Steve McCabe Portrait

Steve McCabe

Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak

First elected: 1st May 1997

Shadow Minister (Defence)

(since November 2023)

Work and Pensions Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 18th Dec 2023
Panel of Chairs
15th Jan 2020 - 13th Dec 2023
Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill
14th Dec 2022 - 11th Jan 2023
Pension Dashboards (Prohibition of Indemnification) Bill
19th Oct 2022 - 26th Oct 2022
Work and Pensions Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Panel of Chairs
22nd Jun 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Work and Pensions Committee
26th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Panel of Chairs
14th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Shadow Minister (Education)
7th Oct 2013 - 18th Sep 2015
Home Affairs Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 4th Nov 2013
Opposition Whip (Commons)
6th May 2010 - 1st Jul 2010
Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip)
2nd Jul 2007 - 6th May 2010
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
5th May 2006 - 28th Jun 2007
Home Affairs Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 12th Jun 2006
House of Lords Reform (Joint Committee)
19th Jun 2002 - 5th May 2005
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
9th Nov 1998 - 20th Oct 2003
Deregulation
29th Jul 1997 - 19th Mar 1999


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Steve McCabe has voted in 609 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Steve McCabe 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
Matt Hancock (Independent)
(15 debate interactions)
Michael Gove (Conservative)
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
(13 debate interactions)
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
View all Steve McCabe's debates

Birmingham, Selly Oak 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

We want the UK to be neutral in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and withdraw offers of support for Israel.

We want the Government to seek a ceasefire and also seek to address the root cause of the current conflict by promoting dialogue and advocating for the end of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The UK Government should urge the Israeli Government to stop the blockade of Food, Fuel and Electricity to the already impoverished city of Gaza

Review statutory maternity pay in line with inflation and cost of living

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is currently:
90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks
£156.66 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for next 33 weeks. This averages £7.5k p/a

The Government should bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity. It should be permitted subject to strict upfront safeguards, assessed by two doctors independently, and self-administered by the dying person.

Recognise the state of Palestine to help stop the conflict from Israel. Not recognising the Palestinian state allows Israel to continue their persecution of the Palestinians.

The Government should introduce sanctions against Israel, including blocking all trade, and in particular arms.


Latest EDMs signed by Steve McCabe

13th November 2023
Steve McCabe signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 29th November 2023

Iran's influence in the Middle East

Tabled by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
That this House is deeply concerned by the role of the Iranian regime in the deadly conflicts in the Middle East; notes that for over four decades Iran’s regime has adopted a dual strategy of domestic suppression, such as the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly supporters of the …
5 signatures
(Most recent: 29 Nov 2023)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 2
Conservative: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Labour: 1
12th September 2023
Steve McCabe signed this EDM on Monday 18th September 2023

Calling for a free and democratic Iran

Tabled by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
That this House is deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protesters by the regime of Iran, which continues to execute dissidents with total impunity and which is also trying to export its reign of terror abroad, including by targeting dissidents living in Europe with terrorist attacks; condemns illegal …
32 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Oct 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 17
Liberal Democrat: 5
Conservative: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 2
Alba Party: 1
Independent: 1
View All Steve McCabe's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Steve McCabe, 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.


Steve McCabe has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Steve McCabe has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

5 Bills introduced by Steve McCabe


A Bill to make provision about guidance to local authorities on when to take enforcement action for breaches of planning law; to clarify guidance on the scope of permitted development rights; to make provision about rights and entitlements, including of appeal, for people whose homes are affected by such breaches; to make provision for the inspection and regulation of building under the permitted development regime; to establish financial penalties for developers who breach planning law in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 25th November 2016
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require developers to disclose for planning purposes an intention to use a building for supported housing or other accommodation that is specified for the purposes of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit; to establish a suitability test for accommodation proposed for such use; to make provision about the fitness of persons to be landlords or managers of supported or other specified accommodation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 18th November 2020
(Read Debate)

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 about access to NHS fertility services, including equality of access to such services across England; to make provision about pricing of such services; to provide for a minimum number of fertility treatments to be available to women on the basis of their age; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 18th April 2018
(Read Debate)

A Bill to make provision about guidance to local authorities on when to take enforcement action for breaches of planning law; to clarify guidance on the scope of permitted development rights; to make provision about rights and entitlements, including of appeal, for people whose homes are affected by such breaches; to make provision for the inspection and regulation of building under the permitted development regime; to establish financial penalties for developers who breach planning law in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 24th November 2015

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 programme to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed young people between the ages of 16 and 25; to establish a comprehensive careers guidance service for young people seeking to enter the job market; to enable Apprenticeship Training Agencies to assist small businesses in employing apprentices; to provide small businesses with a National Insurance contributions holiday; to make provision for grants towards the wage costs of apprentices employed by small businesses; to make provision for a mechanism through which banks and other providers of financial services are required to allocate part of their bonus payment budget to support these measures; and for connected purposes

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 13th July 2011

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
1 Other Department Questions
30th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to reduce incidences of discrimination against people with non-visible disabilities.

The Government is committed to improving life choices and opportunities for disabled people in their private lives, in their communities and in employment. We want everyone to live their lives free from discrimination and harassment, including disabled people.

The Equality Act 2010 places obligations on employers and service providers regarding people with disabilities, to ensure that they are fully protected from any unlawful behaviour in employment or in the provision of services. This includes a disability that may not be obvious or may be entirely hidden.

The Government is delivering for disabled people - in just the last year, we have supported the passage of two landmark pieces of legislation, the British Sign Language Act and the Down Syndrome Act.

The Minister for Disabled People announced on 2 December 2022 that a new Disability Action Plan will be consulted on and published in 2023. The Plan will set out the action the government will take in 2023/2024 to improve disabled people’s lives.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
8th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2024 to Question 13226 on Veterans: Employment Scheme, how many and what proportion of ethnic minority veterans have used the Career Development Fund in the last 12 months.

Veterans’ employment is at an all-time high, with 89% of those leaving service finding employment within six months.

This Government's £700,000 Veterans’ Career Development Fund aims to build on that, increasing the provision and enhancing access to qualifications, training and skills development for veterans and their families across the UK.

The grant seeks to support veterans of all backgrounds, and encourages applications in particular from groups and organisations which seek to engage with and support minority groups and individuals within the overall veteran population, including those of ethnic minority backgrounds.

The fund closed for applications from organisations in January this year, with successful applicants due to be notified later this month. Activity and delivery of the projects will then commence after that point

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Going Forward into Employment initiative for veterans.

Regular updates on a range of veteran specific initiatives, including Going Forward into Employment, are published as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 6 monthly report and in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report.

The latest updates report that over 200 veterans have been employed in the Civil Service through Going Forward into Employment, and over 1,000 Civil Service jobs secured through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

This is matched by the all-time high of veterans’ employment in the UK, with 89% employed within six months of leaving service when engaging with available support.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of veterans from minority ethnic backgrounds were employed via the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative in the last 12 months.

There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer.

Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative.

The Civil Service has career opportunities for veterans from all walks of life, backgrounds, identities and geographic locations throughout the UK.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of veterans were employed via the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative in the West Midlands in the last 12 months.

There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer.

Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative.

The Civil Service has career opportunities for veterans from all walks of life, backgrounds, identities and geographic locations throughout the UK.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
23rd Feb 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 12241 on Veterans, when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans, published on 17 July 2023.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that our welfare services for veterans are fit for purpose. This is why the response to the Welfare Services Review was published on 11 December 2023, and included commitments on taking forward the intentions of the recommendations.

