Dawn Butler Portrait

Dawn Butler

Labour - Brent Central

First elected: 7th May 2015


Education Committee
11th May 2020 - 21st Sep 2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
31st Aug 2017 - 6th Apr 2020
Shadow Minister (Equalities Office) (Diverse Communities)
14th Jun 2017 - 31st Aug 2017
Shadow Minister (Equalities Office) (Diverse Communities)
6th Oct 2016 - 1st Feb 2017
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
12th Sep 2008 - 6th May 2010
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Young Citizens and Youth Engagement)
30th Oct 2009 - 6th May 2010
Modernisation of the House of Commons
13th Jul 2005 - 6th May 2010
Children, Schools and Families
9th Nov 2007 - 26th Jan 2009


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Dawn Butler has voted in 525 divisions, and 3 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Mar 2021 - Coronavirus - View Vote Context
Dawn Butler voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Labour No votes vs 176 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Dawn Butler voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Labour No votes vs 142 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Dawn Butler voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Labour No votes vs 124 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
View All Dawn Butler 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.

View all Dawn Butler's debates

Brent Central Petitions

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

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

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

Dawn Butler has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Dawn Butler

11th March 2024
Dawn Butler signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Monday 11th March 2024

Alleged comments by Frank Hester

Tabled by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)
That this House expresses its shock regarding the alleged comments made by Frank Hester reported by The Guardian about the hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and all Black women; believes these alleged comments to be both racist and violent in nature; notes that Mr Hester is a …
70 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 37
Scottish National Party: 15
Liberal Democrat: 10
Plaid Cymru: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Conservative: 1
Independent: 1
Alba Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Alliance: 1
28th February 2024
Dawn Butler signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 6th March 2024

School minibus safety

Tabled by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
That this House notes that 18 November 2023 was the 30th anniversary of the Hagley M40 minibus disaster, where twelve children and their teacher died; further notes that there is still no legislation to ensure best practice in the use of school minibuses, and a repeat of the tragedy is …
8 signatures
(Most recent: 13 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 6
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Independent: 1
View All Dawn Butler's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Dawn Butler, 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.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Dawn Butler

Dawn Butler has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

3 Bills introduced by Dawn Butler


A Bill to require the Leader of the House of Commons to move a Motion asserting the equal right of all Members of the House of Commons to participate in proceedings and establishing mechanisms for MPs unable to attend Westminster to vote remotely and to participate remotely in proceedings, including debates and general committees.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 16th September 2020
(Read Debate)

A Bill to make provision in connection with coronavirus; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 24th March 2021

A Bill to require the Leader of the House of Commons to move a Motion asserting the equal right of all Members of the House of Commons to participate in proceedings and establishing mechanisms for MPs unable to attend Westminster to vote remotely and to participate remotely in proceedings, including debates and general committees.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 23rd October 2020

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
4 Other Department Questions
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help increase skills in the creative and arts sector.

As our world-leading creative sectors continue to grow and recover from the pandemic, the Government understands the importance of ensuring that the creative industries and the arts have the skills they need, both now and in the future. The DCMS-led Creative Industries Sector Vision, due to be published soon, will set out our long-term strategic vision for the sector to 2030. Focused on promoting growth, this vision will include consideration of the opportunities and challenges regarding the skills, workforce and talent pipeline for the sector.

The Schools White Paper (2022) also set out that the Department for Education would publish a Cultural Education Plan, working with DCMS and our arms-length bodies, in 2023. The Plan aims to articulate and highlight the importance of high-quality cultural education in schools; promote the social value of cultural and creative education; outline and support career progression pathways; address skills gaps; and tackle disparities in opportunity and outcome. The crossbench peer, Baroness Bull, has been appointed to chair the independent advisory panel helping to inform the plan.

