First elected: 6th May 2010
Left House: 3rd May 2017 (Defeated)
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 Oliver Colvile, 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.
Oliver Colvile has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to require universities to report to those paying tuition fees on how those fees are treated and spent; and for connected purposes.
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 for husbands and civil partners of those receiving honours to be allowed to use equivalent honorary titles to those available to women; and for connected purposes.
Oliver Colvile has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
On 15th March 2017 the Church of England’s House of Bishops published “Responding Well to Domestic Abuse: Policy and Practice Guidance”, which urges church communities to address the issue of domestic abuse and raise awareness of its impact on adults and children. The document can be seen at: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3896806/responding-well-to-domestic-abuse-2017.pdf
The updated practice guidance and policy encourages churches to become places of safety where domestic abuse is taken seriously, survivors are believed and respected, and alleged or known perpetrators challenged. The updated document reflects legislative and other changes since guidance was last issued in 2006.
Under the policy Church leaders and Officers working with children, young people and vulnerable adults will be expected to undergo domestic abuse training, with the issue being raised in appropriate contexts within church life including youth groups, marriage preparation and ordinand training. They will also be expected to work closely with statutory and other specialist organisations.
In the House of Lords this session bishops supported the passage of the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill.
Membership and general terms of reference for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have been published on the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/construction-leadership-council).
Detailed terms of reference were drafted by the secretariat, discussed by the co-chairs and circulated to members, along with other papers for the October 2015 meeting.They will be published, along with the minutes, on the Government website in due course.
Under co-chairs myself and Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Crossrail, the CLC has a number of work streams led by council members:
Discussions on the lead for the innovation work stream are ongoing.
The Chief Construction Adviser role covered a range of functions which will be absorbed by Government and industry, including the CLC. In addition to identifying and delivering priority actions under the themes above, the Government will look to the CLC for advice on specific policy challenges - as is the case with the recently announced review of the practice of cash retention.
Membership and general terms of reference for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have been published on the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/construction-leadership-council).
Detailed terms of reference were drafted by the secretariat, discussed by the co-chairs and circulated to members, along with other papers for the October 2015 meeting.They will be published, along with the minutes, on the Government website in due course.
Under co-chairs myself and Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Crossrail, the CLC has a number of work streams led by council members:
Discussions on the lead for the innovation work stream are ongoing.
The Chief Construction Adviser role covered a range of functions which will be absorbed by Government and industry, including the CLC. In addition to identifying and delivering priority actions under the themes above, the Government will look to the CLC for advice on specific policy challenges - as is the case with the recently announced review of the practice of cash retention.
Membership and general terms of reference for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have been published on the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/construction-leadership-council).
Detailed terms of reference were drafted by the secretariat, discussed by the co-chairs and circulated to members, along with other papers for the October 2015 meeting.They will be published, along with the minutes, on the Government website in due course.
Under co-chairs myself and Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Crossrail, the CLC has a number of work streams led by council members:
Discussions on the lead for the innovation work stream are ongoing.
The Chief Construction Adviser role covered a range of functions which will be absorbed by Government and industry, including the CLC. In addition to identifying and delivering priority actions under the themes above, the Government will look to the CLC for advice on specific policy challenges - as is the case with the recently announced review of the practice of cash retention.
Membership and general terms of reference for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have been published on the Government website (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/construction-leadership-council).
Detailed terms of reference were drafted by the secretariat, discussed by the co-chairs and circulated to members, along with other papers for the October 2015 meeting.They will be published, along with the minutes, on the Government website in due course.
Under co-chairs myself and Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Crossrail, the CLC has a number of work streams led by council members:
Discussions on the lead for the innovation work stream are ongoing.
The Chief Construction Adviser role covered a range of functions which will be absorbed by Government and industry, including the CLC. In addition to identifying and delivering priority actions under the themes above, the Government will look to the CLC for advice on specific policy challenges - as is the case with the recently announced review of the practice of cash retention.
The Department does not hold the information requested.
In June this year Ofgem published a report of its Prepayment Review: 'Understanding Supplier Charging Practice and Barriers to Switching' - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2015/06/prepayment_report_june_2015_finalforpublication.pdf.
