Jeremy Lefroy

Conservative - Former Member for Stafford

First elected: 6th May 2010


Environmental Audit Committee
15th Jul 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
30th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union
31st Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Committees on Arms Export Controls
10th Feb 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
28th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
14th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
International Development Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
31st Oct 2012 - 30th Mar 2015
International Development Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

Jeremy Lefroy has voted in 1740 divisions, and 62 times against the majority of their Party.

4 Sep 2019 - European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 57 Conservative Aye votes vs 180 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 495
18 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 17 Conservative Aye votes vs 262 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 315 Noes - 274
18 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Conservative No votes vs 262 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 273 Noes - 315
18 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 57 Conservative No votes vs 65 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 328 Noes - 65
15 Jul 2019 - High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 246 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 253
15 Jul 2019 - High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative Aye votes vs 239 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 217 Noes - 246
9 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 65 Conservative No votes vs 105 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 383 Noes - 73
19 Jun 2019 - Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 14 Conservative Aye votes vs 130 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 132
19 Jun 2019 - Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 9 Conservative Aye votes vs 115 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 203 Noes - 117
1 Apr 2019 - Business of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 28 Conservative Aye votes vs 264 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 322 Noes - 277
1 Apr 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Votes) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 36 Conservative Aye votes vs 236 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 273 Noes - 276
1 Apr 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Votes) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 32 Conservative Aye votes vs 228 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 261 Noes - 282
27 Mar 2019 - Business of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 33 Conservative Aye votes vs 272 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 331 Noes - 287
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 94 Conservative No votes vs 157 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 160 Noes - 400
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 37 Conservative Aye votes vs 225 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 188 Noes - 283
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 59 Conservative Aye votes vs 200 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 377
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative Aye votes vs 234 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 264 Noes - 272
25 Mar 2019 - European Union (Withdrawal) Act - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 30 Conservative Aye votes vs 281 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 329 Noes - 302
25 Mar 2019 - European Union (Withdrawal) Act - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 28 Conservative Aye votes vs 280 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 327 Noes - 300
14 Mar 2019 - UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 112 Conservative Aye votes vs 188 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 412 Noes - 202
29 Jan 2019 - European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 17 Conservative Aye votes vs 295 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 310
4 Dec 2018 - Business of the House (European Union (Withdrawal) Act) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Conservative Aye votes vs 282 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 321 Noes - 299
17 Jul 2018 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 302 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 295 Noes - 314
17 Jul 2018 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 12 Conservative Aye votes vs 289 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 301
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 66 Conservative Aye votes vs 164 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 236 Noes - 220
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 68 Conservative Aye votes vs 166 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 185
14 Sep 2016 - European Union (UK Withdrawal from Membership) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 38 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 50 Noes - 179
23 Mar 2016 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative Aye votes vs 242 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 43 Noes - 245
23 Mar 2016 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative Aye votes vs 249 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 190 Noes - 254
23 Mar 2016 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Conservative No votes vs 238 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 399 Noes - 42
9 Mar 2016 - Enterprise Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Conservative Aye votes vs 281 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 317 Noes - 286
26 Mar 2015 - Elections for Positions in the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Conservative No votes vs 198 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 202 Noes - 228
23 Feb 2015 - Serious Crime Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Conservative Aye votes vs 253 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 296
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy 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
21 Nov 2014 - National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 20 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 239 Noes - 20
21 Nov 2014 - National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 18 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 18
27 Oct 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 110 Conservative Aye votes vs 135 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 166 Noes - 340
28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Conservative Aye votes vs 221 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 50 Noes - 451
28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 25 Conservative No votes vs 220 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 452 Noes - 41
11 Mar 2014 - Care Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative Aye votes vs 251 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 288
11 Mar 2014 - Care Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 249 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 239 Noes - 297
5 Mar 2014 - Judgments - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 83 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 360 Noes - 104
5 Mar 2014 - Registration of Births, deaths and marriages etc - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative No votes vs 124 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 363 Noes - 100
5 Mar 2014 - Registration of births, deaths and marriages etc - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 83 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 103
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 367 Noes - 100
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 84 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 365 Noes - 103
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 79 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 368 Noes - 98
7 Jan 2014 - Mesothelioma Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative Aye votes vs 241 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 247 Noes - 286
31 Oct 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative No votes vs 229 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 350 Noes - 34
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 20 Conservative Aye votes vs 197 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 37 Noes - 325
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative No votes vs 199 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 27
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 87 Conservative No votes vs 142 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 241 Noes - 256
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 93 Conservative Aye votes vs 139 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 233
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy 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
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 39 Conservative Aye votes vs 167 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 205 Noes - 228
17 Apr 2012 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Conservative No votes vs 252 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 256
22 Feb 2012 - Annual Statements of Healthcare Costs - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Conservative No votes vs 78 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 81 Noes - 176
24 Oct 2011 - National Referendum on the European Union - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative Aye votes vs 209 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 111 Noes - 483
10 Oct 2011 - Protection of Freedoms Bill (Programme) (No. 3) - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 40 Conservative Aye votes vs 198 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 62 Noes - 243
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy 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
13 Oct 2010 - Public Houses and Private Members’ Clubs (Smoking) Bill - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 37 Conservative No votes vs 74 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 86 Noes - 141
15 Jun 2010 - Backbench Business Committee - View Vote Context
Jeremy Lefroy voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 75 Conservative Aye votes vs 188 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 171 Noes - 263
View All Jeremy Lefroy 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
Andrea Leadsom (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(76 debate interactions)
Chris Grayling (Conservative)
(60 debate interactions)
Jeremy Hunt (Conservative)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
(60 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(177 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(143 debate contributions)
Department for International Development
(125 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Jeremy Lefroy's debates

Stafford 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).

Petition Debates Contributed

Parliament must not be prorogued or dissolved unless and until the Article 50 period has been sufficiently extended or the UK's intention to withdraw from the EU has been cancelled.

Children & young adults with CF endure lifelong suffering & early death. They need Orkambi and other precision medicines as they are developed. Sufferers in the EU, US & Australia can access the drugs, but not the UK. Hundreds have died in the 3yrs since these drugs were licensed.

Every year fireworks are set off unnecessarily.
Fireworks are a nuisance to the public. They scare animals, young children and people with a phobia.
They injure thousands of people every year.
They cause damage to buildings, vehicles,emergancy vehicles etc.
Lastly Kids are STILL being sold them.

PETA, an organisation that is meant to be dedicated to protecting animals, has proposed to the UK government that it should add Staffordshire Bull Terriers to the dangerous dogs act, effectively banning them outright. Breed Specific Legislation is not the solution to the problem of dog attacks.


Latest EDMs signed by Jeremy Lefroy

23rd October 2019
Jeremy Lefroy signed this EDM on Thursday 31st October 2019

Persecution of Christians

Tabled by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - South West Surrey)
That this House notes the 2019 report of Aid to the Church in Need entitled Persecuted and Forgotten? which shows that the Christian population of Iraq has declined by 90 per cent within a generation from 1.5 million before 2003 to less than 150,000 today; recognises that any Daesh resurgence …
43 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 15
Labour: 12
Scottish National Party: 8
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Liberal Democrat: 2
Green Party: 1
14th October 2019
Jeremy Lefroy signed this EDM on Wednesday 16th October 2019

Anti-Semitic Attack in Halle, Germany

Tabled by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
That this House condemns in the strongest possible terms the heinous anti-semitic attack at the synagogue in Halle, Germany, and sends condolences to those affected; notes with concern the increase in antisemitism in society and the impact on the Jewish community; resolves to support the Jewish community in doing everything …
64 signatures
(Most recent: 16 Dec 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 34
Scottish National Party: 7
Independent: 6
Conservative: 6
Liberal Democrat: 6
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Green Party: 1
Plaid Cymru: 1
The Independent Group for Change: 1
View All Jeremy Lefroy's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jeremy Lefroy, 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.


