Clive Betts Portrait

Clive Betts

Labour - Sheffield South East

First elected: 9th April 1992


Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill
14th Dec 2022 - 11th Jan 2023
Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill
15th Dec 2021 - 5th Jan 2022
Liaison Committee Sub-committee on the effectiveness and influence of the select committee system
13th Feb 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
National Policy Statements Sub-Committee
13th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
National Policy Statements Sub-Committee 2017-19
13th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee (Commons)
6th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Finance Committee (Commons)
30th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
12th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Panel of Chairs
22nd Jun 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
12th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Finance Committee (Commons)
20th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
18th Jun 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Panel of Chairs
12th Jan 2009 - 3rd May 2017
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
18th Jun 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Liaison Committee (Commons)
10th Sep 2015 - 3rd May 2017
National Policy Statements Sub-Committee
20th Feb 2017 - 3rd May 2017
National Policy Statements Sub-Committee
21st Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Liaison Committee (Commons)
19th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
27th Jun 2006 - 30th Mar 2015
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
10th Jun 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
27th Jun 2006 - 30th Mar 2015
Finance and Services Committee
17th Jul 2005 - 30th Mar 2015
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
10th Jun 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Select Committee
3rd Mar 2009 - 6th May 2010
Committee on Reform of the House of Commons
20th Jul 2009 - 6th May 2010
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee
22nd Jul 2002 - 27th Jun 2006
Urban Affairs Sub-committee
15th Oct 2002 - 11th Jul 2005
Urban Affairs Sub-Committee
16th Jul 2001 - 22nd Jul 2002
Transport, Local Government & The Regions
16th Jul 2001 - 22nd Jul 2002
Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip)
28th Jul 1998 - 7th Jun 2001
Committee of Selection
7th May 1997 - 11th May 2001
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
8th May 1997 - 28th Jul 1998
Opposition Whip (Commons)
1st Jan 1996 - 1st Jan 1997
Treasury Committee
27th Nov 1995 - 11th Nov 1996
Treasury & Civil Service
1st Jan 1995 - 1st Jan 1996


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Clive Betts has voted in 731 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Clive Betts 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
Robert Jenrick (Conservative)
(41 debate interactions)
Michael Gove (Conservative)
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
(35 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(29 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(48 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(41 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Building Safety Act 2022
(4,255 words contributed)
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
(3,435 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Clive Betts's debates

Sheffield South East 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).

Clive Betts has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Clive Betts

7th February 2024
Clive Betts signed this EDM on Wednesday 28th February 2024

International Court of Justice Ruling on Gaza and the UK’s duties under the Genocide Convention

Tabled by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
That this House notes the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January 2024, which found that it is plausible that Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza are in breach of the Genocide Convention; further notes that the ICJ issued provisional measures, including ordering …
63 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 31
Scottish National Party: 21
Independent: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Alliance: 1
16th January 2024
Clive Betts signed this EDM on Monday 19th February 2024

Journalists in Gaza

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House is profoundly shocked and saddened by the deaths of over 85 journalists and other media workers in Gaza since the Hamas attacks of October 7, with many more critically injured, missing or in detention without trial; believes that journalists in Gaza are the only ones standing between …
53 signatures
(Most recent: 22 Feb 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 27
Scottish National Party: 17
Independent: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Alliance: 1
Alba Party: 1
View All Clive Betts's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Clive Betts, 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.


Clive Betts has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Clive Betts has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Clive Betts has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


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
17th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants are members of the civil service classic scheme.

A total of 660,782 individuals are in receipt of a pension under classic terms.

Of those, 552,327 are retired classic members, the rest are those in receipt of a dependent’s pension.

This is split as follows:

Male/Female

Dependent/Pensioner

Number

Male

Dependent

15,905

Male

Pensioner

273,565

Female

Dependent

92,550

Female

Pensioner

278,762

MyCSP, the pension administrator, is unable to provide a split between active and deferred members due to how their data is held.

This is due to the fact that a large number of cases still in payment relate to members retiring or crystallising their benefits before the advent of bespoke administration and payroll systems that would hold this information. All historic, legacy cases were processed manually and unfortunately this level of detail is not available for this population.

13th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) widows and (b) widowers that were in receipt of their partner's Civil Service Classic Scheme pension have seen their payments stopped as a result of (a) remarrying and (b) cohabiting with a partner over the last 5 years.

