First elected: 3rd May 1979
Left House: 3rd May 2017 (Defeated)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
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).
These initiatives were driven by David Winnick, 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.
David Winnick has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to provide for a civic obligation either to vote or to state an intention to abstain from voting; and for connected purposes.
David Winnick has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The bust of Charles Bradlaugh was commissioned by the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art and placed in the Lower Waiting Hall before Christmas. Plans are already in place to install a label close to the portrait bust describing Bradlaugh’s contribution as a parliamentarian.
There are no plans to reopen the main doors at St Stephen’s Entrance. Police and security staff are available to facilitate access by Members and other passholders, particularly during divisions.
The Cabinet Office publication, the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, includes contact details for all Ministers. Copies are provided to all Members upon publication and are available in the Vote Office and the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on gov.uk.
Following the hon. Member’s questions of 15 and 22 June, officials in the Department of Facilities have worked with the House of Commons audio-visual (AV) contractor to establish the costs and viability of extending the existing infra-red loop system to those meeting rooms on the Estate that do not currently have this facility. The work to install this facility in an additional twenty-one rooms across the Estate is planned to take place during the Conference Recess and be in place when the House returns in October.
An additional twenty-one rooms will be fitted with the infra-red loop system at a cost of approximately £31k. The rooms concerned are:
Information about which meeting rooms have an induction loop is available via the self-service room booking service or by contacting the facilities team directly.
Deaf or hard of hearing guidance is available on the Parliamentary Intranet for those who work in Parliament. This includes information about the different kind of interpreters who may be booked to help deaf and hard of hearing people at meetings: British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreters, lip speakers, speech to text reporters (STTRs) and electronic notetakers. These forms of communication may be used in rooms without induction loops. It should be noted that even in rooms where there is an induction loop, some deaf and hard of hearing people need to rely on alternative means of communication. An infra-red driven hearing loop system is available in House of Commons Committee rooms. A video is also available on the Parliament website, in subtitled and signed versions, which informs visitors about the extent of the availability of the system. People with hearing difficulties can use the system by obtaining a personal loop from the reception desk in either the Main Committee Corridor or the first floor of Portcullis House.
The House of Commons has been awarded the Action on Hearing Loss, Louder than Words charter mark, a nationally recognised award that shows people who are deaf or have hearing loss that an organisation offers a fully deaf aware service. The House of Commons continues to work with Action on Hearing Loss to improve our facilities for those who have hearing loss or are deaf.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Marcial Boo, January 2015:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about publication of MPs' business costs and expenses.
IPSA routinely publishes on our website all costs incurred by MPs and claimed from us. In doing so, we set out to which budget the cost relates; for example, office costs or staffing. In doing so, we set out which budget each cost relates to, whether to the office cost, staffing or other budget.
A key element of the current three-year pay deal for pay band A–E staff is the harmonisation of arrangements for working contractual hours, including ending a number of localised variations.
Given the extent to which work in some areas is driven by the business of the House and the variability of these hours over the year, full contractual hours need not be worked in any particular week – but should be over a year. From November 2014, all line managers have been formally required to monitor the hours their staff are working, including identifying appropriate additional work in cases where this is necessary.
Whilst most work relating to the Chamber and committees will cease during the Dissolution period there will be a significant amount of suitable alternative work required in preparation for the new Parliament.
There are regular formal and informal meetings with the recognised trades unions where these matters have been discussed. For example, four formal meetings were held with the trades unions during the period October to December 2014 and further formal meetings are scheduled in January and March 2015.
The temporary marquee positioned outside St Stephen’s Entrance is housing temporary search lanes while essential work is undertaken on the Cromwell Green Entrance search facilities. This work is scheduled to be completed by 19 October and the Cromwell Green Entrance will then reopen. The temporary marquee will be removed following a short period of commissioning and testing of the new facility before returning the exterior of St Stephen’s Entrance to its previous arrangement. It is anticipated that this period will be minimal.
Parliament will be managing a year-long programme to celebrate both the Magna Carta and De Montfort Parliament anniversaries in 2015. The programme will be entitled 'Parliament in the Making' and as such will include stories from throughout the last 800 years. Parliament is being advised on the content by the History of Parliament Trust. Through school resources, exhibitions, cultural projects and special events the significant moments, movements and individuals who have made a difference on the journey to rights and representation will be commemorated.
The programme is still in development but plans do include an exhibition in Westminster Hall. Using large scale banners this will chart the evolution of parliamentary democracy which we hope will refer to the Putney debates and the Peasants' Revolt in the context of the fight for representation and freedoms.
I was referring to the previous government's policy of seeking to part-privatise the Royal Mail.
Telephone calls to Ofgem's main telephone number initially lead to an automated system, where complaints or inquiries about an energy company or a need for advice lead to a recorded message advising the person to contact the relevant energy company or Government-funded Citizen's consumer service. If callers wish to speak to a named person, have an inquiry about Ofgem policies or have any other inquiry they will be transferred to a person.
The changes at St Stephen's Entrance are intended to be temporary to reduce the queuing time at our public entrances. Work is progressing to improve the permanent public search facility at Cromwell Green. The redesign will deliver a more efficient search process and increase capacity. These changes are temporary and do not affect the building directly, so there was no prior consultation with English Heritage. However, work is also underway to explore, with English Heritage and Westminster City Council, installing a permanent canopy to the pedestrian walkway leading to the Cromwell Green Search Point, which would provide protection in bad weather.
Details of Ministerial UK official visits and official meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly and made available on the gov.uk website.
The Government awards contracts on the basis of the best overall value for money for the taxpayer. We encourage contractors to commit to paying a living wage. Previous governments did not create a blanket requirement for contractors to pay a living wage.
The Government wants to build an economy that works for everyone, where low wage workers are fairly rewarded for their contribution to the UK economy.
We believe that it is essential for employers to ensure that their reward packages are competitive, in order to retain and develop the workers who are fundamental to their success. However, it is ultimately for employers to decide how they manage increases in their wage bill. The Government will hence continue to set a minimum hourly wage, and remuneration above that rate is a contractual matter for the employer and worker.
The Government has committed to ensuring a competitive business environment. The Government’s increase in the Employment Allowance, and reduction in employers’ National Insurance contributions, is estimated to benefit up to 500,000 businesses and charities, and the government’s cuts to the main rate of corporation tax will benefit over a million companies, allowing them to increase the pay of their workers.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is responsible for the Government’s policy on nuisance telephone calls. The hon. Member’s letter of 20 September 2016 has been passed to DCMS and that Department will reply directly to the hon Member.
I am advised by the Medical Research Council (MRC) that the reply has now been issued to the hon Member. The MRC apologise for the delay and inconvenience caused to the hon Member and his constituent.
We expect to publish the list of successful Condition Improvement Fund 2017-18 projects and notify all schools and colleges of the outcome of their applications by April 2017.
The Chief Executive of the Education Funding Agency has a permanent contract of employment, i.e. there is no set end date and the contract will continue until either party decides to end it.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) provides a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for eligible academies to access. The table below sets out the number of CIF applications made by primary and secondary schools for projects to address their building condition needs over the years specified:
CIF 2015-16 round | Phase of Education | Total of applications |
| Primary | 1,244 |
| Secondary | 1,383 |
| All-through | 119 |
| Total | 2,881 |
CIF 2016-17 round | Phase of Education | Total of applications |
| Primary | 1,512 |
| Secondary | 1,426 |
| All-through | 155 |
| Total | 3,212 |
Each CIF application was assessed twice independently. 9 EFA technical assessors worked on the assessment of CIF bids between January and February 2016 (alongside other duties). The EFA also contracted 2 external technical assessor suppliers to assess CIF applications. These suppliers assessed CIF bids between January and February 2016. Each supplier utilised some 25-30 assessors in total through the period, reducing or increasing levels according to the progress they were making against the deadline for assessing bids. In addition 9 other EFA staff worked on the Condition Improvement Fund throughout the 2016-17 programme on matters like processing applications and managing assessors.
The resource approach to previous bidding rounds has been similarly based on the volume of applications received.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) provides detailed guidance for Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) applicants when the application round is launched. The EFA’s enquiry service is on hand to answer applicants’ queries throughout the process.
CIF assessors do not make contact with applicants during the assessment window. This is to ensure that all bids are assessed consistently on the basis of the evidence which applicants have submitted. Unsuccessful CIF applicants can request a review of their outcome through the CIF appeals round.
Local authorities, voluntary-aided partnerships and larger Multi Academy Trusts receive a direct School Condition Allocation to address condition needs for their schools.
As Chief Executive of the EFA, Peter Lauener has been a board member of the Department for Education since September 2012. As part of these roles, he regularly met the previous Secretary of State.
The information on the number of occasions in the last two years when the Chief Executive of the EFA met the Secretary of State’s predecessor is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
On 26 March 2015, the Department for Education announced the outcome of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2015 to 2016. 1,407 projects across 1,127 academies and sixth-form colleges were approved funding of £383 million. This includes institutions successful following appeals in July 2015.