Work is already underway in both the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and Ministry of Defence, and with stakeholders to implement changes. These include the retirement of the Veterans UK brand and improvements to the Veterans’ Gateway.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department plans to measure and monitor the impact of the Veterans Strategy and Action Plan.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs, alongside partners across and beyond government, continue to monitor the progress of delivery against commitments in the 2022-2024 Strategy Action Plan, and regularly publish updates on progress. The most recent update was provided in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report laid in Parliament in December 2023. Additionally, the Veterans Advisory Board receives verbal updates on progress made to delivering the Strategy and Action Plan at regular intervals.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress his Department has made on delivering the Great Place to Work employment programme.

Recruiting veterans is one of the most effective business decisions that any employer can make. The Civil Service recognises this, and has in place a range of dedicated recruitment initiatives for veterans in order to make the most of their skills and capabilities, and provide the opportunity of a fulfilling career in public service.

The Great Place to Work for Veterans programme is one of a number of veterans’ recruitment initiatives being delivered across the Civil Service.

Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative.

The Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative enables veterans who meet the minimum criteria to progress to the next stage of the application process, which is usually an interview.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
31st Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of welfare services for veterans.

This Government is committed to ensuring that our welfare services for veterans are fit for the future. That is why in March last year, my right hon. friend the Minister for Defence People, and Families and I jointly commissioned an Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans, which I was pleased was published in full in July 2023.

The Government's response, which was published in December 2023, accepts the principle and intended outcome of all of the review's recommendations.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
30th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many veterans have been employed as a result of the guaranteed interview civil service scheme for veterans since that scheme began.

There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer.

Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative.

The Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative enables veterans who meet the minimum criteria to progress to the next stage of the application process, which is usually an interview.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
19th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs during his oral statement on Afghan Resettlement Update of 13 December 2023, Official Report, column 911, whether the existing hotel contracts being extended apply only to new arrivals from Afghanistan.

The Government remains committed to ending the systemic use of hotels, and we do not plan to open new hotels to meet the increased demand from new arrivals from Afghanistan.

The information requested on hotel contracts is not publicly available; however, a small number of hotels with existing contracts have been extended for a limited time period to help accommodate Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme arrivals who have yet to be matched to settled housing solutions in the United Kingdom.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
19th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how often the Office of Veterans' Affairs (a) collects and (b) analyses the number of veterans who are sleeping rough.

Through Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, this Government ensured that no veteran was forced to sleep rough over Christmas due to a lack of available provision, supporting over 450 veterans into housing to date.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs uses a number of data sources to monitor the levels of rough sleeping amongst veterans. This includes a number of data sources collected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Combined Homelessness Information Network (CHAIN) data as well as relevant evidence bases including those collected by the Devolved Administrations.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
19th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what evidential basis the Office for Veterans Affairs said that there were no veteran rough sleepers as of Christmas 2023.

Through Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, this Government ensured that no veteran was forced to sleep rough over Christmas due to a lack of available provision, supporting over 450 veterans into housing to date.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs uses a number of data sources to monitor the levels of rough sleeping amongst veterans. This includes a number of data sources collected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Combined Homelessness Information Network (CHAIN) data as well as relevant evidence bases including those collected by the Devolved Administrations.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
19th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral answer of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs of 18 January 2024, Official Report column 1012, what the evidential basis is for the number of veterans employed through the civil service scheme.

Sustainable, gainful employment is one of the most significant ways to enhance life outcomes for veterans and their families.

Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative. Both figures are based on data sent from Government Departments to the Office for Veterans' Affairs.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
8th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Minister for Veterans' Affairs last met with the Parliamentary Under Secretary (Minister for Defence, People and Families) to discuss matters relating to veterans.

The Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs work collaboratively together to deliver for veterans, as demonstrated by the recent publication of the Government’s response to both the Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans and LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

My officials and I continue to meet regularly with the Ministry of Defence to deliver shared priorities, including ramping up delivery of Veterans Cards to ex-service personnel across the country.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
26th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which former ministers have received a severance payment after they left Government since 1 June; and what the amount was in each case.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Hon. Member for Islwyn on 28 October 2022 to Questions 71037 and 71036.

