First elected: 11th June 1987
Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by John Redwood, 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.
John Redwood has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
John Redwood has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
House of Commons (Precedence of Government Business) (European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018)
Sponsor - William Cash (Con)
Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.
We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.
As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.
Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.
We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.
As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.
Our intent remains to hold the conference in person, respecting the wishes of all parties, many of whom feel strongly that the COP must be in person. However, we also continue to explore how technology and other innovations can make it more resilient, safe and inclusive.
We are working with our Sustainability Consultant on the principle priority to reduce emissions from the conference within a robust Carbon Management Plan, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We will encourage all delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.
As part of our COP26 carbon management planning process, we are currently developing a baseline assessment of the scale of carbon emissions and the priority areas for action. All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered.
Estimates of average annual industrial electricity prices for IEA countries, including the UK and USA, are shown in Table 5.3.1 of DECC’s publication Quarterly Energy Prices (QEP).
The table is available at the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388200/qep_531.xls
Estimates of average annual industrial gas prices for IEA countries, including the UK and USA, are shown in Table 5.7.1 of DECC’s publication Quarterly Energy Prices (QEP).
The table is available at the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388202/qep_571.xls.
DECC publishes estimates for the levelised costs of electricity generation for different technologies. The most recent estimates are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report, available at:
19,790MW of gas-fired generating capacity currently has development consent, including 1,000MW consented by the Scottish Government. An additional 860MW is currently under construction.
Details of all EU legislation, including full details of all EU directives that have come into force since May 2010, can be found on the European Commission's website:
Since May 2010, DECC has enacted legislation to transpose 7 new EU Directives and 6 new EU Regulations into UK law. A list of the relevant Directives and Regulations is set out below:
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC
Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community
Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/53/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation EC No 1013/2006
Directive 2009/72/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 2003/54/EC
Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC
Directive 2009/119/EC imposing an obligation to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products
Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC
Regulation 2009/713/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005
Regulation No. 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency
Regulation No. 267/2012 of the Council concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing EU Regulation No. 961/2010 (OJ No L 88, 24.3.2012), as amended
Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing Decision No 1364/2006/EC and amending Regulations (EC) No 713/2009, (EC) No 714/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009
Since May 2010 the UK has not lost any EU infraction proceedings falling within the responsibility of BIS.
The Government has not lost any EU infraction proceedings brought against the UK since 2010 relating to matters falling within the Department’s responsibility.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not keep a central record of stock levels for stationery, treasury tags or any other office consumables. This is because individual teams within the Department are responsible for their own particular needs (with weekly deliveries when required), negating the need for an overall ‘Departmental' store.
However, printer cartridges are procured and stored by the Departmental IT team. The stock is regularly checked with an aim to ensure there are always approximately 80 cartridges on site (of varying types and colours) to cover four Central London buildings/offices.
The House purchases stationery, printer cartridges, fasteners and other consumable items through a contract providing a next day delivery service. No central stocks are held.
The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Staff are encouraged to help reduce waste in the Department by avoiding printing documents unless completely necessary and by reusing or recycling stationery where appropriate. The default setting on BIS printers is to print in black and white and to print double sided. This uses less energy and ink and cuts down on the demand for paper and reduces costs.
The Church Commissioners do not keep inventories of stationery items and office consumables, to calculate the stock levels held would incur a disproportionate cost. The level of stock is monitored regularly, and replenished as necessary to meet staff needs.
The Government stands resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime. We continue to pursue the Organised Crime Groups who facilitate illegal travel to the UK and who exploit vulnerable migrants, knowingly putting people in life-threatening situations. We are committed to prosecuting those who profit from dangerous and unnecessary Channel crossings in small boats.
We do not hold data relating specifically to the points in the question. However, so far in 2021, 9 people have been convicted for facilitation offences relating to small boat crossings, with sentences totalling over 17 years’ imprisonment. Further, the Joint Intelligence Cell activity (UK-France joint investigations) has seen 17 small boat Organised Immigration Crime Groups dismantled since July 2020.
The Law Officers’ Departments are not leading any negotiations for the Government in the Council of the EU.
There are no EU directives awaiting transposition into UK law for which the Law Officers’ Departments are responsible.
The Law Officers' Departments have not transposed any EU directives or regulations into UK law since May 2010.
None. The UK has not been subject to infraction proceedings, during this period, which relate directly to matters within the Law Officers’ Departments’ areas of responsibility.
National Statistics on the number of full-time and part-time civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published in December 2023 and at Table 8 show the number of full-time civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March 2024 and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable
National Statistics on the number of civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published 12 December 2023 and showed the number of civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable
Information on the number of non-civil service public sector administrators is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
There are specific statutory provisions in place that control all appointments to new and replacement Civil Service roles arising from external recruitment.
The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires that selection to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service Commission has a statutory duty to ensure that the merit requirement is upheld and is not being undermined. The Commission’s interpretation of this statutory requirement is outlined to Civil Service departments in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles 2018.
The Aliens’ Employment Act 1955 outlines the eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. The Cabinet Office has published the Civil Service Nationality Rules on Gov.uk to support departments in the interpretation of this statutory requirement.
The Civil Service Management Code delegates authority to individual departments to determine their recruitment approach within the scope of these statutory requirements. Additional policy provisions can be applied such as the Civil Service Recruitment Framework. Since January 2016, the Framework has been committed to opening up all Senior Civil Service (SCS) vacancies by advertising them externally to the public by default. In May 2022, this commitment was strengthened, requiring departments to obtain approval from the responsible minister when seeking to limit an SCS vacancy to existing civil servants only.
For other public administrators outside of the Civil Service, it would be down to their respective organisations to comment on whether they have such controls in place.
The Cabinet Office supports departments and coordinates across government to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. The 2022-2030 Government Property Strategy sets out how the estate will be transformed to become more efficient and sustainable.
The Government Buying Standard for Construction requires new build developments to meet BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ or equivalent standards, while refurbishment projects have a target of ‘Very Good’, ensuring new and upgraded properties meet high standards of energy efficiency.
In addition, Crown Commercial Services has developed an energy procurement strategy that has delivered significant commercial benefits from aggregation of government buying power and hedging future demand on commodity markets.
The use of consultants provides short term, specialist advisory services for specific engagements. Consultants provide niche skills that are not required full time within the Civil Service.
Every department is responsible for their own use of consultancy with governance, assurance and control over budgets to ensure value for money.
As at 31 October 2023, the Cabinet Office employs 74 people at Director level and 21 people at Director General level.
The number of Senior Civil Servants (SCS) stems from our coordinating role at the heart of Government. First, the professional experts who lead functional services across the whole of the Civil Service sit in Cabinet Office (the level of professional expertise required, often recruited from the private sector, means a high number of SCS roles). Second, the Cabinet Office also delivers secretariat functions which need to be led at a senior level given their national significance, including the National Security Secretariat and Joint Intelligence Organisation.
The number of Senior Civil Servants by Director, Director General and Permanent Secretary paybands are shown in the table below.
This information is published each year by payband through the Government evidence to the Senior Salaries Review Board.
Table 1: Number of Senior Civil Servants by Director, Director General and Permanent Secretary paybands, as at 1 April 2023
Payband | Number |
Director (Payband 2) | 1140 |
Director General (Payband 3) | 180 |
Permanent Secretary | 45 |
Source: SCS Database, Cabinet Office
Notes: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.
Numbers are provisional and subject to revision over time.
Numbers refer to the centrally managed 'Senior Civil Service' that does not include the Diplomatic Service and a number of civil servants that work at a senior level, for example some senior military officials and health professionals, and who are not part of the 'Senior Civil Service'.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
I refer the hon. Member to the Joint statement published following the meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 24 February. The Government is committed to facilitating the effective flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as required by the Protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland.
I refer the hon. Member to the Joint statement published following the meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 24 February. The Government is committed to facilitating the effective flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as required by the Protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland.
I refer the hon. Member to the Joint statement published following the meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 24 February. The Government is committed to facilitating the effective flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as required by the Protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland.
I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 February and to the letter sent to Vice-President Sefcovic by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 February.
I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 February and to the letter sent to Vice-President Sefcovic by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 February.
General trade in fish between the UK and the EU is covered by the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and therefore matters relating to this would not be raised at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Plans for any ceremonial or official events to mark the formal exit of the UK from the EU will be kept under review by the Cabinet Office and Department for Exiting the European Union.
One Directive is awaiting transposition by the Cabinet Office; it is Directive 2014/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on electronic invoicing in public procurement.
Cabinet Office Ministers are responsible for four EU proposals being negotiated in the Council of Ministers. They are:
* Proposal for a Council Decision adopting the provisions amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
* Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites.
* Proposal for a Regulation of the EP and Council amending Regulation (EC) No 471/2009 on Community statistics relating to external trade with non-member countries as regards conferring of delegated and implementing powers upon the Commission for the adoption of certain measures.
* Proposal for a Regulation of the EP and Council on the provision and quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Cabinet Office has transposed two EU directives into UK law since 2010 and six directly applicable regulations have come into effect in the Cabinet Office’s area of responsibility in the same period.
Since May 2010 the UK has not lost any EU infraction proceedings falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.