Jake Berry Portrait

Jake Berry

Conservative - Former Member for Rossendale and Darwen

First elected: 6th May 2010

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Jake Berry is not a member of any APPGs
5 Former APPG memberships
Dyslexia and Other Specific Learning Difficulties, Korea, Sailing and Marine Business, Social Integration, Tamils
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
6th Sep 2022 - 25th Oct 2022
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (jointly with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)
25th Jul 2019 - 13th Feb 2020
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
7th Jun 2019 - 25th Jul 2019
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
8th Jan 2018 - 25th Jul 2019
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Communities and Local Government)
14th Jun 2017 - 8th Jan 2018
Finance Committee (Commons)
20th Jul 2015 - 16th Jan 2017


Division Voting information

Jake Berry has voted in 2455 divisions, and 15 times against the majority of their Party.

27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Jake Berry 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
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 234 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 47 Noes - 410
31 Oct 2016 - Justice Committee - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative No votes vs 161 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 203 Noes - 7
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 154 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 64 Noes - 271
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 47 Conservative Aye votes vs 117 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 204 Noes - 125
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 71 Conservative Aye votes vs 85 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 119 Noes - 193
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 90 Conservative Aye votes vs 123 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Conservative Aye votes vs 115 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 368
22 Jun 2022 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 61 Conservative No votes vs 106 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 70
22 Mar 2023 - Northern Ireland - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative No votes vs 281 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 515 Noes - 29
7 Mar 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 107 Conservative Aye votes vs 109 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 116 Noes - 299
16 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 57 Conservative Aye votes vs 262 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 58 Noes - 525
16 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 58 Conservative Aye votes vs 262 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 68 Noes - 529
17 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 59 Conservative Aye votes vs 266 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 536
16 Apr 2024 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - View Vote Context
Jake Berry voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 58 Conservative No votes vs 179 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 383 Noes - 67
View All Jake Berry 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
John Bercow (Speaker)
(34 debate interactions)
Lyn Brown (Labour)
(27 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(85 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(71 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(62 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Policing and Crime Act 2017
(3,059 words contributed)
Policing and Crime Act 2017
(3,059 words contributed)
Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2023-24
(1,759 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Jake Berry's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Jake Berry

Jake Berry has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jake Berry, 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.


Jake Berry has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Jake Berry

Tuesday 22nd March 2016

3 Bills introduced by Jake Berry


Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 26 March. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law). A Bill to make provision about the inclusion at local authority meetings of observances that are, and about powers of local authorities in relation to events that to any extent are, religious or related to a religious or philosophical belief.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th March 2015 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to amend section 48(4) of the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 to remove the power of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority to raise by way of levy on any local authority whose local authority area falls outside the area defined under section 2(2) of the Act; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 22nd February 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 prohibit the advertising of gambling on broadcast media before the watershed; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 1st April 2014

Jake Berry has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of properties in (a) Rossendale and Darwen constituency and (b) the North West which do not have mains gas access and which use domestic heating oil.

Estimates for the number of households which do not have mains gas and which use domestic heating oil are not available. However, the number of households that did not have access to a mains gas supply in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency can be estimated by combining figures for the lower layer super output areas that most closely match this area.

In 2012, there were approximately 1,100 households (three per cent) which had no access to mains gas. The number of households that did not have access to mains gas in the North West is estimated to be 156,000 (five per cent of households within the North West).

These data are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lsoa-estimates-of-households-not-connected-to-the-gas-network.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Attorney General, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in the Law Officers' Departments.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Attorney General, what plans the Law Officers' Departments have to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer my Hon. Friend to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Attorney General, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in the Law Officers' Departments and average full-time pay in that Department.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Attorney General, what plans the Law Officers' Department has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The Government has consulted on its proposals to extend its commitment to mandatory gender pay gap reporting to the public sector. The Government Legal Department, Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office will comply with any future publication requirements which will apply to it when the relevant legislation is in place.

The Attorney General’s Office and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are organisations with less than 250 employees so are not expected to be required to publish any gender pay gap information on their website. The expectation however is that they too will comply with the spirit of the legislation.

2nd Nov 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 58823 tabled by the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen on 19 October 2021.

A comprehensive reply on the details of government heating systems will be given to the Rt. Hon. Member in due course.

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what type of heating system is the primary source of heating in each building occupied by his Department and its agencies; and what fuel is used by those heating systems.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) manages approximately 30% of the government’s central estate offices and acts as a landlord to government department clients (including Cabinet Office) located within those offices. GPA is an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office.