Jeremy Lefroy has not been granted any Urgent Questions

7 Adjournment Debates led by Jeremy Lefroy

Monday 8th July 2019
Wednesday 20th June 2018
Friday 18th November 2016
Thursday 10th December 2015
Wednesday 3rd June 2015
Friday 7th November 2014
Thursday 4th July 2013

3 Bills introduced by Jeremy Lefroy


A Bill to make provision about the safety of health and social care services in England; to make provision about the integration of information relating to users of health and social care services in England; to make provision about the sharing of information relating to an individual for the purposes of providing that individual with health or social care services in England; to make provision for removing individuals convicted of certain offences from the registers kept by the regulatory bodies for health and social care professions; to make provision about the objectives of the regulatory bodies for health and social care professions and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care; to make provision about the disposal of cases concerning a person’s fitness to practise a health or social care profession; and for connected purposes.

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


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 enable electricity generators to become local electricity suppliers; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 6th September 2018

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 enable local planning authorities to impose a mandatory financial penalty where planning permission has been deliberately breached; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 24th April 2013

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
10 Other Department Questions
9th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total amount of renewable energy generation was in the second quarter of 2015.

The total amount of renewable electricity generation for the second quarter of 2015 was 19,945 GWh. Full details, including breakdowns by technology, can be found in the Quarterly Energy Trends release, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not publish other renewable generation figures (heat and transport) on a quarterly basis, but annual figures are available in Table 6.6 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes.

Andrea Leadsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
16th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total renewable installed capacity was on 30 June 2015.

At the end of March 2015, total renewable electricity installed capacity in the UK was 26.4 GW. Figures as at end of June 2015 will be available on 24 September 2015.

Source:

Table 6.1, Energy Trends section 6: renewables, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables.

Andrea Leadsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Jun 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 1698W, on trade unions: political levy, how many and what proportion of members of each trade union in Great Britain with a political fund have opted out of the political levy according to the most recent records held by the Certification Officer.

I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) to UIN 1755.

26th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship starts there were in Stafford constituency in each year since 2008.

Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in a supplementary table to a Statistical First Release (SFR):

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378235/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

17th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps his Department is taking to support businesses in Stafford constituency.

I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 October 2014 to Question UIN 210227.

The primary support for business in Stafford and elsewhere is our long term economic plan which is delivering jobs, growth and low inflation.

16 start up loans have been made available in Stafford and 1,000 Apprenticeships in the past year.

My Hon. Friend may also wish to note that in the Stafford constituency there is one Round 1 Regional Growth Fund project with a grant of £4 million leveraging £57 million of private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 1,600 jobs. The grant will help the company undertake research and development for the creation of High Voltage Direct Current power transmission products, including the installation of equipment at a new engineering centre of excellence owned and run by the company in Stafford. It will create 200 new jobs and safeguard 1,400 existing jobs.

Businesses can access support via two local programmes that cover the Stafford constituency. These are run by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the above there are a number of national Regional Growth Fund programmes which companies in Stafford can apply to.

Stoke and Staffordshire LEP area is one of 15 Wave 2 Cities who are receiving £6.4m Government funding to establish growth hubs in 2014-15, from a £32m Regional Growth Fund programme managed by Lancaster University which also includes local business support. Growth hubs are intended to raise awareness and take up of business support, impact of business support, simplify the local business support landscape, eliminate duplication and improve the impact of business support, helping to increase private sector growth.

17th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many businesses the Manufacturing Advisory Service has assisted in Stafford constituency since May 2010.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has assisted 22 companies in Stafford since 1 January 2012 when the new national MAS service was launched. Businesses have forecast this could help create 65 jobs and over £2.75 million Gross Value Added. Figures are not available for the regional MAS delivered by the former Regional Development Agencies prior to January 2012.

31st Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new companies were started in Stafford constituency in each of the last three years.

In each of the last three years, the following numbers of companies were incorporated in the Staffordshire constituency:

Year

Number

2011/12

13,336

2012/13

13,349

2013/14

13,445

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months.

The Government is committed to ensuring businesses can access the finance they need to invest and grow.

