First elected: 6th May 2010
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Cathy Jamieson, 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.
Cathy Jamieson has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Cathy Jamieson has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Cathy Jamieson has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Cathy Jamieson has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
We do not hold specific information on the number of oil and gas supply chain jobs in Kilmarnock and Loudon constituency.
The Department has not commissioned any specific research on the effect of wind farm construction in water catchment areas or on peat bog soils.
Applicants for consent for wind farms with an installed capacity of 50MW or more must provide an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Such applications are considered by the Secretary of State for Energy under the Planning Act 2008.
Applicants for consent for wind farms with an installed capacity of less than 50MW may be required to produce an EIA at the request of the relevant local authority
The Department has not commissioned any specific research on the effect of wind farm construction in water catchment areas or on peat bog soils.
Applicants for consent for wind farms with an installed capacity of 50MW or more must provide an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Such applications are considered by the Secretary of State for Energy under the Planning Act 2008.
Applicants for consent for wind farms with an installed capacity of less than 50MW may be required to produce an EIA at the request of the relevant local authority
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership (TTIP) and the NHS have been discussed with the Scottish Government at official and Ministerial level.
Both the European Commission and US negotiators have explicitly ruled out public services from the scope of any market liberalisation in TTIP, and it has therefore not been necessary to discuss any exclusions related to specific public services. The Scottish Government’s ability to determine how publically funded health services in Scotland are provided will not be affected. It will be completely up to the Scottish Government to take decisions on which providers deliver health care services in the best interests of their patients.
DECC Ministers meet regularly with the Scottish Government to discuss a range of issues. As has been the case with successive administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Petroleum extraction is a non-devolved matter. As such the proposals for oil and gas will apply across England, Wales and Scotland. The proposals on deep geothermal energy also cover England, Wales and Scotland (where in Scotland, deep geothermal energy is exploited for the sole, or main purpose of electricity generation). The Scottish Government was consulted on the development of the right to use deep-level land provisions. Extending the provisions to deep geothermal energy for the purposes of heat, is the subject of discussion with the Scottish Government.
The planning regimes in England, Wales and Scotland will continue to operate unchanged. Companies seeking to exploit oil, gas or geothermal heat would still need to obtain planning permission from the Mineral Planning Authority, along with all other existing permissions, in order to develop a site.
This is not an issue my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed directly with Scottish Government Ministers, but he would intend to do so once other ongoing matters around the coal industry have been resolved.
BIS Ministers have not had any discussions with Scottish Ministers on the practice of blacklisting in public sector procurement contracts. However, my Hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs at the time (Jenny Willott), did write to Ian Davidson, Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee, earlier in the year commenting on their second interim report ‘Blacklisting in Employment: addressing the crimes of the past'.
Proposals have been put to me by Scottish Government Ministers asking Her Majesty's Government to provide a financial contribution towards the costs of restoring abandoned opencast coal mining sites in East Ayrshire and other areas of Scotland. I continue to give consideration to those proposals against the backdrop of other issues currently affecting the coal industry and of spending priorities more generally.
DECC Ministers and officials meet industry representatives and consumer groups on a regular basis to discuss market issues.
In July last year, No.10 and DECC set up a joint working group with industry and consumer groups to look at ways for improving the transparency and fairness of the energy market for small businesses. At the end of 2013, the working group published the Small Business Energy Communique, an agreement with industry to make it easier for small businesses to get a better deal in the energy market.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/small-business-energy-working-group-communique
We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for all people setting up and growing a business, including disabled people.
www.gov.uk/business is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Business Finance and Support Finder;' that can provide a customised source of government backed support and finance for business. The website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.
In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 19 loans worth a total of £53,855have been drawn down in Kilmarncock and Loudoun to date.
Finally, the New Enterprise Allowance helps people claiming certain out of work benefits to start up their own business. As of March 2014, 7,420 disabled people (or a total of 40,420) had started a new business with the help of the NEA.
British Gas, Edf Energy, E.ON, First Utility, Good Energy, Opus Energy, RWE nPower, Scottish Power and SSE publically announced that they plan to limit back bills where the company is at fault to one year by the end of 2013, or as soon as practically possible in 2014.