The majority of GPA’s properties have heating systems served by boilers. This includes the Whitehall District Heating System; a system owned and operated by GPA that distributes heating to premises in the Whitehall estate.

GPA’s newly developed assets have utilised more carbon efficient forms of heating. One such example is the new hub in Birmingham at 23 Stephenson Street which has a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system with electricity as its fuel source.

As was set out in the Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Net Zero Strategy on 19th October, we are clear that decarbonising public sector buildings will demonstrate leadership, encouraging action in other sectors as well as making a direct contribution to Net Zero. We aim to reduce direct emissions from public sector buildings by 75% against a 2017 baseline by the end of carbon budget 6.

Over £1 billion has been committed in the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme over 2020/21 and 2021/22 to support heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency in the public sector, and a further £1.425 billion will be invested over 2022/23 to 2024/25.

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what type of heating system is the primary source of heating at (a) Chequers, (b) Dorneywood, (c) Chevening House, (d) 10 Downing Street, (e) 11 Downing Street and (f) 1 Carlton Gardens; and what fuel is used by those heating systems.

The Cabinet Office does not manage or occupy 1 Carlton Gardens or the Chequers, Dorneywood and Chevening Estates.

The buildings at 10 to 12 Downing Street were originally built in the 1680s, with extensive works undertaken in the Georgian era. They are Grade 1 listed. Maintaining and updating these historic buildings, whilst protecting the integrity of that heritage, presents distinct challenges.

Its primary source of heating is from the Whitehall Campus District Heating System which distributes heating to premises in the Whitehall estate.

The Downing Street estate has already taken a number of eco-friendly measures such as a full rainwater harvesting system for the gardens, and low-energy and motion detecting lighting throughout, whilst preserving the heritage of the listed buildings. It has three electric vehicle charging points.

In 2013, No.10 won an award for sustainability improvements to the building. BRE Environmental Assessment Method named it as the best for year-over-year improvements out of 800 other candidates.

The property also has a Display Energy Certificate, which is for the whole building (not just the residences). The current rating is “E”, up from “F” the previous year.

In line with the Prime Minister’s ambition for the UK to be a global leader in clean, green technology and sustainable living, the Cabinet Office is looking to build on these measures in the future. This includes exploring the scope for heat pumps when the boilers reach the end of their working life and making greater use of renewable energy sources.

As noted in the recent Heating and Building Strategy, the Government has made strong progress on reducing emissions in the Government estate by 50 per cent over 10 years through energy efficiency and green measures. The Strategy sets out a gradual fourteen-year transition to low carbon heating systems and we are investing a further £1.4 billion over the next 3 years in reducing emissions from public sector buildings.

19th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of full-time equivalent employees are women in the gross salary bands (a) £150,000 to £155,000, (b) £155,000 to £160,000, (c) £160,000 to £165,000, (d) £165,000 to £170,000, (e) £170,000 to £175,000, (f) £175,000 to £180,000, (g) £180,000 to £185,000, (h) £185,000 to £190,000, (i) £190,000 to £195,000, (j) £195,000 to £200,000 and (k) £200,000 and above for each government Department and Office.

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

12th Jan 2017
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of full-time equivalent employees are women in the gross salary bands (a) £150,000 to £155,000, (b) £155,000 to £160,000, (c) £160,000 to £165,000, (d) £165,000 to £170,000, (e) £170,000 to £175,000, (f) £175,000 to £180,000, (g) £180,000 to £185,000, (h) £185,000 to £190,000, (i) £190,000 to £195,000, (j) £195,000 to £200,000 and (k) £200,000 and above.

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

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in his Department.

The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in this reply.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in this reply.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans 10 Downing Street has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in 10 Downing Street and average full-time pay in that Department.

The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and is included in this reply.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The latest gender pay gap data (published in October earlier this year) can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

In October 2015, the then Prime Minister announced that new gender pay gap reporting measures being introduced across the private and voluntary sector from April 2017 would be extended to also apply across the public sector. We are actively working to ensure the gender pay gap data we report in future fully mirrors these new requirements.

The Civil Service has a comprehensive plan to become the most inclusive employer in the UK. This is called the Talent Action Plan and was refreshed in March 2016. The plan commits the Civil Service to a number of actions with the aim of removing barriers faced by underrepresented groups, including women, from succeeding. The plan sets out the ambition under key themes which includes recruitment and selection, talent and progression, inclusive culture and social mobility.

