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).
These initiatives were driven by Julian Sturdy, 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.
Julian Sturdy has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Julian Sturdy has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th March 2015 and was enacted into law.
Sky Lanterns (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ruth George (Lab)
Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017
Sponsor - Kevin Hollinrake (Con)
The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area. We are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery are a matter for the BBC. However, in the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. The Government has already asked Ofcom about how they are considering this issue, and Ofcom has now set out its assessment of the market impact of the BBC’s proposals. I understand that Ofcom is continuing discussions with the BBC on the impact of its proposals on audiences.
We are clear that no one should be refused access to businesses or services, including shops or venues, because they legitimately have an assistance dog.
Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), businesses that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against people who meet the Act’s definition of disability. The Act places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services.
This duty could include allowing access to guide dogs or assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers. Failure to comply with this duty could amount to unlawful disability discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on their duty towards disabled people who own assistance/guide dogs. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance is available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf and makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.
These duties and protections are ultimately enforceable through the courts, but as a first step, anybody who thinks they have been discriminated against in the services offered to them - including a failure to make reasonable adjustments - can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) which provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns via their website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, or by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or by text phone on 0808 800 0084.
We have more women MPs than ever before, making up 35% of the House of Commons, and 10% of MPs – including the Prime Minister – are from an ethnic minority background. It is for political parties to select prospective parliamentary candidates.
We have more women MPs than ever before, making up 35% of the House of Commons, and 10% of MPs – including the Prime Minister – are from an ethnic minority background. It is for political parties to select prospective parliamentary candidates.
We will give careful consideration to our public consultation on the issue and respond in due course. In the meantime, we have launched a support service open to all victims or those at risk of conversion practices regardless of their background or circumstances.
The Government will publish a range of research related to the practice of conversion therapy at the launch of our consultation on the issue, which we are moving at pace to deliver. As the Minister for Women and Equalities set out in May of this year, responses to that consultation will inform legislation, which is being prepared for Spring 2022. Given the cross-cutting nature of conversion therapy, survivors of the practice may be engaging a range of public services including helplines and support relating to domestic abuse, homelessness and hate crime. The Government will put in place a package of support specifically for survivors of conversion therapy that will ensure they can find and access the help that they need.
The Government will publish a range of research related to the practice of conversion therapy at the launch of our consultation on the issue, which we are moving at pace to deliver. As the Minister for Women and Equalities set out in May of this year, responses to that consultation will inform legislation, which is being prepared for Spring 2022. Given the cross-cutting nature of conversion therapy, survivors of the practice may be engaging a range of public services including helplines and support relating to domestic abuse, homelessness and hate crime. The Government will put in place a package of support specifically for survivors of conversion therapy that will ensure they can find and access the help that they need.
The Government will publish a range of research related to the practice of conversion therapy at the launch of our consultation on the issue, which we are moving at pace to deliver. As the Minister for Women and Equalities set out in May of this year, responses to that consultation will inform legislation, which is being prepared for Spring 2022. Given the cross-cutting nature of conversion therapy, survivors of the practice may be engaging a range of public services including helplines and support relating to domestic abuse, homelessness and hate crime. The Government will put in place a package of support specifically for survivors of conversion therapy that will ensure they can find and access the help that they need.
This Government is committed to supporting all households, including veterans, with the cost of living through initiatives such as cost of living payments.
Veterans in receipt of disability benefits, including the Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance or the Mobility Supplement under the War Pension Scheme, are among those eligible for a £150 disability cost of living payment.
We encourage veterans in need of support to contact the Veterans' Gateway on 0808 802 1212, where a range of information and support services can be accessed.
Fundamentally, the best way that we can tackle increased pressures on the cost of living is by reducing inflation, and that is what this Government is committed to do.
The Civil Service is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment for all its employees and does not tolerate any form of unacceptable behaviour or abuse towards an employee. Those found to be bullying, harassing, discriminating, or violent towards employees or customers can face disciplinary procedures including charges of gross misconduct, leading to dismissal.
Civil Service HR (CSHR) have provided a suite of products to support departments in managing bullying, harassment and violence in the workplace and by third parties, including Media Attention Guidance which sets out the responsibilities for handling instances of unwanted, intrusive or aggressive media attention.
Departments have their own guidance on dealing with unacceptable customer behaviour including handling situations of - for example - assault against staff. In every incident that involves violence or a targeted threat of violence towards civil servants the police are notified and appropriate action taken.