A total of 660,782 Civil Servants are in receipt of a pension under classic terms.

Of those

  1. 92,550 are in receipt of a widows pension and;

  2. 15,905 a widowers pension.

  3. 552,327 are in receipt of the classic pension

50.47% (278,762) of retired Civil Servants in receipt of a classic pension are women.

The number of widows and widowers who have had their pensions suspended is given in the below table.

Number of pensions suspended in year

Year in which pension suspended

Widows

Widowers

2017

42

48

2018

22

13

2019

5

7

2020

1

3

2021

3

0

2022

0

0

MyCSP, the pension administrator, are unable to split the numbers based on those remarrying and those cohabiting as their system does not record it in this manner.

The numbers provided are based on MyCSP’s current data holding and include those that were suspended and have not since been restored on their system.

Where a spouse’s Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) remains payable and only the spouse pension in excess of this is suspended, MyCSP are unable to include these in the data provided because their system will show the benefit as ‘in payment’ although the excess element is suspended. Therefore, the record does not show as suspended.

13th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the total number of retired civil servants in receipt of the Civil Service Classic Scheme pension are women.

A total of 660,782 Civil Servants are in receipt of a pension under classic terms.

Of those

  1. 92,550 are in receipt of a widows pension and;

  2. 15,905 a widowers pension.

  3. 552,327 are in receipt of the classic pension

50.47% (278,762) of retired Civil Servants in receipt of a classic pension are women.

The number of widows and widowers who have had their pensions suspended is given in the below table.

Number of pensions suspended in year

Year in which pension suspended

Widows

Widowers

2017

42

48

2018

22

13

2019

5

7

2020

1

3

2021

3

0

2022

0

0

MyCSP, the pension administrator, are unable to split the numbers based on those remarrying and those cohabiting as their system does not record it in this manner.

The numbers provided are based on MyCSP’s current data holding and include those that were suspended and have not since been restored on their system.

Where a spouse’s Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) remains payable and only the spouse pension in excess of this is suspended, MyCSP are unable to include these in the data provided because their system will show the benefit as ‘in payment’ although the excess element is suspended. Therefore, the record does not show as suspended.

13th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants are in receipt of a pension via the civil service Classic scheme; and how many of those individuals are in receipt of a (a) widows and (b) widowers’ pension.

A total of 660,782 Civil Servants are in receipt of a pension under classic terms.

Of those

  1. 92,550 are in receipt of a widows pension and;

  2. 15,905 a widowers pension.

  3. 552,327 are in receipt of the classic pension

50.47% (278,762) of retired Civil Servants in receipt of a classic pension are women.

The number of widows and widowers who have had their pensions suspended is given in the below table.

Number of pensions suspended in year

Year in which pension suspended

Widows

Widowers

2017

42

48

2018

22

13

2019

5

7

2020

1

3

2021

3

0

2022

0

0

MyCSP, the pension administrator, are unable to split the numbers based on those remarrying and those cohabiting as their system does not record it in this manner.

The numbers provided are based on MyCSP’s current data holding and include those that were suspended and have not since been restored on their system.

Where a spouse’s Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) remains payable and only the spouse pension in excess of this is suspended, MyCSP are unable to include these in the data provided because their system will show the benefit as ‘in payment’ although the excess element is suspended. Therefore, the record does not show as suspended.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many funds are allocated to local authorities by his Department through a process of competitive bidding; and if he will publish the names of those funds.

Within the Cabinet Office, one fund is allocated to local authorities through a process of competitive bidding.

The One Public Estate programme is a partnership between the Office of Government Property in the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Through better use of land and property, it aims to deliver efficiencies, local economic growth (jobs and homes) and better, more-integrated public services. The programme offers early-stage project funding, support and expertise to cross-public sector projects, led by local authorities.

The One Public Estate programme also delivers the Land Release Fund on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This capital fund enables local authorities to bring forward otherwise unviable land for housing development. Funding for the Land Release Fund is awarded to local authorities, through a competitive process, directly by DLUHC.

16th Nov 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing cemeteries to remain accessible during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown to provide connecting footpaths for recreational walking in (a) inner city areas where no alternative is available and (b) other areas.

On 5 November, the Government acted swiftly in accordance with growing evidence of virus prevalence to put in place new national COVID-19 restrictions in England. Under these new restrictions, crematoria and burial grounds remain open only for the fundamental purpose of carrying out a funeral or burial; a commemorative event to celebrate the life of someone who has died; or to pay respects to someone who has died. Limiting the use of crematoria and burial grounds allows the bereaved to mourn appropriately while minimising the spread of the virus, and many other outdoor public places remain open for exercise.


From 2 December, we will return to a regional approach and any guidance, including the use of crematoria and burial grounds, will be updated depending on the Local COVID alert level of the area in which you live. For further information on COVID-19 restrictions, please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november. Please also refer to the Safer Public Places which provides advice on the safe use of outdoor public spaces.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
30th Sep 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that staff at polling stations to be used in the 2021 local elections will be able to socially distance.

The Government is working with the electoral sector and Public Health England to identify and resolve challenges involved in delivering the May 2021 elections, including supporting Returning Officers to ensure polling stations and count venues are safe and covid-secure.

30th Sep 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that staff at electoral counts for the local elections in 2021 will be able to socially distance.

The Government is working with the electoral sector and Public Health England to identify and resolve challenges involved in delivering the May 2021 elections, including supporting Returning Officers to ensure polling stations and count venues are safe and covid-secure.

16th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to ensure that companies successful in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) competition (a) manufacture those SMRs and (b) use supply chains domestically.

The SMR technology selection process is an open and competitive process. The priority is to select the technologies best able to facilitate operational projects by the mid-2030s. As with any Government decision, this will be subject to value for money, relevant approvals, and technology readiness. This is an exciting time for nuclear and the scale of our ambition means there are likely to be significant supply chain opportunities associated with projects going forward.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many funds are allocated to local authorities by his Department through a process of competitive bidding; and if he will publish the names of those funds.

The Department has 10 funds allocated to local authorities through a process of competitive bidding.

The list of names those funds are:

  • Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF);
  • Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS);
  • Green Homes Grant - Local Authority Delivery (LAD);
  • Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG);
  • Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund;
  • Heat Networks Investment Programme (HNIP);
  • Green Heat Networks Fund Transition Scheme;
  • Heat Networks Efficiency Scheme Demonstrator;
  • Whole House Retrofit;
  • Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.
12th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the level of demand on the UK Research and Innovation budget.

In contrast to the number of open calls that UKRI runs, which remained relatively stable with an additional surge to deliver specific COVID-19 related funding, the number of applications for funding from UKRI has risen over the last year, including in response to COVID-19. To date the trend has already shown an increase of over 1,000 applications ending December 2020, with a further projection of another 2,000 applications to be received in the final quarter. These increases are against an active portfolio of approximately 14,000 grants.

UKRI has also responded to increased demand to help stabilise the system and the pressures felt across the research and innovation community. Active grants continue to attract a high number of requested changes through their life, but more recently hundreds more enquiries have resulted from COVID-19 disruption, generating many requests for both costed and no cost extensions with £90 million in costed grant extensions paid this year.

Other stabilising interventions that UKRI has made in response to the pandemic include bringing forwards £100 million of Quality Related funding from Academic Year 2020-21 to AY 2019-20, and providing additional funding through the Sustaining University Research Expertise (SURE) Fund in financial year 2020-21.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
6th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to stimulate private investment in green hydrogen production facilities; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on increasing demand for green hydrogen from the transport sector.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and subsequent Energy White Paper, set out that the Government, working with industry, is aiming for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity in the UK by 2030. In support of this we have also announced a £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund for capital co-investment in new low carbon hydrogen production, to bring forward a combination of CCUS-enabled ‘blue’ hydrogen and electrolytic ‘green’ hydrogen projects.

We have also committed to consulting on a preferred hydrogen business model in 2021 and will bring forward further details this year on the revenue mechanism to bring through private sector investment via our new business models. Again, our business model work will focus on supporting both green and blue hydrogen.

I meet with my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport regularly to discuss all aspects of transport decarbonisation including the role for green hydrogen. A good example of cross departmental working is the recent announcement in the spending review of £3 million to support the development of the UKs first Hydrogen Transport Hub in Tees Valley.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when tattoo parlours will be permitted to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Hairdressers and barbers in England were able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services. Other close contact services, like tattoo parlours, remain closed until further notice. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in his speech on 3rd July, stated that a timetable for the reopening of these closed sectors would be set out this week.

We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when nail parlous will be permitted to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Hairdressers and barbers in England were able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services. Other close contact services, like nail parlours, remain closed until further notice. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in his speech on 3rd July, stated that a timetable for the reopening of these closed sectors would be set out this week.

We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

23rd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 15 June 2020 to Question 57088 on Hospitality Industry: Social Distancing, what measures are planned to protect customers and employees; and how those measures will be enforced.

We have now published (23 June) new guidance for pubs, restaurants, and bars. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June for their reopening from 4 July, provided they are COVID-secure. The guidance was developed following consultation with representatives from the industry.

The guidance sets out various measures for these businesses to consider including calculating the maximum number of customers they can provide services to in a socially distanced manner, reconfiguring seating areas, setting up handwashing facilities, providing clear communications about the rules indoors and outdoors, considering contactless payment methods, adjusting working practices to minimise staff and customer contact, and using outdoor spaces as much as possible.

The guidance is non-statutory but does not change existing obligations relating to health and safety, employment, or equalities. Employers have a duty under UK law to protect the health and safety of their workers and other people who might be affected by their business. This includes considering the risks that COVID-19 represents.

As is the case now, individual business owners will be responsible for ensuring their customers adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.

Depending on the business, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities enforce health and safety in these workplaces and will monitor compliance including through inspections and following up on concerns raised by individuals with them.

They can take action against any business who isn’t complying with their legal health and safety obligations, including providing guidance and issuing enforcement notices to require them to take the necessary action or taking further action, including fines, if they continue to not comply.

23rd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding of the Usdaw survey, published on 18 June 2020, that 92 per cent of retail workers do not want the six-hour Sunday trading cap removed; and what plans he has to take that finding into account considering extension of Sunday trading hours.

There are currently no plans to increase Sunday trading hours, although we will keep measures like this under review as we examine ways to support the economy and consumers to manage the impact of covid-19. The views of retail workers and their representatives are an important consideration whenever considering a policy change relevant to the sector. Shop employees (except those employed to work exclusively on Sundays) have the right to opt out of Sunday working.

9th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when pubs, bars and restaurants reopen following covid-19 lockdown measures what (a) enforcement measures and (b) penalties will be in place if those venues fail to enforce social distancing.

We are working at pace to develop safe ways for pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen at the earliest opportunity it is safe to do so, through our pubs and restaurants taskforce. As set out in the roadmap, it is our ambition to reopen pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants from 4 July at the earliest, subject to the scientific advice at the time. However, pubs, restaurants and cafes can continue to offer takeaway-enabled services as they have been during lockdown.

Our guidance forms part of employers’ normal health and safety practice. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and by local authorities. Social distancing is a key part of our scientific advice. This will be considered by employers as part of their risk assessment.

If the enforcing authority finds that an employer is not taking action to properly manage workplace risk, a range of actions are is open to them, including specific advice or issuing enforcement notices.

13th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the additional funding announced by the Government on 2 May 2020 for local authorities to provide discretionary business grants, how the amount of funding available to each local authority has been calculated; and what guidance has been issued to local authorities on how that additional funding should be spent.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF). This is in addition to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF).

The data return from Local Authorities of Monday 4th May 2020, which includes each Local Authority’s assessment of eligible hereditaments for the Small Business Grants Fund (SMGF) and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF), is used as the baseline for calculating the allocation of Discretionary Grant Funds for each Local Authority. The allocation for each local authority is 5% on top of their estimated spend of the Small Business Grants Fund (SMGF) and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). All 314 Local Authorities administering the scheme will receive a letter this week setting out their guaranteed minimum allocation, giving them confidence to set up their local schemes. If a Local Authority subsequently identifies and is able to fund more businesses from the Small Business Grants and/or Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund than they identified in their data return of the 4th May, we will increase their 5% allocation.

Guidance, intended to support Local Authorities in administering the Discretionary Grants Fund, was published 13th May.

Guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding.

This will not replace existing guidance for the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) or the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).

Guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses.

18th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's consultation on the statutory levy on gambling operators, published on 17 October 2023, for what reason the proposed statutory levy rate for remote pools betting was set at 1%.

Higher rates of problem gambling are associated with certain products, particularly those online, compared to most land-based products. We want to take this into account in the design of the statutory levy, as well as the higher operating costs in the land-based sector. Public Health England’s evidence review of gambling-related harms, based on Health Survey data, showed football pools to have a 'problem gambling' rate of 5%, which is higher than the population level which has been at or below 1% for the past 20 years.

