Nick Smith Portrait

Nick Smith

Labour - Blaenau Gwent

First elected: 6th May 2010

Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons

(since September 2023)

Public Accounts Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 11th Dec 2023
Electricity and Gas Transmission (Compensation) Bill
18th Jan 2023 - 25th Jan 2023
UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords]
16th Nov 2022 - 22nd Nov 2022
Pension Dashboards (Prohibition of Indemnification) Bill
19th Oct 2022 - 26th Oct 2022
Elections Bill
15th Sep 2021 - 26th Oct 2021
Opposition Whip (Commons)
18th Oct 2016 - 6th Nov 2019
Standing Orders
1st Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Procedure Committee
30th Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Sep 2015 - 18th Oct 2016
Public Accounts Committee
7th Jul 2015 - 26th Oct 2015
Public Accounts Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Nick Smith has voted in 694 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Nick Smith Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 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
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)
(24 debate interactions)
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(19 debate interactions)
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(17 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(48 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(46 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(27 debate contributions)
Ministry of Defence
(24 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Financial Services and Markets Act 2023
(1,790 words contributed)
Elections Act 2022
(1,659 words contributed)
Pension Schemes Act 2021
(639 words contributed)
Procurement Act 2023
(508 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Nick Smith's debates

Blaenau Gwent Petitions

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).

Petition Debates Contributed

Isolation essential to the Government’s strategy for fighting coronavirus, and UK citizens must remain healthy and exercise whilst keeping adequate distance between people. The Government should allow golf courses to open so families or individuals can play golf in order to exercise safely.

In the event of a spike we would like you not to close gyms as a measure to stop any spread of Covid. Also for gyms to not be put in the same group as pubs in terms of risk or importance. Gyms are following strict guidelines and most members are following rules in a sober manner.


Latest EDMs signed by Nick Smith

22nd June 2021
Nick Smith signed this EDM on Wednesday 23rd June 2021

GKN Automotive alternative plan

Tabled by: Jack Dromey (Labour - Birmingham, Erdington)
That this House is alarmed by GKN Automotive’s decision to close its Birmingham factory next year, with the loss of over 500 highly skilled jobs and work transferred to continental Europe; notes that GKN’s origins trace back to the industrial revolution, with over 260 years of history that include making …
68 signatures
(Most recent: 27 Apr 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 60
Independent: 5
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
19th October 2020
Nick Smith signed this EDM on Thursday 5th November 2020

Unionlearn

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House recognises the exemplary and invaluable role played by Unionlearn in helping people acquire skills and qualifications to boost their job prospects and make a valuable contribution to the economy; applauds Unionlearn for aiding hundreds of thousands of learners at all levels, from basic numeracy and literacy to …
94 signatures
(Most recent: 8 Feb 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 57
Scottish National Party: 15
Liberal Democrat: 8
Democratic Unionist Party: 6
Independent: 5
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Alliance: 1
Alba Party: 1
View All Nick Smith's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Nick Smith, 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.


Nick Smith has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Nick Smith has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Nick Smith


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to regulate the selling of tickets for certain sporting and cultural events; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 4th March 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision relating to signage and ticketing technology for parking charges used in publicly-available car parks; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 18th September 2012

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
12th Dec 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests plans to publish an update to Lord Cameron's entry in the List of Ministers’ Interests

The latest List of Ministers’ Interests was published on 14 December and can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
7th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June to Question 186376 on Government Departments: Apprentices, if he will provide a breakdown by Department of the percentage change in digital, data and technology apprenticeships between October 2021 and December 2022.

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) apprenticeships are a way to gain industry standard qualifications whilst working full time in a salaried DDaT role in the Civil Service. During their programme, apprentices receive training from an apprenticeship provider in their chosen field, and apply their emerging knowledge and skills to their full time role as a DDaT professional.

The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) is working with departments and commercial teams to address barriers to fully utilising the apprentice levy, including through increasing apprentice provider choice.

We have also grown our early talent offers. CDDO is now in the process of building a cross-government digital apprenticeship programme ‘Tech Track’ which aims to upskill existing Civil Servants into the DDaT profession through apprenticeships, targeting 350-500 roles in its first year from Q1 2024.

Apprentice numbers regularly fluctuate year to year as apprentices begin and finish their courses at different stages throughout the year. External factors play a significant role in decisions to invest in apprenticeships. These include the impact of Covid-19 on recruitment and operation of apprenticeships, and proposed reductions to overall Civil Service headcount, prompting departments to prioritise fully developed staff. Changes to the recruitment of apprentices will not be reflected in the number of apprentices in departments until the following year.

Data provided by the Civil Service Apprenticeship Unit (CSAU) shows that, between September 2021 and December 2022, the number of apprentices fluctuated as per the below table:

Department

On programme Apprentices September 2021

On programme Apprentices December 2022

Percentage Change

Ministry of Justice

2

22

1000%

Ministry of Defence

39

116

197%

Department for International Trade

1

2

100%

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

7

12

71%

Department for Education

20

23

15%

United Kingdom Statistics Authority

9

10

11%

Attorney General's Departments

1

1

0%

Department for Work and Pensions

169

163

-4%

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

15

12

-20%

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (and former partners)

70

53

-24%

National Crime Agency

4

3

-25%

Cabinet Office

35

23

-34%

Competition and Markets Authority

2

1

-50%

Department For Digital Culture Media And Sport

4

2

-50%

HM Revenue and Customs

248

117

-52%

Home Office

89

41

-54%

Department for Transport

53

22

-58%

Department of Health and Social Care

34

13

-62%

Charity Commission

3

-

Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

-

1

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
23rd May 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the report from the National Audit Office entitled Digital transformation in government: addressing the barriers to efficiency, published on 10 March 2023, what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) his policies and (b) digital transformation in Government of that report's finding of a reduction of 20 per cent in the number of digital, data and technology apprenticeships between October 2021 and December 202.

Government is committed to strengthening digital and technology specialist skills and has increased the number of recorded specialists by 10% since the establishment of the Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data.

Individual departments are ultimately responsible for their own resourcing decisions and will have their own rationale for specific choices made. Additionally, apprenticeship headcounts will fluctuate over time linked to factors like the procurement of suppliers and the cohort based nature of apprenticeship recruitment.

Apprentices are a core part of our thriving digital community, as are graduates and interns, and we are committed to ensuring that the trend in reduction of apprentices is reversed. Indeed, since the report was published, the number of recorded apprentices has increased by 6.2%.

The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) are currently working with departments and commercial teams to address some of the barriers to fully utilising apprentice levy’s in government, including through increasing supplier choice.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
30th Jan 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason his Department has not agreed to the Second Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, Sue Gray, from serving as a witness in the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s investigation into the lobbying and access affair involving Greensill Capital in July 2021.

It is the Government’s longstanding position, as set out in the Osmotherly Rules, that officials do not attend Committees in their own capacity, but as representatives of their Ministers. It is therefore open for Ministers to decide to attend instead. In this instance, successive Cabinet Office Ministers declined the invitation for Ms Gray to appear before the Committee and in so doing offered to attend instead to answer any questions the Committee might have had on this subject.

11th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2022 to Question 55048, if Mark Fullbrook was (a) on secondment from and (b) paid through Fullbrook Strategies at the time of his appointment; and whether he was subject to the checks and vetting the Cabinet Office guidance requires of Government officials.

Mr Fullbrook has a standard Special Adviser employment contract which covers his entire appointment as Chief of Staff. While a secondment was initially discussed, it was decided to instead employ Mr Fullbrook directly and a secondment agreement was never put in place.

The Model Contract for Special Advisers, which sets out the terms of employment for special advisers, is available on GOV.UK. Together, with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and the Civil Service Code, this constitutes a special adviser’s contract of employment with the Crown.

All civil servants, whether on secondment or directly employed, are subject to the necessary checks and vetting, as was Mr Fullbrook.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information Mark Fullbrook, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, asked to declare upon his appointment.

All government employees are subject to the necessary checks and vetting, and all special advisers declare their interests in line with Cabinet Office guidance.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what basis Mark Fullbrook, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, is employed.

Mark Fullbrook is employed directly by the Government on a standard special adviser contract. The model special adviser contract can be found on gov.uk.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has made an assessment of the potential implications of the professional relationship between Mark Fullbrook and Julio Herrera Velutini.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister was informed of Mark Fullbrook's role as a witness in an FBI investigation into electoral bribery in Puerto Rico.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has had discussions with (a) the National Crime Agency and (b) the Metropolitan Police on Mark Fullbrook's role in an FBI investigation.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office , what discussions the Prime Minister has had with Mark Fullbrook on his interview with the FBI in connection with bribery charges in Puerto Rico.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made for the implication of his policy of the professional relationship between Mark Fullbrook and the indicted Julio Herrera Velutini.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office sought legal advice on the continuation of Mark Fullbrook's role as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, following the disclosure of Mr Fullbrook's status as an witness in an FBI investigation.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Mark Fullbrook, informed the Cabinet Office that he was a witness in an FBI investigation.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office's Propriety and Ethics team was informed that the FBI had asked the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Mark Fullbrook, to cooperate as a witness in an active case on electoral bribery in Puerto Rico.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on proceedings in a foreign country which do not involve the UK Government.

However, I refer the Hon. Member to the statement issued by Mr Fullbrook which is in the public domain, and the recent apology and retraction issued to him by the Rt Hon Member for Tottenham.



Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
4th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason a review has been conducted into KPMG by his Department; and what his timetable is for (a) concluding and (b) publishing that review.

Details of Government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

We closely monitor the financial health and performance of all our strategic suppliers and have regular discussions with KPMG’s senior management. We are looking carefully at the measures put in place by KPMG to address issues raised by the Financial Reporting Council; this forms part of the ongoing Cabinet Office monitoring process.

4th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many contracts the Government awarded to KPMG in the last two years; what the value of those contracts is; and which Department awarded those contracts.

Details of Government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

We closely monitor the financial health and performance of all our strategic suppliers and have regular discussions with KPMG’s senior management. We are looking carefully at the measures put in place by KPMG to address issues raised by the Financial Reporting Council; this forms part of the ongoing Cabinet Office monitoring process.

12th Nov 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on (a) appointing a chair and (b) defining the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the Government's response to the covid-19 pandemic.

On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. The independent chair of the inquiry will be appointed by the end of this year. Further details, including on the terms of reference, will be set out in due course.

25th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was of the Minister of State, Lord Frost’s visit to Portugal in October 2021.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK.

21st Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to provide an Answer to Question 178999, tabled on 29 March 2021 by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 178999 on 29 April 2021.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he had (a) discussions and (b) text communication with former Prime Minister David Cameron on Government support for Greensill Capital.

The Prime Minister has asked Mr Boardman to conduct a review that will look into the decisions taken around the development and use of supply chain finance (and associated schemes) in government, especially the role of Lex Greensill and Greensill Capital. The full terms of reference are set out at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-into-the-development-and-use-of-supply-chain-finance-in-government-terms-of-reference

The review will report to the Prime Minister by 30 June 2021. The Government will publish and present to Parliament the Review’s findings and the Government’s response in due course thereafter.

Correspondence between the Cabinet Office and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crothers-bill-government-chief-commercial-officer-cabinet-office-acoba-recommendation

27th Jan 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Local Government Information Unit report entitled Free, fair and safe: 2021 local elections, what assessment he has made of the (a) capacity of councils for managing postal voting, (b) potential for implementing all-out postal voting and (c) the merits of developing a digital postal vote application service in time for the May 2021 elections.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ138465 and PQ136458 on 20 January. The House will be kept updated.

5th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2023 to Question 6145 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, whether she has made an assessment of the likelihood of success of the claim.

The Administrators of Greensill Capital have previously indicated they expect to make distributions to unsecured creditors, including the claim by the Redundancy Payments Service. The Administrators confirmed to the Redundancy Payments Service on 8 January that the quantum and timing of any distribution is uncertain.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2023 to Question 6145 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, if she will make an estimate of the amount that will be returned to the Redundancy Payments Service.

The Government's Redundancy Payments Service is currently unable to make an estimate of the amount that will be received from the Administrators of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Ltd.

The last Administrator's Progress Report covering the period 8 March 2023 to 7 September 2023 confirmed the timing and amount of funds payable to creditors was uncertain. A copy of the Administrator's Progress Report is available to view at Companies House.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Dec 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to recover funds paid from the public purse to former employees of Greensill Capital Management Company.

The Government's Redundancy Payments Service seeks to recover all monies paid out from the National Insurance Fund to the employees of an insolvent company. The Redundancy Payments Service submitted a claim to the Administrators of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Ltd on 27 April 2023 for £2,004,511.

Any funds available for distribution in an insolvent company will be paid out by the Administrators in accordance with the statutory order of priority for creditor payments. Funds received by the Redundancy Payments Service will be repaid to the National Insurance Fund.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
29th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2021 to question 183281 on Greensill: Redundancy Pay, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) statutory redundancy pay, (b) statutory holiday pay, (c) statutory notice pay and (d) the protective award settlement paid by from the public purse to former Greensill Capital employees since the collapse of that company.

The Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) is dealing with two cases: Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Limited and its subsidiary, Greensill Capital (UK) Limited.

In respect of Greensill Capital Management Company (UK) Limited the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) has paid out the following statutory payments to date:

  • Redundancy Pay £188,920
  • Holiday Pay £321,639
  • Loss of Notice Pay £269,578
  • Protective Award £1,228,440

In respect of the subsidiary company, Greensill Capital (UK) Limited, to date no claims have yet been received and no payments made.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
10th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2023 to Question 156109 on SIMEC Group: Subsidies, whether (a) Aar Tee Group, (b) Pentech, (c) Simec UK Energy Holdings, (d) Atlantis Resources and (e) Simec Atlantis Energy received public funding following the SIMEC Group's acquisition of the Uskmouth B Powerplant in Newport, South Wales in 2015.

The companies listed have received no public funding from the Department for Business and Trade since 2015.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
14th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department has put in place to help promote solar power in the UK.

The Government is incentivising large-scale solar through the Contracts for Difference scheme and rooftop solar through various financial and regulatory measures. These include the Smart Export Guarantee, removal of VAT on domestic panels, tax relief and business rate exemptions. The Government is exploring low-cost finance options to support upfront costs for households and businesses and reviewing permitted development rights to simplify planning for commercial projects.

The Government will publish a solar deployment roadmap in 2024 and is establishing a taskforce to drive forward further actions needed to achieve the Government's ambition of around a fivefold increase in solar capacity by 2035.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to review the system of standing charges for (a) electricity and (b) gas customers.

The standing charge includes the costs energy suppliers incur to provide a live supply of gas and electricity to individual properties, regardless of how much energy their customers use. If it was removed, these costs would be added to the unit price of energy. Otherwise, suppliers would not be able to recover the legitimate costs of serving customers.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make a further assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee's report on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, published on 27 April 2021.

In the Government response to the Select Committee inquiry into the Scheme we highlighted we continue to believe the arrangements agreed in 1994 with the Scheme Trustees still work well and are fair and beneficial to both Scheme members and taxpayers.

2nd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham, on 19 October 2021, Official Report, Column 611, whether he will be taking additional steps to support the steel sector’s transition to net zero given the £350 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is intended for multiple energy-intensive sectors including the steel sector.

The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays in our economy and across all areas of the UK. We have taken specific steps to support the steel industry and we will continue to work with the sector regarding its decarbonisation.

In October 2021 we published the Net Zero Strategy, which committed to provide further support for research and innovation through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and initiatives led by the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre to support the fuel switch to low carbon hydrogen on industrial sites.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
20th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2021 to Question 152466 on OneWeb, how much the Government has allocated for future funding to OneWeb in the next (a) 12 and (b) 36 months; and which additional shareholders are being considered.

The Government do not propose to invest further in OneWeb. The Government, together with other OneWeb shareholders, is engaged in discussions with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, the Government cannot provide details of potential investors before they are formally announced.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department spend on (a) external advisers and (b) consultant fees related to the Government's investment in OneWeb.

Details of the Department’s expenditure related to Government’s investment in OneWeb are commercially sensitive. The Government is obliged to treat this information with appropriate care to avoid damaging wider commercial interests and maintaining the trust of OneWeb’s shareholders.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department has allocated for (a) further investment in OneWeb and (b) any other activity relating to OneWeb in the next (i) 12 months and (ii) three years.

The UK Government is working closely with the company and partners to maximise the value of our investment, including discussing with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders.

OneWeb plans to complete UK coverage and commence commercial services by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned for 2022.

It remains the Government’s ambition to supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband and identifying opportunities to protect and promote UK jobs and supply chains.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, what estimate he has made of the number of households in the UK that will benefit from enhanced broadband through OneWeb in the next 12 months.

OneWeb plans to have UK coverage of satellite broadband by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned by the end of 2022.

The UK Government is supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband whilst being mindful of its responsibility to the UK Space Sector.

The commercial operation of OneWeb will be separate from Government’s duties to ensure the transparent and effective operation of markets.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, how many people were employed at OneWeb’s UK base as of 10 February 2021.

Employee and workforce details are a business matter for the company. OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-level manufacturing jobs to the UK.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much further investment in OneWeb his Department estimates will be made by Bharti Global Ltd in (a) the next 12 months and (b) the next 36 months.

Details of further investment into OneWeb are a commercial matter for the company.

The UK Government’s focus is on securing additional private investment. We are in discussions with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for OneWeb to support the UK’s national security interests.

The UK will continue to rely on the SKYNET programme for its defence and security global communications requirements.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
9th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans to encourage OneWeb to move the manufacturing of its satellites from the US to the UK.

Details of satellite production and manufacturing are a commercial matter for the company.

OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-value manufacturing jobs to the UK.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many OneWeb satellites his Department estimates will be produced for orbit in the next 12 months.

Details of satellite production and future launches are a commercial matter for the company.

OneWeb plans to complete UK coverage and commence commercial services by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned for 2022.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish the governance structures for OneWeb with reference to the (a) role of Bharti Global Ltd and (b) arrangements for oversight by Ministers of his Department.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency in relation to its shareholding in OneWeb. Government involvement is outlined in the terms of the company’s articles of association, which are publicly available at Companies House.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish the primary objectives of OneWeb with reference to its provision of (a) internet communications, (b) surveillance and (c) GPS.

The Government and other shareholders are supporting OneWeb in the development of their long-term strategic plan.

OneWeb’s global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation will provide high speed, low-latency global internet coverage.

OneWeb’s current generation of satellites does not offer any surveillance applications. However, moving forward, OneWeb’s capabilities in potential future-generation satellites, alongside those of the wider sector, will be reviewed in the context of the UK’s evolving Space requirements.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the outcome was of his Department's recent assessment of the value of its investment in the OneWeb company.

Investing in OneWeb provides the UK with a range of strategic and commercial opportunities, including the potential to create jobs, expand the UK's supply chain and boost the manufacturing sector.

OneWeb will contribute to the UK's ambition to become a world leader in the Space sector.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
15th Dec 2020
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential effect of ending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on levels of employment.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has safeguarded 9.6m jobs to date and will be reviewed in January. The Government is also supporting the recovery of the economy by focussing on job creation initiatives like Kickstart and Restart. The public health situation continues to evolve and we will continue to take the necessary steps to protect jobs and businesses.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
15th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2020 to Question 5366, when his Department plans to update its publications entitled (a) Steel procurement pipeline and (b) Steel Public Procurement: Compliance with the steel procurement guidance.

The data used for the publication of the steel procurement pipeline, and the compliance data on the steel procurement guidance, has been shared with UK Steel and the steel producers. These stakeholders have helped to quality assure the information prior to publication, which we intend to publish soon.

Data on steel procurement in the UK, including the origin, as well as information on infrastructure projects with significant steel content, is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/steel-public-procurement.

The next iteration of this data will be published in due course.

11th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that employers provide sufficient levels of personal protective equipment to their employees once they return to work after the covid-19 lockdown.

We have provided guidance on how to work safely in a number of different working environments, such as offices, factories, and working outdoors – so that employers can use the guidance which is most relevant to them. The safety of all workers is at the forefront of this guidance. Our approach is clinically led, based on the expert advice of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer for England, the NHS and Public Health England. We are led by the evolving science in this work and as the scientific and medical advice changes, the guidance will be updated to reflect this.

Where workers already wear PPE for protection against non-COVID risks, such as dust, they should continue to wear this PPE.

The best way to manage the risk of COVID-19 is to implement robust social distancing measures and other physical controls. Outside of a clinical setting there is very little evidence to support the use of PPE and we would anticipate that an employer’s risk assessment and risk management decisions would reflect that the role of PPE in providing additional protection is extremely limited.

We recommend that PPE is not used in working environments where it would not normally be required. Good hygiene and minimising social contact remain the most effective way of managing the risks of COVID-19. However, if an employers’ risk assessment does show that PPE is required, employers must provide this PPE free of charge to employees.

11th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will require employers to publish comprehensive covid-19 risk assessments in advance of the return of their employees to work after the covid-19 lockdown.

The Government has published guidance developed with industry experts, unions, business organisations, local Government, and other stakeholders, requiring employers to carry out risk assessments as part of normal health and safety practice in order to get employees back to work safely.

Employers need to develop their risk assessments with input from unions and workers, as they do under normal circumstance. All businesses should share the results of their risk assessment with their employees. We are asking employers to publish the results of these assessments whenever possible.

The Government expects larger organisations – those with over 50 workers – to publish the results of their risk assessments. We think businesses will want to do this to help build the confidence of their workers and their customers. In order to help with this, the Government has provided a new notice which employers can display on their website to show they have followed the guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19.