Key actions include ensuring single gender panels in recruitment and shortlists are now by exception only (as committed in the first publication of the Talent Action Plan) and committing the Civil Service to reviewing the way in which talent is defined and identified to ensure more inclusive ways to identify potential are developed.

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans 10 Downing Street has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The latest gender pay gap data (published in October earlier this year) can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

In October 2015, the then Prime Minister announced that new gender pay gap reporting measures being introduced across the private and voluntary sector from April 2017 would be extended to also apply across the public sector. We are actively working to ensure the gender pay gap data we report in future fully mirrors these new requirements.

The Civil Service has a comprehensive plan to become the most inclusive employer in the UK. This is called the Talent Action Plan and was refreshed in March 2016. The plan commits the Civil Service to a number of actions with the aim of removing barriers faced by underrepresented groups, including women, from succeeding. The plan sets out the ambition under key themes which includes recruitment and selection, talent and progression, inclusive culture and social mobility.

Key actions include ensuring single gender panels in recruitment and shortlists are now by exception only (as committed in the first publication of the Talent Action Plan) and committing the Civil Service to reviewing the way in which talent is defined and identified to ensure more inclusive ways to identify potential are developed.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the working population of Rossendale and Darwen constituency is employed in the (a) public and (b) private sector.

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

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what type of heating system is the primary source of heating in each building occupied by his Department and its agencies; and what fuel is used by those heating systems.

The BEIS headquarters building in 1 Victoria Street use a diverse mix of energy including gas and solar. Like other offices across the country, as decisions are made about future energy usage in light of the Government’s Net Zero commitments, further steps to decarbonise including installing heat pumps and connecting to heat networks will be taken.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in his Department.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in his Department and average full-time pay in that Department.

The Office for National Statistics publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The Office for National Statistics already publishes a comprehensive set of data on Civil Servants in each Government Department on an annual basis in October. This includes average salaries and any existing pay gaps by gender.

The Government has published draft regulations, under the Equality Act 2010, for the gender pay gap reporting requirements. These regulations remain in draft until they are approved by Parliament.

Under these draft regulations, employers with 250 or more employees have to publish information relating to the gender pay gap in their organisation within a 12 months period ending with the snapshot date of 5 April each year.

The Department will meet any requirements on gender pay gap reporting placed upon it.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in her Department.

Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.

The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in her Department and average full-time pay in that Department.

The Office for National Statistics publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organization. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The latest gender pay gap data (published in October earlier this year) can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

DCMS also published the overall gender pay gap mean and median figures in the DCMS 2015/16 Annual Report and Accounts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/538368/DCMS_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2015-16__Print_Ready_Version_.pdf

In October 2015, the then Prime Minister announced that new gender pay gap reporting measures being introduced across the private and voluntary sector from April 2017 would be extended to also apply across the public sector. We are actively working to ensure the gender pay gap data we report in future fully mirrors these new requirements.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support apprenticeships in Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

Apprenticeships are crucial in driving growth and social mobility. They boost skills across the economy and improve people's earnings and career opportunities nationwide. Since 2010, there have been 13,680 apprenticeship starts in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency, and we want to ensure that this number continues to grow.

The Accrington and Rossendale College offers high-quality apprenticeship training with a particular focus on the construction and automotive sectors. Blackburn College is supporting people to develop the skills and knowledge they need for a rewarding career in a variety of industries.

To continue this growth in starts, the government is increasing its investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25, encouraging more employers across the country to recruit new apprentices. The department has introduced flexible training models, such as flexi-job and accelerated apprenticeships, to make apprenticeships more accessible, and has improved the transfer system so that levy-payers can make better use of their funds. We are also supporting employers to access apprenticeships by reducing administrative burdens and cutting by a third the number of steps needed to register to take on an apprentice.

The department recognises the vital role that small to medium-sized employers (SMEs) play in creating apprenticeship opportunities. That is why we removed the limit on the number of apprentices that smaller employers can take on, making it easier for SMEs to grow their businesses with the skilled apprentices they need.

We are also allocating an additional £40 million over the next two years to support degree apprenticeship providers to expand and help more people access this provision, on top of the £8 million investment in 2022/23.

We continue to promote apprenticeships to young people in schools and further education colleges across the country through our Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme, and UCAS will be expanding its service to allowing students to search for and apply to apprenticeships alongside degrees.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support SEND provision in Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

High needs funding for supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England is increasing by a further £440 million, or 4.3%, in the 2024/25 financial year, which will bring the total high needs budget to £10.5 billion, an increase of over 60% from the 2019/20 high needs allocations. This funding will help local authorities and schools with the increasing costs of provision for these children and young people.

The department has recently announced provisional 2024/25 high needs allocations for local authorities. Funding is provided to local authorities rather than constituencies. Lancashire County Council’s allocation is £203 million, which is £10.5 million more than it will receive this year, an increase of 33% per head over the three years from 2021/22. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s allocation is £33 million, which is £1.3 million more than it will receive this year, an increase of 34% per head over the three years from 2021/22.

In March 2022, the department also announced High Needs Provision Capital Allocations amounting to over £1.4 billion of new investment. This funding is to support local authorities to deliver new places for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND. This funding forms part of the £2.6 billion we are investing between 2022 and 2025 and represents a significant, transformational investment in new high needs provision.

Of the £1.4 billion announced, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council received £3.1 million and Lancashire County Council received £26.1 million.

1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools (a) are affected by and (b) have been forced to close due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

Departments have been asked to report on the current picture of suspected and confirmed RAAC in their estates as soon as possible. This will be updated on a regular basis as new buildings are identified and surveying and remediation are carried out.

The Government published lists of education settings confirmed as having RAAC on Wednesday 6 September, and committed to providing further updates.

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what type of heating system is the primary source of heating in each building occupied by his Department and its agencies; and what fuel is used by those heating systems.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) acts as a landlord to government department clients, including Cabinet Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Education and others.

The majority of GPA’s properties have heating systems served by gas fired boilers. This includes the Whitehall District Heating System, which is a system owned and operated by GPA that distributes heating to premises in the Whitehall Campus from conventional fossil fuel boilers.

GPA’s newly developed assets have utilised more carbon efficient forms of heating, such as the new hub in Birmingham at 23 Stephenson Street, which has a mechanical heat recovery system with electricity as its fuel source.

GPA has started a Net Zero Offices Programme, which seeks to remove fossil fuel boilers (where they have reached end of economic life) and replace them with more environmental forms of heating such as use of air source heat pumps and, in the case of the Whitehall District Heating System, the utilisation of ground source heat pumps. The Net Zero Offices Programmes is seeking funding for its heat decarbonisation projects through applications to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

15th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support apprentices to catch up on the training and learning that they have missed during the covid-19 to ensure that they can finish their apprenticeship fully qualified.

The department is committed to supporting apprentices and employers to safely continue with, and complete, their apprenticeship programmes. We have introduced flexibilities to ensure that apprenticeship training and assessments can continue during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Where it is not possible and practicable for the apprentice to continue training, a break in learning can be used to allow the apprentice to return to learning at a future date. It is our goal that apprentices are able to promptly resume their apprenticeship and continue to successful completion of end-point assessment. For apprentices who have taken a formal break in learning, this will result in the planned end-date for their apprenticeship being replanned upon returning to learning to take into consideration the duration in line with the length of their break.

We continue to review the flexibilities in place to ensure high-quality training can continue allowing apprentices to undertake their learning and assessments despite current operating constraints. Our guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response.

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer the Hon Member to the oral statement on Corporate Governance of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408 and to the Corporate Governance Reform Green Paper which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573438/beis-16-56-corporate-governance-reform-green-paper-final.pdf.


12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the highest-paid and lowest-paid full-time employee in her Department.

The table below shows the percentage gap in earnings between a) employees in the highest grade and average pay in the department and b) the highest and lowest paid employees in the Department.

Table showing percentage pay gaps

Percentage Gap*

Percentage gap between the highest grade and average (median) pay

-78%

Percentage gap between the highest and lowest paid employees

-89%

*Percentage gap has been calculated as (Highest Earner – Value)/Highest Earner. This figure includes the department and its agencies as at March 2016 (and does not include staff moved into the Department following Machinery of Government changes announced in July 2016)

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in her Department and average full-time pay in that Department.

The table below shows the percentage gap in earnings between a) employees in the highest grade and average pay in the department and b) the highest and lowest paid employees in the Department.

