Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait

Kwasi Kwarteng

Conservative - Former Member for Spelthorne

First elected: 6th May 2010

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Kwasi Kwarteng is not a member of any APPGs
2 Former APPG memberships
Fairs and Showgrounds, Phenylketonuria
Chancellor of the Exchequer
6th Sep 2022 - 14th Oct 2022
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
8th Jan 2021 - 6th Sep 2022
Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
24th Jul 2019 - 8th Jan 2021
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Exiting the European Union)
16th Nov 2018 - 24th Jul 2019
Public Accounts Committee
31st Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Finance Committee (Commons)
20th Jul 2015 - 6th Feb 2017
Work and Pensions Committee
4th Nov 2013 - 30th Mar 2015
Transport Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 5th Jul 2013


Division Voting information

Kwasi Kwarteng has voted in 2398 divisions, and 6 times against the majority of their Party.

27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 122 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 139 Noes - 422
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 66 Conservative Aye votes vs 164 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 236 Noes - 220
31 Jan 2018 - Restoration and Renewal (Report of the Joint Committee) - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 68 Conservative Aye votes vs 166 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 185
11 Mar 2015 - Ark Pension Schemes - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 103 Conservative No votes vs 122 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 367 Noes - 113
27 Oct 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 110 Conservative Aye votes vs 135 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 166 Noes - 340
26 Feb 2013 - Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Kwasi Kwarteng voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 214 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 253
View All Kwasi Kwarteng 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
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(51 debate interactions)
Ed Miliband (Labour)
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
(31 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(350 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Civil Liability Act 2018
(6,472 words contributed)
Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
(2,154 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Kwasi Kwarteng's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Kwasi Kwarteng

Kwasi Kwarteng has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Kwasi Kwarteng, 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.


Kwasi Kwarteng has not been granted any Urgent Questions

5 Adjournment Debates led by Kwasi Kwarteng

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
Friday 23rd October 2015
Monday 12th May 2014
Thursday 1st December 2011
Monday 5th September 2011

3 Bills introduced by Kwasi Kwarteng


A Bill to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th February 2022 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 22nd September 2022

A Bill to make provision for and in connection with the repeal of the Health and Social Care Levy Act 2021.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th October 2022 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision regulating the giving of subsidies out of public resources; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.

Kwasi Kwarteng has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


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
1 Other Department Questions
13th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will exempt companies which show a serious and sustained commitment to measurable and successful training from additional application and reporting requirements under the apprenticeship grant scheme.

The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) is a £1,500 grant per apprentice payable to eligible businesses with fewer than 50 employees who hire an apprentice aged 16 to 24.

To minimise burdens on employers, AGE is claimed through the training provider.

AGE funding has been devolved to some city regions as part of increasing local decision-making powers.

29th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department's Response to the Government consultation on measures to reform post-termination non-compete clauses in contracts of employment, published on 12 May 2023, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory limit of three months on the length of such clauses.

Introducing the statutory limit on the length of non-compete clauses of 3 months will require primary legislation. The Government will introduce this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Kevin Hollinrake
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending community benefits to low-carbon electricity generation projects.

At the Autumn statement, Government committed to review our approach to community benefits to ensure that we are being strategic in identifying key sectors where community benefits can support delivery of infrastructure. The result of this review will inform our assessment of the case for extending community benefits to include technologies such as electricity generation.

Andrew Bowie
Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending her Department's guidance on community benefit to include low-carbon electricity generation projects.

At the Autumn statement, Government committed to review our approach to community benefits to ensure that we are being strategic in identifying key sectors where community benefits can support delivery of infrastructure. The result of this review will inform our assessment of the case for extending community benefits to include technologies such as electricity generation.

Andrew Bowie
Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of extending guidance on community benefit to low-carbon electricity generation on net zero targets.

At the Autumn statement, Government committed to review our approach to community benefits to ensure that we are being strategic in identifying key sectors where community benefits can support delivery of infrastructure. The result of this review will inform our assessment of the case for extending community benefits to include technologies such as electricity generation and its impact on net zero targets.

Andrew Bowie
Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Oct 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to introduce a scheme that provides bank loans to pay for work-related courses and training to replace the Professional and Career Development Loan scheme after that scheme closes in January 2019.

The majority of prospective Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL) borrowers in England now have access to statutory loans such as Advanced Learner Loans, postgraduate master’s loans and doctoral loans. Demand for PCDLs has fallen significantly as a result.

Statutory loans offer better repayment terms and greater protections than PCDLs and access to those is not dependent on an assessment of the applicant’s credit history.

There are therefore no plans to replace PCDLs.

29th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ordering an Independent Panel Inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola during the floods in February 2014.

The Surrey Senior Coroner has carried out a full investigation into the sad circumstances surrounding Zane Gbangbola's death, taking into account a considerable amount of evidence. The Coroner, as an independent judicial office holder, drew his own conclusions based on this evidence.

If there is a belief that the evidence was not considered properly during the original inquest, or that there is new evidence available, an application can be made to the Attorney General asking her to apply to the High Court to quash the inquest and order a fresh investigation. The High Court would take this course of action if it believed that it would be in the interests of justice. We are not aware that any such application has been made.

I believe that this remains the proper process to follow. An assessment of the merits of an inquiry should be made at the appropriate time if, and when, the legal processes have been exhausted.

29th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what statutory instruments the Government can regulate historic landfill sites if it is suspected that they could be contaminated with poisonous gases or chemicals.

Landfill sites are regulated by the Environment Agency under an environmental permit. Historic landfills are those that have never been or are no longer regulated under an environmental permit. The responsibility for investigating historic landfills and other land that may be contaminated rests with the local authority under the provisions of Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

17th Jan 2018
What steps her Department is taking to support the removal of land mines in developing countries.

Landmines are indiscriminate weapons of war that maim and kill innocent children every day. UK support announced in April last year will make safe land equivalent to the size of over 20,000 football pitches and help 800,000 people live their lives free from the threat of mines.

What steps her Department is taking to support the removal of land mines in developing countries.

Landmines are indiscriminate weapons of war that maim and kill innocent children every day. UK support announced in April last year will make safe land equivalent to the size of over 20,000 football pitches and help 800,000 people live their lives free from the threat of mines.

6th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 4 September 2023 to Question 195612 on Railways: Fares, when he plans that contactless pay as you go ticketing will be operational at all rail stations in Spelthorne.

The Department is working closely with Rail Delivery Group, Transport for London and train operators to ensure the launch of contactless PAYG to all stations in Spelthorne in Spring 2024.

20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Transport for London and (b) train operating companies on decreasing rail fares for Spelthorne residents travelling to and from London.

As part of the Plan for Rail we will invest to radically reform and improve passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing and retailing on the railways. We have committed to extending contactless pay as you go to 53 more stations, including those in Spelthorne, by the end of this year. To support this, we are simplifying fares to ensure that pay as you go offers best value and has greater flexibility for passengers.

16th Mar 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Transport for London to require rail franchisees to respond in a timely manner to passenger requests.

My Department is responsible for letting and managing rail franchises and we engage in regular dialogue with our franchisees to ensure that they are acting in the passenger’s best interests.

14th Mar 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to designate stations outside the current Greater London boundary as Greater London Stations for the purposes of possible inclusion in the services devolved to Transport for London.

The Secretary of State has no such plans.

7th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether routine checks are made on the non-UK driving licences of foreign nationals driving on UK roads when they are stopped or otherwise required to show their licence; and if he will make a statement.

Any checks on driving licences, whether domestic or foreign, by the police at the roadside, are only conducted if considered necessary. This is an operational matter for the police who will decide what action to take in response to the given situation.

10th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on aircraft not adhering to the Compton easterly departure route from Heathrow; and what plans he plans to address (a) that issue and (b) noise pollution arising from such non-adherence.

The Department receives regular correspondence from the public on Heathrow noise matters and this has included occasional representations on questions about the Compton routes.

The Government are aware that some aircraft are unable to follow accurately the long established easterly Compton Noise Preferential Route at Heathrow. It is expected that as part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Future Airspace Strategy, existing departure routes at Heathrow will need to be reviewed and updated so that aircraft can use more accurate satellite-based navigation. Any such proposal will be subject to the CAA’s airspace change process which includes consultation requirements.

19th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support people with disabilities that impact their ability to work.

The Government has a wide range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:

  • The Work and Health Programme providing tailored and personalised support for disabled people;
  • Access to Work grants helping towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;
  • Disability Confident encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace;
  • A digital information service for employers providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace;
  • Increasing access to Occupational Health, including the testing of financial incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed;
  • Increased Work Coach support in Jobcentres for disabled people and people with health conditions to help them move towards and in to work;
  • Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres offering advice and expertise on how to help disabled people and people with health conditions into work;
  • Work in partnership between the DWP and health systems, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies, and the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care programme, a Supported Employment model (place, train and maintain) delivered in health settings, aimed at people with physical or common mental health disabilities to support them to access paid jobs in the open labour market.

Building on existing provision and the £2 billion investment announced at the Spring Budget 2023, we announced a new package of support in Autumn Statement 2023. This includes:

  • Doubling the number of places on the Universal Support employment programme, to provide support for 100,000 people per year when fully rolled out;
  • Formally launching WorkWell, which will bring together the NHS, local authorities, and other partners, in collaboration with jobcentres, to provide light touch work and health support in approximately 15 pilot areas;
  • Building on the extension of the certification of the fit notes to a wider range of healthcare professions, exploring new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to work and health support; and
  • Establishing an expert group to support the development of the voluntary national baseline for Occupational Health provision.

From 2025, we are reforming the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to reflect new flexibilities in the labour market and greater employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions, whilst maintaining protections for those with the most significant conditions. Alongside these changes, a new Chance to Work Guarantee will effectively remove the WCA for most existing claimants who have already been assessed without work-related requirements removing the fear of reassessment and giving this group the confidence to try work.

People on low, or no income or earnings, who have a health condition or disability which restricts the amount of work they can do or prevents them from working altogether, and where they meet the entitlement criteria, can claim Universal Credit and/or New Style Employment and Support Allowance with medical evidence, usually a valid Statement of Fitness for work, commonly known as a ‘fit note’, from a clinician.

Mims Davies
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has had discussions with NHS England on ensuring that (a) reviews, (b) investigations and (c) complaints processes relating to maternity services include consideration of the (i) impact of ethnicity on the care received and (ii) potential role of (A) racism and (B) discrimination.

NHS England, along with the devolved administrations and the Crown Dependencies, funds Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries to collate ethnicity data, in relation to all perinatal and maternal deaths across the United Kingdom. They publish annual surveillance reports which provide comparators of rates of mortality for women and babies from different ethnic groups. They also publish confidential enquiries, assessing care provision along the whole care pathway, to identify areas requiring improvement.

The Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations programme provides independent, standardised, and family focused investigations to provide learning to the health system. This includes analysis of data to identify key trends, and collaboration with system partners to escalate safety concerns.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Child Death Review Statutory and Operational Guidance (England), published in October 2018, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that every family that loses a child to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood is assigned a key worker to act as a single point of contact.

NHS England is aware that not all parents who have lost their child to sudden unexplained death in childhood, are currently being assigned key workers. Departmental officials are working alongside NHS England and the National Child Mortality Database to acquire data on sudden unexplained death in infants. This is intended to increase our evidence base, understanding, and inform actions and policy on sudden unexplained death in childhood, including regarding assigning key workers as a single point of contact.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that maternity and neonatal complaints systems are (a) transparent and (b) compassionate for parents.

Anyone has the right to make a complaint about any aspect of National Health Service care, treatment, or service. The NHS Complaint Standards set out how organisations providing NHS services should approach complaint handling. They apply to NHS organisations in England, and independent healthcare providers that deliver NHS-funded care.

If complainants need assistance in making a complaint, officers from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service are available in most hospitals. Additionally, assistance can also be provided by the Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy Service.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that maternity services are reviewing (a) initiatives and (b) services based on the experiences of bereaved parents to ensure high standards of care for all patients in line with national and local guidelines.

The Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs) provide a forum in all areas of England for engagement between maternity services and their users. In November 2023, NHS England published MNVP guidance, which made it clear that effective MNVPs will reach out to seldomly heard groups, including bereaved families. This engagement should be accessible and appropriate.

29th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 14 June 2023 to Question 188530 on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, whether it remains her policy to update the information on the NHS website on sudden unexplained death in childhood before June 2024.

On 28 July 2023, the National Health Service United Kingdom website team updated its content on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to distinguish between SIDS and Sudden Unexplained Death Childhood (SUDC), including a reference and link to the charity SUDC UK for further information.

However, a decision was made not to incorporate information about SUDC to the website content on febrile seizures. This was based on the lack of high-quality evidence connecting the two and is in line with the British Medical Association guidance and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Clinical Knowledge Summary. It was also noted that the primary advice and directives on seeking help for febrile seizures would remain unchanged.

15th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to ban single use disposable vapes.

The Government is consulting on a range of proposals to tackle the rise in children vaping. The includes measures to restrict the supply of single use vapes, such as a potential future ban.

Details of the full range of proposals under consideration are set out in the Government consultation “Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping” which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/creating-a-smokefree-generation-and-tackling-youth-vaping

The consultation is live until 6 December, and we will publish our response shortly after.

17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising existing (a) training and (b) national curriculum programs for staff within the (i) healthcare and (ii) social sectors to increase the understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; and if he will commission a public health awareness campaign on the condition for the general public.

There are no current plans to revise existing training and education, as there are already several mechanisms in place to increase understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) amongst healthcare and social care staff.

For example, in 2022 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published a FASD Quality Standard, at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. The Quality Standard outlines several actions to be taken by service providers and healthcare professionals to improve assessment, diagnosis, and management of FASD.

In social sectors, to support continuous improvement of practice for child and family social workers, the Department for Education has developed the Post Qualifying Standards for child and family social work, which set out the skills and knowledge they need to protect vulnerable children and families. This includes children with complex needs, such as those with FASD.

There are no plans to commission a specific public health awareness campaign for FASD. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England and local commissioners continue to raise awareness and education on the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant and through midwives and health visitors. The Department of Health and Social Care already publishes guidance for communicating the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines, which includes the risks associated with alcohol consumption in pregnancy.

Additionally, the Maternity Disparities Taskforce is producing guidance to support women to make healthy decisions when planning for pregnancy, which will include information on the risks of drinking while pregnant.

17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to improve support people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to improve support for carers of people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The Government recognises that fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early years development of children and their life chances, and is taking action to improve support for those living with its consequences. The Department of Health and Social Care published the FASD Health Needs Assessment in 2021, which set out further steps to be taken to address the needs of individuals with FASD.

The Department of Health and Social Care also commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a Quality Standard to improve the diagnosis and care for children and young people with FASD and highlight the importance of advising women to abstain from alcohol in pregnancy, in line with the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines. This was published in 2022.

The Department for Education is supporting kinship families through a £2 million contract with the charity Kinship to deliver high-quality peer support groups for kinship carers across the country. This provides a range of support for kinship carers, including support for carers of people with FASD.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide funding to help (a) develop and (b) run national medical education on sudden unexpected death in childhood.

The standard of training for doctors is set by the General Medical Council (GMC) and training programmes must meet these standards. The GMC also approve higher education institutions to develop and teach the curricula content which is designed to enable students to meet the desired standards. The curricula for postgraduate specialty training are set by individual royal colleges and faculties, and the GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all emphasise the skills and approaches a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients.

The Government has no plans to provide additional funding for this specific purpose, funding for medical education and training is included within NHS England’s budget and it will be a decision for them on how they prioritise their resources.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to update the NHS website with information about Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood; and if he will make this updating a priority.

NHS England are in the process of reviewing content drafted by patient groups and confirming processes for updating the NHS.UK website to include relevant information on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), with a view to have updates published in the coming months. This includes exploring the most helpful options for updating information relating to febrile seizures.

NHS England intend to update the ‘When A Child Dies’ leaflet over the next year in collaboration with affected families, parents and carers, as well as National Child Mortality Database colleagues and SUDC charities, including SUDC UK and relevant professional groups.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update public information leaflets on febrile seizures.

NHS England are in the process of reviewing content drafted by patient groups and confirming processes for updating the NHS.UK website to include relevant information on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), with a view to have updates published in the coming months. This includes exploring the most helpful options for updating information relating to febrile seizures.

NHS England intend to update the ‘When A Child Dies’ leaflet over the next year in collaboration with affected families, parents and carers, as well as National Child Mortality Database colleagues and SUDC charities, including SUDC UK and relevant professional groups.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps taking to improve care for families affected by sudden, unexpected child death.

It is priority to ensure parents and families have access to readily available information when their child dies. NHS England are in the process of reviewing content drafted by patient groups and confirming processes for updating the NHS.UK website to include relevant information relating to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), with a view to have updates published in the coming months.

NHS England also still intend to update the ‘When A Child Dies’ leaflet over the next year in collaboration with affected families, parents and carers, as well as National Child Mortality Database colleagues and SUDC charities, including SUDC UK and relevant professional groups.

The Department will hold a roundtable later this year which will likely focus on professional awareness and training opportunities, seeking to improve confidence in understanding and responding to SUDC.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding to support a review of the care provided to families affected by sudden, unexpected child death.

Losing a child is one of the most difficult things a family can go through.  Listening to bereaved families, ensuring clear communication and establishing support is a top priority following the death of a child. We are holding a roundtable later this year which will likely focus on professional awareness and training opportunities, seeking to improve confidence in understanding and responding to Sudden Unexplained Death in Child. The work in progress on this issue is being met within existing budgets.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide funding to help improve the professional joint agency response to sudden and unexpected child death. .

Losing a child is one of the most difficult things a family can go through.  Listening to bereaved families, ensuring clear communication and establishing support is a top priority following the death of a child. We are holding a roundtable later this year which will likely focus on professional awareness and training opportunities, seeking to improve confidence in understanding and responding to Sudden Unexplained Death in Child. The work in progress on this issue is being met within existing budgets.

8th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to include training on Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood in medical professional training at all levels.

The standard of training for doctors is set by the General Medical Council (GMC) and training programmes must meet these standards. The GMC also approve higher education institutions to develop and teach the curricula content which is designed to enable students to meet the desired standards. The curricula for postgraduate specialty training are set by individual royal colleges and faculties, and the GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme. Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all emphasise the skills and approaches a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients.

The Government has no plans to provide additional funding for this specific purpose, funding for medical education and training is included within NHS England’s budget and it will be a decision for them on how they prioritise their resources.

26th Apr 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to social care providers to implement the change in guidance on the national minimum wage and national living wage for sleep-in shifts for care workers.

Through the National Living Wage, the Government is making sure that pay is fair in all sectors, including social care.

The Government has already invested an additional £2 billion to put social care on a more stable footing and alleviate short-term pressures across the health and care system.

The Government is committed to working with local government and the provider sector to ensure that local authorities understand the costs associated with the National Living Wage when negotiating fee rates.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish all responses received by the current inquiry into infected blood.

The Government has committed to providing a further update to the House after the consultation closes on 18 October. This update will include a summary of responses to the consultation received. All consultation responses will be passed on to the independent inquiry once established.

13th Nov 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding the Government plans to provide for research on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma brain tumours.

The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both funders welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and other brain tumours. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition.

13th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on securing funding for patients infected with contaminated blood and for their families.

The Department is considering wider reform of financial assistance and other support for those affected with HIV and/or hepatitis C by infected NHS-supplied blood or blood products. We are doing this within the context of the spending review and in a way that is sustainable for the future. We plan to consult on a way forward before the end of the year.

Before the election, the Prime Minister announced an additional one-off £25 million to ease transition to a reformed system of payments for affected individuals. The Department is currently considering how that money will be used.

15th May 2018
What recent assessment he has made of the UK’s diplomatic relations with the US.

The UK has a special and enduring relationship with the United States based on our long history and commitment to shared values. Last week I saw the Vice President, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State to further strengthen those ties. No two countries will agree on every issue, but the US remains our No. 1 friend, ally and partner.

15th Mar 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Iran on ensuring that visa applications from Iranian nationals to visit the UK are processed as quickly and fairly as possible.

​In 2016 UK Visas & Immigration launched a full UK visa service at their Visa Application Centre in Tehran. We continue to work with the Government of Iran on all migration issues and the Foreign Secretary discussed these issues during his visit to Iran in December 2017.

11th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will provide assistance to farmers in Zimbabwe who are forced from their land by the policies of the government of that country.

I share My Right Honourable Friend’s concerns about the devastating impact of land seizures in Zimbabwe. The British Embassy in Harare frequently raises land security – and the importance of upholding the rule of law – with the Government of Zimbabwe. Most recently, they highlighted the British Government’s serious concerns that the seizure of the land of Zimbabwean farmer, Mr Philip Rankin, did not follow the provisions of the Zimbabwean constitution. The British Government has always said that it would support a fair, transparent and pro-poor land reform programme in Zimbabwe. This is vital if Zimbabwe is to realise its great economic and social potential.

22nd Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government plans to give to authorities in South Africa to help tackle high levels of crime in (a) rural and (b) other areas of that country.

Her Majesty's Government provides assistance to South Africa to help tackle organised crime networks and minimise the threat they pose to the UK. This co-operation includes the sharing of information and expertise and the provision of capacity building. It does not differentiate between rural and other areas of the country.

These activities form part of the UK's contribution to counter organised crime and it is our policy not to disclose specific details about assistance given.

29th Nov 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of making childcare costs tax deductible.

The Government already offers a range of support for parents to help with childcare costs. Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) provides financial support for working parents with their childcare costs. For every £8 parents pay into their childcare account, the Government adds £2 up to a maximum of £2,000 in top up per year for each child up to age 11 and up to £4,000 per disabled child until they are 17. All three-and-four-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare per week, and working parents of three-and four-year-olds can access an additional 15 hours of free childcare per week. .Some parents can also access the disadvantaged two-year-old offer, which provides 15 hours of free childcare per week to two-year-olds who meet certain social and economic criteria. Universal Credit claimants can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs.

The Government keeps childcare policy under regular review.

John Glen
Shadow Paymaster General
28th Feb 2017
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of section 24 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 on (a) rental costs and (b) the supply of rental housing.

The government estimates that only 1 in 5 landlords will pay more tax as a result of this measure.

Given this, the government does not expect it to have a large impact on either rental costs or the supply of rental housing. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also expect the impact on the housing market will be small and did not adjust their forecast for house prices.

Basic rate income tax relief will still be available on a landlord's finance costs, and when the restriction is introduced in April 2017, it will be phased in over 4 years, giving gives landlords time to adjust.

26th Oct 2016
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of making changes to police pension regulations to equalise survivor benefits for people in same sex and heterosexual marriages.

In 2014, a review of Survivor Benefits in occupational pension schemes was conducted jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Treasury (HMT) which considered the differences in benefits provided to widows, widowers and same-sex survivors. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/occupational-pension-schemes-review-of-survivor-benefits. A decision will be made in due course, and the outcome will apply to the police pension scheme.

15th Nov 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of Romanian criminals in the UK appealing extradition to Romania on the grounds that the size of prison cells in that country breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is working closely with the Romanian Ministry of Justice to ensure that all wanted Romanians currently in the UK are extradited as quickly as possible. My officials continue to work with the CPS to obtain adequate assurances in respect of Romanian prison conditions to make extraditions possible.

4th Sep 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision is made for genuine overseas students who enrol at a private higher education college that subsequently has its licence revoked to enable them to retain their visa and continue their studies.

We will continue to clamp down on immigration abuse in order to deliver an effective immigration system which works in the national interest, and is fair to British taxpayers and genuine students.

Where the Tier 4 licence of a private college is revoked, the Home Office will write to the Tier 4 students enrolled at the college and curtail their existing leave to 60 calendar days from the date of the letter. These Tier 4 students are not permitted to retain their visa or continue studying with the college that has had its licence revoked. During this 60 day period however, the students may find a new sponsor with a valid Tier 4 licence and make a visa application for further leave to remain if they wish to continue their studies in the UK. If they do not make such an application before their leave expires, they will have to leave the UK.

29th May 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle Security Industry Authority licences being issued fraudulently.

Under the provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is responsible for licensing individuals who operate in designated sectors of the private security industry. The SIA has procedures in place to ensure that licences are not issued fraudulently and that private security operatives are 'fit and proper' persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job. Before issuing a licence, the SIA undertakes checks to verify an individual’s identity, their age, whether they have completed the required level of training and whether they have a criminal record. Since 2012, the SIA has taken action against more than 1,300 licence holders who have used fraudulent qualifications to gain an SIA licence.

11th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether land at the rear of number 243, Thames Side, Chertsey, or land within a two mile radius of it, has been used by his Department in the last 30 years.

The MOD holds no records showing the use of any land at the rear of number 243 Thames Side, Chertsey or within a two mile radius of that address.

29th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will take steps to review the £250 threshold for triggering a consultation procedure under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 is designed to ensure leaseholders are better informed about proposals and costs of upkeep and maintenance of the building, and that they have more time to ensure they can make suitable finance arrangements. We will continue to keep the threshold for consultation under review.