Karl Turner Portrait

Karl Turner

Labour - Kingston upon Hull East

3,920 (13.1%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 6th May 2010


Select Committees
Panel of Chairs (since November 2024)
Shadow Solicitor General
28th Nov 2023 - 30th May 2024
Justice Committee
17th May 2022 - 30th Apr 2024
Holocaust Memorial Bill Select Committee
5th Dec 2023 - 26th Apr 2024
Pet Abduction Bill
24th Jan 2024 - 31st Jan 2024
Seafarers' Wages Bill [HL]
11th Jan 2023 - 17th Jan 2023
Shadow Minister (Justice)
10th Apr 2020 - 29th Oct 2021
Regulatory Reform
2nd Mar 2020 - 20th May 2021
Shadow Minister (Transport)
3rd Jul 2017 - 10th Apr 2020
Regulatory Reform
6th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Opposition Whip (Commons)
18th Oct 2016 - 3rd Jul 2017
Shadow Attorney General
11th Jan 2016 - 26th Jun 2016
Shadow Minister (Justice)
18th Sep 2015 - 11th Jan 2016
Shadow Solicitor General
3rd Dec 2014 - 11th Jan 2016
Opposition Assistant Whip (Commons)
11th Jan 2013 - 18th Sep 2015
Home Affairs Committee
26th Nov 2012 - 4th Feb 2013
Justice Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 21st Jan 2013


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Karl Turner has voted in 102 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Karl Turner Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

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

Sparring Partners
Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op))
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(4 debate interactions)
Darren Jones (Labour)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
(3 debate interactions)
Wes Streeting (Labour)
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Budget Responsibility Act 2024
(42 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Karl Turner's debates

Kingston upon Hull East Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Karl Turner has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Karl Turner

25th March 2025
Karl Turner signed this EDM as a sponsor on Tuesday 25th March 2025

Benefit reforms and Personal Independence Payment consultation

Tabled by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
That this House welcomes proposals which have the objective of ensuring more young people are supported into work; wishes to ensure that the people with the most severe disabilities continue to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other support; and, to ensure this happens, requires the Secretary of State for …
10 signatures
(Most recent: 27 Mar 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 8
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
24th February 2025
Karl Turner signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Thursday 20th February 2025

Commemorating 200 years of the modern railway

Tabled by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
That this House celebrates the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened on 27 September 1825, marking the beginning of the modern railway era; notes that this was a transformative innovation, born in Britain, which rapidly spread across the globe, connecting places, people, ideas and fundamentally transforming the fabric …
15 signatures
(Most recent: 19 Mar 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 12
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Conservative: 1
View All Karl Turner's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Karl Turner, 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.


Karl Turner has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Karl Turner has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Karl Turner


A Bill to increase the maximum sentence for a conviction of dangerous driving from two years to seven years; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 17th May 2011

1 Bill co-sponsored by Karl Turner

Electricity Supply (Vulnerable Customers) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Sam Tarry (Lab)


Latest 21 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
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the volume of trade between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

The Government uses a range of programmes and levers to increase the volume of trade between UK and Sri Lanka. These include the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which cuts tariffs and simplifies trading rules for Sri Lankan exporters. The Government also works in Sri Lanka to promote UK trade, investment, trade policy objectives and export finance overseas. This is spearheaded by His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) to South Asia.

These are complemented by regular Government-to-Government engagement, including the annual UK-Sri Lanka Strategic Dialogue, one of the official mechanisms for discussion of trade-related issues and promoting areas of mutual interest.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many offshore wind turbines were installed at locations within (a) UK territorial waters and (b) the UK Exclusive Economic Zone in each year between 2017 and 2023.

The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Report 2023 states there were 2,776 operational offshore wind turbines in UK waters at the end of 2023.

The Department does not hold data on the number of installed turbines over time or whether they are located in UK Territorial Waters or the UK Exclusive Economic Zone, but does publish estimates of total installed generating capacity. These show that capacity grew by 7.8GW between 2017 and 2023.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of Innovate UK funding for UK SMEs.

Supporting innovative small firms is a key objective of the government’s growth mission. My department regularly engages with business organisations to understand the needs of their members. 86% of Innovate UK grant funding goes to SMEs, with 8,000 SMEs supported in 2023 that were new to Innovate UK funding. Innovate UK’s connections to SMEs and innovators include 600+ skilled innovation & growth specialists across the UK through IUK Business Growth and IUK Business Connect. This network supports more than 10,000 SMEs a year on their innovation journey.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with small business organisations on the performance of Innovate UK.

Supporting innovative small firms is a key objective of the government’s growth mission. My department regularly engages with business organisations to understand the needs of their members. 86% of Innovate UK grant funding goes to SMEs, with 8,000 SMEs supported in 2023 that were new to Innovate UK funding. Innovate UK’s connections to SMEs and innovators include 600+ skilled innovation & growth specialists across the UK through IUK Business Growth and IUK Business Connect. This network supports more than 10,000 SMEs a year on their innovation journey.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has held with Innovate UK on their decision to close the Smart Grants Scheme.

Supporting innovative firms to flourish in the UK will be vital to delivering our Growth Mission. Innovate UK is redesigning its approach to better support these firms to scale and grow. Innovate UK has paused its Smart Grants offer so that it can work with startups and SMEs on improving this support and has invited feedback on how to do this. In Spring, it will pilot a new support package that it will evolve in partnership with businesses. An economic evaluation of the Smart Programme is being conducted to inform Innovate UK's overall strategy and its role in delivering the Industrial Strategy.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to review the decision of Innovate UK to close the Smart Grants Scheme.

Supporting innovative firms to flourish in the UK will be vital to delivering our Growth Mission. Innovate UK is redesigning its approach to better support these firms to scale and grow. Innovate UK has paused its Smart Grants offer so that it can work with startups and SMEs on improving this support and has invited feedback on how to do this. In Spring, it will pilot a new support package that it will evolve in partnership with businesses. An economic evaluation of the Smart Programme is being conducted to inform Innovate UK's overall strategy and its role in delivering the Industrial Strategy.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he plans to take to improve his Department’s support for UK SMEs.

The Department is committed to improving support for SMEs, working cross-government to remove barriers to growth, ensuring that SMEs have access to resources and expertise needed to develop and scale. For example, over the last 2 years, Innovate UK has awarded £5.2bn funding to more than 7,000 businesses spread across the UK, of which 86% were SMEs

We are also working to back UK tech startups through a range of policies that address the issues the sector cares about. This includes harnessing the benefits of AI, investment, skills, regulation, data and procurement.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether students will be able to enrol on all existing applied general qualifications up to and including the 2026-27 academic year.

In July 2024, my Right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced a short pause to the defunding of qualifications to enable a review of post-16 qualification reforms at Level 3 and below. The review will begin immediately and will examine the current planned qualification reforms as well as looking at how to ensure young people have high-quality Level 3 pathways.

To allow space for this short review, the department paused the planned removal of 16 to 19 funding from Level 3 qualifications in Construction and the Built Environment, Digital, Education and Early Years, and Health and Science that was due to take place on 31 July 2024. This will mean that, subject to any commercial decisions made by awarding organisations on these qualifications, these qualifications can be funded for 16 to 19 year old students in the 2024/25 academic year. The list of qualifications that will continue to be available until September 2025 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/qualifications-that-overlap-with-t-levels?_hsenc=p2ANqtz--hLlQbHfWVlKlYVePivcjDOKIc1BLwm20ObP9qiGiSsqjYOBoL7Bc6uRQOeVggoXVSHHjy. If a student is enrolled on a two-year course of study in September 2024, they will be funded for the full length of the qualification.

The department will conclude and communicate the outcomes of the short review into qualifications reform at Level 3 and below before the end of 2024.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure the accessibility of allotments for members of the community and (b) support local authorities in (i) improving facilities and (ii) ensuring inclusive access; and whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of demand for allotment spaces.

Defra is not currently taking any such steps. Allotments policy is a matter for local Government.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to (a) review and (b) amend the Allotments Act 1950 to strengthen the rights of allotment tenants.

Defra is not currently taking any such steps. Allotments policy is a matter for local Government.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number of (a) company groups that have been entered into the Tonnage Tax scheme and (b) vessels entered into the scheme by those company groups in each year since 2000; and what flags of registration those companies flew.

The Department does not maintain cumulative records of all companies that have participated in the Tonnage Tax system, as there is no business requirement to do so. The training obligation is assessed annually. However, we can provide the most recent figures as of 1 October 2024.

Currently, there are 82 companies participating in the Tonnage Tax scheme, encompassing 870 ships, 331 of which are UK-flagged. Additionally, 35 companies are recorded as having exited the scheme.

Excluding the 331 ships registered in the UK, other ships in the scheme are registered under the following flags:

· Cyprus:6

· Denmark: 16

· Finland: 3

· Italy: 1

· Malta: 43

· Netherlands: 2

· Norway: 9

· Portugal: 6

· Spain: 1

· Antigua and Barbuda: 6

· Bahamas: 99

· Bermuda: 8

· Brazil: 3

· Cayman Islands: 1

· Gibraltar: 8

· Hong Kong: 16

· Isle of Man: 44

· Liberia: 161

· Madeira: 10

· Marshall Islands: 49

· Panama: 30

· St. Vincent: 1

· Singapore: 15

· USA: 1

Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to increase investment in the children's mental health system to (a) reduce waiting times and (b) ensure that more (i) children and (ii) young people can access support.

It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. That is why we will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across both adult and children and young people’s mental health services. We are discussing our future investment in children and young people’s mental health services.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Education to consider how to deliver our manifesto commitment of accessing a specialist mental health professional in every school. We need to ensure any support meets the needs of young people, teachers, parents, and carers. This includes considering the role of existing programmes of support with evidence of a positive impact, such as Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges.

Alongside this we are working toward rolling out Young Futures hubs in every community, offering open access mental health services for young people.

The Mental Health Bill currently before Parliament will deliver the Government’s commitment to modernise the Mental Health Act 1983, so that it is fit for the 21st century. The Bill will amend the Act, which applies to England and Wales, and give patients detained under the Act greater choice, autonomy, rights, and support.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7745 on Migrant Workers: Wind Power, if she will contact employers that utilised the concession to obtain data on the number of workers brought to work in UK waters between 2017 and 2023.

The offshore wind workers immigration rules concession ended on 30 April 2023. There are no plans to collect this data.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 7 October 2024, how many seafarers were sponsored to work on ships (a) in UK waters, (b) on international routes from UK ports and (c) in the offshore wind industry.

All those who came to the UK under the concession were stamped at the Border rather than through visa routes and therefore no data was collected.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to identify the number of non-UK national workers that were brought to work on the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms within UK territorial waters under the Offshore Wind Workers Immigration Rules Concession 2017 before it expired on 30 April 2023.

All those who came to the UK under the concession were stamped at the Border rather than through visa routes and therefore no data was collected.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14304 on Prisoners Escort, how her Department defines agreed court start times.

The team in HM Prison & Probation Service responsible for managing the Prisoner Escort & Custody Service (PECS) contracts collects data relating to trial delays from several sources. HM Courts and Tribunal Service submits a Court Exceptions Report in respect of each instance of hearing delay; the contractors also self-report any delays; and the contract management team undertake further assurance work through site visits.

Court operating times were agreed with HM Courts and Tribunal Service as part of the procurement process for the PECS contracts and are set out in contract schedules. For each court day, the start time is determined by the judge, taking account of the scheduled operating time. The PECS contractor is required to produce the prisoner in advance of the start time decided by the judge, provided this is within the operating times set out in the contract.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14304 on Prisoners Escort, how her Department collects data on prisoner delays.

The team in HM Prison & Probation Service responsible for managing the Prisoner Escort & Custody Service (PECS) contracts collects data relating to trial delays from several sources. HM Courts and Tribunal Service submits a Court Exceptions Report in respect of each instance of hearing delay; the contractors also self-report any delays; and the contract management team undertake further assurance work through site visits.

Court operating times were agreed with HM Courts and Tribunal Service as part of the procurement process for the PECS contracts and are set out in contract schedules. For each court day, the start time is determined by the judge, taking account of the scheduled operating time. The PECS contractor is required to produce the prisoner in advance of the start time decided by the judge, provided this is within the operating times set out in the contract.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12397 on Prisoners Escort, what the average time for a late delivery of a prisoner is to (a) Crown Court and (b) Magistrates Court.

Delays attributable to prisoner escort supplier failure are calculated from the point at which court proceedings are ready to commence, provided this is within the agreed court start times and the delay is greater than 15 minutes. Penalties (known as service credits) are applicable for every subsequent 15 minutes of delay, or part thereof, whereupon the supplier is penalised for a full 15 minutes.

The following information relates to application of service credits for late delivery of a prisoner to either the Crown Court or a magistrates’ court.

In 2023, out of 299,470 journeys to court undertaken by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service, 484 instances of supplier failure resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers.

In 2024, up to 31 October, out of 274,606 journeys to court, there were 228 instances of supplier failure that resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers. 99.92% of all journeys arrive on time.

As delays are recorded in periods of 15 minutes, it is not possible to calculate a precise average length of delay.

The breakdown requested between the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts is not available, and the work needed to provide it could not be undertaken without incurring disproportionate cost.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12397 on Prisoners Escort, how many penalties for late delivery of a prisoner to the Magistrates Court were issued in (a) 2024 and (b) 2023.

Delays attributable to prisoner escort supplier failure are calculated from the point at which court proceedings are ready to commence, provided this is within the agreed court start times and the delay is greater than 15 minutes. Penalties (known as service credits) are applicable for every subsequent 15 minutes of delay, or part thereof, whereupon the supplier is penalised for a full 15 minutes.

The following information relates to application of service credits for late delivery of a prisoner to either the Crown Court or a magistrates’ court.

In 2023, out of 299,470 journeys to court undertaken by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service, 484 instances of supplier failure resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers.

In 2024, up to 31 October, out of 274,606 journeys to court, there were 228 instances of supplier failure that resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers. 99.92% of all journeys arrive on time.

As delays are recorded in periods of 15 minutes, it is not possible to calculate a precise average length of delay.

The breakdown requested between the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts is not available, and the work needed to provide it could not be undertaken without incurring disproportionate cost.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12397 on Prisoners Escort, how many penalties for late delivery of a prisoner to the Crown Court were issued in (a) 2024 and (b) 2023.

Delays attributable to prisoner escort supplier failure are calculated from the point at which court proceedings are ready to commence, provided this is within the agreed court start times and the delay is greater than 15 minutes. Penalties (known as service credits) are applicable for every subsequent 15 minutes of delay, or part thereof, whereupon the supplier is penalised for a full 15 minutes.

The following information relates to application of service credits for late delivery of a prisoner to either the Crown Court or a magistrates’ court.

In 2023, out of 299,470 journeys to court undertaken by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service, 484 instances of supplier failure resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers.

In 2024, up to 31 October, out of 274,606 journeys to court, there were 228 instances of supplier failure that resulted in service credits being paid by suppliers. 99.92% of all journeys arrive on time.

As delays are recorded in periods of 15 minutes, it is not possible to calculate a precise average length of delay.

The breakdown requested between the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts is not available, and the work needed to provide it could not be undertaken without incurring disproportionate cost.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury