Chris Law Portrait

Chris Law

Scottish National Party - Dundee Central

675 (1.7%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015


Employment Rights Bill
13th Nov 2024 - 16th Jan 2025
International Development Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
10th Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
Committees on Arms Export Controls
6th Jul 2020 - 16th Jan 2024
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (International Development)
20th Jun 2017 - 12th Dec 2022
Committees on Arms Export Controls (formerly Quadripartite Committee)
10th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
13th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
International Development Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Committees on Arms Export Controls
10th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Climate Justice)
20th Jun 2017 - 1st Jul 2018
Scottish Affairs Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Chris Law has voted in 77 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

13 Nov 2024 - Exiting the European Union - View Vote Context
Chris Law voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Scottish National Party No votes vs 5 Scottish National Party Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 412 Noes - 16
17 Dec 2024 - National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill - View Vote Context
Chris Law voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Scottish National Party No votes vs 1 Scottish National Party Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 352
View All Chris Law Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

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

Sparring Partners
Justin Madders (Labour)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
(15 debate interactions)
Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op))
(12 debate interactions)
Douglas Alexander (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Business and Trade
(63 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(6 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(5 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Chris Law's debates

Dundee Central 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).

Chris Law has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Chris Law

21st May 2025
Chris Law signed this EDM on Thursday 22nd May 2025

Humanitarian aid into Gaza

Tabled by: Adnan Hussain (Independent - Blackburn)
That this House calls on the United Nations, alongside the Security Council, to take urgent action to facilitate humanitarian aid access to Gaza, in light of the statement by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs that 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if aid supplies do not get in …
37 signatures
(Most recent: 6 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Scottish National Party: 9
Independent: 7
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Alliance: 1
21st May 2025
Chris Law signed this EDM on Thursday 22nd May 2025

Arms exports to Israel

Tabled by: Zarah Sultana (Independent - Coventry South)
That this House calls on the Government to immediately suspend all arms exports to Israel in line with majority public opinion and urgently provide full transparency over Britain’s military relationship with Israel considering new evidence of significantly increased military shipments during the war on Gaza; notes a new report evidencing …
45 signatures
(Most recent: 2 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 19
Independent: 9
Scottish National Party: 7
Green Party: 4
Plaid Cymru: 4
Liberal Democrat: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Alliance: 1
View All Chris Law's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Chris Law, 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.



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
7th Mar 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister’s speech entitled, Prime Minister’s remarks from the plenary session at the first UK-Ireland Summit: 6 March 2025, what steps the Government is taking to work more closely with the EU to (a) boost trade, (b) create jobs and (c) increase economic growth.

The Government is committed to improving the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU, by tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade. The Prime Minister and President von der Leyen agreed to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and I are taking this forward ahead of the first UK-EU summit in London on 19 May. The first UK-Ireland Summit saw the announcement of £185.5 million in new Irish investments, and creating 2540 jobs across the country.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the salary is of the Envoy to the Regions and Nations.

The terms of reference for the Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Nations and Regions will be published online in the normal way, setting out the purpose, scope and remit of the role.



Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who the Envoy to the Regions and Nations will report to.

The terms of reference for the Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Nations and Regions will be published online in the normal way, setting out the purpose, scope and remit of the role.



Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
8th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many shipments of military items have been made from the UK to Israel since October 2023.

DBT does not hold records of final exports of strategically controlled goods, and the fact that a licence is granted does not mean that an export takes place. For specific goods export data, you should refer to HMRC.

The Government has however published extensive information relating to export licensing decisions in relation to Israel. On 10 December, an ad hoc data release was published on ‘Export control licensing management information for Israel’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024) which provides information on export licences to Israel to 6 December 2024.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
8th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many shipments under commodity code 87 10 00 00 were made to Israel since October 2023.

DBT does not hold records of final exports of strategically controlled goods, and the fact that a licence is granted does not mean that an export takes place. For specific goods export data, you should refer to HMRC.

The Government has however published extensive information relating to export licensing decisions in relation to Israel. On 10 December, an ad hoc data release was published on ‘Export control licensing management information for Israel’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024) which provides information on export licences to Israel to 6 December 2024.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
8th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many bullets has been shipped to Israel since October 2023.

DBT does not hold records of final exports of strategically controlled goods, and the fact that a licence is granted does not mean that an export takes place. For specific goods export data, you should refer to HMRC.

