Ian Liddell-Grainger Portrait

Ian Liddell-Grainger

Conservative - Bridgwater and West Somerset

First elected: 7th June 2001


Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) Bill
26th Jan 2022 - 2nd Feb 2022
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Business and Trade Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
20th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
20th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
1st Jul 2015 - 19th Dec 2016
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
18th Nov 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Environmental Audit Committee
18th Dec 2007 - 6th May 2010
Public Administration Committee
16th Jul 2001 - 6th May 2010
Crossrail Bill
5th Dec 2005 - 13th Nov 2007
Constitutional Affairs
13th Jul 2005 - 5th Nov 2007
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
15th Dec 2003 - 12th Jul 2005
Scottish Affairs Committee
2nd Dec 2002 - 12th Jul 2005


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Ian Liddell-Grainger has voted in 667 divisions, and 6 times against the majority of their Party.

17 Jun 2020 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger 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
13 May 2020 - Remote Division result: New Clause 2 - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative Aye votes vs 326 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 328
30 Nov 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger 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
18 Oct 2022 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 103 Conservative No votes vs 113 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 110
30 Nov 2022 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 282 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 285 Noes - 210
4 Dec 2023 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context
Ian Liddell-Grainger voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Conservative No votes vs 217 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 381 Noes - 37
View All Ian Liddell-Grainger Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

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

Sparring Partners
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)
(35 debate interactions)
Penny Mordaunt (Conservative)
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(21 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
View all Ian Liddell-Grainger's debates

Bridgwater and West Somerset 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).

Ian Liddell-Grainger has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Ian Liddell-Grainger

Ian Liddell-Grainger has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Ian Liddell-Grainger, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Ian Liddell-Grainger

Thursday 14th December 2023

1 Adjournment Debate led by Ian Liddell-Grainger

Wednesday 18th March 2020

3 Bills introduced by Ian Liddell-Grainger


A Bill to provide that the Secretary of State’s powers in relation to the management of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, include the power to grant a lease in respect of land for a period of up to 150 years.

Commons - 80%

Last Event - Report Stage: House Of Commons
Friday 24th March 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to provide for corporate status of and for certain privileges and immunities to be accorded to the international inter-parliamentary organisation of national and sub-national legislatures of Commonwealth countries known as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and to its Secretary-General; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to establish a scheme under which UK-based providers of mobile satellite navigation services must offer their customers incentives to provide real-time updates on route suitability and traffic management measures; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 8th September 2015

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
23rd Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of generative AI on (a) methods of learning and (b) levels of plagiarism.

Deterring, detecting and addressing academic cheating and misconduct remains a high priority for the government.

There are strict rules in place, set by exam boards, to ensure pupils’ work is their own. Sanctions for cheating are serious, including being disqualified from a qualification. Schools and teachers know their pupils best and are experienced in identifying their individual pupils’ work.

Ofqual communicates regularly with exam boards about risks, including malpractice risks, and expects regulated awarding organisations to carefully consider the potential impacts artificial intelligence (AI) may have on their qualifications and where necessary make changes to the way in which their qualifications are designed or delivered in response.

The Joint Council for Qualifications published guidance earlier this year which reminds teachers and assessors of best practice in preventing and identifying potential malpractice, applying it in the context of AI use.

The department is building the evidence base for how generative AI is best used in education from the experience and expertise of the sector. The department will publish the response to the Call for Evidence on Generative AI in Education shortly. The department is conducting ongoing wider research to gather insight on how generative AI is being used in early year’s settings, schools, colleges, and universities, and how it could be used to support the sector in the future.

The department has endowed the Education Endowment Foundation with a further £137 million to encourage innovative and effective evidence-based teaching, including using technology such as Computer Adaptive Learning or AI. Their trials will explore teaching approaches using Education Technology and which features of the technology, and how they are used, may support academic attainment.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential role of regreening urban areas in achieving the UK’s environmental targets.

The Secretary of State is committed to regreening urban areas in achieving the UK’s environmental targets. In January this year Natural England launched a Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework, which it developed in partnership with Defra and other key stakeholders.

The Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 sets out how the GI Framework will be used to track progress in our commitment for everyone to have access to green or blue space within 15 minutes from their front door. Well-designed green infrastructure has an important role to play in urban areas in improving health and wellbeing, air quality, nature recovery and resilience to and mitigation of climate change, as well as growing the natural capital of city-regions. The use of green infrastructure can help to reduce the risk and impact of extreme heat and surface water flooding through street trees and Sustainable Drainage Systems, contributing to our goal of reducing the risk of harm from environmental hazards.

23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the decision by Sainsbury’s and other leading supermarkets not to procure meat supplied by JBS SA or its subsidiaries due to allegations of involvement in illegal deforestation of the Amazon and allegations of modern day slavery practices, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to examine Government departments' and agencies' meat supply contracts with that company.

The public can have confidence that the food provided in the public sector meets the standards expected. The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services set a range of mandatory and best practice standards, including requiring suppliers to meet UK production standards or equivalent.

We want the public sector to lead by example, championing high production standards and sustainable produce. We will soon consult on public sector food and catering policy to ensure it reflects our high ambition for this area. The consultation will seek views on ways to promote local, sustainable, healthier food in the public sector, open public sector procurement to a wider range of businesses and increase the transparency of food supply chains.

The procurement of food for the public sector remains the responsibility of lead departments for that sector. Lead departments are in regular contact with major suppliers to review their public procurement contracts and ensure they can continue to meet the food standards they are expected to uphold.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the Dispatches programme broadcast on 29 November 2021 entitled, The truth about your chicken; and if he will make a statement.

The Government’s view is that farms of all sizes have a role to play in UK agriculture and food production. What is important is not the size of the farm but compliance with our robust domestic standards. Well-established enforcement strategies are in place to ensure compliance with animal health and welfare requirements. Stockmanship is key and farmers of meat chickens are required to be competent and trained in the tasks that they perform.

This Government will continue to take steps to regulate farming practices proportionately and effectively, to safeguard animal welfare, reduce the risk of zoonotic disease and reduce risks to human health. We are making improvements to the existing legal framework and enforcement regime to ensure greater compliance and enhance the health and welfare of farmed animals. We are also working in partnership with the livestock sector and a wide range of academics, non-Governmental organisations and other experts to implement the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, supporting continuous improvement in farm animal health and welfare.

The Government has no role to play in setting standards for any independent farm assurance scheme.

Defra is a co-signatory with the Department of Health and Social Care of the UK’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Action Plan, and the UK is a global leader on AMR. We do not support the unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals, or farming practices which rely on routine or predictable antibiotic use. However, antibiotics play a role in treating certain animal diseases and are therefore essential to ensure the health and welfare of animals.

Data collected by the British Poultry Council (BPC), which represents 90% of the meat poultry sector, show that antibiotic use in broiler chickens has reduced by 67% since 2014. This has been driven by the BPC’s Antibiotic Stewardship Scheme, which is based on the principle of reducing, refining and replacing the use of antibiotics and promoting best practice at all steps of production.

The goal of reducing antibiotic consumption and improving stewardship is to reduce antibiotic resistance. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has been measuring levels of antibiotic resistance in E. coli in poultry since 2014, and the results show that resistance in broiler chickens has decreased substantially, including to antibiotics that are critically important to human health.

The Government is aware of the contribution of faecal contamination, primarily from poultry manure, to the health of the river Wye. Over 60% of the phosphate load in the Wye Catchment is from diffuse agricultural pollution from livestock manure and nutrients washing into the river during rainfall.

The Government is working closely with local stakeholders to address the Wye’s specific situation, both through supporting the local Nutrient Management Board, as well as working towards strategic solutions for both the short-term unblocking of housing and the long-term improvement of the local environment through a cross-government Taskforce. To support this, there are also a host of national actions coming online to address agricultural pollution, which include:

  • further investment in the successful Catchment Sensitive Farming programme;
  • an expansion of Environment Agency enforcement capacity and funding;
  • several grants and incentives aimed to support better farm practises and local recovery;
  • a review of current regulatory measures.

Red Tractor is an industry-led farm assurance scheme. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment on the implementation of its guidelines or individual cases. Meeting regulatory requirements is a vital component to bringing improvements to the local Wye catchment. If there are concerns that farmers are breaching regulations, they should be reported to the Environment Agency, which will work with local farmers to bring them into compliance.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the environmental impacts of available alternatives to peat in amateur and professional horticulture.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge on 21 March 2022, PQs 138305, 138306 and 138307.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what alternatives to peat the Government is considering in amateur and professional horticulture in the event of a complete ban in 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge on 21 March 2022, PQs 138305, 138306 and 138307.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the amount of peat being used in England and Wales in the (a) retail and (b) professional horticulture sector.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge on 21 March 2022, PQs 138305, 138306 and 138307.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Aug 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the welfare standards of the Brazilian company JBS in the context of the appropriateness of the UK accepting imports from that company into the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Our existing legal requirements for imports include a ban on animal products which were produced using artificial growth hormones, and a legal requirement that imported poultry carcases can only be washed in potable water.

In addition, imports of animal products are legally required to have been subject to humane slaughter methods.

The Government’s manifesto is clear that in all of our trade deals, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
22nd Jul 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that JBS complies with UK environmental and welfare standards.

Great Britain maintains its own imports regime to protect public, animal and plant life, health, welfare and the environment.

Countries that are approved to import animal products to the UK are required to ensure that their exporting establishments meet UK import requirements, as set out in legislation including Retained Regulations 2019/625, 853/2004 and 1099/2009.

Within Great Britain, compliance with animal welfare regulations is monitored and enforced in approved slaughterhouses by official veterinarians from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
22nd Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the letter from a group of cross-party hon. Members to the Federal Deputy for Rio de Janeiro requesting that the Brazilian congress halt the continued illegal deforestation of the Amazon.

The Government is committed to tackling deforestation and greening supply chains. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Brazilian government and legislators on the progress of legislation in Brazil that affects rates of deforestation. The Government will continue to support action by businesses, civil society, and members of Parliament to help reduce deforestation globally. We are committed to maintaining constructive dialogue, working to protect nature and biodiversity and support global climate objectives.

In line with recent calls to halt illegal deforestation including in the Amazon, we are introducing world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill to help address illegal deforestation across UK supply chains. Close to 90% of deforestation in some of the world’s most important forests is illegal.

We do not currently have plans to investigate the practices of JBS in the UK. However, our due diligence law will make it illegal for larger businesses operating in the UK to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. Businesses in scope will also be required to undertake a due diligence exercise on their supply chains, and to report on this exercise annually. To ensure transparency, information about businesses' due diligence exercises will be published. Businesses in scope that do not comply with these requirements may be subject to fines and other civil sanctions.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the research by Chain Reaction Research published on 31 August 2020, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings in that report that 20,296 hectares have been deforested in a sample of JBS’ direct supply chain and 56,421 hectares have been deforested in the indirect supply chain of that company since 2008.

The Government is committed to tackling deforestation and greening supply chains. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Brazilian government and legislators on the progress of legislation in Brazil that affects rates of deforestation. The Government will continue to support action by businesses, civil society, and members of Parliament to help reduce deforestation globally. We are committed to maintaining constructive dialogue, working to protect nature and biodiversity and support global climate objectives.

In line with recent calls to halt illegal deforestation including in the Amazon, we are introducing world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill to help address illegal deforestation across UK supply chains. Close to 90% of deforestation in some of the world’s most important forests is illegal.

We do not currently have plans to investigate the practices of JBS in the UK. However, our due diligence law will make it illegal for larger businesses operating in the UK to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. Businesses in scope will also be required to undertake a due diligence exercise on their supply chains, and to report on this exercise annually. To ensure transparency, information about businesses' due diligence exercises will be published. Businesses in scope that do not comply with these requirements may be subject to fines and other civil sanctions.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to investigate the practices of JBS in the UK in the context of the public concern in respect of deforestation and that company's policy on that matter.

The Government is committed to tackling deforestation and greening supply chains. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Brazilian government and legislators on the progress of legislation in Brazil that affects rates of deforestation. The Government will continue to support action by businesses, civil society, and members of Parliament to help reduce deforestation globally. We are committed to maintaining constructive dialogue, working to protect nature and biodiversity and support global climate objectives.

In line with recent calls to halt illegal deforestation including in the Amazon, we are introducing world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill to help address illegal deforestation across UK supply chains. Close to 90% of deforestation in some of the world’s most important forests is illegal.

We do not currently have plans to investigate the practices of JBS in the UK. However, our due diligence law will make it illegal for larger businesses operating in the UK to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. Businesses in scope will also be required to undertake a due diligence exercise on their supply chains, and to report on this exercise annually. To ensure transparency, information about businesses' due diligence exercises will be published. Businesses in scope that do not comply with these requirements may be subject to fines and other civil sanctions.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jun 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the food safety practices of the Brazilian meat processing company JBS.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland hold information on food safety practices of food businesses based in the UK, including the ones owned by JBS.

Checks are carried out on foodstuffs imported into the UK to ensure that they meet our food safety standards. When safety risks or non-compliances are identified in food, feed or food contact materials imported into the UK, the FSA is notified and in turn notifies the country that exported the non-compliant or hazardous goods into the UK.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
21st Jun 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his EU counterpart on the food safety practices of the subsidiaries of JBS, the Brazilian meat processing company, in Europe.

My Rt Hon Friend the Environment Secretary has no specific plans to hold discussions with his EU counterpart in respect of the food safety practices of the subsidiaries of JBS. However, if any concerns are raised to Defra, he will be happy to pass them to the Food Standards Agency for consideration, as appropriate.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
27th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of long-term competition rules derogation for milk processors in non-aligned dairy farms for (a) facilitating trading cooperative and (b) building resilience in the milk processing and supply industry.

In order to support milk producers, we have temporarily eased some elements of competition law to make it easier for the dairy industry to come together to maximise production, processing and storage efficiency and ensure as much product as possible can be processed into high quality dairy products. This approach will allow the market for milk to adjust to the change in demand for milk while allowing production to be restored when shops, restaurants and pubs are able to open again. Exempted activities have been developed in conjunction with the dairy industry.

Beyond this immediate and temporary measure, the Government plans to launch a range of initiatives to improve the position of milk producers. Government is keen to see greater levels of collaboration between producers and will continue to support farmers who want to harness the benefits of working together. Our Agriculture Bill includes powers to introduce a new domestic system for recognising producer organisations, which will be better tailored to the requirements of UK producers.

The Bill also includes powers to introduce and enforce statutory codes of practice to address unfair trading practices which can occur between milk producers and purchasers. We will carry out a full consultation on dairy contracts to take account of the range of stakeholder views and hope to launch the consultation later this year.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
4th Mar 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to reduce the level of permitted (a) particulates emissions and (b) volatile organic compounds.

Our Clean Air Strategy, published in 2019, set out the comprehensive action required across all parts of Government and society to reduce our emissions of five key pollutants, including particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to meet legally binding targets for 2020 and 2030.

Our landmark Environment Bill delivers key parts of the Strategy. It introduces a duty to set a legally binding target for fine particulate matter, in addition to a further long term air quality target. It also provides Government with new powers to enforce environmental standards for vehicles and non-road mobile machinery and ensures that local authorities have more effective powers and a clear framework for tackling air pollution in their areas.

In addition, we have recently announced plans to introduce secondary legislation to phase out the sale of traditional house coal, high-sulphur manufactured solid fuels and small quantities of wet wood; and Public Health England have published guidelines to reduce the health impacts of selected VOCs in UK homes and offices. These actions will all help tackle emissions of particulates and VOCs.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jun 2021
JBS
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what information her Department holds on the seven subsidiaries of the Brazilian meat processing company JBS.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) works with Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a division of JBS which owns Moy Park and Pilgrim’s UK, supporting their UK operations.

All businesses operating in the UK, including those with foreign ownership, must conduct their business with integrity, (acting responsibly, honestly and abiding by ethical principles) and, in compliance with UK law [such as the Bribery Act 2010].

DIT supports foreign investors across all industries, encouraging: the growth of their UK based interests and, their contribution to future job creation and the levelling-up agenda.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the (a) findings of UK investigations into JBS, the Brazilian meat processing company, and (b) fines that the US parent company JBS SA was charged with for US foreign bribery.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) works with Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a division of JBS which owns Moy Park and Pilgrim’s UK, supporting their UK operations.

All businesses operating in the UK, including those with foreign ownership, must conduct their business with integrity, (acting responsibly, honestly and abiding by ethical principles) and, in compliance with UK law [such as the Bribery Act 2010].

DIT supports foreign investors across all industries, encouraging: the growth of their UK based interests and, their contribution to future job creation and the levelling-up agenda.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to guilty plea of JBS SA to US foreign bribery charges, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that subsidiaries of that company in the UK do not replicate those practices.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) works with Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a division of JBS which owns Moy Park and Pilgrim’s UK, supporting their UK operations.

All businesses operating in the UK, including those with foreign ownership, must conduct their business with integrity, (acting responsibly, honestly and abiding by ethical principles) and, in compliance with UK law [such as the Bribery Act 2010].

DIT supports foreign investors across all industries, encouraging: the growth of their UK based interests and, their contribution to future job creation and the levelling-up agenda.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles were charged for using clean air zones that are serviced by Clean Air Zone Central Services by age of vehicle in the latest period for which data is available.

Currently there are four live Clean Air Zones, all using the Clean Air Zone Central Services. These are:

  • Bath and North East Somerset (live from 15th March 2021)
  • Birmingham (live from 1st June 2021)
  • Portsmouth (live from 29th November 2021)
  • Bradford (live from 26th September 2022)

The number of vehicles classified by the Clean Air Zone Central Services as subject to a charge across all live Clean Air Zones is shown in the table below. The Government does not hold data split by the age of the vehicle.

Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of charging as well as the administration of local exemptions.

Period

Total Non-Compliant Entrants

14 March 2021 to 31 March 2022

3,603,101

1 April 2022 to 31 October 2022

2,010,081

2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the compliance of local authorities establishing clean air zones with the policy paper entitled Clean air zone framework, updated on 6 October 2022.

The Joint Air Quality Unit’s evaluation programme aims to ensure that the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) programme is delivering its stated aims.

There are two main strands to the evaluation programme:

Local monitoring: all local authorities are required to monitor changes to air quality and traffic (traffic count and Automatic Number Plate Recognition fleet data) in the relevant areas and report this data to the Joint Air Quality Unit quarterly. Local authorities may choose to conduct further monitoring activity or evaluate the wider impacts of their air quality improvement measures in more detail.

Central evaluation: this aggregates data from across the different local authorities implementing air quality improvement measures. Where possible, this is used to inform the development and delivery of air quality improvement measures as well as providing a stronger evidence base for air quality policy making. Traffic data will be analysed to provide percentage compliance rates of each vehicle class in regards to the Clean Air Zone emissions standards i.e. percentage of Euro 6 vehicles.

The second annual report for the evaluation was published on 12 May 2022 and covers the evaluation findings from 2021, including early analysis following the launch of the Bath Clean Air Zone.

In addition, the UK’s Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 require the UK to undertake air quality assessment to assess legal compliance against air pollutant concentration limit and target values and report the findings and associated data on an annual basis. This assessment is done for all local authorities not just those establishing Clean Air Zones.

2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles were charged a fee for entering a clean air zone by age of vehicle in the latest period for which data is available.

Currently there are four live Clean Air Zones, all using the Clean Air Zone Central Services. These are:

  • Bath and North East Somerset (live from 15th March 2021)
  • Birmingham (live from 1st June 2021)
  • Portsmouth (live from 29th November 2021)
  • Bradford (live from 26th September 2022)

The number of vehicles classified by the Clean Air Zone Central Services as subject to a charge across all live Clean Air Zones is shown in the table below. The Government does not hold data split by the age of the vehicle.

Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of charging as well as the administration of local exemptions.

Period

Total Non-Compliant Entrants

14 March 2021 to 31 March 2022

3,603,101

1 April 2022 to 31 October 2022

2,010,081

2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of clean air zones were implemented using the Clean Air Zone Central Services in the latest period for which data is available.

Currently there are four live Clean Air Zones, all using the Clean Air Zone Central Services. These are:

  • Bath and North East Somerset (live from 15th March 2021)
  • Birmingham (live from 1st June 2021)
  • Portsmouth (live from 29th November 2021)
  • Bradford (live from 26th September 2022)

The number of vehicles classified by the Clean Air Zone Central Services as subject to a charge across all live Clean Air Zones is shown in the table below. The Government does not hold data split by the age of the vehicle.

Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of charging as well as the administration of local exemptions.

Period

Total Non-Compliant Entrants

14 March 2021 to 31 March 2022

3,603,101

1 April 2022 to 31 October 2022

2,010,081

22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of use of the Smiths Detection System at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 on (a) safety at airports and (b) national security.

The Department for Transport is in regular contact with all security regulated airports about upgrading their security checkpoints over the next few years. This includes Heathrow Airport. Decisions on the type of equipment that airports want to use at security checkpoints is between the airport and manufacturers.

Any equipment in use must meet the security standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and be approved for use by the Department for Transport. Approved equipment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list. We do not provide specific details of the security equipment in use.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on Heathrow Airport's plans to extend use of the Smiths Detection Systems for airport security after the assessment period.

The Department for Transport is in regular contact with all security regulated airports about upgrading their security checkpoints over the next few years. This includes Heathrow Airport. Decisions on the type of equipment that airports want to use at security checkpoints is between the airport and manufacturers.

Any equipment in use must meet the security standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and be approved for use by the Department for Transport. Approved equipment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list. We do not provide specific details of the security equipment in use.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will review all new security systems at airports in response to the three year trial of the Smiths Detection system at Heathrow Airport.

The Department for Transport keeps security at airports under constant review and is in regular contact with airports and manufacturers. Purchasing equipment however remains the decision of airports.

Any equipment in use must meet the security standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and be approved for use by the Department for Transport. Approved equipment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who is responsible for decisions to incorporate a security screening machines in UK airports; and who is responsible for the effectiveness of those machines.

The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for setting the security measures that should be applied in the UK. The Department for Transport advises the industry on equipment that may be used for screening at an airport. This is set out in the DfT Approved Equipment List https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list . All such equipment meets the standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) of which the UK is a member.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) projected and (b) actual efficiency is of the Smiths Detection security screening system in Heathrow Terminal 2.

Any equipment in use must meet the security standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and be approved for use by the Department for Transport. Approved equipment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list. We do not provide specific details of the security equipment in use for security reasons.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what training staff at Heathrow Terminal 2 have to work on the Smith detection security screening system.

The responsibility for ensuring that personnel are trained to operate any security equipment to a standard sufficient to ensure that no prohibited articles are taken beyond the search point falls to the airport.

Staff must have received appropriate training in the use of equipment before they can operate in a live environment. Staff will have to complete relevant training as outlined in the training syllabi that can be found on the CAA website at https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Security/Training/Syllabuses/. We do not provide details of the specific training for security reasons.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the efficiency is of the Smiths Detection security screening system at Heathrow Terminal 2; and what proportion of bags are rejected by that system.

For national and aviation security reasons we do not comment on the detail of specific security arrangements, or on the details of the equipment in use.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government’s expected go through time is for security at Heathrow Terminal 2.

To incentivise good service quality performance for consumers, the CAA sets the following security queue standards that it expects Heathrow airport to meet under its economic licence:

- Central search security queue standards

o 95% of queue times measured once every 15 minutes that are less than 5 minutes

o 99% of queue times measured once every 15 minutes that are less than 10 minutes

- Transfer search security queue standard

o 95% of queue times measured once every 15 minutes that are less than 10 minutes

- Staff search security queue standard

o 95% of queue times measured once every 15 minutes that are less than 10 minutes

Queue times which do not meet these standards can trigger a rebate payable by Heathrow airport.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are required to man the Smiths Detection security screening system in Heathrow Terminal 2; and how many were required to man the previous system.