We appreciate there is a huge appetite across the country to say thank you to all those who are supporting the nation through these unprecedented times.
Both the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 and the New Year Honours 2021 included COVID-19 recognition - and have been symbolic of the nation’s gratitude to those involved in the response to the pandemic on the frontline and in their communities. We anticipate more awards will be made over forthcoming honours rounds to recognise the work of those who have gone above and beyond across all key sectors.
On 12 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government will establish a UK Commission on COVID Commemoration to consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives and to recognise those involved in the unprecedented response. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
We appreciate there is a huge appetite across the country to say thank you to all those who are supporting the nation through these unprecedented times.
Both the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 and the New Year Honours 2021 included COVID-19 recognition - and have been symbolic of the nation’s gratitude to those involved in the response to the pandemic on the frontline and in their communities. We anticipate more awards will be made over forthcoming honours rounds to recognise the work of those who have gone above and beyond across all key sectors.
On 12 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government will establish a UK Commission on COVID Commemoration to consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives and to recognise those involved in the unprecedented response. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.
The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:
The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
The Government maintains regular contact with the logistics industry both in the UK and in the EU. Logistics companies - on both sides of the Channel - will make their own commercial decisions on customer deliveries.
Individuals can obtain EORI numbers in order to import or export goods, although EORI numbers are not required if they are importing for their own personal use.
Further to the answer to PQ 175723 on 19 April 2021, the Government is continuing to support businesses and hauliers in navigating new systems and processes.
The Government maintains regular contact with the logistics industry both in the UK and in the EU. Logistics companies - on both sides of the Channel - will make their own commercial decisions on customer deliveries.
Individuals can obtain EORI numbers in order to import or export goods, although EORI numbers are not required if they are importing for their own personal use.
Further to the answer to PQ 175723 on 19 April 2021, the Government is continuing to support businesses and hauliers in navigating new systems and processes.
Throughout the pandemic, we have consistently adapted our response as we have learnt more about the virus and how best to tackle it. Automatic car washes were permitted to operate during the most recent lockdown, recognising the low risk of transmission they posed. Jet car washes, including those that are self-serviced, are not fully automatic and were therefore required to close.
The Government published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’, on 22 February, providing a roadmap out of lockdown restrictions in England. As a result of progress made against the virus, England was able to move to Step 2 on 12 April. All car washes, including jet washes, are now permitted to open.
We keep our measures under constant review so as to reflect the latest science and clinical data. Scientific evidence supporting the government response to coronavirus is regularly published here - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Revised guidance for businesses can be found here:
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to all the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses with the creation of a new Small Business Council. The Council builds on the Department’s existing support for SMEs and will provide a bespoke forum for small businesses to have their voices represented within Government.
The Help to Grow website is a one-stop shop for small businesses to clearly identify what funding they can access, webinars as well as the basics of setting up a business.
Businesses can still access government-backed financial support from the Start Up Loans Company, which provides loans and support to new entrepreneurs.
I believe that my Honourable Friend is referring to Royal Mail customer service points rather than Post Office collection points. I understand that Royal Mail has completed the first stage of its review of customer service points and decided to maintain the current estate.
Decisions on the provision of Royal Mail customer service points are an operational matter for the business, provided they meet Ofcom’s regulatory requirement on Royal Mail, as the Designated Universal Service Provider, to provide access points for the universal postal service.
Protecting and enhancing workers’ rights whilst supporting business to grow remains a priority for this Government.
The Government is backing six Private Members’ Bills helping new parents, unpaid carers, hospitality workers, giving all employees easier access to flexible working, and giving workers’ a right to request a more predictable contract.
This is in addition to previous reforms we have delivered since leaving the EU including; increasing pay for around 2.5 million workers, extending the ban on exclusivity clauses, quadrupling the maximum fine for employers who treat their workers badly, and creating a new statutory leave for parents who suffer the loss of a child.
The Government will consult on the design of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendations to create a statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices and an ongoing road fuels monitoring function this autumn. These two recommendations will help to facilitate competition and fair pricing, nationally and locally, as well as helping tackle regional price disparities.
Until we can put these changes on a statutory footing, the government has supported the CMA to establish an interim voluntary fuel price data sharing scheme, encouraging retailers to share prices daily. The CMA will also continue to monitor fuel prices using its existing powers.
The Government has made no such assessment.
Under the UK’s data protection legislation, people have the right to request organisations to erase their personal data, for example when its use is no longer necessary. The right to be forgotten is not absolute and organisations may refuse a request where they need to retain it, for example to comply with a legal obligation or for reasons of public interest in the area of public health. The UK’s legislation on the right to be forgotten is identical to the legislation which applies in EU countries under the EU GDPR. If a person is dissatisfied with the way that an organisation has considered their request for erasure, they can complain to the data protection regulator, which in the UK is the Information Commissioner’s Office.
We have no plans to commission research on the implementation of laws on the right to be forgotten in European countries.
Project Gigabit is the government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK. Its objective is to level up the UK by giving hard-to-reach areas access to gigabit-capable internet speeds and, coupled with broadband suppliers’ commercial delivery, support the government’s target of nationwide gigabit-capable broadband by 2030.
Today, more than 73% of UK premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband, up from just 6% in January 2019. We are on track to achieve our milestone target of 85% by the end of 2025.
Building Digital UK has set out the baseline trajectory to meet this target, and publishes quarterly updates on the progress of Project Gigabit.
Onshore wind developers should engage with local communities as the UK increases renewable deployment to meet net zero. The Government has set regulations that require onshore wind developers to consult earlier with the local community. It has also published guidance to ensure that local people are involved throughout the process of development.
In December 2022 the Government published the core parameters for all technologies for the fifth Contracts for Difference allocation round (AR), including for tidal stream:
The final Budget Notice containing full details about AR5 auction parameters will be published in March 2023.
There is no smart meter usage fee for energy consumers. Consumers' bills include the costs of providing and maintaining a live supply for metering points whether they are smart or traditional. These costs represent a small proportion of overall bills.
The Government is committed to protecting consumers from the impact of high energy prices and provided £37 billion in cost of living support last year. This included introducing the Energy Price Guarantee, which protects customers from increases in energy costs by limiting the amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy used and the average standing charges for customers on default tariffs.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide a price reduction to ensure that all eligible businesses and other non-domestic customers, including swimming pools, are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.
We are determined to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing as we transition to electric vehicles. As part of this, we continue to work with investors through the Automotive Transformation Fund to progress plans to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK. In 2021 the Net Zero Strategy announced £350 of funding in the Automotive Transformation Fund. This funding is additional to the £500m announced in 2020 for this programme as part of the 10 Point Plan.
This Department is working with the Hospitality Sector Council to deliver on our 2021 Hospitality Strategy to improve the resilience of hospitality businesses.
The Government recognise that businesses on the high street, including those in hospitality, are facing cost pressures driven by global factors, including high energy and cost of living pressures.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.
My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced in his Autumn Statement that the Government will be taking steps to help rate payers with a package worth £13.6 billion in total.
Solar is a key part of the energy mix and needs sustained growth in both ground mount and rooftop capacity to meet our energy security and net zero goals.
Installing solar panels along roads has been tested in some countries but experienced practical problems, including rapid panel deterioration due to heavy traffic vibrations and difficulties in accessing sites for maintenance.
The Government is supporting the installation of panels on the roofs of industrial units where this is technically feasible through a business rate exemption until 2035 and tax relief.
The Government is also reviewing existing permitted development rights to simplify planning and enable more rooftop solar deployment on industrial buildings.
The Government is encouraging businesses to install solar panels on their roof stock, for example through business rate exemptions and tax relief. However, a blanket requirement to deploy solar photovoltaic panels on every roof is impractical. Some roofs are not suitable because of shading, orientation and location.
In December 2021 Government introduced an uplift in energy efficiency standards for new builds, which came into force on 15 June 2022.
In order to receive support, biomass electricity generators are required to comply with the UK’s strict sustainability criteria, which ensure that only sustainable biomass is used by the generators.
Where woody biomass is sourced from forests, to receive support, the forests must be managed in accordance with sustainable management practices that require the maintenance and replanting of the forest, demonstration that deforestation is not occurring, and that biodiversity, soil and water are protected, among other requirements.
The forthcoming Biomass Strategy will set out recommendations for further enhancing the UK’s stringent biomass sustainability criteria.
The Alternative Fuel Payment will provide a one-off payment to UK households that use alternative fuels for heating, such as heating oil. This will come in addition to the £400 provided by the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the electricity component of the Energy Price Guarantee.
The Government is also providing £800 of one-off support to eight million of the most vulnerable households to help with the cost of living.
The Government expects industry to work closely with communities in order to gather the local support needed, as well as to determine what kind of community benefits will be put in place.
The Government expects industry to work closely with communities in order to gather the local support needed, as well as to determine what kind of community benefits will be put in place.
The identification and leasing of marine energy sites is a matter for the Crown Estate and the Crown Estate Scotland.
In July this year over 40MW of new tidal stream capacity was procured via the government’s flagship Contracts for Difference scheme. This contract award will enable tidal stream developers to gain operational experience and work on improving and optimising their technologies. Tidal stream continues to be eligible for a suite of competitively allocated Net Zero innovation grant funding opportunities, with the Government having spent over £80m on marine energy innovation since 2010.
As an internationally traded commodity, natural gas prices are primarily driven by the underlying price in the global market. Many of the factors affecting the spikes seen recently in wholesale gas prices are attributable to international activity extending beyond the UK's domestic production. To date, the Department has not undertaken analysis of the impact of increased domestic gas production on domestic wholesale price specifically.
The Government has been in commercial negotiations with both EDF and the Sizewell C project company since January 2021. These negotiations are ongoing and commercially sensitive.
Ministers and Officials in the Department regularly engage with energy suppliers to discuss the impact of rising energy costs on businesses of all sizes.
The Government announced a new six-month scheme – the Energy Price Guarantee for Businesses (EPGB) – to protect all businesses and other non-domestic energy users from soaring energy costs. The scheme will offer comparable support to that being provided for consumers and more details will follow shortly. After this initial six-month scheme, the Government will provide focused support for vulnerable sectors, targeted to make sure those most in need get support.
Through close engagement with the steel industry, the Government is acutely aware of the continued pressure on steel companies because of high energy and raw material costs.
The Government remains determined to secure a competitive future for energy intensive industries (EIIs) such as steel, providing them with extensive support, including over £2 billion to help with the costs of energy and to protect jobs.
The recently-announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. A review of the scheme, to be published in three months, will identify the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs after the initial six months.
The Government is monitoring the impact of energy prices on businesses and recognises the scale will vary depending on business type and type of contract or tariff.
The Government announced a new six-month scheme – the Energy Bill Relief Scheme - to ensure that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. After this initial six-month period, the Government will provide focused support for vulnerable sectors, targeted to make sure those most in need get support.
The Government is also providing support via with business rates relief, freezing alcohol duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits, increasing the employment allowance.
The Government recognises the impact rising energy prices will have on businesses of all sizes and is in regular contact with business groups and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and explore ways to protect consumers and businesses.
The recently announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme ( https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-plans-to-help-cut-energy-bills-for-businesses) ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. A review of the scheme, to be published in three months, will identify the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs after the initial six months.
Households not on standard gas or electricity contracts, such as those in rural areas, will receive equivalent support to that provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and the Energy Price Guarantee. The Government is working at pace to determine the most practical and tested routes to deliver this support. As part of this, for households who do not use gas for domestic heating, the Government has committed to provide an additional payment of £100 to compensate for the rising costs of other fuels such as heating oil.
BEIS is monitoring the impact of energy prices on businesses and recognises the scale will vary depending on business type and type of contract or tariff.
The recently announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme ( https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-plans-to-help-cut-energy-bills-for-businesses) ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. A review of the scheme, to be published in three months, will identify the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs after the initial six months.
The Government is also providing support via with business rates relief, freezing alcohol duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits, and increasing the employment allowance.
The Government regularly engages with businesses to understand the impact rising energy prices will have on businesses of all sizes.
The recently announced Energy Bill Relief Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-plans-to-help-cut-energy-bills-for-businesses) ensures that all businesses and other non-domestic customers are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. A review of the scheme, to be published in three months, will identify the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs after the initial six months.
The operation of Royal Mail’s products and services, including measures to tackle counterfeit stamps, is a matter for the company’s management and the Government is not involved in Royal Mail’s operational decisions.
Royal Mail has published advice for consumers on identifying and reporting stamp fraud on its website: www.royalmail.com/report-stamp-fraud.
Royal Mail also introduced barcoded stamps earlier this year as part of its modernisation drive. Newly issued stamps will have an associated unique barcode which will help facilitate operational efficiencies whilst also enabling added security features to help tackle stamp fraud. More information on barcoded stamps is available on Royal Mail’s website: www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps.