Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
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).
Hold a parliamentary vote on whether to reject amendments to the IHR 2005
Gov Responded - 4 Jul 2023 Debated on - 18 Dec 2023 View John Redwood's petition debate contributionsWe are concerned that Parliament has not discussed and will not have a say on the 307 proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations, AND the amendments to 5 Articles of the IHR that were ADOPTED by the 75th World Health Assembly on 27 May 2022.
Do not sign any WHO Pandemic Treaty unless it is approved via public referendum
Gov Responded - 27 May 2022 Debated on - 17 Apr 2023 View John Redwood's petition debate contributionsWe want the Government to commit to not signing any international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness established by the World Health Organization (WHO), unless this is approved through a public referendum.
Stop work on HS2 immediately and hold a new vote to repeal the legislation
Gov Responded - 14 Jan 2021 Debated on - 13 Sep 2021 View John Redwood's petition debate contributionsWe ask Parliament to repeal the High Speed Rail Bills, 2016 and 2019, as MPs voted on misleading environmental, financial and timetable information provided by the Dept of Transport and HS2 Ltd. It fails to address the conditions of the Paris Accord and costs have risen from £56bn to over £100bn.
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 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.
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.
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.
Comparisons with energy costs in other countries is one of the considerations for the development and introduction of support for energy intensive industries including the steel sector. The British Industry Supercharger will introduce targeted measures to ensure the energy costs for key UK industries are in line with other major economies around the world – levelling the playing field for British companies across Europe. The government is committed to rolling out its measures between April 2024 and April 2025.
The Horizon IT Inquiry considered the procurement of the Horizon IT system during Phase 2. We should wait for the Inquiry to report.
Public funding for the British Business Bank’s DEL funding, Business As Usual programmes and administration of the Covid-19 loan schemes, for 2023/24 is expected to be up to £735m. The projected figure for 2024/25 is £357m. Any capital gains will be returned to the taxpayer over the course of the investment cycle.
The Government is clear that the Post Office should be a valuable social and economic asset for communities and businesses for years to come. To ensure the Post Office is fit for the future, the Government is engaging with stakeholders regarding the challenges facing the post office network and postmasters, resulting from the changing retail landscape and increased costs.
We have provided over £2.5 billion in funding to support the Post Office network over the past decade and is providing a further £588 million for the Post Office between 2022 and 2025. This includes a £50 million annual subsidy to safeguard services in the uncommercial parts of the network.
The Government also recognises that there are concerns about central costs, and we have been clear that Post Office must do more to cut central costs where possible.
The Post Office network is a crucial component of the UK's long-term provision of cash and banking services. That is why we have encouraged Post Office to be ambitious in their negotiations with banks for the next iteration of the Banking Framework agreement to ensure that both Post Office and Postmasters receive proportionate remuneration for the vital services they are providing.
Given the continued overseas demand for high-quality, UK-built vehicles, changes to policy in the nations we export to are more likely to affect levels of UK car production than changes in domestic policy. Like the UK, policy in key exports markets is toward greater electrification as the global shift to electric vehicles quickens.
Government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate will ensure the UK’s share of ZEVs increases, putting our industry at the forefront of new technologies to grow the economy and attracting new inward investment, creating thousands of new jobs.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss a range of matters related to Horizon.
What Post Office Limited (POL) did with the monies claimed from postmasters due to errors in the Horizon system is a complex matter. We will approach POL and write when we have seen what information is available and in what form. However, Postmasters who paid Post Office money due to errors in the Horizon system will be paid this back as part of their compensation.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss a range of matters related to Horizon.
What Post Office Limited (POL) did with the monies claimed from postmasters due to errors in the Horizon system is a complex matter. We will approach POL and write when we have seen what information is available and in what form. However, Postmasters who paid Post Office money due to errors in the Horizon system will be paid this back as part of their compensation.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss a range of matters related to Horizon.
What Post Office Limited (POL) did with the monies claimed from postmasters due to errors in the Horizon system is a complex matter. We will approach POL and write when we have seen what information is available and in what form. However, Postmasters who paid Post Office money due to errors in the Horizon system will be paid this back as part of their compensation.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss the topic of Horizon compensation delivery.
Postmasters who paid shortfalls which were recorded in Horizon to the Post Office are paid those amounts back in their compensation claims, as well as any other financial and personal damage which they have suffered as a consequence of the IT system.
Government has made funding available for both the Horizon Shortfall Scheme and for Overturned Convictions compensation. Post Office has published its provisions for both in its annual accounts and Government has published the level of funding available on the Subsidy Transparency Database.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss the topic of Horizon compensation delivery.
Postmasters who paid shortfalls which were recorded in Horizon to the Post Office are paid those amounts back in their compensation claims, as well as any other financial and personal damage which they have suffered as a consequence of the IT system.
Government has made funding available for both the Horizon Shortfall Scheme and for Overturned Convictions compensation. Post Office has published its provisions for both in its annual accounts and Government has published the level of funding available on the Subsidy Transparency Database.
I hold meetings with the Post Office CEO on a monthly basis where we discuss the topic of Horizon compensation delivery.
Postmasters who paid shortfalls which were recorded in Horizon to the Post Office are paid those amounts back in their compensation claims, as well as any other financial and personal damage which they have suffered as a consequence of the IT system.
Government has made funding available for both the Horizon Shortfall Scheme and for Overturned Convictions compensation. Post Office has published its provisions for both in its annual accounts and Government has published the level of funding available on the Subsidy Transparency Database.
Over £450 million was provided across the Energy Intensive Industry schemes in 2022. This was in addition to support provided by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) for businesses and other non-domestic customers. The EBRS ended on 31 March 2023 and provided around £7 billion of support to businesses, including high energy using industries.
This information is commercially sensitive to companies and not held centrally.
The UK has demonstrated international leadership with our plans to implement a zero-emission vehicle mandate, phasing out the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The Department for Transport are carefully considering the responses to the recent consultation on this matter.
The government continues to work with industry to unlock private investment in the future of vehicle manufacturing, including via the Automotive Transformation Fund, which has already helped secure major investments in the UK.
HM Government has allocated £257m of capital budget for supply chain and finished vehicle manufacturing for this financial year (2023/24) and £268m for the next financial year (2024/25).
In addition, through the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Faraday Battery Challenge programmes, with budgets of £127.1m this financial year (2023/24) and £77.5m next year (2024/25), the Government supports research and development into the next generation of low carbon and zero emission vehicle technologies and the design, development, manufacturing, and recycling of electric batteries.
We do not hold information on the breakdown of the exact number of pieces of former EU product regulation that apply in the UK. The publicly available dashboard contains all of the relevant REUL. However, the relevant information cannot be readily or accurately ascertained and would encounter disproportionate costs to produce. Departments are assessing how best to reform this REUL using the powers in the REUL Bill.
Although not a carbon tax, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was introduced in January 2021, setting a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be emitted by the sectors it covers. In 2022 it raised around £6 billion, though amounts can vary and in previous years this has been lower - such as around £1 billion in 2021-22.
The value of relief provided to eligible companies under Energy Intensive Industries (EII) schemes for financial year 2021-22 is just over £541 million. This is the most recent period for which full data is available.
The owners of Grangemouth refinery, Petroineos, recently announced that they were putting in place the enabling works for a future transition to an import terminal. Petroineos have not taken a decision on when refining operations will cease but they anticipate they will continue until at least May 2025.
The impact of a cessation of refining operations on UK imports will depend on the supply and demand for fuels at the time. The Government’s Net Zero policies to increase use of electric vehicles and renewable transport fuels, will progressively reduce demand for conventional fuels.
The UK already both imports and exports fuels to balance demand and supply. The Petroineos plans should continue to ensure that customer needs are met.
On 25 February 2024, low wind generation in GB combined with high wind generation in Europe supported a price differential with Europe which led to higher imports. Interconnectors import when prices in GB are higher than on the other side of the interconnector.
The electricity network must have enough capacity to support peak electricity demand. The Electricity Networks Strategic Framework outlines that peak electricity demand is expected to be around 60GW by 2025 in Great Britain.
The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates on the low carbon and renewable energy economy. This data does not provide a breakdown of jobs created to manufacture solar panels specifically, but the latest report (for 2021) estimates around 200 jobs were created in manufacturing for the solar sector.
In the 2023 Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced an unprecedented £20 billion investment in the early development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS). The quantum of spend within a given period will depend on the outcome of commercial negotiations and will be subject to confirmation at the next and subsequent spending reviews.
The Department does not publish information related to this request directly, however, the IPCC and UNECE have published estimates related to this request here:
https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_annex-iii.pdf#page=7
https://unece.org/sed/documents/2021/10/reports/life-cycle-assessment-electricity-generation-options
Both estimates demonstrate that the lifecycle CO2 impact of generating electricity from offshore wind is significantly lower than fossil fuels.