The consultation on the design of the statutory levy opened on 17 October and has now closed. Our consultation specifically invited views on the question of levy rates so that the Government has the best available evidence to inform our final policy decisions on the structure of the levy. The Government is carefully considering the evidence received, and we will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to give the Football Regulator the (a) powers and (b) resources to regulate clubs to ensure any breaches of financial fair play rules are (i) identified and (ii) punished.

The Premier League’s financial fair play rules are a matter for the Premier League and will not be will not be covered by the Football Regulator, which will have a tightly defined scope around ensuring financial sustainability. The Football Regulator will not involve itself in sporting matters or league rules, recognising the Government’s long standing respect for the autonomy of sport.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the independent regulator should have jurisdiction over (a) breaches alleged by the Guardian by the previous owner of Chelsea Roman Abramovitch and (b) other breaches of the financial fair play rules.

The Premier League’s financial fair play rules are a matter for the Premier League and will not be will not be covered by the Football Regulator, which will have a tightly defined scope around ensuring financial sustainability. The Football Regulator will not involve itself in sporting matters or league rules, recognising the Government’s long standing respect for the autonomy of sport.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Premier League on its financial fair play rules; and what assessment she has made as to whether future legislation should include penalties for breaching financial fair play rules.

The Premier League’s financial fair play rules are a matter for the Premier League and will not be will not be covered by the Football Regulator, which will have a tightly defined scope around ensuring financial sustainability. The Football Regulator will not involve itself in sporting matters or league rules, recognising the Government’s long standing respect for the autonomy of sport.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance.

The Government published its response to the recommendations of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance in April 2022 and we recognise the need for football to be reformed to ensure the game’s sustainability in the long term.

We are now taking the time to consider the policy. We remain committed to publishing a White Paper setting out our detailed response to the Fan Led Review in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent reports he has received from the football authorities on the steps they were taking to eradicate racial abuse from the game.

The Government continues to liaise closely and regularly with all the football authorities about their work to tackle discrimination. This includes actions targeted at and around football grounds, such as improving reporting systems, providing better training and support for referees and stewards, and improving the quality of CCTV around stadia.

We also welcomed the launch of The FA’s ‘Football Leadership Diversity Code’ last year which is a step in the right direction to ensure English football better represents our modern and diverse society, on and off the pitch.

In January, the Government convened a roundtable with footballers, alongside the Chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board and the Professional Footballers’ Association, to discuss social media abuse and the upcoming Online Safety Bill.

However, there is still progress to be made and the Government will continue to press the football authorities to build on their work to date to tackle discrimination.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he last requested a report from the football authorities on the steps they are taking to eradicate racism from the game.

The Government continues to liaise closely and regularly with all the football authorities about their work to tackle discrimination. This includes actions targeted at and around football grounds, such as improving reporting systems, providing better training and support for referees and stewards, and improving the quality of CCTV around stadia.

We also welcomed the launch of The FA’s ‘Football Leadership Diversity Code’ last year which is a step in the right direction to ensure English football better represents our modern and diverse society, on and off the pitch.

In January, the Government convened a roundtable with footballers, alongside the Chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board and the Professional Footballers’ Association, to discuss social media abuse and the upcoming Online Safety Bill.

However, there is still progress to be made and the Government will continue to press the football authorities to build on their work to date to tackle discrimination.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he was made aware that Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts wrote in January 2021 to the (a) Premier League and (b) English Football League requesting that they work together to tackle racist abuse against players; and will he make a statement.

The department is in regular contact with the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Lead, and the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) across a range of issues including tackling discrimination.

I understand the Premier League and English Football League also meet frequently with the UKFPU, including recently with social media companies to focus on tackling online abuse, and hope they will continue to do so as we work together to rid this abhorrent behaviour from the game and society.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he last had discussions with Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts on football matters.

The department is in regular contact with the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Lead, and the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) across a range of issues including tackling discrimination.

I understand the Premier League and English Football League also meet frequently with the UKFPU, including recently with social media companies to focus on tackling online abuse, and hope they will continue to do so as we work together to rid this abhorrent behaviour from the game and society.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list all the Football Banning Orders that are in operation by (a) football club, (b) time served and (c) offence committed.

The Home Office is the lead department for Football Banning Orders and has published football-related arrests and banning orders statistics, in England and Wales, for the 2019/20 season on gov.uk.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
16th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing theatres to open in socially distanced conditions in tier 3 areas.

The Government fully recognises the disruptive impact that Coronavirus and restrictions has on the performing arts and particularly for theatres which have had to close to public performance. The Government continues to work with all its sectors to assess the impact of the tiers and to develop proposals for how venues can reopen when it is safe to do so.

We recognise the impact that closures across the country will have on our vital cultural sector and remain committed to supporting it as it suffers the impact of this virus. The remaining £400m of Culture Recovery Fund grants and loans announced on Friday 11th December will support significant cultural organisations who now face financial distress as a result of closure, as well as helping them transition back to fuller opening in the spring.

More than 440 theatres across the country have received more than £183 million from the Culture Recovery Fund, which is nearly 30% of the funding awarded by Arts Council England so far.

3rd Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2020 to Question 120773 on Ice Skating: Coronavirus, what sports he classifies as having elite athletes.

Elite and professional athletes may continue to use facilities to train and to compete. It is set out in regulation and in guidance that an ‘elite athlete’ is defined as a person who is:

  • an individual who derives a living from competing in a sport

  • a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body

  • a member of the senior training squad for a relevant sporting body

  • on an elite development pathway.

It is for the relevant governing body to set their own guidance and define the threshold at which these criteria are met in their sport.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
3rd Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what additional steps his Department is taking to support operators of bowling centres during their extended period of closure due to the covid-19 outbreak.

My Department is taking a number of steps to support bowling centres impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Bowling centre operators can access the Government’s comprehensive support package - including the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes, new grant schemes, as well as various government-backed loans. We have also provided business rates relief and grants for many in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.

We are listening to stakeholders’ concerns, and will continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of Government restrictions on bowling alleys.

Since 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan, we have returned to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Relevant venues in the entertainment, leisure and tourism sectors - including bowling alleys - will be permitted to reopen in tiers 1 and 2, subject to curfew restrictions and in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance. In tier 3 areas, indoor venues and attractions - including bowling alleys - must close.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the English Ice Hockey Association and British Ice Skating’s joint campaign to reopen ice rinks in tier 3 covid-19 local alert level areas for (a) elite sport, (b) under-18 sport, (c) disability sport, (d) educational programmes and (e) organised sport.

Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. That’s why we made sure that people could exercise at least once a day even during the height of the first period of enhanced national restrictions and why we opened up grassroots sport and leisure facilities as soon as it was safe to do so.

Under Tier 3, Ice Rinks are able to open for disability sport, sports as part of the curriculum in education and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s (including those who were under 18 on 31 August 2020). Elite and professional athletes may continue to use facilities including ice rinks to train and to compete Behind Closed Doors.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons indoor skating rinks, including those used for Olympic training, will be required to close under tier 3 covid-19 restrictions while other indoor sports facilities can stay open.

Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. That’s why we made sure that people could exercise at least once a day even during the height of the first period of enhanced national restrictions and why we opened up grassroots sport and leisure facilities as soon as it was safe to do so.

As the Prime Minister said on 23 November national restrictions will end on Wednesday 2 December, and gyms and sport facilities will reopen across all tiers. Outdoor skating rinks can stay open across all tiers and indoor skating rinks can open in Tiers 1 and 2. Unfortunately in Tier 3 areas indoor skating rinks will remain closed, because these areas have a very high or rapidly rising level of infections, so tighter restrictions will be in place. However, elite athletes will still be able to access relevant facilities.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with HMRC on providing guidance to professional football clubs on the effect that reduced revenues will have on the taxation requirements for those clubs.

The Government has provided unprecedented support to businesses throughout this period, including a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business such as the business rates relief. Many football clubs have benefited from these measures.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport continues to work closely with other Government Departments as part of our coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Guidance on tax requirements can be found on gov.uk.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when ten-pin bowling alleys will be allowed to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Bowling alleys will be able to reopen from 1 August provided they have written a Covid-19 risk assessment.

We have worked closely with stakeholders to develop further Covid-19 Secure reopening guidance for venues such as bowling alleys. Specific guidance on bowling alleys has been published within UKHospitality’s ‘Covid-19 Secure Guidelines for Hospitality Businesses’. We continue to meet regularly with the wider sector through the Cultural Renewal Taskforce’s Sport and Visitor Economy working groups.

As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, our decisions have been and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
19th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to allow (a) mobile caravan sites to reopen and (b) allow users of mobile caravans to stay in them overnight.

Forms of holiday accommodation such as caravan parks will be allowed to reopen for overnight stays in Phase 3 of the government’s recovery strategy on 4 July.

My Department has been working closely with the sector, including the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA), through the Visitor Economy Working Group to produce guidance on the reopening of the tourism sector. This will include guidance on reopening hotels, caravans and other guest accommodation. The guidance will be published shortly.


VisitEngland are working on a common industry standard quality mark. While work is ongoing, it will be designed to complement COVID-19 Secure Guidelines produced by the Government.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
18th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason Adult Gaming Centres were not allowed to reopen on Monday 15 June 2020.

While arcades are mentioned in the BEIS guidance on shops and branches published on 11 May, the government made it clear that a final decision on which premises would reopen on 15 June would be made nearer the time and would be based on the current situation and scientific advice.

The government’s decision was that adult gaming centres, like other amusement arcades and leisure and entertainment venues, should remain closed at this time. These businesses differ from retailers in several ways, including the contact with hard surfaces which is a necessary part of playing their games. As detailed in the government's roadmap “Our Plan to Rebuild” the next phase of easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions will begin no earlier than 4 July, subject to public health advice. My department is working through the next steps with the arcades sector in line with further announcements on the roadmap.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
18th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government's timeline is for the opening of sites for static caravans owned as a second home.

People will be allowed to travel to second homes - including static caravans - for overnight stays in England from 4 July, in Phase 3 of the government’s recovery strategy

My Department has been working closely with the holiday accommodation sector, including the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA), through the Visitor Economy Working Group to produce guidance on the reopening of the tourism sector. This will include guidance on reopening hotels, caravans and other guest accommodation. The guidance will be published shortly.


VisitEngland are working on a common industry standard quality mark. While work is ongoing, it will be designed to complement COVID-19 Secure Guidelines produced by the Government.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's planned update to the statutory guidance on Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children, if he will include a (a) specific focus on mental health services for that group as part of that update and (b) strategy for delivering those services in a culturally sensitive manner.

The government gave a commitment to update the statutory guidance, ‘Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children’ and extend it to care leavers up to age 25, in the ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy for the reform of children’s social care. The update forms part of the wider mission in the strategy, to reduce the disparities in long-term mental and physical health outcomes and improve wellbeing for care-experienced people.

The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care are taking forward this update together, and work is underway to understand how the current guidance is working in practice and where changes are necessary. This includes consideration of whether there is a need to include further guidance regarding mental health support for looked-after children and care leavers, as well as consideration of whether there is a need to include further guidance relating to cohorts with particular characteristics.

The department will work with a wide range of stakeholders with a diversity of professional and personal experience to ensure that the guidance is sensitive to the health and wellbeing needs of all looked-after children and care leavers, including those with protected characteristics as part of government’s duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
5th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of Barnardo’s report entitled Double discrimination: Black care-experienced young adults navigating the criminal justice system, published on 21 September 2023.

The department recognises that children in care are more likely than their peers in the general population to have contact with the criminal justice system. That is why, in 2018, the department published a joint national protocol with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on reducing the unnecessary criminalisation of looked after children and care leavers. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-protocol-on-reducing-criminalisation-of-looked-after-children.

The department is also taking action on the risk factors that can lead to criminal behaviour, including through our work to improve school attendance.

Through the care leaver Ministerial Board, the department is working closely with MoJ to improve support and outcomes of care-experienced people in the criminal justice system.

MoJ is currently updating its strategy for care-experienced people, to ensure that their time in the criminal justice system is used to support them to lead crime-free lives. The strategy will include a focus on race and its role in shaping the experiences and outcomes of those with care experience and will link to wider departmental efforts to address racial disproportionality in the criminal justice system. MoJ is aiming to publish this strategy in 2024.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
3rd Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his timetable is for announcing arrangements for the primary PE and sport premium funding for the 2021-22 academic year.

The department is continuing to provide £320 million in the academic year 2021/22 for the primary PE and sport premium. This is enabling children and young people to access competitive sport and supporting primary schools to improve the quality of the PE, sport and physical activity which they deliver.

The department is considering arrangements for the primary PE and sport premium for the 2022/23 academic year and beyond. We are aware of the importance of providing schools with sufficient notice of future funding and will confirm the position as early as possible in the new year.

Similarly, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are considering arrangements for the School Games Organisers programme and will confirm the position on future funding as soon as possible.

The department is also working to deliver on the nearly £30 million announced in October towards improving and opening school sports facilities in England, as well as to improve the teaching of PE at primary school. The department will continue to work closely with DCMS and DHSC to deliver on the aims of the school sport and activity action plan which we will be updating next year.

3rd Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to announce a decision on the long-term funding for PE and school sport.

The department is continuing to provide £320 million in the academic year 2021/22 for the primary PE and sport premium. This is enabling children and young people to access competitive sport and supporting primary schools to improve the quality of the PE, sport and physical activity which they deliver.

The department is considering arrangements for the primary PE and sport premium for the 2022/23 academic year and beyond. We are aware of the importance of providing schools with sufficient notice of future funding and will confirm the position as early as possible in the new year.

Similarly, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are considering arrangements for the School Games Organisers programme and will confirm the position on future funding as soon as possible.

The department is also working to deliver on the nearly £30 million announced in October towards improving and opening school sports facilities in England, as well as to improve the teaching of PE at primary school. The department will continue to work closely with DCMS and DHSC to deliver on the aims of the school sport and activity action plan which we will be updating next year.

3rd Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress his Department has made, in discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in taking a decision on funding for the School Games Organiser network beyond March 2022.

The department is continuing to provide £320 million in the academic year 2021/22 for the primary PE and sport premium. This is enabling children and young people to access competitive sport and supporting primary schools to improve the quality of the PE, sport and physical activity which they deliver.

The department is considering arrangements for the primary PE and sport premium for the 2022/23 academic year and beyond. We are aware of the importance of providing schools with sufficient notice of future funding and will confirm the position as early as possible in the new year.

Similarly, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are considering arrangements for the School Games Organisers programme and will confirm the position on future funding as soon as possible.

The department is also working to deliver on the nearly £30 million announced in October towards improving and opening school sports facilities in England, as well as to improve the teaching of PE at primary school. The department will continue to work closely with DCMS and DHSC to deliver on the aims of the school sport and activity action plan which we will be updating next year.

12th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2021 to Question 56778 on Local Government Finance, if he will publish details of only those funds that his Department allocates to local authorities through a process of competitive bidding.

The department is still collating 2020-21 grant award data. We expect the collation and accuracy and completeness checks to be concluded in the new year. It is at this stage that the department would be able to provide the analysis requested. The 2020-21 grant scheme and award data is due to be published by Cabinet Office in March 2022.

Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many funds are allocated to local authorities by his Department through a process of competitive bidding; and if he will publish the names of those funds.

The department is currently collating 2020-21 grant award data which we expect to be available in the new year following accuracy and completeness checks. The data is due to be published by Cabinet Office in March 2022 but may not contain the recipient category.

The 2019-20 scheme and award grant data is available on the link below in the DfE sheet. The 2019-20 scheme data does not contain the recipient category, but the recipient names are available in the awards data as is the allocation methodology and the grant scheme.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1013784/Government_grants_register_2019_to_2020_-_scheme_and_award_data.ods

Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
13th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the legal position is on the wearing of face masks and social distancing on school transport.

The Government has provided guidance on minimising the risk of transmission of COVID-19 on dedicated school transport in the autumn term. It is available here:www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-to-school-and-other-places-of-education-autumn-term-2020/transport-to-school-and-other-places-of-education-autumn-term-2020#part-b-guidance-for-dedicated-transport-to-schools-and-other-places-of-education-for-autumn-term-2020.

The guidance explains that the social distancing guidelines for public transport, 2 metres or 1 metre plus other suitable precautions wherever possible, need not be uniformly applied on dedicated school transport, but that distancing should be maximised wherever possible. This approach is necessary to ensure all children can get to school or college. It is proportionate because dedicated transport often carries the same group of children or young people on a regular basis and they do not mix with the general public on those journeys. This helps limit the number of people with whom they come into contact.

The law that requires people aged 11 and over to wear a face covering on public transport does not apply to dedicated school transport. However, our guidance recommends that local authorities advise people aged 11 and over to wear a face covering unless they are exempt. We believe most local authorities expect children and young people to wear a face covering on dedicated school transport, and we support them in that.