First elected: 15th December 2011
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).
Review and increase foster care allowances and tax exemptions
Gov Responded - 31 Mar 2023 Debated on - 15 Jan 2024 View Seema Malhotra's petition debate contributionsWe want the Government to review and increase allowances paid to foster carers, and also tax exemption levels for foster carers, so they reflect the true cost of caring for a child.
Grant an urgent Amnesty to Undocumented Migrants living in the UK
Gov Responded - 18 Mar 2021 Debated on - 19 Jul 2021 View Seema Malhotra's petition debate contributionsUndocumented Migrants are suffering in silence, with no access to adequate Financial support, or any help. The Government should grant an urgent Amnesty of 5years to those with no criminal record so that they could live their lives as normal human beings and pay tax to help the UK economy.
Urge the Indian Government to ensure safety of protestors & press freedom
Gov Responded - 15 Feb 2021 Debated on - 8 Mar 2021 View Seema Malhotra's petition debate contributionsThe Government must make a public statement on the #kissanprotests & press freedoms.
India is the worlds largest democracy & democratic engagement and freedom of the press are fundamental rights and a positive step towards creating a India that works for all.
Allow football fans to attend matches at all levels
Gov Responded - 21 Oct 2020 Debated on - 9 Nov 2020 View Seema Malhotra's petition debate contributionsFootball is a powerful tool of which allows a range of benefits such as employment, and other important aspects of life. Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community. With Fans attending football games a range of economic benefits are there too.
These initiatives were driven by Seema Malhotra, 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.
Seema Malhotra has not been granted any Urgent Questions
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 establish a duty on schools and colleges in England with pupils aged 16 years and over to enable pupils to gain greater understanding of the processes and benefits of blood, organ and bone marrow donation; and for connected purposes.
Offensive Weapons Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Co-operatives (Permanent Shares) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Children (Access to Treatment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Ind)
Mutual Guarantee Societies Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Christina Rees (LAB)
All government departments publish payment performance quarterly showing the percentage of invoices paid in 5 days, the percentage of invoices paid in 30 days, and net debt interest liability. In addition, in accordance with 113 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Contracting Authorities are required to publish annually the percentage of invoices paid in 30 days online.
This is available on GOV.UK. DCMS payment performance is available here.
The Procurement Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will create a simpler and more transparent procurement regime that will further open up public procurement to SMEs. The Bill includes a new duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs.
Specifically, the Procurement Bill will imply 30 day payment terms into every sub-contract that is substantially for the purpose of performing a public contract. This will ensure SMEs at every tier of the public supply chain can benefit from faster payments, even if 30 day terms aren't explicitly written into the contract.
The Girlguiding Girls' Attitudes Survey provides valuable data each year which helps the Government's policy development. We share the concerns about harassment and sexism highlighted in this survey and are taking action to protect women and girls, online, in communities and in the workplace.
Strong laws protecting people against workplace harassment and discrimination, including in relation to sex, are set out in the Equality Act 2010. In addition, the Government is supporting the protection from workplace harassment Bill introduced by the Hon. Member for Bath. This Bill will amend the Equality Act 2010 to strengthen legal protections for employees against workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and harassment by third-parties, such as customers and clients.
We will also bring the Online Safety Bill back to Parliament as soon as possible, which will introduce new protections for women and girls online. Under the Bill all services will need to proactively remove and prevent users from being exposed to priority illegal content. This includes content that particularly affects women and girls, such as illegal content relating to sexual images – for example, revenge and extreme pornography, harassment and cyberstalking. Women and girls will also be better able to report abuse and should expect to receive an appropriate response from the platform.
In addition, we are putting a range of measures in place to support children and young people as part of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. This includes providing £3 million to better understand what works to prevent violence against women and girls. We are investing in high quality, evidence-informed prevention projects, including in schools, to educate and inform children and young people about violence against women and girls, healthy relationships, consent and the consequences of abuse.
The Girlguiding Girls' Attitudes Survey provides valuable data each year which helps the Government's policy development. We share the concerns about harassment and sexism highlighted in this survey and are taking action to protect women and girls, online, in communities and in the workplace.
Strong laws protecting people against workplace harassment and discrimination, including in relation to sex, are set out in the Equality Act 2010. In addition, the Government is supporting the protection from workplace harassment Bill introduced by the Hon. Member for Bath. This Bill will amend the Equality Act 2010 to strengthen legal protections for employees against workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and harassment by third-parties, such as customers and clients.
