First elected: 7th May 2015
Left House: 3rd May 2017 (Defeated)
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).
These initiatives were driven by Calum Kerr, 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.
Calum Kerr has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Calum Kerr has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Calum Kerr has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Children of Armed Services Personnel (Schools Admission) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Con)
The terms of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) review are set out in section 15 of the GCA Act 2013. This states that the review must:
(a) consider how much the Adjudicator's powers have been exercised; and
(b) assess how effective the Adjudicator has been in enforcing the Groceries Code
Under the Act the GCA’s role is to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice which regulates the relationship between the ten largest supermarkets and their direct suppliers. There are no powers in the Act 2013 that would allow Ministers to extend the GCA’s jurisdiction. Changes to the GCA’s remit would require either a decision by the Competition and Markets Authority to conduct a further investigation into the sector or primary legislation to amend the 2013 Act.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has not made such an assessment. The UK remains a member of the EU and will continue to play an active role in the development of the Digital Single Market until the formal and legal process of leaving the European Union has been finalised.
The UK has a long established system that supports, and therefore attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers. We fund excellent research wherever it is found, and ensure there is the freedom to tackle important scientific questions. The Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing the strength of our research base, which is why at the Spending Review we committed to protect the science budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion per annum.
The Government has said that there will be no immediate changes in circumstances for EU citizens working or studying in the UK - this includes scientists and engineers.
The UK’s decision to leave the EU has no immediate effect on the right of researchers to apply or to participate in Horizon 2020 as the UK is still an EU member state. UK participants can continue to apply to the programme in the usual way. The Commission has made a public statement on its website to this effect. The future of UK access to European research and innovation funding will be determined as part of wider discussions with the EU.
The Government will continue taking forward the important legislation that was set before Parliament in the Queen’s Speech, including the Higher Education and Research Bill. This includes the formation of the new body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Now, more than ever, we need a strong and unified voice to represent the interests of UK research and innovation across Europe and around the world which UKRI will provide.
The Government will continue taking forward the important legislation that was set before Parliament in the Queen’s Speech, including the Higher Education and Research Bill. This includes the formation of the new body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Now, more than ever, we need a strong and unified voice to represent the interests of UK research and innovation across Europe and around the world which UKRI will provide.
Rateable values are set independently by the Valuation Office Agency. All telecom networks are assessed for business rates in the normal way to the common standard of rateable value.
The Government is currently assessing the full impact the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will have on areas of data processing. The UK made several interventions throughout the negotiations on the GDPR, with support from industry, which have secured real benefits and avoided excessive burdens on business.
My Department has regular discussions with other Government Departments on a range of issues impacting on the regulation of the telecoms sector and regularly receives proposals which contribute to policy development, which are considered on their merits as part of this process.
My Department has regular discussions with other Government Departments on a range of issues impacting on the regulation of the telecoms sector and regularly receives proposals which contribute to policy development, which are considered on their merits as part of this process.
The Government is currently assessing the EU Electronic Communications Code. No such proposal for divergence has been made.
My Department published the Call for Evidence on local fibre proposals announced at Autumn Statement on 28th December.
So far BDUK led projects have passed 4,168,739 premises to the end of Sept 2016. To reach this figure we have paid £924,334,422 in cash terms comprising £497,656,699 BDUK contribution and £426,677,723 local body/devolved contribution.
The independent telecoms regulator Ofcom has been commissioned to provide detailed analysis on the key factors that will help inform the design of the broadband Univer sal Service Obligation (USO) and to publish their findings by the end of this year. Their report will identify the number of premises likely to be within the USO footprint on a UK-wide basis. They are also expected to provide a breakdown for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The government is aiming for superfast broadband coverage to reach 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017. This will include delivery from the government's Superfast Broadband Programme and further commercially funded delivery. The precise locations of this delivery are not known.
We hope to publish a consultation paper on commercial radio deregulation in due course.
We are sponsoring the Future Communications Challenge Group (FCCG) of senior academics, industry experts and funders, chaired by the President of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, which is considering how we should drive forward our commitment to ensure that UK has a leading role in 5G development.
In parallel the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is conducting a study, launched in Budget 2016, into how UK can achieve early deployment of 5G networks.
Both of these will report by the end of the year and the results will feed into a comprehensive 5G strategy for the UK, to be published in 2017.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with all of our sectors to make sure they have a voice as we prepare for negotiations to exit the European Union. We will continue to have regular engagement with organisations from across the digital sector to make sure their views and concerns are represented fully in our preparations for exit negotiations.
We are sponsoring the Future Communications Challenge Group (FCCG) of senior academics, industry experts and funders, chaired by the President of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, which is considering how we should drive forward our commitment to ensure that UK has a leading role in 5G development.
In parallel the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is conducting a study, launched in Budget 2016, into how UK can achieve early deployment of 5G networks.
Both of these will report by the end of the year and the results will feed into a comprehensive 5G strategy for the UK, to be published in 2017.
A 2013 report from Deloitte for the British Horseracing Authority estimated that British racing has a Great Britain wide economic impact of £3.45 billion. Lastyear a public consultation on the potential structure and operation of the Horserace Betting Right was held, inviting views from across Great Britain. To inform our work to replace the current levy system and require offshore operators to make a fair financial contribution to racing alongside those based in Great Britain, I have commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing.
A 2013 report from Deloitte for the British Horseracing Authority estimated that British racing has a Great Britain wide economic impact of £3.45 billion. Lastyear a public consultation on the potential structure and operation of the Horserace Betting Right was held, inviting views from across Great Britain. To inform our work to replace the current levy system and require offshore operators to make a fair financial contribution to racing alongside those based in Great Britain, I have commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing.
The UK will automatically assume control of its Exclusive Economic Zone and become an independent Coastal State on the day that it leaves the European Union.
Defra is working closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at ministerial and official level, to ensure the industrial strategy supports the agri-food sector.
The agri-food sector contributes £110 billion per year to our economy and is a big employer in every region of the UK, so is well placed to support growth across the whole country. We will be working with the agri-food sector to develop an industrial strategy that delivers a world-leading food, farming and fishing nation that grows more, sells more and exports more food around the world.
We are looking very carefully at the London Fisheries Convention. As the Prime Minister told the House on 29 March, we hope to be able to say something about this soon.
Ministers and officials have had meetings with a number of organisations to discuss a range of issues associated with EU exit including the 1964 London Fisheries Convention. As the Prime Minister told Parliament on 29 March, we hope to be able to say something about this soon.
In accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, following EU exit, the UK will be responsible for managing living resources, including fisheries, within its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Marine Scotland is already responsible for controlling the activities of all fishing vessels operating within the Scottish zone, as defined by the Fishery Limits Act 1976 and the Scotland Act 1998.
Defra is amongst those Government departments whose work is most closely linked to and impacted by EU activity, legal frameworks and funding. In terms of work arising from the UK’s vote to leave the EU, some 80% of Defra’s work is framed by EU legislation and a quarter of EU laws apply to Defra’s sectors. Many roles across the Defra group are now supporting EU exit-related work, either directly or indirectly.
As with all departments, Defra’s work programmes and recruitment plans are continually kept under review to ensure we are appropriately staffed to deal with the task at hand. The resourcing of EU Exit work is a key priority of the Department and will be subject to on-going assessment. Staffing resources will be deployed flexibly across the entire Defra agenda, including work on our farming and fisheries policy.
We will seek to agree a UK approach to the negotiations and ensure we get the best possible deal for the whole of the UK. We have committed to carefully considering any proposals the devolved administrations put forward. The Secretary of State visited Edinburgh in February to meet with Ministers from all the Devolved Administrations to give them every opportunity to have their say as we form our negotiating strategy.
The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) was set up to bring together constituent parts of the United Kingdom to develop a UK-wide approach to our negotiations and to discuss issues stemming from the negotiation process that may impact upon or have consequences for the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government or the Northern Ireland Executive. In addition, Defra has set up a twin track approach of regular meetings at ministerial and senior official level with Devolved Administration (DA) counterparts, supplemented with bilateral meetings on specific issues as they arise. The next DA Ministerial and senior officials meetings are currently being arranged and will take place in April.
We will continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations as well as stakeholders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – seeking to benefit from shared learning in order to achieve our vision of building a world leading food and farming nation.
The views of the devolved nations will play an important part in helping shape our preparations for exit and achieving arrangements that work for all parts of the UK.
All Government Departments are currently reviewing the EU laws that apply in their policy areas and how our withdrawal from the EU will affect the operation of those laws. The Government will set out the content of the Great Repeal Bill and its implications in due course.
We are currently analysing all EU fisheries legislation. No decision has yet been made on the extent to which the EU legislation governing the Common Fisheries Policy will be incorporated into domestic law.
We are currently running a consultation on our proposals to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. The consultation ends on 28th Feb 2017. The consultation also seeks to gather evidence on the extent of the environmental impacts of microbeads found in other products. This evidence will be used to inform future UK actions to protect the marine environment.
Defra is aware of the proposed US ban on microbeads and has considered those proposals in developing the UK approach. In addition our proposals have been informed by information from the cosmetics industry, environmental groups, researchers in marine microplastic pollution and counterparts in neighbouring countries. We are currently running a consultation on our proposals. The consultation ends on 28th February 2017.
The current workstreams within Defra’s EU Exit Programme are: EU Negotiations; Trade; Devolution; Repeal Bill, Future Agriculture and Land Use, Fisheries; Environment, and Animal and Plant Health. As the EU Exit Programme progresses, the workstreams may change as they are dynamic and under regular review. The workstreams in our EU Exit Programme are carrying out detailed analysis of the implications and opportunities presented by EU Exit.
We will seek to agree a UK approach to the negotiations and ensure we get the best possible deal for the whole of the UK. We have committed to carefully considering any proposals the devolved administrations put forward. Defra Ministers have visited each of the devolved administrations to meet with Ministers and stakeholders.
Across the eight work streams, the Department’s EU Exit Programme is carrying out detailed analysis of the implications and opportunities presented by EU Exit. This work will support the Prime Minister’s 12 negotiating objectives and the achievement of our vision to unlock the potential of farming and fisheries as well as ensuring that we leave the environment in a better state than we found it.
It is our intention to shortly publish our 25 Year Food, Farming and Fishing, and Environment Green Papers, initiating a debate with all of Defra’s sectors and stakeholders, along with the wider public, to shape plans that will deliver genuine and lasting change for food, farming, fishing and the environment once we are outside the EU.
We will begin the process by consulting on our emerging vision and the strategic priorities for the future of the industries, through the form of a food, farming and fishing green paper which will be published in due course.
Retaining market access between the UK and the EU will be a significant benefit to the food and farming sectors in both the UK and Europe. In 2015, the UK exported £11 billion of agri-food and drink products to the EU, and imported £28 billion. We aim to secure a mutually beneficial deal that delivers market access for the benefit of food and drink producers both in the UK and the EU.
We will consider all forms of support for those affected by the recent floods.
However, the EU Solidarity Fund would not compensate for private losses. It would take several months to receive the majority of the funds, and only provides for a fraction of the total costs of assessed damage. The Government’s priority has been to act quickly and deal with the urgent needs of those affected.
This is why the Government is providing nearly £200 million of additional aid to support those affected by the floods in England.
Seafish does not use levies raised on fish caught by the UK catching sector to promote the fishing industries of other countries. Levy is raised at the first point of sale in the UK, including on imported fish, and is used to support the UK seafood industry.
Seafish does not spend its levy, directly or through other bodies, on promoting the fishing industries of other North Sea or Norwegian Sea countries. At the request of the four Fisheries Ministers, Seafish introduced a transparent process in 2012 to agree priorities for spending. Seafish consults UK Industry Panels to ensure that all parts of the UK seafood sector benefit proportionately from the levy raised. These activities are set out in the Seafish Corporate Plan, which can be found on the Seafish website.
CAP payments are the responsibility of each Devolved Administration. In England there were 87,102 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Applications submitted by the 15 June 2015 deadline. In addition there were 1,103 Applications submitted between the 15 June and 10 July (penalty period), and 158 submitted after the 10 July deadline.
I met representatives from the main high street banks in June this year to discuss the support they are providing to farmers. Officials from Defra have also had regular contact with representatives from the banks.
I intend to meet the banking sector again later this year to discuss, in particular, the support they are providing to those dairy farmers who are experiencing financial difficulties.
The Rural Payments Agency will be making full payments to eligible farmers as early as possible in the payment window, which runs from 1st December 2015 to 28th June 2016. We expect to make the majority of payments in December and the vast majority by the end of January.
CAP payments are the responsibility of each Devolved Administration. In England 92,186 businesses and agents have registered to use the Rural Payment System and 88,363 businesses have submitted a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Application for 2015.
The table below details the disallowance incurred by Defra on a financial year basis and reflects the dates at which disallowance was accrued by the Department following the conclusion of EU audits. The disallowed figures relate to a number of different Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Schemes over a number of historical scheme years. Audits and Scheme years do not necessarily coincide.
Disallowance (*) £m | ||||
10/11 | 11/12 | 12/13 | 13/14 | 14/15 |
181 | 42 | 2 | 30 | 81 |
(*) Reflects the sums the European Commission (EC) have ruled cannot be reimbursed (i.e. the amounts they have “disallowed”) and which are therefore a cost to the Exchequer.
The Government challenges proposed disallowance through mediation in the EU and since 2010 reduced the amount of disallowance levied by €285m.
Simplification of the farm controls regime under the Basic Payment Scheme is a top priority for the Department. The Secretary of State and I have had regular discussions and exchanges with Commissioner Hogan on how this could be applied practically. The Secretary of State raised this with the Commission most recently on 7 September 2015 at the Extraordinary Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Officials also continue to press the Commission at working-group level.