Ten of the 19 suppliers who offer prepayment meter tariffs do not charge for the installation of prepayment meters. Of the companies that charge for home visit and the cost of physical prepayment meter installation Ofgem found the cost ranged from £46.84 - £160.00 for customers who gave consent and £69.00 - £179.96 installed under warrant.
Nine of the 19 suppliers do not charge for the removal of prepayment meters. Of the companies that charge Ofgem found the cost ranged from £46.84 - £160.00.
Ofgem’s prepayment meter review into understanding supplier charging practices found around half of the suppliers who offer prepayment meter tariffs choose not charge for the installation and/or removal of prepayment meters. We welcome Ofgem’s plans to consult further on how this good practice could be extended it to all suppliers. DECC officials continue to work with Ofgem to achieve this aim.
We plan to consult later this year on a new draft of the Strategy and Policy Statement which will take account of the Competition and Market Authority’s energy market investigation and their proposed remedies. We expect to publish the statement in 2016.
The priority of the department is to finalise the implementation of the CFD scheme across the UK.
There has been no further evaluation into the benefits of supporting projects outside of the UK since publishing the paper in August 2014.
The UK fully supports EU efforts to bring about further energy interconnection, both within the EU and linking the EU with third countries, in order to meet energy security and low carbon objectives. Developing concentrated solar power (CSP) in North Africa is potentially a part of these efforts among many others, although more research and development is required to demonstrate further improvements in CSP technology. The UK fully supports EU work in this area, such as in the Horizon 2020 Energy Programme.
Geographical and cost factors mean that CSP development in North Africa is not currently of direct interest to the UK.
I am aware of proposals to invest in concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in the desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East. The UK supports in principle such proposals as a means of providing local energy supply and economic development, reducing greenhouse emissions and potentially contributing to the EU’s security of electricity supply. We continue to monitor developments in this area. However, in present circumstances, geographical factors, costs, and the need to further reinforce electricity connections within the EU and linking the EU with third countries mean that the majority of Member States, including the UK, would not currently be in a position to benefit from imports of CSP generated electricity.
Under the auspices of the Construction Leadership Council, the house building industry is developing an action plan to address three immediate priorities: improving the image of house building; attracting back experienced workers who left during the recession; and attracting other workers with relevant skills.
More widely, this Government is making a number of reforms to the skills system to improve skills supply; putting employers in the driving seat and making providers more responsive to their needs. Government is also currently undertaking a triennial review of the way the Construction Industry Training Board operates. CITB is undertaking reforms that will seek to improve the service it delivers to the sector.
In addition, Government believes that a more robust and more visible Government construction procurement pipeline is key to improving investment decisions in construction. We are working to enhance the pipeline to give construction businesses the confidence to upskill staff, to recruit, and to commit to apprenticeships.
The general picture on material supply is one of gradual re-adjustment to the return to growth. Domestic brick production increased by 5.8% during the 12 months to October 2014 and has been augmented by an increase in imports, which is normal at this stage of the economic cycle, because of lead times in raising domestic output.
Government is in touch with the building products sector to understand and act on factors affecting building materials production. It is committed to a stable climate for business investment, which is the most important requirement for investment in building materials production.
A detailed assessment has been carried out of future skills needs for the civil nuclear new build programme, including the Hinkley Point C development. That assessment, carried out by skills bodies on behalf of the Nuclear Industry Council, included input from Ministry of Defence (MoD), who are members of that Council.
The relevant departments – Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Energy & Climate Change (DECC), Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Work & Pensions (DWP) – are working with industry to ensure that a coordinated approach is taken to meeting future skills demand, including for engineers in both the civil and defence sectors.
The industry is developing a detailed proposal which is designed to meet the skill specialisms that will be needed by different parts of the industry, including for new build and decommissioning. The proposal will build on existing and planned capital investment in facilities and equipment, and ensure strong alignment with higher education institutions and other providers of vocational education. A decision on location will be made once this work has been completed.
Discussions are ongoing with officials across all 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships on round two of Growth Deals. Heart of the South West LEP secured £118m from the Local Growth Fund in the first round of Growth Deals, which when combined with other investments produced a total package of £258m to support economic growth in the area.
The Electoral Commission informs me that the Returning Officer (RO) at an election is responsible for deciding which polling stations will be used for the poll. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to ROs to support them in reaching decisions on the selection of venues for polling stations. Electoral legislation provides that ROs can require a room in publicly-funded schools for use as a polling station and can use these rooms free of charge.
