Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Dec 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
"What steps is the Minister taking to introduce the recommendations made in the RNIB’s most recent report, which found that only one in 10 blind voters and less than half of partially sighted voters could vote independently and in secret in the 2019 general election?..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 Dec 2020
Public Health
"In the north-east, we had been under restrictions for some time prior to the national lockdown, particularly in Northumberland, Durham and Tyne and Wear. We have been tackling the problems in a proactive way, with local authority leaders coming together to see that we reduce the rate of infections. We …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Public Health
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2020
Covid-19: Winter Plan
"My constituents in Blaydon, along with others across the north-east, have been working really hard to stop the spread of coronavirus. Our councils have responded magnificently, too, but questions still remain about the funding for the more effective local test and trace, additional support for businesses already in tier 2 …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Winter Plan
Written Question
Friday 23rd October 2020
Asked by:
Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question
to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) procurement policies have been applied and (b) invitations to tender have been submitted in respect of Government contracts with (i) Serco and (ii) other private companies being used in the response to the covid-19 outrbreak.
Answered by Julia Lopez
- Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Details of central government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 22 Oct 2020
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Ninth sitting)
"As the Minister is arguing that there is sufficient protection within the law, can he explain the difference in the views taken by very many of the witnesses we saw in the first two days of this Bill Committee, the Centre for Military Justice, and Rights and Security International, whose …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 22 Oct 2020
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Ninth sitting)
"What these amendments seek to do, and what those witnesses were asking us and the Government to look at doing, is improve the Bill so that it better reflects the broader range of interests. I am surprised that the Minister does not want to reflect on that and build in …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 22 Oct 2020
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Tenth sitting)
"A number of our witnesses, including Hilary Meredith of Hilary Meredith Solicitors, talked about the lack of support for veterans. If someone is still serving in the armed forces there may be something, but for a veteran it is as if they were not formally part of the armed forces. …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Tenth sitting)
Written Question
Thursday 22nd October 2020
Asked by:
Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question
to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Royal National Institute for Blind People's report entitled Turned out 2019, published October 2020, what plans he has to ensure blind and partially sighted people can receive their poll cards in preferred formats.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government is committed to ensuring that elections are accessible for all those eligible to vote and has already been working with the RNIB to improve the voting process for voters with sight loss.
It is important for security purposes that a physical poll card is sent to every elector at the property where they are registered, but we have already considered how electoral information might additionally be made available in more accessible format for those who request it.
Returning Officers already publish details of candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot paper online. We will work with partners in the electoral sector to ensure this information is accessible.
The Government will continue to work with the RNIB, the Electoral Commission and other relevant organisations to make blind and partially sighted voters aware of the support available to them at the polling station, and to consider what additional support could be provided to help blind and partially sighted people to vote including by post.
Written Question
Thursday 22nd October 2020
Asked by:
Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question
to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to publish the names of candidates and their order on the ballot paper in advance, online and in local election offices to allow blind and partially sighted people to know in advance where they wish to place their vote on the ballot paper.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government is committed to ensuring that elections are accessible for all those eligible to vote and has already been working with the RNIB to improve the voting process for voters with sight loss.
It is important for security purposes that a physical poll card is sent to every elector at the property where they are registered, but we have already considered how electoral information might additionally be made available in more accessible format for those who request it.
Returning Officers already publish details of candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot paper online. We will work with partners in the electoral sector to ensure this information is accessible.
The Government will continue to work with the RNIB, the Electoral Commission and other relevant organisations to make blind and partially sighted voters aware of the support available to them at the polling station, and to consider what additional support could be provided to help blind and partially sighted people to vote including by post.
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 20 Oct 2020
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Eighth sitting)
"I, too, will not occupy too much of the Committee’s time, but I want to raise the issue of the impact on the ability of veterans and serving personnel to bring claims.
Yesterday, additional written evidence was circulated to us from a number of people, including Dr Jonathan Morgan of …..."Liz Twist - View Speech
View all Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon and Consett) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Eighth sitting)