Helen Goodman Portrait

Helen Goodman

Labour - Former Member for Bishop Auckland

First elected: 5th May 2005

Left House: 6th November 2019 (Defeated)


Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
6th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
31st Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Procedure Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Procedure Committee
1st Feb 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
28th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Treasury Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
3rd Dec 2014 - 18th Sep 2015
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
26th Oct 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
7th Oct 2011 - 3rd Dec 2014
Procedure Committee
1st Mar 2011 - 27th Jan 2014
Shadow Minister (Justice)
8th Oct 2010 - 7th Oct 2011
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
12th May 2010 - 8th Oct 2010
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Jun 2009 - 6th May 2010
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
5th Oct 2008 - 9th Jun 2009
Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
2nd Jul 2007 - 5th Oct 2008
Draft Climate Change Bill (Joint Committee)
18th Mar 2007 - 3rd Aug 2007
Public Accounts Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 4th Jun 2007


Division Voting information

Helen Goodman has voted in 2498 divisions, and 25 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Jun 2018 - National Policy Statement: Airports - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 119
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Labour No votes vs 158 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 236 Noes - 220
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Labour No votes vs 155 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 185
8 Feb 2017 - Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 68 Labour No votes vs 85 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 409 Noes - 126
18 Jul 2016 - UK's Nuclear Deterrent - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 48 Labour No votes vs 140 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 472 Noes - 117
11 Sep 2015 - Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 73 Labour Aye votes vs 91 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 330
17 Oct 2012 - Oral Health Services - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Labour Aye votes vs 203 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 301 Noes - 211
17 Oct 2012 - Oral Health Services - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour No votes vs 199 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 479 Noes - 33
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 69 Labour Aye votes vs 138 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 256
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour No votes vs 139 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 233
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour No votes vs 141 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
13 Oct 2011 - Procedure Committee Reports - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Labour Aye votes vs 56 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 63 Noes - 206
15 Jun 2010 - Backbench Business Committee - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 29 Labour No votes vs 83 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 100 Noes - 331
15 Jun 2010 - Backbench Business Committee - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 53 Labour Aye votes vs 57 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 171 Noes - 263
4 Mar 2010 - Chair (Terminology) - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 31
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Expenses - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 50 Labour No votes vs 144 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 172 Noes - 144
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Labour Aye votes vs 233 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 318
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour Aye votes vs 225 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 342
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour Aye votes vs 216 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 293
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 126 Labour Aye votes vs 184 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 418
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 132 Labour Aye votes vs 177 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 392
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 156 Labour Aye votes vs 157 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 267
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 96 Labour No votes vs 207 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 337 Noes - 224
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Labour Aye votes vs 218 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 122 Noes - 354
17 Oct 2006 - Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment) - View Vote Context
Helen Goodman voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 46 Labour No votes vs 49 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 55 Noes - 240
View All Helen Goodman Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Alan Duncan (Conservative)
(79 debate interactions)
John Bercow (Speaker)
(65 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(396 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(149 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(113 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(6,112 words contributed)
Digital Economy Act 2017
(5,336 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Helen Goodman's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Helen Goodman

15th October 2019
Helen Goodman signed this EDM on Thursday 24th October 2019

Prison officer pension age

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House recognises the dangerous working conditions in the Prison Service; expresses concern at the increasing number of violent assaults on prison staff; believes that prison officers approaching the age of 70 should not be expected to deal with violent and dangerous criminals aged in their twenties, thirties and …
75 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 36
Scottish National Party: 19
Democratic Unionist Party: 7
Independent: 7
Conservative: 3
Plaid Cymru: 2
Liberal Democrat: 1
23rd April 2019
Helen Goodman signed this EDM on Thursday 3rd October 2019

PROVIDING FINANCIAL RESTITUTION TO 1950s WOMEN

Tabled by: Anna McMorrin (Labour - Cardiff North)
That this House welcomes the positive interventions from many hon. Members from across the House on behalf of women born in the 1950s who have lost their pensions; welcomes the equalisation of retirement ages between women and men; recalls that women born in the 1950s were subject to discriminatory employment …
225 signatures
(Most recent: 8 Oct 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 131
Conservative: 24
Scottish National Party: 22
Independent: 15
Liberal Democrat: 15
Democratic Unionist Party: 9
Plaid Cymru: 3
Non-affiliated: 3
Crossbench: 2
The Independent Group for Change: 2
Green Party: 1
View All Helen Goodman's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Helen Goodman, 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 Helen Goodman

Monday 11th July 2016

4 Adjournment Debates led by Helen Goodman

Wednesday 8th March 2017
Wednesday 2nd November 2016
Thursday 20th December 2012
Thursday 31st March 2011

1 Bill introduced by Helen Goodman


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision for the regulation of fees charged by management companies to freeholders of residential properties; to make provision for self-management of shared facilities by such freeholders; to require management companies to ensure shared facilities are of an adequate standard; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 14th November 2018
(Read Debate)

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
23 Other Department Questions
23rd Nov 2017
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the criteria for application for the £3.8 million for local and community projects within the centenary fund are and how people can apply for that funding.

This week, the Chancellor announced that £1.2 million of the centenary fund will go directly to seven Centenary Cities and towns in England with a strong suffrage history, to strengthen the reach and legacy of the celebrations to inspire a new generation with this story.

A further £1.5 million will be available to organisations and communities through a grants scheme. We have appointed a grant administrator to oversee the application and award process, and I will write to all Members with details of the scheme including application criteria shortly.

We are developing an exciting national programme to celebrate and remember the suffrage movement, which also includes funding the statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square, and a suite of education programmes.

14th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the oral contribution by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Treasury Committee on 12 December 2016, in response to Q311, who in the Government Equalities Office is responsible for assessing whether grant applications for Horizon 2020 funding are (a) value for money and (b) in line with Government objectives.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

4th Jan 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government has taken to follow up the recommendations in the Kay Review of UK equity markets and long-term decision making, published in July 2012.

The Department published a detailed progress report on the implementation of the Kay Review in October 2014.


The Government’s Productivity Plan, “Fixing the Foundations”, published in July 2015, emphasised the central importance of encouraging long-term business investment as part of an ambitious vision to boost productivity in the UK economy. In particular, the Plan welcomed an initiative by several of the largest institutional investors to develop an Action Plan to support and challenge companies to invest for long-term productivity and growth. The Government is engaging with the Investment Association as it takes forward this work, and is also considering what further steps may be appropriate to encourage a culture of long-term investment on the part of UK companies and their shareholders.

4th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of investments made through the British Business Bank has been made in the North East.

As at 30 June, the North East accounts for 5% of the finance facilitated by the British Business Bank. Given that the North East accounts for 3% of the small business population this means that the region enjoys more than its pro rata share of Business Bank investment.


I am pleased that since 2010, there are 11,800 new businesses in the North East. The historic Tees Valley devolution deal, worth £450million, and the North East Combined Authority deal, worth £900million, recently signed by the Chancellor will help drive locally led economic growth and a thriving business environment.

4th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of investments made through the British Business Bank to date have been made in each region and nation of the UK.

The British Business Bank manages the Government’s business finance programmes (loans and equity investments) for smaller businesses within a single commercially-minded institution. It is not a bank in a conventional sense: it does not invest directly in businesses; instead, it provides funds and guarantees to private sector partners, allowing them to finance smaller businesses. The table below outlines the breakdown of finance facilitated by region and nation.

British Business Bank (BBB) Finance Facilitated by Region/Nation[1]

Region

Finance facilitated by BBB schemes (excluding Start Up Loans Co) as at 30 June 2015 (in £m)

Finance facilitated by Start Up Loans programme as at 30 June 2015 (in £m)

UK private sector businesses by region by %[2]

East Midlands

241.8

8.6

6%

East of England

193.6

9.6

10%

London

1689.9

46.7

18%

North East

269.8

7.3

3%

North West

557.7

21

10%

South East

978.9

14.4

16%

South West

271.2

12.5

10%

West Midlands

413.4

13

8%

Yorkshire & Humber

499.6

12.7

7%

Scotland

250.7

5.7

6%

Wales

95.2

6.3

4%

Northern Ireland

21

1.8

2%

Unspecified

41.3

0.6

0%

Total

5523.9

160.2

100%


[1] Start-up Loans data is presented separately due to differences in reporting methodologies. British Business Bank data is stock of finance facilitated and Start Up Loans data is cumulative all-time total drawn lending

[2] Proportions for all UK Private sector businesses from the 2014 BIS Business Population estimates

5th Feb 2015
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps are being taken to ensure that people who omitted their National Insurance numbers from their electoral registration are made aware of the need to provide that information.

Individuals applying to register to vote must provide their National Insurance number (NINO) or a reason why they are unable to supply it.

This requirement is clear on both the online and paper application forms, and an online application cannot be submitted without either the NINO or a reason why they can’t supply it. If a paper application is submitted without this information, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will contact the applicant to make them aware of the need to provide it. If a person has a NINO but does not know where to find it, the ERO will provide advice on how to locate it.

Where a NINO has not been provided and a reason for this has been given, the ERO may use local data sources, such as council tax or housing benefit, to verify the identity of the applicant. If the applicant is not verified through local data sources, the ERO will contact the applicant explaining that they will need to provide documentary evidence, such as a passport or the photo card part of a current driving licence, to verify their identity.

23rd Jan 2015
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what advice is offered to people on how to find their national insurance number or to be provided with one when they apply to vote.

An individual’s National Insurance number can be located on official paperwork, such as their National Insurance card, payslips, or letters from the Department of Work and Pensions or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

It can also be found via the HMRC enquiry service, which is available online, over the telephone and via post in both English and Welsh.

Information on where to locate your National Insurance number is available on-screen during the relevant points of the online voter registration process.

This advice, along with more detailed information, is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, as part of the resources aimed at local authorities, for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to use in response to public queries.

23rd Jan 2015
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people have been informed that their application for inclusion on the voting register was not valid because their national insurance number was not provided since the introduction of individual electoral registration.

Failure to provide a National Insurance number does not result in an application being declared invalid.

Electoral Registration Officers have alternative methods of verifying an application including requesting documentary evidence of identity if personal identifiers, such as the National Insurance number or date of birth, are absent.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many staff are employed in the Government Equalities Office headquarter buildings.

On the 15th December the total number of Government Equalities Office staff employed was 52. All these were employed in the department's headquarters.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many staff are employed in his Department's headquarter buildings.

As of 30 November 2014 there were 1,441 civil servants working the Department of Energy & Climate Change headquarter buildings in London. There were also 102 civil servants working in its Aberdeen building.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff are employed in his Department's headquarter buildings.

As at 30 November 2014, 3100 staff were employed in the core-Department’s buildings throughout the UK. Of these 2555 were core-BIS staff and 545 were UKTI staff.

8th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many desks are in his Department's main building; how many such desks are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; and what the cost is per desk of leasing.

The main building for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is 1 Victoria Street, London. This is a building which the Department leases and as such leases the workstations within together with partner organisations. BIS Core occupy a total of 2,601 workstations within this building at a cost of £6067.89 per FTE.

Any space within the building is sub-let via a Memorandum of Terms of Occupation agreement and is charged per square metre, not per workstation.

8th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many desks are in his Department's main building; how many such desks are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; and what the cost is per desk of leasing.

The Department’s main building at 3 Whitehall Place / 55 Whitehall has a total of 1206 desks. All of these desks are owned by the Department and none are leased.

28th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what arms the UK has sold to the government of Bahrain since 2010; what licence conditions were imposed on exporters; and what due diligence was undertaken to ensure those weapons would not be used on Bahraini citizens.

We do not hold data on actual arms sales, only on export licences that have been granted, which are available at: https://www.exportcontroldb.gov.uk/sdb/fox/sdb/SDBHOME.

All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account all prevailing circumstances at the time of application.

Foreign Office posts overseas have a standing requirement to keep an eye on developments in human rights in their respective countries and to report back if there are any concerns that might affect licensing policy.

10th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the Community Learning Fund supports digital inclusion projects or projects that equip learners with digital skills.

The national Community Learning (CL) objectives focus strongly on tackling disadvantage, including digital exclusion. Data for 2012/13 show that 9.4 per cent of all CL enrolments were in ICT subjects, with 97,310 learners participating.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) separately funds the Tinder Foundation to deliver a wide range of digital inclusion projects. Many BIS-funded learning providers - mainly Local Authority adult education services - work closely with the Tinder Foundation and UK online centres on a range of digital inclusion projects.

In addition BIS has run a series of basic digital skills training programmes with Tinder in recent years. These have helped 1.25m people gain the skills they need to become confident and safe internet users.

10th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how the Community Learning Fund is distributed; and what projects that Fund currently supports.

BIS contributes £210m pa to support community learning (CL) via the Community Learning budget, which is managed by the Skills Funding Agency. Funding is allocated via a grant arrangement with 315 learning providers, including Local Authority adult education services, Further Education colleges, and voluntary sector organisations. Many learning providers work with local sub-contractors.

The CL budget helps to support an on-going adult education offer in every area, rather than short term projects. Community Learning courses:

· meet a variety of learning needs, from personal development to pre-employment skills, health and wellbeing, parenting skills, crafts and languages

· are free - or nearly free - for people who are disadvantaged, with more affluent learners paying according to their means

· use flexible teaching and learning approaches and take place in accessible local venues in order to engage a wide range of people, including those who are very disadvantaged

· have varied outcomes, including improved confidence, better mental/physical health, confident parenting and progression to formal training and/or employment.

4th Sep 2014
To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have set criteria excluding some bidders from the purchase of its land currently for sale near Bishop Auckland.

The Church Commissioners are operating an open and transparent marketing and bidding process for the property for sale near Bishop Auckland.

The Church Commissioners’ bidding process leaves no room for undue influence by any interested party. The Church Commissioners have not set criteria that would exclude any party from submitting offers, and all offers will be considered without prejudice or preference.

As a registered charity the Church Commissioners are under a legal duty to demonstrate that they have maximised the proceeds of sale of their assets to fund the wider mission and ministry of the Church of England, particularly in areas of need.

4th Sep 2014
To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons land owned by the Church near Bishop Auckland is for sale.

The Church Commissioners own areas of land across England, including four rural estates in the North East. As with other land and property owners, we review these holdings from time to time, based on a variety of commercial and other factors. Following a review, the Commissioners took the decision to offer a number of farms in the Bishop Auckland area on the open market. They continue to own other land and estates in County Durham.

4th Sep 2014
To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons the land for sale at Binchester has been divided into two lots.

The estate is being offered as a whole or in 10 separate lots. Lot 5 is a working farm and part of the farm includes largely unexcavated parts of the Binchester Roman Fort. The excavated part of the Fort, and the other unexcavated area, form part of Lot 6. The lotting takes account of a number of factors including practical boundaries and issues on the ground. For instance, if all of the unexcavated areas had been included in Lot 6, Binchester Hall Farmhouse and yard would be severed from the rest of the farm holding.

4th Sep 2014
To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to ensure continued public access to Binchester Roman Fort.

The Binchester Roman Fort is a scheduled ancient monument. It is a criminal offence to disturb a scheduled ancient monument by carrying out works without Scheduled Monument Consent, or causing reckless or deliberate damage to the monument. To offer best protection, public access to the excavated parts of the Fort is managed and controlled in accordance with a Deed of Guardianship with Durham County Council. This means that, as Guardians, Durham County Council must allow access to the site, but are able to do so in such a way as protects and preserves the site for the future. The property will be sold subject to this Deed of Guardianship.

5th Jun 2014
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Government Equalities Office press release of 13 May 2014 entitled £1 million to help women start or grow their own business, whether that sum will be drawn from the budget of the Super Connected Cities programme.

The £1 million Woman and Broadband Challenge Fund is additional to the Super Connected Cities programme. It will support local activity to help women take advantage of the Government's investment in superfast broadband to set-up or grow their business. The 40 broadband projects in England already delivering the Superfast Broadband Programme are invited to submit bids to the Fund.

To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish any correspondence he had with Baroness Neville-Jones on her appointment and resignation as a Minister.

I speak to Ministers and discuss the Government’s priorities on appointment. Copies of the exchange of letters between Baroness Neville-Jones and me on her resignation from Government are available on the gov.uk website.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Attorney General, how many staff are employed in the Law Officers' Departments headquarter buildings.

The table below shows the recorded number of staff employed in the Law Officers' Departments’ who work in the main headquarters buildings:

Department

Building

Staff Headcount (1)

Attorney General’s Office

20 Victoria Street, London

37

Treasury Solicitor’s Department

One Kemble Street, London

872

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

One Kemble Street, London

23

Serious Fraud Office

2-4 Cockspur Street, London

350

Crown Prosecution Service (2)

Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London

945

(1) The data provided only covers permanent staff and those employed on fixed term contracts.

(2) The CPS also has two additional regional headquarters buildings in Wakefield and York.

8th Dec 2014
To ask the Attorney General, how many desks are in the Law Officers' Departments' main building; how many such desks are (a) owned and (b) leased by the Law Officers' Departments; and what the cost is per desk of leasing.

The AGO has 57 desks used by AGO staff in its main building in 20 Victoria Street, London. All of these desks are owned by the AGO.

The main building of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is Rose Court in London. In that building there are 936 desks. All of these are owned by the CPS.

The Serious Fraud office are based exclusively in 2-4 Cockspur Street, London. They own 491 desks outright and none are leased.

The Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) main building is located at One Kemble Street in London; HMCPSI is a sub-lessee of this accommodation. There are 938 desks within the building:

TSol owns all of the desks and TSol staff use 856 of these. A total of 82 desks are leased. HMCPSI use 28 desks and a further 54 desks are used by London Continental Railways (LCR), another sub lessee of this accommodation.

The cost to HMCPSI per desk is £3105.61 and to LCR is £2840.74.

8th Sep 2014
To ask the Attorney General, how many prosecutions of offences under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 there have been in each year between 2009-10 and 2013-14.

The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) indicate the number of offences charged, in which a prosecution was commenced at a magistrates’ court, rather than the identifying the number of people prosecuted.

During each of the last five years the number of offences charged by way of the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 is as follows:

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

Indecent Displays (Control) Act

1981 {1(1) and 4}: Make / cause /

permit display of indecent matter

0

7

0

1

4

Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence.

8th Sep 2014
To ask the Attorney General, when the Crown Prosection Service last (a) issued and (b) reviewed guidelines for prosecutions under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981; and whether a further review of those guidelines is planned.

The CPS issued legal guidelines in relation to Obscene Publications in June 2001. The legal guidance was last reviewed in July 2011 and, at that time, guidance was added for the offence under section 1 of the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981. There is currently no intention to further review those guidelines.

29th Aug 2014
To ask the Attorney General, if he will seek a review of the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to prosecute the Metropolitan Police officers accused of starting sexual relationships with environmental activists.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will review any cases referred to it by the police in accordance with the two stage test that is set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Where there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest, such cases will be prosecuted.

The CPS has been working with officers conducting the Operation Herne investigation into the conduct of a number of officers.

On 21 August 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement containing the reasons it gave for not prosecuting officers considered under Operation Aubusson, a subset of Operation Herne which is available at:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/charging_decision_concerning_mps_special_demonstration_squad/

Since that date one person has requested that the case be re-reviewed under the Victims’ Right to Review scheme and that process is under way.

To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2014, Official Report, column 540W, on pornography: internet, how many prosecutions there have been under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 since 2005 in which a person has been charged in connection with the distribution of R18 equivalent material on a website which allowed under-18s to see such material.

The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service do not specify the type of material which is the subject of a charge under Section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 (publishing or having an obscene article for gain). To obtain details of individual cases would require a manual review, which could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney General, how many prosecutions have taken place under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 for the offence of providing unrestricted access to hardcore pornography online, as set out in the 2005 Crown Prosecution Service guidelines, disaggregated by year.

The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)indicate the number of offences charged, in which a prosecution commenced at magistrates' courts under Section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 (publishing or having an obscene article for publication for gain), rather than identifying the number of people prosecuted.

Section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 creates the offence of publishing or having an obscene article for publication for gain.

The table below shows, in each of the last 8 years, for which figures are available, the number of offences, charged by way of Section 2 of the OPA 1959, and which reached a first hearing at magistrates' courts, in England and Wales.

Financial Year

Obscene Publications Act 1959 { 2 }

2005-2006

111

2006-2007

105

2007-2008

111

2008-2009

152

2009-2010

82

2010-2011

71

2011-2012

76

2012-2013

34

Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

4th Jun 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the merits of the Government's assistance for fracking in China.

All of the support we provide through our Prosperity Fund is already very carefully considered, including to the energy sector in China. The overall purpose of the Fund is to promote inclusive growth whilst contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund’s climate change and energy programmes all support the SDGs, including SDG 7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy) and SDG 13 (climate action). Sharing UK expertise, including on environmental regulation will help ensure that China’s planned development of its unconventional gas resources is done to high standards, and is managed as part of a transition to a low carbon energy system. This will reduce emissions, as well as support economic development and poverty reduction.

12th Mar 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Joint Funds Unit will (a) conduct and (b) publish regular reviews of Conflict, Security and Stability Fund programmes for which information is not publicly available.

All programmes are subject to Annual Reviews, which assess a number of technical and programme management standards including financial and risk management, value for money, conflict and gender sensitivity, as well as contextual factors such as changes to the political environment.

The JFU is working hard to increase transparency and there is a presumption to publish. We have now published two Annual Reports, 76 programme summaries for 2018/19 (in addition to the 62 programme summaries published for 2017/18) and 42 Annual Review summaries for 2016/17. We are due to publish 64 Annual Review summaries for 2017/18 reviews, shortly.

Due to the highly sensitive nature of some of the CSSF’s work, it is not possible to publish details of all programmes. The two key reasons why it may not be possible to make programme documentation public are to protect national security and to protect the safety and security of beneficiaries, partners and partner Governments.

8th Mar 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has for publication of Conflict, Security and Stability Fund programme summaries up to the end of July 2019.

The CSSF has published programme summaries for financial years 2017/18 and 2018/19 on gov.uk .

In November 2018, 76 CSSF programme summaries for 2018/19 programmes were published and a further seven programme summaries are due to be published shortly.

The CSSF continues to work towards greater transparency and the programme summaries for 2019/20 will be published later this year.

4th Feb 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the amount of funding over £50,000 allocated to country programmes under the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in 2018-19.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for both the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and Prosperity Fund overall.

CSSF and Prosperity Fund ODA programme spend is also detailed on Devtracker and year end ODA spend is detailed by project level via the Statistics on International Development, which is published annually in November for the previous year.

The Prosperity Fund Annual Report provides details of the total spend by programme for the previous financial year. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year. Information on Prosperity Fund ODA eligible programme spend is published regularly on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-prosperity-fund-spend

The CSSF has published programme summaries, which outline the programme’s funding allocation (split by Official Development Assistance (ODA)/non-ODA), objectives and project level activities for 2018/19 - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-programme-summaries#programme-summaries-2018-to-2019

The CSSF Annual Report provides details of the CSSF’s total spend and breaks down by region and thematic area. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year.

1st Feb 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) amount of money contributed and (b) recipients of each of his Department's contributions in excess of £10,000 to (a) peacekeeping, (b) peacebuilding, (c) crisis management and (d) associated strengthening of international and regional systems through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in 2018-19.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for both the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and Prosperity Fund overall.

CSSF and Prosperity Fund ODA programme spend is also detailed on Devtracker and year end ODA spend is detailed by project level via the Statistics on International Development, which is published annually in November for the previous year.

The Prosperity Fund Annual Report provides details of the total spend by programme for the previous financial year. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year. Information on Prosperity Fund ODA eligible programme spend is published regularly on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-prosperity-fund-spend

The CSSF has published programme summaries, which outline the programme’s funding allocation (split by Official Development Assistance (ODA)/non-ODA), objectives and project level activities for 2018/19 - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-programme-summaries#programme-summaries-2018-to-2019

The CSSF Annual Report provides details of the CSSF’s total spend and breaks down by region and thematic area. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year.

1st Feb 2019
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) amount of money paid and (b) the recipients of that funding in cases where £10,000 or more has been paid from the Prosperity fund in 2018-19.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for both the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and Prosperity Fund overall.

CSSF and Prosperity Fund ODA programme spend is also detailed on Devtracker and year end ODA spend is detailed by project level via the Statistics on International Development, which is published annually in November for the previous year.

The Prosperity Fund Annual Report provides details of the total spend by programme for the previous financial year. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year. Information on Prosperity Fund ODA eligible programme spend is published regularly on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-prosperity-fund-spend

The CSSF has published programme summaries, which outline the programme’s funding allocation (split by Official Development Assistance (ODA)/non-ODA), objectives and project level activities for 2018/19 - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-programme-summaries#programme-summaries-2018-to-2019

The CSSF Annual Report provides details of the CSSF’s total spend and breaks down by region and thematic area. The Annual Report for 2018/19 will be published later this year.

20th Dec 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the accounting officer for his Department has sought a written ministerial direction for expenditure on contingency planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

The Cabinet Office Accounting Officer has not sought a Ministerial Direction for expenditure on contingency planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

12th Dec 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what human rights risk assessments have been undertaken for each Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programme in 2018-19.

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund takes its responsibility to manage human rights risk very seriously and has robust processes in place to do so. All projects must comply with the UK’s domestic and international human rights obligations. Measures to mitigate risks are embedded in the way our programme teams work. Teams are required to identify a range of risks, including human rights, ahead of starting a programme and must continue to monitor those, and any emerging risks, throughout implementation.

In addition as part of an additional risk management process all security and justice programmes must have an Overseas Security and Justice Assessment (OSJA) which has been approved at the appropriate level, if necessary by Ministers. The CSSF confirms OSJAs are in place for all security and justice programmes as part of the annual review process. The CSSF does not hold a central record of all OSJAs.

10th Jul 2018
To ask the Prime Minister, when she plans to publish the declaration of interest of the new Attorney General.

On appointment to each new office, Ministers provide a list of all relevant interests to their Permanent Secretary, which are considered by the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. The next list of Ministers' relevant interests will be published in due course.

25th Jan 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will (a) commission an investigation into how a lunch engagement with the Foreign Secretary came to be auctioned at the Presidents Club dinner of 18 January 2018 and (b) the findings of that investigation.

The Foreign Secretary had not agreed to support this event and knew nothing of his inclusion in the auction. The offer was not authorised and will not take place.

7th Dec 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to appoint an anti-corruption champion.

The government announced yesterday that John Penrose MP will be the Prime Minister's new Anti-Corruption Champion.

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are also employed directly by Ministers and paid (a) by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and (b) any other body.

Information about any civil servant's outside employment is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

10th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many current civil servants, excluding special advisers, were formerly employed by (a) the Conservative Research Department, (b) Conservative Central Office, (c) Members of Parliament using Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority-provided funds and (d) Members of Parliament using private funds.

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally. The Cabinet Office complies with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and the Civil Service Management Code with regard to recruitment practice and the rules around political activities for civil servants.

11th Jul 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the Government has made of the legal costs it will incur in connection with the legal case brought by Mishcon de Reya in respect of Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union.

The government does not comment on ongoing litigation.

11th Jul 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's legal costs have been to date in connection with the legal case brought by Mishcon de Reya in respect of Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union.

The government does not comment on ongoing litigation.

22nd Feb 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have had with (i) arms manufacturers, (ii) tobacco manufacturers and (iii) representatives of the Israeli embassy since the period covered in his Department's most recent ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings data release.

Departments publish details of Ministers meetings' with external organisations routinely on www.Gov.uk.

Details of meetings held during the period October – December 2015 will be published in due course.

27th Feb 2015
Pay
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people earned an amount (a) in each bracket of £1,000 between £42,000 and £55,000 and (b) in each bracket of £10,000 over £55,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff are employed in his Department's headquarter buildings.

As part of the Transparency Agenda, all Government Departments, their agencies and public bodies now publish monthly statistics on their workforce. For the Cabinet Office, this is published on the Cabinet Office website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data and on data.gov.uk at http://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-cabinet-office .

Information about the Cabinet Office workforce is also published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts which are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts