Daniel Zeichner Portrait

Daniel Zeichner

Labour - Cambridge

First elected: 7th May 2015

Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

(since April 2020)

Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
22nd Jun 2022 - 7th Jul 2022
Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]
9th Feb 2022 - 10th Feb 2022
Animal (Penalty Notices) Bill
1st Dec 2021 - 8th Dec 2021
Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
3rd Nov 2021 - 18th Nov 2021
Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill (England and Wales)
27th Oct 2021 - 3rd Nov 2021
Petitions Committee
12th Mar 2018 - 6th Nov 2019
Transport Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow Minister (Transport)
18th Sep 2015 - 29th Jun 2017
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
13th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015
Science and Technology Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Daniel Zeichner has voted in 931 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

10 Nov 2020 - Environment Bill (Thirteenth sitting) - View Vote Context
Daniel Zeichner voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Labour No votes vs 4 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 4 Noes - 9
View All Daniel Zeichner 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
Victoria Prentis (Conservative)
Attorney General
(203 debate interactions)
Rebecca Pow (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(80 debate interactions)
Jo Churchill (Conservative)
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
(77 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Transport
(34 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(26 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Agriculture Act 2020
(60,315 words contributed)
Environment Act 2021
(28,430 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Daniel Zeichner's debates

Cambridge Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

We want the Government to amend the Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCP) to require retailers, without exception, to:

- Buy what they agreed to buy
- Pay what they agreed to pay
- Pay on time

We believe the current GSCP is inadequate and doesn't protect farmers from unfair behaviour.

Every year across the UK, millions of farmed animals are kept in cages, unable to express their natural behaviours and experiencing huge suffering. These inhumane systems cannot be the future of British farming. The UK Government must legislate to ‘End the Cage Age’ for all farmed animals.

Shooting of Badgers is licensed by Natural England as part of the DEFRA Badger cull. 24,000+ Badgers were shot in 2019.

Mark Allen, aged 18, drowned after jumping into a freezing reservoir on a hot day in June 2018.

In May 2019 we watched whilst 3 throwlines were installed where he died.

Mark could have possibly been saved if they were in place beforehand.

Given how many animals are sold online, we want Government to introduce regulation of all websites where animals are sold. Websites should be required to verify the identity of all sellers, and for young animals for sale pictures with their parents be posted with all listings.

Breed Specific Legislation fails to achieve what Parliament intended, to protect the public. It focuses on specific breeds, which fails to appreciate a dog is not aggressive purely on the basis of its breed. It allows seizure of other breeds, but the rules are not applied homogeneously by councils.

Across the UK, millions of farmed animals are kept in cages, unable to express their natural behaviours. This causes huge suffering.

We call on the UK government to end this inhumane practice by banning all cages for farmed animals. Cages are cruel.

After 9 months of maternity leave, most working mums do not receive any maternity pay and need to go back to work. I think all working parents should be entitled to 15 hours free childcare from the time a child is 9 months. It makes more sense to provide this funding from 9 months instead of 2 years


Latest EDMs signed by Daniel Zeichner

22nd March 2022
Daniel Zeichner signed this EDM on Thursday 24th March 2022

Access to telemedical abortion care beyond September 2022

Tabled by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
That this House is dismayed by Government plans to end the availability of telemedical abortion care services for early medical abortions up to 9 weeks and 6 days gestation, beyond September 2022; notes that access to this temporary service during the covid-19 lockdowns was crucial to ensuring that women needed …
20 signatures
(Most recent: 28 Apr 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 13
Independent: 4
Plaid Cymru: 2
Green Party: 1
23rd September 2021
Daniel Zeichner signed this EDM on Thursday 21st October 2021

Campaign to secure the future of the Covid Memorial Wall

Tabled by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
That this House welcomes the creation of the Covid Memorial Wall on Albert Embankment by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice; notes that this memorial now includes over 150,000 hand-painted hearts to symbolise all those who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic; praises the work of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for …
139 signatures
(Most recent: 21 Feb 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 97
Scottish National Party: 15
Liberal Democrat: 10
Conservative: 5
Democratic Unionist Party: 5
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Daniel Zeichner's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Daniel Zeichner, 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.


Daniel Zeichner has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Daniel Zeichner

2 Bills introduced by Daniel Zeichner


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to give powers to local authorities to regulate dockless bicycle-sharing schemes; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 24th July 2019
(Read Debate)

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision about the exercise of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions in relation to persons about whom there are safeguarding or road safety concerns; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 19th July 2017
(Read Debate)

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
2 Other Department Questions
16th Jun 2021
To ask the President of COP26, if he will publish his plans and objectives for the British stewardship of the COP process after COP26 in Glasgow.

