Luke Taylor Portrait

Luke Taylor

Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam

3,801 (8.0%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (London)

(since September 2024)

1 APPG membership (as of 9 Oct 2024)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Luke Taylor has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Luke Taylor has voted in 13 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Luke Taylor 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
(3 debate interactions)
Louise Haigh (Labour)
Secretary of State for Transport
(2 debate interactions)
Shaun Davies (Labour)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(9 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(3 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(2 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Luke Taylor's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Luke Taylor

17th October 2024
Luke Taylor signed this EDM on Wednesday 30th October 2024

Establishment of the Women’s Caucus in Westminster

Tabled by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
That this House agrees to establish a Women’s Caucus in the UK Parliament, which is the women Members of Parliament working together to advance issues that disproportionately affect women; notes that there are women’s caucuses in the devolved nations of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; further notes that now is …
53 signatures
(Most recent: 31 Oct 2024)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 26
Labour: 17
Scottish National Party: 4
Green Party: 3
Plaid Cymru: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Independent: 1
17th July 2024
Luke Taylor signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 30th October 2024

Restoration of Hammersmith Bridge

Tabled by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
That this House highlights the failure of the previous Government to review the Hammersmith Bridge Strengthening Works Business Case for nearly two years; recognises that the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham does not have the necessary funds to repair the bridge unilaterally; further recognises the bridge's essential place in …
5 signatures
(Most recent: 30 Oct 2024)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 3
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Luke Taylor's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Luke Taylor, 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.


Luke Taylor has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Luke Taylor has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Luke Taylor


A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for the funding of hospice clinical services by NHS England; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the potential merits of including pharmacy, pathology, patient community equipment, palliative consultant costs, clinical nurse specialist services, and advance care planning costs within the NHS funding framework; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st October 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th July 2025

Luke Taylor has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 22 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
23rd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle school absences among young carers.

The department wants to ensure that young carers have the best life chances by supporting them in their education. The department recognises that absence from school is almost always a symptom of wider needs and barriers that a family are facing. It is often also the best early indication of need in a family that may not be in contact with other services.

The department’s expectations of local authorities and schools, as set out in the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, were made statutory on 19 August 2024. The ‘support first’ ethos of the attendance guidance is that pupils and families, including young carers, should receive holistic, whole-family support to help them overcome the barriers to attendance they are facing. This includes holding regular meetings with the families of pupils who the school, and/or local authority, consider to be vulnerable to discuss attendance and engagement at school. Schools are expected to recognise that absence is a symptom and that improving pupil’s attendance is part of supporting the pupil’s overall welfare.

Young carers are also now part of the school census, which will improve their visibility in the school system, allowing schools to better identify and support their young carers. This will provide an annual data collection to establish long term trends. Separately, the department also publishes daily attendance data fortnightly and will continue to monitor the quality of data on young carers that is collected via the school register for consideration to include in the daily data collection in the future.

Schools can also use pupil premium funding to support other pupils with identified needs, including young carers. Pupil premium funding has increased to over £2.9 billion for the 2024/25 financial year.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting Home Fee status to Hong Kongers under the British National (Overseas) Visa Scheme after three years’ residency in the UK before the start of the spring term in 2025.

Generally, to qualify for higher education (HE) student support and home fee status in England, a person must have settled status and have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the three years preceding the first day of the first academic year of their course. There are exceptions to this for persons who have been granted international protection by the Home Office. This includes persons granted refugee status, humanitarian protection, or leave under one of the Afghan or Ukraine schemes.

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas)’s (BN(O)) reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. The BN(O) route is not a form of international protection and is not, therefore, comparable to the Afghan and Ukraine schemes. However, it remains open to a Hong Kong BN(O) to apply for refugee status or humanitarian protection should they believe they qualify.

There are no plans to extend HE student support and home fee status to Hong Kong BN(O)s before they are settled in the UK.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make a comparative assessment of the (a) tuition fee status and (b) student financing arrangements for students under the (i) Ukraine and (ii) Afghanistan humanitarian visa schemes and (iii) the British National (Overseas) visa scheme.

Generally, to qualify for higher education (HE) student support and home fee status in England, a person must have settled status and have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the three years preceding the first day of the first academic year of their course. There are exceptions to this for persons who have been granted international protection by the Home Office. This includes persons granted refugee status, humanitarian protection, or leave under one of the Afghan or Ukraine schemes.

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas)’s (BN(O)) reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. The BN(O) route is not a form of international protection and is not, therefore, comparable to the Afghan and Ukraine schemes. However, it remains open to a Hong Kong BN(O) to apply for refugee status or humanitarian protection should they believe they qualify.

There are no plans to extend HE student support and home fee status to Hong Kong BN(O)s before they are settled in the UK.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure there is adequate funding for transport to specialised educational facilities for SEND students.

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so.

The department is aware that challenges within the wider SEND system are creating pressure on home to school travel. The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so fewer children need to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs.

The vast majority of central government funding for home to school travel is provided through the local government finance settlement, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Departmental officials are working closely across government in preparation for the next Spending Review to ensure the settlement for the 2025/26 financial year reflects local authorities’ need to spend on home to school travel.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of opening a consultation on banning the use of (a) cages and (b) close confinement systems in animal farming.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.

The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Mayor of London on levels of noise pollution on the London Underground.

The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Mayor of London specifically on levels of noise pollution on the London Underground. Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues. However, transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for the operation of London’s transport network.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend the HS2 terminus from Old Oak Common to London Euston.

The government is reviewing the position it has inherited on HS2 and will set out detailed plans in due course.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the timeframe within which the renationalisation of rail franchises will result in improvements to rail services.

Public ownership will end the failed franchising system, allowing operators to serve the interests of passengers, not shareholders. The failures of the past three decades cannot be fixed overnight, and bringing train operations into public ownership is only one part of this government’s extensive plans to improve the railways for passengers and taxpayers.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
11th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take with local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility for Pension Credit.

The Government wants everyone eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to.

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions wrote to all local authorities on 20th August. The letter acknowledged the vital role local authorities play in supporting their communities. The Government recognises that many local authorities already do a huge amount of work to promote benefit take-up. We are asking that local authorities support our national Pension Credit campaign and help us reach those eligible pensioners who have not claimed Pension Credit, so they continue to receive an annual Winter Fuel Payment.

We will continue to work with external partners, local authorities and the devolved governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
10th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that will be affected by the proposed changes to pensioners' eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment in Sutton and Cheam constituency.

The Pension Credit data that is used is based on the 2010 Westminster Parliamentary constituencies, not 2024, in order to be comparable with the Winter Fuel Payment statistics.

It is estimated that around 14,000 pensioners in Sutton and Cheam constituency will be impacted by the decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment. This is based on February 2024 Pension Credit statistics which are available via DWP Stat-xplore and the Winter Fuel Payment statistics for Winter 2022 to 2023 which are available via GOV.UK.

This estimation is calculated by subtracting the number of people claiming Pension Credit in Sutton and Cheam consistency from the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients in Sutton and Cheam constituency. This is essentially the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients who are not claiming Pension Credit pre-policy change, as an estimate of those who will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Please note that the above figures do not take into account any potential increase in Pension Credit take-up that we might see as a result of the Government’s Pension Credit Awareness Campaign. We do not have data on those additional Pension Credit claims by Parliamentary constituencies or Local Authorities.

The published Pension Credit figures refer to households, so the number of individuals receiving Pension Credit will be higher (i.e., taking account of households where it is a couple claiming Pension Credit).

In addition, while Pension Credit claimants constitute the majority of those that will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, pensioners who claim other qualifying means-tested benefits will also be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. It is not, however, possible to include those on other qualifying means-tested benefits in these figures.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to make additional support for food banks available.

Whilst food banks are independent, charitable organisations and government has no role in their operation, we are committed to tackling poverty and reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels. On 30th July, the Secretary of State held the first food poverty roundtable with food poverty experts to understand the priorities in this area.

We promised concrete actions in our manifesto to support children and families. Our initial steps to tackle poverty include free breakfast clubs in every primary school so children don’t go hungry, protecting renters from arbitrary eviction, slashing fuel poverty and banning exploitative zero-hours contracts. Good work is the foundation of our approach, and our New Deal for Working People, including ensuring that the minimum wage is a genuine living wage along with reformed employment support, will mean that many more people will benefit from the dignity and purpose of employment.

In addition, the Government is extending the Household Support Fund (HSF) for a further 6 months from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An estimated total package of approximately £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means that Local Authorities in England will receive £421 million to support those in need locally.

Alongside this, the Child Poverty Taskforce has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the average change in (a) stroke and (b) heart attack ambulance waiting times as a result of the London drop and go ambulance policy.

The Department does not hold the information requested. Category 2 ambulance calls are emergency responses, which can include serious time-sensitive incidents such as strokes and heart attacks. The following table shows the national and London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) Category 2 response times, displayed in minutes and seconds, for September 2024:

Response time

LAS

42:27

England

36:02

Source: The data is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's decision not to recommend Ruxolitinib for use within NHS England for the treatment of vitiligo.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance for the National Health Service on whether ruxolitinib should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of its costs and benefits.

The NICE was unfortunately unable to recommend ruxolitinib as a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources in its final draft guidance published on 18 July. The NICE received four appeals against its draft recommendation which were heard by an independent panel on 11 October 2024. If any of the appeals are upheld, the NICE’s appraisal committee will reconsider its recommendations in light of the appeal panel’s decision.

It is right that the NICE makes its decisions at arm’s length of the Government and in line with its carefully developed methods and processes. As such, it would not be appropriate for ministers to intervene in the NICE’s decision-making.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations made in the UK Blood Cancer Action Plan, published by Blood Cancer UK on 4 September 2024.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Liverpool Walton to question 4539 on 19 September 2024.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish independently-verified projections of future demand for the palliative and end of life care workforce at least every two years; and if he will take steps to ensure a properly resourced plan is in place for meeting this demand.

At this time, there are no plans to publish independently verified projections of future demand for the palliative and end of life care workforce. We will want to assure ourselves, and the National Health Service, that the current plan will deliver the reform needed. We will need to do this in light of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase access to medicines for patients receiving (a) palliative and (b) end of life care.

Local integrated care boards (ICBs) can commission out-of-hours dispensing locally if there is a need for patients to access medicines outside of the core pharmacy hours, including as part of any palliative and end of life arrangements that the ICB is required to make under statutory guidance.

Adults in the last days of life who are likely to need symptom control should be prescribed anticipatory medicines with written instructions for how to use or administer treatment. The medicines are prescribed in advance so that they can be obtained during local pharmacy opening hours and kept safely at home, or at a care home, so that the person or their carer has access to them if they develop symptoms. The use of anticipatory prescribing is a quality standard in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline, Care of dying adults in the last days of life.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to help fill staff vacancies in the hospice sector.

The Government is going to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community, and we recognise that it is vital to include palliative and end of life care, including hospices, in this shift.

Whilst much palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, including NHS hospices and community and hospital specialist palliative care, charitable hospices also provide significant support to people, and their families, at the end of life. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. As independent organisations, charitable hospices are responsible for their own recruitment and employment terms.

The NHS has been facing chronic workforce shortages for years, and we have to be honest that bringing in the staff we need will take time. We understand that this will also impact the voluntary sector, including hospices. We are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time. The Government will make sure the NHS has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it, including at the end of life. We will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will extend the 75% business rates relief for pubs beyond March 2025 in the Autumn Budget.

Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will reduce the level of duty on (a) beer and (b) cider served in pubs.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. Draught Relief helps to level the playing field between pubs and supermarkets, allowing pubs and brewers to price their on-trade products more competitively.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
23rd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle (a) moped and (b) illegal e-bike related crimes.

This government is determined to crack down on snatch theft and other crimes, including those facilitated by mopeds and e-bikes, that make people feel unsafe in our communities.

We are committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing, recruiting and putting thousands of additional officers back on the beast to provide a visible presence in our communities, and tackle all forms of street crime.

Tackling the market for stolen goods and making these crimes less attractive to commit in the first place, is a key part of our approach. As announced last month, the Home Office is engaging with tech companies to see what more can be done to break the business model of mobile phone thieves.

The police may, when appropriate, pursue mopeds and e-bikes, and may employ tactical options to bring the vehicle to a stop. The College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Roads Policing Police Pursuits provides guidance for police pursuits.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
11th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to community warm banks in winter 2024-25.

Warm banks are locally led initiatives run by local authorities, charities and voluntary and community organisations.

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 made available up to £64.7 billion, the majority of which is un-ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities.

More broadly, DCMS, through its arms-length funding bodies, provide a range of funds charities and voluntary organisations, including warm banks, can bid for.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)