First elected: 6th May 2010
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Mark Garnier, 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.
Mark Garnier has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about consumer protection in relation to domestic building works; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to make provision about consumer protection in relation to domestic building works; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require that companies selling road fuels be required to charge prices equalised between rural and urban areas; and for connected purposes.
Company Transparency (Carbon in Supply Chains) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Karen Bradley (Con)
Public inquiries are an important mechanism to learn lessons for the future. The Government will carefully consider all of the findings and recommendations of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 report.
Parliament, and in particular its Select Committees, has an important role in scrutinising government policy, including the implementation of inquiries' recommendations.
The qualifying criteria that determine company size for the purposes of accounting and audit have not changed in over a decade. It is right that these thresholds are reviewed periodically so they are set at appropriate levels.
Company size thresholds are being considered as part of the Government's broader non-financial reporting review, intended to ensure that more companies are able to benefit from simpler reporting and accounting frameworks, as well as take advantage of the small company exemption from statutory audit.
This Government backs our wonderful construction industry and is working to ensure we have a high-quality and professional construction industry, with consumer protection at the heart of this. TrustMark, sponsored by the Department and licenced by the Government, is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home. In addition the Building Safety Act 2022 has introduced competence requirements for both individuals and businesses working in the built environment.
Any action that the Government takes forward more widely on licensing to protect customers and standards needs to be robust, proportionate and evidence based.
No gifts were received by Ministers for travel to COP conferences in the last 12 months.
This data is not published by the Department, in line with Section 8.2 Transparency in the Crown Commercial Services’ Procurement Cards Pan-Government Policy.
The annual UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) is a crucial opportunity to tackle climate change internationally. As a top Government priority, officials across HMG are involved in making these summits as successful as they can be, from negotiations, logistics and Ministerial support to policy and stakeholder engagement. They typically do this as part of a broader role.
The Department intends to publish the October and November data on Departmental spending over £500 with an electronic purchasing card before the end of the financial year.
Data on financing of projects in the connections queue is not available. However, National Energy System Operator estimates that historically, 60-70% of transmission connection projects do not ultimately connect, including those that do not secure financing. NESO is currently consulting on proposals that would, if approved, ensure only viable projects are able to obtain and retain a connection agreement.
The Government does not hold any information on the number of fax machines in use at the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
Government, Ofgem and NESO are working to digitalise the energy system. In August the government published a response to the digital spine feasibility study, detailing how NESO and others are improving energy data sharing. Government funds digitalisation innovation, including the Automatic Asset Registration programme which aims to improve visibility of small-scale low carbon technologies. Ofgem approves funding for digitalisation through its decisions on price controls of licenced organisations, and delivers the Strategic Innovation Fund.
Confirmation of the amount of funding will be shared in due course.
GBE’s workforce planning is ongoing, and we are committed to ensuring we have the right skills, across the right locations, so that GBE can deliver maximum impact. A significant proportion of GBE’s staff will be employed in Aberdeen, including the permanent CEO and most of the senior executive team. The first recruitment campaigns have been launched, with three Director positions advertised in Aberdeen. Once appointed, The Board will regularly spend time in Aberdeen, including with communities and businesses.
Deep borehole technology is at a developmental stage of technical maturity and has not yet been implemented anywhere in the world. It is possible the technology could play a complementary role in managing some radioactive hazardous waste in the future. However, it would not be suitable for the entire UK radioactive waste inventory for which a geological disposal facility will always be required. Nuclear Waste Services, the developer of the geological disposal facility, continues to review radioactive waste management emerging technologies. It will publish its most recent review in the coming months.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for preparing and submitting proposals for reform of the electricity network connections process to Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. NESO is engaging with stakeholders, including the renewables sector as it develops these proposals. When making its decision, Ofgem will undertake an Impact Assessment of proposals.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for preparing and submitting proposals for reform of the electricity network connections process to Ofgem, the independent energy regulator. NESO is engaging with stakeholders, including the renewables sector as it develops these proposals. When making its decision, Ofgem will undertake an Impact Assessment of proposals.
On 23 August, the Government commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to provide practical advice on achieving a clean power system by 2030. The Government expects to receive NESO’s advice in early November, which will inform the 2030 Clean Power Action Plan, due for publication by the end of the year. The Action Plan will contain details relating to the costs associated with achieving the Government’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions.
Through our Clean Energy Mission the Government will decarbonise the power system by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. Taking action to ensure that our clean energy supply chains are resilient is a priority, both in terms of delivery against our targets and maximizing associated growth benefits.
We have a number of levers to support clean energy supply chains, including the new modern Industrial Strategy, the National Wealth Fund, and Great British Energy. In August, we commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to provide advice on achieving clean power by 2030. The advice will inform the Government’s 2030 Clean Power Action Plan, expected to be published by the end of the year.
The Government is committed to ensuring that new nuclear power stations, such as Sizewell C and small modular reactors (SMRs), play an important role in helping achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. On 23 August, the Government commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to provide practical advice on achieving a clean power system by 2030. The Government received NESO’s advice on 5 November, which will inform the 2030 Clean Power Action Plan and included details on the role of nuclear power. The Government’s action plan is due for publication by the end of the year.
The National Electricity System Operator is developing proposals for reform of electricity networks in consultation with stakeholders, before final proposals are submitted to Ofgem for decision. As part of its decision-making process, Ofgem will assess legal aspects of the proposals. The Department will support this analysis, where appropriate.
Government is committed to slashing fuel poverty and is currently reviewing the Fuel Poverty Strategy, published in 2021. The review will be published in due course and will determine whether an updated strategy is required.
The Government recognises that access to trusted and impartial information is an important enabler to consumers, when making choices about how to retrofit their homes.
This is why the government delivers a number of digital services on GOV.UK to support consumers to take action.
The government is going further to simplify the user journey for consumers, on GOV.UK, creating a single access point for all homeowners, landlords and tenants at varying points in their retrofit journey. It will bring together information, sources of funding and links to trusted installers, and simplify and expand the current government advice and information offer. We will seek to build on this model as we roll out our Warm Homes Plan.
The current iteration of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), ECO4, began in April 2022 and is scheduled to run until March 2026. ECO supports eligible social housing properties in energy efficiency bands D - F.
We are considering the role of supplier obligations in achieving our fuel poverty and clean power targets post-2026. Future iterations and changes to tenure eligibility would be subject to public consultation.
The Government is committed to simplifying the installation process at every stage of the customer journey and is investing up to £42m in the Heat Pump Ready programme to overcome barriers to heat pump deployment and support innovation in product design. The Government is also considering where regulatory improvements can be made, including supporting Ofgem’s end-to-end review of network connections, for which a consultation is expected in Autumn, and reviewing Permitted Development Rights (PDR). The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is analysing responses to the previous government’s consultation on PDR, and announcements will be made in due course.
The Government Property Agency (GPA) manage the estate occupied by DESNZ and is responsible for energy usage reduction in its properties.
DESNZ undertakes an assurance role in this, to ensure the Department achieves the targets in the Greening Government Commitments related to energy usage reduction.
DESNZ recently relocated its HQ to a newly refurbished GPA building, which included a range of energy reduction measures, such as connection to the Whitehall District Heating Network, upgraded heating and ventilation systems, and LED lighting throughout.
DESNZ continues to work with GPA to achieve similar improvements across the wider UK estate.
Great British Energy will be an operationally independent company, overseen by a Board. The exact impact and timeline of Great British Energy’s interventions will be determined by detailed development and design of the organisation’s functions. Any discussions around specific project to support would be determined by Great British Energy itself, as an operationally independent company, once fully established.
The Secretary of State announced the relaunch of the Solar Taskforce, which will consider further actions commensurate with the Government’s new clean energy mission. The core membership of the Taskforce will remain unchanged. Updated terms of reference, reflecting the Government’s new ambition, will be published ahead of the Taskforce’s first meeting.
The Government does not systematically track investments made by specific companies in clean energy. DESNZ analysis of BNEF data shows that between 2010 and 2023 the UK saw £300billion of public and private investment across low carbon sectors.
The Government has committed to making the UK the green finance capital of the world and is exploring requirements in relation to transition plans for companies and financial institutions. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is working with other government departments, including HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade, on these requirements and will provide further information about plans and a timetable in due course.
This Government is committed to CCUS, which will create good jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands, ensure a just transition for the industries based in the North Sea, and accelerate towards Net Zero. Our National Wealth Fund includes £1 billion to accelerate the deployment of CCUS.
The Government will publish a response to the previous Government’s consultation on the Clean Heat Market Mechanism in due course, which will set out the Government’s plans in this area.
Active Debris Removal (ADR) is a core part of in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing capabilities to support safe, secure and sustainable access to space. The Government recently awarded £4.7 million to Astroscale and ClearSpace to understand the risks and costs of an ADR mission to rendezvous with and deorbit two UK-licenced satellites. The UK Space Agency is developing the business case for Phase 3 of the ADR programme which, if successful, will be published for tender in mid-2025 to prepare for mission launch in 2028. Any future phase will be subject to funding decisions which will be taken through the Spending Review.
Guidance already specifies that all spaceflight operator licences issued under the Space Industry Act 2018 limit an operator’s liability. This Government will look at opportunities to amend Section 12(2) of the Act to make this clear in legislation under Section 36 of the Act.
Recovering nature is a key priority for this Government and wetland habitats are an important component of that.
Under the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme, the impact of Public Water Supply groundwater abstraction on river flows and wetlands has been investigated in a number of areas across Worcestershire. Through this programme the Environment Agency have worked with Severn Trent Water to look at their impact on water levels and flow and have taken steps to address this. Natural England are also working closely with the Environment Agency and Severn Trent on the Water Industry National Environment Programme to deliver improvements to protected sites across Worcestershire.
Identifying priorities for nature is a key objective of Local Nature Recovery Strategies. Defra looks forward to seeing the finished Worcestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is being prepared by Worcestershire County Council as the responsible authority.
The Environment Agency works closely with Severn Trent Water on the current condition of aquifers and the action needed to achieve a sustainable level of abstraction.
Some aquifers in the Severn Trent Water supply area are over-abstracted and it is a challenge to get the right balance between protecting the environment while maintaining security of supply. To meet this challenge Severn Trent Water has one of the largest investment plans in the water industry to manage abstraction licences and groundwater quality.
A detailed assessment on the condition of the aquifers that Severn Trent abstracts may be found in the Severn river basin district river basin management plan: updated 2022 - GOV.UK.
The expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer published in May 2024 includes capital grants to plant cider apple trees as part of an Agro-forestry system, and ongoing payments for actions which could be used in or around cider orchards such as flower rich grass margins blocks or strips, Integrated Pest Management plans, or managing hedgerows. Looking ahead, we will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes including SFI in an orderly way, over time, ensuring they produce the right outcomes for all farmers, for food security and for nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way.
Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is defined as those facilities, systems, sites, information, people, networks and processes judged to be critical to the functioning and security of the UK. Loss or compromise of these could result in risk to life or have a significant impact on our national security, national defence, or the functioning of the state.
CNI designation within each sector, including transport, is assessed using a criticalities scale. While the rollout of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure continues at pace, it is currently not classed as CNI. The Government will continue to review this status, as the number of electric vehicle chargepoints increases.
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is ongoing and no decision has yet been made.
The consultation was designed to gather up to date information primarily from local authorities to expand the evidence base. The questions for local authorities included asking about existing levels of motorcycle use in bus lanes on their networks and what factors had been taken into account in their decision making. However, the number of local authorities responding was too small to draw useful conclusions.
The Government is committed to the existing timetable in guidance for the connection of occupational pension schemes and personal and stakeholder providers to the pensions dashboards ecosystem, as well as the overall connection deadline of 31 October 2026.
We are aware of the risks associated with Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes as described in this question. They are a source of much needed development finance for several countries, but they can also pose challenges for both the host and third-party nations. As a result, the UK maintains ongoing dialogue with various stakeholders to address issues related to CBI and Ministers will seek to raise with their counterparts at events such as CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) and in dialogues in London.
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible.
The Payment Systems Regulator is funded by fees levied on industry.
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible.
The Payment Systems Regulator is funded by fees levied on industry.
Eligible deposits held by UK banks, building societies and credit unions that are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000, with joint accounts protected up to £170,000. This limit is set by the PRA and applies to both retail and business accounts.
The PRA is required to independently review the limit every five years and will be publishing a consultation on the outcome of its most recent review shortly. Any changes to the limit must be approved by the Treasury and the Government would carefully consider any changes proposed by the PRA.
Fraud is a costly crime for citizens, consumers, and businesses.
I welcome existing pledges to prevent fraud made by tech and telecoms firms.
At Mansion House, the Chancellor announced this government would work with tech and telecoms companies to stop their platforms and networks being exploited by criminals.
We are monitoring progress, including work on the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter and implementation of the Online Safety Act.
To balance the requirement on Financial Services to reimburse victims of fraud, Section 72 of the Financial Services and Markets Act enables the sector to manage risk through due diligence checks before releasing payments.
The department will continue to work with the Home Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to unlock further prevention efforts across all sectors in the forthcoming update to the fraud strategy.
The Government is committed to incentivising greater saving and investment. Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) help people save for their future goals and build greater financial resilience.
The Government recognises the important role that cash savings play in helping households build a financial buffer for a rainy day. The Government also wants to see more consumers participate in capital markets and benefit from the long-term financial security and returns that investing can provide.
The Government continues to keep all aspects of savings policy under review.
HM Revenue and Customs does not hold the necessary information on its statistical data systems to separate transactions of UK listed equity and the resulting Stamp Tax on Shares charge from other sources of Stamp Tax on Shares revenue.
However, the majority of Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) receipts likely relate to UK listed equity transactions. A timeseries of SDRT receipts is included in Table 1 of the UK Stamp Tax statistics publication available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics
As the Chancellor announced at Mansion House in November 2024, the government intends to lay the statutory instrument which will provide the legal framework for the PISCES Sandbox before Parliament by May 2025.
Collectively, Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax are currently forecast to raise up to £5bn per year, providing vital revenue which helps to fund key public services.
The existing framework contains multiple reliefs and exemptions which are designed to boost liquidity and growth.
The government keeps all taxes under review.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is governed by the framework set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000. This includes a range of mechanisms to ensure the accountability and transparency of the FOS.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for ensuring that the FOS is, at all times, capable of exercising its statutory functions.
To support transparency and accountability, the FOS is required to lay its annual report and accounts before Parliament, and is subject to statutory audit by the National Audit Office.
Representatives of the FOS may also be called to appear before Parliamentary committees, including the Treasury Select Committee, which most recently occurred earlier this month.
HM Treasury meets regularly with both the FOS and the FCA to discuss relevant issues and performance against their statutory functions. This includes work to deliver the package of reforms announced by the Chancellor at Mansion House in November 2024, to modernise the framework under which the FOS operates and give clearer expectations to consumers and firms.