The UK will formally take up the presidency of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 31 October 2021 in the opening plenary of the conference. The primary responsibility of the UK as the COP26 presidency is to preside over the meetings of the conference and steward the formal negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Once confirmed as the COP26 President, I will remain President of the COP until late the following year, when the next presidency takes over at the commencement of the next conference. The UK will fulfil its formal mandate during this year in chairing the COP Bureau, and working with the incoming presidency to prepare for COP27. Specific details of plans and objectives for the UK’s presidency year will be forthcoming after COP26, once the outcomes and agreements reached by the 197 Parties of the UNFCCC are known.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
24th Mar 2021
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling gender-pay disparities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The national gender pay gap is now at a record low, with the full-time gender pay gap at only 7%. Peterborough and Cambridgeshire also have pay gaps below the national average. Despite this, we need to keep making progress on this issue. Across the country, we will continue to make it easier for women to get into higher-paid jobs and sectors. As we build back from COVID-19 we will also look to increase the number of women in STEM professions, and to increase the availability of flexible working for everyone, to ensure the gender pay gap continues to reduce going forwards.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
24th Nov 2020
To ask the Attorney General, for what reason a record of the species involved is not collated when recording prosecutions of poaching offences.

Offences of poaching are usually charged under one of the following:

  • Section 1 of the Night Poaching Act 1828,
  • section 30 of the Game Act 1831 or
  • section 2 of the Poaching Prevention Act 1862.

There is no requirement to specify in an offence which type of animal the defendant was seeking to take or had taken, and in many cases it is not specified.

Therefore, the CPS is not able to keep any records of which species are involved in its prosecutions for poaching.

16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed by (a) private companies and (b) community and voluntary sector organisations contracted to deliver public services.

This information is not held centrally


Details of Government contracts above £10,000, and £25,000 in the wider public sector, are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) private companies and (b) community and voluntary sector organisations are contracted to provide public services.

This information is not held centrally


Details of Government contracts above £10,000, and £25,000 in the wider public sector, are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff have transferred to contractors under TUPE regulations since 2010.

Information on the number of individuals that have transferred under TUPE regulations to an organisation under contract with the Cabinet Office is not held.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many disputes on outsourced public service contracts have been referred to ACAS in the last three years.

This information is not held centrally.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many outsourcing contracts the Government has in place broken down by (a) central Government, (b) defence, (c) the NHS, (d) local government, (e) schools and (f) wider education; and what the total value is of those contracts by each category.

This information is not held centrally.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the potential practice of public bodies using procurement to reduce costs and cost-shifting to other public sector budgets.

This Government knows that excellence in procurement practice is essential to delivering high quality services for the public.

The Sourcing Playbook sets out the Government's policies with regards to outsourcing.

Its introduction by this Conservative Government improves decision making and the quality of contracts government places with industry. The playbook is focussed on getting things right from the start, and includes 11 key policies which help government and industry work together to deliver high quality public services and emphasises that government contracts are let on the basis of value for money.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
22nd Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to take steps to increase public procurement spend with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the single buyer agreement for public sector food on levels of spend with SMEs.

We are increasing opportunities for SMEs in a variety of ways - from transparently publishing contract pipelines to simplifying bidding processes. The new procurement regime this Conservative government is putting in place with our new freedoms outside the European Union will create a simpler and significantly more transparent system that will further open up public procurement to SMEs so that they can compete for and win more public contracts.

The latest procurement figures for 2020/21 show that £19.3bn was paid to SMEs to help deliver vital public services. This figure is an increase of £3.7bn on the previous year and the highest since a Conservative led Government began recording the amount spent on SMEs in 2013, something not done under the last Labour government.

SMEs in the food supply chain have been consulted as part of supplier engagement activities for the proposed Buying Better Foods framework. Feedback from these activities shaped the procurement strategy for the framework agreement. SME producers will have increased opportunities to work with the public sector.

Customers will be able to request nominated local products (subject to the local supplier/producer meeting the minimum technical standards). These products would be consolidated into a single delivery with their food order. This is in addition to the SME’s already supplying the Wholesale market. This agreement will further support SMEs as KPIs will be established within the procurement evaluation to establish and monitor SME participation with action plans for growth; giving more data and transparency within the sector.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish an impact assessment setting out the potential impact of the creation of a single buyer agreement for the public sector on the competitive landscape of the wholesale market for SMEs.

SMEs in the food supply chain were consulted as part of supplier engagement activities. Feedback from these activities shaped the procurement strategy for the proposed framework agreement.

SME producers will have increased opportunities to work with the public sector. Customers will be able to request nominated local products (subject to the local supplier/producer meeting the minimum technical standards). These products would be consolidated into a single delivery with their food order.

Many other Public Buying Organisations (PBOs) offer food and or drink commercial solutions, to the public sector which is not managed by CCS as a central government organisation. CCS consulted with a number of PBO’s as part of their food strategy development.

CCS’ initial proposed commercial solution value will have a headroom to accommodate £100 million worth of spend over the 4 year agreement period. This equates to less than 5% of the £2.1 billion public sector food spend.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the creation of a single buyer agreement for public sector food.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS), representing the Cabinet Office, Defra and its Ministers have worked closely together throughout the development of the proposed agreement.

Defra approached CCS in 2019 to consider the concept of developing a commercial strategy and procurement solution for food produce, specifically a holistic approach to the ordering, fulfilment, consolidation and delivery of food produce to customers.

CCS have been working alongside Defra to design a commercial solution, and Defra will be responsible for establishing the updated Government Buying Standards for Food. CCS and Defra continue to work closely together on this issue.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of developing regulations to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA synthetic screening.

In the Integrated Review the Government committed to review and reinforce the cross-government approach to biosecurity. The refreshed UK Biological Security Strategy (BSS), due to be published in late 2022, will outline the 2030 Vision for biological security and the outcomes and deliverables to achieve this vision. Both the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been integral to developing the refreshed strategy and will be key implementation leads for commitments. The BSS will outline the UK Government’s ambition and priorities for responsible innovation, including to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA screening.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
27th May 2021
What recent assessment the Government has made of the (a) viability and (b) value for money of the Verify scheme.

Verify continues to work well, supporting 19 services. More than 8 million Verify accounts have been created, with over 2.3 million added since the start of the pandemic as citizens accessed critical online services.

Building on the lessons and experiences of Verify, and as we announced in last year's Spending Review, the Government Digital Service is collaborating with other departments - including the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC and Home Office - to develop a new login and identity assurance system that will make it easier for more people to use online services safely. While this new system is being developed, users and connected services will continue to rely on GOV.UK Verify. The Government has therefore decided to extend the current Verify service, enabling new users to sign up until April 2022.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
25th Mar 2021
What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of GOV.UK Verify.

Verify continues to work well, in support of 22 government services. Over 8 million people have used Verify, with 2 million added in the last year as citizens accessed critical online services during the pandemic.

Building on the lessons and experiences of Verify, and as we announced in last year's Spending Review, the Government Digital Service is collaborating with other departments to develop a new login and identity assurance system that will make it easier for more people to use online services safely.

For example, we know that extra data sources will be needed for a more inclusive service, so we are also working with the Home Office on its digitisation of birth, marriage and death records.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on implementing a fully digital trade documentation system to help facilitate the cross-border movement of goods and reduce delays for (a) businesses reliant on just-in-time food supply chains and (b) other businesses.

In December 2020, the Government published the 2025 Border Strategy. As we set out in this strategy, we are committed to developing a Single Trade Window for the UK, which will create a single portal through which information required to import and export can be submitted to border agencies. We will invest £16m during 2021-22 to take forward the foundational elements of this project across Government.

Alongside the work to develop the UK’s Single Trade Window, we continue to identify and pursue opportunities to digitise border documentation wherever possible, including paperwork which stems from international requirements. Aligned with this, we are identifying opportunities to make permanent a number of digitisation changes which have been implemented as a short term response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
26th Jan 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to mitigate against (a) under-counting of populations in cities with large university populations not residing in that area as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and (b) potential under-funding allocated on that per-capita basis.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

11th May 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled, Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, MEPs and members of Devolved Administrations, when Ministers plan to recommence signing off directly correspondence from hon. Members.

The right of MPs to take up constituents’ cases and other issues directly with the Government is an important part of the democratic process and underlines the accountability of Ministers to Parliament. It is essential that MPs receive carefully considered and prompt responses to their enquiries from all Government Departments, which address constituents’ concerns.

Further to the Leader of the House of Common’s comments during the Business Statement of 6 May 2020, the Cabinet Office guidance for departments on handling correspondence states that replies to letters from MPs by officials should only be authorised in certain exceptional cases, for example, when dealing with a large volume of letters on the same issue or under certain circumstances where an official reply would be more appropriate.

20th Apr 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timescale is for holding elections for the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Government has postponed this poll for 12 months as part of the Coronavirus Act which is the same for all local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for 7 May. This decision was taken following advice from the Government’s medical experts in relation to the response to the Covid-19 virus and those delivering elections.

Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales, including for the Cambridgeshire police force area, will now take place on the next ordinary day of elections on 6 May 2021.

12th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the seriousness of the fire risk posed by lithium batteries in e-scooters.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has established a safety study to understand the risks presented by e-bikes and e-scooters. This includes understanding available data, investigating incidents, enforcement action when needed, targeting unsafe products at the border, and providing public safety information on safe use and charging.

OPSS commissioned Warwick Manufacturing Group, part of Warwick University, to conduct research examining the safety of the lithium-ion batteries within Personal Light Electric Vehicles.

These activities form part of cross Government work involving the Home Office, Department for Transport and OPSS, which is part of the Department for Business and Trade.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
9th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to answer Question 153796 tabled by the hon. Member for Cambridge on 27 February 2023..

I refer the Hon. Member for Cambridge to the answer I gave him today, UIN: 153796.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to answer Questions 146998, 146999 and 14700 tabled by the hon. Member for Cambridge on 17 February 2023 for answer on 22 February.

I refer the Hon. Member for Cambridge to the answer I gave him today, UIN: 146998, UIN: 146999, UIN: 147000.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
17th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when Ministers in her Department held discussions with Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on international food prices in the last 12 months.

Since the creation of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) there have been no such discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on international food prices nor food security.

Information on meetings that pre-date DBT is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
17th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when (a) she and (b) her predecessors held discussions with Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on food security in the last 12 months.

Since the creation of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) there have been no such discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on international food prices nor food security.

Information on meetings that pre-date DBT is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
17th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when Ministers in her Department held discussions with Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on food security in the last 12 months.

Since the creation of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) there have been no such discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on international food prices nor food security.

Information on meetings that pre-date DBT is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the average cost for retrofitting a single house under the Whole House Retrofit and the Social Housing decarbonisation Fund (a) as budgeted for in the original awarding of the grants and (b) in completed projects.

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Demonstrator builds on the Whole House Retrofit programme to test innovative approaches to retrofitting at scale. SHDF awarded around £179m of Government funding under Wave 1 to improve the energy performance of up to 20,000 social homes, and £778 million of Government funding to see proposed energy performance improvements to around 90,000 social homes under Wave 2.1.

SHDF cost cap policy shows the maximum grant funding permitted for capital costs for retrofit works by starting characteristic of homes, based on the average cost per home. It is available in Section 2.10.2 of the Wave 1 guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1016303/shdf-wave-1-competition-guidance.pdf) and Section 2.11 of the Wave 2.1 guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1114571/shdf-wave-2.1-competition-guidance.pdf).

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of lead times for connecting renewable energy projects to the grid.

Years of world-leading green investment has meant we have connected the second highest amount of renewable electricity in Europe since 2010. This has put pressure on the electricity network and reducing connection timescales is a high priority for Government.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access on (a) global R&D investment decisions and (b) access to medical innovation.

The Government is working to better understand the impacts the operation of the current Voluntary Scheme on investments in the UK and access to medicines. We are therefore in direct conversations with companies to understand these impacts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is in close discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department responsible for the Voluntary Scheme, about the business environment for life sciences and its impact on investment and patient access.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to take steps to extend the Energy Bill Relief scheme to businesses in the food and drink supply chain, including manufacturers and hospitality venues, after March 2023.

Following the HM Treasury review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, a new energy support scheme for businesses, including within the hospitality sector, will run from April 2023 until March 2024. Eligible non-domestic customers that have a contract with a licensed energy supplier and are exposed to high prices will see a discount applied to their gas and electricity bill. A substantially higher level of support will be provided to businesses in sectors identified as being the most energy and trade intensive. The Energy Bill Discount Scheme strikes a balance between supporting businesses and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the timing of the announcement of the extension of the energy bills support scheme for businesses on businesses' financial preparation.

In September 2022, as part of the announcement on the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS), the Government committed to carry out a review of the scheme and publish details of what support would be given from 1 April 2023. The aim was to give businesses certainty as soon as possible on further support after the EBRS. Over the course of the review, Government engaged with businesses, trade associations and other organisations to understand which are most in need of further support after the EBRS ended.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to take steps to provide additional financial support to small and medium-sized businesses with increases in the cost of energy.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that all eligible businesses are protected from high energy costs over the winter period. The Energy Bill Discount Scheme, a new energy support scheme for businesses, will run from April until March 2024. businesses who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier, and are exposed to high prices, will see a discount applied to their gas and electricity bill. A substantially higher level of support will be provided to businesses in sectors identified as being the most energy and trade intensive.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit's annual reports for 2019-2021, if he will increase the support available to researchers in replacing animals with (a) computer modelling, (b) organ-on-a-chip technology and (c) other New Approach Methodologies.

The Government actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs).  This is achieved primarily through funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since the NC3Rs was launched in 2004, it has committed £100 million in research to develop 3Rs technologies.

UKRI also funds a portfolio of research projects involving non-animal technologies. This includes a £4 million joint funding call focussed on supporting next generation non-animal technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip and computer modelling, to work towards providing more reliable and applicable alternatives to reduce the use of animals in research.

10th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of developing regulations to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA synthetic screening in energy and manufacturing industries.

In the Integrated Review the Government committed to review and reinforce the cross-government approach to biosecurity. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is feeding into this review, led by the Cabinet Office.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
24th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what equality impact assessment the Government has carried out for the closure of the Insolvency Service office in Cambridge; and whether a copy of its findings can be placed in the House of Commons Library.

An overarching Equality Impact Assessment has been completed for all offices, including Cambridge, affected by the plan to restructure the Insolvency Service’s estate to eleven regional offices. A copy of this document will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

24th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the planned closure of the Insolvency Service office in Cambridge, where interviews previously conducted by that office will be relocated to once that site closes.

Following the closure of the Cambridge Office in December 2023, interviews will be held in either a local interview facility or at one of the Insolvency Service 11 Regional Centres.

Alternatively, interviews will be conducted remotely using telephone and online channels, this is already established practice where it works for the individual and the Service.

24th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the local Chambers of Commerce or Federation of Small Businesses were consulted on the decision to close the Insolvency Service office in Cambridge.

The Insolvency Service engaged with a number of personal and business debt advice organisations over proposals to restructure its estate for improved efficiencies. It issued a news story on GOV.UK and a social media post to advise all stakeholders of the proposals.

22nd Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to introduce a cap on fees charged by third-party food delivery apps to restaurants.

The Government currently has no plans to introduce a cap on fees charged by third-party food delivery apps to restaurants.

18th Aug 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish a list of Innovate UK funding competition winners for 2021 by combined authority area.

All Innovate UK (IUK) funded projects are listed in the transparency data published on the GOV.UK website. This includes postcode, Region, LEP, and Local Authority information. Details of funded projects can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/innovate-uk-funded-projects.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the end of the EU's orphan works exception on academic institutions; and whether his Department is making an assessment of ways in which UK regulations can be updated to enable research through an orphan works exception.

The Government engaged with stakeholders and published guidance in January 2020 on the removal of the exception for affected institutions during the transition period. The UK’s orphan works licensing scheme continues to be available, as do exceptions to copyright for purposes including research and private study. The Government presently has no plans to update these.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
30th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when Vivacity Labs, operating on behalf of the Department, first used cameras that use artificial intelligence to monitor pedestrians to improve the collection of social distancing data in Cambridgeshire.

Vivacity Labs is one of many COVID-19 related projects funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Vivacity Labs project referred to was supported through the Innovate UK COVID-19 call for business-led innovation in response to global disruption due to the pandemic.

Vivacity Labs used smart sensors that do not pick up images to monitor road usage.

The data sets being used in this project date from April 2019. This project is applying a new algorithm to this existing data and analyses the spatial differences (gaps, interactions etc.) between different modes of transport and not individuals.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
22nd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on how many occasions he and his Department have had discussions with (a) Nvidia and (b) Arm on the sale of Arm from Softbank to Nvidia.

Departments publish quarterly details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations on GOV.UK. Details for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.

The latest published data covers January to March 2020. Data for April to June 2020 will be published in due course.

18th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to mandate businesses to publish their covid-19 risk assessments.

Publishing risk assessments is not a legal obligation, but we are asking companies to consider publishing the results of their risk assessments whenever possible. We recommend that larger companies – those with over 50 workers – publish the results of their risk assessments. The results of a risk assessment, however, must be shared with employees if requested.

30th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many UK (a) businesses and (b) universities are accredited as Investors in People.

Investors in People is responsible for awarding the Investors in People standard. Since 1 February 2017 this has been a Community Interest Company, which is not part of the Government.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential financial effect on the higher education institutions of UK Research and Innovation's review of its Open Access policy.

The Government’s university research sustainability taskforce is examining how best to respond to the challenges for the sector resulting from COVID-19, with the aim of sustaining the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. Given the broader focus and urgency of addressing the impacts of COVID-19, at this time, the outcome of the UKRI Open Access Review does not form part of the taskforce's consideration.

The OA Review is independent from Plan S. Working internationally however, is important to help achieve open access. UKRI has joined cOAlition S, a consortium comprising research funders and foundations from across the world and supported by the European Commission and the European Research Council. The coalition aims to help make full and immediate Open Access to research publications a reality, and is built around the Plan S principles. UKRI will consider outcomes of the work of cOAlition S as part of its ongoing Open Access Review alongside other evidence and inputs. The outcomes of the review will determine decisions on UKRI’s OA policy.

As part of the UKRI open access review, UKRI is working with BEIS to consider implications for stakeholders. UKRI has commissioned an independent analysis to help assess the possible implications for various groups, including higher education institutions. This analysis will include direct costs and benefits and wider social and economic implications, and will be considered alongside other evidence gathered through the review, including via the consultation on a proposed UKRI policy which has recently closed. The consideration of the COVID-19 impacts on research sector, including economic implications, will be taken into account in the UKRI review.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if UK Research and Innovation’s review of Open Access policy is independent from the work of the cOAlition S consortium.

The Government’s university research sustainability taskforce is examining how best to respond to the challenges for the sector resulting from COVID-19, with the aim of sustaining the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. Given the broader focus and urgency of addressing the impacts of COVID-19, at this time, the outcome of the UKRI Open Access Review does not form part of the taskforce's consideration.

The OA Review is independent from Plan S. Working internationally however, is important to help achieve open access. UKRI has joined cOAlition S, a consortium comprising research funders and foundations from across the world and supported by the European Commission and the European Research Council. The coalition aims to help make full and immediate Open Access to research publications a reality, and is built around the Plan S principles. UKRI will consider outcomes of the work of cOAlition S as part of its ongoing Open Access Review alongside other evidence and inputs. The outcomes of the review will determine decisions on UKRI’s OA policy.

As part of the UKRI open access review, UKRI is working with BEIS to consider implications for stakeholders. UKRI has commissioned an independent analysis to help assess the possible implications for various groups, including higher education institutions. This analysis will include direct costs and benefits and wider social and economic implications, and will be considered alongside other evidence gathered through the review, including via the consultation on a proposed UKRI policy which has recently closed. The consideration of the COVID-19 impacts on research sector, including economic implications, will be taken into account in the UKRI review.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the UK Research and Innovation’s review of Open Access policy will be considered as part of the work undertaken by the Department’s research sustainability taskforce.

The Government’s university research sustainability taskforce is examining how best to respond to the challenges for the sector resulting from COVID-19, with the aim of sustaining the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. Given the broader focus and urgency of addressing the impacts of COVID-19, at this time, the outcome of the UKRI Open Access Review does not form part of the taskforce's consideration.

The OA Review is independent from Plan S. Working internationally however, is important to help achieve open access. UKRI has joined cOAlition S, a consortium comprising research funders and foundations from across the world and supported by the European Commission and the European Research Council. The coalition aims to help make full and immediate Open Access to research publications a reality, and is built around the Plan S principles. UKRI will consider outcomes of the work of cOAlition S as part of its ongoing Open Access Review alongside other evidence and inputs. The outcomes of the review will determine decisions on UKRI’s OA policy.

As part of the UKRI open access review, UKRI is working with BEIS to consider implications for stakeholders. UKRI has commissioned an independent analysis to help assess the possible implications for various groups, including higher education institutions. This analysis will include direct costs and benefits and wider social and economic implications, and will be considered alongside other evidence gathered through the review, including via the consultation on a proposed UKRI policy which has recently closed. The consideration of the COVID-19 impacts on research sector, including economic implications, will be taken into account in the UKRI review.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish further guidance to councils on the top-up to local business grant funds scheme.

Guidance for Local Authorities on the Local Authority Discretionary Fund was published on 13 May. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses

At this stage, there are no plans to publish further guidance.