Jess Brown-Fuller Portrait

Jess Brown-Fuller

Liberal Democrat - Chichester

12,172 (23.4%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice)

(since October 2025)


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Jess Brown-Fuller has voted in 219 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Jess Brown-Fuller Division Votes

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.

Sparring Partners
Karin Smyth (Labour)
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
(8 debate interactions)
Bridget Phillipson (Labour)
Minister for Women and Equalities
(8 debate interactions)
Liz Kendall (Labour)
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
(7 debate interactions)
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View all Jess Brown-Fuller's debates

Chichester 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

Support in education is a vital legal right of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We ask the government to commit to maintaining the existing law, so that vulnerable children with SEND can access education and achieve their potential.


Latest EDMs signed by Jess Brown-Fuller

14th October 2025
Jess Brown-Fuller signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 15th October 2025

Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme

Tabled by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
That this House regrets the Government’s decision to close the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in December 2025; further regrets the lack of clarity for the sector about funding arrangements beyond this date; understands this scheme previously supported increased productivity and innovation in the sector, providing nutritious food for our …
31 signatures
(Most recent: 16 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 30
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
14th October 2025
Jess Brown-Fuller signed this EDM on Wednesday 15th October 2025

Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2025

Tabled by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
That this House notes that Wednesday 15 October 2025 marks the second annual Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day; recognises that every day 22 women in the UK are diagnosed with lobular breast cancer; further notes that lobular breast cancer is the second most common type of breast cancer yet …
31 signatures
(Most recent: 16 Oct 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 27
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Jess Brown-Fuller's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jess Brown-Fuller, 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.


Jess Brown-Fuller has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Jess Brown-Fuller

Tuesday 1st July 2025

Jess Brown-Fuller has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Jess Brown-Fuller has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the Crown Prosecution Service to assess the need for Criminal Behaviour Orders for defendants sentenced at their first appearance at court following a remand in police custody.

Ancillary orders, including Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), play an important work in delivering justice, especially for victims of crime.

When submitting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in cases where it is appropriate to seek a CBO, the police are required to provide information to justify the making of a CBO. As with other ancillary orders, prosecutors apply for CBOs where the law enables them to do so, considering all the facts and circumstances in a case.

In the Government’s response to the Independent Sentencing Review, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to expand ancillary orders and to explore wider powers for judges to enable them to use these orders more effectively and punish offenders. The CPS is working with the Ministry of Justice to provide prosecutorial insight in support of this work.

Ellie Reeves
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the differing compensation payments for deceased infected blood scandal victims based on whether they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C.

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings.

The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers.

As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation. In its Additional Report, published 9 July, the Inquiry stated that “that tiers are relevant to Hepatitis in a way in which they are not in cases of HIV.”

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the differing compensation payments for infected blood scandal victims based on whether they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C.

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings.

The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers.

As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation. In its Additional Report, published 9 July, the Inquiry stated that “that tiers are relevant to Hepatitis in a way in which they are not in cases of HIV.”

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of safety regulations for the use of (a) limonene and (b) linalool in consumer products.

Limonene and linalool are used in various consumer products including cosmetics and household cleaners. The use of these chemicals in cosmetics is regulated by the UK Cosmetic Regulation and both chemicals are currently included in the list of restricted ingredients for use in cosmetics.

Both chemicals are also found in household cleaners, which are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). These regulations require that only safe products can be sold.

The government is confident that the current restrictions are sufficient to ensure that products are safe. However, we keep our regulations under review to ensure that products remain safe.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.

The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s final market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with the Devolved Governments closely to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will agree a formal response collectively. We will work to ensure that any outcomes are in the best interest of consumers and public health.

21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of limiting the use of limonene in commercial aerosol products.

The safety of commercial aerosols is regulated by the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), and other sector specific regulations. GPSR provides a baseline of safety for applicable products, requiring that only safe products, can be sold. Additionally, limonene is also used in cosmetics and is included in the list of restricted ingredients under the UK Cosmetic Regulation.

The government is confident that the current restrictions on limonene are sufficient to ensure that products are safe. However, to ensure that products remain safe, the government keeps the regulatory framework under constant review, including the use of specific chemicals in particular products.

2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mobile phone signal in Chichester constituency.

Ofcom’s improved online mobile coverage checker went live on 26 June, which I would encourage the Hon Member to consult.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. We continue to work with industry to deliver this and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment into mobile networks and competition in the market.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to lower the Information Commissioner's data protection fee for smaller (a) organisations and (b) charities.

The data protection fees fund the Information Commissioner’s statutory responsibilities in relation to data protection and privacy and electronic communications. There are three tiers of fees payable, based on the size and turnover of organisations. Small organisations typically pay £52 or £78 annually (compared to £3763 for large organisations), with charities always classified in the lowest tier. A £5 discount also applies to payments made by direct debit. The Government will keep the fees under review to ascertain whether they remain fit for purpose and ensure that the income generated is proportionate and sufficient.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to complete the implementation of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances.

The Government is considering options for ratifying the Beijing Treaty and will announce its intended approach in due course.

16th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of harmonising remote betting and gaming duties on (a) prize money, (b) racecourse finances, (c) funding for (i) equine welfare and (ii) veterinary research supported by the Horserace Betting Levy and (d) participation and attendance for British horseracing; and what steps she is taking to help protect the sector.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to the nation’s economy and sporting landscape.

Future proposals on gambling duties are a matter for HM Treasury. Should changes to the tax regime be announced in the Autumn Statement, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HM Treasury, as is standard practice.

Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. In financial year 24/25, the Levy raised £108 million for the purposes of supporting horse breeds, advancing veterinary science & education within the industry and facilitating general improvements to the sport.

Ian Murray
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
15th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on tackling delays in processing valuations by the teachers' Pension Scheme; and whether her Department is taking steps to put special measures in place for teachers who are unable to finalise divorce settlements until these valuations are made.

As at 4 September 2025, the number of unresolved cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) cases has been reduced to 433 from 3,062 at the end of October 2024. This includes recent CETV applications and as such there will always be a number of outstanding CETV cases at any given time.

The scheme administrator is now working through the most complex cases for members who have retired. These cases can currently only be processed clerically and the estimated calculation times are between 20 and 65 hours per case. Therefore, the department is funding IT changes for the scheme administrator that are expected to significantly reduce calculation times.

This issue remains a top priority for the department and the scheme administrator, and the above actions are currently expected to result in the delayed CETVs being fully cleared by spring 2026.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating additional funding for (a) dyslexia screening and (b) dyslexia-specific teacher training in Chichester constituency.

​​I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 1 August 2025 to Question 61402.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
29th Aug 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if a refreshed mathematics curriculum designed to ensure that as many learners as possible can achieve positive outcomes will form part of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

High and rising standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances.

A high-quality curriculum and assessment system is key to ensuring that every child receives an excellent education, which includes providing a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative mathematics curriculum.

The Review is specifically considering how to remove existing blocks to progress and ensure good outcomes for children and young people, including those who are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who have a special educational need or disability.

During its ongoing work, the Review Group are seeking to address the challenges in particular subjects, including the mathematics curriculum, enabling all students to master high-quality content.

The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn.

Georgia Gould
Minister of State (Education)
8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's rollout of Best Start Family Hubs will include (a) provisions and (b) support services for home-educating families that require SEND support.

On 7 July, the government published ‘Giving every child the Best Start in Life’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life. This outlines the government’s commitment to deliver a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services, as well as creating and funding Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services. The department will provide over half a billion pounds of investment in the Best Start Family Service over the 2026/29 spending review period.

Best Start Family Hubs will provide both universal and targeted support, with open-access activities and referral routes for families with complex needs. They will bring together professionals from health, education, early years, and community services, prioritising delivery in areas of disadvantage, where families face the greatest barriers to support. Each Best Start Family Hub will have a children and family services professional specifically trained in working to support inclusion for children with additional needs.

8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's rollout of Best Start Family Hubs will include (a) provisions and (b) support services for home-educating families.

On 7 July, the government published ‘Giving every child the Best Start in Life’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life. This outlines the government’s commitment to deliver a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services, as well as creating and funding Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services. The department will provide over half a billion pounds of investment in the Best Start Family Service over the 2026/29 spending review period.

Best Start Family Hubs will provide both universal and targeted support, with open-access activities and referral routes for families with complex needs. They will bring together professionals from health, education, early years, and community services, prioritising delivery in areas of disadvantage, where families face the greatest barriers to support. Each Best Start Family Hub will have a children and family services professional specifically trained in working to support inclusion for children with additional needs.

11th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to ensure that local authorities that do not reach the 20-week deadline for education, health and care plans have effective improvement plans in place.

The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.

Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to assess whether children and young people have special educational needs that require an EHC plan. Plans must be issued within twenty weeks of the needs assessment commencing so that children and young people can access the support they need.

The department continues to monitor and work closely with local authorities that have issues with EHC plan timeliness. Where there are concerns about a local authority’s capacity to make the required improvements, we help them to identify the barriers to this and put in place an effective recovery plan. This includes, where needed, securing a specialist special educational needs adviser.

In the 2023 calendar year, 50.3% of new EHC plans were issued within twenty weeks. This is a slight increase compared to 2022, when the figure was 49.2%.

14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact removing Apprenticeship Levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships on the public sector.

I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43275.

22nd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much and what proportion of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund budget for the 2024–25 financial had been spent by 31 March 2025.

The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will enable as many children and families as possible to access the available funding. The department always assesses the impact of changes on vulnerable children. The changes were finalised during Parliamentary recess and the announcement was made during recess to allow the fund to open and minimise further delays to children waiting for therapy. A written statement was laid on Parliament’s first day back after recess.

By 31 March 2025, the ASGSF had spent all its allocated budget.

22nd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on access to therapeutic support for children and families; and whether she considered communicating those changes to hon. Members prior to the parliamentary recess.

The new criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will enable as many children and families as possible to access the available funding. The department always assesses the impact of changes on vulnerable children. The changes were finalised during Parliamentary recess and the announcement was made during recess to allow the fund to open and minimise further delays to children waiting for therapy. A written statement was laid on Parliament’s first day back after recess.

By 31 March 2025, the ASGSF had spent all its allocated budget.

31st Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to confirm individual budgets for 2025-26 to providers within the Dance and Drama Awards scheme.

The department will shortly confirm final budgets for the 2025/26 academic year and is in touch with providers concerning this.

24th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will adjust the means testing methodology for the Music and Dance Scheme to reflect the cost of VAT on fees.

For the 2024/25 academic year, the department adjusted the Music and Dance Scheme bursary contribution for families with a relevant income below £45,000 to account for the VAT introduction from January 2025. This methodology will be reviewed for future years and details will be set out in due course.

24th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will (a) make support for the Music and Dance Scheme permanent and (b) uplift the threshold for that support to £55,000.

For the 2024/25 academic year, the department adjusted the Music and Dance Scheme bursary contribution for families with a relevant income below £45,000 to account for the VAT introduction from January 2025. This methodology will be reviewed for future years and details will be set out in due course.

6th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made with the Office for Students on implementing the third category of registration for (a) smaller and (b) specialist providers of (i) Trinity College London level five and six Professional Performing Arts Diplomas and (ii) other qualifications in the context of accessing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

The government is fully committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-funded provision.

The OfS has made clear that they expect to restart work on registrations, degree awarding powers and university titles in August 2025, although the changes will remain under review until then. The department understands the OfS will keep providers updated throughout this period about their plans, including confirming application arrangements from August onwards. As the independent regulator, it is for the OfS to process registrations in the manner they deem most appropriate.

The government will continue to engage closely with the OfS and providers to support timely transition arrangements for the launch of the LLE. The government, together with the OfS, will provide further information on the regulation of providers under the LLE in spring 2025.

5th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will have discussions with stakeholders to create a proportional route for registration for (a) smaller providers (b) specialist providers, including (i) all such providers and (ii) those that offer Trinity College London’s Level 5 and 6 Professional Performing Arts diplomas, with the Office for Students to access the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 36314.

6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will undertake a review of the maintained nursery school supplementary funding formula.

Additional supplementary funding is provided to local authorities for maintained nursery schools (MNS) in their areas. In the 2025/26 financial year, the initial budget for MNS supplementary funding is £92.6 million, subject to final budget update. The national average hourly rate for MNS supplementary funding in financial year 2025/26 is £5.90, the minimum supplementary funding rate is £5.27 and the cap on the hourly rate is £10.

Changes to the MNS supplementary funding formula were made in the 2023/24 financial year including an additional £10 million investment and an introduction of a minimum hourly funding rate to distribute funding evenly across all local authorities with MNS. At present, there are no plans to review the formula beyond this.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a unique ID for every child to (a) facilitate data sharing between public bodies and (b) identify children not in school or any form of education.

Implementing a unique ID for every child has been regularly cited as a potential solution to bring together data on children’s interactions with different services. The government’s manifesto for the 2024 election included a commitment to this end (on page 81) and the government is committed to improving data sharing across services, with a single unique identifier, to better support children and families.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently before Parliament, introduces a legal provision for a consistent identifier to be specified and the organisations required to use it, to be determined later through regulations. Alongside this, the department will initiate a pilot to establish how a consistent identifier can be effectively implemented.

The Bill also includes provisions for compulsory ‘Children Not in School’ registers in each local authority area in England. While the introduction of these registers does not depend on a consistent identifier, it may enhance data linking, which the department will explore through future piloting.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to create a pathway for Ukrainian refugees to apply to UK universities.

The government remains committed to giving all Ukrainians in the UK the same access to education as enjoyed by UK citizens.

Persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes, including the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, have access to higher education (HE) student support and home fee status on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees.

Support on applying to HE courses can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education-courses-find-and-apply, where students can explore a range of resources to help them apply to UK HE providers.

Organisations such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs also provide extensive information and support for Ukrainian students wishing to study in the UK, including a student advice line.

5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the level of support provided to Ukrainian refugees in applying to UK universities.

The government remains committed to giving all Ukrainians in the UK the same access to education as enjoyed by UK citizens.

Persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes, including the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, have access to higher education (HE) student support and home fee status on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees.

Support on applying to HE courses can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education-courses-find-and-apply, where students can explore a range of resources to help them apply to UK HE providers.

Organisations such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs also provide extensive information and support for Ukrainian students wishing to study in the UK, including a student advice line.

5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the notion of reasonable chastisement.

Violence towards children and abuse of children are never acceptable. There are laws in place to protect children against this.

Wales is in the process of reviewing the impact of removing the defence of reasonable chastisement and the UK Government expects that the Welsh Government will publish their findings by the end of this year. Ministers in the department will want to consider this evidence, with other government ministers, ahead of deciding whether a change to the law is required.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make (a) schools and (b) education providers statutory safeguarding partners.

​The involvement of education and childcare agencies is fundamental at all levels of safeguarding arrangements. The department knows that teachers and educators are often the first to spot warning signs of abuse and neglect and are the largest referrer of cases into children’s social care, after the police.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which the government introduced into the House of Commons in December of last year, will place a duty on safeguarding partners to automatically include education and childcare settings in their safeguarding arrangements. The duty on safeguarding partners will ensure education is consistently involved in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements across England. It will include include all education and childcare agencies, at both operational and strategic levels of their safeguarding arrangements, so they have a clear role in safeguarding locally.

​These measures include all education settings, covering early years and childcare settings through to schools, colleges and alternative provision, so that opportunities to keep children safe are not missed.

This legislation enables the voice of education to influence the decisions of safeguarding partners and recognises the key role that education plays in keeping children safe.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
5th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of safeguarding leads in schools being violence against women and girls accredited.

Children’s wellbeing and safety, including reducing violence against women and girls, is a key priority for this government. A robust safeguarding framework is in place that schools and colleges must have regard to in the form of keeping children safe in education (KCSIE).

This guidance is clear that every school must have a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) who should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. Annex C of the guidance sets out the role and expectations placed on DSLs.

The department does not prescribe the training and accreditation that DSLs should receive. However, DSLs are required to undergo the training needed to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role effectively within their school and community context. This includes how to identify, understand and respond to the specific needs that increase the vulnerability of children, as well as the many specific harms that put children at risk, which includes violence against women and girls.

Education can be a significant protective factor for children who are vulnerable, either as victims and/or perpetrators of violence against women and girls. KCSIE requires schools to implement whole-school behaviour policies to reduce incidents of violence, put pastoral support in place to support both victims and perpetrators of violence, and to ensure that all school staff understand their role within their local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in escalating concerns about children to local authority services.

Stephen Morgan
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will pause the defunding of applied general qualifications scheduled for 2025 and 2026.

In July 2024, my Right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a short pause to the defunding of qualifications to enable a review of post-16 qualification reforms at level 3 and below. This was followed by a Written Ministerial Statement by my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills, on 25 July. This statement is available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-07-25/hlws20.

The department is now working to review the defunding due to take place in 2025 and it will set out the position before Christmas.

The department has not announced any defunding for 2026.

9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of SEND support in West Sussex.

The department is continuing to support and challenge West Sussex to improve the delivery of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

The last local area SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for West Sussex was in November 2023, which found that there are inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The areas for improvement identified by inspectors are:

(I) To identify and address ‘waiting well’ arrangements and gaps in service provision to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND.

(I) To ensure children identified as at high risk for aspiration are fully assessed and have access to video-fluoroscopy.

(II) To develop a strategy to improve the processes, quality and the timeliness of education, health and care plans.

(III) To implement oversight and commissioning arrangements of suitable specialist school places and alternative provision.

(IV) And to strengthen their strategic approach to preparation for adulthood.

The department’s regional team has put in place systems to track outcomes against the areas for improvement and the progress made by children and young people with SEND, with a formal review of progress against the areas for improvement to take place in October 2024. West Sussex County Council are committed to working closely with the department to improve services.

West Sussex is taking part in the Delivering Better Value (DBV) in SEND Programme. The DBV in SEND Programme was established under the previous government with the aim of helping local authorities provide more effective SEND services by meeting the needs of children and young people at an early stage and with the right level of support.

9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for teachers who are unable to work as a result of workplace injury.

Workplace absences that are the result of a workplace injury would usually be subject to normal sick pay arrangements.

The department has no jurisdiction over arrangements for dealing with workplace injuries or matters relating to sick pay, as these are covered by the Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales, 2000, which is known as the Burgundy Book. This is a national, non-statutory agreement between trade unions and teacher employers. This government was not party to its development and cannot influence its content. Sick leave or sick pay entitlements are therefore currently the responsibility of employers, which, in a school setting, is normally the local authority or Academy Trust. Schools, like all employers, are also subject to any relevant employment legislation.

10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take (a) legislative and (b) other steps to reduce levels of (i) environmental planning conditions and (ii) biodiversity net gain requirements to help support horticulture businesses.

The Government has stated its intention to consult on changes to the planning policy framework later this year.

On BNG, the Government recently consulted on options to improve the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. Responses are being analysed, including from Horticulture stakeholders, and the outcome of the consultation will be published in due course.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of basing the calculation of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on volume.

The Government is not considering the adoption of a units-based metric. In accordance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, Extender Producer Responsibility disposal fees for packaging are calculated in £ per tonne of household packaging placed on the market. Producers report the packaging they supply on a weight basis, and the costs for managing different material types, such as glass, are apportioned according to relevant cost drivers for their collection and management, including the volume of the container in bins and collection vehicles. This ensures the fair apportionment of costs between material types in line with the regulations.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the rates for Extended Producer Responsibility fees for more recyclable materials.

The RAM has been used by producers to assess packaging recyclability from January 2025.  The RAM is an important aspect of pEPR as it will determine the modulation sub-category, and therefore the level of fees applicable to that material, with higher fees applied to less sustainable packaging.

Fee modulation will begin from year two of the scheme for payments in the 2026/27 financial year, based on 2025 producer data.

We have made a full impact assessment of implementing packaging extended producer responsibility will have which we published when The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 were laid before parliament.

The Government will continue to monitor modulation to ensure fees reward improved recyclability.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the chalk stream recovery pack.

Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health must be part of our holistic programme of reforms for the water sector, including:

The Government’s wider agenda to reset the water sector and fix the systemic issues in the water framework, continued investment in actual projects at the catchment level, committing to end damaging abstraction of water from rivers and groundwater, driving home the responsibilities for responsible authorities around protected landscapes, many of which feature chalk streams.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to enable (a) local authorities and (b) the police to effectively (i) target and (ii) prosecute (A) individuals and (B) businesses engaged in illegal fly-tipping on (1) private and (2) public land.

Local councils are responsible for taking enforcement action in most fly-tipping incidents. Their powers include issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, prosecution action and seizing vehicles. We encourage councils to make good use of their powers, and we are taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance. We have also announced a review of local authority powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

We also committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

Defra continues to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders such as local authorities and the National Police Chiefs Council to promote good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. Various practical tools, such as a guidance on how local authorities can present robust cases to court, are available from their webpage at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusions within his Department's Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Post Implementation Review 2024, published in December 2024; and whether he plans to introduce regulatory requirements and conditions relating to cat breeding.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations), anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences.

The Government is considering the findings of its post-implementation review of the 2018 Regulations and will be outlining more detail on next steps in due course.

10th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to regulate cat breeding.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences.

Defra has been working on a post-implementation review of the Regulations which considers whether the objectives further improve the protections they provide. We are also carefully considering recommendations in the EFRA select committee’s report into pet welfare and abuse and the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on feline breeding, which will be published shortly.

2nd Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting the use of treble barbed fishhooks in England and Wales.

The use of barbed hooks is currently restricted by several byelaws covering specific fisheries in areas throughout England and Wales. The suitability and need for these restrictions will continue to be monitored and may inform changes if appropriate, however there are currently no plans for a wider assessment to be made.

9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the rules on beaver (a) protection and (b) management.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government has no plans to review the rules on beaver protection. Beavers are a protected species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Protection makes it an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb, or injure beavers, or to damage or destroy their breeding sites or resting places. Protection means a licence is required for certain beaver management actions.

Defra will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. Beaver management should follow the 5-step management approach published on GOV.UK. Licensed projects are responsible for managing animals they have released and are also expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations in England. Landowners and managers who may be affected by beaver activity can find further guidance on beaver management, including when a licence might be needed, on GOV.UK.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to (a) help encourage and (b) publish a strategy for the reintroduction of beavers into the wild.

We understand the potential benefits that beavers can bring, including through creating wetland habitats and increasing biodiversity. The Government supports species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment.

All reintroductions in England are expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conversations Translocations. We will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Southern Water's proposal to introduce recycled waste water in to the drinking water supply at the Havant Thicket Reservoir on the environment.

Southern Water have recently consulted on their proposal to turn treated wastewater, normally pumped out to sea, into purified recycled water. This water would then be pumped to Havant Thicket Reservoir, where it would be stored and mixed with spring water, before being pumped along a new pipeline and treated prior to going into supply.

The urgent need to protect the iconic chalk rivers of Hampshire means that action is needed now to ensure resilient and sustainable water supplies. Options such as water recycling mark a transition to water supplies that are not dependent upon the uncertainties of rainfall. These options are well established elsewhere around the world and are already operating elsewhere in the UK, to ensure resilient supplies in a changing climate.

All water recycling options including Southern Water’s must meet the environmental requirements for wastewater treatment discharges into the environment. Water re-abstracted from the environment for public water supply must also be treated to meet our high drinking water standards before use, in accordance with a robust risk assessment.

Recent research carried out for the Drinking Water Inspectorate indicated a high level of support (79% agreement) for the use of water recycling to supplement drinking water supplies.

An online survey and in-depth, online interviews were undertaken between July and September 2022. The online survey had 1,618 respondents with demographic representation broadly consistent with the UK adult population. Survey respondents were randomly allocated to groups so that the impact of two manipulated variables (relating to water recycling scheme design and to terminology) could be investigated. Overall, the survey showed that there was a relatively high Ref: DWI 70/2/348. Project Report ii level of support (79% agreement) for the utilisation of water recycling to supplement drinking water supplies. The survey results also showed that terminology has a stronger influence on levels of support for water recycling than scheme configuration (e.g. the presence of environmental buffers).

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Certificate of Professional Competence scheme.

The Department for Transport, along with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, keep the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) under review to ensure it meets the requirements of drivers and their employers.

In December 2024, reforms to the DCPC for drivers operating in the UK only reduced the minimum course length from 7 to 3.5 hours and allowed for more on-line training, providing more flexibility in how and when the training is delivered. In February 2025, the Department introduced the Return to Driving course which makes it easier for some with a valid licence to return to the profession by taking an initial 7-hour course and completing a further 28 hours of training within the next 12 months.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to scrap the Certificate of Professional Competence scheme.

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) is designed to support road safety and the ensure professionalism of vocational drivers. It is a requirement for UK and EU freight and passenger vehicle licence holders operating within the UK and those travelling to, from or within the European Union, including the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, the Government has no plans to scrap the DCPC.

Keir Mather
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Sep 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will increase the number of motorcycle test centres.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps the network of its driving test centres under regular review, including those that deliver practical motorcycle tests. There are currently no plans to increase the overall number of driving test centres. DVSA has plans in place to train more motorcycle examiners with the view to increase the volume of motorcycle tests available from the current locations.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)