We announced the outcome of the CIF for 2016 to 2017 on 24 March 2016. Funding of £435 million was approved for 1,276 projects across 1,030 academies and sixth-form colleges. The information can be viewed on the government’s website here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/condition-improvement-fund-2015-to-2016-outcome
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/condition-improvement-fund-2016-to-2017-outcome
I can confirm that the Department has received the letter to which the Hon. Member refers. I have responded on behalf of the Secretary of State, and he will now have received this response.
The Cabinet Office publishes the list of Ministerial responsibilities, which includes contact details for all Ministers. For Ministers at the Department for Education, the switchboard number is given, and Members will always be put through to the relevant Private Office. Copies are provided to all Members upon publication, and are available in the Vote Office and the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers-and-responsibilities
The draft report review was published on 12 March. Copies of the review have been placed in the House library and the review is also available on the GOV.UK website.
This is a complex area and one on which the available evidence base has some notable constraints. Gathering relevant evidence has been our priority and this has increased the time involved in consulting with experts and stakeholders.
Departmental officials organise official government business including visits. They would not be expected to be involved in arrangements with Prospective Parliamentary Candidates.
Rivers Primary Academy was first informed that the Secretary of State for Education was planning to visit on 5 February 2015. The arrangements were then made and confirmed on 6 February 2015, on which date the Department also alerted the hon. Member to the planned visit.
Departmental officials organise official government business including visits. They would not be expected to be involved in arrangements with Prospective Parliamentary Candidates.
Rivers Primary Academy was first informed that the Secretary of State for Education was planning to visit on 5 February 2015. The arrangements were then made and confirmed on 6 February 2015, on which date the Department also alerted the hon. Member to the planned visit.
My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, responded to the hon. Member's other letter of 30 April about admission arrangements at Walsall academy on 16 June. On behalf of the Department I would like to apologise for the delay in answering this letter.
My reply of 10 June related to the letter with the reference (2014/0036207) quoted in the question.
The hon. Member wrote to Peter Lauener, Chief Executive of the Education Funding Agency, on 30 April 2014 about admissions arrangements at Walsall Academy. He copied his letter to my Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State. Mr Lauener replied to the hon. Member on 14 May.
I can confirm that a decision has now been made in respect of this appeal. I expect the letter setting out my decision in detail to issue imminently.
I am aware that there are a number of interested parties attached to this case and we are working towards a decision in as timely a manner as possible.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity, Lord Gardiner, replied to the letter of 3 August from hon. Member for Walsall North on 12 September.
As independent charities, handling correspondence is entirely a matter for the Canal & River Trust and other similar trusts. However, I have asked my officials to draw this issue to the attention of the Trust at their next meeting.
I sent a response to the hon. Member for Walsall North on this issue on 13th September 2016.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend, the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Robert Goodwill), replied to the letter on the 1 July 2014.
Network Rail is currently a private sector company limited by guarantee and the duration of the Broad Lane bridge replacement works is an operational matter for the company.
Network Rail advises that the replacement works are due to be completed and the bridge is due to be re-opened to road traffic on Friday 20 June.
The performance data provided in the response to question 59041 to the hon. Member is in relation to substantive replies to Members correspondence.
The Department for Work and Pensions offers its apology for the delay in responding. We have been investigating the issues raised in your letter to the Benefit Director on 6 December.
Whilst the Department aims to provide a full response to MP enquires on behalf of their constituents within 15 working days, there will be occasions where, for a variety of reasons this is not possible. In this case additional information received from the customer generated further enquiries. Regrettably, the MP's office was not kept informed of progress when it became clear in this particular case there would be a delay. A full response has now been issued to the hon. Member.
The Secretary of State holds regular meetings with the Director General, Operations to discuss operational matters and performance. The process of replies being sent to hon. Members has not featured in discussions to date, primarily because the Department’s performance in respect of the timeliness of responses is broadly on track. For the calendar year 2016, 89% of responses to hon. Members were issued within 15 days, against a target of 90% in 15 days. The 90% target reflects the fact that some matters raised by hon. Members can be particularly complex and, in such cases, it is not always possible to respond within 15 days.
The average time taken by Benefit Directors to respond to hon. Members’ correspondence so far this calendar year is 12 working days.
The Secretary of State has attended several Jobcentreplus sites, where he has had the opportunity to observe and discuss a range of operational issues. He has not sat in on interviews with work coaches whilst they have conducted interviews with claimants, as standard practice is to seek agreement first with claimants for any third party to be in attendance. Future visits to Jobcentreplus are planned for the Secretary of State.