Table showing percentage pay gaps

Percentage Gap*

Percentage gap between the highest grade and average (median) pay

-78%

Percentage gap between the highest and lowest paid employees

-89%

*Percentage gap has been calculated as (Highest Earner – Value)/Highest Earner. This figure includes the department and its agencies as at March 2016 (and does not include staff moved into the Department following Machinery of Government changes announced in July 2016)

7th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to publish information on the gender pay gap among its employees.

The Department for Education is planning to undertake gender pay gap analysis using salary data from 31 March 2017 and will be publishing the information as soon as possible afterwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children are home-schooled in (a) Lancashire and (b) Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

The information requested is not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what applications he received from groups in Lancashire to establish a new free school in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

The Department for Education publishes a list of every application received in all the completed application rounds on the gov.uk website.

Applications received in Wave 4 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-4-application-information

Applications received in Wave 5 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-5-application-information

Applications received in 2013 to establish free schools were part of Waves 4 and 5. As the published list states, two applications were received from groups in Lancashire in Wave 4: Burnley High School and Steiner Academy Lancaster. No applications from groups in Lancashire were received in Wave 5.

Applications received so far in 2014 are part of Wave 6. The Department for Education will publish a list of all applications received shortly after the assessment process is complete, in the same way it has for previous rounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce absences from school due to bullying.

The Government has made tackling all forms of bullying a top priority. It is never acceptable for a child to be bullied, victimised or harmed in any way and the Government does not want any young person to be absent from school due to the effects of bullying.

All schools are required, by law, to have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. Ofsted now holds schools clearly to account for their effectiveness. Under the current Ofsted framework, school inspectors consider pupil behaviour and safety, which includes how well schools prevent bullying, harassment and discrimination.

In the Education Act 2011, we strengthened teachers' powers to discipline pupils for poor behaviour, including bullying. They can now issue same day detentions, confiscate banned items and search for, and if necessary delete, inappropriate images on mobile phones which might be linked to cyberbullying.

We are also providing £4 million of funding over two years from spring 2013 to four organisations: Beatbullying, the DianaAward, Kidscape and the National Children's Bureau, to develop effective measures in school to prevent and tackle bullying.

Good schools create a positive ethos with clear expectations about pupil behaviour that prevent bullying from happening in the first place and deal with it quickly if it does occur.

We recognise the effect that bullying can have, that is why on 17 March 2014 we published a factsheet to help schools identify and support pupils which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools in Rossendale and Darwen have received funding from the pupil premium; and how many pupils in each such school have attracted such payments.

In financial year 2013-14, 52 schools in Rossendale and Darwen received a pupil premium allocation. A list of these schools and the number of eligible pupils are provided below. In addition to the main deprivation pupil premium, schools receive allocations for looked after children and service children, though this information is not available at school level due to data protection issues. More information on pupil premium allocations for financial year 2013-14 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables

School Name

Total Number of Pupils Eligible for the Deprivation Pupil Premium

Britannia Community Primary School

33

Northern Primary School

14

Bacup St Saviour's Community Primary School

28

Sharneyford Primary School

15

Bacup Thorn Primary School

122

Helmshore Primary School

25

Ramsbottom Stubbins Primary School

20

Rawtenstall Water Primary School

8

Waterfoot Primary School

69

Tonacliffe Primary School

60

Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School

89

Crawshawbooth Primary School

34

Rawtenstall St Paul's Constable Lee Church of England Primary School

51

St Mary's Rawtenstall Church of England Primary School

59

St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

56

Edenfield Church of England Primary School

13

Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School

52

Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School

99

Rawtenstall St Anne's Church of England Primary School, Edgeside

53

St Veronica's Roman Catholic Primary School, Helmshore

18

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Stacksteads, Bacup

52

St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bacup

74

St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Newchurch

31

St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall

15

St John with St Michael Church of England Primary School, Shawforth

31

Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth

19

Alder Grange Community and Technology School

168

Fearns Community Sports College

247

Whitworth Community High School

124

All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, Rossendale

141

Belthorn Primary School

23

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

36

Rawtenstall Cribden House Community Special School

#

The Sunnyhurst Centre

#

Lower Darwen Primary School

30

Turton Belmont Community Primary School

x

Avondale Primary School

126

Sudell Primary School

96

Holy Trinity VC School

134

Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School

9

Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School

12

Darwen St Barnabas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

30

Darwen St James' Church of England Primary School

96

Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School

83

St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School

x

St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School

78

St Edward's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn

31

St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen

25

Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary

75

Darwen Vale High School

376

Ashleigh Primary School

43

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy

361

Notes:

X - Schools with less than five pupils or a percentage based on less than five pupils or an allocation amount based on less than five pupils have had their figures suppressed for data protection.

