First elected: 7th May 2015
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 Thangam Debbonaire, 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.
Thangam Debbonaire has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Thangam Debbonaire has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Planning (Agent of Change) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - John Spellar (Lab)
The Equality Act 2010 contains strong equal pay protections – it is unlawful for employers to pay men and women differently for doing the same work, similar work, or work of an equal value.
Many employers already conduct regular equal pay audits, in order to ensure that they are not acting unlawfully, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission provides detailed guidance to assist them in completing these. In 2014, the Government strengthened equal pay protections by introducing mandatory equal pay audits for organisations that lose an equal pay claim.
Since 2017 all large employers have been required to publish specific gender pay gap (GPG) information on an annual basis; and many employers choose to take the additional step of producing an action plan. Not all causes of the GPG are within employers’ control but we want employers to tackle those that are. For example, there is evidence to show greater pay transparency helps women negotiate a better deal when they apply for a job.
On International Women’s Day this year, we called on all employers to provide salary information in all of their job adverts, and to stop asking about previous salary during recruitment. We also announced that we would be working with employers to develop a methodology to enable them to take these steps. This methodology is likely to cover how employers should go about introducing a fair and transparent pay and grading system, and so will also be encouraging organisations to exhibit best practice within their pay and reward structures which is a crucial part of ensuring equal pay as well as pay transparency.
The Equality Act 2010 contains strong equal pay protections – it is unlawful for employers to pay men and women differently for doing the same work, similar work, or work of an equal value.
Many employers already conduct regular equal pay audits, in order to ensure that they are not acting unlawfully, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission provides detailed guidance to assist them in completing these. In 2014, the Government strengthened equal pay protections by introducing mandatory equal pay audits for organisations that lose an equal pay claim.
Since 2017 all large employers have been required to publish specific gender pay gap (GPG) information on an annual basis; and many employers choose to take the additional step of producing an action plan. Not all causes of the GPG are within employers’ control but we want employers to tackle those that are. For example, there is evidence to show greater pay transparency helps women negotiate a better deal when they apply for a job.
On International Women’s Day this year, we called on all employers to provide salary information in all of their job adverts, and to stop asking about previous salary during recruitment. We also announced that we would be working with employers to develop a methodology to enable them to take these steps. This methodology is likely to cover how employers should go about introducing a fair and transparent pay and grading system, and so will also be encouraging organisations to exhibit best practice within their pay and reward structures which is a crucial part of ensuring equal pay as well as pay transparency.
The Equality Act 2010 contains strong equal pay protections – it is unlawful for employers to pay men and women differently for doing the same work, similar work, or work of an equal value.
Many employers already conduct regular equal pay audits, in order to ensure that they are not acting unlawfully, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission provides detailed guidance to assist them in completing these. In 2014, the Government strengthened equal pay protections by introducing mandatory equal pay audits for organisations that lose an equal pay claim.
Since 2017 all large employers have been required to publish specific gender pay gap (GPG) information on an annual basis; and many employers choose to take the additional step of producing an action plan. Not all causes of the GPG are within employers’ control but we want employers to tackle those that are. For example, there is evidence to show greater pay transparency helps women negotiate a better deal when they apply for a job.
On International Women’s Day this year, we called on all employers to provide salary information in all of their job adverts, and to stop asking about previous salary during recruitment. We also announced that we would be working with employers to develop a methodology to enable them to take these steps. This methodology is likely to cover how employers should go about introducing a fair and transparent pay and grading system, and so will also be encouraging organisations to exhibit best practice within their pay and reward structures which is a crucial part of ensuring equal pay as well as pay transparency.
The Equality Act 2010 contains strong equal pay protections – it is unlawful for employers to pay men and women differently for doing the same work, similar work, or work of an equal value.
Many employers already conduct regular equal pay audits, in order to ensure that they are not acting unlawfully, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission provides detailed guidance to assist them in completing these. In 2014, the Government strengthened equal pay protections by introducing mandatory equal pay audits for organisations that lose an equal pay claim.
Since 2017 all large employers have been required to publish specific gender pay gap (GPG) information on an annual basis; and many employers choose to take the additional step of producing an action plan. Not all causes of the GPG are within employers’ control but we want employers to tackle those that are. For example, there is evidence to show greater pay transparency helps women negotiate a better deal when they apply for a job.
On International Women’s Day this year, we called on all employers to provide salary information in all of their job adverts, and to stop asking about previous salary during recruitment. We also announced that we would be working with employers to develop a methodology to enable them to take these steps. This methodology is likely to cover how employers should go about introducing a fair and transparent pay and grading system, and so will also be encouraging organisations to exhibit best practice within their pay and reward structures which is a crucial part of ensuring equal pay as well as pay transparency.
The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for employers, public authorities or service providers to discriminate or harass a person because of or for reasons related to the protected characteristic of ‘sex’, or victimise them for bringing a complaint, in any of the areas covered by the Act. The prohibition on indirect discrimination may provide protection for parents – for example, it is unlawful discrimination for an employer to apply a provision, criterion or practice which puts women, who are more likely to have childcare responsibilities, at a particular disadvantage unless it can be justified.
However, as far as providing specific protection for parents under the Act - for example by making parenthood a protected characteristic – is concerned, my assessment is that a change of this sort to equality law would risk providing additional rights for some groups at the expense of others and should therefore be treated with caution as having a potentially divisive effect. We have no plans to do this.
Section 36 of the Equality Act cannot commence for private companies before an assessment of local authority costs is made. This is because Section 36 applies to all types of landlords; commencement of Section 36 may require local authorities to meet additional costs regardless of the type of landlord. Departments continue to engage on quantifying additional costs.
Section 36 of the Equality Act cannot commence for private companies before an assessment of local authority costs is made. This is because Section 36 applies to all types of landlords; commencement of Section 36 may require local authorities to meet additional costs regardless of the type of landlord. Departments continue to engage on quantifying additional costs.
The Cabinet Office awarded a legal services contract to Peters and Peters after following the established process for such a contract. As the Honourable Member knows, by convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside of Government.
No, Peters & Peters is not on the Panel. Where a Department cannot find the legal services they need through the Panel, there is an established process. Details are set out on the Crown Commercial Service website. |
The average rate per hour of government funded work using the Attorney General’s Civil Panels is £110.
Information about the contract between the Cabinet Office and Peters & Peters can be found on ContractsFinder at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27.
It would not be appropriate for the Cabinet Office to comment in this level of detail on the contract with Peters and Peters given the commercial and legal sensitivities.
Until the current matter referred to the Privileges Committee on 21 April 2022, since 2010, no Ministers have been the subject of an inquiry by either the Committee of Privileges or the Committee on Standards and Privileges relating to a matter of privilege and their conduct as a minister.
There is an established precedent across multiple administrations that former Ministers may be supported with legal representation after they have left office when matters relate to their time and conduct as a Minister.
A revised List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course. In the meantime, departments are updating their ministers' pages on GOV.UK which also include portfolio information.
The Privileges Committee inquiry relates to the conduct of the (now former) Prime Minister making statements at the dispatch box on behalf of HM Government.
There is an established precedent across multiple administrations that former Ministers may be supported with legal representation after they have left office when matters relate to their time and conduct as a Minister.
The Committee’s inquiry also has potential implications for all future statements by Ministers of the Crown in current and future Administrations. The Government has a direct interest in these matters.
British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, citizens of the Republic of Ireland, and EU citizens, are entitled to vote in local elections in England (provided they are also resident here and meet other eligibility criteria). The Government has no plans to extend the franchise for local elections to include any other resident foreign nationals.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQs 109552, 107140 and 907859.
We have an ongoing programme of engagement designed to reach vulnerable audiences and those who are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 guidance is available across multiple channels in a range of alternative formats, and can be found through the gov.uk accessibility statement. We have supported third parties and local support networks to deliver more detailed information for bespoke enquiries. For example, when the wearing of face coverings became mandatory for certain indoor environments, the Government produced and shared new communications to aid public understanding of groups who might be exempt. These measures were taken to ensure appropriate enforcement of regulations and to mitigate potential abuse of disabled people for perceived non-compliance.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Further to the answers given to PQs 37724 and 37725 on 27 April 2020, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government has developed a national campaign to provide information, guidance and reassurance to the public.
The campaign spans owned, earned and paid-for channels, including local radio and TV, to maximise reach and engagement. We are constantly reviewing our use of each of these channels and amending campaign activity accordingly to ensure our messaging reaches as many people as possible.
Our legislation is sensible and proportionate and is designed to protect lives and livelihoods.
The Department is grateful for the Regulatory Policy Committee's feedback on the Impact Assessment and is currently taking their opinion into consideration, particularly the assessment of the impacts of the Bill on small and micro businesses - the only red-rated aspect of the analysis.
As stated previously, individual impact assessments will accompany consultations on the specific minimum service level for each relevant service which will be better able to assess the impacts on SMEs.
HM Land Registry (HMLR) publishes information on GOV.UK about its average processing times. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-processing-times.
In October-December 2022, HMLR completed 84% (1149) of applications for routine changes to update registered titles in the Bristol West constituency within 80 days and completed most (74%) within 60 days. Over a third of those applications that took longer than 80 days to complete required additional information from the conveyancer.
Customers can request fast-tracking at no extra cost if an application becomes urgent. HMLR processes over 1000 of these every day, with 95% completed within 10 working days.
The Government recognises that it is crucial to the success of an adoption placement that an adopter takes time off work to care for and bond with their child. That is why employed adoptive parents have broadly the same rights and protections as birth parents.
We do not have any data on the number of disrupted early placements. Adoption disruption is rare and research in 2014 (Beyond the Adoption Order) suggested that any disruptions happen at a later stage, years after the adoption order has been made.
Maternity Allowance is primarily a health and safety provision intended to support women who have recently given birth to take time off to recover physically from their pregnancy and childbirth. It would therefore not be appropriate to extend this to self-employed adopters.
Contracting Parties to the Energy Charter Treaty have reached an Agreement in Principle on modernisation of the Treaty. The modernised Treaty recognises the urgent need to address climate change and align with the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.
After adoption of the final text later this year, the modernised Treaty will come into force once the ratification requirements of the Treaty are met. When deciding whether to seek ratification of the modernised Treaty, the Government will consider its potential impact on all relevant Government objectives.
The Government expects UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment in line with the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The UK’s National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism to consider complaints against UK companies which may not have observed the Guidelines in their operations and supply chains overseas.
The Government has no current plans to propose legislation to introduce corporate liability of UK companies for human rights or environmental violations either by other companies in their supply chains or by their overseas subsidiaries
The Government does not believe there can be a ‘one size fits all’ approach to work arrangements. That is why we put individual agency and choice at the heart of our consultation on “making flexible working the default”, which closed on 1st December 2021. We are currently reviewing the responses and will respond in due course.
The Insolvency Service engaged with personal and business debt advice organisations over proposals to restructure its estate for improved efficiencies.
The Queen’s Speech set out the Government’s commitment to legislating to regulate the heat networks market in this parliamentary session as part of the Energy Security Bill:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-2022-background-briefing-notes.
The UK will only receive a supply of the vaccines it needs to meet its vaccination programme. The Government will continue to be guided by the advice of the JCVI on which vaccines should be deployed in the UK’s vaccination programmes. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will provide advice to the Government, after taking into consideration the safety and efficacy of the Novavax vaccine.
The Government has made great strides in decarbonising power supply. However the Government is also aware that reaching Carbon Budget 6 and the 2050 Net Zero target may require additional policy changes to ensure the right market mechanisms are in place.
The Government is considering how policies should evolve and will continue to be guided by its commitment to meeting carbon budgets, maintaining energy security, and ensuring value for money for all electricity users.
The Department has regular discussions with Royal Mail on a range of issues.
Ofcom, the independent regulator, monitors Royal Mail’s performance and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its service delivery targets.
Royal Mail is required by Ofcom to publish quality of service reports on a quarterly basis and its next report, covering the period from October to December, is expected to be published later this month.
The disability provisions in the Equality Act 2010 require providers of services and facilities to the public to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that disabled people are not placed at a “substantial disadvantage” compared to non-disabled people.
This means that people who provide goods, services and facilities to members of the public are expected to anticipate the requirements of disabled customers and the adjustments that may have to be made for them. The Equality and Human Rights Commission have published advice and guidance for businesses selling products, such as shops and petrol stations.
The Government takes the issues associated with the sale and use of fireworks seriously and we understand the concerns that some people have about the potential for distress caused to animals.
We have no current plans to place further restrictions on the sale of fireworks to the public. Through our public awareness campaign for the 2021 fireworks season, we are working with a variety of stakeholders, including animal welfare groups, to promote the safe and considerate use of fireworks to the general public, to ensure that those using them do so safely and considerately.
As any responsible government does, we manage our vaccine supply to meet our projected needs and to offer the best protection to those who need it, when they need it. Delays to Valneva’s contracted delivery schedule have meant that their ability to deliver an effective vaccine in the timeframe contracted for was unachievable. As such the vaccine no longer aligns with its planned use in our vaccination programme. Given the maturity of the UK’s vaccination programme, and with over 80% of the UK population now double vaccinated and now an alternative (in the absence of Valneva's product) autumn/ winter vaccination campaign underway, the government has therefore taken a decision to cancel the agreement with Valneva. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot disclose the details of our commercial discussions with them.
UK Government officials are engaged in constructive discussions with Valneva now to seek to reach a mutually beneficial resolution to the matters.
The development proposal from Cambo is being scrutinised in line with robust regulatory procedures and no decision has yet been taken.
All previously licensed fields, such as Cambo, are accounted for in terms of projected production and estimated emissions and we are confident that they can be developed, even as we seek to achieve our commitment to net zero by 2050. Domestic production of oil and gas out to 2050 remains below that which we will consume in a Net Zero world, according to the Climate Change Committee’s scenarios.
The UK has a comprehensive consumer safety and protection regulatory framework that covers menstrual and sanitary products, this requires producers and distributors to ensure their products are safe before they are placed on the market.
The safety of menstrual and sanitary products is regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR). Under the GPSR, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients for their product.
These regulations are within scope of the review of the Product Safety Framework which is being carried out by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. This work will ensure that the UK product safety framework continues to be fit for purpose and adequately protects consumers so that our product safety system remains one of the best in the world.
In order to meet our Net Zero by 2050 target, we must act now to tackle the emissions produced by heating. In order to ensure continued progress, we have set a series of legally binding “carbon budgets”, which are amongst the most stringent climate targets in the world.
The Government is planning to publish the Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course, which will set out our policies and plans for the 2020s, demonstrating how they work together to ensure we are on track for net zero by the end of the decade. The Strategy will build on the content of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan and the Energy White Paper, setting the strategic context for decision making, institutional arrangements and enabling functions that will be critical to achieving the transition to low carbon heating.
The Heat and Buildings Strategy has not delayed policy implementation. Over the last 6 months, the Government has published and delivered a number of landmark policies and consultations, including the launch of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and a consultation on introducing a performance based policy framework for large commercial and industrial buildings, proposals to introduce Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards on Lenders as well as increasing ambition in the Non-Domestic Private Rented Sector to EPC B by 2030, where cost-effective.
The Government continues to provide financial support via Local Authorities for businesses that are required to close, or which are severely affected by the restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives.
At the Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer further extended the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme, providing top-up funding for Local Authorities to distribute to businesses. Final payments of the ARG must be made by 31 March 2022.
Local Authorities were expected to pay eligible businesses the full allocation of the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) (Closed) as soon as possible after receipt of the funding. They must issue payments for the second round of the 2021 LRSG (Closed) by 30 June 2021. The first round of LRSG (Closed) payments, from 5 January, must be paid out by 30 April 2021.
There are currently no plans to extend these deadlines.
As of 2nd November, there were 1,141 businesses that are TrustMark registered and certified to install measures under the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme. BEIS will continue to monitor installer applications as the scheme progresses.
The Government is working closely with industry to ensure there are enough installers to meet demand. More than 1,100 companies are registered with TrustMark and are able to carry out measures aligned to the Green Homes Grant Scheme, with more registering every day.
BEIS officials are working actively with TrustMark scheme providers and certification bodies to support installers to get certified as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, the Department launched a £6.9m skills competition to provide training opportunities for energy efficiency and low carbon heating supply chains to deliver works and scale up to meet additional consumer demand. Funding will be provided to support training individuals with existing skills and those new to the sector in energy efficiency and clean heat measures, along with support for installation companies to gain required PAS 2030 or MCS accreditation.
The competition recently closed and the bids are currently being assessed. Training will commence once successful applicants have been informed.
The Government is developing options for a how a long-term framework of policy approaches, including regulation, can combine to provide a clear direction-of-travel for industry and accelerate the uptake of low-carbon heat, initiate a transformation of our building stock, and set us on a path to decarbonising all homes and buildings. Our Heat and Buildings Strategy will be published in due course.
BEIS are in the process of agreeing grant offers for 57 successful projects under the Local Authority Delivery scheme that will upgrade the energy efficiency of around 11,000 low-income households across England. Once grant offers have been finalised with those Local Authorities, a list will be published on GOV.UK.
As of 16:00 on 20 October 2020, the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme had received 20,903 grant applications.
The latest tranches of Energy Company Obligation (ECO2 and ECO3) are currently being evaluated, with an evaluation report expected to be published in due course. We will also be reviewing in due course the effectiveness of our recently launched incentives of the Green Homes Grant and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator.
As of 16:00 on 20 October 2020, the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme had received 20,903 grant applications. Applications are currently being processed and checked for compliance with the scheme rules.
The Green Homes Grant opened to applications on the 30 September 2020. As of 16:00 on 20 October 2020, 20,903 grant applications have been received, reflecting the high levels of consumer interest there are in the scheme. BEIS will continue to monitor application data as the scheme progresses.