British Gas, Edf Energy, E,ON, First Utility, RWE nPower, Scottish Power and SSE announced their intention to end the use of automatic rollover contracts for new customers before the end of 2014.
The Smart Meter Central Delivery Body intend to publish an updated Consumer Engagement Plan before the end of the year, where they will set out their plans for assisting microbusinesses.
The practice of the automatic roll-over of contracts does not breach any licence condition and therefore there are currently no sanctions available to Government or the independent regulator (Ofgem).
Last year Ofgem carried out a review of the practice of automatic renewal contract arrangements in the non-domestic retail energy market. As a result of the review, Ofgem is currently consulting on proposals to improve end of contract arrangements. The proposals do not include a ban on automatic rollovers because Ofgem considers that such a ban could reduce competition from independent suppliers, which gives small businesses a greater choice to choose a deal that suits their business needs. The focus is on improving protections for non-domestic consumers by improving the clarity of information provided by energy supply companies. The consultation closes on 9 April and is available from Ofgem's website at:
In June last year we set up a No. 10/DECC SME Energy Working Group to tackle issues facing small business with groups including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum for Private Business and Energy UK.
As a result a number of energy companies have already agreed to introduce arrangements before the end of this year to limit back-bills to 1 year where the supplier is at fault, which is the same rule as for domestic customers, and to end automatic-rollovers for all new customers from Spring 2014 and to existing customers shortly after.
We will continue to work with industry and SME consumer groups to address issues to help disengaged small business energy consumers.
The government supports social enterprises and public service mutuals (the vast majority of which are social enterprises) to access government contracts in a number of ways, such as encouraging commissioners to consider different ways of procuring through the Social Value Act and the Commissioning Academy.
The £10m Investment and Contract Readiness Fund also provides business support to social enterprises looking to take on social investment and public sector contracts, whilst the £10m Mutual Support Programme provides further comprehensive support for public service mutuals.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley East on 10 July 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 361W.
Information on known operational public service mutuals in England is publically available on the Mutuals Information Service at:
http://www.mutuals.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/interactive-map-public-service-mutuals
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Government supports the growth of the social economy. Across England, there are now more than 85 public service mutuals, up from just 9 in 2010. Collectively they deliver well over £1bn in public services.
Cabinet Office analysis from 2013 based on the BIS Small Business Survey estimated that 28% (c. 50,000) of SME social enterprises provide goods or services in the public sector.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
I have had no such discussions. It would be for the Scottish Government to work with the key football bodies in Scotland on governance matters as they saw fit. I continue to encourage the football authorities in England to introduce improved measures around regulation and governance to their sport.
DCMS has not made any representations to Facebook about online abuse of people with autism. However, the Government is working closely with social media companies, including Facebook, to improve reporting mechanisms so that online abuse in any form can be addressed quickly, with accounts being closed as necessary.
Superfast broadband has already been made available to over 110,000 premises in Scotland and we are working closely with the Scottish Government and suppliers to maintain the pace of delivery which has increased to an average across the whole of the UK to 40,000 premises a week.
The roll-out in Scotland is on schedule to deliver superfast broadband to 70% coverage to some of the most remote and challenging locations in the Highlands & Islands and 95% to the Rest of Scotland by the end of 2017.
Mobile and broadband data is available for East Ayrshire local authority, but not at a constituency level.
According to the most recent figures from Ofcom in 2013 in East Ayrshire, 89.0% of premises could get a 2G signal from three mobile operators and 99.9% from at least one of them, and 8.2% of premises could get a 3G signal from all four mobile operators and 74.3% from at least one of them - http://d2a9983j4okwzn.cloudfront.net/downloads/ofcom-uk-mobile-coverage-data-2013.csv
Ofcom’s Communications Market Report 2014 states that current generation broadband is available to close to 100% of UK premises and Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband is available to 78% of premises in the UK and to 64% of premises in Scotland. Ofcom reported that NGA broadband availability in East Ayrshire in spring 2013 was about 37.2% - http://d2a9983j4okwzn.cloudfront.net/downloads/ofcom-uk-broadband-speed-data-2013.csv
Ofcom will be publishing its annual UK Infrastructure Report shortly which will include more recent data on levels of mobile and broadband coverage.
Superfast broadband has already been made available to over 110,000 premises in Scotland and we are working closely with the Scottish Government and suppliers to maintain the pace of delivery which has increased to an average across the whole of the UK to 40,000 premises a week.
The roll-out in Scotland is on schedule to deliver superfast broadband to 70% coverage to some of the most remote and challenging locations in the Highlands & Islands and 95% to the Rest of Scotland by the end of 2017.
The First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund is open to all Anglican and Catholic cathedrals in England. Applications for the first round will be considered by the expert panel later this month.
Defra is not responsible for air quality policy within domestic buildings and so has made no such assessment.
DFID is the largest financier of the Global Partnership for Education and in Tanzania has supported the award of a £57m grant to implement the “Literacy and Numeracy Education Support (LANES)” programme. LANES targets the acquisition of reading, writing and numeracy skills among children in and out of school, targeting especially the marginalised.
DFID's programme in Tanzania provides major support to basic education. In 2013/14 £24m of education sector budget support was provided directly to the Tanzanian government. In addition a £49m programme of support commenced, to improve the overall quality of primary education in seven disadvantaged regions.
The new catalytic financing mechanism will aim to provide incentives to attract new private funds alongside increased domestic budgets for high impact nutrition interventions. The scope and governance of the fund is being developed with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. No funds have been disbursed. DFID will consider its own contribution once the mechanism and governance have been agreed.
The new catalytic financing mechanism will aim to provide incentives to attract new private funds alongside increased domestic budgets for high impact nutrition interventions. The scope and governance of the fund is being developed with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. No funds have been disbursed. DFID will consider its own contribution once the mechanism and governance have been agreed.
DFID is the largest financier of the Global Partnership for Education and in Tanzania has supported the award of a £57m grant to implement the “Literacy and Numeracy Education Support (LANES)” programme. LANES targets the acquisition of reading, writing and numeracy skills among children in and out of school, targeting especially the marginalised.
DFID's programme in Tanzania provides major support to basic education. In 2013/14 £24m of education sector budget support was provided directly to the Tanzanian government. In addition a £49m programme of support commenced, to improve the overall quality of primary education in seven disadvantaged regions.
The new catalytic financing mechanism will aim to provide incentives to attract new private funds alongside increased domestic budgets for high impact nutrition interventions. The scope and governance of the fund is being developed with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. No funds have been disbursed. DFID will consider its own contribution once the mechanism and governance have been agreed.
The selection of Special Constables to join the British Transport Police is an operational issue controlled by the Chief Constable. We understand that the Chief Constable is currently reviewing the list of occupations currently prohibited from being a Special Constable in the light of the new College of Policing Code of Ethics.
There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State and his counterpart in the Scottish Government about the implications for the future of the British Transport Police of the recommendations of the Smith Commission. Officials across the UK Government departments will be working with the Scottish Government to understand their views on the Smith Agreement.
There are very few exemptions for wearing a seat belt if there is one fitted. Taxi drivers have an exemption when they are plying for hire or carrying a fare, and delivery drivers do not have to wear one if they are making deliveries or collections that are less than 50m apart. If a bus or coach is adapted for standing passengers then there may not be a seat belt fitted, however, if there is one, it should be worn. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of serious injury in the event of an accident. Rules 99-102 of The Official Highway Code sets out seat belt requirements including exemptions, as does seat belt advice on www.gov.uk, so we do not believe that further clarification is necessary.
We have not received any representations about the definition of urban buses or coaches. There have been a small number of letters over a sustained period of time to Ministers and the Department about this subject, particularly about children wearing seat belts in buses and coaches.
Private vehicles are currently exempted from regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods.
Regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods are under constant review, negotiated under a United Nations agreement and are updated on a biennial basis, the last update was adopted in 2013 and the next is due to be adopted in 2015.
Review of applicable exemptions often features in negotiations and is the subject of a working paper raised by Switzerland to be discussed at the next meeting to take place over the period 3rd to 7th November 2014 in Geneva (see http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2014/dgwp15/ECE-TRANS-WP15-2014-10e.pdf).