22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 54003, when he plans to review the restrictions imposed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak on weddings taking place to allow for small weddings to take place with social distancing.

The Government understands the huge significance of weddings. We recognise that because weddings have not been able to take place in recent months this has caused difficulty and distress for many people. As set out in the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, published in May, the Government has been examining how to enable people to gather in slightly larger groups better to facilitate small weddings. We have worked closely with faith leaders and local government on how best to achieve this. The Prime Minister announced on 23 June that wedding and civil partnership ceremonies will be able to take place in England from 4 July. People should avoid having a large ceremony, and should invite no more than thirty family and friends. Venues should ensure they are COVID-19 secure.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
17th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the correspondence sent to her Department by Help for Heroes and Combat Stress on 1 November 2023 on the potential impact of the private use of fireworks on armed forces veterans; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to further restrict the (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks.

Following correspondence from Help for Heroes and Combat Stress in November 2023, officials in the Department recently met with representatives from the organisations to discuss the impact of fireworks on armed forces veterans. We agreed to continue engagement on this matter going forward.

Whilst the Government has no current plans to introduce further legislation on fireworks, we continue to monitor the situation and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to listen to and understand their views.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
16th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in the Scottish Government on the effectiveness of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 in tackling (a) anti-social behaviour and (b) animal welfare concerns.

There is a comprehensive legislative framework regulating the manufacture, storage, supply, possession and use of fireworks in the UK. The Government has no current plans to review the legislation, but we continue to monitor the situation.

The Government regularly engages with its counterparts in Scotland. We have discussed the recent Scottish legislative changes with them, and we will continue to discuss the impacts of their approach to fireworks legislation.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
16th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to review legislation on the sale of fireworks.

There is a comprehensive legislative framework regulating the manufacture, storage, supply, possession and use of fireworks in the UK. The Government has no current plans to review the legislation, but we continue to monitor the situation.

The Government regularly engages with its counterparts in Scotland. We have discussed the recent Scottish legislative changes with them, and we will continue to discuss the impacts of their approach to fireworks legislation.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
6th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has commissioned an independent assessment of the economic contribution of deep-sea mining.

The Government commissioned an independent review from the British Geological Survey, the National Oceanography Centre and Heriot-Watt University, to support informed decision making regarding potential future development of mineral resources in the deep sea.

Chapter Four of that review addresses Economics, and the full document (published in October 2022) is available here: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/deep-sea-mining-evidence-review-published/

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
1st Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on taking steps to keep customers informed following disruption caused by the cyber attack on that company

Royal Mail’s approach to informing customers of service disruptions is an operational matter for Royal Mail as a private business. I understand that Royal Mail had provided updates to its customers on the resumption of services through its international incident bulletin, published on its website: www.royalmail.com/international-incident-bulletin.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of North Sea oil and gas reserves when considering whether to grant new oil and gas licence areas.

Emissions from UK oil and gas extraction are accounted for in our legally-binding carbon budgets. Projected future emissions from all licensing rounds are incorporated into the offshore sector’s North Sea Transition Deal commitments. The sector’s progress against these targets is monitored by the North Sea Transition Authority.

‘Scope 3’ emissions from the burning of oil and gas are accounted for in the country in which they are used, in line with guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Emissions will be reduced by reducing our consumption of fossil fuels, not by placing restrictions on our oil and gas industry.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate her Department has made of the combined annual greenhouse gas emissions from new oil and gas fields approved between October 2023 and January 2024.

Emissions from UK oil and gas extraction are accounted for in our legally-binding carbon budgets. Projected future emissions from all licensing rounds are incorporated into the offshore sector’s North Sea Transition Deal commitments. The sector’s progress against these targets is monitored by the North Sea Transition Authority.

‘Scope 3’ emissions from the burning of oil and gas are accounted for in the country in which they are used, in line with guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Emissions will be reduced by reducing our consumption of fossil fuels, not by placing restrictions on our oil and gas industry.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to paragraph II. (A.) 28 (d) of the First global stocktake agreed at COP28 on 13 December 2023, what steps her Department is taking to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.

The UK has over-achieved against the first, second, and third carbon budgets. The transitions set out in the Net Zero Strategy and the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan keep us on track to meet Carbon Budgets 4, 5 and 6, our 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution, and net zero by 2050.

The Government will continue to use Contracts for Difference to grow renewables’ share of electricity generation which has already moved from less than 7% in 2010 to more than 40% today. Use of coal in electricity generation will be ceased by the end of this year - having been nearly 40% in 2012.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the impact on Small and medium-sized businesses of not being eligible for the additional Energy Bills Discount Scheme for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme review took account of contributions from the private sector, trade associations, the voluntary sector and other types of organisations on sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices based on energy and trade intensity. The outcome of the review informed the criteria for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS).

Eligible SMEs will get the baseline discount. The higher ETII support will be provided to SMEs that meet the eligibility criteria. The EBDS reflects the scale of change in the energy market as prices continue to fall. The EBDS strikes the right balance by supporting businesses over the next year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and limiting the taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
17th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to regulate the energy rates landlords charge tenants.

Under Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Price rules, landlords with a domestic contract with an energy supplier are required not to charge tenants more than they have paid suppliers for the energy.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking help attract international (a) investment and (b) partnerships to research and development facilities outside the UK's largest universities.

The Government commitment to invest in R&D makes the UK a globally competitive destination for investment and partnerships. Funding programmes which anchor investment in the UK are open to international investors and partners.

An example is Research Partnership Investment Fund which supports investment in higher education facilities across the UK. Universities must attract a further £2 from non-public sources for every £1 invested by the fund. Funded projects go on to attract wider investment and partnerships as they develop to enrich the UK science and research system.

31st Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking with Ofgem to ensure energy suppliers adhere to existing rules on prepayment meters.

Ofgem has stringent rules on the force-fitting of prepayment meters and is responsible for ensuring licensed energy suppliers comply with those rules. Ofgem publishes details of its compliance and enforcement action on its website at: www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/compliance-and-enforcement.

The Government has set out its 5-point plan regarding prepayment meters and Ministers will keep the House updated on its progress. Ofgem has launched a new prepayment meter investigation, in response to the 5-point plan. I have spoken to Ofgem to discuss the specific case of British Gas.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
31st Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of regulations on the circumstances in which energy suppliers can force customers to use prepayment meters.

Ofgem restricts the force-fitting of a prepayment meter on customers who are in debt, except as a last resort. When installing a PPM, suppliers must consider whether this is safe and practicable, including whether a PPM is appropriate for the customer, before remotely switching or installing a PPM under warrant.

The Government has set out its 5-point plan regarding PPM and Ministers will keep the House updated on its progress. Ofgem has launched a new PPM investigation, in response to the plan. I have spoken to Ofgem to discuss the specific case of British Gas.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who were eligible for the Warm Home Discount in 2022 and are not eligible in 2023 with no change to their circumstances.

The Government has expanded the Warm Home Discount scheme this year, providing £150 rebates to over 3 million households. The Government published impact assessments when consulting and publishing the Government’s response, which compared the option for reforming the scheme to continuing the previous scheme.

As households previously applied through their suppliers, which set their own application processes and eligibility criteria and selected successful applicants each year, the Government has not been able to assess how many households previously eligible are no longer eligible.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that landlords share the support provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme with their tenants.

Third-party intermediaries, such as landlords, who receive the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) must pass that support through to end users, such as tenants, in a just and reasonable way.

The Government has introduced regulations to require that EBSS support is provided to the people it is designed to help. Further details can be found here.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing penalties for firms found to have mislead consumers about their rights.

This is an important issue which the Government has committed to act on shortly. We will introduce new civil monetary penalties for breaches of consumer law. The Government will do so through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill which will be brought forward in this session of Parliament.

This means that anyone ripping off consumers with misleading claims, unfair terms and conditions and hard-to-exit contracts may be penalised up to 10% of annual global turnover, or £300,000, whichever is higher.

Under these plans, the Competition and Markets Authority will be given direct fining powers, alongside the civil courts which would be able to act on application from enforcers like sector regulators and local authority trading standards departments.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
24th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changing the eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount on those no longer eligible under the new criteria.

The Government has expanded the Warm Home Discount scheme this year, providing £150 rebates to over 3 million households. The Government published impact assessments alongside the consultation and the final policy, which compared the option for reforming the scheme in England and Wales to continuing the previous scheme. These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of businesses are owned by women in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency.

In the UK in 2021, 19% of SMEs with employees (a three-percentage point increase on 2020) and 20% of firms with no employees (21% in 2020) were female-led. The government does not hold regional data relating to the number or proportion of female-led business.

The Rose Review is supported by the industry-led ‘Rose Review Council for Investing in Female Entrepreneurs’ that aims to coordinate industry-led action to increase investment into female-led businesses.

The Government has set an ambition to increase the number of female entrepreneurs by half by 2030, equivalent to 600,000 new entrepreneurs.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency had heat pumps installed as of 13 December 2022.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme Installations Database shows that as of 13 December 2022, 23 heat pump installations were registered in the Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency.

The database does not include all heat pump installations, for example, those installed without Government funding support, such as in new buildings. These not typically recorded in the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Installations Database.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase the rate of energy efficiency measure installations in homes in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency.

The Government is committed to improving the energy performance of homes across the country, including in Birmingham, Selly Oak.

The Government is already investing £6.6 billion over this parliament on decarbonising heat and energy efficiency measures.

An additional £6 billion of new Government funding, announced in the Autumn Statement, will be made available from 2025 to 2028. This provides long-term funding certainty, supporting the growth of supply chains, and ensuring we can scale up our delivery over time.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency with lofts had loft insulation installed as of 13 December 2022.

BEIS estimates that under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Green Deal (GD), and Green Homes Grant (GHG) Government schemes, around 1,700 cavity wall insulation measures and 1,300 loft insulation measures have been installed in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency as at end of October 2022.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency with cavity walls have been insulated as of 13 December 2022.

BEIS estimates that under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Green Deal (GD), and Green Homes Grant (GHG) Government schemes, around 1,700 cavity wall insulation measures and 1,300 loft insulation measures have been installed in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency as at end of October 2022.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of households with submeters that are receiving the Energy Bills Support Scheme payment.

The Government does not hold an estimate for households with submeters receiving the Energy Bills Support Scheme payment. Only primary meters are eligible for EBSS, as stated in the guidance: Energy Bills Support Scheme – Guidance for Electricity Suppliers, clause 5.1.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
21st Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support households who have not received the £400 cost of living energy bills discount because their landlord has been given a payment for the main meter.

Households with a domestic electricity supply will automatically receive the Energy Bills Support Scheme discount of £400. To ensure that this energy support reaches the intended beneficiaries, the Government has introduced regulations so that intermediaries, such as landlords, are required to pass on the financial benefit to their tenants. These pass-through requirements apply to tenants who do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier, for example, where there is a main meter. If the landlord does not pass on the benefit, the tenant can pursue recovery of the benefit as a civil debt through the county courts.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to Answer of 20 September 2022 to Question 51421 on Buildings: Insulation, if he will make an estimate of the number of properties that have undergone heat insulation works in the West Midlands in 2022 to date.

The table below shows the number of insulation measures funded through Government schemes, installed in properties in the West Midlands in 2022 up to the latest available data. The Government schemes in scope here are the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD), and Green Homes Grant Vouchers (GHGV). Further information on these schemes are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics;

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/green-home-grant-statistics.

Number of insulation measures[1]installed in West Midland funded through ECO[2], LAD and GHGV[3]

ECO

LAD

GHGV

Total

2022

3,666

88

21

3,775

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an estimate of the number of jobs that are linked to insulating properties in the West Midlands.

The transition to high-efficiency low-carbon buildings could support 240,000 skilled jobs by 2035, concentrated on areas of the UK where investment is needed most. The Government does not have an estimate for the number of jobs that are linked to insulating properties specifically in the West Midlands.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an estimate of the number of properties that have undergone heat insulation works in the West Midlands in each year since 2010.

The table below shows the number of insulation measures funded through Government schemes, installed in properties in the West Midlands since 2013. The Government schemes in scope here are the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD), and Green Homes Grant Vouchers (GHGV). Further information on these schemes are available here and here.

Number of insulation measures[1]installed in West Midland funded through ECO, LAD and GHGV[2]

ECO

LAD

GHGV

Total

2013

40,356

N/A

N/A

40,356

2014

62,154

N/A

N/A

62,154

2015

30,620

N/A

N/A

30,620

2016

18,809

N/A

N/A

18,809

2017

8,499

N/A

N/A

8,499

2018

9,639

N/A

N/A

9,639

2019

12,457

N/A

N/A

12,457

2020

17,323

40

19

17,382

2021

15,787

274

4,957

21,018

The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) were Government energy efficiency schemes that ran prior to 2013. More information on these schemes can be found hereand here.

[1] Insulation measures in scope are cavity wall, solid wall, loft, roof, floor, park home, and draught proofing. A property may receive more than one insulation measure.

[2] LAD and GHGV started in 2020

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
6th Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he plans to take to ensure that energy bill rebates for student accommodation landlords are evenly distributed amongst their tenants.

If landlords have a domestic electricity meter point, they will receive £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The Government encourages landlords to pass the payment to tenants to ensure it is reflected in tenants’ inclusive charges or separate bill payments. If landlords have a commercial meter, they will not receive the £400 payment.

As per Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Price guidance (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2005/10/11782-resaleupdateoct05_3.pdf) there are rules which can protect tenants and ensure they are being charged no more than they should be when they buy the electricity through their landlord.

The Government is working with key stakeholder groups in the private rented sector to help communicate this information.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that energy companies are not sending consumers false information in relation to smart meters.

Energy suppliers are required to abide by the Standards of Conduct outlined in their licence conditions, which set expectations regarding their behaviour, information provision and customer service processes. As part of this, when communicating with their customers, energy suppliers must provide information that is complete, accurate and not misleading.

Energy suppliers are regulated against their licence obligations by Ofgem, which has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason his Department's net zero expenditure plans for the energy efficiency of buildings is being reduced from £1.3 billion in 2021-22 to £0.7 billion in 2023-23.

The Government is investing over £6.6 billion over this parliament to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise heating.

The spending profiles of Government schemes reflect the need for Local Authorities and Housing Associations to deliver over financial years, supported by their local supply chains. The ECO4 order has now been laid, and debates have taken place in both Houses. The Government expects regulations to come into force this month. The scheme is worth £1bn per annum and will run from 2022 – 2026.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
15th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock in the UK in addition to his Department's planned net zero expenditure on the energy efficiency of buildings.

In addition to providing £6.6 billion of funding, the Government is creating a long-term regulatory framework to help meet its aspiration that as many homes as possible are improved to EPC Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective, and affordable. The Government has consulted on raising the minimum energy performance rating for privately-rented homes and has committed to consult on options to upgrade homes in the owner-occupier sector.

The Government is also taking action to facilitate low-cost finance from retail lenders to drive investment in energy efficiency measures; and further improving its advice and information offer to help households improve the energy performance of their homes.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)