First elected: 3rd May 1979
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Jack Straw, 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.
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 reform the regulation and operation of the market in motor insurance, and specifically, to ban the payment of referral fees; to establish new standards relating to the evidence required and damages payable for whiplash; to reform the Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents; to set requirements in respect of risk pricing for personal injury claims; and for connected purposes
Jack Straw has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
HM TREASURY
HMT Ref : 3522N 13/14 ANSWERED ON 10 APRIL 2014
Chuka Umunna MP
STREATHAM
To ask Mr Chancellor of the exchequer, to how many businesses the letter from the Prime Minister to them about the employment allowance was sent to; what criteria was used to select those businesses; and where the addresses and other details of the businesses to which the letter was sent were obtained. 195622
HMT Ref : 3524N 13/14
Chuka Umunna MP
LAB - STREATHAM
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost to the public purse was of the letter sent to businesses by the Prime Minister on the employment allowance. 195623
HMT Ref : 3525N 13/14
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
LAB - BLACKBURN
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many copies of the Prime Minister's recent letter concerning new tax cuts for businesses and charities were printed and at what cost; what the total cost was of printing distribution and postage in respect of these letters; and from which vote this expenditure will be taken. (195468)
HMT Ref : 3526N 13/14
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
CON - TONBRIDGE & MALLING
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, on previous occasion the Prime Minister of the day has written to taxpayer about new tax cuts; at what cost; and if he will place copies of such correspondence in the Library. (195469)
HMT Ref : 3527N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the Prime Minister's Office obtained contact details of the businesses and charities to whom he sent a letter about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195627)
HMT Ref : 3528N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Prime Minister's Office used any private companies to distribute to businesses and charities the letter he signed about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195628)
HMT Ref : 3529N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost was of sending businesses and charities the letter the Prime Minister signed about changes to National Insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195629)
DAVID GAUKE
The Employment Allowance was introduced to promote both growth and employment, particularly among small businesses, and its success is heavily dependent on ensuring that businesses know whether they are eligible, which they can check by visiting https://www.gov.uk/employment-allowance. It is estimated to benefit UK employers by approximately £1.25bn for employers in 14/15.
The Prime Minister's letter was distributed by HMRC and its contractors and targeted c1.7m current and potential employers most likely to benefit from the allowance.
It cost approximately £430,000 including the cost of postage, which equates to 25 pence per letter and its distribution is consistent with the Government's wider awareness raising campaign ensuring that employers are aware of the allowance and check their eligibility.
HM TREASURY
HMT Ref : 3522N 13/14 ANSWERED ON 10 APRIL 2014
Chuka Umunna MP
STREATHAM
To ask Mr Chancellor of the exchequer, to how many businesses the letter from the Prime Minister to them about the employment allowance was sent to; what criteria was used to select those businesses; and where the addresses and other details of the businesses to which the letter was sent were obtained. 195622
HMT Ref : 3524N 13/14
Chuka Umunna MP
LAB - STREATHAM
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost to the public purse was of the letter sent to businesses by the Prime Minister on the employment allowance. 195623
HMT Ref : 3525N 13/14
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
LAB - BLACKBURN
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many copies of the Prime Minister's recent letter concerning new tax cuts for businesses and charities were printed and at what cost; what the total cost was of printing distribution and postage in respect of these letters; and from which vote this expenditure will be taken. (195468)
HMT Ref : 3526N 13/14
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
CON - TONBRIDGE & MALLING
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, on previous occasion the Prime Minister of the day has written to taxpayer about new tax cuts; at what cost; and if he will place copies of such correspondence in the Library. (195469)
HMT Ref : 3527N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the Prime Minister's Office obtained contact details of the businesses and charities to whom he sent a letter about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195627)
HMT Ref : 3528N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Prime Minister's Office used any private companies to distribute to businesses and charities the letter he signed about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195628)
HMT Ref : 3529N 13/14
Emily Thornberry MP
LAB - ISLINGTON SOUTH & FINSBURY
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost was of sending businesses and charities the letter the Prime Minister signed about changes to National Insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. (195629)
DAVID GAUKE
The Employment Allowance was introduced to promote both growth and employment, particularly among small businesses, and its success is heavily dependent on ensuring that businesses know whether they are eligible, which they can check by visiting https://www.gov.uk/employment-allowance. It is estimated to benefit UK employers by approximately £1.25bn for employers in 14/15.
The Prime Minister's letter was distributed by HMRC and its contractors and targeted c1.7m current and potential employers most likely to benefit from the allowance.
It cost approximately £430,000 including the cost of postage, which equates to 25 pence per letter and its distribution is consistent with the Government's wider awareness raising campaign ensuring that employers are aware of the allowance and check their eligibility.