This will be a matter for the airport depending on the configuration of the security checkpoint.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what training is given to supervisors at Heathrow Airport on using the Smiths Detection security screening system.

Supervisors must have received appropriate training in the use of security equipment. Supervisors have to complete relevant training as outlined in the training syllabi that can be found on the CAA website at https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Security/Training/Syllabuses/. We do not provide details of the specific training for security reasons.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Smiths Detection security screening system at Heathrow Airport.

The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for setting the security measures that should be applied in the UK. The Department for Transport advises the industry on equipment that may be used for screening at an airport. This is set out in the DfT Approved Equipment List https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/aviation-security-screening-approved-equipment-list . All such equipment meets the standards set by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) of which the UK is a member.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long the training is to work with the Smiths Detection security screening system at Heathrow Terminal 2.

Staff must have received appropriate training in the use of equipment before they can operate in a live environment. Staff will have to complete relevant training as outlined in the training syllabi that can be found on the CAA website at https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Security/Training/Syllabuses/. We do not provide details of the specific training for security reasons.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long do passengers wait on average in security screening at Heathrow Airport; and what the average time is for a passenger to have a bag checked.

Heathrow airport has met the monthly security queue standards set under its economic licence between January – August 2021, as demonstrated in its latest performance reports except for one day in July at Terminal 5 central search.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the three-year project to incorporate the Smiths Detection system into the security screening process at Heathrow Terminal 2.

All security equipment and associated processes are required to meet security standards sufficient to ensure that prohibited articles are not taken beyond the airport search point. For security reasons we do not provide details of such arrangements.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost is of a Smiths Detection security screening system in Heathrow Terminal 2; and how many of those systems there are across all terminals at Heathrow.

The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
11th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) vapes, (b) nicotine gum, (c) nicotine patches, (d) nicotine pouches and (e) other alternatives to smoking in helping to reduce the prevalence of smoking.

Our assessment is that nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum and patches, as well as vapes, alongside behavioural support from stop smoking services, are the most effective ways to reduce smoking. This assessment is based on the ‘Nicotine vaping in England’ report published in September 2022, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline PH209, ‘Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence’ published in 2021.

The 2022 ‘Nicotine vaping in England’ report also includes a chapter on heated tobacco products. Although there is currently a limited evidence base on the health harms presented by heated tobacco products, it is clear that they do pose harm to users. The Government does not recommend use of these products and encourages users to quit.

There is limited research and evidence into the harms of nicotine pouches and their ability to support smoking quit attempts. However, in April this year the Committee on Toxicity published their ‘Statement on the bioavailability of nicotine from the use of oral nicotine pouches and assessment of the potential toxicological risk to users’, which is available at the following link:

https://cot.food.gov.uk/Statement%20on%20the%20bioavailability%20of%20nicotine%20from%20the%20use%20of%20oral%20nicotine%20pouches%20and%20assessment%20of%20the%20potential%20toxicological%20risk%20to%20users

11th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) e-cigarettes, (b) heat-not-burn products and (c) other reduced-risk products to help reduce the prevalence of smoking.

Our assessment is that nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum and patches, as well as vapes, alongside behavioural support from stop smoking services, are the most effective ways to reduce smoking. This assessment is based on the ‘Nicotine vaping in England’ report published in September 2022, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline PH209, ‘Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence’ published in 2021.

The 2022 ‘Nicotine vaping in England’ report also includes a chapter on heated tobacco products. Although there is currently a limited evidence base on the health harms presented by heated tobacco products, it is clear that they do pose harm to users. The Government does not recommend use of these products and encourages users to quit.

There is limited research and evidence into the harms of nicotine pouches and their ability to support smoking quit attempts. However, in April this year the Committee on Toxicity published their ‘Statement on the bioavailability of nicotine from the use of oral nicotine pouches and assessment of the potential toxicological risk to users’, which is available at the following link:

https://cot.food.gov.uk/Statement%20on%20the%20bioavailability%20of%20nicotine%20from%20the%20use%20of%20oral%20nicotine%20pouches%20and%20assessment%20of%20the%20potential%20toxicological%20risk%20to%20users

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Somerset NHS Foundation Trust spent on management consultants in each of the last five years.

Owing to data protection reasons, individual salaries cannot be disclosed without the individual’s consent. Salaries of directors are published in annual reports in £5k bands. NHS England provides pay guidance for very senior managers at Foundation Trusts which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/guidance-on-pay-for-very-senior-managers/

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is classified as an ‘extra-large’ acute provider and that Foundation Trusts hold statutory power over pay.

The Department cannot comment on individual trusts and does not hold the information required.

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were waiting 18 weeks or more for (a) hip and (b) hip replacement surgery in the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in each month between February 2020 and September 2022.

Hospital Episode Statistics is a database containing details of all admissions, accident and emergency attendances and outpatient appointments at National Health Service hospitals. Initially this data is collected during a patient's time at hospital as part of the Commissioning Data Set. However, the data that is requested in this question is not available in the format requested. Waiting time data at trust level is not available by specific condition/treatment.

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for treatment was at A&E at Musgrove Park Hospital in each of the last three years.

This information is not collected centrally. NHS Digital publish monthly accident and emergency quality indicators data, including average waiting times for treatment in accident and emergency, at National Health Service trust level. Such data is not available at an individual hospital level.

NHS trust level data is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/provisional-accident-and-emergency-quality-indicators-for-england

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much capital funding has been allocated to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust since 2019.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust was formed in April 2020 from a merger between Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The following table shows what the trust has been allocated with the following capital from national programmes since the 2019/20 financial year.

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

£120,000

£27,200,000

£35,900,000

£19,400,000

£23,400,000

£25,500,000

Note: These allocations are correct as of 23 February 2023 but future allocations are subject to change. It is also worth noting that these allocations will differ from actual expenditure.

In addition to national programmes, Somerset Integrated Care Board, of which Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is a partner trust, was allocated £90 million in operational capital for the SR21 period 2021/22 to 2024/25.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated approximately £70 million within their operational capital envelope for the past three financial years, 2020/21 to 2022/23.

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

£22,300,000

£24,500,000

£23,600,000

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent doctors and nurses and health visitors for October 2020 to October 2022, working at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

October 2020

October 2021

October 2022

Doctors

691

728

745

Nurses and Health Visitors

1,963

2,141

2,248

Source: NHS England Workforce Statistics 2022

Due to the merger of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust earlier in 2020 consistent data can only be given from that point onwards.

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were recruited by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in each of the last five years.

The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the headcount of doctors and nurses and health visitors that joined active service at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for the last two years.

October 2020 to 2021

October 2021 to 2022

Doctors (excluding junior doctors)

65

48

Nurses and health visitors

420

326

Source: NHS England Workforce Statistics 2022

This data includes people returning to active service, such as those returning from maternity leave or career breaks. It is the count of staff who were active in the trust at the end of the period who were not active at the start of the period. Due to the merger of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in 2020 data can only be given for the last two annual periods. Junior doctors are excluded from the table above as it is common for junior doctors to move between NHS bodies on placements/rotations as part of their training and development. The figures will not include staff joining doctor or nursing grades from other positions within the organisation.

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many managers have been appointed in the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust since the end of 2019.

The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the headcount of managers and senior managers that joined active service at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for the last two years.

October 2020 to 2021

October 2021 to 2022

Managers

3

5

Senior Managers

0

2

Source: NHS England Workforce Statistics 2022

Due to the merger of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in 2020 data can only be given for the last two annual periods.

This data includes people returning to active service, such as those returning from maternity leave or career breaks. It is the count of staff who were active in the trust at the end of the period who were not active at the start of the period. The figures will not include staff joining manager grades from other positions within the organisation.