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 Oliver Heald, 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 Heald has not been granted any Urgent Questions
The substantive text of this bill was re-introduced by the Government as the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act which received Royal Assent during the 2017-2019 Parliament.
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 it an offence to attack service animals, including police dogs and horses; to make certain offences aggravated when perpetrated against such animals; and for connected purposes.
To amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in relation to service animals.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th April 2019 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of providing financial support for parents of children receiving care in hospital for extended periods.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of providing financial support for parents of children receiving care in hospital for extended periods.
Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Chris Grayling (Con)
Emergency Response Drivers (Protections) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lord Bellingham (Con)
Our aim is to ensure that every affected postmaster is fully recompensed for their losses and the suffering they have had to endure as a result of the Horizon scandal. To date, more than £148 million has been paid to 2,700 victims across all compensation schemes, 95 convictions have been overturned and, of those, 30 have agreed full and final settlements. Just over £30 million has been paid out in compensation to those with overturned convictions, including interim payments.
I cannot comment on individual claims for reasons of confidentiality.
The Advance Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will cement the UK’s position as a science superpower, building on the UK’s proud history of scientific excellence by seeking to fund transformational advances in science and technology – discoveries that create new technologies and new industries that drive our future economy. ARIA will be equipped for this work by having minimal research bureaucracy and prioritising agility: it will move quickly and decisively to ensure the UK retains its competitive edge in R&D. We will appoint an exceptional and visionary leadership team and entrust them to set the research agenda on where and what to fund for ARIA.
The R&D Places Strategy, to be published later this year, will ensure that research and innovation benefits the economy and society in nations, regions and local areas across the UK contributing to the Government’s wider levelling up ambitions. We want to build on existing place-based funding initiatives and work with stakeholders to promote increased private investment across the UK to support promising research and innovation that drives local economic growth.
Officials are working very closely with the ECB on plans to deliver the safe return of club cricket as soon as possible. We are working at pace to shape guidance that will allow the safe return of competitive cricket and other team sports. Any shared sporting equipment may risk transmission, but these risks can be mitigated with good hygiene practice as being adopted across a wide range of sectors. I hope to make further progress on this in the coming weeks so that teams can enjoy a great cricketing summer.
The issues around the re-opening of swimming pools are being considered in a number of fora. The consideration of different venues and the activities involved are underpinned by understanding the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with particular activities.
We recognise the importance of re-opening our indoor and outdoor pools and we agree that swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. There are concerns about transmission around points of contact within such facilities, like changing rooms due to the high volume of contacts. As such, we need to provide reassurance that these facilities will be safe, and are working hard to achieve this in the coming weeks.
The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
The Government is actively working towards a safe way to re-open these facilities, with supporting guidance.
There are currently no plans to expand the portfolio of DCMS-Sponsored national museums.
Many of the existing national museums display material relating to Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture as part of their permanent exhibitions. This includes material displayed at the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Tate, Horniman, and National Museums Liverpool. These collections include art, ceramics, fashion and photography. Many museums work with diaspora communities to better understand collection items and place them in historical and contemporary context. A number of museums have also held temporary exhibitions that focus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture.
The department is working with The Diamond Learning Partnership Trust, the responsible body for the school, to return pupils to face-to-face education as soon as possible. The trust is considering using alternative teaching sites and whether to install temporary facilities on the existing site. A loss adjustor from the Risk Protection Arrangement scheme is carrying out a site assessment on 12 January 2024. The department will discuss next steps with the trust once the outcomes from the site assessment have been received.
The government is committed to ensuring that the number and distribution of medical school places are in line with England’s workforce requirements and continues to monitor the effectiveness of current arrangements.
Applications for medicine and dentistry made by the June deadline increased by over 20,000 this year compared to last year for all domiciles. We have increased the medical and dentistry caps so that providers can take on more students and we have run a brokerage scheme to help move over 80 students at oversubscribed providers into unfilled places.
In addition, we are providing up to £10m in grant funding for providers to take on more students in high-cost subjects, such as medicine, dentistry, nursing and other lab-based courses.
The Environment Agency is currently developing a microplastics monitoring plan for English rivers . The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.
Last year the Government launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. The Environment Agency is currently developing a microplastics monitoring plan for English rivers . The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.
On 1st July 2021 Defra released a written ministerial statement on reducing demand for water in which we committed to introduce a mandatory water efficiency label. We published a consultation on 2nd September including our proposal for dual labelling for white goods that already have an energy label: UK Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling - Defra - Citizen Space (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water-efficiency-labelling/water-efficiency-labelling/).
We are currently consulting on five candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). The consultation closes on 28th September. All evidence gathered will be analysed and will be used to inform the Secretary of State's decision on which sites to designate. Any pilot HPMAs will be designated by 6th July 2023, within one year of the consultation launch.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a devolved competency and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
We have designated a comprehensive network of MPAs and are now focused on making sure they are properly protected. Using new powers provided by the Fisheries Act 2020, we have already introduced byelaws in the first four offshore sites to protect sensitive habitats and species from bottom-towed gear and other damaging fishing activity. A call for evidence relating to the next 13 offshore sites has also been published and we are aiming to have all 40 MPAs in English offshore waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.
The Government's Water Abstraction Plan, that was published in December 2017 sets out clear objectives for achieving sustainable abstraction for England, plus mechanisms for delivery. Our approach to addressing these issues has three main elements:
Progress was last reported to parliament in May 2019 ( Report to Parliament )
The Environment Agency has already made changes to 124 licences to protect chalk streams from over abstraction, returning over 37 billion litres of water per year to chalk streams, and preventing a further 100 billion litres per year being abstracted. In addition, they have revoked 85 unused and underused licences in chalk streams, preventing 7.5 billion litres of water being abstracted every year.
Further sustainability reductions amounting to about 100 million litres per day in chalk streams will be delivered in the next 5 years by water companies through the Water Industry National Environment Programme. In addition, the Environment Agency is working with water companies to prioritise additional voluntary reductions in sensitive chalk catchments.
As part of its planning the Environment Agency (EA) has assessed the impact of sewage discharges on the water environment which has informed the development of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) for the period 2020 to 2025. This programme of work is now being implemented by the water companies at a cost of over £4 billion with many of the improvements targeted at improving river water quality to support fisheries and improved habitats for wildlife. Within the programme there is work associated with sewage discharges at about 39% of the chalk stream water bodies in England. This work consists of improvement monitoring of sewage treatment works’ performance, investigations and improvements schemes. These investigations will inform further improvement work in the next investment programme (2025 to 2030).
Additionally, a new Taskforce has been established between Defra, the Environment Agency, Ofwat, the Consumer Council for Water and Water UK to set out clear proposals to address the volumes of sewage discharged into our rivers from storm overflows. The impacts on chalk streams are being considered by the taskforce as part of the prioritisation of work on storm overflows.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board is responsible for making commissioning decisions on primary care facilities in Royston.
All integrated care boards (ICBs) have been responsible for commissioning primary medical services since they were established on 1 July 2022. NHS England plans to delegate additional responsibility for ICBs to commission dentistry, eyecare and pharmacy services from April 2023.
Locations of new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are determined by each integrated care system based on a detailed review of a range of factors, including accessibility for the most deprived local populations and through discussions with relevant local stakeholders. West Essex Community Diagnostic Centre will be opening in 2024 to increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times, with state of the art equipment to deliver non obstetric ultrasound, x-ray, phlebotomy and point of care tests. Once fully operational, the CDC plans to deliver up to 115,157 scans, tests and checks a year. It is for Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board to determine whether a CDC is needed in Royston.
The following table shows the number of hospital stays where the duration was greater than 60 days for patients aged between 0 and 17 years old in each of the last three years where data is available. Data for 2021/22 is currently being collated and centrally validated.
2018/19 | 4,598 |
2019/20 | 4,562 |
2020/21 | 3,894 |
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While the usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of health or care research, including trials for the repurposing of drugs for conditions such as Epidermolysis Bullosa. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
The information requested is not held centrally. However, all 29 pathology networks in the National Health Service in England have the capability to undertake the tests required to support the diagnosis of sepsis. Healthcare providers are encouraged to adopt the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) which supports clinicians to identify and respond to patients at risk of acute deterioration, including those with suspected sepsis. Since 2019, NEWS2 has been implemented in 100% of ambulance trusts and all except one acute trust in England.
As of November 2020, 44% of cancer patients receiving treatment at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre live in Hertfordshire. In 2019/20, 32% of activity on the Mount Vernon site was from West Hertfordshire or the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group area and 12% from East and North Hertfordshire.
The Hertfordshire radiotherapy service is provided by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust from a specialised cancer centre in Northwood in North Middlesex. The cancer service is not clinically sustainable on its present site and a review is underway to relocate the services, including radiotherapy.
Final options are expected to be decided in April 2021 before the public consultation, which is expected to start from June 2021, dependent on receiving confirmation that capital funding will be available, and a decision expected next autumn.
No capital funding has been identified for either a satellite radiotherapy centre or the relocation of the main centre.
There is broad consensus that there is the potential for an increase in demand for children and young people’s mental health services as a result of the effects of the pandemic. We are working with the National Health Service and a wide range of stakeholders to assess potential need over the coming weeks and months and to plan accordingly.
Mental health services are still open and working to support people with mental health issues through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Our community, talking therapies and children and young people’s services have deployed innovative digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support.
International development in a contested world, the International Development White Paper, sets out our strategic goal, to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, and how the UK can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, through to 2030. The FCDO will set out how it is delivering the White Paper through existing departmental planning processes, including the Outcome Delivery Plan and the Annual Report and Accounts.
The FCDO employs robust systems and frameworks to ensure we achieve value for money for UK taxpayers. The suitability of organisations receiving ODA, including the projects undertaken, is assessed through FCDO business cases and annual reviews, as set out in the Department's Programme Operating Framework. The Department uses evidence to inform spending decisions and maximise the impact of the UK's ODA. FCDO officials are empowered to adjust programming using our approach to prioritisation set out in the White Paper on International Development.
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) independently scrutinises UK ODA to assess value for money and impact [https://icai.independent.gov.uk/].
From 2018-19 to 2022-23, Blue Belt spend has been £7 million, £5.4 million, £6.9 million, £7.7 million and £7.7 million respectively. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) does not keep the detail of funding specifically devoted to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Defra's MPA team is funded through general administrative budgets to deliver management, monitoring and enforcement working alongside Defra's Arms Length Bodies.
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) manages a highly regulated fishery, in accordance with its Marine Protected Area legislation. Only vessels which fully meet requirements of both the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and strict GSGSSI licensing requirements are able to conduct fishing activities. Scientific observers are deployed on every fishing vessel, and there are seasonal and spatial controls to ensure the fishery does not impact on the conservation of all animals living around these islands.
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its Marine Protected Area (MPA). GSGSSI launched the review with a 2-day science symposium in June 2023 and is currently assessing the extent to which existing provisions are delivering the objectives of the MPA. GSGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.
The seismic impact of the pandemic has forced us to take tough decisions, including temporarily reducing our aid budget. We will remain a world leading aid donor. We plan to spend more than £10 billion next year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health. As set out by the Foreign Secretary, our priorities will include girls' education and global health, including tackling COVID-19 and strengthening international health security.
We will build on our existing achievements in supporting girls' education and working to end the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children. We have set ambitious global targets of getting 40 million girls into education, and one third more reading by the age of 10, and we will co-host the replenishment for the Global Partnership for Education next year. We have pledged up to £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support immunisation of 300 million children over the next five years.
Routine immunisation is the strongest shield against outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and yellow fever. Mitigating indirect impacts of COVID-19 on essential health services in the poorest countries is a core UK priority. As Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's largest donor, the UK's first and foremost priority is to deliver routine immunisation, maintain coverage levels, and reach underserved zero-dose children. In June, the Prime Minister hosted the Global Vaccine Summit, which raised $8.8 billion for Gavi's core mission of immunising a further 300 million children, and saving up to 8 million lives by 2025.
Since the start of the pandemic in March, 70 Gavi-eligible countries have reported cases of COVID-19. Lockdown measures for COVID-19 have affected routine immunisation in the poorest countries - 44 Gavi vaccine introductions have been impacted so far, 18 Gavi-eligible countries have reported shipment delays, and approximately seven countries have reported stock-outs of vaccines at the central or subnational level. A number of Gavi-eligible countries have resumed campaigns and vaccine introductions, such as a measles campaign in Ethiopia, and diphtheria and oral polio vaccine campaigns in Yemen.
I responded to the Rt Honourable Member on 20 July 2023.
A response was sent to the hon. Member on 21 March 2023.
The Government has committed to increase investment in infrastructure for the benefit of the whole of the UK. As part of this, we will invest £760 million to deliver the next phase of East West Rail, reinstating direct rail services between Bicester and Bletchley and creating 1500 skilled jobs. Local areas in the South East will also benefit from the Government’s landmark £5bn commitment to support the rollout of gigabit connectivity in the hardest to reach parts of the country and our ambition for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027. Furthermore, in 21-22 we are investing £14.6 billion in research and innovation grants and facilities across the UK, backing the priorities set out in the UK Government’s Research and Development Roadmap. The Government welcomes any endeavour that aims to support innovation and ‘build back better’, including the initiatives of the Innovation Corridor to link opportunities in the South East.
The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.
The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.
In the Government’s response last year to our consultation on powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments, we committed to strengthening national planning policy on intentional unauthorised development. We intend to consult on proposals for doing so shortly.
There are currently 63 Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Lay Advisers in post across England and Wales. Details of their role can be found in the MAPPA Guidance at https://mappa.justice.gov.uk/MAPPA/view?objectID=403300.
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have assured me that they will be providing a response to both Sir Oliver’s correspondence to OPG dated 18 October, and Ms Taunton’s correspondence by 28 November.
I apologise for the delay in full responses to their correspondence being provided. OPG is currently experiencing backlogs in processing Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs) and the corresponding increase in correspondence has had an impact on OPG’s ability to respond to complaints within the target. OPG understands the importance of customers receiving timely responses to complaints. To improve the service OPG is recruiting more staff to process LPAs and to respond to complaints, carrying out overtime and making improvements to internal processes. We are pressing ahead with plans to digitise LPA applications, making the process simpler and quicker for customers.