First elected: 1st May 1997
Left House: 3rd May 2017 (General Election)
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 Gerald Howarth, 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.
Gerald Howarth has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
British Victims of Terrorism (Asset-Freezing and Compensation) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Children of Armed Services Personnel (Schools Admission) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Con)
The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) have been responsible for tackling Illegal Money Lending since April 2012. They collect and report information on their work to the Department by financial year.
Convictions for Illegal Money Lending since April 2012:
Team | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 (to 4/3/2015) |
England | 34 | 55 | 36 |
Wales | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Scotland | 1 | 0 | 3 |
The relevant clause now contained in the Deregulation Bill is not intended to have any effect on the existing legal status of ambulances, including those used by the private or voluntary sector. Conventional ambulances may continue to use blue lights and be exempt from certain road traffic provisions when responding to emergencies. The amendments in the Bill continue to allow vehicles dispatched by the NHS ambulance services (including vehicles that private ambulance and medical providers operate), that are not ambulances, by allowing them to use blue lights and extending the road traffic exemptions to them.
Eleven per cent of academic aged 16-18 year olds who studied their highest qualification in 2014/15 at a sixth form college, were eligible for free school meals at academic age 15. The equivalent figure for school and academy sixth forms was ten per cent. Data for December 2016 is unavailable.
Note: This proportion is based on those where the FSM status at 15 is known.
Source: Department for Education’s Young Person’s Matched Administrative Dataset.
The requested information for pupils at the end of Key Stage 5 in the academic year 2014/15 is given in the following table:
Average GCSE Attainment[1],[2] of pupils at the end of key stage 5 in 2015 by school type | |||
School type | Number of eligible pupils[3] | Average capped[4] GCSE and equivalents point score per pupil | Percentage of students achieving 5A*-C in English and mathematics GCSEs including equivalents |
Sixth form colleges | 64,579 | 381.2 | 81.7 |
All state-funded schools[5] | 181,223 | 390.8 | 84.1 |
Source 16-18 attainment data
[1]In 2013/14, two major reforms were implemented which affect the calculation of key stage 4 performance measures data: 1) Professor Alison Wolf’s Review of Vocational Education recommendations which: restrict the qualifications counted; prevent any qualification from counting as larger than one GCSE; and cap the number of non-GCSEs included in performance measures at two per pupil, and 2) an early entry policy to only count a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification, in subjects counted in the English Baccalaureate. Consequently, the numbers supplied prior to 2013/14 are not comparable with those from 2013/14 onwards.
[2] In 2014/15, early entry policy, under which only a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification is counted in performance measures, was extended to all subjects.
[3] Covers students at the end of advanced level study who were entered for at least one substantial advanced level academic or vocational qualification in the 2014/15 academic year: substantial advanced level academic or vocational qualifications are defined as qualifications that are at least the size of an A level (180 guided learning hours per year), such as a BTEC subsidiary diploma level 3. If a vocational or academic qualification is similar in size to 2 A levels it will be counted as 2 substantial level 3 qualifications. In order to be included in this table, pupils also needed a valid end of key stage 4 record, therefore the number of eligible pupils is lower than that published in the key stage 5 SFR.
[4] Average capped point scores are calculated using the best 8 GCSE or equivalent results.
[5] Includes school and academy sixth-forms
It is for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools to determine what advice or guidance inspectors need to inspect particular matters, drawing on relevant guidance that has been issued to schools by the Department for Education and on statutory requirements.
No guidance has been given by the Department for Education on this matter as the issuing of guidance to Ofsted inspectors is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw.
Any complaints about the conduct of Ofsted inspectors are a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. I understand that Ofsted is investigating matters raised by the schools and by some parents and will respond to these in due course.
Research on the potential use of insects in livestock feed is permitted under the provisions of the EU Animal by-Products Regulations 1069/2009 which require registration of operators by competent authorities under conditions which control risks to public and animal health. The Food and Environmental Research Agency of Defra is currently leading research on the use of insects as a protein source for livestock in the UK.
The government is seeking to better define a strategic network of General Aviation airfields and is engaging with the General Aviation Strategic Forum to do this.
The Impact Assessment published alongside the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 at:
sets out the Government’s view on the likely impact of the Directive, including an assessment of the removal of small and flavoured packs.