We will also bring the Online Safety Bill back to Parliament as soon as possible, which will introduce new protections for women and girls online. Under the Bill all services will need to proactively remove and prevent users from being exposed to priority illegal content. This includes content that particularly affects women and girls, such as illegal content relating to sexual images – for example, revenge and extreme pornography, harassment and cyberstalking. Women and girls will also be better able to report abuse and should expect to receive an appropriate response from the platform.
In addition, we are putting a range of measures in place to support children and young people as part of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. This includes providing £3 million to better understand what works to prevent violence against women and girls. We are investing in high quality, evidence-informed prevention projects, including in schools, to educate and inform children and young people about violence against women and girls, healthy relationships, consent and the consequences of abuse.
The Girlguiding Girls' Attitudes Survey provides valuable data each year which helps the Government's policy development. We share the concerns about harassment and sexism highlighted in this survey and are taking action to protect women and girls, online, in communities and in the workplace.
Strong laws protecting people against workplace harassment and discrimination, including in relation to sex, are set out in the Equality Act 2010. In addition, the Government is supporting the protection from workplace harassment Bill introduced by the Hon. Member for Bath. This Bill will amend the Equality Act 2010 to strengthen legal protections for employees against workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and harassment by third-parties, such as customers and clients.
We will also bring the Online Safety Bill back to Parliament as soon as possible, which will introduce new protections for women and girls online. Under the Bill all services will need to proactively remove and prevent users from being exposed to priority illegal content. This includes content that particularly affects women and girls, such as illegal content relating to sexual images – for example, revenge and extreme pornography, harassment and cyberstalking. Women and girls will also be better able to report abuse and should expect to receive an appropriate response from the platform.
In addition, we are putting a range of measures in place to support children and young people as part of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. This includes providing £3 million to better understand what works to prevent violence against women and girls. We are investing in high quality, evidence-informed prevention projects, including in schools, to educate and inform children and young people about violence against women and girls, healthy relationships, consent and the consequences of abuse.
There have been no people aged eighteen or younger over the past twelve months who have undertaken work experience in the COP26 Unit.
The apprenticeship levy for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is managed by the Government Legal Department (GLD). The GLD also manages the apprenticeship levy for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). These apprenticeship levies are combined into one pot and it is not possible to isolate them by department. However, it is possible to isolate the levy fees spent by the AGO to support its apprentices.
Between 01 September 2021 and 31 August 2023, the apprenticeship levy fees paid for the AGO, GLD, and HMCPSI were £1,380,581. This includes the 10% government top up.
During the same period, the AGO spent £30,173 to support AGO apprentices.
Please note that, except for the references to the GLD and HMCPSI above, I am responding on behalf of the AGO only, and not the departments superintended by the Attorney General and I (the Crown Prosecution Service, HMCPSI, GLD, and Serious Fraud Office).
The table below shows the percentage of invoices received and paid within five days for (a) 2021-22 and (b) each of the last 12 months.
|
The Civil Service aims to increase opportunities for people of all backgrounds and create a Civil Service fit for 21st century Britain through work experience, internships and apprenticeship schemes. However, the confidentially of work undertaken at the Attorney General’s Office makes offering work experience opportunities difficult.
For people aged 16 and under there was the following number of work experience placements:
2017: 0
2018: 0
2019: 0
For people over 16 years old there was the following number of work experience placements:
2017: 0
2018: 0
2019: 0
The Cabinet Office has contributed £6,388,833 into its apprenticeship levy funds between 01 September 2021 and 31 August 2023. This includes the 10% government top up.
During the same period the department has spent £2,981,047 from its apprenticeship levy funds.
In October this year, the Prime Minister asked me to coordinate departmental plans for relocating eligible Afghans and their families under both the ARAP and ACRS schemes. Departments retain responsibility for their specific policy areas.
My right Hon. friend the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for the oversight of civil contingencies & resilience.
The government has a well-established method of planning for risks through the lead government department model, with the Cabinet Office supporting in its convening role. Risks such as pandemics, which have significant cross-cutting impacts, have cross-government governance - with Ministerial oversight through National Security Council (Resilience) where required. The government has set out its overarching approach to this through the Resilience Framework.
Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon Lady's Parliamentary Question of 9 June is attached.
This information is not held by the Cabinet Office, as we cannot separate out small and medium-sized enterprises. I refer you to the Cabinet Office Prompt Payment statistics, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093446/Cabinet_Office_prompt_payment_data_-_April_2021_to_March_2022__3_.csv/preview
This Conservative Government knows that small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of the British economy and I am proud of the work we are doing to support them. For instance, the Procurement Bill we are introducing will bring four complex regimes into one and enable simpler, more flexible public procurement processes, giving small and medium sized businesses greater opportunities to benefit from Government contracts.
The SME Advisory Panel met 19 times between February 2018 and February 2023 for official Cabinet Office led SME Advisory Panel meetings. Panel members also contributed to the Baroness Neville-Rolfe led SME Roundtable on the Procurement Bill in October.
The SME Advisory Panel was set up by the Cabinet Office in 2011 and works with the Government to support start-ups and small businesses via government procurement.
The SME Advisory Panel met 19 times between February 2018 and February 2023 for official Cabinet Office led SME Advisory Panel meetings. Panel members also contributed to the Baroness Neville-Rolfe led SME Roundtable on the Procurement Bill in October.
The SME Advisory Panel was set up by the Cabinet Office in 2011 and works with the Government to support start-ups and small businesses via government procurement.
Contracts Finder originally went live in 2011 as a Business Link service. It was replatformed as a GOV.UK service in 2015. Data from 2011 - 2014 has been archived and cannot be interrogated to answer these questions.
Contracts Awarded to SMEs:
| Total awards | Awarded to SMEs | % awarded to SMEs |
2015 | 12,414 | 298 | 2.40% |
2016 | 18,747 | 1,828 | 9.75% |
2017 | 24,237 | 3,922 | 16.18% |
2018 | 29,187 | 9,290 | 31.83% |
2019 | 33,217 | 11,510 | 34.65% |
2020 | 31,398 | 11,980 | 38.16% |
2021 | 48,292 | 17,752 | 36.76% |
2022 | 53,851 | 20,899 | 38.81% |
Registered businesses:
| All Business | SME | % |
2015 | 14,604 | 2,767 | 18.9% |
2016 | 1,068 | 484 | 45.3% |
2017 | 10,194 | 4,722 | 46.3% |
2018 | 8,682 | 3,827 | 44.1% |
2019 | 7,704 | 3,313 | 43% |
2020 | 9,559 | 3,599 | 37.7% |
2021 | 9,084 | 2,687 | 29.6% |
2022 | 7,851 | 2,067 | 26.3% |
The Procurement Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will create a simpler and more transparent procurement regime that will further open up public procurement to SMEs. The Bill includes a new duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs.
Contracts Finder originally went live in 2011 as a Business Link service. It was replatformed as a GOV.UK service in 2015. Data from 2011 - 2014 has been archived and cannot be interrogated to answer these questions.
Contracts Awarded to SMEs:
| Total awards | Awarded to SMEs | % awarded to SMEs |
2015 | 12,414 | 298 | 2.40% |
2016 | 18,747 | 1,828 | 9.75% |
2017 | 24,237 | 3,922 | 16.18% |
2018 | 29,187 | 9,290 | 31.83% |
2019 | 33,217 | 11,510 | 34.65% |
2020 | 31,398 | 11,980 | 38.16% |
2021 | 48,292 | 17,752 | 36.76% |
2022 | 53,851 | 20,899 | 38.81% |
Registered businesses:
| All Business | SME | % |
2015 | 14,604 | 2,767 | 18.9% |
2016 | 1,068 | 484 | 45.3% |
2017 | 10,194 | 4,722 | 46.3% |
2018 | 8,682 | 3,827 | 44.1% |
2019 | 7,704 | 3,313 | 43% |
2020 | 9,559 | 3,599 | 37.7% |
2021 | 9,084 | 2,687 | 29.6% |
2022 | 7,851 | 2,067 | 26.3% |
The Procurement Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will create a simpler and more transparent procurement regime that will further open up public procurement to SMEs. The Bill includes a new duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs.
The data for the Contracts Finder service and the Find a Tender Service is listed below.
Contracts Finder unique users by year, based on cookies which store user information and preferences between website visits. Starting in 2020, users were able to opt out of cookies, meaning that it became a much less reliable indicator of uniques users - and led to a drop in the reported number of unique users recorded using this methodology.
Contracts Finder service unique users by year:
2017 - 650,003
2018 - 656,661
2019 - 780,951
2020 - 533,809 - users begin to be able to opt out of cookies
2021 - 187,905
2022 - 169,530
Find a Tender Service unique users by year:
2021 - 90,503
2022 - 81,515
No assessment of business awareness is available. And, although user research is continually conducted with public and private sector users of both Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, no specific data is available with regards to user satisfaction. The ongoing user research is used to identify areas of improvement for both systems to meet ongoing user needs.
The data for the Contracts Finder service and the Find a Tender Service is listed below.
Contracts Finder unique users by year, based on cookies which store user information and preferences between website visits. Starting in 2020, users were able to opt out of cookies, meaning that it became a much less reliable indicator of uniques users - and led to a drop in the reported number of unique users recorded using this methodology.
Contracts Finder service unique users by year:
2017 - 650,003
2018 - 656,661
2019 - 780,951
2020 - 533,809 - users begin to be able to opt out of cookies
2021 - 187,905
2022 - 169,530
Find a Tender Service unique users by year:
2021 - 90,503
2022 - 81,515
No assessment of business awareness is available. And, although user research is continually conducted with public and private sector users of both Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, no specific data is available with regards to user satisfaction. The ongoing user research is used to identify areas of improvement for both systems to meet ongoing user needs.
The data for the Contracts Finder service and the Find a Tender Service is listed below.
Contracts Finder unique users by year, based on cookies which store user information and preferences between website visits. Starting in 2020, users were able to opt out of cookies, meaning that it became a much less reliable indicator of uniques users - and led to a drop in the reported number of unique users recorded using this methodology.
Contracts Finder service unique users by year:
2017 - 650,003
2018 - 656,661
2019 - 780,951
2020 - 533,809 - users begin to be able to opt out of cookies
2021 - 187,905
2022 - 169,530
Find a Tender Service unique users by year:
2021 - 90,503
2022 - 81,515
No assessment of business awareness is available. And, although user research is continually conducted with public and private sector users of both Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, no specific data is available with regards to user satisfaction. The ongoing user research is used to identify areas of improvement for both systems to meet ongoing user needs.
There have been no people aged eighteen or younger over the past twelve months who have undertaken work experience in the Cabinet Office.
The resilience of UK supply chains remains a key priority for the Government. Following Sir Dave Lewis' final recommendations at the end of last year, work has focused on ensuring that Government:
continues to build and embed departmental capability and collaboration on supply chains policy,
builds stronger capability to horizon scan, spot risks early, and collate and utilise data to understand supply chains issues, and works with industry to resolve them, and
considers how best to optimise existing infrastructure capacity and improve cross-modal connectivity.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
HM Government is taking several steps to ease the pressures on supply chains in the UK across different sectors, including raw materials and goods. For example, the Government has expanded and streamlined testing for HGV drivers, increasing capacity by 90% from pre-pandemic levels. The Government has also introduced temporary visas where needed to bolster our food supply chain workers and HGV drivers.
Last month, the Prime Minister appointed Sir Dave Lewis to advise HM Government on supply chains to identify both immediate improvements and any necessary long-term changes. He has spoken with over 100 businesses from across 14 sectors since his appointment. We understand the importance of working closely with businesses to help them solve these issues and to help us understand what more the Government can do to support all sectors of our economy. It is important that these are open conversations and that businesses feel able to provide, often commercially sensitive, information to Government without fear of compromise.
Government Ministers responsible for the supply chain ecosystem are working collectively, and in close partnership with industry, to drive the development and delivery of plans to strengthen supply chain resilience, supporting economic recovery and levelling up.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
Step 4 policy and guidance was developed in collaboration with departments and stakeholders including businesses and unions. The Government continuously reviews and updates the guidance available in light of emerging information and feedback from the public, working to ensure the guidance is clear and accessible.
We discussed the development of guidance with stakeholders, including businesses and unions, however this did not happen under a formal consultation process, largely due to the need to react and make decisions swiftly at Ministerial level, given the circumstances during the pandemic.
Government is committed to increasing spend with SMEs.
The latest procurement figures for 2019/20 show that across government, £15.5bn was paid to small and medium sized businesses to help deliver vital public services. This is an increase of £1.3bn on the previous year and the highest since records began in 2013.
Central government departments have dedicated SME action plans setting out specific actions being taken to promote increased spend with SME organisations.
This information is not held centrally.
The government is committed to supporting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), directly or via the supply chain, through government procurement, including those led by women and minority ethnic groups. Government spending with SMEs is also continuing to rise, with 26.7% of the £58bn spent by the government in 2019/20 going to SMEs.
This information is not held centrally.
The government is committed to supporting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), directly or via the supply chain, through government procurement, including those led by women and minority ethnic groups. Government spending with SMEs is also continuing to rise, with 26.7% of the £58bn spent by the government in 2019/20 going to SMEs.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to PQ 2999 on 24 May 2021.
The government wants SMEs to benefit from central government procurement spend, either directly or indirectly via the supply chain.
Reports on central government spend with SMEs are published on GOV.UK on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. The latest procurement figures for 2019/20, published on the 7th of May 2021 show that across central government, £15.5bn was paid to SMEs to help deliver vital public services. The figure is an increase of £1.3bn on the previous year and the highest since records began in 2013. Overall, spending with SMEs represented 26.7 per cent of the £58bn spent by the government in 2019/20 – an increase of 1.1 per cent on the previous year.
Honours recipients are not categorised by constituency. However, the honours lists, as published on GOV.UK, are searchable by county.
Any responsible Government has a duty to prepare for all scenarios. Planning for the end of the transition period is well underway and we have already been engaging with businesses and industry, including ensuring our borders are ready by the end of the year, and will continue to do so.
Annual reports by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the Cabinet Office include data on those taking up and holding public appointments. The government has published and is implementing the Public Appointments Diversity Action Plan, available on gov.uk. I will keep this plan under review and the next update will reflect the Government's levelling up agenda, including regional diversity, and diversity of thought.
Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve diversity in the honours system. For example, we now consistently see around half of awards overall going to women, and in the New Year 2020 Honours List, 51% of honours went to women. Around 10% of awards go to recipients from a BAME background. The Cabinet Office will consider whether further steps to improve diversity and representation are required. We welcome more nominations from under-represented regions and we are running a programme of regional events to promote the system in those areas most under-represented.
Following a machinery of government in February 2023, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Department for International trade were replaced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Business and Trade.
As the Department for Business and Trade did not exist between September 2021 and January 2023, we are unable to provide data on payment towards the apprenticeship levy and spend of levy funds for this period.
Since the creation of the Department for Business and Trade the apprenticeship levy account has remained shared between the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Business and Trade. Therefore, the Department for Business and Trade is unable to accurately provide the amount paid in apprenticeship levy fees between February 2023 and August 2023 and is unable to accurately provide the amount spent from the levy over the same period.
My Department provides extensive support. Key schemes include Help to Grow: Management, the Automotive Transformation Fund and the Energy Intensive Industries Scheme.
The Government works with the British Business Bank to help SMEs access finance and the Recovery Loan Scheme helps businesses access loans and other kinds of finance. SMEs can also access guidance via the free Business Support Helpline and in England from the network of Growth Hubs.
These are some of the most relevant schemes. Interested parties may find it helpful to access the developing ‘Find a Grant’ website https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/ (more grants are being added all the time).
The Government’s Export Strategy, ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’, focuses on the challenges UK businesses face when exporting. It targets barriers to trade and helps businesses at every stage of their export journey. The Department for Business and Trade continues to support companies through our network of domestic and overseas trade advisers, sector specialists and the Export Support Service.
Businesses can contact the Export Support Service if they have any export related questions.
Payment b) of £11,500 and payment c) of £16,850 both relate to monitoring and evaluation of the Department for Business & Trade's (DBT) work in building resilience into the UK’s supply chains. Payment a) of £45,000 and payment d) of £15,550 both relate to research to enhance DBT's services to exporters. Payment e) of £33,350 relates to research to understand how businesses use unregistered design rights to protect their intellectual.
The Government recognises the risk that businesses can make unsubstantiated claims in relation to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. In April 2020, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published research, which found that “a high proportion of practitioners in the field of socially responsible investment feel that NFR [non-financial reporting] provided by companies is often an exercise in ‘impressions management’ or ‘greenwashing”.
The Green Finance Strategy (March 2023) set out the Government’s approach to regulating ESG disclosures, including through the UK’s adoption of International Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
As at the end of February 2023, Help to Grow: Management has had 5,395 enrolments to the programme and 3,340 participants have completed the course. We will publish updated enrolment and completion data in the autumn.
The Product Safety Review consultation is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.