Jenny Willott

Liberal Democrat - Former Member for Cardiff Central

First elected: 5th May 2005

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)


Jenny Willott is not a member of any APPGs
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
6th Sep 2012 - 4th Nov 2014
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) (Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs)
20th Dec 2013 - 30th Jun 2014
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Culture, Media and Sport) (Women and Equalities) (jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)
20th Dec 2013 - 30th Jun 2014
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
3rd Feb 2012 - 6th Sep 2012
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
8th Jan 2009 - 6th May 2010
Public Administration Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 6th May 2010
Work and Pensions Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
7th Oct 2008 - 8th Jan 2009
Shadow Minister (Justice)
1st Jul 2008 - 7th Oct 2008
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Commons)
10th Mar 2006 - 1st Jul 2008
Shadow Minister (Education)
10th Mar 2006 - 20th Dec 2007


Division Voting information

Jenny Willott has voted in 1551 divisions, and 8 times against the majority of their Party.

11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 14 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 26 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 205 Noes - 228
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 222 Noes - 290
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 28 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 173 Noes - 309
26 Jun 2007 - Off-Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill [Money] - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 20 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 197 Noes - 165
28 Mar 2007 - Communications Allowance - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 19 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 26 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 283 Noes - 188
17 Oct 2006 - Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment) - View Vote Context
Jenny Willott voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 49 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 55 Noes - 240
View All Jenny Willott 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
Maria Miller (Conservative)
(12 debate interactions)
Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op))
(12 debate interactions)
Fiona O'Donnell (Labour)
(11 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(113 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(113 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(35 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(14 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Jenny Willott has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Jenny Willott's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Jenny Willott

12th March 2015
Jenny Willott signed this EDM on Wednesday 18th March 2015

VAT ON WOMEN'S SANITARY PRODUCTS

Tabled by: Charlotte Leslie (Conservative - Bristol North West)
That this House is concerned about the level of Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on women's sanitary products, such as tampons and sanitary towels; notes that, whilst female sanitary products are subject to a five per cent rate of VAT, shaving razors are subject to a zero per cent rate, …
70 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 21
Conservative: 5
Independent: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
The Independent Group for Change: 1
Green Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
5th March 2015
Jenny Willott signed this EDM on Thursday 12th March 2015

PARTIAL UPRATING FOR FROZEN PENSIONS

Tabled by: Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
That this House notes with concern the situation faced by 550,000 British pensioners living overseas, primarily in Commonwealth countries, who are currently deprived of annual state pension uprating adjustments by the Government's frozen pension policy; believes that there is a positive incremental solution of partial uprating, involving introducing annual uprating …
52 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 11
Conservative: 8
Independent: 3
Green Party: 1
The Independent Group for Change: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Plaid Cymru: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Jenny Willott's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jenny Willott, 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.


Jenny Willott has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Jenny Willott has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Jenny Willott has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Jenny Willott has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 8 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 Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much revenue his Department has generated through the processing and issuing of temporary passports overseas to British nationals who had lost or had their passports stolen whilst abroad in each of the last five years.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues two travel documents – Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) which allow for travel up to a maximum of five countries and Emergency Passports (EPs) which are used primarily in the event of a crisis. These travel documents are issued to British nationals who are overseas and whose passport is lost, stolen, damaged, has expired or is otherwise unavailable and who have a requirement to travel before a replacement passport is available. The total income from ETDs and EPs in the last five financial years is shown below. This cannot be accurately broken down by the reason why a travel document was issued.

Financial YearTotal Income
2014-15 (as of 24 Mar 2015)£3,481,866.30
2013-14£3,283,015.79
2012-13£2,810,021.69
2011-12£2,855,322.55
2010-11£1,739,616.52

The cost of consular services is not subsidised by the UK taxpayer. The charges for services we provide, such as ETDs, are calculated to cover the full cost of the consular operation globally.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many temporary passports were issued overseas to British nationals who had lost or had their passports stolen whilst abroad in each of the last five years.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can issue Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) to British national overseas if their passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, has expired or is otherwise unavailable. A breakdown of ETDs issued by the FCO over the last five years for lost/stolen passports is below, as well as the complete figure.

YearETDs issued for Lost/Stolen Passports (Global)Total number of ETDs issued
201419,40039,053
201318,06930,006
201217,29828,880
2011No data available27,467
2010No data available14,367
23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many temporary passports were issued by the British authorities in Spain to British nationals who had lost or had their passports stolen in each of the last five years.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can issue Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) to British national overseas if their passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, has expired or is otherwise unavailable. A breakdown of ETDs issued in Spain over the last five years is in the table below.

YearETDs issued for Lost/Stolen Passports (Spain)ETDs issued for all reasons (Spain)
20145,0286,373
20135,0585,924
20125,1806,029
2011No data available5,323
2010No data available4,198*

(*from March 2010 – Dec 2010)

3rd Dec 2014
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to reduce tax avoidance in the UK.

I refer you to my earlier answer to the question asked by the Member for Stevenage (Stephen McPartland).

28th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of safety deposit boxes across the UK; and if she will make a statement.

The Home Office does not have an estimate of the numbers of safety deposit boxes available across the United Kingdom, and we have not had any discussions on this matter.

However, the Crime Prevention Panel, which is chaired by myself and supported by Home Office officials, has been looking at the safe storage of gold jewellery and other valuable items, both in people’s homes and in external
storage facilities.

28th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with (a) banks, (b) solicitors and (c) other providers on the availability of safety deposit boxes across the UK; and if she will make a statement.

The Home Office does not have an estimate of the numbers of safety deposit boxes available across the United Kingdom, and we have not had any discussions on this matter.

However, the Crime Prevention Panel, which is chaired by myself and supported by Home Office officials, has been looking at the safe storage of gold jewellery and other valuable items, both in people’s homes and in external
storage facilities.

28th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with suppliers of safety deposit facilities on ensuring that the annual cost of hiring and using such facilities is kept at a reasonable level; and if she will make a statement.

The Home Office does not have an estimate of the numbers of safety deposit boxes available across the United Kingdom, and we have not had any discussions on this matter.

However, the Crime Prevention Panel, which is chaired by myself and supported by Home Office officials, has been looking at the safe storage of gold jewellery and other valuable items, both in people’s homes and in external
storage facilities.

10th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with police forces on the effects on burglary rates of the number of safety deposit boxes available to the public.

The Home Office has not held discussions with police forces on the possible effect on burglary rates arising from the availability of safety deposit boxes.

However, the Crime Prevention Panel that we established in March this year, which brings together a range of experts to identify new ideas for preventing crime, is looking at issues around the safe storage of gold jewellery and other valuable items, both in people’s homes and in external storage facilities. We expect the findings from this work to be available in early 2015.