James Cartlidge
Conservative - South Suffolk
3,047 (6.2%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 7th May 2015
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
(since July 2024)8 Former APPG memberships
Adult Social Care, Autism, Fair Business Banking, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Housing and Planning, New and Advanced Technologies, Smart Cities, YemenDivision Voting information
James Cartlidge voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Conservative Aye votes vs 92 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 275
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Department Debates
(37 debate contributions)
(10 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(2,651 words contributed)
South Suffolk 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).
of 145,894 signatures (0.24%)
of 153,764 signatures (0.20%)
of 58,561 signatures (0.18%)
of 207,425 signatures (0.17%)
of 207,425 signatures (0.17%)
of 145,894 signatures (0.24%)
of 153,764 signatures (0.20%)
of 124,605 signatures (0.16%)
Latest EDMs signed by James Cartlidge
Social Security
Tabled by: Rishi Sunak (Conservative - Richmond and Northallerton)That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.
(Most recent: 10 Sep 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 75
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
VICTIMS OF IRA LIBYAN SEMTEX
Tabled by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)That this House believes that it is the first duty of government to protect and promote the interest and well-being of its citizens, and therefore records its dismay at the failure of successive UK administrations to protect and promote the interests of the innocent victims of IRA/Libyan Semtex, their dependents …
(Most recent: 13 Jun 2016)
Signatures by party:
Democratic Unionist Party: 6
Conservative: 5
Ulster Unionist Party: 2
Labour: 2
Independent: 1
Non-affiliated: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by James Cartlidge, 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.
2 Urgent Questions tabled by James Cartlidge
James Cartlidge has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
1 Bill introduced by James Cartlidge
A Bill to make provision for the imposing of restrictions on assets owned by persons involved in supplying terrorist organisations in the United Kingdom with arms, for the purpose of securing compensation for citizens of the United Kingdom affected by the supply of such arms.
Wednesday 30th November 2016
7 Bills co-sponsored by James Cartlidge
National Health Service Reserve Staff Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)
Hares Preservation Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - George Eustice (Con)
Emergency Response Drivers (Protections) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lord Bellingham (Con)
National Health Service (Prohibition of Fax Machines and Pagers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)
British Victims of Terrorism (Asset-Freezing and Compensation) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Diplomatic Service (United Kingdom Wines and Sparkling Wines) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - None ()
Vehicle Fuel (Publication of Tax Information) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)As are all special advisers, the National Security Adviser is entitled to membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As a special adviser, the National Security Adviser’s salary is determined by the Special Adviser People Board, in line with the special adviser pay framework. Information on Special Adviser pay will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
All special advisers, including the National Security Adviser, are employed under the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, available on GOV.UK.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Special advisers’ salaries are determined by the Special Adviser People Board, in line with the special adviser pay framework.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Annual Report on Special Advisers is published annually as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration. The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers will be published later this year.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The IPA Annual Report is due to be published in early 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information about the remuneration of special advisers will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.
All special advisers are employed under the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, available on GOV.UK.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
My Rt Hon Friend the Defence Secretary represents veterans at Cabinet. He is supported by my Hon Friend the Member for Birmingham Selly Oak, a former distinguished Royal Marine Officer, whose appointment as Minister for Veterans and People reflects this Government’s commitment to delivering for veterans alongside the wider Defence community. This Government will work to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
There are over 11,500 post office branches in the UK – over half are in rural areas – which the Government supports through an annual £50m network subsidy to ensure the viability of rural and community branches.
Government further works to ensure Post Office Limited maintains a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria. The access criteria ensure that however the network changes, services remain within local reach of all citizens.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
While publicly owned, Post Office, as a commercial business with its own Board, operates at arm’s length from the Government. Therefore, the issue around exceptional payments is an operational matter for the Post Office.
The Post Office has however informed my officials that they have taken the decision to pause making further changes to exceptional payments until later this autumn.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Post Office is an essential service in communities across the country. The Government is committed to finding ways to strengthen the Post Office, through consulting with sub-postmasters, trade unions and customers. This will include supporting the development of new products, services and business models, such as banking hubs, that will help reinvigorate the high street.
Government provides an annual £50m Network Subsidy funding to support the delivery of a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
More than two years since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK continues to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression.