Discussions are underway with stakeholders, including those who specialise in supporting students with Specific Learning Difficulties. This will help determine how specialist one-to-one support will be delivered in the future and where the responsibility for funding such support will fall.
I will not make a final decision on this matter until I have considered the necessary Equality Analysis, which is in preparation, and will take account of any relevant evidence provided by stakeholders.
The Government's approach to the Renewables Obligation through to its closure is set out in the Government response to the consultations on Renewables Obligation transition and grace periods published on 12 March and which can be found at:
The Government's approach to the Renewables Obligation through to its closure is set out in the Government response to the consultations on Renewables Obligation transition and grace periods published on 12 March and which can be found at:
The Government's approach to the Renewables Obligation through to its closure is set out in the Government response to the consultations on Renewables Obligation transition and grace periods published on 12 March and which can be found at:
Green Deal customers receive a Green Deal Advice Report which provides energy savings estimates for the package of improvements recommended by a Green Deal Advisor. These savings are calculated by approved Green Deal software. The Green Deal Advice Report can subsequently be tailored by Green Deal Providers using the Green Deal Improvement Package Tool and following discussions with customers of the improvements they want to take up. Providers will also discuss the detail of any financing arrangement that the customer wants. Providing customers with access to supporting data held on the Green Deal Register is unnecessary as part of the Green Deal process and would not change the savings that accrue to customers.
A list of approved Green Deal software can be found at:
http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/SAP/2009/GD_OA_software.pdf
The Green Deal Improvement Package Tool can be found at:
Green Deal customers receive a Green Deal Advice Report which provides energy savings estimates for the package of improvements recommended by a Green Deal Advisor. These savings are calculated by approved Green Deal software. The Green Deal Advice Report can subsequently be tailored by Green Deal Providers using the Green Deal Improvement Package Tool and following discussions with customers of the improvements they want to take up. Providers will also discuss the detail of any financing arrangement that the customer wants. Providing customers with access to supporting data held on the Green Deal Register is unnecessary as part of the Green Deal process and would not change the savings that accrue to customers.
A list of approved Green Deal software can be found at:
http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/SAP/2009/GD_OA_software.pdf
The Green Deal Improvement Package Tool can be found at:
The supporting data for Green Deal Advice Reports held by Landmark Information Group contains sensitive personal data, such as how householders use energy. We do not think it appropriate for Providers to have access to this data, given Data Protection considerations.
We understand that Providers would find the raw data useful to tailor Green Deal Advice Reports around the measures customers want installed. However, they have access to the Green Deal Improvement Package Tool – which would allow them to tailor the Reports as necessary. This tool can be found at:
The Government owns the following properties in Plymouth:
Details available at the following website: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims.
The Commission on Dormant Assets will will provide advice on which dormant assets can be brought into an expanded dormant assets scheme. The Committee remit will also include a suggested mechanism through which dormant assets could be redirected by Government to good causes.
Nick O’Donohoe, outgoing Chief Executive of Big Society Capital, was announced as Chair of the new Commission on Dormant Assets on December 19 2015. The Commission is still being set up and I expect the appointments of commissioners who will work with the Chair to be finalised shortly.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Department works closely with the marine engineering and manufacturing sector, which includes the yacht building industry. The Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth continues to engage with the industry on the issues and opportunities for the maritime sector resulting from the UK leaving the EU.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with the Department for Education (DfE) which is responsible for skills policy and also the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the body that supports training and skills in construction.
DfE is currently working with employers in the construction industry to develop new apprenticeships for the sector. While evidence suggests there are sufficient learners going through the skills system, with over 200,000 construction qualifications being taken each year, reforms set out in the skills plan (July 2016) will ensure these qualifications become more relevant and meet the industry’s needs.
Additionally, the Construction Leadership Council, the business led sector council which advises Government on key strategic issues, has investigated the labour model in their construction and commissioned an independent report from Mark Farmer ( published in October 2016, http://www.cast-consultancy.com/news-casts/farmer-review-uk-construction-labour-model-3) making recommendations for industry and Government. Both the Government and the Construction Leadership Council is currently considering the review’s recommendations.
The Government continues to monitor the potential impacts that leaving the EU may have on the availability of skilled workers. We cannot speculate on the outcome of Brexit negotiations, but the Government has made it clear that the UK remains open to the talent we need from Europe and the rest of the world.
The Department for Education (DfE) is currently working closely with employers in the construction industry to develop new apprenticeships for the sector. While evidence suggests there are sufficient learners going through the skills system, with over 200,000 construction qualifications being taken each year, reforms set out in the skills plan (July 2016) will ensure these qualifications become more relevant and meet the industry’s needs.
The data requested is complex and will take some time to collate. I will place this in the Libraries of the House as soon as the information is available.
The UK remains the top destination in Europe for Foreign Direct Investment, unemployment is at its lowest level since 2005. It has a record number of private businesses, and we are going to build on these fundamental strengths to make a Britain that works for everyone; that remains the same outward-looking, globally-minded, big-thinking country it has always been.
The independent review on Tidal Lagoons in the UK, headed by Charles Hendry will report towards the end of the year and will consider, among other things, whether and in what circumstances tidal lagoons could play a cost effective role in the energy mix.
Since London 2012, the UK has hosted nearly 100 major sporting events. We will host the World Athletic and Para-Athletic Championships in this summer, and after that, the women's World Cups in Cricket, Hockey and Netball, cycling's World Championships and the Euro 2020 semi finals and final.
The government is committed to bringing sport and tourism events to the UK. The Government’s Tourism Action Plan highlights the work we are doing to encourage major tourism events here.
Government are committed to providing the best sporting opportunities for children. DCMS leads the School Games programme which involves the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England working with 38 of the National Governing Bodies of Sports, including the Tennis Foundation, to support schools in delivering competitions for all children. In addition, our Sports Strategy, published in December 2015, has enabled Sport England to fund sport for children from the age of 5 onwards.
National Lottery funding supports projects within the four good causes - arts; sport; heritage; voluntary and community. The arts good cause covers a broad range of arts and media forms and there are no specific regulations against funding gaming, live digital and other features of cultural technology. Decisions on which individual projects to fund are made by the twelve Lottery distribution bodies.
The Government has introduced a new system of independent self-regulation of the press that protects press freedom whilst offering real redress when mistakes are made. This is a matter for independent press self-regulators. The Government has no plans formally to review the law in this particular area.
The Department is grateful to Sir Terry Farrell for undertaking this review, but does not intend to publish a formal response to it. Instead it looks to industry, under the leadership of the RIBA, to respond to the challenges identified by the review, supported – where appropriate – by government. I continue to meet Terry Farrell on a regular basis to discuss how to take work forward.
The Department for Education and the Department of Health jointly published non-statutory Guidance for Restrictive Physical Interventions: How to provide safe services for people with Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (July 2002).
The guidance is aimed at those who are responsible for social services, including social workers. It is not guidance for parents, though it would be of interest to them.
It promotes effective policies, planning and staff training for those who work with people who have severe behavioural difficulties associated with learning difficulties or autism spectrum disorder. It does not provide guidance on techniques of restraint – that is best delivered through specialised training.
The Department for Education and the Department of Health are working to produce for consultation new guidance which is intended to replace the 2002 guidance.
Weblink to the above guidance: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http:/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4068461.pdf
We value the important and longstanding role played by the Church of England and Catholic Church in our education system. Around 1,200 Church schools have already become academies. The White Paper is clear that Church schools’ role and their religious character will be protected as more become academies. We continue to work closely with the National Society and Catholic Education Service and recently published Memoranda of Understanding to provide a strong basis for our ongoing relationship with Church schools and their dioceses.
The Government has introduced a number of measures to improve employment and careers advice. We have established The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to strengthen links between employers, schools and colleges, and careers and enterprise organisations to inspire young people and help them take control of their own futures. The CEC is rolling out the Enterprise Adviser Network, which connects employees from firms of all sizes to schools through a network of volunteer enterprise advisers. The Company has also launched its £5m Careers & Enterprise Fund to scale up good ideas and fill gaps in provision.
The Prime Minister recently announced a new campaign to encourage a new generation of high quality mentors. The campaign, which will be led by the CEC, will aim to increase the number of business and professional mentors working with teenagers who are under-achieving or at risk of dropping out of education.