The Government has however published extensive information relating to export licensing decisions in relation to Israel. On 10 December, an ad hoc data release was published on ‘Export control licensing management information for Israel’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024) which provides information on export licences to Israel to 6 December 2024.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK-Israel trade of Israel’s policies on (a) democratic principles and (b) human rights.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world; we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. The UK Government urges all countries, including Israel, to adhere to democratic principles and uphold human rights in line with international law. We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
2nd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement.

We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues. The UK Government continues to work with our allies and partners, including across the region, to find a path towards permanent peace.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will meet with representatives from the Worker Support Centre to discuss their 2024 Annual Report, published on 14 February 2025.

We appreciate the valuable work the Worker Support Centre (WSC) does in supporting workers.

The Department acknowledges the challenges for seasonal workers published in the WSC’s Annual report.

I have asked officials to ensure that the WSC are given the opportunity to input their expertise as we move forward with the implementation of the Fair Work Agency.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
15th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, (a) when and (b) where the next round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Israel will take place.

On 29 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced the Government’s intention to deliver negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey. The Government continues its review of the objectives for these negotiations with Israel.

We welcome the 15 January 2025 announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the planned Fair Work Agency will take to strengthen the enforcement of workplace rights.

The current system of employment rights is fragmented and confusing for workers and businesses alike. We are creating the Fair Work Agency to deliver a much-needed upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights. It will bring together existing enforcement functions to create a strong, recognisable single brand so individuals and businesses know where to go for help. It will also have strong powers to inspect workplaces and take action against employers who are deliberately breaking the law.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take through new employment rights legislation to help tackle challenges for people with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other fluctuating conditions in the workplace.

The Government has been clear that it will consult extensively with a wide range of stakeholders when developing new employment rights legislation. That will include those representing people with multiple sclerosis.

The Government has set out its immediate priorities for reforming employment law in the Plan to Make Work Pay. The Plan includes a number of measures which may help people with multiple sclerosis and other health conditions at work - including making sure people can benefit from flexible working and ensuring flexibility is a genuine default.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to (a) engage and (b) consult with people with multiple sclerosis when developing new employment rights legislation.

The Government has been clear that it will consult extensively with a wide range of stakeholders when developing new employment rights legislation. That will include those representing people with multiple sclerosis.

The Government has set out its immediate priorities for reforming employment law in the Plan to Make Work Pay. The Plan includes a number of measures which may help people with multiple sclerosis and other health conditions at work - including making sure people can benefit from flexible working and ensuring flexibility is a genuine default.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
7th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department's target in the 2021 North Sea Transition Deal to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs has been met.

The Deal agreed in 2021 did not include a target to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs. This figure was an estimate of the total number of jobs which could be supported, if several commitments in the Deal are met.

Government and industry continue to make progress, working together to deliver on the commitments in this long-term Deal. Government is determined to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) direct and (b) indirect supply chain jobs have been created under the North Sea Transition Deal.

The North Sea Transition Deal remains an important partnership between Government and industry, but job creation is based on many factors. Attributing direct or indirect job creation to the Deal alone is not possible and the Department does not track these figures.

The Government and industry continue to work together to deliver on the commitments in the North Sea Transition Deal. This includes actions to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) direct and (b) indirect jobs have been created through (i) platform electrification, (ii) CCUS and (iii) hydrogen between 2021-2024.

The Government does not currently have information on jobs created in platform electrification, CCUS and hydrogen between 2021-2024.

In 2024, the Government confirmed funding for 11 HAR1 projects, which are estimated to support around 760 direct jobs during construction and operation.

The £21.7 billion of funding for Track 1 announced last year is intended estimated to support up to 4,000 direct jobs and the industry as a whole will support up to 50,000 jobs as the sector develops into the 2030s

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government is taking to support negotiations to agree an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance at COP29.

Delivering an ambitious outcome on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is critical to ensure we can deliver towards the ambition of the Paris Agreement. The UK is committed to working together with all Parties to agree a new climate finance goal that supports the most vulnerable, encourages finance to increase from all sources and accelerates the necessary reforms of the global financial architecture. In line with this, the UK is actively engaging internationally at both Ministerial and Official levels with developed and developing countries to achieve an outcome which meets these critical objectives.

Kerry McCarthy
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department supervises data stored by (a) Amazon AWS and (b) Microsoft Azure at data centres located on UK territory.

DSIT does not directly supervise the storage of data in specific UK data centres by specific companies.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Charity Commission on guidance it provides to UK-registered charities on ensuring compliance with international law.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has produced guidance for charities on managing risks when working internationally, which can be found on its website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charities-how-to-manage-risks-when-working-internationally.

Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Charity Commission to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Charities in Scotland are registered with, and regulated by, the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is the registrar and regulator of charities in Northern Ireland.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will meet with the Seasonal Worker Interest Group to discuss worker welfare on the Seasonal Worker visa.

The Home Office, in collaboration with Defra, is arranging a meeting on seasonal worker welfare issues hosted by the Minister for Farming, Daniel Zeichner, and the Minister for Migration, Seema Malhotra MP, later this month. Invitations have been sent to the Seasonal Worker Interest Group, and other interested parties, for this event, which will provide an opportunity to discuss these matters further.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the regulation of tied-accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers.

Defra, Home Office, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers and their Officials regularly engage regarding a range of issues, including accommodation standards for seasonal workers.

The Government will work collaboratively on this issue, across the relevant departments, to improve the rights and protections for seasonal workers. We are exploring approaches at the national and local authority level and through engagement with the sector itself.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy that existing PIP claimants of pension age who are subject to a planned award review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to maintain their award.

Our intention is for the new eligibility requirement for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)—requiring individuals to score at least four points in a single daily living activity—to apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. In line with current policy, individuals over State Pension Age are not routinely subject to full award reviews and are therefore not expected to be affected by the proposed changes.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy that existing PIP claimants of pension age who request a change of circumstances review from November 2026 are required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to (a) maintain and (b) increase their award.

In keeping with existing policy, people on state pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes. We are considering further how the 4-point minimum requirement will affect claimants over state pension age who report a change of circumstances, and we will provide further information in due course.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
31st Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37203 on Seasonal workers: Agriculture, how many Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations reports were received by the Health and Safety Executive for (a) agricultural and (b) seasonal agricultural workers in each of the last five years.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not require dutyholders submitting reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to specify that the report relates to “seasonal agricultural workers”. Therefore, HSE does not hold specific data on the number of RIDDOR reports submitted for “seasonal agricultural workers” in each of the last five years.

HSE does collect RIDDOR reports on injuries and diseases to agricultural workers. The two tables below show the total number of RIDDOR reports received for “agricultural workers” from 1 April to 31 March over the last 5 years.

Table 1 - Reports of injuries*

Year

Non-reportable

Reportable

All reports

2020/21

40

829

869

2021/22

22

786

808

2022/23

26

778

804

2023/24

27

765

792

2024/25

33

786

819

*Table 1 - Injury outcomes include fatal, specified injuries, and over-7-day injuries.

Table 2 - Reports of occupational diseases, exposures to biological agents, and occupational cancers*

Year

Non-reportable

Reportable

All reports

2020/21

3

58

61

2021/22

1

20

21

2022/23

0

16

16

2023/24

0

10

10

2024/25

3

8

11

*Table 2 - Reports of specific occupational diseases, includes those caused by an occupational exposure to a biological agent; and cases of occupational cancer.

Notes on the two tables:

  1. These figures for ‘Agricultural workers’ are defined using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 01 – ‘Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities’, this information is selected by the notifier during the reporting process.
  2. Reports marked ‘non-reportable’ in the database, are those determined by HSE operational teams as either not meeting the reporting scope of RIDDOR, or reported as a duplicate. These figures are as-reported, no adjustments are made for under-reporting.
  3. Data in Tables 1 and 2 is based on RIDDOR reports as notified to HSE. HSE also publish as official statistics numbers of RIDDOR reported injuries. These official statistics have undergone further data quality checks and differ in scope and coverage to numbers in Tables 1 and 2. For more details of official statistics on RIDDOR reported injuries, see www.hse.gov.uk/statistics
Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
31st Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37202 on Seasonal workers: Agriculture, how many Health and Safety Executive inspection officials are based in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.

As the table below shows, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) currently employs 897 full time equivalent (FTE) inspector staff in all grades and roles including trainees, managers and specialists with warrants. There are currently 663 FTE Band 3 and 4 inspectors who undertake the delivery of the operational division workplans. This includes inspections and investigations into reported incidents and concerns and where non-compliance with health and safety legislations is identified, the inspectors take regulatory action in accordance with HSE’s published Enforcement Policy Statement.

Although HSE staff work across England, Scotland and Wales, these figures are based on the office location where the staff are employed.

Job Band

England

Scotland

Wales

Total

SCS

9

1

-

10

Band 1

28

4

3

35

Band 2

152

26

11

189

Band 3

377

94

42

513

Band 4

117

21

12

150

Total

683

146

68

897

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Worker Support Centre's Annual Report 2024, published on 14 February 2025, whether the Health and Safety Executive has plans to commission a review into (a) the use of personal protective equipment and (b) repeated injuries on farms employing seasonal workers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, this includes workplace health and safety risks created in agriculture.

HSE can confirm that the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 were amended in 2022 to bring all workers into scope. The above regulations will be subject to a post implementation review (PIR) in 2027. These regulations already require that suitable personal protective equipment is provided, at no cost, to the worker and that workers are trained in its use. Therefore, HSE is of the view that the regulations are currently fit for purpose and have no plans to review them before the planned PIR. Farms have a legal duty to ensure that they provide appropriate PPE to all workers, including seasonal workers, and that those workers also use the PPE provided.

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, dutyholders such as farmers have a legal duty to report certain work-related injuries to HSE. Where required, HSE can and does investigate individual reports of work-related incidents across all industries, including farming. In addition, HSE also monitors the accident data that it receives under the above regulations, and tailors its subsequent engagement with the industry in the best, most efficient way to drive improvement in onsite health and safety standards. HSE has no plans to commission a specific review of injuries on farms employing seasonal workers.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive have taken to prevent health and safety hazards on farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, this includes workplace health and safety risks created in agriculture.

Over the last 5 years, HSE has taken the following steps to address on-farm health and safety hazards and improve the health and safety performance of the industry for the benefit of all farm workers in Scotland, England and Wales, including seasonal workers, by:

  • Working closely with the industry through Britain’s Farm Safety Partnerships (FSPs). Together, HSE and the FSPs use a range of interventions to encourage the industry to take a greater ownership of the health and safety risks that it creates, and work to create sustained improvement from within the industry.
  • Between 2018 and 2024, in partnership with the industry, HSE ran a campaign to offer farmers free health and safety training which was then followed up by an inspection to a selection of the farms invited to take the training.
  • Although HSE has no pre-planned inspections in agriculture in 2024/25, HSE continues to inspect where they receive intelligence to suggest risk is not being managed and investigate incidents in line with its selection criteria.
  • Over the last 5 years HSE has also engaged with the industry through a variety of other methods including industry talks, webinars, presentations, campaigns, media engagement, and producing industry notifications which include safety messaging.
  • HSE’s recent agricultural media campaign “Your Farm Your Future” was a successful example of using HSE and industry voices to reinforce safety messages and reach a wide range of farmers and farm workers. Campaign materials can be found at: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/agriculture/.
  • In addition, HSE also publishes guidance for farmers on how to prevent workplace ill health and injury to their workforce, including seasonal workers. The guidance is freely available on the HSE website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm.

HSE remains committed to working with the farming industry to help improve health and safety performance for the benefit of all its workers.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with multiple sclerosis who were placed into the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group due to meeting the descriptor mobilising unaided Activity 1.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with multiple sclerosis who were placed into the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity group due to meeting the descriptor mobilising unaided Activity 1.

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Employment and Support Allowance (a) Support Group and (b) Work-Related Activity Group.

In May 2024 there were around 19,500 people on ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis. Of these, around 300 were in the Work-Related Activity Group and around 18,000 were in the Support Group, with the remainder being in the Assessment Phase or receiving National Insurance credits only, and not assigned to a particular group.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group due to scoring 15 points on the Support Group Mobilising activity.

The group of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) customers affected by the most severe health conditions or disabilities are considered to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA). The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) criteria for assessing whether someone has LCWRA is not determined by a point score. To be found to have LCWRA, someone must be assessed as meeting one or more of the LCWRA criteria, which are set out in legislation.

Scoring 15 points against the WCA Limited Capability for Work (LCW) criteria, be that any single WCA activity or in total across the activities, would result in somebody being found to have LCW/being placed in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Universal Credit Limited Capacity for Work-Related Activity group due to scoring 15 points on the LCWRA Mobilising activity.

The group of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) customers affected by the most severe health conditions or disabilities are considered to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA). The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) criteria for assessing whether someone has LCWRA is not determined by a point score. To be found to have LCWRA, someone must be assessed as meeting one or more of the LCWRA criteria, which are set out in legislation.

Scoring 15 points against the WCA Limited Capability for Work (LCW) criteria, be that any single WCA activity or in total across the activities, would result in somebody being found to have LCW/being placed in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Universal Credit (a) Limited Capacity for Work-Related Activity group and (b) Limited Capability for Work group.

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for Pension Credit were received between (a) 29 July 2024 and 30 November 2024, (b) 29 July 2023 and 30 November 2023 and (c) 29 July 2022 and 30 November 2022.

On 28 November we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 17 November 2024. Pension Credit applications and awards: November 2024 - GOV.UK, which is the nearest available data to the 30 November.

This information is updated quarterly and the next update, which will include end of November data is due around the end of February 2025. This release will cover data up to week commencing 10 February 2024.

  • These statistics show that 150,000 Pension Credit claims were received between 29 July 2024 up to 17 November 2024.
  • In the previous year we received around 67,000 applications for the closest comparable period, which was 31 July 2023 to 19 November 2023.
  • The closest comparable period in 2022 shows we received around 87,500 applications between 1 August 2022 and 20 November 2022.

Please note, the figures presented are from DWP’s Pension Credit system which has previously been collected for internal departmental operations use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics publication standards.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to implement the proposals outlined in the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, published in April 2024.

The consultation on Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July.

The Department received over 16,000 responses to the consultation. This demonstrates the depth of feeling about the previous Government’s proposals. I thank the British public, as well as the numerous charities and organisations who responded on behalf of their members, for the time and effort taken to share their thoughts and views.

Whilst engaging with responses, I can confirm that responses to the set of proposals on the reform of Personal Independence Payments was mixed and for some proposals consistently negative.

We will be setting out our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that people with multiple sclerosis are (a) treated fairly and (b) supported at work.

The Government has ambitious plans relating to employment, including disability employment, and we will be setting this out through a forthcoming White Paper, the Employment Rights Bill and the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. We know that there is more to do to address the labour market challenges of today and tomorrow.

Appropriate work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. We want people to avoid poverty, and for this to happen we must ensure that disabled people with health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, have the opportunity to work and save for as long as they wish and are able to.

A fully inclusive labour market that enables disabled people and people with health conditions to have access to the same opportunities as everyone else to the benefits of work is crucial to meeting our ambition for an 80% employment rate. As part of the Get Britain Working Plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.

Employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, to thrive as part of the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.

Under the Equality Act 2010, protection is available where a worker or job applicant’s condition fits the definition of a disability set out in section 6 of the Act. Where a person meets the Act’s definition of a disabled person, the employment provisions in the Act make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against disabled employees and applicants. As with all provisions under the Act, it is for the person who believes they have been discriminated against in the provision of services to personally seek advice or redress. Should they wish to do so, they can begin this process by contacting the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which provides free bespoke advice to individuals with discrimination concerns.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Labour Party's publication entitled Labour’s plan to make work pay: Delivering a new deal for working people, published in May 2024, whether she plans to incorporate (a) that plan and (b) the proposed changes to statutory sick pay outlined in that plan into the Employment Rights Bill.

This Government is committed to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay in full and updating Britain's employment protections, so they are fit for our modern economy and the future of work. As set out in the Plan to Make to Work Pay we are committed to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. We will remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all employees and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the Plan, including an Employment Rights Bill that will be introduced to Parliament within 100 days of taking office.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) humanitarian assistance, (b) support to (i) local and (ii) regional responders and (c) food aid to people in Sudan.

At the recent London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced £120 million which will deliver life-saving services to more than 650,000 people. The majority of this funding will be delivered through key UN agencies, including the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Food Programme who will provide life-saving food and nutrition supplies as well as vital water, sanitation, maternal, and hygiene programmes. This uplift also provides support to local responders both through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which supports the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), and the Mercy Corps-led Cash Consortium for Sudan which provides direct cash assistance to Mutual Aid Groups and ERRs on the ground. Our funding will also support displaced people across Sudan and regional countries affected by conflict.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with (a) the UN, (b) the African Union, (c) Arab states and (d) other multilateral groups to help tackle hunger in Sudan.

The UK continues to work closely with multiple multilateral organisations to tackle Sudan's grave humanitarian crisis. At last month's London Sudan Conference, which the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), the League of Arab States (LAS), and others attended, discussions focused on efforts to address spiralling humanitarian aid needs as well as how to bring about a political resolution to the conflict. At the Conference the UK pledged £120 million in new humanitarian funding, which will provide lifesaving aid for over 650,000 people. The UK is also working with both the AU and LAS to align international efforts to ensure unhindered humanitarian access.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure humanitarian access in Sudan.

The UK is playing a leading role in response to the crisis in Sudan, including efforts to facilitate more consistent humanitarian access into and within the country. On 13 February, the previous Development Minister convened a Development Ministers' meeting, alongside the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to focus on how we can accelerate and improve the UN-led international humanitarian response and better coordinate donor advocacy and engagement. At the April London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the importance of humanitarian access and the co-chairs' statement from the Conference called on the warring parties to facilitate rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access in accordance with the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration, and in adherence with their obligations under international humanitarian law. He also announced £120 million which will deliver life-saving services to more than 650,000 people.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) parties to and (b) foreign backers of the conflict in Sudan (i) comply with international humanitarian law and (ii) are held accountable for violations.

In response to the brutal conflict in Sudan the UK is doing all it can to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL), to promote accountability for violations and to improve the protection context for civilians. The UK is using its position as penholder at the UN Security Council and leader of the core group on Sudan at the Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the human rights situation in Sudan. To bolster our monitoring capacity we are funding the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) who are leading efforts to gather open-source evidence about attacks against civilians and infrastructure as well as leading work to monitor hate speech and incitement of violence across the country. We are also providing support to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to enable their human rights monitoring and reporting, and in October, led the renewal of the UN Fact Finding Mission for Sudan's mandate as part of the Sudan 'Core Group' in the Human Rights Council. These are vital mechanisms to ensure that evidence of human rights violations and abuses are collected, preserved, and can be used to hold perpetrators to account.  The UK also strongly supports the International Criminal Court's active investigation into the situation in Darfur, including allegations of crimes committed since April 2023.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
6th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the governments of (a) Kazakhstan and (b) Yemen on the potential transfer of (i) Sabry Quaraishi and (ii) Mohammed Al-Gbari.

UK officials have discussed the cases of Sabry Quaraishi and Mohammed Al-Gbari with representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). They will remain in contact with the UNHCR and continue to track these cases.

The Foreign Secretary has not raised these cases with the governments of Kazakhstan or Yemen but has consistently called on partners to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help international aid agencies provide (a) humanitarian aid and (b) assistance to Syrian communities within areas occupied by Israeli forces since 8 December 2024.

The UK continues to provide vital support to Syrians in need in Syria and across the region. Since the fall of Assad, we have announced a further £62 million, bringing UK commitments to over £4.3 billion since the start of the conflict. Through the United Nations (UN) and other international Non-Governmental Organisations, we are providing food, healthcare, protection, and other life-saving assistance. We continue to fund UN programmes that support Syrians, including in areas which currently have an Israeli presence. We call on all parties to support humanitarian access and prioritise the protection of civilians, as well as humanitarian workers, in all regions of Syria.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of religious tensions between communities in Syria.

We are deeply concerned about religious tensions between communities in Syria, and the impact this may have for Syria's stability. Reports that large numbers of civilians have been killed in coastal areas in ongoing violence are horrific. In my statement to the House on 10 March, and in the Foreign Secretary's public statement on 9 March, we have been clear that the interim Syrian authorities must ensure the protection of all Syrians and set out a clear path to an inclusive political transition. We will judge them by their actions.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the promotion of sectarianism in Syria.

The UK is engaging regularly with the interim Syrian authorities to support them in taking steps that will deliver a more stable, free and prosperous future for the Syrian people. In my statement to the House on 10 March, and in the Foreign Secretary's public statement on 9 March, we made clear that the interim authorities have a responsibility to ensure the protection of all Syrian civilians and to make progress towards an inclusive political transition which leads to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. We will judge them by their actions.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the presence of Israeli armed forces in positions within Syria since 8 December 2024.

We continue to call on Israel, and all actors, to uphold their obligations to peace, stability, and security under international law.  We are increasingly concerned by Israel's actions in Syria and are raising these concerns directly with the Israeli authorities. Israel have said their presence in the buffer zone in the Golan Heights will be limited and temporary, and we have been clear that we expect them to adhere to this commitment. We recognise current threats to Israel, Israel's presence in the buffer zone must not become permanent.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the 0.3% of gross national income to be spent on official development assistance he plans to allocate to humanitarian aid in Gaza.

As with all Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) spend, new allocations provided to humanitarian partners working in Gaza will be announced in the usual way. The UK has announced £129 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) this financial year, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinian refugees across the region. The Prime Minister made clear in the House on 25 February that this Government is proud of the UK's pioneering record on overseas development, and we will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Gaza.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)