The Government continues to support initiatives to boost training and employment opportunities in the arts and creative sectors. For example, DCMS supports the industry-led Creative Careers Programme, which between 2018 and 2020 showcased creative career pathways to over 115,000 pupils at over 1,500 schools across England. The programme, relaunched in 2022 with £950,000 of Government funding, will specifically target young people from under-represented backgrounds. It will do so in 77 priority areas across England, selected using data from the Government’s education and careers opportunity areas, and Levelling Up for Culture priority places.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
5th Jul 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to Canada’s House of Commons passing a bill criminalizing LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and the passage of a similar ban by the Australian state of Victoria, what steps his Department is taking to work with national and state legislators in those nations to ensure a ban on conversion therapy reflects international best practice.

Officials in the Equality Hub are in discussion with international policy counterparts, to fully understand the detail and impact of other jurisdictions’ measures and to inform the Government’s next steps. However, we must ensure a ban on conversion therapy works here and that is why we have committed to launching a consultation in September. We want to hear from a wide range of voices on how best to protect people from conversion therapy while ensuring the medical profession can continue to work in line with best practice, defending freedom of speech, and upholding religious freedom. This will be vital for ensuring the action we take is informed, effective and proportionate.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
18th Jun 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to give full recognition to people in the UK who identify as non-binary.

This Government is committed to supporting all LGBT people, tackling discrimination and improving the lives of all citizens.

We have been clear in the response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation in September 2020 that there are no plans to make changes to the 2004 Act.

Following a considerable amount of consultation with the public, the Government decided that the current provisions within the GRA allow for those that wish to legally change their sex to do so safely and fairly. The consultation did not bring forward any proposals to extend the GRA to provide legal recognition to a third, or non-binary, gender.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
24th May 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Australian State of Victoria’s Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 as a model for legislation to ban conversion therapy in England and Wales.

As set out in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month, we will bring forward legislation to ban conversion therapy. We will also launch a consultation before details of the ban are finalised to hear from a wide range of voices on how best to protect people from conversion therapy while protecting the medical profession, defending freedom of speech, and upholding religious freedom. We are considering all options for the scope of a ban and will be engaging the appropriate stakeholders, including organisations who support survivors of conversion therapy, to gather views. We have also already met with conversion therapy survivors, to hear about their experiences.

We have also undertaken research to understand practices, experiences and impacts associated with conversion therapy and will publish this in due course. Officials are also in discussion with international policy counterparts, to fully understand the detail and impact of other jurisdictions’ measures, in order to inform the UK’s next steps.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Attorney General, how many domestic abuse prosecutors have been newly trained in the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The Government is focused on delivering justice for victims of domestic abuse including through providing training resources to new prosecutors. Since November 2019, when figures became available, 568 prosecutors have attended instructor-led domestic abuse training as part of their induction programme to the CPS. Additionally, between 2017 and March 2022 online self-guided domestic abuse training courses were accessed on 6,184 occasions.

To support prosecutors outside of training, the CPS publishes Legal Guidance on Domestic Abuse which can be accessed at any time (https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/domestic-abuse).

Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
10th May 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2023 to Question 181520 on King Charles III: Art Works, which company will (a) take and (b) distribute the portrait to schools.

Further details on the producers and/or suppliers associated with the official portrait will be confirmed in due course in coordination with the Royal Household.

Those public authorities who are eligible will be offered the opportunity to request one free framed portrait once the scheme is opened later this year, following the taking and release of the official photographic portraits of His Majesty The King.

The Government considers it is right that public authorities as part of the fabric of our nation, have the opportunity to commemorate this moment and reflect the new era in our history.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
19th Apr 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the announcement made on 1 April 2023 on Portraits of His Majesty The King for UK public authorities, whether his Department holds information on who will take the portrait of King Charles III; and whether a contract has been awarded to produce and frame the copies which will be available for public authorities.

On 1 April we announced that public authorities throughout the United Kingdom will, in due course, be able to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King as part of a scheme to celebrate the new reign. The Government considers it is right that public authorities as part of the fabric of our nation, have the opportunity to commemorate this moment and reflect the new era in our history.