The Government is also introducing a new initiative which will see Jobcentre Plus staff offer support, where schools request it, to supplement careers guidance and to help schools deliver their statutory duty to provide high quality, independent and impartial careers advice. Jobcentre Plus staff will focus support on those students at risk of not participating in education, employment or training. The scheme will be aligned with the CEC’s Enterprise Adviser network and will be rolled out later this academic year.
Building on these measures, we want to go further to improve careers education and guidance for all young people. We will launch a careers strategy in the spring of 2016, which will set out the government’s vision for careers education and how we will get there by 2020.
Our reformed system for meeting the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities is designed to ensure that their needs are identified at an early stage, that the right support is in place, and that problems do not escalate.
All early years providers are required to have arrangements in place to identify and support children with SEN or disabilities and to promote equality of opportunity for children in their care. All schools should have a clear approach to identifying and responding to SEN and must use their best endeavours to ensure that children with SEN, including those with autism, get the support they need.
As part of their Initial Teacher Training, all teachers are expected to learn to identify and address various types of SEN, including autism. The Government is also funding the Autism Education Trust in 2015-16, providing £650,000 to provide tiered training at universal, enhanced and specialist levels for early years, school and post-16 staff to help them understand how best to recognise and support children and young people with autism.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of autistic children who are home educated nor the numbers of children who are not in school. The Alternative Provision Census does collect data about children who are not in school or in a pupil referral unit. However, it covers as a single ‘Not in School’ category only those who are educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made and funded by local authorities. The information does not reflect types of special educational need.
The data may be available from Plymouth City Council, since it has a duty under Section 22 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to carry out its functions with a view to identifying all the children and young people in its area who have or may have special educational needs or a disability, and also a duty to provide children of compulsory school age with an education.
Our reformed system for meeting the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities is designed to ensure that their needs are identified at an early stage, that the right support is in place, and that problems do not escalate.
All early years providers are required to have arrangements in place to identify and support children with SEN or disabilities and to promote equality of opportunity for children in their care. All schools should have a clear approach to identifying and responding to SEN and must use their best endeavours to ensure that children with SEN, including those with autism, get the support they need.
As part of their Initial Teacher Training, all teachers are expected to learn to identify and address various types of SEN, including autism. The Government is also funding the Autism Education Trust in 2015-16, providing £650,000 to provide tiered training at universal, enhanced and specialist levels for early years, school and post-16 staff to help them understand how best to recognise and support children and young people with autism.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of autistic children who are home educated nor the numbers of children who are not in school. The Alternative Provision Census does collect data about children who are not in school or in a pupil referral unit. However, it covers as a single ‘Not in School’ category only those who are educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made and funded by local authorities. The information does not reflect types of special educational need.
The data may be available from Plymouth City Council, since it has a duty under Section 22 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to carry out its functions with a view to identifying all the children and young people in its area who have or may have special educational needs or a disability, and also a duty to provide children of compulsory school age with an education.
Our reformed system for meeting the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities is designed to ensure that their needs are identified at an early stage, that the right support is in place, and that problems do not escalate.
All early years providers are required to have arrangements in place to identify and support children with SEN or disabilities and to promote equality of opportunity for children in their care. All schools should have a clear approach to identifying and responding to SEN and must use their best endeavours to ensure that children with SEN, including those with autism, get the support they need.
As part of their Initial Teacher Training, all teachers are expected to learn to identify and address various types of SEN, including autism. The Government is also funding the Autism Education Trust in 2015-16, providing £650,000 to provide tiered training at universal, enhanced and specialist levels for early years, school and post-16 staff to help them understand how best to recognise and support children and young people with autism.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of autistic children who are home educated nor the numbers of children who are not in school. The Alternative Provision Census does collect data about children who are not in school or in a pupil referral unit. However, it covers as a single ‘Not in School’ category only those who are educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made and funded by local authorities. The information does not reflect types of special educational need.
The data may be available from Plymouth City Council, since it has a duty under Section 22 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to carry out its functions with a view to identifying all the children and young people in its area who have or may have special educational needs or a disability, and also a duty to provide children of compulsory school age with an education.
As we pledged in our manifesto, we are protecting funding for our schools and the money spent on our children because nothing is more important than investing in the next generation. This will mean that as pupil numbers increase, so too will the amount of money schools receive.