country then the label must highlight this: for example, a British Steak & Ale pie made, assembled and baked in the UK with beef from Ireland must state ‘Made in the UK using Irish beef’.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of transferring Products of Animal Origin enforcement (a) powers and (b) funding to port health authorities.

The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 designate port health authorities in England, as enforcement authorities for animal products. Defra has committed £3.1 million for Dover Port Health Authority to work in partnership with Border Force in seizing meat smuggled via the Port of Dover in 2025/26, additional to over £9 million of funding provided to date.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment with the Home Secretary of the potential merits of giving port health authorities stop, search and seize powers.

The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 already give port health authorities in England, search and seize powers in relation to animal products.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) increasing levels of funding and (b) widening the responsibilities for the Border Force to include animal products originating from the rest of world.

Border Force is funded by Home Office. Defra has committed £3.1 million for Dover Port Health Authority to work in partnership with Border Force in seizing meat smuggled via the Port of Dover in 2025/26, additional to over £9 million of funding provided to date.

Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff have been employed by the Dover Port Health Authority in each of the last 20 years.

Defra does not hold this information. Dover District Council is designated as port health authority for the Port of Dover.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on (a) biosecurity arrangements and (b) the illegal importation of food products.

The biosecurity arrangements and regulatory frameworks for imports are no longer the same as when we were in the EU. Since leaving the EU, we have put in place sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for importing food products from the EU into Great Britain and amended SPS rules for importing food products from the rest of the world in line with the Border Target Operating Model.

The Government Major Projects Portfolio has approved a monitoring and evaluation plan for the Borders, Boundaries and Trade Programme which will explore questions relating to the performance and effectiveness of the Border target Operating Model.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)