The Department is committed to a full statutory review of the functioning of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which implement the European Union Tobacco Products Directive, within five years of entering into force. The statutory review must be accompanied by an Impact Assessment.
The Impact Assessment published alongside the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 at:
sets out the Government’s view on the likely impact of the Directive, including an assessment of the removal of small and flavoured packs.
The Department is committed to a full statutory review of the functioning of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which implement the European Union Tobacco Products Directive, within five years of entering into force. The statutory review must be accompanied by an Impact Assessment.
The Department is committed to a full statutory review of the functioning of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which implement the European Union Tobacco Products Directive, within five years of entering into force. The statutory review must be accompanied by an Impact Assessment.
This is one of the many areas that the Government is considering carefully as part of the process of leaving the EU. Until exit negotiations are concluded, the United Kingdom remains a full member of the EU and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force.
In the maternity pathway payment system, a multiple pregnancy would automatically lead to a higher tariff at all points of the pathway.
NHS Improvement are currently working with the sector with a view to developing the policies to be included in the statutory consultation for the 2017/18 national tariff, including the maternity pathway system. NHS Improvement plans to publish the statutory consultation in the autumn.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that it is currently reviewing its clinical guideline on multiple pregnancy: antenatal care for twin and triplet pregnancies (CG129) to check whether an update is warranted. As part of this review, NICE will consider whether any extension of the existing scope is required. NICE expects the review decision to be published later this year.
There are no specific plans for the Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development (IESD) fund to support efforts to reduce still births and neonatal deaths in multiple pregnancies. The IESD fund provides for funding for voluntary sector projects that are able to demonstrate a clear focus on supporting and driving forward new ideas, excellence or the undertaking of strategic developments in voluntary sector capacity and capability in health and care.
The fund does not have a particular focus on reducing still births and neonatal deaths in multiple pregnancies, but aims to support projects with the potential to have national significance in any area of health and care, particularly where statutory services can be complemented and high quality health and care outcomes achieved.
The draft regulations laid in Parliament on 23 February have a coming-into-force date of May 2016.
Certain parts of the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations implement the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and are therefore required to be brought into force in May 2016. For those regulations that introduce further requirements, it is clear that there are benefits for business if the requirements of the TPD and standardised packaging requirements are implemented at the same time.
Australian Government figures, from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, show that smoking prevalence is at an all-time low since the implementation of standardised packaging. This change is likely to be attributable to cumulative effects of a range of policies, including standardised packaging.
The Impact Assessment makes clear how this research was used on page 53. It also considers the uncertainty associated with the estimates in the “Sensitivity and Risk” analysis on page 69.
The published research paper includes a section on competing interests. The authors state that they have no connections to the tobacco industry, nor any financial or non-financial competing interests that relate to the area of this study.
A copy of the research paper is attached.
The Impact Assessment can be found at:
The Government is fully committed to successful delivery of the VED reforms, which ensure that all cars other than ones which emit zero-emissions will contribute. At present, cars that emit less than 130g/km of carbon pay no VED in the first year. This is not sustainable at a time when the average new car emits 120g/km.
The Government appreciates this will affect car buyers such as rental companies who may sell vehicles in less than a year. The rules around VED refunds have not changed compared to the current system.
Information is not available for points a or b, as the ONS do not publish earnings data split by use of financial services. The most recent ONS publication of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) indicates that median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees were £518 in April 2014.
With regards to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff training on Accelerated Payments Notices, I would refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to a written question on 26 February 2015 (HC Deb, 26 February 2015, cW).
The number of HMRC officials currently engaged in dealing with Accelerated Payments Notices is 270Full Time Equivalents.
With regards to HMRC’s plans to report the progress on Accelerated Payments, I would refer the hon. member to my answer of 10 February (HC Deb, 10 February 2015, cW)
With regards to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff training on Accelerated Payments Notices, I would refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to a written question on 26 February 2015 (HC Deb, 26 February 2015, cW).
The number of HMRC officials currently engaged in dealing with Accelerated Payments Notices is 270Full Time Equivalents.
With regards to HMRC’s plans to report the progress on Accelerated Payments, I would refer the hon. member to my answer of 10 February (HC Deb, 10 February 2015, cW)
With regards to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff training on Accelerated Payments Notices, I would refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to a written question on 26 February 2015 (HC Deb, 26 February 2015, cW).
The number of HMRC officials currently engaged in dealing with Accelerated Payments Notices is 270Full Time Equivalents.
With regards to HMRC’s plans to report the progress on Accelerated Payments, I would refer the hon. member to my answer of 10 February (HC Deb, 10 February 2015, cW)
The Government definition of extremism is 'vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.' We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.
The overwhelming majority of people in this country support these values and condemn those who try to undermine them.
The Government would not consider the ‘claim’ that an individual’s religion is ‘the only one true faith’ to be extremist.
We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values that help to make our country great. However we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.
The Government has engaged on the strategy, and will continue to engage with partners - including faith groups, communities and civic society groups on the new proposed powers to tackle the most dangerous extremists. This provides an opportunity to consult on the proposed powers further, and ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect our rights to free speech and debate.
The Government definition of extremism is 'vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.' We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.
The overwhelming majority of people in this country support these values and condemn those who try to undermine them.
The Government would not consider the ‘claim’ that an individual’s religion is ‘the only one true faith’ to be extremist.
We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values that help to make our country great. However we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.
The Government has engaged on the strategy, and will continue to engage with partners - including faith groups, communities and civic society groups on the new proposed powers to tackle the most dangerous extremists. This provides an opportunity to consult on the proposed powers further, and ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect our rights to free speech and debate.
The Government definition of extremism is 'vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.' We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.
The overwhelming majority of people in this country support these values and condemn those who try to undermine them.
The Government would not consider the ‘claim’ that an individual’s religion is ‘the only one true faith’ to be extremist.
We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values that help to make our country great. However we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.
The Government has engaged on the strategy, and will continue to engage with partners - including faith groups, communities and civic society groups on the new proposed powers to tackle the most dangerous extremists. This provides an opportunity to consult on the proposed powers further, and ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect our rights to free speech and debate.
The Government definition of extremism is 'vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.' We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.
The overwhelming majority of people in this country support these values and condemn those who try to undermine them.
The Government would not consider the ‘claim’ that an individual’s religion is ‘the only one true faith’ to be extremist.
We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values that help to make our country great. However we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.
The Government has engaged on the strategy, and will continue to engage with partners - including faith groups, communities and civic society groups on the new proposed powers to tackle the most dangerous extremists. This provides an opportunity to consult on the proposed powers further, and ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect our rights to free speech and debate.
The Government definition of extremism is 'vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.' We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.
The overwhelming majority of people in this country support these values and condemn those who try to undermine them.
The Government would not consider the ‘claim’ that an individual’s religion is ‘the only one true faith’ to be extremist.
We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values that help to make our country great. However we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.
The Government has engaged on the strategy, and will continue to engage with partners - including faith groups, communities and civic society groups on the new proposed powers to tackle the most dangerous extremists. This provides an opportunity to consult on the proposed powers further, and ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect our rights to free speech and debate.
The information is not held in the format requested.
However, the number of RAF personnel embedded with each nation’s military on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) duties as part of the Seedcorn Initiative and Exchange Officer programme, on 1 April each year, is set out in the table below:
Year | Number of Personnel Embedded | |||
| US | Canada | Australia | New Zealand |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2011 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
2012 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2013 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2014 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
2015 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
2016 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
The number of RAF personnel who were embedded in each nation’s military on MPAs from 2010 to 2016, who no longer serve in the British Armed Forces, is set out below:
US 1
Canada 1
Australia 0
New Zealand 1
The information is not held in the format requested.
However, the number of RAF personnel embedded with each nation’s military on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) duties as part of the Seedcorn Initiative and Exchange Officer programme, on 1 April each year, is set out in the table below:
Year | Number of Personnel Embedded | |||
| US | Canada | Australia | New Zealand |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2011 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
2012 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2013 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2014 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
2015 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
2016 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
The number of RAF personnel who were embedded in each nation’s military on MPAs from 2010 to 2016, who no longer serve in the British Armed Forces, is set out below:
US 1
Canada 1
Australia 0
New Zealand 1
The information is not held in the format requested.
However, the number of RAF personnel embedded with each nation’s military on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) duties as part of the Seedcorn Initiative and Exchange Officer programme, on 1 April each year, is set out in the table below:
Year | Number of Personnel Embedded | |||
| US | Canada | Australia | New Zealand |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2011 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
2012 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2013 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2014 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
2015 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
2016 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
The number of RAF personnel who were embedded in each nation’s military on MPAs from 2010 to 2016, who no longer serve in the British Armed Forces, is set out below:
US 1
Canada 1
Australia 0
New Zealand 1
The information is not held in the format requested.
However, the number of RAF personnel embedded with each nation’s military on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) duties as part of the Seedcorn Initiative and Exchange Officer programme, on 1 April each year, is set out in the table below:
Year | Number of Personnel Embedded | |||
| US | Canada | Australia | New Zealand |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2011 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
2012 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2013 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
2014 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
2015 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
2016 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
The number of RAF personnel who were embedded in each nation’s military on MPAs from 2010 to 2016, who no longer serve in the British Armed Forces, is set out below:
US 1
Canada 1
Australia 0
New Zealand 1
The Strategic Defence and Security Review provided clarity of the Government’s defence equipment priorities not just for the next two years, but for the rest of this Parliament. We have committed to an additional £12 billion for the Equipment Plan to £178 billion over the next 10 years. This includes finalising investment proposals for the next stage of the Successor nuclear deterrent programme and the procurement of a new fleet of nine Boeing P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as we build towards Joint Force 2025.
The Ministry of Defence is bound by European Union (EU) public procurement directives which demand fair and open competition across the EU for all contracts involving the expenditure of public funds.
Defence Equipment and Support is currently seeking proposals from Industry (under an existing Framework advertised in 2011) to provide an air transport service to move cargo between the UK and Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick. Within that framework, there are seven companies, which are either UK companies or have offices within the UK, competing for this work.
This Government takes fraud extremely seriously. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 increased the deterrent to tenants considering cheating the system, ensuring those who do cheat are detected more easily and punished more severely, and encourages social landlords to take a more proactive approach to tackling tenancy fraud.
We also provided £19 million funding to help councils tackle tenancy fraud as part of over £35 million government funding to tackle fraud across local government.
The findings and recommendations of the Government’s Right to Buy fraud working group will be published in due course.
This Government takes fraud extremely seriously. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 increased the deterrent to tenants considering cheating the system, ensuring those who do cheat are detected more easily and punished more severely, and encourages social landlords to take a more proactive approach to tackling tenancy fraud.
We also provided £19 million funding to help councils tackle tenancy fraud as part of over £35 million government funding to tackle fraud across local government.
The findings and recommendations of the Government’s Right to Buy fraud working group will be published in due course.
This Government takes fraud extremely seriously. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 increased the deterrent to tenants considering cheating the system, ensuring those who do cheat are detected more easily and punished more severely, and encourages social landlords to take a more proactive approach to tackling tenancy fraud.
We also provided £19 million funding to help councils tackle tenancy fraud as part of over £35 million government funding to tackle fraud across local government.
We have recently set up a Right to Buy Working Group with representative of housing associations, local authorities and lenders to identify additional safeguards to curb fraud when the Voluntary Right to Buy scheme is rolled out to 1.3 million housing association tenants. Work is underway developing the detailed design of the scheme in collaboration with the housing association sector, specifically looking at how fraud and opportunistic practice prevention measures can, as far as possible, be designed into the sales process.
This Government takes fraud extremely seriously. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 increased the deterrent to tenants considering cheating the system, ensuring those who do cheat are detected more easily and punished more severely, and encourages social landlords to take a more proactive approach to tackling tenancy fraud.
We also provided £19 million funding to help councils tackle tenancy fraud as part of over £35 million government funding to tackle fraud across local government.
We have recently set up a Right to Buy Working Group with representative of housing associations, local authorities and lenders to identify additional safeguards to curb fraud when the Voluntary Right to Buy scheme is rolled out to 1.3 million housing association tenants. Work is underway developing the detailed design of the scheme in collaboration with the housing association sector, specifically looking at how fraud and opportunistic practice prevention measures can, as far as possible, be designed into the sales process.