Karen Buck Portrait

Karen Buck

Labour - Former Member for Westminster North

First elected: 1st May 1997

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Renters (Reform) Bill
8th Nov 2023 - 28th Nov 2023
Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
14th May 2021 - 5th Sep 2023
Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill
7th Sep 2022 - 12th Oct 2022
Panel of Chairs
15th Jan 2020 - 27th Jan 2022
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
2nd Mar 2020 - 29th Jun 2021
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
30th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Panel of Chairs
22nd Jun 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
28th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Panel of Chairs
14th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Work and Pensions Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Shadow Minister (Education)
7th Oct 2011 - 16th Apr 2013
Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
8th Oct 2010 - 7th Oct 2011
Work and Pensions Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 2nd Nov 2010
Children, Schools and Families
2nd Nov 2009 - 6th May 2010
London Regional Select Committee
15th Dec 2009 - 6th May 2010
London Regional Select Committee
14th Dec 2009 - 6th May 2010
Home Affairs Committee
17th Jul 2006 - 14th Dec 2009
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
10th May 2005 - 16th Mar 2006
Work and Pensions Committee
16th Jul 2001 - 12th Jul 2005
Committee of Selection
3rd Dec 1998 - 5th Nov 2001
Social Security
14th Jul 1997 - 11th May 2001


Division Voting information

Karen Buck has voted in 3001 divisions, and 16 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Jun 2018 - National Policy Statement: Airports - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 119
8 Feb 2017 - European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Labour No votes vs 163 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 496 Noes - 111
8 Feb 2017 - European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 52 Labour No votes vs 161 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 494 Noes - 122
1 Feb 2017 - European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 47 Labour No votes vs 166 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 498 Noes - 114
11 Sep 2015 - Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 73 Labour Aye votes vs 91 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 330
9 Nov 2009 - Coroners and Justice Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Labour Aye votes vs 265 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 266 Noes - 274
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 93 Labour No votes vs 155 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 235 Noes - 176
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 83 Labour No votes vs 157 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 158
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 77 Labour No votes vs 156 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 153
14 Mar 2007 - Trident - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour Aye votes vs 226 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 167 Noes - 413
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 126 Labour Aye votes vs 184 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 418
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 132 Labour Aye votes vs 177 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 392
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 156 Labour Aye votes vs 157 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 267
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 96 Labour No votes vs 207 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 337 Noes - 224
28 Feb 2007 - Offender Management Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 49 Labour Aye votes vs 256 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 111 Noes - 267
25 Oct 2023 - Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill - View Vote Context
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Labour No votes vs 150 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 197 Noes - 276
View All Karen Buck Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Andy Slaughter (Labour)
(38 debate interactions)
Sajid Javid (Conservative)
(33 debate interactions)
Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat)
(27 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Work and Pensions
(225 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(87 debate contributions)
Home Office
(66 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Renters (Reform) Bill 2022-23
(10,565 words contributed)
Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
(8,131 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Karen Buck's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Karen Buck

20th July 2022
Karen Buck signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 20th July 2022

Social Security

Tabled by: Keir Starmer (Labour - Holborn and St Pancras)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2022 (S.I., 2022, No. 752), dated 4 July 2022, a copy of which was laid before this House on 4 July 2022, be annulled.
15 signatures
(Most recent: 13 Oct 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 10
Scottish National Party: 3
Green Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
21st March 2022
Karen Buck signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 21st March 2022

Social Security

Tabled by: Keir Starmer (Labour - Holborn and St Pancras)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance (Work Search and Work Availability Requirements - limitations) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I., 2022, No. 108), dated 7 February 2022, a copy of which was laid before this House on 7 February 2022, be …
19 signatures
(Most recent: 20 Apr 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Karen Buck's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Karen Buck, 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.


Karen Buck has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Karen Buck

Tuesday 31st January 2017
Friday 10th June 2011

8 Bills introduced by Karen Buck


To amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; to amend the Building Act 1984 to make provision about the liability for works on residential accommodation that do not comply with Building Regulations; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th December 2018 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to establish a national register of short and holiday-let accommodation; to give local authorities powers to require information in association with that register; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 16th October 2015

A Bill to place a duty on local authorities to ensure that persons for whom a homeless duty has been accepted are accommodated in the local area, including on discharge into private rented accommodation; to require local authorities to publish annual reports on steps relating to housing demand and supply taken or intended to be taken to meet that duty; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 8th March 2021
(Read Debate)

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require householders to notify local authorities of an intention to register accommodation for short or holiday lets; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 13th December 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require householders to notify local authorities of an intention to register accommodation for short or holiday lets; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 21st March 2017
(Read Debate)

A Bill to restrict the application of permitted development rights; to grant local planning authorities powers to restrict the size and depth of basement excavations underneath or adjacent to residential properties; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 16th September 2015

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to regulate the construction of new basements and extensions to basements; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 12th November 2013

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the proportion of UK addresses end-to-end postal delivery companies would need to cover before there is a threat to the financial sustainability of the universal service.

Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator for postal services, the primary statutory duty to secure the provision of the universal service and to this end Ofcom must have regard for the financial sustainability of the universal service.

Last year, following a consultation, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for postal services, set out its guidance on its approach to intervening in response to a material threat to the provision of the universal service.

Ofcom has made clear that if its ongoing monitoring regime, which keeps the situation under continual review and allows for any new evidence, does not prompt the need for any earlier assessment, it will as a matter of course carry out a full assessment of the impact of competition on the universal service towards the end of 2015.

More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the time it would take for Ofcom to undertake a review of the effects of end-to-end competition on the universal service.

Last year, following a consultation, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for postal services, set out its guidance on its approach to intervening in response to a material threat to the universal service.

Ofcom has made clear that if its ongoing monitoring regime, which keeps the situation under continual review and allows for any new evidence, does not prompt the need for any earlier assessment, it will as a matter of course carry out a full assessment of the impact of competition on the universal service towards the end of 2015.

Ofcom's comprehensive monitoring regime is forward looking, based on business plans of Royal Mail and other postal operators, and as set out in its guidance, appropriate intervention could be taken within 6-9 months of identifying a potential risk to the provision of the universal service. More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the change in mail volumes to the universal service provider in the NW postcode area as a result of end-to-end competition.

Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the powers and tools it needs to assess risks to the universal service and to take appropriate action if the provision of the universal service is ever at serious risk.

Ofcom has a comprehensive monitoring regime in place and it has the powers to take appropriate action if it considers the universal service to be at risk. More information about Ofcom's regulatory regime can be found on its website (www.ofcom.org.uk).

23rd May 2022
To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2022 to Question 147025 and 26 April 2022 to Question 156349, on Department for Work and Pensions: Freedom of Information, if she will instruct the Government Legal Service to undertake an assessment of the basis for the Department for Work and Pensions' decision to withhold publication of the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit’s report on the experiences of vulnerable people who have been claiming Universal Credit.

No investigation will be carried out by the Government Legal Profession.

If a person making a request under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) is not satisfied with a response, they may exercise their statutory rights of challenge under the Act, complaining to the ICO and then appealing to the First-tier Tribunal.

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the findings of the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit's research into the experiences of potentially vulnerable people in receipt of Universal Credit was first presented to (a) the then Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP and (b) the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Amber Rudd.

We do not hold centrally those who were in receipt of the report (dated three years ago) but details about the report are available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a).

23rd May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2022 to Question 156354 on Universal Credit: Vulnerable Adults, for what reason he has provided a link to the membership of the Universal Credit Programme Board; and if he will publish the full circulation list.

We would not centrally hold a list of all the civil servants who would have been in receipt of the report, three years ago. We have already deposited the Universal Credit Programme Board documentation which lists the senior officials in attendance at such meetings.

20th Apr 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) ministers and (b) officials were on the circulation list for the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit report in 2019 on the experiences of vulnerable people claiming Universal Credit.

Information about the report is available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a)

20th Apr 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit commissioned research into the experiences of vulnerable people claiming Universal Credit.

Information about the report is available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a)

14th Jul 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) absolute and (b) proportionate change in expenditure per capita on youth services was in each local authority area between 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Information on youth service expenditure by local authority is collected by the Department for Education and published on GOV.UK. Data is not collected on a per capita basis.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much each local authority in England reported as its (a) budgeted and (b) outturn expenditure on all youth work and provision of activities for young people in each year since 2010.

The information requested is collected by Department for Education and published on gov.uk. I have asked that this information for each year since 2010 is placed in the Library of the House as soon as is practicable.

Figures for actual spend by local authority in 2013-14 will be available in December 2014.

6th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ask the Seceretary of State what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the carbon reduction plan.

The Clean Growth Strategy is a vital part of the UK’s future. We are taking the time to get it right.

We are working to ensure that it is as ambitious and robust as possible, so that we can both deliver on our emissions targets and seize the economic opportunities from clean growth. We will publish the Strategy shortly.

24th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children aged five and under accessed programmes through children’s centres and family hubs in each English local authority area in the last 12 months.

The department does not routinely collect data on the number of children who are accessing programmes through children’s centres or family hubs. This data is held at a local level.

Local authorities have statutory duties under Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006 to facilitate access to early childhood services and encourage parents to take advantage of them. The act, and the duties, are available to view here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1.

Local authorities should be reviewing data on service use and outcomes to ensure that they are meeting these duties and that their commissioning decisions are informed by evidence of the impact of their local services.

12th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many unfilled places there were in primary schools in 2016-17; and what proportion of the total number of school places that figure represents in each such area.

As of 1 May 2016, the total number of unfilled primary places in England was 461,065; the number of unfilled places as a percentage of total primary places was 9.7 per cent.

The capacity data are published on an annual basis, giving equivalent local authority and regional totals, through the SCAP tables. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2015-to-2016.

11th Jul 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out which English local authorities have a total of five per cent or more surplus school places in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) all schools.

The Department collects information on the capacity of schools and the number of pupils on roll as part of the annual School Capacity (SCAP) survey. A school is identified as having surplus places if the capacity is higher than the number of pupils on roll.

The latest information on the number and percentage of surplus places at local authority level can be found in tables A2 and A3 of the ‘School Capacity: academic year 2015 to 2016’ release at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2015-to-2016.

An efficient system requires a degree of unfilled or surplus places at any point. Retaining a reasonable level of surplus places provides for parental choice and allows local authorities to manage shifting demand for places. A range of factors contributes to the level of surplus places held. For example, surplus places can be evidence of local authorities planning ahead of future need, as the increase in pupil numbers at primary level over recent years begins to move into secondary level. Unfilled places can also be attributed to the building of completely new schools, which fill up year by year, leaving space in the upper years.

19th Apr 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which (a) primary and (b) secondary school in each English education authority has the (i) lowest and (ii) highest proportion of children on free school meals.

Information about the proportion of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals in each Local Authority is available for each school in the underlying data of the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2015’[1] statistics. The highest and lowest rates in each local authority can be determined readily from these figures.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 - Please refer to file titled ‘Underlying data’ and open the file titled ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Pupils_UD’. The highest and lowest rates of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals can be determined based on the ‘LA name’, ‘School Name’, and ‘% of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals’ columns. To split into primary and secondary schools, use the ‘Phase-type grouping’ column.

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank each secondary school in each London borough by the proportion of children who are eligible for the purpose of determining the pupil premium; and what type each such school is.

Information on the number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is available in the final school level pupil premium allocations, which are published on the department’s website.[1] These figures can be used with the total number of pupils in each school (information which can also be found in the same publication) to calculate the proportion eligible for the pupil premium.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations - please click on ‘Pupil premium final allocations 2015 to 2016 by school in England’

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank secondary schools in each London borough by the proportion of pupils who have English as an additional language; and what type each such school is.

Information on the number and proportion of number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English is available in the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2015 statistics[1]. This data also contains information on the type and location of each school and it can be used to rank the schools.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 - click on Underlying Data, open file ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Pupils’ and the information on English as an additional language is in column GB.

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank secondary schools in each London borough by the proportion of pupils with non-statutory special needs; and what type each such school is.

The proportion and number of children with non-statutory special needs, identified as ‘SEN support’ in each primary and secondary school, including type of school in London can be calculated from the underlying data of the publication Special educational needs in England: January 2015. This publication can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2015

We have no plans to rank this data.

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank primary schools in each London borough by the proportion of children who are eligible for the purpose of determining the pupil premium; and what type each such school is.

Information on the number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is available in the final school level pupil premium allocations, which are published on the department’s website.[1] These figures can be used with the total number of pupils in each school (information which can also be found in the same publication) to calculate the proportion eligible for the pupil premium.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations - please click on ‘Pupil premium final allocations 2015 to 2016 by school in England’

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank secondary schools in each London borough by the actual and percentage change in the number of children known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in (a) 2010 and (b) 2015; and what type each such school is.

Information about the number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals and claiming them in each school in London can be found in the underlying data of the Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics statistics for 2010[1] and 2015[2] respectively. These data contain information about the type and phase of school and in which local authority they are located. Change in free school meal eligibility rates for schools can be calculated and ranked from this information.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2010 - click on underlying data and see columns EH and EI for free school meal data.

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 - click on underlying data, open the ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Pupils’ file and the free school meal data is in columns EC and ED.

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank primary schools in each London borough by the proportion of pupils who have English as an additional language; and what type each such school is.

Information on the number and proportion of number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English is available in the underlying data of the schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2015 statistics[1]. This data also contains information on the type and location of each school and it can be used to rank the schools.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 - click on Underlying Data, open file ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Pupils’ and the information on English as an additional language is in column GB.

3rd Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rank primary schools in each London borough by the actual percentage change in the number of children known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in (a) 2010 and (b) 2015; and what type each such school is.

Information about the number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals and claiming them in each school in London can be found in the underlying data of the Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics statistics for 2010[1] and 2015[2] respectively. These data contain information about the type and phase of school and in which local authority they are located. Change in free school meal eligibility rates for schools can be calculated and ranked from this information.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2010 - click on underlying data and see columns EH and EI for free school meal data.

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 - click on underlying data, open the ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Pupils’ file and the free school meal data is in columns EC and ED.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will rank each English local authority by the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary free schools to have received approval; and what this represents as a proportion of the estimated school-age population.

The published list of successful applications to open a free school and of free schools already opened or in the pre-opening stage, which includes which local authority they are in, is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-successful-applications-and-open-schools-2014

The total number of places in these schools when at full capacity will be around 2% of the total number of children currently educated in state-funded schools in England.

The number of places in approved free schools is published online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/successful-free-school-proposals-announced

The total school population is published in the ‘schools, pupils and their characteristics' statistical first release and is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2013

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the amounts paid out under the Bus Service Operators Grant by (a) region and (b) nation of the UK to date.

Up until 31 December 2013 Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was paid directly to bus operators and was not split between commercially run or subsidised bus services. We are therefore unable to provide figures for this period. From 1 January 2014 local authorities have received funding equivalent to the level of BSOG which would otherwise have been paid to operators for running subsidised services in 2014. The current dataset provides details of amounts paid up to and including the period to 31/03/21. Details of the amounts paid to local authorities each year can be found on the “Payments to Local Authorities” tab of the relevant spreadsheets published at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the amounts paid out under the Restoring Your Railway Fund by (a) region and (b) nation of the UK to date.

We invited and received bids to the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund from across England and Wales. The Ideas Fund provides 75% of costs, up to £50,000, to help fund transport and economic studies and create a business case. Details, including regions, of the 25 Ideas Fund schemes awarded funding to date are on GOV.UK.

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the amounts paid out under the Bus Service Operators Grant by (a) region and (b) nation of the UK in 200-21.

Up until 31 December 2013 Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was paid directly to bus operators and was not split between commercially run or subsidised bus services. We are therefore unable to provide figures for this period. From 1 January 2014 local authorities have received funding equivalent to the level of BSOG which would otherwise have been paid to operators for running subsidised services in 2014. The current dataset provides details of amounts paid up to and including the period to 31/03/21. Details of the amounts paid to local authorities each year can be found on the “Payments to Local Authorities” tab of the relevant spreadsheets published at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the amounts paid out under the Transforming Cities programme by (a) region and (b) nation of the UK in 2020-21.

The total amount of Transforming Cities Fund awarded to the six original Mayoral Combined Authorities and the remaining twelve Competitively Funded Authorities, including West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Sheffield City Region Combined Authority have been published. Details about the total funded awarded to each city is available on Gov.UK.

The Transforming Cities Fund is available to selected cities within England only, not the other devolved nations. By completion of the Transforming Cities Programme, a total of £2.36 billion will have been invested in these 18 cities across England.

18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the amounts paid out under the Pothole Action Fund by (a) region and (b) nation of the UK in 2020-21.

The Pothole Action Fund, announced in 2016¸ was for local roads in England outside London, as that has a separate funding arrangement. The other nations of the UK receive a share of any new funding through the Barnett Formula.

For 2020/21, the Pothole Action Fund (£50 million in 2020/21) was combined with the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund (£100 million) and the new £2.5 billion Potholes Fund announced at Budget 2020 (£500 million). This £650 million funding was allocated by formula, and paid to local highway authorities in England, outside London.

The allocations were published in the Roads Funding Information Pack which is at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-funding-information-pack/roads-funding-information-pack.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish his Department's estimate of the total covid-19-related financial support to be provided to train operating companies, by each company in receipt of that funding, from 30 September 2020 to 31 March 2021.

The cost to the public purse is highly dependent on the course of the pandemic and also how many people are using the railway and generating revenue, which is highly uncertain at this point.

Details of past payments made by the Department to individual franchised passenger rail operators under the Emergency Measures Agreements up until late June can be found on the government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payments-to-passenger-rail-operators-march-to-june-2020.

We plan to update these figures regularly and expect to publish figures up to late September in the coming weeks once the final payment adjustment processes are concluded.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has required Southern Railway to provide monthly management accounts and cashflow forecasts to be reviewed by his Department in response to the Office for National Statistics’s decision to classify train operating companies into the public sector.

The Department continues to request periodic management accounts and cashflow forecasts from all Train Operating Companies as per the underlying Franchise Agreements.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to appoint special representatives to attend all Southern Railway board meetings as a result of the decision by the Office for National Statistics to classify train operating companies into the public sector.

The Secretary of State does not plan to appoint special representatives to attend Southern Railway board meetings.

The classification of train operating companies by the Office for National Statistics does not have any direct implications in areas such as ownership, legal status, or management structure.

The Department continues to monitor the delivery of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Franchise Agreement, which encompasses the Southern Railway brand.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the emergency funding provided to the railways, whether the Government plans to take steps to assess whether actual cumulative passenger revenue cash receipts by Southern Railway are in line with the expected cumulative scenario underpinning the original settlement for the second half of 2020-21.

The Department continues to monitor actual levels of passenger revenue through the submission of periodic management accounts from Govia Thameslink Railway, and the calculation of Franchise Payments is driven by the level of actual revenue received by the franchisee.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish details of the performance terms and conditions applied to train operating companies in receipt of covid-19-related funding to replace lost fare income.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decision was made in response to a very significant change in the commercial terms of Train Operating Companies (TOCs). In adapting to managing contract with TOCs under these new arrangements my department continues to keep its governance arrangements under close review, and we will communicate any changes (including any arising specifically from the ONS decision) to operators as needed.

All Emergency Measures Agreement (EMAs) have been published in redacted form on the public register of rail franchises on the gov.uk website. The Department is continuing to follow its processes in order to finalise the publication of the ERMAs. Given that a number of third party stakeholders are being consulted on proposed redactions, we cannot provide a definitive timescale for the redacted versions of the ERMAs however we continue to work towards publishing them as soon as reasonably practicable and the Department’s redactions have been completed.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made changes to the governance arrangements for train operating companies as a result of the decision made by the Office for National Statistics to re-classify such companies as being within the public sector.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decision was made in response to a very significant change in the commercial terms of Train Operating Companies (TOCs). In adapting to managing contract with TOCs under these new arrangements my department continues to keep its governance arrangements under close review, and we will communicate any changes (including any arising specifically from the ONS decision) to operators as needed.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of financial support provided to train operating companies (a) individually and (b) in total during the period from (i) 31 March to 29 September 2020 and (ii) 30 September 2020 to date.

Approximately £4.2bn has been paid in operational support to all 14 Train Operating Companies, including the 2 in public ownership, up to the end of rail period 6 (from 1 March to 20 September).

Details of past payments made by the Department to individual franchised passenger rail operators under the Emergency Measures Agreements up until late June can be found on the government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payments-to-passenger-rail-operators-march-to-june-2020.

We plan to update these figures regularly and expect to publish figures up to 20 September in the coming weeks once the final payment adjustment processes are concluded

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to emergency funding provided to the national railways, what cumulative efficiency savings he has asked Southern Railway to achieve by the end of 2020-21.

The Department has contracted Govia Thameslink Railway to act as a Good and Efficient Operator, as defined in the Emergency Measures Agreement and subsequently the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement and will assess their performance against this requirement.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what formula was used to calculate the emergency funding given to Southern Railway to cover the period from (a) 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 and (b) 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021.

Schedule 8.A of the Emergency Measures Agreement, outlines the calculation of Franchise Payments from 01 April 2020 – 21 September 2020. In addition, Schedule 8.1A of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement outlines the Franchise Payments from 22 September 2020 onwards.

The Emergency Measures Agreement for Govia Thameslink Railway is publicly available, and the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement will be publicly available in due course.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/917486/govia-thameslink-emergency-measures-agreement.pdf.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government funds (a) travel concessions and (b) other benefits to (i) rail and (ii) bus travellers in England outside London.

There are a number of national rail concessions in the form of railcards. Under Section 28(3) of the Railways Act 1993, train operating companies are required to participate in certain approved discount card schemes for young and student travellers, disabled passengers and those over 60.

In addition, recent introductions include the 16-17 Saver and 26-30 ‘millennial’ railcard to help young people, and in October we launched a new Veterans Railcard to help former servicemen and women.

Funding for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) for bus travel is provided to local authorities through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG’s) revenue support grant. This funding is not ringfenced, which enables local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely match local needs and circumstances.

10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the emergency funding provided to the national railways, whether he has asked Southern Railway to deliver an assessment of the effect of demand on sustainability, including modelling of medium-term service level requirements against possible demand scenarios after covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

Rail operators continue to assess local demand regularly to deliver the services passengers need. We continue to work closely with Govia Thameslink Railway (the operator of Southern services) as they develop future timetable proposals to make sure we strike the right balance between running the maximum levels of service that can be resourced reliably to meet demand and protecting taxpayers’ best interests.

1st Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 60669, whether there have been changes to the pre-Emergency Measures Agreements obligations requiring train operators to provide periodic management accounts to his Department and the two operators that are in direct public ownership in relation to management accounts, profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations on train operators to provide management accounts to the Department for each 4-week rail period. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The EMAs include an additional provision that requires the management accounts to show greater disaggregation of the periodic profit and loss account, to allow more detailed scrutiny of expenditure by the Department.

1st Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 60669, what the difference is in frequency of the additional financial scrutiny of train operators and the two operators that are in direct public ownership under the Emergency Measures Agreements as compared to those undertaken periodically under existing Franchise Agreement obligations.

The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) have introduced a formal process of budget reviews in each four-week rail period to enable additional financial scrutiny of operators. This is a new process to reflect the fact that the Government is bearing financial risk on almost all operator costs under the EMAs. This risk previously sat with the private operators. The two operators under direct public ownership are not under EMA provisions but follow similar requirements.

1st Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 60677 on railways: coronavirus, what restrictions have been placed on the payment of dividends to shareholders during the Emergency Measures Agreements term.

The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) prohibit the payment of dividends to shareholders during the six-month EMA term.

1st Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2020 to Question 60670 on railways: franchises, by what date his review of the approach to the contractual arrangements following the period in which the Emergency Measures Agreements apply will be completed; and where he plans to publish that review.

Operators that have entered into Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) will see a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for a period of six months.

The arrangements after the EMA period ends are being developed and will be announced in due course.

18th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the condition on the additional funding to TfL that Government officials will attend TfL board meetings, whether Government officials will attend the board meetings of each train operator with a franchise agreement with his Department and report back on the use of additional resources provided to them in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

The Secretary of State has not appointed an external advisor to train operator boards and has no immediate plans to do so. The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) give the Department enhanced controls over financial decisions made by train operators. This includes a formal process of monthly budget reviews, allowing additional financial scrutiny of operators, with the ability for the Department to deem expenditure disallowable, in which case the train operator would have to bear the costs.

The funding and financing package for TfL amounts to £1.6 billion.

18th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the condition on the additional funding to TfL that Government officials will attend TfL board meetings, whether his Department plans to appoint an external advisor to the board of each train operator with a franchise agreement with his Department.

The Secretary of State has not appointed an external advisor to train operator boards and has no immediate plans to do so. The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) give the Department enhanced controls over financial decisions made by train operators. This includes a formal process of monthly budget reviews, allowing additional financial scrutiny of operators, with the ability for the Department to deem expenditure disallowable, in which case the train operator would have to bear the costs.

17th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to undertake a review of the future financial (a) position and (b) structure of each train operating company that holds a franchise agreement with his Department.

The Department is reviewing its approach to the contractual arrangements following the period in which the Emergency Measures Agreements apply. Work is underway to determine the most effective approach once this period ends. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway.

The Department continues to monitor the financial position of all train operators to ensure to continuity of passenger services.

17th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on train companies that received additional Government funding during 2020-21 paying dividends to shareholders.

The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) place a number of new restrictions on operator’s financial transactions in recognition of the risk that the government bears while they are in place. This includes restrictions on the payment of dividends to shareholders during the EMA term.