Huw Merriman Portrait

Huw Merriman

Conservative - Former Member for Bexhill and Battle

First elected: 7th May 2015

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Minister of State (Department for Transport)
27th Oct 2022 - 5th Jul 2024
Transport Committee
29th Jan 2020 - 28th Oct 2022
Liaison Committee (Commons)
20th May 2020 - 28th Oct 2022
Liaison Sub-Committee on Scrutiny of Strategic Thinking in Government
22nd Sep 2021 - 28th Oct 2022
Transport Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Procedure Committee
21st Nov 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Transport Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017


Division Voting information

Huw Merriman has voted in 1778 divisions, and 19 times against the majority of their Party.

30 Dec 2020 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 328 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 212
1 Dec 2020 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 53 Conservative No votes vs 290 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 78
4 Nov 2020 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 33 Conservative No votes vs 308 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 516 Noes - 38
13 Oct 2020 - Public Health: Coronavirus Regulations - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Conservative No votes vs 298 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 299 Noes - 82
6 Oct 2020 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative No votes vs 285 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 17
23 Jun 2020 - Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 45 Conservative Aye votes vs 235 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 243 Noes - 238
17 Jun 2020 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 104 Conservative Aye votes vs 124 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 253 Noes - 136
20 May 2020 - Liaison (Membership) - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 316 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 323
9 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 72 Conservative Aye votes vs 84 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 332 Noes - 99
1 Apr 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Votes) - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Conservative Aye votes vs 253 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 292
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Conservative Aye votes vs 254 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 268 Noes - 295
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 122 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 139 Noes - 422
13 Mar 2019 - UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 66 Conservative No votes vs 149 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 164 Noes - 374
24 Oct 2018 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 45 Conservative Aye votes vs 102 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 207 Noes - 117
23 Oct 2018 - Abortion - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 108 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 208 Noes - 123
11 Sep 2015 - Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Conservative Aye votes vs 210 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 330
20 Oct 2021 - Environment Bill - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative No votes vs 265 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 268 Noes - 204
30 Nov 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 32 Conservative No votes vs 259 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 431 Noes - 36
30 Mar 2022 - Health and Care Bill - View Vote Context
Huw Merriman voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 72 Conservative Aye votes vs 175 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 188
View All Huw Merriman 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
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(60 debate interactions)
Grant Shapps (Conservative)
(41 debate interactions)
Sajid Javid (Conservative)
(37 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Transport
(662 debate contributions)
Home Office
(120 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(109 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(101 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Civil Liability Act 2018
(6,020 words contributed)
Offensive Weapons Act 2019
(5,289 words contributed)
Bus Services Act 2017
(4,163 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Huw Merriman's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Huw Merriman

Huw Merriman has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Huw Merriman, 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.


Huw Merriman has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Huw Merriman

Tuesday 15th May 2018

3 Bills introduced by Huw Merriman


A Bill to make provision about protecting consumers from being charged twice for the same good or service; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 18th March 2022

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 passengers to receive automatic compensation from travel operators in certain circumstances; to require train operators to ring-fence certain funds received from Network Rail for service disruption and planned possessions for the development of ticketing technology to facilitate the payment of automatic compensation for passengers; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 21st November 2017
(Read Debate)

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 require banks to provide cash machines to be made available on designated streets; to enable local authorities to designate streets that require cash machines in towns of more than 5,000 residents; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 27th November 2018
(Read Debate)

Latest 37 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
12th Oct 2015
To ask the Attorney General, how many times the Law Officers have referred a criminal sentence to the Court of Appeal for review because it was felt to be unduly lenient during the last twelve months.

In the year to 31st December 2014, the Law Officers personally considered 469 cases and referred 128 offenders to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. 86% of those offenders had their sentences increased, which included some of the most serious violent and sexual offences, including murder, rape and sexual assault. The full statistics for 2015 will be published early next year.

Jeremy Wright
Shadow Attorney General
9th Jun 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Citizen Service on life chances.

NCS is open to all young people and can significantly improve life chances. 7 in 10 participants felt more confident about getting a job in the future after NCS. Young people eligible for free school meals participate in high numbers and demonstrate stronger positive impacts in building resilience. The NCS Bill will make NCS a permanent feature of British life for young people from every background.

12th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to (a) increase the number of teachers for deaf children and (b) ensure that deaf awareness is included in all initial teacher training.

The department is determined that all children and young people, including those who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, receive the support they need to succeed in their education.

Our reformed Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework (ITT CCF) and the new Early Career Framework (ECF), both developed with sector experts, will equip teachers with a clear understanding of the needs of all children. This includes those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

ITT courses must be designed so that trainee teachers can demonstrate that they meet the teachers’ standards at the appropriate level. This includes the requirement that all teachers must have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.

Consideration of SEND underpins both the ITT CCF and ECF which were both produced with the support of sector experts. The ECF is designed to support all pupils to succeed and seeks to widen access for all.

All teachers in local authority-maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England are required to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is awarded upon successful completion of an ITT course.

In specialist settings, in addition to holding QTS, it is a legal requirement for teachers of classes of pupils who have sensory impairments to hold the relevant mandatory qualification. Providers must be approved by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to offer these qualifications. Teachers working in an advisory role to support such pupils should also hold the appropriate qualification.

The department intends to develop a new approval process to determine providers of mandatory qualifications in sensory impairment from the start of 2023/2024 academic year. Our aim is to ensure a steady supply of teachers of children with visual, hearing, and multi-sensory impairment, in both specialist and mainstream settings.

Wider decisions relating to teachers’ professional development rest with schools, headteachers, and teachers themselves, as they are in the best position to judge their own requirements, which may include further training and development.

15th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure former teachers that are not registered with a teaching agency are able to participate in the Government’s national tutoring programme.

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) is an ambitious scheme that will provide additional, targeted support for those children and young people who have been hardest hit from disruption to their education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

There is extensive evidence that tutoring, by trained tutors who may or may not be qualified teachers, is one of the most effective ways to accelerate pupil progress, can lead to positive impacts and can boost catch up for lost teaching time by much as 3 to 5 months.

High quality tuition is one of the fundamental principles of the NTP, and the Department has worked closely with delivery partners to ensure it can be delivered across the programme.

Whilst we recognise that the education and experience of tutors is important to the delivery of high quality tuition, even tutors with relevant qualifications will require training to ensure that delivery is in line with the model offered by the Tuition Partners’ pillar of the NTP.

Opportunities to become a NTP tutor are available through approved Tuition Partners who are responsible for recruiting, training, and deploying tutors. Further information on each of our tuition partners can be found here: https://nationaltutoring.org.uk/ntp-tuition-partners/ntp-approved-tuition-partners.

18th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure schools and colleges are (a) trained to identify neurodiverse learners and (b) equipped to develop strategies to improve education outcomes for neurodiverse learners.

The SEND Code of Practice is clear that schools (and further education colleges, sixth form colleges and 16-19 academies) are required to identify and address the special educational needs (SEN) of the pupils they support and to use their best endeavours to make sure that a child or young person who has SEN gets the support that they need.

One of the ways of ensuring that children with SEN are identified and receive good support is through the work of SEN Co-ordinators (SENCOs). All schools (including academies) must have a qualified teacher designated as a SENCO. SENCOs play an essential role in schools, supporting teaching staff to meet the needs of pupils with SEN and ensuring that schools have a clear and effective approach to inclusive education.

The department recognises the importance of teachers developing and building on their awareness and understanding of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our school-led system places the responsibility on schools to determine the training and support required by their staff to meet the needs of children with SEND, within their approach to school improvement, professional development and performance management.

The performance of all teachers in maintained schools must be assessed every year against the Teachers' Standards, which set out that teachers must have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including pupils with SEN, and that teachers must be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support their pupils.

Through our contract with nasen, we have funded the Whole School SEND consortium to produce information for families and resources for schools (including training to support teachers to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak). This activity complements their wider programme of work to equip the workforce to deliver high-quality teaching for all children with SEND, for which we have provided funding of over £6 million since 2018.

For those working with children with autism, the department has funded the Autism Education Trust (AET) since 2011 to deliver autism awareness training to staff in early years settings, schools and colleges. To date, the AET has trained more than 287,000 people – not just teachers and teaching assistants, but also receptionists, dining hall staff and caretakers, promoting a whole-school approach to support for pupils with autism.

Regional networks have also been established to promote the use of the training developed by the AET in schools, and we encourage schools to access this training. The AET has also developed national standards for autism support and a progression framework for those who work with children who have autism. These are available from their website at: www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk.

10th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken by (a) his Department and (b) local education authorities to help ensure that (i) will be (A) sufficient, (B) affordable and (C) local full-time holiday childcare provision for people working in frontline and key services and (ii) working people on lower incomes are prioritised above those not working and able to provide childcare from home during the Easter 2021 and summer 2021 school holidays.

Ensuring working parents and carers have access to the childcare they need remains a priority for the government. That is why we ensured that all before and after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and other out-of-school settings were able to continue to stay open for children eligible to attend school on-site, for the duration of the national lockdown, i.e. for critical worker children, where the provision was reasonably necessary to support them to work, undertake education or access medical care, and for vulnerable children and young people. For this reason, we have also extended the eligibility for attendance as of 8 March, in line with the wider reopening of schools on 8 March, with all parents now able to access this provision for their children for certain essential purposes, including those outlined above, with vulnerable children and young people able to continue accessing provision under any circumstance.

As set out in the ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’ guidance, from 29 March, in line with the Easter school holidays, out-of-school settings and wraparound childcare providers will also be able to offer outdoor provision to all children, without any restrictions on the purposes for which they may attend. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021. Indoor provision will also be available regardless of circumstance to vulnerable children and young people, as well as children eligible for free school meals, where they are attending as part of the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme. Other children will continue to be able to access indoor provision, where the provision is necessary for certain essential purposes, as already mentioned. We have updated our protective measures guidance for the sector, which outlines eligibility and aims to support providers to allow them to open for as many children as safely as possible. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

In addition to this, we have also ensured that there are several other ways that parents and carers can continue to access the childcare they need. This includes:

  • Childminders, which remain open for children in early years, children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people.
  • Nannies, which are still able to continue to provide services, including in the home.
  • Parents are also able to form a childcare bubble with one other household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is under the age of 14.
  • ​Some households will also be able to benefit from being in a support bubble, which allows single adult households to join another household.

We have also encouraged all local authorities to consider using local grants made available to them by government to help bolster this part of the childcare sector in their areas, to safeguard sufficient childcare provision. This includes the £594 million discretionary fund for councils and the devolved administrations to support local businesses that may not have been eligible for other support during the current national lockdown, as well as funding streams such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, aimed to support disadvantaged children. The expanded programme, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities, will be expanded to reach all local authority areas during the upcoming Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays this year.

However, where parents are still finding it difficult to access sufficient childcare, we recommend that they contact their local authority’s family information services. Local authorities are required by legislation to secure sufficient free early years provision and paid-for childcare places, so far as is reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0 to 14.

25th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support working parents and carers who require wraparound childcare provided by schools where that childcare is not available during the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown.

Ensuring that working parents and carers have access to the childcare they need remains a priority for the government. That is why we have ensured that all before and after-school clubs, holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings have been able to continue to stay open for children eligible to attend school on-site (i.e. for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people), for the duration of the national lockdown, in line with the protective measures guidance for the sector which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

We have also made clear that schools should be continuing to offer before and after-school provision for those pupils eligible to attend for on-site provision, where it is feasible for them to do so. We have provided guidance for schools to support them to resume this provision. A copy of the guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

In addition to this, we have also ensured that there are several other ways that parents and carers can continue to access the childcare they need during the national restrictions. This includes:

  • Childminders, which remain open for children in early years, children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people;
  • Nannies, which are still able to continue to provide services, including in the home;
  • Parents are also able to form a childcare bubble with one other household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is under the age of 14; and
  • Some households will also be able to benefit from being in a support bubble, which allows single adult households to join another household.
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve the transparency of country of origin food labelling for online retailers and (b) help ensure that country of origin labelling is equally transparent in both online and in-store retailers.

Food Information to Consumers Regulations require many foods to declare the origin on the label. This includes where the consumer would be misled if it were not given, and always for specific foods such as beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, goat, poultry, fish, shellfish, honey, olive oil, wine and most fruit and vegetables. Additionally, there are rules that help prevent the consumer from being misled about the origin of the primary ingredient of the food, although the majority of meat and dairy products sold at retail voluntarily provide the origin of the meat or dairy ingredients.

Regulations ensure that where pre-packed foods are sold at distance or online, all mandatory particulars including country of origin should be available before the point of purchase and at the point of delivery. The Government is committed to optimising the information that is available to consumers, including country of origin, so that they can make informed choices in both online and in-store environments.

22nd Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the viability of equine rescue organisations whose income has been affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

The welfare of companion animals remains a priority for Defra throughout the coronavirus pandemic. My Department continues to work closely with the companion animal welfare sector to understand their concerns and address how organisations that work with horses and other companion animals are affected by Covid-19.

We provide and regularly update online Government guidance for people who are responsible for horses and other animals to reflect the changing position relating to Covid-19 and to help them understand how to provide for their equine welfare. This includes clarifying what activities may be undertaken in light of restrictions in place to tackle Covid-19, such as rescue and rehoming, and also advising what people should do if they show symptoms of Covid-19, or are self-isolating, or are unable themselves to care for their horses.

We continue to hold discussions with key equine welfare organisations and want the sector to be able to continue to carry out its good work. The Government has announced various measures to support charities, including VAT deferral, paying no business rates for their shops next year and furloughing staff where possible with the Government paying a significant contribution of their wages.

29th Nov 2017
What steps her Department is taking to promote trade between the UK and least developed countries.

The UK is a proud advocate of helping developing countries trade their way out of poverty. The Government has introduced the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill which enables creation of a trade preference scheme. This will maintain existing tariff free access to the UK for Least Developed Countries as we leave the EU.

17th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraphs 18 to 21 of the Government Response to the Transport Select Committee’s Third Report on the Rollout and safety of smart motorways, HC 26, published on 12 January 2022, whether (a) motorway service stations, (b) slip roads and (c) hard shoulders are defined as emergency refuge areas by National Highways in its work retrofitting all-lane running motorways.

In the Government’s response to the Transport Committee report published in January 2022, we announced that we would be committing £390 million to add around 50% more places to stop in an emergency by 2025, giving drivers added reassurance. National Highways is currently developing a detailed programme of work which will set out the type and location of emergency areas to be delivered.

22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to transfer responsibility for negotiating passenger service contracts from his Department to Great British Railways.

The Department for Transport will act as procuring authority until the legislative transfer of powers to Great British Railways. We will be starting extensive and detailed consultation with the industry on the legislative aspects of reform in due course. Where Legislation is needed it will be introduced when the Parliamentary timetable allows.

22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) organisational structure and (b) workstreams of Great British Railways will be.

As set out in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published May 2021, we are establishing a new public body, Great British Railways. Great British Railways will own the infrastructure, receive the fare revenue, run and plan the network and set most fares and timetables. This will require significant change to the system and a new sector operating model. Work to understand new organisational structures and workstreams for Great British Railways is in development and will be an iterative process.

22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his timetable is for agreeing the first passenger service contracts with train operating companies.

The launch of the initial competition for passenger service contracts is expected to be in 2022 with award of the first contract in 2024.

22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers the Secretary of State for Transport has to direct the work of Great British Railways.

Once established, Ministers will have strong levers to hold Great British Railways to account, including statutory powers and the ability to issue mandatory directions and guidance that sets the direction for the railway - ensuring that the new body is focused on providing value for the taxpayer and delivering for passengers and freight customers.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to raise public awareness of the update on smart motorways in the Highway Code, introduced in September 2021.

Improvements to The Highway Code to improve safety on motorways and other high-speed roads came into effect on Tuesday 14 September 2021, with the publication of a revised edition on the Government website: www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code.

National Highways provided a news release to national transport correspondents, the road safety trade media, and driver and vehicle consumer press including quotes from the Roads Minister, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and road safety stakeholders. The news release generated more than 280 news stories covering the changes in a factual, positive manner, with many offering guides on ‘what drivers need to know’.

The Department pre-briefed influential roads and motoring stakeholders to encourage them to update their members, and National Highways wrote to stakeholders involved in the consultation to thank them and ask them to update members.

The DVSA sent direct emails to the driver, rider, and vocational training sectors, trainer bookers, professional drivers, vehicle operators, Highway Code email alert subscribers and learner drivers and riders, with nearly half a million people notified of the changes.

National Highways and DVSA published links to updated Highway Code pages on their social media channels, amplified by the Department across corporate channels, the THINK! campaign, and tweets from the Secretary of State and the Roads Minister.

National Highways also published a news story on its website and updated its pages detailing progress on delivering the Smart Motorway Evidence Stocktake and Action Plan, each linking to The Highway Code on GOV.UK.

National Highways recognise that making drivers aware of the changes requires more than can be done on the day of publication and is seeking out appropriate opportunities to further publicise updates, including:

  • A communications campaign in Autumn 2021 to highlight the e-call feature, that automatically contacts the emergency services in the event of a collision, that is built into new cars;
  • Raising awareness of using the emergency phones in emergency areas with timings to be confirmed, and about Red X compliance, currently planned to take place later this year;
  • Referencing and linking to the new Highway Code in future waves of National Highways’ breakdown campaign, with the next one being later this autumn 2021;
  • Referencing the new rules in National Highways’ continuing work to deliver the smart motorway evidence stocktake and improve drivers’ confidence in using smart motorways; and
  • Communications around the next print edition of the Highway Code in spring 2022.

19th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s policy is on safety inspections of light trailers with regard to the planned cessation of safety checks by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on light trailers weighing more than 0.75 tonnes and less than 3.5 tonnes in September 2021.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is not planning the cessation of safety checks on light trailers weighing more than 0.75 tonnes and less than 3.5 tonnes.

The DVSA is actively supporting work to help improve trailer safety. It is running checks throughout the summer to support the ‘Tow Safe for Freddie Campaign’, which has focus on caravans that tend to have greater use in this period. That campaign ends in September 2021, but the DVSA will continue with roadside checks of trailers and its broader educative work.

19th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the guidance published by his Department on 17 May 2021 on bus service improvement plans, whether he plans to publish guidance on the ventilation of buses and preventing the spread of covid-19.

The Department for Transport has published ‘Safer Transport’ guidance for operators, which helps transport organisations understand how to provide safer workplaces and services for themselves, their workers and passengers.

The Safer Transport guidance, which is reviewed and updated regularly, includes a section on ‘Ventilation’, which suggests ways in which transport operators could ensure that a fresh air supply is consistently flowing through vehicles.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan guidance, which was published by the Department on 17 May 2021, is intended to help Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) and local bus operators develop an ambitious plan to improve bus services and access new funding, as outlined in the National Bus Strategy.

11th May 2021
M1
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates he plans to publish the outstanding Post Opening Project Evaluation reports for the smart motorway schemes at (a) M1 junctions 10 to 13, (b) M1 junctions 28 to 31 and (c) M1 junctions 32 to 35a.

Highways England produces Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) reports ‘1 year after’ and ‘5 years after’, following the opening of a road scheme. It is currently producing: a five-year POPE report on the M1 Junctions 10 to 13; and, 1-year POPE reports on the M1 junctions 28 to 31, and M1 Junctions 32 to 35a. These are expected to be published by Summer 2021.

12th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason a new design of surveillance camera has been installed at the (a) A55 near Chester and (b) A158 at Wragby; and which agencies access the data obtained by those cameras and for what purposes.

Highways England is not aware of any new cameras being installed on any section of the A55 near Chester that forms part of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), for which it is responsible. The A158 is operated and maintained by Lincolnshire County Council, and it would be for the Council to comment on any new cameras implemented on it.

Local authorities are free to make their own decisions about the roads under their care, provided they take account of the relevant legislation. They are responsible for ensuring that their actions are within the law and are accountable to local people for their decisions and their performance. Local councillors are responsible for ensuring that local decisions about street infrastructure take account of the needs and opinions of local people.

9th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), whether the DVLA commissioned consultants to draft a report on covid-19 and workplace safety.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has thoroughly reviewed its processes and systems, with advice from a range of external experts, to understand further opportunities for working remotely. Consultants were commissioned but this review heavily focused on process automation for the longer term, and was not about Covid 19 and workplace safety at the DVLA.

The safety of staff is the top priority for the Department for Transport and the DVLA. Extensive safety measures have been put in place across the DVLA’s sites, in accordance with, and sometimes going beyond, all relevant Welsh government advice. These include enhanced cleaning, social distancing and leasing an additional building, which is now in use. The DVLA continues to work closely with the local environmental health team and Public Health Wales.

3rd Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the (a) safety and (b) operation of classic cars of the introduction of E10 petrol at UK petrol stations in September 2021.

On the 25th of February we published the Government response to the consultation paper “Introducing E10 petrol”. This paper both announces the introduction of E10 petrol in the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021 and reaffirms our commitment to ensure E5 remains available for owners of older vehicles that are not compatible with E10. To further mitigate concerns around vehicle compatibility, and to aid the public in adjusting to this change, we have also published guidance for motorists on E10 petrol and developed an online E10 vehicle compatibility tool.

Further to extensive consultation, E5 will remain available at the higher-octane super grade. The Department has taken the needs and concerns of classic car users into consideration in developing these policy proposals and understands that many owners of classic cars already use the higher-octane option. It would also remain open to fuel retailers to sell ethanol free super grade petrol; whether they choose to do so is a commercial decision. As such the introduction of E10 should not affect the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars, nor given the continued availability of E5 will this change impact the operation or safety of classic cars.

3rd Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars of the introduction of E10 petrol at UK petrol stations in September 2021.

On the 25th of February we published the Government response to the consultation paper “Introducing E10 petrol”. This paper both announces the introduction of E10 petrol in the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021 and reaffirms our commitment to ensure E5 remains available for owners of older vehicles that are not compatible with E10. To further mitigate concerns around vehicle compatibility, and to aid the public in adjusting to this change, we have also published guidance for motorists on E10 petrol and developed an online E10 vehicle compatibility tool.

Further to extensive consultation, E5 will remain available at the higher-octane super grade. The Department has taken the needs and concerns of classic car users into consideration in developing these policy proposals and understands that many owners of classic cars already use the higher-octane option. It would also remain open to fuel retailers to sell ethanol free super grade petrol; whether they choose to do so is a commercial decision. As such the introduction of E10 should not affect the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars, nor given the continued availability of E5 will this change impact the operation or safety of classic cars.

9th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on possible legislative steps to bring an end to the Southern Rail industrial action.

We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that the union has insisted on this damaging and disruptive strike action, which will cause misery for thousands of people.

The Secretary of State regularly discusses this important issue with his Cabinet colleagues. This Government is doing everything it can to limit the impact of this strike on passengers, and continues to consider all available options.

We continue to closely monitor the situation to determine whether further action is necessary.

22nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the publication General Practice Workforce, published by NHS Digital on 31 August 2022, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of 23 per cent. of GPs working more than 37.5hrs per week compared to 32 per cent. five years ago; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the funding model for GP practices so that funding is allocated per patient contact.

Between June 2017 and June 2022, the number of full-time equivalent doctors in general practice grew by 1,340. There are no current plans to assess or amend the funding model for general practitioner practices.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the equity of international travel rules in relation to covid-19 for UK residents who have (a) received one dose of a covid-19 vaccine in Scotland and one dose of the vaccine in England and (b) participated in the Novavax trial.

NHS Digital has established data flows between England and Scotland which allow United Kingdom residents to obtain a NHS COVID Pass, regardless of which nation their vaccine was administered in. These individuals are able to demonstrate their fully vaccinated status for international travel purposes.

All Novavax trial participants can now access a domestic NHS COVID Pass. The majority of trial participants can also access a NHS COVID Pass for international travel. Discussions are ongoing with other countries, including through bodies such as the G7, G20, the European Union and the World Health Organization to shape a common approach for trial participants around the world.

30th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report entitled First Do No Harm and published in July 2020, what recent steps he has taken to progress implementation of recommendation five of that report on the rollout of specialist centres.

There are now eight specialist centres in operation across England to provide services for women with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse. NHS England and NHS Improvement will announce the location of a provider in the south west in due course.

The recommendation of the establishment of specialist centres for those impacted by medication taken during pregnancy remains under careful consideration. We will respond to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report in full this year.

15th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of changes to (a) pension contributions and (b) overall pay for nursing staff at the next pay settlement.

The current member contribution structure in the NHS Pension Scheme has been in place since 1 April 2015. The NHS Pension Scheme is a mutual scheme for the benefit of the National Health Service workforce, and the contribution structure is designed to cover the average 9.8% employee contribution towards the cost of the generous benefits provided to members.

The NHS Pension Scheme Advisory Board, a statutory body made up of employer and staff representatives, has been asked to make recommendations on the future structure of employee contributions to be implemented from 1 April 2022. The Department expects to consult on proposals for changes to the employee contribution rate structure during 2021, following consideration of those recommendations.

To protect jobs, pay rises in the rest of the public sector will be paused next year, with the exception of those on lower incomes and NHS workers. The NHS Pay Review Body will report next year and the Government will take their recommendations into account in setting Agenda for Change pay, which includes nurses.

Helen Whately
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
1st Jul 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to improve support for children and young people with mental health problems.

We are working to develop seamless and integrated mental health services for children and young people through a major transformation programme backed by additional funding. NHS England are expanding the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme to cover all England by 2018 and, with the Department for Education, developing single points of contact for mental health in schools.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Belarussian Government on (a) the case of the arrest and detention of independent journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau and his wife Irini Zloblina and (b) freedom of the press and human rights in Belarus.

The Government is deeply concerned by the continuing attacks on media freedom in Belarus. There have been more than 400 reported incidents of persecution of media figures in Belarus. The Government has repeatedly called on Belarus to release journalists who have been arbitrarily detained and hold to account those responsible for attacks on journalists, including the case of Mr Aliaksandrau. The Government has increased financial support to independent media organisations in Belarus and condemns the actions of the Belarusian authorities in international fora. I spoke out on Belarus at the UN Security Council (Arria Forum) on 11 January. As co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK was joined by 25 other nations in a statement, which condemns the authorities actions against journalists in Belarus and which highlights the plight of Mr Aliaksandrau.

26th Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has plans to (a) reduce or (a) zero rate VAT charges applied to the costs of onsite staff of sheltered housing schemes for older people where those staff are supplied by property management companies.

Although the supply of staff is generally standard rated, in order to keep costs down for older people, the supply of sheltered housing schemes is exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged to the final consumer

Going further would come at a cost to the Exchequer and must be viewed in the context of over £50 billion of relief requests from VAT since the EU referendum.  VAT makes a significant contribution to the public finances, raising about £130 billion in 2019/20, and helps to fund key spending priorities including on health, schools, and defence. Given this, there are no current plans to change the VAT treatment of supplies of staff.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the potential effect of the take-up of zero emission vehicles on receipts to the Exchequer from fuel duty in (a) 2025, (b) 2030, (c) 2040 and (d) 2050.

The Government is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the transition towards electric vehicles and the phase out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will make a vital contribution to this.

The interim Net Zero Review report in December last year highlighted that structural changes in the economy related to net zero will have fiscal implications. Much of the revenue from fossil fuel-based taxes is likely to be eroded during the transition to a net zero economy. However, there is currently a high level of uncertainty regarding the effect on receipts.

As we move forward with this transition, the Government will need to ensure that revenue from motoring taxes keeps pace with this change, so that the Government can continue to fund the first-class public services and infrastructure that people and families across the UK expect.

Kemi Badenoch
Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
3rd Jul 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to clauses 2.1 and 2.2 of the amendments to the Treasury Direction to the Jobs Retention Scheme, published on 25 June 2020, whether employers are prohibited from using grants from the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme for employees placed on redundancy notice periods; and whether those grants must be repaid by employers if used during this period.

The CJRS is designed to protect jobs and to keep people in employment. Where employers must make redundancies, they should do so in accordance with the normal rules and with contractual obligations. This includes giving a notice period and consulting staff before a final decision is reached.

Employers may continue to claim under the scheme for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period subject to eligibility based on contact of employment.

26th Feb 2018
What steps she is taking to confiscate money from criminals; and how she plans to further strengthen the asset recovery regime.

We have recovered £1.4bn under the Proceeds of Crime Act since 2010. The Criminal Finances Act 2017 provides important new powers to improve the asset recovery system, such as unexplained wealth orders, the forfeiture of bank accounts and forfeiture of certain mobile assets. The Government is also implementing the recommendations made in the Public Accounts Committee Report of 2016. Our Asset Recovery Action Plan will be published by April this year.

3rd Nov 2020
What steps HM Courts and Tribunals Service is taking to tackle the backlog of landlord and tenant cases.

At the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Government took unprecedented action to protect tenants from eviction by ensuring no one could be evicted from their homes as a result of the pandemic.

The Master of the Rolls working party, of which HMCTS are members, has introduced robust measures to ensure that HMCTS can deal with the backlog of cases to provide access to justice for landlords while protecting the most vulnerable.

These arrangements include improvement in the signposting and guidance for landlords and tenants, the introduction of a review process to allow early engagement between parties and provisions for possession hearings to take place in a safe way.

Chris Philp
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
13th May 2020
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Abortion services are now a matter for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.

I am pleased that some service provision has commenced through existing sexual and reproductive health services in the Belfast, Northern and Western Trust areas. Information on these services is available through the Informing Choices NI helpline and the Central Booking Service.

I hope that longer-term services can be commissioned as soon as possible in the current circumstances, consistent with the Regulations we made.

The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 which were laid in March have now been replaced with the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 , which were laid in the House today. These regulations come into effect on 14th May and revoke the earlier regulations. Their legal effect in supporting the provision of services remains consistent, with a small correction having been made to address the concerns of the JCSI, so services can continue on the same basis.