# - Pupil numbers for these schools are not included as they are either a maintained special school, special academy, pupil referral unit (PRU) or alternative provision (AP) academy. The premium for these establishments may be held with the local authority (please see the conditions of grant).

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what type of heating system is the primary source of heating in each building occupied by his Department and its agencies; and what fuel is used by those heating systems.

Identifying opportunities to decarbonise the department’s heating systems is already underway and the following breakdown of fuel sources has already been identified.

On the 93 sites that the Department provides heating:

  • 53 are provided by gas
  • 13 by electric
  • 11 by other Government departments or local Government offices where we are a minority occupier in their buildings.
  • 8 sites covered by service charges. This is the case in many small sites where we have a small office at a point of entry.
  • 4 by oil
  • 3 by biomass
  • 1 by LPG

A number of Defra’s buildings will become part of the Government Property Agency’s (GPA) Government property model and GPA is leading net zero plans to decarbonise these buildings. Defra will support these plans where required.

The buildings that remain under Defra group Property’s remit will be decarbonised as much as possible by the department’s Spending Review plans and by bidding for funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. These plans include the deployment of air or ground source heat pumps to support or replace existing heating systems, a move towards electrical heating and a better use of building management systems to achieve zonal heating to avoid heating unoccupied parts of a building.

There is also some exploratory work underway to look at the viability of hydrogen fuel heating and power generation which could help significantly with the decarbonisation of the laboratory sites.

The department will not rely on carbon offsets as a means to decarbonise buildings, instead making the reduction of direct emissions the primary aim.

4th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to tackle dog attacks on livestock.

New measures to crack down on livestock worrying are to be introduced in England and Wales through the Kept Animals Bill introduced to Parliament on 8 June.

We will enhance enforcement mechanisms available to the police and expand the scope of livestock species and locations covered by the law. Improved powers will enable the police to respond to livestock worrying incidents more effectively – making it easier for them to collect evidence and, in the most serious cases, seize and detain dogs to reduce the risk of further incidents.

The scope of livestock species covered by the legislation will be extended to include animals such as llamas, emus, enclosed deer and donkeys. New locations will include roads and paths, as long as the livestock have not strayed into a road.

4th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect (a) Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, (b) the West Pennine Moors and other moorland areas and (c) National Parks from fires caused by the use of disposable barbecues.

We are clear that everyone should follow the Countryside Code. A key part of Government strategy is to get clear and consistent messages to the media which highlight the problem and promote better behaviour in the countryside and encourage a partnership response.

There are existing powers in legislation which can be used by authorities to regulate and prohibit the lighting of fires on Access Land in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks. Current ‘Byelaw’ legislation allows for local authorities to restrict and enforce the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. Government has no plans for additional legislative proposals to introduce a seasonal ban on the use of disposable barbecues.

Government is working with AONBs, National Park Authorities; and other Government departments to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about travelling to and spending time outdoors safely in the wider countryside. This includes an updated Countryside Code which advises not to have barbeques or fires. This guidance is available at the following links:

Green space access: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely

The Countryside Code: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

4th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for a seasonal ban on the use of disposable barbecues away from the home in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, moorland areas and National Parks to help prevent fires after prolonged periods of dry weather.

We are clear that everyone should follow the Countryside Code. A key part of Government strategy is to get clear and consistent messages to the media which highlight the problem and promote better behaviour in the countryside and encourage a partnership response.

There are existing powers in legislation which can be used by authorities to regulate and prohibit the lighting of fires on Access Land in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks. Current ‘Byelaw’ legislation allows for local authorities to restrict and enforce the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. Government has no plans for additional legislative proposals to introduce a seasonal ban on the use of disposable barbecues.

Government is working with AONBs, National Park Authorities; and other Government departments to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about travelling to and spending time outdoors safely in the wider countryside. This includes an updated Countryside Code which advises not to have barbeques or fires. This guidance is available at the following links:

Green space access: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely

The Countryside Code: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the percentage gap in earnings is between the pay of full-time staff in the highest pay grade in her Department and average full-time pay in that Department.

The Office for National Statistics publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organisation. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics and can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

12th Dec 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to include worker representation on its departmental board.

I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement on the Corporate Governance Green Paper of 29 November 2016, Official Report, Column 1408.