Caroline Lucas Portrait

Caroline Lucas

Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion

First elected: 6th May 2010


27 APPG memberships (as of 24 Jan 2024)
Afrikan Reparations, Air Pollution, Carers, Choice at the End of Life, Citizens' Rights, Climate and Security, Climate Change, Compassionate Politics, Dark Skies, Democracy and Human Rights in the Gulf, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Drug Policy Reform, Drugs, Alcohol and Justice, Environment, Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, Future Generations, Global Deforestation, Land Value Capture, Limits to Growth, Mindfulness, Refugees, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Sixth Form Education, South East, Students, Trade Justice, Women in Parliament
46 Former APPG memberships
Acquired Brain Injury, Agroecology for Sustainable Food and Farming, Animal Welfare, Better Brexit for Young People, Citizens Rights, Conception to Age Two - First 1001 Days, Conception to Age Two: First 1001 Days, Coronavirus, Coronavirus and Future Pandemics, Deliberative Democracy, Democratic Participation, Domestic Violence, Drones, Drones and Modern Conflict, Electoral Campaigning Transparency, Environmental, Social, and Governance, EU Relations, European Citizenship Rights, Excluded UK, Fairtrade, Food Waste, Gaps in Support, Green New Deal, Guantanamo Bay, Hate Crime, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights, Nature, Ocean Conservation, Proportional Representation, Pub, Pubs, Reuniting Britain Post-Brexit, Sexual Violence, Sixth Form Colleges, Social Enterprise, Southern Rail, State Pension Inequality for Women, Test of English for International Communication, UK-EU Relations, United Nations Women, Visitor Economy, Visitors' Economy, Votes at 16, Weapons and the Protection of Civilians, Wellbeing Economics, West Papua
Environmental Audit Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Co-Leader of the Green Party
2nd Sep 2016 - 15th Sep 2018
Environmental Audit Committee
20th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Environmental Audit Committee
26th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Leader of the Green Party
5th Sep 2008 - 5th Sep 2012


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Caroline Lucas has voted in 784 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Caroline Lucas Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

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

Sparring Partners
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(49 debate interactions)
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(39 debate interactions)
Matt Hancock (Independent)
(31 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(91 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(74 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Environment Act 2021
(3,535 words contributed)
Agriculture Act 2020
(3,282 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Caroline Lucas's debates

Brighton, Pavilion 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 want the UK to be neutral in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and withdraw offers of support for Israel.

We want the Government to seek a ceasefire and also seek to address the root cause of the current conflict by promoting dialogue and advocating for the end of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The UK Government should urge the Israeli Government to stop the blockade of Food, Fuel and Electricity to the already impoverished city of Gaza

Swifts have declined by over 50% in the UK. Adult swifts, known for site-fidelity, return to the same nests. We want swift bricks to be required in all new housing, to provide homes for these birds. Surveys show these are used by red-listed swifts, house martins, starlings and house sparrows.

We ask Parliament to repeal the High Speed Rail Bills, 2016 and 2019, as MPs voted on misleading environmental, financial and timetable information provided by the Dept of Transport and HS2 Ltd. It fails to address the conditions of the Paris Accord and costs have risen from £56bn to over £100bn.

The right to peaceful assembly and protest are fundamental principles of any democracy and the proposed part of this bill that gives the police new powers to tackle disruptive peaceful protests should be removed from The Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

After owning nurseries for 29 years I have never experienced such damaging times for the sector with rising costs not being met by the funding rates available. Business Rates are a large drain on the sector and can mean the difference between nurseries being able to stay open and having to close.

For the UK government to provide economic assistance to businesses and staff employed in the events industry, who are suffering unforeseen financial challenges that could have a profound effect on hundreds of thousands of people employed in the sector.

If nurseries are shut down in view of Covid-19, the Government should set up an emergency fund to ensure their survival and ensure that parents are not charged the full fee by the nurseries to keep children's places.

The prospect of widespread cancellations of concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions due to COVID-19 threatens to cause huge financial hardship for Britain's creative community. We ask Parliament to provide a package of emergency financial and practical support during this unpredictable time.

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak there are travel bans imposed by many countries, there is a disastrous potential impact on our Aviation Industry. Without the Government’s help there could be an unprecedented crisis, with thousands of jobs under threat.

The cash grants proposed by Government are only for businesses in receipt of the Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Relief, or for particular sectors. Many small businesses fall outside these reliefs desperately need cash grants and support now.

To extend the business rate relief to all dental practices and medical and aesthetics clinics and any small business that’s in healthcare

Zoos, aquariums, and similar organisations across the country carry out all sorts of conservation work, animal rescue, and public education. At the start of the season most rely on visitors (who now won't come) to cover annual costs, yet those costs do not stop while they are closed. They need help.

As we pass the COVID-19 Peak, the Government should: State where the Theatres and Arts fit in the Coronavrius recovery Roadmap, Create a tailor made financial support mechanism for the Arts sector & Clarify how Social Distancing will affect arts spaces like Theatres and Concert Venues.


Latest EDMs signed by Caroline Lucas

11th March 2024
Caroline Lucas signed this EDM on Monday 18th March 2024

World Water Day 2024

Tabled by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
That this House recognises that 22 March is World Water Day; acknowledges that 2.2 billion people in the world do not have safe water and 3.5 billion people in the world do not have a decent toilet of their own; notes that two-thirds of healthcare facilities in the 46 least …
17 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 6
Labour: 5
Independent: 2
Liberal Democrat: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
11th March 2024
Caroline Lucas signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 18th March 2024

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
That the Protocol, done at Auckland and Bandar Seri Begawan on 16 July 2023, on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP 1107), a copy of which was laid before Parliament on 19 February 2024, …
6 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 3
Independent: 1
Alba Party: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Caroline Lucas's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Caroline Lucas, 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.


8 Urgent Questions tabled by Caroline Lucas

Wednesday 29th November 2023
Tuesday 24th January 2023
Monday 21st November 2022
Tuesday 6th September 2022
Monday 18th July 2022
Wednesday 9th February 2022
Monday 25th October 2021

3 Adjournment Debates led by Caroline Lucas

Tuesday 30th January 2024
Tuesday 26th April 2022

29 Bills introduced by Caroline Lucas


A Bill to place duties on the Secretary of State to decarbonise the United Kingdom economy and to reverse inequality; to establish a ten-year economic and public investment strategy in accordance with those duties which promotes a community- and employee-led transition from high-carbon to low- and zero-carbon industry; to require the Government to report on its adherence to the strategy; to establish higher environmental standards for air, water and green spaces; to make provision to protect and restore natural habitats; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to require the United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; to give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; to establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; to give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding the strategy and targets; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to provide that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) be a statutory requirement for all state-funded schools; for PSHE to include Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and education on ending violence against women and girls; to provide for initial and continuing teacher education and guidance on best practice for delivering and inspecting PSHE and SRE education; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 20th January 2017
(Read Debate)

To re-establish the Secretary of State’s legal duty as to the National Health Service in England and to make provision about the other duties of the Secretary of State in that regard; to make provision about the administration and accountability of the National Health Service in England; to repeal section 1 of the National Health Service (Private Finance) Act 1997 and sections 38 and 39 of the Immigration Act 2014; to make provision about the application of international law in relation to health services in the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 11th March 2016

A Bill to establish the right to breathe clean air; to require the Secretary of State to achieve and maintain clean air in England; to involve the UK Health Security Agency in setting and reviewing pollutants and their limits; to enhance the powers, duties and functions of various agencies and authorities in relation to air pollution; to establish the Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air with powers to institute or intervene in legal proceedings; to require the Secretary of State and the relevant national authorities to apply environmental principles in carrying out their duties under this Act and the clean air enactments; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 17th January 2024
(Read Debate)
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 14th June 2024
Order Paper number: 4
(Possibly be Debated)

A Bill to place duties on the Secretary of State to decarbonise the United Kingdom economy and to reverse inequality; to establish a ten-year economic and public investment strategy in accordance with those duties which promotes a community- and employee-led transition from high-carbon to low- and zero-carbon industry; to require the Government to report on its adherence to the strategy; to establish higher environmental standards for air, water and green spaces; to make provision to protect and restore natural habitats; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 20th June 2022

A Bill to amend the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to extend the right of public access to the countryside, including to woodlands, the Green Belt, waters and more grasslands; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 20th June 2022

A Bill to make provision for requiring public bodies to act in pursuit of the United Kingdom’s environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing by meeting wellbeing objectives, publishing future generations impact assessments, accounting for preventative spending, and through public services contracts; to establish a Commissioner for Future Generations for the United Kingdom; to establish a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Future Generations; to require companies to consider the impact of their activities on the United Kingdom’s wellbeing; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 24th March 2020
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require the Prime Minister to achieve climate and ecology objectives; to give the Secretary of State a duty to create and implement a strategy to achieve those objectives; to establish a Citizens’ Assembly to work with the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; to give duties to the Committee on Climate Change regarding the objectives and strategy; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 2nd September 2020

A Bill to place duties on the Secretary of State to decarbonise the United Kingdom economy and to reverse inequality; to establish a ten-year economic and public investment strategy in accordance with those duties which promotes a community- and employee-led transition from high-carbon to low- and zero-carbon industry; to require the Government to report on its adherence to the strategy; to establish higher environmental standards for air, water and green spaces; to make provision to protect and restore natural habitats; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 7th July 2020

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to place duties on the Secretary of State to decarbonise the United Kingdom economy and to eradicate inequality; to establish a ten-year economic and public investment strategy that prioritises decarbonisation, community and employee-led transition from high-carbon to low and zero-carbon industry, and the eradication of inequality; to require the Government to report on its adherence to the strategy; to establish higher environmental standards for air, water and green spaces; to make provision to protect and restore natural habitats; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 26th March 2019

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to assume control of passenger rail franchises when they come up for renewal; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 4th July 2016

A Bill to establish a Living Rent Commission to conduct research into, and provide proposals for, reducing rent levels in the private rented sector and improving terms and conditions for tenants; to require the Secretary of State to report the recommendations of the Commission to Parliament; to introduce measures to promote long-term tenancies; to establish a mandatory national register of ​landlords and lettings agents; to prohibit the charging of letting or management agent fees to tenants; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 4th July 2016

A Bill to promote public ownership of public services; to introduce a presumption in favour of service provision by public sector and not-for-profit entities; and to put in place mechanisms to increase the accountability, transparency and public control of public services, including those operated by private companies.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 29th June 2015

A Bill to establish an independent commission of inquiry to examine ways of improving parliamentary and other public scrutiny of ministerial mandates and outcomes in relation to European Union institutions, policies and legislation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 3rd May 2016
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to assume control of passenger rail franchises when they come up for renewal; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 29th June 2015

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to provide that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) be a statutory requirement for all state-funded schools; for PSHE to include Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and education on ending violence against women and girls; to provide for initial and continuing teacher education and guidance on best practice for delivering and inspecting PSHE and SRE education; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 15th July 2015

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to assume control of passenger rail franchises when they come up for renewal; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 7th July 2014

A Bill to promote public ownership of public services; to introduce a presumption in favour of service provision by public sector and not-for-profit entities; and to put in place mechanisms to increase the accountability, transparency and public control of public services, including those operated by private companies.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 7th July 2014

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to provide that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) be a statutory requirement for all state funded schools; for PSHE to include Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and education on ending violence against women and girls; to provide for initial and continuing teacher education and guidance on best practice for delivering and inspecting PSHE and SRE education; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 7th July 2014

A Bill to re-establish the Secretary of State’s legal duty as to the National Health Service in England and to make provision about the other duties of the Secretary of State in that regard; to make provision about the administration and accountability of the National Health Service in England; to repeal section 1 of the National Health Service (Private Finance) Act 1997 and sections 38 and 39 of the Immigration Act 2014; to make provision about the application of international law in relation to health services in the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 11th March 2015

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to commission a programme of research into reducing rent levels in the private rented sector, improving terms and conditions for tenants, increasing housing supply, and providing a large-scale programme of sustainable council housing in England; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament within six months of completion of the research; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 7th July 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require the Secretary of State to assume control of passenger rail franchises when they come up for renewal; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 26th June 2013

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to promote public ownership of public services; to introduce a presumption in favour of service provision by public sector and not-for-profit entities; and to put in place mechanisms to increase the accountability, transparency and public control of public services, including those operated by private companies.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 22nd January 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require the Secretary of State to make provision to limit energy contract roll-over for micro businesses to 30 days; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 25th June 2012

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require the Secretary of State to commission a programme of research into the merits of replacing the Council Tax and Non-domestic rates in England with an annual levy on the unimproved value of all land, including transitional arrangements; to report to Parliament within 12 months of completion of the research; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 25th June 2012

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require local authorities to operate landlord accreditation schemes; to set those schemes according to minimum standards; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Monday 25th June 2012

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make it illegal in the United Kingdom for a person or company to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase timber or timber products illegally taken, harvested, possessed, transported, sold or exported from their country of origin; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 16th September 2010

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require the Secretary of State to take steps to require banks, corporations and trusts to provide information on their status, income arising and tax payments made in each jurisdiction in which they operate; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 17th March 2011

90 Bills co-sponsored by Caroline Lucas

Mortgages (switching) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Martin Docherty-Hughes (SNP)

Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)

Tax Reform Commission Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)

Sun Protection Products (Value Added Tax) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Amy Callaghan (SNP)

Same Sex Marriage (Church of England) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Ben Bradshaw (Lab)

Free School Meals (Primary Schools) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Zarah Sultana (Lab)

Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)

Elected Representatives (Codes of Conduct) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Debbie Abrahams (Lab)

Clean Air Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)

Care Supporters Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Dan Carden (Lab)

Bullying and respect at work Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rachael Maskell (LAB)

Flexible Working Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Tulip Siddiq (Lab)

Social Housing (Emergency Protection of Tenancy Rights) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)

Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Fleur Anderson (Lab)

Firearms and Hate Crime Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Luke Pollard (LAB)

Climate Education Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Nadia Whittome (Lab)

Carbon Emissions (Buildings) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Duncan Baker (Con)

Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)

Trade Agreements (Exclusion of National Health Services) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Peter Grant (SNP)

School Toilets (Access During Lessons) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)

School Breakfast Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Emma Lewell-Buck (Lab)

Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)

Problem Drug Use Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tommy Sheppard (SNP)

Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)

Covid-19 Financial Assistance (Gaps in Support) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tracy Brabin (LAB)

Local Welfare Assistance Provision (Review) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Paul Maynard (Con)

Ministerial Interests (Emergency Powers) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Owen Thompson (SNP)

Arms (Exports and Remote Warfare) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alyn Smith (SNP)

Local Electricity Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)

Employment (Dismissal and Re-employment) (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Gavin Newlands (SNP)

Hong Kong Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)

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)

Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Rupa Huq (Lab)

Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)

Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Afzal Khan (Lab)

Public Expenditure and Taxation (Advisory Body) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jonathan Edwards (Ind)

Planning (Affordable Housing and Land Compensation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)

European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019
Sponsor - Hilary Benn (Lab)

Parental Leave (Premature and Sick Babies) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - David Linden (SNP)

Climate Change (Emissions Targets) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Rachel Reeves (Lab)

Freehold Properties (Management Charges) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Preet Kaur Gill (LAB)

Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Maria Miller (Con)

Trade Union (Access to Workplaces) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Faisal Rashid (Lab)

Fracking (Measurement and Regulation of Impacts) (Air, Water and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)

Tobacco Companies (Transparency) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Bob Blackman (Con)

Animals (Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kerry McCarthy (Lab)

Banknote Diversity Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Helen Grant (Con)

Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019
Sponsor - Tim Loughton (Con)

Plastic Pollution Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)

Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) and Conversion Therapy Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Karen Lee (Lab)

Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019
Sponsor - Geoffrey Robinson (Lab)

Terms of Withdrawal from the EU (Referendum) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)

Parental Leave and Pay Arrangements (Publication) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jo Swinson (LD)

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Consent) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Fabian Hamilton (Lab)

National Health Service Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Eleanor Smith (Lab)

Automatic Travel Compensation Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Huw Merriman (Con)

British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Henry Smith (Con)

European Union Withdrawal Agreement (Public Vote) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)

European Union Withdrawal (Evaluation of Effects on Health and Social Care Sectors) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)

Terms of Withdrawal from EU (Referendum) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)

Immigration Detention of Victims of Torture and Other Vulnerable People (Safeguards) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Joan Ryan (TIG)

Energy Consumption (Innovative Technologies) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Rebecca Pow (Con)

Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)

Homelessness (End of Life Care) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ed Davey (LD)

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018
Sponsor - Steve Reed (LAB)

Public Sector Supply Chains (Project Bank Accounts) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Debbie Abrahams (Lab)

Local Electricity Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jeremy Lefroy (Con)

Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Karen Lee (Lab)

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) (No.2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Conor McGinn (Ind)

Representation of the People (Young People's Enfranchisement and Education) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jim McMahon (LAB)

Abortion Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Diana Johnson (Lab)

Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)

Child Maintenance Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Marion Fellows (SNP)

Cold Weather Payments Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Hywel Williams (PC)

Access to Banking Services Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ben Lake (PC)

Live Animal Exports (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Theresa Villiers (Con)

Registration of Marriage (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Caroline Spelman (Con)

Voyeurism (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Wera Hobhouse (LD)

Unpaid Trial Work Periods (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Stewart Malcolm McDonald (SNP)

Sanctions (Human Rights Abuse and Corruption) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lord Austin of Dudley (None)

Refugees (Family Reunion) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Angus Brendan MacNeil (Ind)

Courts (Abuse of Process) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)

Feeding Products for Babies and Children (Advertising and Promotion) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Alison Thewliss (SNP)

Public Authority (Accountability) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Andy Burnham (Lab)

Rail Ombudsman Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Tim Loughton (Con)

Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Diana Johnson (Lab)

Statutory Nuisance (Aircraft Noise) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Tania Mathias (Con)

Harbour, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 (Amendment) Bill 2015-16
Sponsor - Craig Mackinlay (Con)

Improvement of Rail Passenger Services (Use of Disruption Payments) Bill 2015-16
Sponsor - Joan Ryan (TIG)


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
30 Other Department Questions
11th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on tackling the ethnicity pay gap.

Our comprehensive guidance for employers on ethnicity pay reporting, published in April 2023, sets out best practice on measuring, analysing and reporting ethnicity pay gaps. Since publication, we have engaged with employers and employer representative bodies to promote the guidance and provide support. We are seeking case studies in order to identify and highlight examples of good practice.

This work is part of our ambitious Inclusive Britain strategy, published in March 2022, which set out 74 bold actions to tackle entrenched ethnic disparities in employment, education, health and criminal justice. We also launched an Inclusion at Work Panel last year aimed at helping employers achieve fairness and inclusion in the workplace.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
13th Oct 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent estimate she has made of when the proposed ban on sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices will be in place; and if she will make a statement.

No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent. That is why we are carefully considering this very complex issue. We will be setting out further details on this in due course

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
6th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2023 to Question 180207 on Gender and Sexuality and with reference to the letter she received from the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, dated 3 April 2023, whether she plans to hold discussions with organisations that have expertise in the rights of trans people on the implications of that advice for (a) equal pay and (b)(i) direct and (ii) indirect sex discrimination.

The Minister for Women and Equalities sought advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to establish whether the law in its existing format is sufficiently clear in the balance it strikes between the interests of people with different protected characteristics. Having received their response she is now carefully considering it before any decision on how to respond is made.

The EHRC itself has highlighted that further policy and legal analysis is required to understand the impact of its advice on various groups and areas, including sex discrimination and equal pay.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Apr 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2023 to Question 161400 on Conversion Therapy, whether she plans to complete pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill before 20 July 2023.

The Government will publish a draft Bill setting out our approach to banning conversion practices. This will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by joint committee. It is the Government's intention to complete pre-legislative scrutiny in the current parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
28th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) the International Olympic Committee and (b) her counterparts in Saudi Arabia about the impact of the Trojena development on (i) biodiversity, (ii) climate change and (iii) other environmental issues.

DCMS Ministers and officials have not had any discussions on the impact of the Trojena development.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
30th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2022 to Question 16907, whether she has held discussions about her legislative proposals on conversion therapy with representatives of (a) the NHS and (b) other signatories of the March 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on conversion therapy in the UK; if she will make it her policy to ban all forms of conversion therapy; and if she will make a statement.

My officials and I have met with stakeholders from across the spectrum when developing our approach to banning conversion practices to ensure that our proposals are effective and well understood. This includes meetings with victims of conversion practices, stakeholders from medical backgrounds including signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding, as well as representatives from a range of faiths and charities, and parliamentarians.

As soon as parliamentary time allows, we will introduce a Bill to ban conversion practices based on sexual orientation, while undertaking further work in relation to transgender conversion practices and delivering a comprehensive victim support service for all those affected or at risk.

Mike Freer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
9th Jun 2022
To ask the President of COP26, what discussions he has had with (a) international and (b) regional multilateral organisations on urgently increasing knowledge-sharing and practical cooperation to support the effective implementation of enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, including those of (a) G20 countries and (b) the UK's developing country partners.

Since COP26, 11 NDCs have been submitted. The UK continues to push for all countries, particularly the major emitters, to revisit and strengthen their NDCs as necessary to align with the Paris temperature goal before the UNFCCC Synthesis Report deadline of 23 September. The UK, chairs the NDC Partnership with Jamaica, made up of more than 115 countries. We support member countries by offering a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance, and funding.

I have regular engagement with countries, partners and civil society, including through international fora such as the G7, G20, the recent May Ministerial on Implementation and Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, among others.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
9th Jun 2022
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to ensure that parties revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their nationally determined contributions as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal by the end of 2022, taking into account different national circumstances, as is required by the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Since COP26, 11 NDCs have been submitted. The UK continues to push for all countries, particularly the major emitters, to revisit and strengthen their NDCs as necessary to align with the Paris temperature goal before the UNFCCC Synthesis Report deadline of 23 September. The UK, chairs the NDC Partnership with Jamaica, made up of more than 115 countries. We support member countries by offering a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance, and funding.

I have regular engagement with countries, partners and civil society, including through international fora such as the G7, G20, the recent May Ministerial on Implementation and Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, among others.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make it her policy to (a) provide further funding to end period poverty in response to rising inflation and (b) actively monitor levels of period poverty, and if she will make a statement.

Period poverty is an issue the government takes very seriously and has taken a number of steps to address the problem.

Since January 2020, a Department for Education scheme provides free period products in schools and 16-19 education institutions in England. 94% of eligible secondary schools had accessed this scheme by December 2021.

Additionally, from 1 January 2021, the ‘tampon tax’ has been abolished - with a zero rate of VAT applying to all period products. Prior to the abolition of the tax, a Tampon Tax Fund was in place to allocate the funds generated from the VAT on period products, to projects which improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. A final round of £11.25 million in grant funding was awarded in November 2021 to distribute the VAT collected on period products in the final nine months of the 2020/21 financial year, before the tax ended.

As well as these steps, in 2019, NHS England announced that it would offer period products to every hospital patient who needs them and the Home Office changed the law to ensure that all people in custody are provided with health and hygiene products for free, to include period products.

In March 2020, in light of COVID-19, the work of the Period Poverty Taskforce was paused to free up resources to focus on the pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she has taken to (a) end period poverty and shame in the UK by 2025 and (b) invest £250,000 on new period poverty programmes; and if she will make a statement.

Period poverty is an issue the government takes very seriously and has taken a number of steps to address the problem.

Since January 2020, a Department for Education scheme provides free period products in schools and 16-19 education institutions in England. 94% of eligible secondary schools had accessed this scheme by December 2021.

Additionally, from 1 January 2021, the ‘tampon tax’ has been abolished - with a zero rate of VAT applying to all period products. Prior to the abolition of the tax, a Tampon Tax Fund was in place to allocate the funds generated from the VAT on period products, to projects which improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. A final round of £11.25 million in grant funding was awarded in November 2021 to distribute the VAT collected on period products in the final nine months of the 2020/21 financial year, before the tax ended.

As well as these steps, in 2019, NHS England announced that it would offer period products to every hospital patient who needs them and the Home Office changed the law to ensure that all people in custody are provided with health and hygiene products for free, to include period products.

In March 2020, in light of COVID-19, the work of the Period Poverty Taskforce was paused to free up resources to focus on the pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
20th May 2022
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential risks to (a) staff and (b) other hon. Members of Members who are under investigation for serious sexual misconduct not being required to stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices; and if he will make a statement.

The House of Commons Commission has not made any such assessment but, when the House authorities are notified of an arrest, a safeguarding concern or certain other investigations relating to serious sexual misconduct, a risk assessment is undertaken. Individual risk assessments are confidential and only shared with those responsible for acting on them.

The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously and will consider this matter at its meeting on 13 June.

20th May 2022
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has had discussions with (a) the Chair of the Procedure Committee, (b) trade union representatives and (c) the Director of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme on the potential merits of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.

20th May 2022
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make it its policy to establish an inquiry into the potential creation of a mechanism for ordering that a Member should stay away from the Parliamentary Estate and/or constituency offices while under investigation for serious sexual misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

The House of Commons Commission takes the safety of the Parliamentary community very seriously. The Commission has heard representations from trade union representatives on this matter and will give it further consideration at its meeting on 13 June.

26th Jan 2022
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to work with the UNFCCC to help ensure that the money pledged for nature at COP26 is (a) spent (i) effectively and (ii) transparently and (b) goes to frontline communities; and what estimate he has made of when that funding will be made available.

At COP26, 141 countries committed to halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030 in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use, this is underpinned by almost $20 billion of public and private finance. In the activities supported by the pledge we will promote the full, effective, and willing participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in programmes that protect and restore forests, reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and we will work to ensure that benefits reach smallholders and local communities.

At COP26 the UK launched in partnership with Fiji a Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance, to improve access to financial flows for the most vulnerable. This proposes a new approach which aims to deliver a transformational step change in access at the national and local levels and to spur a related shift in the wider public climate finance architecture, improving the predictability, flexibility, transparency, affordability, and speed of disbursement of climate finance.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
26th Jan 2022
To ask the President of COP26, if he will make a statement on how the actions identified under the FACT Dialogue will be implemented.

At COP26, 28 countries representing 75% of the global trade in agricultural commodities launched a roadmap of actions under the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue. The countries committed to continuing the dialogue, working together and meeting regularly to support implementation of the roadmap actions. This will include sharing experiences, finding common ground, and developing joint actions in support of the shared aims of promoting sustainable development and trade while protecting forests and other critical ecosystems. The UK will work closely with FACT countries to implement the actions identified in the roadmap.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
26th Jan 2022
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to help ensure that signatories of the Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use are held accountable; how that declaration is being connected to the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 process; and if he will make a statement.

The UK Government is committed to taking bold action to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. However, we are clear that countries cannot tackle environmental and climate crises alone; we need a concerted global effort. The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use is an unprecedented commitment from 142 countries, covering over 91% of global forests, to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It’s underpinned by almost $20bn of public and private finance, by sustainable trade and by support for indigenous peoples’ rights. We will work with other countries that endorsed the Declaration to convert this political commitment into strong action on forests and land use. This will include working through multilateral events in 2022 such as meetings of the G7 and G20, and at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

All Parties to the Paris Agreement must report on their progress towards its goals via nationally determined contributions - which cover every emitting sector including forests and land use. At COP26, as part of the Glasgow Climate Pact, countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their current emissions targets to 2030 in 2022.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
29th Oct 2021
To ask the President of COP26, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2021 to Question 53867, on UN Climate Conference 2021, for what reason there was only one meeting in respect of COP26 in the latest transparency publication of his meetings from January to March 2021.

The quarterly lists of Ministerial meetings with external organisations do not include engagement with representatives of foreign governments. It is in the national interest that some diplomacy takes place privately, to allow open and candid discussions with other nations.

Notwithstanding this fact, Downing Street regularly publishes on GOV.UK summaries of diplomatic meetings and telephone calls, including those discussing climate change and COP26.

More broadly, I refer the Hon. Member to my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s oral statement today on the COP26 Summit.

29th Oct 2021
To ask the President of COP26, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2021 to Question 53867, on UN Climate Conference 2021, if he will publish the details of all meetings the Prime Minister has had with (a) heads of states, (b) ambassadors, (c) business leaders and (d) representatives of civil society where COP26 was the leading topic of discussion since the most recent transparency publication of meetings from January to March 2021.

The quarterly lists of Ministerial meetings with external organisations do not include engagement with representatives of foreign governments. It is in the national interest that some diplomacy takes place privately, to allow open and candid discussions with other nations.

Notwithstanding this fact, Downing Street regularly publishes on GOV.UK summaries of diplomatic meetings and telephone calls, including those discussing climate change and COP26.

More broadly, I refer the Hon. Member to my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s oral statement today on the COP26 Summit.

20th Oct 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what arrangements have been made to provide (a) financial and (b) practical support to COP26 delegates from countries in the global South very recently removed from the covid-19 red list, who were in the group eligible for funding for required managed quarantine stays and who now have no accommodation in Glasgow for between five and 10 days, depending on their vaccination status, because their accommodation arrangements were made prior to their countries removal from the covid-19 red list, and who will otherwise find it difficult to attend COP26; and if he will make a statement.

When the red list changed on 7 October, there were 280 managed quarantine bookings made by COP26 participants through the bespoke COP26 booking system. We have engaged with all of the individuals that booked and gave a country of departure that is no longer on the red list.

The UNFCCC Trust Fund for Participants, to which the UK Government contributes, has paid for the costs of necessary flight changes for funded delegates.

We are continuing to fund managed quarantine stays for all COP26 participants, including party delegates, media and observers that would otherwise find it difficult to attend COP26.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
23rd Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, with reference to Zero Hour’s report, Three COP Outcomes We Can’t Live Without, (a) if he will make an assessment of its recommendations for (i) a joint emergency strategy for climate and nature (ii) commitment from parties to the UNFCCC to the global carbon budget aligned with 1.5 degrees Celsius and (iii) a global goal to achieve net gains in biodiversity by 2030, against a baseline of 2020 and (b) if he will make it his policy to take forward these recommendations at COP26.

Ahead of COP26, we are calling for global action and ambition to reduce emissions from all sectors in order to meet net zero by 2050 – including in agriculture, forestry and other land use, which is collectively responsible for 23% of global emissions.

On i) we are pushing countries to make ambitious commitments to curb the dual crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change, which will be announced at COP26 in November. This will put us on a path to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and mitigate the climate crisis.

In addition, this year the UK has convened meetings between the COP26 and COP15 Presidencies and their respective Secretariats to increase synergies and jointly address the interlinked crises of climate, biodiversity and land through integrated approaches. Discussions have explored the importance of unified action at all levels to restore the land that sustains us, halt the loss of biodiversity, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

On ii) the science is clear that in order to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change we must limit warming to 1.5c. This is why we are urging all parties to submit ambitious NDCs that keep this target within reach by COP26.

On iii) the UK is pursuing a hugely ambitious package of outcomes from COP15 that goes beyond agreement of new global biodiversity goals and targets, but also puts in place the core elements needed to drive real-world change. These are: 1) a set of ambitious targets to deliver on our overall goal of ‘bending the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030’; 2) significantly increased mobilisation of global resources from all sources and a shift towards nature positive decision-making across all sectors; 3) strengthened accountability to mitigate the risk that countries agree ambitious targets but fail to take meaningful steps to deliver change.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what consideration he has made of calls from civil society and other stakeholders for a high level political focus on Loss and Damage through a (a) Loss and Damage Champion or (b) Ministerial pairing to ensure that work is urgently undertaken in order to deliver (i) concrete progress on Loss and Damage at COP26 and (ii) a clear pathway through to COP27.

We have heard and agree with calls from civil society for the need for a high level political focus on loss and damage at COP26 and in the run up to COP27. The UK is currently consulting Parties on the idea of a high level envoy for loss and damage.

We agree that a clear pathway is needed and intend to respond to parties’ and observers’ calls (including at the July ministerial) to step up efforts to address loss and damage, through locally-owned plans, institutional capacity, technical expertise and accessible finance. We will have a dedicated session at Pre-COP with Ministers designated to lead discussions. We also expect this to play a significant part in the discussions at COP26, subject to the agreement Parties reach on the agenda of the conference in the coming weeks.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is is taking to help ensure that COP26 delivers substantial progress on loss and damage, including mandating work for financing options to increase the level of support to frontline communities, as called for by the Climate Vulnerable Forum and other stakeholders.

As incoming Presidency, the UK has been gathering Parties’ views on what more is needed in addition to the Santiago Network to deliver progress on Loss and Damage. An emerging point is the need for existing funds and action in the international and humanitarian system to be better coordinated and scaled up, and better oriented to local level needs.

We are working with the international community to increase support for locally led action, including through the Adaptation Action Coalition. In parallel the UK is asking other donors to follow our example in supporting the LDC’s Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE AR) which has the aim of assisting LDCs to put in place plans, finance and delivery mechanisms to respond to local needs. The UK endorsed the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation at the Climate Adaptation Summit in January 2021, and successfully persuaded other Foreign and Development ministers to do the same under the UK’s G7 Presidency. We are also working to address the barriers that restrict and prevent finance flowing to the local-level through the Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance.

We welcome the input of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and have been engaging with them through their regional dialogues, as well as through bilateral engagement on their suggestions and plans for COP26.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what discussions he has had with developed country (a) negotiators and (b) ministers on the need for new and additional finance for loss and damage in the last 12 months.

In my role as COP26 President, I have met with more than 100 Ministers from at least 65 countries. As part of these discussions, as well as in public fora, I have set out the importance of developed countries meeting and surpassing the commitment to jointly mobilise $100 billion of climate finance a year through to 2025, from a range of public and private sources.

At both Ministerial and official level we continue to raise the need for finance and action on loss and damage, noting that relevant finance for averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage comes from sources under and outside the convention.

As COP26 incoming Presidency, the UK has convened six consultations (workshops and a Heads of Delegation meeting) which have devoted substantial time to the issue of operationalising the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, in addition to a dedicated session on loss and damage at the July Ministerial which I convened in London where the issue of finance was raised. I will also hold discussion on adaptation, loss and damage, and finance at pre-COP at the end of September, with a view to political leaders providing the strategic framing for negotiator-level discussions at COP26.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to consult widely with parties to the UNFCCC on the decisions needed at COP26 to operationalise the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage; what provision he has made in the COP26 agenda to discuss and agree loss and damage matters, including getting the COP decisions needed to operationalise the Santiago Network; and what assessment he has made of whether the Santiago Network will be fully operational by the end of COP26.

As COP26 incoming Presidency, the UK has convened six consultations (workshops and a Heads of Delegation meeting) which have devoted substantial time to the issue of developing the Santiago Network, in addition to a dedicated session at the July Ministerial which I convened in London. The agenda for COP/CMA will be decided on by the Parties. My officials are also discussing the agenda with Parties over the next few weeks. Whether the Santiago Network will be operational by the end of this year depends on the view that Parties take at the conference on the process they wish to follow, but the UK will use our convening power to maintain momentum and encourage a fair, inclusive and impactful outcome.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) contributions by developed countries to the $100 billion climate finance commitment are delivered as grants and (b) 50 per cent of climate finance is allocated to adaptation.

The OECD figures recently published showed that developed countries were still significantly short of the $100 billion goal in 2019, mobilising $79.6 billion. We have seen recent progress. President Biden’s recent announcement that the US is doubling their climate finance to $11.4 billion by 2024 is a major step towards the achievement of the $100 billion goal. However, we need all developed countries to step up with enhanced pledges, and the Presidency is continuing to encourage developed countries to increase their commitments, including to feed into the Germany-Canada led Delivery Plan.

The UK is ensuring a large majority of our international climate finance is grant-based. We are pressing other donor countries for similarly ambitious commitments. Under our G7 Presidency, the G7 committed to scaling up adaptation finance, and we have seen concrete new individual pledges from Canada, Japan, the US, and Denmark in recent months to this effect. The UK has committed to delivering a balance through our scaled up ICF and has joined the Champions Group on Adaptation Finance, composed of donors committed to delivering a balance of adaptation in their climate finance in response to calls from developing countries.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what assessment his Department has made of (a) how to meet the shortfall in the $100 billion climate finance commitment and (b) how that cost should be distributed across developed countries.

The OECD figures recently published showed that developed countries were still significantly short of the $100 billion goal in 2019, mobilising $79.6 billion. We have seen recent progress. President Biden’s recent announcement that the US is doubling their climate finance to $11.4 billion by 2024 is a major step towards the achievement of the $100 billion goal. However, we need all developed countries to step up with enhanced pledges, and the Presidency is continuing to encourage developed countries to increase their commitments, including to feed into the Germany-Canada led Delivery Plan.

The UK is ensuring a large majority of our international climate finance is grant-based. We are pressing other donor countries for similarly ambitious commitments. Under our G7 Presidency, the G7 committed to scaling up adaptation finance, and we have seen concrete new individual pledges from Canada, Japan, the US, and Denmark in recent months to this effect. The UK has committed to delivering a balance through our scaled up ICF and has joined the Champions Group on Adaptation Finance, composed of donors committed to delivering a balance of adaptation in their climate finance in response to calls from developing countries.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
8th Jul 2021
To ask the President of COP26, with reference to the Local Government Association motion on Local Government contributions towards national climate action in the year of COP26, published on 7 July 2021, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequate representation of local government at COP26 in order to highlight the progress being made on climate change at a local level.

In the run up to COP26, we are continuing to engage with local authorities and leaders across the UK through the UK Mayors and Regions Advisory Council. We also work closely with a number of non-state actor organisations such as the C40 Cities, ICLEI and UK100 to help further engage with local authorities.

BEIS has contributed towards a locally led campaign delivered through the local energy hubs, to highlight work on net zero by Local Authorities, communities and businesses across the UK. This will include running regional Electric Vehicle roadshow events in the run up to COP and hosting events in each region during the COP itself.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
19th Jan 2021
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2021 to Question 136483 on Remote Divisions, what information the Commission holds on how many hon. Members were (a) unable to use the electronic method of voting and (b) used the back-up system provided for electronic voting during the two weeks that electronic voting was used in the House of Commons in 2020; what discussions the Commission has had with the Leader of the House on electronic voting in the House of Commons during the period of the national covid-19 lockdown that has been in place since January 2021 to help prevent the transmission of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Electronic voting was used for 10 divisions between 12 May and 20 May inclusive. Members voted using MemberHub. The Public Bill Office operated a back-up system: if a Member could not register their vote using MemberHub, they contacted the Public Bill Office during the division and their vote was recorded. The table below shows how many Members registered their vote using the back-up method, and the total number of votes cast in each division.

Date

Division number

Total votes cast

Votes cast using back-up system

12 May 2020

41

611

2

13 May 2020

42

605

4

43

574

6

44

419

6

45

571

3

18 May 2020

46

603

1

20 May 2020

47

608

3

48

614

2

49

609

2

50

585

2


The Commission received an update on the House Service’s response to the pandemic at its meeting on 11 January, and agreed a number of measures to further improve the safety of people on the Parliamentary estate. Electronic voting was raised at the meeting, and there is a range of views among Commissioners on this issue. However, the means by which Divisions are conducted are ultimately a matter for the House to determine.

28th Aug 2020
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many times the LGBT Advisory Panel has met in the year from July 2019 to July 2020; whether she has fulfilled the requirement set out in the LGBT Advisory Panel’s terms of reference to meet the Chair of the Panel twice a year; and if she will publish the minutes of any Panel meetings that have taken place.

Between July 2019 and July 2020 the LGBT Advisory Panel has met three times: on 18 July 2019, 4 February 2020 and 1 June 2020. Former Minister for Equalities, Baroness Williams, attended the meeting in February 2020. Minister for Women and Equalities Rt Hon Liz Truss and I attended the meeting in June 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held July 2019 are available on the GEO website and the minutes for the meeting held February 2020 will be published in due course. No minutes were taken for the meeting of June 2020 as this was an introductory meeting between the Panel and new Ministers.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
29th Jan 2024
To ask the Attorney General, which policies under each arms length body reporting to their Department fall within the scope of the Environmental principles policy statement, published on 31 January 2023.

The duty, which came into force on 1 November 2023, does not require the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) nor its superintended bodies (the Crown Prosecution Service, the Government Legal Department, the Serious Fraud Office, and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate) to maintain a comprehensive list of policies within scope of the duty.

The AGO and the bodies it superintends do not lead on policy.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
8th Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) extend the 2017 gender pay reporting framework to include reporting on the (i) ethnicity, (b) disability and (c) LGBT pay gap, (b) extend pay gap reporting requirements to companies with more than 100 employees, (c) mandate horizontal pay reporting and (d) require companies with pay gaps to publish an evidence-based action plan to tackle (A) pay discrimination and (B) any failure to actively recruit under-represented groups to high value roles.

Pay gaps are caused by a range of factors. The Government ran a consultation from October 2018 to January 2019 on Ethnicity Pay Reporting, which received over 300 responses. The Government has met with businesses and representative organisations to understand the barriers towards reporting and what information could be published to allow for meaningful action to be taken. We have also run voluntary methodology testing with a broad range of businesses to better understand the complexities outlined in the consultation using real payroll data and will share next steps in due course.

Calculation and monitoring of disability and LGBT pay gaps raises significant issues of self-reporting and data accuracy and this data is not widely collected by employers. On disability, the Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and seeing a million more disabled people in work between 2017 and 2027. We support disabled people to enter employment and stay in work through a range of programmes such as the Work and Health Programme, Access to Work and the Intensive Personalised Employment Support Programme. In November 2018 we also published a voluntary reporting framework on public reporting of pay and progression of disabled people. This is aimed at employers (with over 250 employees) but can also be used to support smaller employers who are keen to drive greater transparency.

On LGBT, we are clear that LGBT people should be able to be themselves in the workplace. We are committed to taking action on LGBT sexual harassment in the workplace and are currently in conversation with ACAS about their harassment guidance. We are also taking steps to improve our monitoring data, including introducing questions to the 2021 Census in this area.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
29th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which policies under each arms length body reporting to their Department fall within the scope of the Environmental principles policy statement, published on 31 January 2023.

The duty does not require us to maintain a comprehensive list of policies within scope of the duty.

The duty applies to all policies made from 1 November 2023, whether developed by a central department or an arm’s length body, which are:

  • made by Ministers of the Crown; and

  • not covered by the exemptions for the armed forces, defence or national security, taxation, spending or the allocation of resources within government.

The environmental principles policy statement provides further information on what is considered policy in scope of the duty.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
19th Dec 2023
To ask the Prime Minister, on what occasions he has been briefed on climate science by the Chief Scientist in 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 16 February 2022, Official Report, PQ 120718.

Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
12th Dec 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister plans to appoint a Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work; and for what reason this post is vacant.

My Hon. Friend, the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies MP) has been appointed as the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, and will build on the Government’s strong track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost of living payments and helping over one million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned. The Minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
28th Nov 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Intelligence and Security Committee report on Russia, HC 632, published on 21 July 2020, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK General Elections are not affected by political interference.

I refer the Hon Member for Brighton Pavilion to my answer on 26th October 2023 (PQ 203720).

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
14th Nov 2023
To ask the Minister of the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister exchanged letters with the Rt hon. Member for Fareham at the end of her term in office as Home Secretary; and for what reasons she no longer holds the office of Home Secretary.

The reasons for my right hon. Friend’s departure from government are a matter of public record.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish all correspondence sent between Natural England and his Department on changes to regulations on nutrient neutrality and the delivery of new homes since 1 May 2023; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 12 September 2023, PQ 198372.

Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
7th Jul 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to review all Government documents to ensure that they do not contain (a) racist and (b) other prejudiced terms; and if he will make a statement.

We do not tolerate racist, homophobic, sexist or any similarly unacceptable language in any form, including in Government documents or on our webpages.

The Government has issued guidance on how to write about race and ethnicity and promoted this across departments, including through a letter from the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service to all Permanent Secretaries in December. That guidance is on gov.uk here: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/style-guide/writing-about-ethnicity

This is part of wider work to implement the Inclusive Britain Action Plan, the Government’s response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which was published in March 2022. The Government issued an update to Parliament in April 2023 summarising the progress that has been made in delivering this plan.

Cabinet Office will be writing to Permanent Secretary colleagues to remind them of this guidance and asking them to ensure that it is easily accessible to all employees within their department and associated organisations.

Recent media coverage has highlighted language in two documents dating back to 2006 and 2012, and a 2015 comment on a publicly accessible Government web page, on which anyone is able to comment. The 2006 document was written by an external contractor for use by their own staff, the 2012 document used the language within a quote from a non-civil service scientific paper published in 1990. Both documents are no longer in use and the comment has been removed from the web page.

6th Jul 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2023 to Question 190802 on Blood: Contamination, when he plans to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendations of the inquiry’s second interim report; and if he will make a statement before the summer recess.

As set out in the debate held on Thursday 22nd June, the Government is considering the recommendations set out in the Inquiry’s Second Interim Report and intends to respond to Sir Brian’s recommendations following the publication of the Inquiry’s final report in the autumn. This does not preclude the possibility of making earlier announcements on progress, and I am committed to updating the House as appropriate as the Government progresses this work.

6th Jul 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy for interim payments to be made to people affected by deaths that have not been formally recognised as arising from infected blood products; and if he will make a statement.

Work is underway to consider the recommendations in Sir Brian Langstaff's second interim report, including those relating to compensation to those affected by this tragedy. It is important that we give consideration to the recommendations ahead of making any announcements. I am committed to updating the House on these matters as soon as is appropriate.

26th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Figure 6: High-priority lane for the procurement of personal protective equipment, Data on sources on page 28 of the National Audit Office report entitled Investigation into government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, HC 959, published 26 November 2020, what the categories were of the three leads from other identified sources that did not fall into the categories identified in Figure 6.

There are active legal proceedings at the moment in relation to this matter and, as such, it would not be appropriate to comment while these are ongoing.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
8th Mar 2023
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a commitment to publish the reply to the letter of 8 March 2023 to him from the General Secretary of the FDA on a communication from the Home Secretary to Conservative Party members on the announcement of the Illegal Migration Bill; if he will instruct the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests to conduct an investigation into whether the Home Secretary has upheld her obligations under paragraph 5.1 of the Ministerial Code to uphold the political impartiality of the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply to the hon. Member’s question. I have responded to the letter on behalf of HM Government. I will place a copy in the Library of the House, which outlines the Government’s position on this matter.

6th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2023 to Question 151266, whether probity checks on honours lists include consideration of the avoidance of (a) a conflict of interest and (b) the perception of a conflict of interest in the conferring of an honour on a person who is closely related to the Prime Minister who has nominated them; and if he will make a statement.

As is the case under successive administrations, probity and propriety checks are carried out on all honours lists, including resignation honours lists. Checks are carried out with government departments including HMRC and relevant vetting and other professional bodies, as well as using open source information.

23rd Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the FOI release Honours nominations probity and propriety checks completed by HM Revenue and Customs, updated on 27 October 2022, whether the probity checks to preserve the integrity of the honours system have been carried out on the persons nominated in the resignation honours list put forward by the former Prime Minister, the Rt hon. member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip; which Departments have been contacted to carry out probity checks on the people on that list; whether the probity checks undertaken include consideration of the avoidance of (a) a conflict of interest and (b) the perception of a conflict of interest in the conferring of an honour on a person who has made substantial donations to the political party of the Prime Minister who has nominated them; and if he will make a statement.

Probity checks are carried out on all honours lists, including resignation honours lists. Checks are carried out with government departments including HMRC and relevant vetting and other professional bodies, as well as using open source information.

In general, donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.

It would be inappropriate to speculate about a possible list.

1st Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, what steps he is taking to consult the infected blood community on compensation for that group.

As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.

1st Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, when the process of verification and registration of the affected groups of people who are part of the infected blood community will begin.

As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.

1st Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, if he will publish a plan for the delivery of compensation to the infected blood community

As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.

28th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the recruitment process for the Independent Ethics Adviser began.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my honourable friend, the member for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart MP, in response to the Urgent Question on 30 November.

In May, the Government published a policy statement alongside revised Terms of Reference, which set out reforms to the role of Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. This included an enhanced process for the initiation of investigations under the Ministerial Code. The appointment has been for a five-year fixed term since April 2021.

The appointment process for the Independent Adviser is ongoing, and the House will be updated on this when an appointment has been made.

The Prime Minister set out his clear intention to appoint an Independent Adviser when he assumed office.

I would also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 15 July 2022, Official Report, HCWS208. As explained in that statement, work on further reforms recommend by the Committee on Standards in Public Life continues and will be informed by the new Prime Minister. That statement can be found here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-07-15/hcws208