Helen Morgan Portrait

Helen Morgan

Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire

15,311 (30.9%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 16th December 2021

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Health and Social Care)

(since September 2024)

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
5th Jul 2024 - 18th Sep 2024
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Levelling up, Housing and Communities)
11th Jul 2022 - 30th May 2024
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Local Government)
11th Jul 2022 - 30th May 2024
Renters (Reform) Bill
8th Nov 2023 - 28th Nov 2023
Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill
14th Dec 2022 - 11th Jan 2023
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill
26th Oct 2022 - 2nd Nov 2022


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Helen Morgan has voted in 142 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

12 May 2025 - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Helen Morgan voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 61 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 98 Noes - 402
View All Helen Morgan Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

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

Sparring Partners
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(16 debate interactions)
Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op))
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(12 debate interactions)
Wes Streeting (Labour)
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
(11 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(81 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(15 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-26
(2,433 words contributed)
Mental Health Bill [HL] 2024-26
(137 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Helen Morgan's debates

North Shropshire Petitions

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

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

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

Petition Debates Contributed

We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.


Latest EDMs signed by Helen Morgan

2nd June 2025
Helen Morgan signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 5th June 2025

Radiologists and clinical oncologists

Tabled by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
That this House recognises the vital role played by resident and consultant radiologists and clinical oncologists in diagnostic imaging and cancer care across our NHS; pays tribute to the work that these doctors do to treat a variety of conditions from cancer to strokes as well as the leading role …
6 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 3
Labour: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
2nd June 2025
Helen Morgan signed this EDM on Wednesday 4th June 2025

Carers Week 2025

Tabled by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
That this House supports Carers Week 2025, taking place from 9 to 15 June; recognises this year’s theme is entitled Caring about equality; emphasises that millions of unpaid carers looking after family members and friends often face significant challenges and inequalities in their daily lives; asks the Government to address …
41 signatures
(Most recent: 4 Jun 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 36
Plaid Cymru: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Helen Morgan's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Helen Morgan, 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.


Helen Morgan has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Helen Morgan has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

9 Bills introduced by Helen Morgan


A Bill to place a duty on the Government to ensure that every town with a population of more than 10,000 people has a regular bus service operating seven days a week, and that local health services, including hospitals and GP surgeries, are served by those buses; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th July 2025
Order Paper number: 10
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish and implement a Care Workers Employment Strategy, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of care workers; to establish an independent National Care Workers Council with responsibility for setting professional standards for care workers, for establishing a system of professional qualifications and accreditation for care workers, and for advising the Government on those matters; to require the Secretary of State to commission an independent assessment of the support available to unpaid carers, including financial support and employment rights; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th July 2025
Order Paper number: 9
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)

A Bill to require providers of electronic communications networks to grant other such providers access to their apparatus where that is necessary to ensure consistent network coverage; to prevent those providers from charging more than the standard market rate for such access; to require the regulator to impose penalties on providers who unreasonably fail to grant such access; to make provision for the purpose of incentivising providers to allow customers of other providers to use their networks where access cannot be granted to their apparatus; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 13th June 2025
Order Paper number: 3
(Likely to be Debated)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish and implement a Care Workers Employment Strategy, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of care workers; to establish an independent National Care Workers Council with responsibility for setting professional standards for care workers, for establishing a system of professional qualifications and accreditation for care workers, and for advising the Government on those matters; to require the Secretary of State to commission an independent assessment of the support available to unpaid carers, including financial support and employment rights; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 26th January 2024

A Bill to place a duty on the Government to ensure that every town with a population of more than 10,000 people has a regular bus service operating seven days a week, and that local health services, including hospitals and GP surgeries, are served by those buses; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 11th December 2023

A Bill to require providers of electronic communications networks to grant other such providers access to their apparatus where that is necessary to ensure consistent network coverage; to prevent those providers from charging more than the standard market rate for such access; to require the regulator to impose penalties on providers who unreasonably fail to grant such access; to make provision for the purpose of incentivising providers to allow customers of other providers to use their networks where access cannot be granted to their apparatus; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 26th January 2024
(Read Debate)

A Bill to remove the requirement for voters to show an identity document in order to vote; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 29th March 2023

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish and implement a Care Workers Employment Strategy, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of care workers; to establish an independent National Care Workers Council with responsibility for setting professional standards for care workers, for establishing a system of professional qualifications and accreditation for care workers, and for advising the Government on those matters; to require the Secretary of State to commission an independent assessment of the support available to unpaid carers, including financial support and employment rights; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 26th April 2023
(Read Debate)

A Bill to place a duty on the Government to ensure that every town with a population of more than 10,000 people has a regular bus service operating seven days a week, and that local health services, including hospitals and GP surgeries, are served by those buses; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 20th July 2022

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
1 Other Department Questions
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to create domestic abuse-aggravated offences.

I regularly meet with the Lord Chancellor to discuss the Government’s mission to halve VAWG and tackle domestic abuse.

I am aware of Private Members Bill tabled by the Honourable Member for Eastbourne.

I will carefully consider both the merits and risks of creating domestic abuse-aggravated offences and respond via the usual parliamentary procedure.

Alex Davies-Jones
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
30th May 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to support small businesses with public procurement applications.

The Government is determined to ensure the £385 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually, delivers economic growth and supports small businesses. For too long, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) have been held back by government procurement processes that are too slow, bureaucratic, and difficult to navigate.

The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out the Government’s strategic priorities for public procurement and builds on measures in the Procurement Act including an expectation for all public bodies to maximise procurement spend with SMEs and VCSEs.

In central government, we have also announced new rules to drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts. From 1 April 2025 central government departments must set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and to publish progress annually.

The Government will consult on further reforms to our public procurement processes to drive economic growth, support small businesses, and better support innovation.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
30th May 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) cost and (b) complexity of public procurement applications on the capacity of small and medium-sized businesses.

The Government is determined to ensure the £385 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually, delivers economic growth and supports small businesses. For too long, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) have been held back by government procurement processes that are too slow, bureaucratic, and difficult to navigate.

The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out the Government’s strategic priorities for public procurement and builds on measures in the Procurement Act including an expectation for all public bodies to maximise procurement spend with SMEs and VCSEs.

In central government, we have also announced new rules to drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts. From 1 April 2025 central government departments must set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and to publish progress annually.

The Government will consult on further reforms to our public procurement processes to drive economic growth, support small businesses, and better support innovation.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
30th May 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of public procurement contracts awarded to small and medium sized businesses.

The Government is determined to ensure the £385 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually, delivers economic growth and supports small businesses. For too long, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) have been held back by government procurement processes that are too slow, bureaucratic, and difficult to navigate.

The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) sets out the Government’s strategic priorities for public procurement and builds on measures in the Procurement Act including an expectation for all public bodies to maximise procurement spend with SMEs and VCSEs.

In central government, we have also announced new rules to drive greater transparency and accountability for increasing numbers of SMEs and VCSEs delivering public contracts. From 1 April 2025 central government departments must set three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs, and from 1 April 2026 for VCSEs, and to publish progress annually.

The Government will consult on further reforms to our public procurement processes to drive economic growth, support small businesses, and better support innovation.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
26th Mar 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office for National Statistics will publish the quarterly and annual under-18 conception data for (a) 2022: England and Wales, Local Authority and District level and (b) 2023: England and Wales, Local Authority and District Level.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman or lady Parliamentary Question of 26th March is attached.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
26th Mar 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Office of National Statistics will publish the quarterly England and Wales and Local Authority under-18 conception data for 2024.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 26th March is attached.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
22nd Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 11521 on Government Departments: Sick Leave, if he will make an estimate of the number of staff days lost to long term sick absences in each Department in 2023.

The table below provides the estimates requested, number of long term sick days lost per department, along with our preferred measure, Average Working Days Lost (AWDL) per staff year which accounts for workforce size and composition. Data is provided for the main Ministerial Departments consistent with the answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 11521.

Long term sickness absence by Main Department, days lost and average working days lost per staff year, 2023

2023 (year ending 31 Mar 2023)

Department

Long Term Sick Days Lost

Average Working Days Lost

Cabinet Office

24,260

2.3

Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities

8,360

2.0

Department Culture Media and Sport

3,370

1.4

Department for Environment

25,560

2.1

Department for Education

19,790

2.5

Department for Transport

75,190

4.8

Department for Health and Social Care

34,180

3.3

Department for Work and Pensions

367,360

4.7

HM Customers and Revenue

305,190

4.5

HM Treasury

4,230

1.5

Home Office

139,980

3.8

Ministry of Defence

173,050

3.2

Ministry of Justice

580,740

6.9

Scottish Government

151,000

5.8

Welsh Government

21,560

3.9

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress his Department has made in resolving Horizon Shortfall Scheme claims for sub-postmasters in North Shropshire constituency.

As of 30 April 2025, £507 million has been paid in redress via the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). This includes approximately £240 million in fixed sum awards and approximately £107 million in top-ups to previously settled claimants.

DBT does not hold a constituency-level breakdown of HSS cases.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve access to postal services in North Shropshire constituency.

The Government protects the sustainability of the Post Office branch network, including in North Shropshire and across the rural network, providing funding stipulating that Post Office meets its minimum access criteria ensuring 99% of the population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office, across the country. Government confirmed the network subsidy will be up to £83 million for Financial Year 25/26.

Post Office are committed to consulting on any proposed branch changes, as set out in the Principles of Community Engagement document agreed with Citizens Advice. These consultations focus on customers’ access to Post Office products following any proposed change.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, requires Royal Mail to ensure that across the UK, the premises of no fewer than 95% of users of postal services are within 5 kilometres of an access point.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Transport on the adequacy of access to postal services in rural areas where (a) post office branches have recently closed and (b) postal outreach services have recently ceased.

The Government protects the sustainability of the Post Office branch network, including in North Shropshire and across the rural network, providing funding stipulating that Post Office meets its minimum access criteria ensuring 99% of the population live within three miles of their nearest Post Office, across the country. Government confirmed the network subsidy will be up to £83 million for Financial Year 25/26.

Post Office are committed to consulting on any proposed branch changes, as set out in the Principles of Community Engagement document agreed with Citizens Advice. These consultations focus on customers’ access to Post Office products following any proposed change.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, requires Royal Mail to ensure that across the UK, the premises of no fewer than 95% of users of postal services are within 5 kilometres of an access point.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the access criteria for Post Office services for rural areas.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.

There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of (a) high street bank and (b) Crown post office closures on the availability of monetary services in rural communities.

Government sets Post Office access criteria, ensuring that nationally, 99% of people live within three miles of their nearest branch, with further specific criteria for rural areas. These ensure that Post Office delivers essential services, including banking, within local reach of all citizens. Due to the Banking Framework, customers will be able to do their everyday banking at post offices across the UK until 2030. Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, providing access to critical cash and banking services.

There are two Directly-Managed Branches (DMBs) located in rural areas. Post Office announced the transition to a fully franchised network. Post Office will ensure all communities currently served by a DMB will have at least one Mains branch within a 1-mile radius of the existing branch.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
24th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the claims process under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme for sub-post masters whose period of tenure includes years prior to 2004 where records have not been maintained by the Post Office.

The Government recognises that due to the absence of records and the amount of time that has passed since losses were incurred, postmasters may face challenges in evidencing their claim under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. The scheme was designed so that a lack of supporting information would not be a barrier to entry to the scheme.

Claimants are asked to provide as much information as they can in making their claim. In the absence of any Post Office records, the postmaster’s testimony will be considered when determining the outcome.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to incentivise growth in rural businesses.

Rural businesses offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy. DBT works with other departments who provide funding for the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) supporting new and existing rural businesses and improved community infrastructure that will provide essential community services.

The Government has just announced the Business Growth Service (BGS), with local delivery at its heart to bring a range of existing core services under the BGS banner.

All businesses can access their Local Growth Hubs, which provide advice and support throughout the business journey, shaping their offer around the unique needs, whether town or country.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether het has made a recent assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the difficulties that rural businesses face.

Rural businesses offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy. DBT works with other departments such as Defra, helping people living and working in rural areas to realise the full potential of rural businesses and communities placing them at the heart of our policymaking.

The Government will publish a Small Business Strategy Paper later this year, setting out the Government’s vision for all small businesses, and has committed to funding for two key growth-driving programmes in 2025-26: Growth Hubs in England and Help to Grow: Management across the UK, which help businesses and entrepreneurs unlock their potential through bespoke support and resources

The Rural England Prosperity Fund is intended to support new and existing rural businesses, including farm businesses, to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy and to support new and improved community infrastructure that will provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support rural businesses.

Rural businesses offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy. As with all places, fulfilling the needs of people and businesses in rural areas is at the heart of our policymaking.

The Government has just launched the Business Growth Service (BGS), a national service with local delivery at its heart. It will bring a range of existing core services under the BGS banner, working hand in glove with local and devolved governments and the Growth Hubs network.

All businesses can access their Local Growth Hubs, which provide advice and support throughout the business journey, shaping their offer around the unique needs, whether town or country.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many individuals have (a) been offered and (b) accepted compensation under the Group Litigation Order Scheme.

As of 30 August, 253 offers had been made to claimants under the GLO scheme; 207 postmasters had accepted their offer. Data on all Horizon redress schemes are published monthly on gov.uk.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much funding the Marches Growth Hub received (a) when the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was in place and (b) after the LEP was removed.

DBT Funding for the Marches Growth Hub for each FY since it was established is set out in the table below:

Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) funded to deliver the Growth Hub

Marches Growth Hub delivered by Shropshire LA

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

The Marches annual allocations (£'000)

250

205

205

205

205

462

462

231

261

261

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will have discussions with liquid gas supplier companies on customer payment processes.

The Secretary of State and I meet regularly with a range of stakeholders.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support residents of off-grid homes with the cost of heating.

The Government believes the only way to protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us harness clean energy, reduce our reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets, and enable us to meet our target to be a clean energy superpower by 2030.

In the short-term, we are continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 annual rebate on energy bills for eligible low-income households. I am also having regular discussions with energy suppliers to ensure that consumers are supported this winter.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a price cap for heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas.

The Government’s assessment is that the introduction of a price cap for heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas would not be in the long-term interests of consumers.

The structures of the heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas markets are different from those of gas and electricity supply. Imposing a price cap, which might fall below wholesale costs faced by heating fuel distributors, risks companies exiting the market or not accepting orders when they would make a loss on their fulfilment.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made and assessment of the suitability of Freedom Fibre to deliver the Project Gigabit contract in North Shropshire constituency since the termination of Freedom Fibre’s Project Gigabit contract for Cheshire.

The Project Gigabit contract for North Shropshire was awarded following a procurement which was compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Officials in Building Digital UK (BDUK) meet regularly with Freedom Fibre to oversee its delivery of this contract.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many properties had been connected to full fibre under the North Shropshire Project Gigabit contract on 1 May 2025.

As part of Project Gigabit, Freedom Fibre was awarded a contract to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises in North Shropshire that were not expected to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout.

As of 1 May 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) had received reports from the supplier confirming the delivery for 845 premises under this contract in the North Shropshire constituency.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the progress of the Project Gigabit rollout in North Shropshire constituency since 1 January 2025.

As part of Project Gigabit, Freedom Fibre was awarded a contract to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises in North Shropshire that were not expected to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout.

As of 1 May 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) had received reports from the supplier confirming the delivery for 845 premises under this contract in the North Shropshire constituency.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Freedom Fibre on Project Gigabit contracts since 1 January 1 2025; and whether he will publish the minutes of those meetings.

As the executive agency responsible for delivering Project Gigabit, Building Digital UK (BDUK) holds regular meetings with suppliers, including Freedom Fibre, to discuss their progress with delivery of their Project Gigabit contracts. Ministers have had no such meetings with Freedom Fibre since 1 January 2025.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Healthy Ageing Challenge in helping companies scale up projects.

An independent evaluation of the Healthy Ageing Challenge has been published on UKRI’s website. The evaluation found that the Challenge has:

  • Contributed to firm-level growth, as evidenced by increased turnover, R&D expenditure, and staff numbers among participating companies.
  • Largely achieved its short- to medium-term outcomes. Even against a backdrop of a global pandemic and cost of living crisis
  • Supported research and innovation across the entire innovation pipeline from early-stage research to adoption and scaling research, and commercialisation.

The medium- to long-term outcomes are likely to be achieved over the next 3 to 5 years.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the overspend of the Shared Rural Network project will be paid from the public purse.

To deliver the Shared Rural Network, the UK’s four mobile network operators are investing £532m to eliminate the majority of ‘partial not-spots’ – areas which receive coverage from at least one, but not all, operators. The programme has already delivered substantial improvements for rural communities across the UK, with Ofcom reporting that 4G coverage from at least one operator now stands at over 93%, up from 91% when the programme started.

The government’s grant funding to upgrade Extended Area Service masts and tackle ‘total not spots’ is capped to prevent overspend. Building Digital UK is working with its delivery partners, including the Home Office, to ensure that maximal benefit can be achieved within the allotted programme funding and that the programme represents good value for money.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the value for money of the Shared Rural Network.

To deliver the Shared Rural Network, the UK’s four mobile network operators are investing £532m to eliminate the majority of ‘partial not-spots’ – areas which receive coverage from at least one, but not all, operators. The programme has already delivered substantial improvements for rural communities across the UK, with Ofcom reporting that 4G coverage from at least one operator now stands at over 93%, up from 91% when the programme started.

The government’s grant funding to upgrade Extended Area Service masts and tackle ‘total not spots’ is capped to prevent overspend. Building Digital UK is working with its delivery partners, including the Home Office, to ensure that maximal benefit can be achieved within the allotted programme funding and that the programme represents good value for money.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of progress made on the Shared Rural Network.

The Shared Rural Network will bring 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. Ofcom assesses the mobile network operators progress against their individual coverage targets. Ofcom reports that 4G coverage from at least one operator currently stands at over 93%, up from 91% when the programme started.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve mobile signal for (a) farmers and (b) rural businesses.

The Shared Rural Network will bring 4G mobile coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. Ofcom assesses the mobile network operators progress against their individual coverage targets. Ofcom reports that 4G coverage from at least one operator currently stands at over 93%, up from 91% when the programme started.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of mobile signal roaming in rural areas.

Roaming already exists for 999 calls, as the Code of Practice for the Public Emergency Call Service requires that any call from a mobile phone will automatically roam onto another mobile network free-of-charge to make an emergency call if they have no signal from their own provider.

The Government is committed to improving rural coverage. The Shared Rural Network is set to increase 4G geographic coverage throughout the UK to 95% by the end of 2025. This will enable emergency calls in new areas and will reduce the digital divide between rural and urban areas of the UK, helping rural businesses and communities to thrive.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department plans to take to help improve 4G signal (a) partial not spots and (b) total not spots.

The government is working in partnership with mobile network operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network, which will reduce both partial and total not spots and bring 4G coverage to 95% of UK landmass. Ofcom reports that 4G coverage currently stands at over 93%.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he expects every household in North Shropshire constituency to have access to gigabit broadband.

Over 72% of premises in the North Shropshire constituency can access a gigabit-capable (>1000 Mbps) broadband connection.

Project Gigabit will extend this gigabit coverage. Freedom Fibre is delivering a contract to upgrade over 12,000 additional premises in the region, including over 9,000 premises in the North Shropshire constituency. We expect the first of these premises in North Shropshire to be connected by the end of 2024 and the contract is due to be completed by 2026. We will also keep suppliers’ commercial delivery plans under review and consider what else may be necessary to fulfil our ambition for gigabit coverage across the UK by 2030.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the accuracy of Ofcom coverage maps for (a) 4G and (b) 5G signal.

From my own experience, I am aware that Ofcom’s coverage maps do not always match consumers’ experience of mobile networks. My Department is working with Ofcom to identify what more can be done to improve the accuracy of its reporting, noting that all sorts of factors will impact people's experience, including how many other people are on the network at any given point, as well as weather conditions.

We have also asked Ofcom to keep under review its definitions of what constitutes “good” 4G and 5G coverage, so that they continue to reflect consumer expectations as people’s usage and their requirements evolve.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve the standard of grassroots sports facilities in rural areas.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live, has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions. Sport England’s Movement Fund offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most.

Funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme continues to be invested in England through Sport England and our delivery partner, the Football Foundation.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to expand the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to include facilities in Market Drayton.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

The Government is also acting to support more people to get onto the pitch wherever they live through the delivery of £123 million UK-wide through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25.

Funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme continues to be invested in England through Sport England and our delivery partner, the Football Foundation, who plan their investment pipeline based on Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs) which have been developed in partnership with local authorities and are in the process of being refreshed to reflect the current landscape. The existing LFFP for Shropshire can be found by visiting the Football Foundation’s website, and North Shropshire has benefitted from £152,070 of investment under this programme and the Swimming Pool Support Fund to date.

Should a constituent have an enquiry about prospective investment at a specific facility, they can get in touch with the Football Foundation directly via enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to sports facilities in Market Drayton.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

The Government is also acting to support more people to get onto the pitch wherever they live through the delivery of £123 million UK-wide through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25.

Funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme continues to be invested in England through Sport England and our delivery partner, the Football Foundation, who plan their investment pipeline based on Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs) which have been developed in partnership with local authorities and are in the process of being refreshed to reflect the current landscape. The existing LFFP for Shropshire can be found by visiting the Football Foundation’s website, and North Shropshire has benefitted from £152,070 of investment under this programme and the Swimming Pool Support Fund to date.

Should a constituent have an enquiry about prospective investment at a specific facility, they can get in touch with the Football Foundation directly via enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
14th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employers' National Insurance contributions on specialist colleges.

The department is receiving compensation in recognition of the increase in National Insurance contributions (NICs) paid by institutions it funds, including colleges, schools and other state-funded special educational needs and disabilities provision. Work is in progress to determine how that funding will be distributed, and more information will be provided as soon as is practicable. This NICs funding will be in addition to the £300 million and £1 billion funding increases announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 for further education and young people with high needs respectively, in 2025/26.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the change to real terms spending on services for disabled children by Shropshire Council since 2016.

From the 2015/16 financial year to 2022/23, the most recent year for which information is available, the increase in net spending by Shropshire Council on provision and services for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including on those children’s home-to-school transport, has been 37% in real terms (67% in cash terms) and the increase in gross spending has been 32% in real terms (61% in cash terms).

The basis for this calculation uses high needs and home-to-school transport spending data provided to the department by Shropshire Council, which is broadly comparable from year-to-year, as follows:

Financial year

Gross spend

2022/23 terms

Net spend

2022/23 terms

2015/16

£21.2 million

£25.9 million

£19.6 million

£23.9 million

2016/17

£18.9 million

£22.5 million

£17.9 million

£21.3 million

2017/18

£24.0 million

£28.2 million

£23.2 million

£27.3 million

2018/19

£25.0 million

£28.7 million

£24.6 million

£28.3 million

2019/20

£25.0 million

£28.1 million

£24.8 million

£27.8 million

2020/21

£27.5 million

£29.3 million

£26.1 million

£27.8 million

2021/22

£28.9 million

£31.0 million

£28.0 million

£30.0 million

2022/23

£34.2 million

£34.2 million

£32.8 million

£32.8 million

To note:

  1. Expenditure has been calculated in 2022/23 terms using the latest GDP deflator series (published 1 October 2024).
  2. The following actual expenditure items from Shropshire Council’s section 251 returns have been used:

High needs budget expenditure:

1.2.1 Top-up funding – maintained schools

1.2.2 Top-up funding – academies, free schools and colleges

1.2.3 Top-up and other funding – non-maintained and independent providers

1.2.4 Additional high needs targeted funding for mainstream schools and academies

1.2.5 Special educational needs (SEN) support service

1.2.6 Hospital education services

1.2.8 Support for inclusion

1.2.9 Special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) in financial difficulty

1.2.10 Private finance initiative/ Building Schools for the Future costs at special schools, AP/ PRUs and Post 16 institutions only

1.2.11 Direct payments (SEN and disability)

1.2.12 Carbon reduction commitment allowances (PRUs)

1.2.13 Therapies and other health related services

1.4.11 SEN transport

Additional home-to-school transport expenditure:

2.1.4 Home-to-school transport (pre-16): SEN transport expenditure

2.1.6 Home-to-post-16 provision: SEN transport expenditure (aged 16-18)

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the end of the holiday activities and food programme on lower-income families.

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn and the department will communicate the outcome of that process in due course.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential safeguarding dangers to children from low-income families resulting from the end of the holiday activities and food programme.

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn and the department will communicate the outcome of that process in due course.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle mental health challenges in children from low-income families during school holidays.

The department has invested over £200 million every year since 2022 in free holiday club places for children from low-income families through the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme with all 153 local authorities in England delivering in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.

The HAF programme supports disadvantaged children and their families with enriching activities, provides them with healthy food, helps them to learn new things, improves socialisation and benefits their health and wellbeing during school holidays.

The right support should be available to every young person that needs it, which is why the department will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.

The government will also be putting in place new Young Futures hubs, including access to mental health support workers, and will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of spending by schools on using recruitment agencies to fill teaching vacancies in the 2023-24 financial year.

The department does not hold or collect the data to provide the requested estimate.

For state-funded schools wishing to recruit teachers on a permanent or fixed term basis, Teaching Vacancies is a free national listing service which removes the cost for schools to list vacancies. 87% of schools are signed up to use the service.

Schools have the autonomy to decide whether to use private supply agencies to fill temporary posts or cover teacher absence and are best placed to make decisions on their approach to recruitment. The department, in conjunction with the Crown Commercial Service, has established the agency supply deal, which supports schools to obtain value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary school staff. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
21st May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has updated its contingency plans following foot and mouth disease outbreaks in mainland Europe in 2025.

Defra’s approach to foot and mouth disease (FMD) control is set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England.

Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) keep preparedness under continual review but have refocused efforts following the recent outbreaks of FMD in mainland Europe. To this end, the FMD Control Strategy is being reviewed and will be published on GOV.UK in due course. The Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England is reviewed annually, and the next update is due to be laid before parliament in late autumn this year.

APHA, which leads Government action on animal disease control in Great Britain, is in the planning stages of a national tier 2 exercise to test and validate our response to an outbreak of FMD, scheduled for late 2025.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Hungary, Slovakia and Germany in 2025.

Defra has closely monitored the 2025 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany. Following Germany’s confirmed FMD case in January, its FMD-free status was temporarily suspended but reinstated by the World Organisation for Animal Health in April after swift containment.

Hungary and Slovakia reported FMD outbreaks in March 2025, prompting immediate action. Defra assessed the risk of FMD entering Great Britain from these countries as medium, citing potential spread via wild animals and human activity.

As a result, the UK imposed temporary import bans on live animals and certain products from affected regions. Defra also reinforced biosecurity messaging to livestock keepers and increased disease surveillance.

To strengthen long-term resilience, the UK is investing £200 million into its animal health infrastructure, including Weybridge’s national reference laboratory. Defra continues to adapt its policies in response to developments and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of a foot and mouth disease outbreak on the dairy sector.

The impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were assessed in 2023 for the National Risk Register which is available on GOV.UK. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments.

Defra has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of FMD as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. Defra continues to adapt its policies in response to developments and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector. In response to the outbreaks of FMD in Europe, this includes working with Dairy UK to update the milk code of practice for FMD, which is a set of guidelines for milk hauliers, processors, and buyers to prevent the spread of FMD through milk and dairy products.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)