£3.5 billion is the total capacity UK Export Finance (UKEF) has to support transactions with Ukraine. It is already in place for support for eligible transactions, including any future transactions entered into under the new treaty. All transactions are subject to UKEF’s regular due diligence and approvals processes.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
More than two years since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK continues to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression.
£3.5 billion is the total capacity UK Export Finance (UKEF) has to support transactions with Ukraine. It is already in place for support for eligible transactions, including any future transactions entered into under the new treaty. All transactions are subject to UKEF’s regular due diligence and approvals processes.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
More than two years since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK continues to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression.
£3.5 billion is the total capacity UK Export Finance (UKEF) has to support transactions with Ukraine. It is already in place for support for eligible transactions, including any future transactions entered into under the new treaty. All transactions are subject to UKEF’s regular due diligence and approvals processes.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK Export Finance's Export Development Guarantee product helps companies who export from, or plan to export from the UK, access high value loan facilities for general working capital or capital expenditure purposes. The risk associated with this product remains centred in the UK, and consequently does not impact UKEF’s market limit for Ukraine.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
At the time of Ofgem’s decision for Eastern Green Link (EGL) 1&2 Final Need Case, an onshore option was expected to be delivered by 2036, based on information provided by the Transmission Owner, National Grid Electricity Transmission. It was not included as part of the Final Need Case,[1] as analysis conducted by the Electricity System Operator found that the reinforcement was needed earlier than the onshore option could be delivered.[2]
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The analysis of an onshore reinforcement (i.e. overhead pylons) for Western Green Link was conducted 16 years ago and cost estimates for alternative options are not available.
As the option of an onshore reinforcement for Eastern Green Link 1&2 did not meet the timeline for delivery, it was not progressed to the cost benefit analysis stage. As such, an estimate was not made for that option. Analysis of further stages of Eastern Green Link will be available in the future.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem reviews proposed project costs and ensures that network companies spend efficiently. Electricity network reinforcements are only approved where they are in the interests of consumers and help reduce system costs.
Ofgem identified a net lifetime benefit for Western Link, due to lower project and constraint costs compared to alternatives. [1] The system operator set out the project need case in 2007.
Ofgem’s analysis [2]of Eastern Green Link 1 and 2, noted that onshore reinforcements would not achieve required delivery dates resulting in increased constraint costs.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As part of the feasibility work for the coordination proposal explored through the Offshore Coordination Support Scheme, independent analysis by Arup and the Electricity System Operator (now the National Energy System Operator) identified an increase in development costs by up to £890 million, and additional constraint costs of greater than £1.5 billion over the project lifetime. While these costs would be expected to be recovered from consumer electricity bills, the interactions with other bill components mean there are uncertainties preventing a precise estimate of the impact.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New network infrastructure is essential to meet the rising demand for electricity and connect new renewable generation.
Ofgem estimates that the Western Link and Eastern Green Link will increase consumer bills by an average of £6.50 per annum over a 60-year period, taking inflation into account.
Ofgem approves electricity network build options that are efficient and provide an overall benefit to the consumer. Please see Ofgem’s cost benefit analysis of Western Link[1] and Eastern Green Link[2] for more details.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2 Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Questions
(View all James Cartlidge's DSIT questions)Project Gigabit is designed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that will not be built to by the market without subsidy.
It is not possible to specify the proportion of Project Gigabit funding that will be allocated to rural and urban areas, as this depends on suppliers’ commercial rollout, which is subject to change. Funding will continue to be provided where it is needed. However, between April 2022 and March 2023, 90% of premises benefiting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Project Gigabit is designed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that will not be built to by the market without subsidy.
It is not possible to specify the proportion of Project Gigabit funding that will be allocated to rural and urban areas, as this depends on suppliers’ commercial rollout, which is subject to change. Funding will continue to be provided where it is needed. However, between April 2022 and March 2023, 90% of premises benefiting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
1 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Questions
(View all James Cartlidge's DCMS questions)Future Government spending is a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The building project for Ormiston Sudbury Academy is in the procurement stage of the process. The project team is working with the school and contractor and the planning submission is on track to be submitted by the end of the year. Works are estimated to start in summer 2025 with a planned handover around 2028.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
9 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all James Cartlidge's Defra questions)Ministers and officials regularly meet with a range of farming stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, and the Tenant Farmers Association. We will continue to meet with stakeholders to ensure their views are heard.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government inherited flood assets in their worst condition on record following years of underinvestment by the previous Government – only 92% of the Environment Agency’s 38,000 high consequence assets are currently at required condition.
To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by building, maintaining, and repairing flood defences. The Government also announced an additional £50 million of investment into internal drainage boards, supporting farmers and rural communities from the impacts of flooding.
The new Flood Resilience Taskforce provides oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after the winter flood season.
Additionally, Defra’s farming budget will be £2.4 billion in 2025/26. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This funding will deliver improvements to cover a range of objectives including support to improve resilience to flooding.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government inherited flood assets in their worst condition on record following years of underinvestment by the previous Government – only 92% of the Environment Agency’s 38,000 high consequence assets are currently at required condition.
To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by building, maintaining, and repairing flood defences. The Government also announced an additional £50 million of investment into internal drainage boards, supporting farmers and rural communities from the impacts of flooding.
The new Flood Resilience Taskforce provides oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after the winter flood season.
Additionally, Defra’s farming budget will be £2.4 billion in 2025/26. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This funding will deliver improvements to cover a range of objectives including support to improve resilience to flooding.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has committed to support farmers through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26. We publish regular accredited official statistics on farm income in England and other data related to farm businesses. For example, on 14 November 2024, we published our Farm Business Income statistics (Farm business income - GOV.UK), which looked at how Farm Business Income has changed in 2023/24, including the contribution of Direct Payments and agri-environment payments to farm incomes and analysis by farm type.
The Farm Business Survey is based on a sample of around 1,400 farm businesses across England. While it is possible to produce some sub national information, the sample size means it is not possible to produce statistically robust breakdowns at constituency level.
In England, Farm Business Income has seen substantial year-on-year fluctuations over the past 15 years driven by a multitude of factors which include weather and market fluctuations. For most farm types, Farm Business Income in 2023/24 saw very large falls relative to the exceptional highs in 2022/23. At the all-farm level and a longer-term view, the average Farm Business Income of approximately £82,000 for the agricultural transition (2021/22-2023/24) remains above the pre-transition average of approximately £58,000 (2018/19-2020/21).
The Secretary of State discussed the department’s approach to the problem of low farming income across Britain at the Oxford Farming Conference on 9 January, and his full remarks can be found here.
We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are multiple factors that influence arable production, for example farmers will make business decisions in response to market signals such as input and output prices, so we are unable to attribute what degree of change between years is solely as a result of the weather.
Unfortunately, we do not produce output statistics at a constituency level.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is incentivising farmers to take part in rewilding schemes, soil health restoration and improving biodiversity through Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers to carry out actions that can help with the long-term productivity and resilience of the soil to benefit food production. These actions can also provide environmental benefits, such as increased biodiversity.
Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment. CS Mid-Tier is primarily focused on improving habitats and biodiversity; the mid-tier offer has now been merged with SFI for new entrants to schemes from 2024, but existing Mid-Tier agreements are not affected by this merge. CS Higher Tier supports farmers to deliver objectives including protection and enhancement of the natural environment, increase of biodiversity, and improvement of habitats.
Landscape Recovery supports farmers and land managers who want to take a large-scale, long-term approach to nurture wilder landscapes and wildlife-rich habitat. It supports objectives such as restoring ecological or hydrological function across a landscape, peatland restoration, woodland management, or habitat restoration.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected in the EU for the first time in autumn 2023 and it will take time to fully understand the impacts of this disease on the sector. We continue to investigate all reports of suspicion of disease and are monitoring the evidence of impacts domestically and on the continent.
In the meantime, we continue to attempt to prevent its spread. We acted quickly to contain disease when the first case this season was detected on 26 August, implementing zones with movement controls on susceptible livestock to prevent spread in East Anglia, and more recently in East Riding.
Defra has also permitted the use of vaccines for BTV-3 in the high-risk counties of south-east England.
Defra and APHA continue surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments, remaining vigilant for any changes, and will continue to work closely with key industry stakeholders to respond to developments and ensure that keepers have the information they need.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to supporting rural economies and ensuring the UK has a thriving and diverse economy that promotes local jobs and boosts growth.
