First elected: 12th December 2019
Left House: 1st August 2023 (Recall Petition)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Margaret Ferrier, 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.
Margaret Ferrier has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about the amendment of pension schemes so as to provide for the conversion of rights to a guaranteed minimum pension.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to prohibit charges for the use of cash machines; and for connected purposes.
Scotland (Self-Determination) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Neale Hanvey (Alba)
Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rob Roberts (Ind)
High Income Child Benefit Charge (report to Parliament) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Jim Shannon (DUP)
Energy Costs (Pre-payment Meters and Social Tariffs) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Kenny MacAskill (Alba)
Consumer Telephone Service Standards Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)
Gaming Hardware (Automated Purchase and Resale) (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Douglas Chapman (SNP)
COP26 saw 24 states, representing around half of global aviation emissions, commit to negotiating for a 1.5°C-consistent climate goal for aviation next year.
The LGBT Advisory Panel was created under the previous administration and the term of all panel members ended on 31 March. The Minister for Women & Equalities has written to panel members to thank them for their contributions. I will shortly set out further details on our plans for the International LGBT Conference and banning conversion therapy, including how we will engage those with relevant expertise.
I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on a variety of issues. It is for councils to make a decision on the planning proposals which are submitted to them, applying the Government’s national planning rules and weighing up each case on its merits. Coal generated only 1.6% of the UK’s electricity mix in 2020, compared with almost 25% five years ago.
The UK is fully committed to decarbonising industry and phasing out coal for power generation by 2024 (subject to consultation) as part of our pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.
The Electoral Commission recently wrote to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, following that Committee’s recent evidence session, on a number of issues, including the potential impact of the date of the referendum if it were to be held in June. A copy of the letter is available on the Committee’s website.
The UK government has demonstrated its commitment to marriage for same sex couples by introducing it for England and Wales, and has welcomed its introduction in other jurisdictions, including Scotland.
We recognise and respect the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland. The constitutional arrangements in place mean that any decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Officials from the Government Equalities Office speak regularly with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office regarding these and other equality related matters.
Following consultation, state aid clearance and necessary amendments to Renewables Obligation and Feed in Tariff scheme legislation, we intend to switch from compensation to exemptions as soon as possible.
The events between 5-7 June 1984 at the Golden Temple in Amritsar led to a tragic loss of life, and I understand the pain that they still cause to Sikh communities around the world, including in the UK.
During the visit of Prime Minister Modi we discussed a wide range of issues and in those conversations he emphasised his commitment to upholding the Gandhian traditions of diversity and religious tolerance. In his Wembley address, he underlined the important role that Indians of all faiths are playing in India’s economic and social development.
The Government recognises that energy costs are among the factors that have an impact on the competitiveness of the steel industry and for that reason has provided over £50 million compensation to steel makers for energy costs.
We are also in advanced discussions with the European Commission to approve millions of pounds of further compensation for energy intensive industries, including steel makers. Many years of underinvestment in the UK’s energy infrastructure has meant wholesale prices of energy are higher in the UK than in some other EU countries. The Government is committed to addressing this long term issue through, for example, new nuclear plants and our support for shale gas extraction.
In recognition of the need for a better understanding of the potential impacts of underground coal gasification, the Department has commissioned an assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions related to underground coal gasification, which we expect to publish in due course.
The gender pay gap has fallen to its lowest ever level, but any gap is unacceptable. The Prime Minister has pledged to eliminate this gap in a generation. Our recent consultation will inform new regulations that will deliver our manifesto commitment to require large companies to publish details of their gender pay gap. We will also tackle the causes by encouraging girls to consider a wide range of careers and ensuring that workplaces are fit for the 21st century.
Royal Mail was privatised in October 2013. Regardless of ownership, Royal Mail as the designated Universal Service Provider for the United Kingdom is required to deliver the universal postal service in accordance with minimum requirements set by Parliament and quality of service standards set by Ofcom, the postal services regulator.
Royal Mail publishes reports on its quality of service each quarter on its website. Ofcom closely monitors Royal Mail’s quality of service to ensure that service standards are maintained throughout the country.
On 11 June, we announced the start of the post-implementation review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals. The review will consider how successful the change has been in achieving its original objectives and seek to assess the impact fees have had.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of criminal prosecutions involving gambling or in which gambling has been a factor. This information could only be obtained by an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
I regularly meet Ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including on domestic and international human rights law. I am not able to talk about any legal content of those discussions because, by convention, the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority.
It is not possible to make any such assessment, as the answer will depend on the terms of the agreement reached on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
We will now need to negotiate the best deal we can with Europe, and part of that process will focus on tools and mechanisms for cooperation that can help keep Britain’s citizens secure.
By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that I may or may not have advised or have been requested to advise on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 16 March is attached and the completed answer will be deposited in the House of Commons Library.
The Office for National Statistics will trial a new method of of recording veteran suicide from early 2023 by working closely with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. As part of a 10-year retrospective study, analysis of veteran suicide data is expected to be completed by the ONS in 2023. Details on how and when this data might be published will be finalised following agreement between the MOD, ONS and OVA.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
Margaret Ferrier MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
4 November 2021
Dear Ms Ferrier,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent assessment has been made of the implications of the removal of the UK from the Eurostat database (67174).
Since the UK’s departure from the EU, the UK statistical system has continued to collect and publish our wide range of high-quality data and analysis to inform the UK on social and economic matters. This ensures Government, Parliament, and the public continue to have the statistics they need to inform their decisions.
Our statistics continue to be produced according to our Code of Practice for Statistics, ensuring official UK statistics are trustworthy, quality-assured, and meet society’s needs. Furthermore, in line with our strategy, Statistics for the Public Good, we continue to apply the highest international standards to our work, enabling comparability both over time and internationally.
Outside of the EU, it is no longer appropriate for the UK to be bound into European regulations on statistics, however, we remain strongly committed to co-operating with our colleagues in other national statistical institutes across Europe and the rest of the world, with a view to making UK statistics as widely and easily available as possible for international comparison, analysis and research.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
The Crown Prince and I discussed a wide range of matters. We regularly raise human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain and continue to engage with the Government of Bahrain to support its reform agenda.
The end of the transition period will not alter the fact that our energy system is resilient, and our supplies secure. We are planning extensively for the end of the transition period, alongside industry, the Devolved Administrations, and key delivery partners to ensure energy demands continue to be met.
Where possible Cabinet Office officials are working from home during the COVID-19 crisis, and as a result the vast majority of civil servants are working from home on any given day. The Department has issued staff with working from home guidance. However, only a small number of staff are formally 'designated homeworkers'. Of those who have declared, 20 members of staff are 'designated homeworkers' as of 30 April 2020.
The franchise for the Parliamentary election remains unchanged as set out in the Representation of the People Acts 1983 and 1985.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement issued on 5 April following my meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-king-salman-of-saudi-arabia-5-april-2017.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns to the noble Lord Hoyle on 24 April 2017 in the House of Lords, HL6712.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement issued on 5 April following my meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-king-salman-of-saudi-arabia-5-april-2017.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns to the noble Lord Hoyle on 24 April 2017 in the House of Lords, HL6712.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement issued on 5 April following my meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and which is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-king-salman-of-saudi-arabia-5-april-2017.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns to the noble Lord Hoyle on 24 April 2017 in the House of Lords, HL6712.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs West) on 31 January 2017, UIN 50210.
The Sewel convention recognises that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the relevant devolved legislature. Both the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017 place the Sewel convention on a statutory footing, as committed to in the cross-party Smith Commission and St David’s Day agreements.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon) on 23 January 2017, Official Report, columns 23-42.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr Gwynne) on 28 October 2016, UIN 50210.
Information covering the period from July to September 2016 was published on 21 December 2016 and is available on the gov.uk website.
The Government has no plans to lower the voting age for the next UK general election.
Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho CBE, stepped down from her role as UK digital champion in 2013. She continues to be a member of the Government Digital Service Advisory Board, whose remit includes supporting government to deliver better services for users, reviewing progress, sharing experience, providing external expertise and raising public awareness. The current membership can be found here:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/gds-advisory-board
The Government’s focus on digital is comprehensive and expanding, something underlined by the creation of three new senior roles. The Government Digital Service has been strengthened with the appointment of its first Director General of Digital, Kevin Cunnington. In addition, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Matthew Gould, as its first Director General for Digital and Media, and Liam Maxwell as the Government’s first National Technology Adviser.
The Gulf Strategy Integrated Delivery Team was established in 2015.
Its remit is to coordinate the Government’s strategic approach to UK engagement with the Gulf States as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.
It employs three full-time and one part-time Government employees. One is military and three are civilian.
Administration costs were £70,004 in the 2015-16 financial year and the budget for administration costs in the 2016-17 financial year is £423,000. The 2015-16 figure reflects the fact the unit was established later in the financial year.
I refer the hon. Member to Sir John Chilcot’s letter to me of 28 October 2015, and my reply of 29 October, copies of which can be found on the Iraq Inquiry website.
The Civil Service requires a variety of skills and professions within its workforce and many senior civil servants, by nature of their remit, work closely with Ministers, which is why the majority of these positions are based in London.
The proportion of SCS based in London has remained relatively stable from 2010 to 2015.
1st April 2010 | 65.1% |
1st April 2011 | 65.0% |
1st April 2012 | 65.5% |
1st April 2013 | 63.9% |
1st April 2014 | 65.4% |
1st April 2015 | 67.0% |
Although the proportion has increased, this represents an overall decrease in headcount, from 2,840 at 1st April 2010 to 2,660 at 1st April 2015.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central on 19 October 2015 to UIN: 10764.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central on 19 October 2015 to UIN: 10764.
It is for the independent Commission to determine the timing for submitting its response to Government.
We are committed to the Freedom of Information Act. An independent commission was established review the workings of the Act. The Government will consider the Commission’s report when it is received.
In the British Energy Security Strategy the Government committed to accelerating the delivery of electricity transmission infrastructure. The network blueprint, the Holistic Network Design for onshore-offshore transmission, will be referenced in the energy National Policy Statements (NPS) for England and Wales, supporting the needs case for transmission projects.
To enable delivery of the commitments in April’s British Energy Security Strategy, the Department has reviewed and strengthened these NPSs. This includes the EN-1 Overarching need case for energy infrastructure, EN-3 Renewable electricity infrastructure and EN-5 Electricity networks infrastructure. The review is to ensure they fully reflect the strategic importance of new energy infrastructure for delivering the UK’s energy security and affordability and to deliver on Net Zero. The importance of this has been underlined by global events in the last 12 months since the end of the previous consultation. DESNZ will re-consult on these documents.
The Government, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council, invest significantly in research and development into respiratory diseases. This investment is aligned to the aims and ambitions of the proposed Respiratory Mission, outlined in the Life Science Vision, to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory disease.
The Office for Life Sciences will continue to work with public, private and philanthropic partners to identify options and funding opportunities that could allow a specific Respiratory Mission to be set up and delivered.
Supporting domestic oil and gas production is not incompatible with our international climate obligations. Oil field developments under existing licences, including Rosebank, are assessed by the North Sea Transition Authority, who integrate net zero considerations into the development consent process.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Hon. Member for Norwich South on 1st November 2022 to Question 69713.
The opening of the most recent licensing round by the North Sea Transition Authority followed the publication of the Climate Compatibility Checkpoint.
The North Sea Transition Deal includes emissions reduction targets consistent with the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, which establishes the UK pathway for carbon budgets and international targets.