The scheme will be opened later this year following the taking and release of the official photographic portraits of His Majesty by the Royal Household. Further details on the official portrait will be confirmed in due course in coordination with the Royal Household.



Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
12th Dec 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who will have access to the details of gender recognition certificates that trans individuals provide as part of the UK Civil Service People Survey 2022.

The UK Civil Service People Survey 2022 did not ask trans individuals to provide details of their gender recognition certificate, and so those details are not recorded and nobody has access to them.

12th Dec 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the UK Civil Service People Survey 2022 requires trans individuals to provide details of their gender recognition certificate.

The UK Civil Service People Survey 2022 did not ask trans individuals to provide details of their gender recognition certificate, and so those details are not recorded and nobody has access to them.

14th Jul 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2020 to Question 32254, how many working CoVent ventilation devices have been provided by Dyson to the NHS; how much has been spent from the public purse on the production of those devices; and what proportion of that spending has been returned to the Government by Dyson.

The Ventilator Challenge has manufactured safe, easy-to-use and effective devices to meet the UK’s need for mechanical ventilators to fight COVID-19. The Challenge is a key part of the UK’s overall strategy to rapidly increase the number of mechanical ventilators for the NHS. This includes buying more ventilators from abroad, stepping up UK production and calling on the best of British manufacturing to build new devices. We have exceeded our target of building up ventilator stocks to 18,000 and everyone who has needed a ventilator has been able to access one.

Dyson were the manufacturing partner for The Technology Partnership (TTP), a specialist medical consultancy, who were funded to develop a new ventilator design. As we announced on 8 May, the Government ceased support for the product. No monies have been paid to Dyson.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the news release entitled, Authored article, Prime Minister's article in the Telegraph: 15 June 2020, what the territorial scope of the commission is planned to be; and what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Devolved Administrations on the remit of the commission in relation to (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

6th Jul 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2020 to Question 1870 on Office for Tackling Injustices and with reference to the Prime Minister’s statement of 15 June 2020, how the cross-governmental commission to look at all aspects of inequality will contribute to the work of the Office for Tackling Injustices.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 8 June 2020 to Questions 55892, 55893 and 55894 on Office for Tackling Injustices, what the process is for the announcements referred to in the answer; and if he will make it his policy to make a statement to the House in respect of each decision made by Ministers relating to the establishment of the Office for Tackling Injustices.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been asked by his Department to serve in the Office for Tackling Injustices; what the outcome of each such request has been; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings he has held with (a) his Cabinet colleagues and (b) Ministers of other Government departments on the establishment of the Office for Tackling Injustices in each month since July 2019.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what provision for funding the Office for Tackling Injustices (a) was made in his Department’s Supplementary Estimate for 2019-20 and (b) is planned to be made in his Department’s Main Estimate for 2020-21.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of establishing the Office for Tackling Injustices under the Administrations of the (a) previous and (b) current Prime Minister.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2020, which outlines the plans for a new cross-government Commission to review inequality in the UK. This Commission has superseded the proposals from the last Administration to create an Office for Tackling Injustice.

10th Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of merging the four cross-departmental BAME staff networks in the Civil Service to improve efficiency.

These networks are led by civil servants on a voluntary basis, and the network leaders themselves felt that maintaining separate networks was important.

8th Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office for Tackling Injustices is planned to be established.

Further to the answer given to PQ 1870 on 7 April 2020, announcements will be made in the usual way.

8th Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the remit will be of the Office for Tackling Injustices.

Further to the answer given to PQ 1870 on 7 April 2020, announcements will be made in the usual way.

8th Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what budget has been allocated to the Office for Tackling Injustices.

Further to the answer given to PQ 1870 on 7 April 2020, announcements will be made in the usual way.

25th Mar 2020
To ask the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on the spread of covid-19 in public spaces of listing cleaners as key workers.

Our message to the British public is clear: stay at home, in order to protect the NHS and save lives. The position remains, as outlined on gov.uk, that everyone who can work from home should do so.

Where that is not possible, people should go into work where it is safe and they are not symptomatic, isolating or shielding. Relevant guidance including from Public Health England should be followed.

In terms of the provision of education for certain workers, it is already the case that cleaners working in, for example, hospitals and social care could be eligible as long as "their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service". This is set out here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision.

The Government has placed restrictions on the operations of certain businesses as part of the strategy to ensure people stay at home and away from others. Separate guidance has been published on this and is also available on gov.uk. Scientific evidence supporting the government’s response is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
16th Mar 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the effect of covid-19 on women's (a) financial security, (b) ability to work and (c) mental health has been discussed at recent COBRA meetings.

It is a long established precedent that detailed information about internal discussions are not shared publicly.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
5th Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to improve reporting on LGBT+ inclusion in the civil service.

The Civil Service is committed to being an LGBT+ inclusive employer. Information about the composition of the Civil Service workforce, including representation by sexual orientation, is published on gov.uk. Results of the annual Civil Service People Survey, including a breakdown by sexual orientation, are also published.

The Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Strategy (2017) committed to increasing the number of civil servants who record their sexual orientation data on HR systems. Reporting rates are steadily increasing, and have risen to 57% in 2019. In addition, the Civil Service People Survey has since 2018 included questions to allow analysis of the experiences of transgender civil servants.

The Civil Service is also working with the Office for National Statistics and the Government Equalities Office to develop standardised questions to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, ensuring that data on LGBT inclusion is collected by all departments, and can be reported centrally, in a consistent way.

29th Jan 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to lay the statutory instrument to make provision for Census 2021.

The draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2020 will be presented to both Houses in due course.

28th Jan 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to include a non-gendered option on the Census 2021.

The Office for National Statistics recommendations for the next Census are set out in the White Paper 'Help Shape our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales' published in December 2018. This includes the recommendation that the 2021 Census includes for the first time a voluntary gender identity question, in addition to retaining a binary female/male sex question. The relevant considerations are set out at paragraphs 3.34 to 3.45 of the White Paper.

The content of the 2021 Census for England and Wales will be set in secondary legislation, beginning with the Census Order, which will be laid before Parliament in due course.

2nd May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and proportion of wind turbines were switched off due to a lack of capacity in the national grid in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

The Government does not hold data on the proportion of wind turbines switched off in 2021 and 2022 to manage network capacity constraints.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to stop the remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode for vulnerable households.

Energy suppliers are obligated under licence conditions to follow strict rules when switching a smart meter from credit to prepayment mode, to safeguard consumers.

Suppliers must only provide a prepayment service when a consumer is in debt where they assess that it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so. The supplier's assessment should include identifying any vulnerability, such as a disability that prevents a consumer from being able to use appropriately a prepayment meter or customers that require a continuous energy supply for health reasons.

If energy suppliers assess it is safe and reasonably practicable, they must then give at least seven days’ notice in advance of the change from credit to prepay mode on the smart meter.

The regulator, Ofgem, is reviewing energy supplier compliance with these requirements and has made it clear it will take strong action where suppliers have failed to follow them.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to help ensure that prepayment meters are removed from vulnerable households.

My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State wrote to suppliers on 4 February asking them to outline what steps they will take to identify consumers with an inappropriately installed prepayment meter. He confirmed the Government’s expectation that where such customers are identified, appropriate steps will be taken to rectify the situation.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the (a) role and (b) annual cost is of the Counter Disinformation Unit.

In October 2023 the Counter Disinformation Unit became the National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT). The name more accurately reflects the team’s revised remit and function, which is to tackle the greatest national security risks facing the UK from mis and disinformation, specifically looking at threats posed by foreign states, risks to elections and from the use of AI and deepfakes. This revised remit is kept under regular review.

It would not be appropriate to publicly comment on NSOIT’s funding levels, as doing so would give malign actors insight into the scale of the Government’s capabilities in this area. Nevertheless, DSIT continues to account to parliament for the use of public funds in relation to the NSOIT and other teams within the department.

Saqib Bhatti
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with relevant industry stakeholders on the progress towards switching off the public switched telephone network by 2025.

The Department engages regularly with relevant stakeholders to ensure there are adequate plans in place to inform consumers and protect the most vulnerable consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, quarterly progress meetings with individual providers, quarterly meetings with Communications Providers and all government departments, and quarterly meetings with Ofcom. The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure also convened a roundtable with the largest providers in January 2023.

Ofcom, the UK’s telecommunications regulator, is also monitoring the progress of Communications Providers. Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many and what proportion of households have been switched to the Digital Voice service as of August 2023.

According to Ofcom’s latest figures, as of August 2023, more than 50% of the UK’s 30 million premises have been moved from the PSTN. The premises that are no longer on the PSTN have moved to various technological options, including 8 million (27%) that have moved to a broadband based Digital Voice solution.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of the public switched telephone network that has been retired as of August 2023.

According to Ofcom’s latest figures, as of August 2023, more than 50% of the UK’s 30 million premises have been moved from the PSTN. The premises that are no longer on the PSTN have moved to various technological options, including 8 million (27%) that have moved to a broadband based Digital Voice solution.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of migrating households from the public switched telephone network to the Digital Voice service.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline. Providers have a range of solutions to ensure vulnerable consumers receive additional support. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones. The Government is working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected.

Furthermore, the Department meets regularly with Communications Providers to discuss the progress made in migrating their customers, and to ensure they have adequate plans in place to inform and protect vulnerable consumers.

While the PSTN migration is an industry-led process, industry is accountable to Ofcom in ensuring the security of any new technologies used in their network.

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications networks and services. Since October 2022, public telecommunications providers have been required under the Communications Act 2003 (as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021) to identify and reduce the risk of a wide range of security compromises. The specific requirements providers must follow are set out in the Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022, with accompany technical guidance in a code of practice. Ofcom has also been given powers and duties to investigate, rectify, and penalise any infringement of the statutory security and resilience obligations of network providers.

DSIT also works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, the UK’s technical authority for cyber security, on issues related to the cyber security of the UK's telecoms network. The NCSC is responsible for helping to protect the UK’s critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, and improve the underlying security of the UK's telecoms networks through technological improvement and advice to citizens and organisations. The NCSC issues a range of guidance on its website to support organisations in ensuring secure design and management of their networks.

16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish a list of the legislation he intends to repeal under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

We have published a public dashboard cataloging retained EU law on the UK statute book. This dashboard will also document the Government’s progress on reforming retained EU law and will be updated regularly to reflect plans and actions taken.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
16th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether people who live in residential flats and receive energy from communal energy and heat networks will be eligible for the Energy Bills Support Scheme; and if his Department will take steps to provide further support for energy costs to vulnerable people who live in residential flats.

There will be different considerations for consumers depending on their circumstances and the way in which they pay their energy bills.

All domestic electricity customers, who have a direct relationship with a licensed electricity supplier, will be automatically eligible for this Scheme.

The Government continues to work with consumer groups and suppliers on the delivery of the Scheme and is exploring options for other ways in which customers who do not have a domestic electricity contract might receive similar support. The full suite of help from the government, including for vulnerable people, is covered here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to provide advice and support to its employees on LGBT+ inclusion after its membership to Stonewall's Diversity Champion programme has ended.

The Government has committed to a new standard for diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service which will promote a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. We are committed to fair, inclusive workplaces which draw on the talents of the widest possible range of backgrounds, especially people from non-traditional educational routes and from outside London and the South East. It is fundamental that everyone is able to seize opportunities in the workplace without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Memberships of external schemes are kept under review, to ensure value for taxpayers’ money. A number of public bodies, including the BBC and EHRC, have resolved to best champion inclusion through internal programmes. Ministers believe that the underlying aims of supporting all staff, including those with protected characteristics, can be achieved in a different way to funding external pressure groups, without adverse equality impacts.

The Civil Service’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025-html.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will place a copy of the equality impact assessment undertaken in respect of his Department's decision to suspend its membership of Stonewall's Diversity Champion programme in the Library.

The Government has committed to a new standard for diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service which will promote a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. We are committed to fair, inclusive workplaces which draw on the talents of the widest possible range of backgrounds, especially people from non-traditional educational routes and from outside London and the South East. It is fundamental that everyone is able to seize opportunities in the workplace without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Memberships of external schemes are kept under review, to ensure value for taxpayers’ money. A number of public bodies, including the BBC and EHRC, have resolved to best champion inclusion through internal programmes. Ministers believe that the underlying aims of supporting all staff, including those with protected characteristics, can be achieved in a different way to funding external pressure groups, without adverse equality impacts.

The Civil Service’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025-html.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason his Department has decided not to renew its membership of Stonewall's Diversity Champion programme.

The Government has committed to a new standard for diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service which will promote a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. We are committed to fair, inclusive workplaces which draw on the talents of the widest possible range of backgrounds, especially people from non-traditional educational routes and from outside London and the South East. It is fundamental that everyone is able to seize opportunities in the workplace without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Memberships of external schemes are kept under review, to ensure value for taxpayers’ money. A number of public bodies, including the BBC and EHRC, have resolved to best champion inclusion through internal programmes. Ministers believe that the underlying aims of supporting all staff, including those with protected characteristics, can be achieved in a different way to funding external pressure groups, without adverse equality impacts.

The Civil Service’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025/civil-service-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2022-to-2025-html.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what arrangements have been made for regular delivery of letters in the NW10 area in response to Royal Mail delivery delays.

Royal Mail has publicly stated that it is aware of the reduction in service levels in some areas and is taking action to reduce delays to deliveries. Its contingency plans to mitigate disruption to postal services are overseen by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as the independent regulator for the sector.

Ofcom continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets.

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to protect the UK copyright system to support (a) author incomes, (b) publishing companies and (c) the wider book trade.

While the Government is not presently taking any specific steps in relation to these matters, it keeps the copyright framework under constant review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and that changes are driven by the evidence.

For example, the Government is currently consulting on potential changes to the intellectual property framework in relation to the trade of parallel goods into the UK. It welcomes evidence and submissions from all those who might be affected, including authors, publishers, and the book trade.

The UK’s IP framework is consistently rated as one of the best in the world. A good copyright framework alongside an effective enforcement regime provides the best environment for creators, including authors and publishers, to thrive.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
13th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support low income families that are unable to afford green energy improvements to make their homes energy efficient and contribute to the Government's net zero target.

The Government has recently published a strategy, Sustainable Warmth – supporting vulnerable households in England, which sets out our plans to support fuel poor households in more detail.

As of 2019, there are 1.2 million fewer low-income households living in the least energy efficient homes (Band E, F or G) compared to 2010. There are a number of Government schemes which make funding available to support low-income families make their homes energy efficient.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a GB-wide scheme currently worth around £640m per year, which provides energy efficiency and heating measures to low income and vulnerable households. We have committed to expanding ECO from 2022 to 2026 to a value of £1bn per year.

The Government is investing £1.3 billion in energy efficiency, up from the £1 billion announced in my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan. The Green Homes Grant (Voucher) low-income scheme had issued 26,281 vouchers by the end of March, worth over £156 million. We have also provided support for Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery and for Social Housing – £500 million worth of works is already being delivered and additional funding will be disbursed this summer.

The Home Upgrade Grant has been allocated an initial £150 million to specifically support low-income households with energy efficiency and low carbon heating upgrades to the worst-performing off-gas-grid homes in England. The Home Upgrade Grant is due to commence delivery in early 2022.

We recently consulted on strengthening the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for private landlords. These new standards would require landlords to invest up to £10,000 towards improving their property to energy efficiency Band C, or register an exemption. For social housing, the Government has also invited experts to review whether the Decent Homes Standard should be refreshed.

In addition to help with energy efficiency measures, over 2 million households get direct assistance with their energy bills through the Warm Home Discount. We have committed to expanding that scheme from 2022 to 2026 so that it will reach around 3 million households across Great Britain.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent directors paying themselves dividends and forcing companies into administration to avoid consumer redress.

Under UK company law, directors may pay dividends only where a company has sufficient distributable reserves, based on the company’s realised profits minus any realised losses.

In the event of insolvency, it is part of the administrator’s role to scrutinise payments made to shareholders in the period before the insolvency to identify any payments which may have been illegal. In such cases, the courts have wide powers to apply a variety of sanctions and remedies, including ordering the recovery of amounts from recipients and compensation orders against directors enforceable against their personal assets.

The Government is currently consulting on proposals to increase transparency in how companies demonstrate that dividends are affordable, as part of the White Paper on Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance. This includes a proposed requirement that directors of large companies should disclose at a minimum the company’s known distributable reserve before paying any dividend, and state that it is their reasonable expectation that the proposed dividend would not threaten the company’s insolvency over the following two years.

23rd Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether any of the covid-19 vaccines purchased by the Government for use in the UK have been tested on people with sickle cell and thalassemia blood disorders.

We expect safety data from all trials to set out how the COVID-19 vaccines work in different types of people.


The NHS COVID-19 vaccine research registry, developed in partnership with NHS Digital, will help facilitate the rapid recruitment of large numbers of people into trials. The government has been encouraging a diverse pool of people to volunteer to help researchers better understand the effectiveness of each vaccine candidate


Specific questions on individual vaccines are for vaccine developers.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions officials of his Department have had with representatives from employer organisations on recent changes in advice to clinically extremely vulnerable people who are shielding with (a) arthritis and (b) other conditions.

Officials regularly meet with representatives from employer bodies and discussions have included recent changes in the advice to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.

More generally, BEIS leads for Government on the Safer Working Guidance. This sets out the steps employers can take to ensure that the workplace is secure for everyone. This guidance is updated as necessary following changes in public health advice. Individuals and organisations, including those with interest in specific conditions such as arthritis, are able to comment on the guidance through safer.workplaces@beis.gov.uk.

10th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will set a date for mandatory Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting.

The Government ran a consultation from October 2018 to January 2019 on Ethnicity Pay Reporting and received over 300 detailed responses. The Government has met with businesses and representative organisations to understand the barriers towards reporting and what information could be published to allow for meaningful action to be taken. We have also run voluntary methodology testing with a broad range of businesses to better understand the complexities outlined in the consultation using real payroll data.

5th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of FTSE 100 companies on diversity.

BEIS Ministers have regular discussions with FTSE 100 company chairs and CEOs and with business representative organisations and stress the Government’s priority of improving diversity at board and leadership levels, especially in support of the Hampton-Alexander and Parker Reviews. We do all we can to promote business leadership diversity and inclusion.

In that wider context, LGBT+ people should be able to be themselves in the workplace, so that they can do their best work and achieve their full potential. Many British businesses, charities and voluntary organisations are leading the way on LGBT+ equality at work; this is regularly highlighted by activities such as the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which showcases the UK’s top 100 LGBT employers.

At the Government’s request, the Financial Reporting Council revised the UK Corporate Governance Code in 2018 which requires companies to report fully on their diversity and inclusion policies, and how the objectives of these policies relate to wider company strategy.

The Government Equalities Office LGBT Action Plan published in July 2018 has over 75 commitments regarding the representation of LGBT people in the workplace. This action plan was informed by the National LGBT Survey of 108,000 respondents and sets out commitments to improve the lives of LGBT people in the workplace.