The English wine sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors, which continues to attract domestic and foreign investment. Defra works closely with the sector to support its ambitions and drive growth and exports. This in turns helps to provide high-quality jobs in rural communities.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The police manage all incidents on the A14. National Highways is informed by the police of all incidents on the A14 and provides traffic officer support for serious incidents when a unit is available to attend.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Changes to shipping schedules and ports of call is standard practice within the shipping and ports market, with changes to shipping alliances being cyclical. At this time, it is not clear that the relocation of Maersk’s 2M Alliance operations away from Felixstowe will lead to any overarching change in cargo volumes, as their 2M partner, MSC, undertook many of the services and continues to call at the port. Additionally, some cargo is route based and does not automatically move when a shipping provider does. Finally, the potential opening of capacity at the port provides commercial opportunities for other shipping lines. Until there has been a period of re-adjustment within the market it is too early to understand the impacts on road links serving Felixstowe. The Department and National Highways will always consider relevant wider impacts in the operation, maintenance and plans for future enhancements on specific key infrastructure serving our ports.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Despite its public statements of support, the previous government made no funding available for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) or upgrades to Haughley Junction.
The Chancellor has been clear about the state of the nation's finances and has launched a multi-year Spending Review. The Transport Secretary is conducting a thorough review of the previous government's transport plans to ensure that our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers. Decisions about EACE and upgrades to Haughley Junction will be informed by this review process and confirmed in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The 2022 Outline Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) forecast that the scheme would lead to 98,000 fewer lorry journeys every year, implying benefits to the Ipswich road network. Despite its public statements of support, the previous government made no funding available for EACE or upgrades to Haughley Junction.
The Chancellor has been clear about the state of the nation's finances and has launched a multi-year Spending Review. The Transport Secretary is conducting a thorough review of the previous government's transport plans to ensure that our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers. Decisions EACE and upgrades to Haughley Junction will be informed by this review process and confirmed in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will introduce the Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs to the communities who rely on them, including in South Suffolk.
In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities. Suffolk County Council has been allocated £8.7 million.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the government’s top priorities as we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Department for Transport is looking at the future of the £2 fare cap as a matter of urgency and is considering the most appropriate and affordable approach for the future of the scheme.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways recognises the importance of the Orwell Bridge and the impact its closure will have for residents and the local economy. The planning for the replacement of the bridge’s bearings is currently at the preliminary design phase, part of which includes National Highways undertaking a series of studies to look at the impact of the works on the road users, as well as reviewing potential options for traffic management and their impact on the local community. This is in addition to environmental assessments and impact on traffic on the river if necessary.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The replacement of all 4 bridge joints on Orwell Bridge had been included within a scheme of planned works scheduled for construction starting in 2027. Due to the recent failure of one of the two westbound joints, National Highways is accelerating the replacement of both joints on the westbound carriageway to start within the current financial year. National Highways is in the process of developing the proposal for replacing the 2 eastbound joints as part of the planned scheme of works.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways has not conducted specific economic impact assessments for either partial or full closures of the Orwell Bridge. The decision to close the bridge, whether due to unplanned events or for planned maintenance, prioritises safety. Such closures are essential to ensure the safety of drivers, National Highways workers, the emergency services, and to keep the bridge safe and serviceable. These closures are also integral to the essential maintenance schedule for the transport network.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Proposed improvements to Junction 55 of the A14, Copdock Junction remain under consideration for delivery in a future Road Investment Strategy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Annual statistics on the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients and households by local authority and by Westminster parliamentary constituency are made publicly available via GOV.UK. The latest release contains data on individual and household level statistics for winter 2022 to 2023. For Winter 2022 to 2023, 24,610 people received a Winter Fuel Payment in South Suffolk constituency.
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
No specific assessment has been made by the Department. The National Health Service keeps under review the range of services it offers patients and the Government understands that many trusts are using the radiotherapy late effects service as part of the care pathway for their cancer patients.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is thoroughly reviewing the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and as part of that work, we have asked the CQC to improve the transparency of their ratings. The Department has not yet made a decision on changing the CQC’s ratings system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)