We are setting up the British Business Bank to make finance markets work better for small firms. Over the next five years, the Bank aims to unlock up to £10 billion of financing for viable smaller businesses. The Business Bank funds schemes including Start Up Loans and the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

A breakdown of businesses in the Stafford Constituency that have been supported by British Business Bank schemes last 12 months are detailed in the table below.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG)

Start Up Loans Company

Stafford constituency

7 loans with a drawn value of £1,051,700

16 loans with a drawn value of £59,850

*Data from 01/09/2013-31/08/2014

The Black Country Reinvestment Society (BCRS) are a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) serving the Stafford constituency providing credit and funding to local businesses unable to secure finance from traditional financial institutions such as banks. BCRS are accredited to provide EFG backed lending facilities and are also a Start Up Loan delivery partner.

The Community Development Finance Association (of which BCRS is a member) have also received Regional Growth Fund support

There is one Round 1 Regional Growth Fund project in the Stafford constituency with a grant of £4 million, leveraging £56.5 million of private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 1,600 jobs.

The grant will assist this project to undertake research and development (R&D) for the creation of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power transmission products at a new engineering centre of excellence in Stafford. The project will create 200 jobs and safeguard 1400 jobs in Stafford and involves a new R&D centre, together with the installation of technical equipment.

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Stafford constituency.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and our small business owners have driven this economic recovery. Stafford has benefitted from a number of support schemes. The Start-Up Loan Scheme has provided business advice and 16 loans with a value of almost £60,000 to people starting a business. Since May 2010, 7 companies have benefitted from the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme with a drawn down value of over £1 million.

We are committed to making Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and are doing this in a number of ways:

  • £10 billion of financing will be unlocked for smaller business over the next 5 years by our British Business Bank;
  • Government grants of up to £3000 for better internet connectivity are available to small businesses;

  • The Business Support Helpline is available to provide bespoke information and advice;
  • Cuts to corporation tax from 28% to 21%; and
  • £2,000 cut from the National Insurance bills of small firms from the new Employment Allowance.

16th Jul 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the gold reserves of the Bank of England were on 30 June (a) 1998, (b) 2008 and (c) 2018.

The Bank of England does not own any gold reserves of its own, except for two bars held for display at the Bank of England Museum. However, the Bank provides safe custody for the UK's gold reserves and for other customers. It has only started recently publishing the weight of all the gold in its custody on its website, which includes data back to 2011. On 30 June 2018, it held 166,516,000 fine troy ounces of gold. There is no equivalent data available for 1998 and 2008.

23rd May 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many young people in Stafford constituency participated in the National Citizen Service in each of the last two years.

I am pleased to report that over 1,200 young people in Staffordshire have participated in NCS over the past two years. The NCS Trust does not collect data at a constituency level. Therefore, the figures below are for the local authority area of Staffordshire:

2014 - 465 participants
2015 - 738 participants

21st Jan 2016
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department calculated the risk of antimicrobial resistance for the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies published in 2015.

The National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies (NRR) is the public-facing version of the National Risk Assessment (NRA), a classified assessment of the civil emergency risks facing the UK over the next five years. The NRR is published by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Cabinet Office. Due to sensitivities, beyond the detail contained within the NRR (particularly Chapter 3 of the 2015 iteration) the NRA methodology is not for public disclosure. However, every risk in the NRR is owned and assessed by a lead government department. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is owned by the Department of Health, which is preparing a paper for submission to the Lancet that sets out the analytical methods used to underpin the National AMR Strategy.

4th Sep 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received on the effect on campaigning before the 2015 General Election of the provisions of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 30 January 2014. Section 39 of the Act provides for a post-election review of the operation of the regulatory regime governing third parties at the 2015 General Election.

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE was appointed to lead the independent review on 28 January 2015. Work on the review is ongoing.

The reviewer must make a written report on the review and provide this to the Minister who must lay a copy of the report before Parliament and publish the report in such a manner as they consider appropriate by November 2016.

3rd Dec 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the likely change over the next 20 years to the proportion of the population of Stafford constituency who are over the age of 85.

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

17th Nov 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Stafford constituency are registered self-employed.

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

17th Nov 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the net change in the number of private sector jobs in Stafford constituency was in the latest period for which figures are available.

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

8th Jul 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many babies were born at Stafford Hospital in each year since 2009-10.

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

2nd Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to establish an industrial energy efficiency scheme.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund was announced in October 2018. We are providing £315m for this fund to support industrial energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. This will help to bring down energy costs and reduce carbon emissions for vital industries, including energy intensive industries. We have sought stakeholder views through our informal consultation as well as a market intelligence exercise, helping to inform the design of the fund. We will publish a consultation setting out our preferred fund design and invite stakeholders to comment shortly.

The IETF will complement existing schemes such as the Industrial Heat Recovery Scheme and the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator.

3rd Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what involvement his Department has had in the establishment of the new accelerated access pathway.

The establishment of the pathway has been led by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), working with industry and patients. The establishment of the AAC has been supported by the Office for Life Sciences, which is a joint unit between both the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). A member of the BEIS departmental board sits on the AAC.

3rd Jul 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of generating capacity after the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors are decommissioned in 2023.

The Capacity Market is securing the capacity required to meet peak electricity demand through auctions held four and one year ahead of delivery. It supports technically reliable existing plant to remain in the market and, as coal and other ageing plant retire, it strengthens incentives for new plant to be financed and built.

The Capacity Market has already secured over 5.4GW of new build capacity for delivery between 2018/19 and 2021/22. Alongside traditional gas generation, significant levels of alternative, innovative new capacity, such as demand-side response (DSR) and battery storage, has been brought forward. This wide range of new resources is helping deliver the security, reliability and flexibility that the country needs.

Other measures being taken to ensure the security of electricity supply include the broadening of the UK’s generation base through the deployment of new nuclear generation, with Hinkley Point C under construction, and offshore wind.

3rd Jul 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on contracts held by UK businesses under the Euratom Supply Agency.

Under Euratom Treaty arrangements, businesses based in Euratom Member States are required to seek approval from the Euratom Supply Agency to conclude contracts for the supply of nuclear materials. When the UK leaves the Euratom Community, UK businesses will only be subject to these arrangements for supply contracts involving businesses in a Euratom Member State. The EU position is that, in a “no deal” scenario, these contracts would require re-approval once the UK is no longer part of the Euratom Community, as set out in the EU’s Notice to Stakeholders published on 28 March 2018[1].

The UK has raised this as a priority issue with the European Commission, as set out in the UK’s position paper on Nuclear materials and safeguards issues, published on 13 July 2017[2]. This remains an issue of concern to the nuclear industry in both the UK and in the wider EU. There are positive signs that the Commission are seeking ways to address the problem, and the UK will continue to press for a solution that does not lead to any additional costs or inconvenience to industry.

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/euratom_en

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-materials-and-safeguards-issues-position-paper

3rd Jul 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the ability of the Office for Nuclear Regulation to take over the (a) inspection and (b) oversight of responsibilities from Euratom on (i) 30 March 2019 and (b) 1 January 2021.

We continue to work closely with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) as they take on the role and responsibilities required to enable the UK’s domestic nuclear safeguards regime to meet international nuclear safeguards and nuclear non-proliferation obligations when Euratom safeguards arrangements no longer apply in the UK.

Based on current progress, the ONR will be in a position to deliver a regime that will discharge the commitments set out in the UK’s new safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency by 29 March 2019.

The ONR will move to deliver Euratom equivalence as soon as possible. The speed with which the ONR is able to apply a system offering equivalent effectiveness and coverage as that provided by the Euratom regime is dependent on a wide variety of factors. These factors include negotiations on future cooperation with Euratom and technical discussions between Euratom and the ONR.

17th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding for research has been allocated by the EU to UK institutions in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, and (c) 2016-17.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regularly publish statistics on UK participations in Horizon 2020, the main EU programme for research and innovation funding. As part of Horizon 2020, between 2014 and 2017 UK organisations have been allocated €4.0 billion research funding. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-participation-in-horizon-2020-september-2017.

The European Commission publishes data on the 2014-20 European Structural and Investment Funds programmes. Over €1.6bn has been allocated for research and innovation to the UK. Further information can be found at: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/countries/UK# .

4th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many new companies were started in Stafford constituency in each of the last three years.

The Office for National Statistics has published user requested statistics regarding the number of enterprise “births” in UK Parliamentary Constituencies. A “birth” occurs when a business appears on the Inter-Departmental Business Register, following registration for either VAT or PAYE.

The following table gives “births” in the Stafford Parliamentary Constituency for the most recent three years available.

Stafford Parliamentary Constituency

2013 - 405

2014 - 415

2015 - 380

4th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses the Manufacturing Advisory Service has assisted in Stafford constituency since May 2015.

A study carried out by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills found that 13% of all projects funded by the government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service between (2012 - 2016) were located in the West Midlands, however the service was closed in (March) 2016. However, figures are not broken down to specific areas or towns.

4th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Stafford constituency.

We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow and the right conditions are in place for companies to invest for the long-term.

Small businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub also acts as the first port of call for local businesses seeking advice or support. Since its launch in May 2014, the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub has engaged and supported 4340 businesses and it has helped 385 individuals to start up a new business.

Since November 2014, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated over £4.3m* to 87 businesses in the constituency of Stafford. This includes 54 Start-up Loans at a value of £415,957.

Stafford constituency is also part of the Midlands Engine. A key part of the Government’s strategy for fuelling growth in the region is the £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is a result of close collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It aims to transform the finance landscape for smaller businesses in the Midlands, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation. The Fund launched its first wave, £120m of Debt and Small Business funds, at the end of August.

*This does not include ENABLE funding data as this is not available at a constituency level.

4th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months.

We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow and the right conditions are in place for companies to invest for the long-term.

Small businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub also acts as the first port of call for local businesses seeking advice or support. Since its launch in May 2014, the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub has engaged and supported 4340 businesses and it has helped 385 individuals to start up a new business.

Since November 2014, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated over £4.3m* to 87 businesses in the constituency of Stafford. This includes 54 Start-up Loans at a value of £415,957.

Stafford constituency is also part of the Midlands Engine. A key part of the Government’s strategy for fuelling growth in the region is the £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is a result of close collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It aims to transform the finance landscape for smaller businesses in the Midlands, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation. The Fund launched its first wave, £120m of Debt and Small Business funds, at the end of August.

*This does not include ENABLE funding data as this is not available at a constituency level.

4th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to support businesses in Stafford constituency.

We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to ensure they can access finance and wider support to grow and the right conditions are in place for companies to invest for the long-term.

Small businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire can access support through GOV.UK and the Business Support Helpline. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub also acts as the first port of call for local businesses seeking advice or support. Since its launch in May 2014, the Stoke and Staffordshire Growth Hub has engaged and supported 4340 businesses and it has helped 385 individuals to start up a new business.

Since November 2014, British Business Bank programmes have facilitated over £4.3m* to 87 businesses in the constituency of Stafford. This includes 54 Start-up Loans at a value of £415,957.

Stafford constituency is also part of the Midlands Engine. A key part of the Government’s strategy for fuelling growth in the region is the £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), which is a result of close collaboration between the British Business Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It aims to transform the finance landscape for smaller businesses in the Midlands, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation. The Fund launched its first wave, £120m of Debt and Small Business funds, at the end of August.

*This does not include ENABLE funding data as this is not available at a constituency level.

13th Apr 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to his EU counterparts on the UK continuing to participate in the Horizon research network after the UK leaves the EU.

This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.

The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union’ White Paper set out that the UK Government would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives and we will approach the upcoming negotiations on this basis. The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.

18th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on the Government having full access to and use of technologies developed outside the UK and used in the construction of new nuclear power stations in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

It is for developers to bring forward new nuclear power stations in England and Wales; this includes procuring the technology. All developers must submit their full designs to the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agencies as part of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process: the GDA is the non-statutory system by which the UK’s independent nuclear regulators assess safety, security and environmental aspects of new reactor designs proposed for use in the UK. In addition, any organisation wishing to carry out prescribed nuclear activities must apply for, and be granted, a nuclear site licence. A site licence puts the licence holder under strict legal obligations and, importantly, gives specific regulatory powers to ONR to ensure the safe and secure construction, commissioning and operation of a nuclear site.

18th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the training of sufficient engineers and technicians to support the UK nuclear industry.

The Government is working with industry and skills bodies to achieve this goal, and Government-backed skills initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Levy and the National College for Nuclear are examples of actions taken to date. The National College for Nuclear aims to train 7,000 people by 2020, with the first intake of students to begin in September 2017.

The Government plans to deliver the majority of skills needed for the sector through national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, including apprenticeships and higher education in combination with organisations’ in-house training and targeted support from accredited skills bodies.

16th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to acquire significant equity stakes in new nuclear power stations to be constructed in the UK.

The Government engages with developers proposing new nuclear projects in the UK on a range of issues, including funding. Discussions on funding, as my hon. Friend would expect, are commercially sensitive.

16th Jan 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to acquire a golden share in each new nuclear power station project in the UK.

The Government announced on September 15 2016 that, after Hinkley Point C, it would take a special share in all future nuclear new build projects. A special share would be discussed at the time any support package for a project is negotiated, and before a developer makes a Final Investment Decision and starts construction.

26th May 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new companies were started in Stafford constituency in each of the last two years.

Companies House estimates that, in the Stafford parliamentary constituency area, the number of new companies started is as follows:

2014-15: 1,649

2015-16: 1,701

These figures are estimates because Companies House’s data is drawn from postcode areas and these can cross constituency boundaries.

24th May 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses in Stafford constituency.

The Government is working to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business by supporting businesses across the country. In Stafford, 42 Government backed Start-Up Loans have been drawn down since September 2012 with a value of over £218,000. A Regional Growth Fund award of £4m made in 2011 has attracted private investment of £56.5 million, delivering 1,600 jobs. Since May 2010, 26 loans have been drawn down in Stafford, worth over £2.6 million, from the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme. Businesses in Stafford also have access to the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub which was live from September 2014, which is one of a network of 39 Growth Hubs set up across England.

24th May 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months.

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 contained two specific policies to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in accessing finance.

The first requires major banks to refer SMEs they reject for finance to designated ‘finance platforms’ that can help match SMEs with alternative finance providers. This will ensure that viable SMEs, including businesses in Stafford, that may not fit the major banks’ risk appetite can still get the finance they need to grow and expand. Three platforms have recently been designated by HM Treasury on the advice of the British Business Bank and are expected to come into operation later this year.

The second requires the major banks to share information on their SME customers, with the SME’s permission, with other lenders through designated Credit Reference Agencies. This will improve the ability of challenger banks and alternative finance providers to conduct accurate risk assessments and level the playing field between providers and make it easier for SMEs to get finance from providers other than their bank.

The Government is supporting the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Crowdfunding sectors, which provide alternative sources of finance for both businesses and individuals. The British Business Bank, for example, has invested £100m in SMEs via five P2P platforms.

In addition, the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme has facilitated over £2.6 billion of bank lending and other finance to over 25,000 SMEs. Since the start of the scheme, 45 EFG loans have been drawn down in Stafford worth over £5 million. Government has also provided loans through the Start Up Loans Company to help new businesses in Stafford. 42 start up businesses in Stafford have secured a loan from the Start Up Loans Company, with a total value of over £218, 000.

More widely, credit conditions for business continue to improve with net lending to SMEs in 2015 positive across the complete year, the first time this has happened since the financial crisis.

9th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on how many new antibiotics are in development by UK companies.

The Department does not hold information on how many new antibiotics are in development by UK companies.

The independent review on antimicrobial resistance led by Lord O’Neill publication Securing New Drugs for Future Generations – the Pipeline of antibiotics, provides a high-level assessment of the development pipeline for new antibiotics:

http://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/SECURING%20NEW%20DRUGS%20FOR%20FUTURE%20GENERATIONS%20FINAL%20WEB_0.pdf

9th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many small business groups and coalitions responded to the Government's consultation, Devolving Sunday trading rules, published on 5 August 2015; and what (a) number and (b) proportion of those respondents answered (i) yes, (ii) no and (iii) otherwise to Question 1 in that consultation.

The Department does not hold full data from this consultation broken down by specific question as a large portion of respondents chose to respond in their own words rather than addressing the consultation questions directly, and/or did not indicate the type of organisation they represented.

9th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish in full the responses to Question 3 of the Government's consultation, Devolving Sunday trading rules, published on 5 August 2015, before Report Stage of the Enterprise Bill [Lords].

The Government published its response to the consultation on 9 February, in which it sets out its proposals to devolve Sunday trading rules to a local level. The Government has no plans to publish in full the responses at this time.

13th Dec 2018
What steps his Department is taking to promote cultural diplomacy.

I refer the Hon Member to my response during Topical questions today in the Chamber.

18th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has held recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the effect on levels of tourism of litter on (a) public highways and (b) the countryside; and if he will make a statement.

Littering is a concern for everyone, residents and visitors alike. VisitBritain have recently carried out research into the factors that encourage people to come to the UK. Litter was one of the factors they asked people to consider, and the report will be released on the VisitBritain website in due course.

Additionally, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have put forward measures in their 25 Year Plan to address littering.

18th Apr 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the English Baccalaureate on access to creative subjects.

The Government is clear that the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) should be studied as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. It is limited in size in order to allow pupils to continue to study additional subjects that reflect their individual interests and strengths, including arts subjects. The proportion of pupils taking at least one Arts GCSE has fluctuated but remained broadly stable since the EBacc was introduced in 2010

Arts subjects are not limited to the classroom, and according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Taking Part Survey, in 2017-18, 96% of children aged 5-15 had engaged with the arts in the past 12 months[1]. The government is providing almost £500 million of funding between 2016-20 for arts and cultural education programmes.

[1] The arts cover music activities, theatre/drama, reading/writing, arts crafts and design, film, video, media, and radio activities, dance activities, street arts, circus, carnival, and festival activities.

5th Feb 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the review of exclusions practice led by Edward Timpson CBE will publish its final report.

​In March 2018, the Government launched an externally-led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review is exploring how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics are more likely to be excluded from school. It is also considering the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.

​The review has gathered substantial evidence, including over 900 submissions to the call for evidence. Edward Timpson has also chaired a series of roundtables and the review has met with over 100 organisations and individuals, including schools, local authorities, parents and children. The review will report in this term.

10th Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Government has made on its staying close scheme for children leaving residential care; and how many such children have been involved in that scheme.

We are providing around £6 million in the period 2018 to 2019 and in the period 2019 to 2020 for a national pilot of Staying Close in eight sites.

These pilots provide an enhanced support offer for those leaving residential care. The support offer includes an accommodation offer close to their former children’s home alongside practical and emotional support from a member of staff from their former children's home whom they know and trust.

Reports from the pilots show that 120 care leavers participated in the Staying Close pilots from January 2018 to July 2018.

A full evaluation will be available when the pilots end in March 2020.

10th Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the guidance, Staying put: arrangements for care leavers aged 18 years and above, published on 22 May 2013, what progress the Government has made on implementing the staying put policy.

Staying Put has helped thousands of care leavers to continue to benefit from a stable and secure family setting and to prepare for independence at a more gradual pace rather than facing a ‘cliff-edge’ at the age of 18. The policy has been welcomed by care leavers and the sector.

The latest data for the year ending March 2017 shows that 51% of those ceasing to be looked after in a foster placement on their 18th birthday remained with their former foster carer. In addition, 25% of 19 and 20 year olds were still living with their former foster carers.

19th Mar 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of primary school children were eligible for free schools meals in (a) 2009-2010, (b) 2013-2014 and (c) 2017-2018.

For 2010, the number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals are 717,060 and 17.3%, respectively.

For 2014, the number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals are 755,485 and 17.0%, respectively.

For 2017, the number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals are 666,708 and 14.1%, respectively.

The ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2018’ statistical release will be released in June 2018, (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018).