Tommy Sheppard
Scottish National Party - Former Member for Edinburgh East
First elected: 7th May 2015
Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)
26 Former APPG memberships
Australia and New Zealand, Bridge, Canada, Choice at the End of Life, Climate Change, Commonwealth, Deafness, Dog Advisory Welfare, Drugs, Alcohol and Justice, East Coast Main Line, Electoral Reform, Humanist, Iceland, International Freedom of Religion or Belief, International Law, Justice and Accountability, Night Time Economy, Palestine, Pension Credit, Population, Development and Reproductive Health, Poverty, Proportional Representation, Shale Gas Regulation and Planning, Short Lets Sector, State Pension Inequality for Women, United Nations, White Ribbon UKDivision Voting information
All Debates
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
(76 debate interactions)
(58 debate interactions)
(28 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(230 debate contributions)
(82 debate contributions)
(72 debate contributions)
(66 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(7,869 words contributed)
(7,455 words contributed)
(3,222 words contributed)
(2,552 words contributed)
Latest EDMs signed by Tommy Sheppard
RBS branch closures
Tabled by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)That this House recognises the importance of maintaining bank branch services; regrets the latest closures announced by the Natwest banking group, which operates Royal Bank of Scotland, and the decision to close 18 of its 86 RBS branches across Scotland, with three branches in Edinburgh set to close including Leith, …
(Most recent: 10 May 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 20
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Workers Party of Britain: 1
Independent: 1
Referral of matters of 21 February 2024 to the Committee of Privileges
Tabled by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)That this House notes the Speaker’s decision on selection and calling of amendments on 21 February 2024 was not in accordance with the established precedent for Opposition days; and accordingly considers that, notwithstanding the Resolution of this House of 6 February 1978, the matter of whether undue pressure was placed …
(Most recent: 19 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 42
Conservative: 25
Independent: 2
Plaid Cymru: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Tommy Sheppard, 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.
Tommy Sheppard has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Tommy Sheppard has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
1 Bill introduced by Tommy Sheppard
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to declare problem drug use a public health emergency; to require the Secretary of State to review the effects of welfare sanctions on people who use drugs; to make the Department for Health and Social Care the lead department for drugs policy; to require the Secretary of State to respond publicly to recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; to amend the classification of drugs in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; to make provision for safe drug consumption facilities; to decriminalise the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use; to make provision about the stigmatisation of problem drug use; to amend the Equality Act 2010 to recognise drug dependence as a health condition; and for connected purposes.
5 Bills co-sponsored by Tommy Sheppard
Arms (Exports and Remote Warfare) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alyn Smith (SNP)
Workers (Definition and Rights) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Chris Stephens (SNP)
Prime Minister (Nomination) and Cabinet (Appointment) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Pete Wishart (SNP)
European Union Withdrawal (Evaluation of Effects on Health and Social Care Sectors) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)
Short and Holiday-Let Accommodation (Notification of Local Authorities) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Karen Buck (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)1 Other Department Questions
The UK has some of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in Europe; not only will leaving the EU not change this, but we are committed to ensuring workers’ rights – including anti-discrimination rights - keep pace with the changing needs of the labour market.
This Government is committed to understanding, acknowledging and where appropriate addressing the effect that the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the UK Armed Forces has had on veterans. In line with the terms of the Independent Review, we will carefully consider the findings and then publish the report and the Government’s response in due course.
This Government is committed to ensuring that the service of every veteran is understood, valued and recognised.
The Cabinet Office and MoD have therefore commissioned an independent review to look at the impact of the pre-2000 ban on LGBT personnel serving in the Armed Forces. Whilst HIV status was not explicitly part of the independent review's terms of reference, the content of the final report will be a matter for the Review. The final report is due by 25 May, and we will publish the report and the Government’s response in due course thereafter.
The Government does not receive financial information beyond that published by the Duchy in their annual public accounts.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316.
Cabinet Office commissioned Hanbury Strategy to carry out work in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Two contract documents were signed, the first contract is for nil value, and the services provided to the Cabinet Office by Hanbury were delivered under the contract published on Contracts Finder here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8c6ca477-cbfc-49b7-bb59-0fb1ce1475c9. No other contracts have been commissioned in the last three years.
The Government remains committed to scrutiny and transparency. Details of Government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk
Details of departmental expenditure are published on GOV.UK. Details of estates costs are published in departmental accounts.
I am the responsible Minister for the Infected Blood Inquiry. Following correspondence from the Prime Minister I have written to victims and organisations representing those infected and affected offering to meet with them.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
I am the responsible Minister for the Infected Blood Inquiry. Following correspondence from the Prime Minister I have written to victims and organisations representing those infected and affected offering to meet with them.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The Government is making all necessary preparations to ensure that we are ready for leaving the EU whatever the circumstances. We want to ensure the country is prepared at every level.
HM Treasury routinely monitors economic conditions and risks, and the Government has a range of mechanisms available to support vulnerable people. We stand ready to take appropriate action if economic conditions change. Furthermore, officials make estimates of the direct impact of spending decisions on household living standards, and would continue to do so in responding to challenges arising from leaving the EU without a deal.
We are committed to a strong safety-net for those who need it. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans as an additional safeguard for those who need them. Additionally, the government has been working with local authorities to understand how a no-deal exit might impact upon their services, including services for vulnerable people.
The Government is making all necessary preparations to ensure that we are ready for leaving the EU whatever the circumstances. We want to ensure the country is prepared at every level.
HM Treasury routinely monitors economic conditions and risks, and the Government has a range of mechanisms available to support vulnerable people. We stand ready to take appropriate action if economic conditions change. Furthermore, officials make estimates of the direct impact of spending decisions on household living standards, and would continue to do so in responding to challenges arising from leaving the EU without a deal.
We are committed to a strong safety-net for those who need it. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans as an additional safeguard for those who need them. Additionally, the government has been working with local authorities to understand how a no-deal exit might impact upon their services, including services for vulnerable people.
I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.
I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.
I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.
I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.
I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Cabinet Office expenditure over £25,000 is published on GOV.UK, alongside our regular
transparency reporting.
The Government regularly contracts research to understand public perceptions towards government policy. Government contracts can be found on GOV.UK.
The Government regularly contracts research to understand public perceptions towards government policy. Government contracts can be found on GOV.UK.
As at 31 March 2018 there were 43,120 Civil Servants employed in locations in Scotland.
A breakdown by Government department is available in Table 12 ‘Civil Service employment; regional distribution by government department’ as part of the annual National Statistics publication ’Civil Service Statistics’, at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics.
Further information on the location of Civil Servants is also available through the ONS query tool, nomis, available at this link: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/. Using nomis we have produced a table of Civil Service Headcount by Department at NUTS3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics Level 3 i.e. council areas) for the above staff. A copy of this table has been placed in the Library.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The Government will continue to keep the electoral system under review and where appropriate will consider what changes, if any, may be necessary in preparation for and as a consequence of the UK leaving the European Union.
As the UK will cease to be a member of the European Union on 29th March 2019, we will not be taking part in future European Parliamentary elections, including those which are currently scheduled to be held from 23rd to 26th May 2019.
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 repeals the underlying pieces of legislation providing for the holding of European Parliamentary elections in the UK, and we have made a Statutory Instrument under powers in the Act that repeals all associated legislation.
The amount spent by HMRC in each of the last five years on office accommodation for staff who will be relocating to its Edinburgh Regional Centre, which is currently being constructed at 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh is as follows:
2018-19, £13 million
2017-18, £12 million
2016-17, £13 million
2015-16, £13 million
2014-15, £14 million
HMRC has signed an agreement for lease for 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh, which will become its Edinburgh Regional Centre and it has so far spent around £0.5 million from HMRC’s budget.
Construction is under way and it is the responsibility of the developer to deliver the building to an agreed specification, which HMRC will then lease. HMRC will occupy 90 per cent of the building and will commence payments during 2019-20 in accordance with the terms of the lease.
HMRC’s move to regional centres will save around £300 million up to 2025. It will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025-26, rising to around £90 million from 2028, while modernising how HMRC work and helping to improve customer service.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The amount spent by HMRC in each of the last five years on office accommodation for staff who will be relocating to its Edinburgh Regional Centre, which is currently being constructed at 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh is as follows:
2018-19, £13 million
2017-18, £12 million
2016-17, £13 million
2015-16, £13 million
2014-15, £14 million
HMRC has signed an agreement for lease for 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh, which will become its Edinburgh Regional Centre and it has so far spent around £0.5 million from HMRC’s budget.
Construction is under way and it is the responsibility of the developer to deliver the building to an agreed specification, which HMRC will then lease. HMRC will occupy 90 per cent of the building and will commence payments during 2019-20 in accordance with the terms of the lease.
HMRC’s move to regional centres will save around £300 million up to 2025. It will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025-26, rising to around £90 million from 2028, while modernising how HMRC work and helping to improve customer service.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The location information for all the Civil Estate, including Scotland, is published online at data.gov.uk as part of Government transparency commitments. Details of Government property to let or for sale can be found via the Government Property Finder website.
The Government does not publish lease expiry dates for Government offices used by Departmental staff due to the commercially sensitive nature of this information.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Discussions on the NAO's report on improving the Government's planning and spending framework would be undertaken by senior officials in both Departments. The report is then signed and agreed by both Departmental Permanent Secretaries.
It is for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider the issue of financial support raised by Sir Brian Langstaff in his letter. The Minister for Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention has expressed her willingness to meet the Inquiry team and other discussions may follow.
The Government will begin a consultation this summer considering the introduction of digital imprints. The consultation will seek views on the scope of material to be covered, enforcement of the rules and how the requirement to introduce a digital imprint can be appropriately framed.
The Government has no current plans to bring forward legislation to revise spending categories.
Departments are required to publish each month their total workforce costs on gov.uk.
These are available on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/government-transparency-and-accountability?keywords=workforce+management+information&public_timestamp%5Bfrom%5D=&public_timestamp%5Bto%5D=
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Departments publish each month their total workforce costs on GOV.UK; https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/government-transparency-and-accountability?keywords=workforce+management+information&public_timestamp%5Bfrom%5D=&public_timestamp%5Bto%5D=
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Departments are required to publish each month their total workforce costs on GOV.UK and can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/government-transparency-and-accountability?keywords=workforce+management+information&public_timestamp%5Bfrom%5D=&public_timestamp%5Bto%5D=
Not all departments have yet published data for April 2018.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The official figures on Civil Service employment are produced by the Office for National Statistics as part of their Quarterly Public Sector Employment Statistics. As at the end of June 2016 figures were 415,700 on a headcount basis and 384,230 on a full-time equivalent basis.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The official figures on Civil Service employment are produced by the Office for National Statistics as part of their Quarterly Public Sector Employment Statistics. The latest data were published 21 March 2018 and showed Civil Service employment was 426,670 on a headcount basis and 395,760 on a full-time equivalent basis as at the end of December 2017.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Cabinet Office is required to keep accounting records for 7 years. Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 disclose in the Programme Expenditure Note to the accounts grant-in-aid paid to Chequers Trust; see pages 143 and 52 respectively. These can be located on the GOV.UK website.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Number 11 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Number 10 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
This information is not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Decisions are made annually on the sum needed to run the estate and the costs of maintaining and repairing the Grade 1 listed building which the Trust has a responsibility to maintain. Ongoing considerations of income help to inform these decisions.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
This information is not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Chequers is run and managed by an independent trust and is maintained by an endowment administered by the Trustees. The Trust also receives an annual grant-in-aid from public funds towards maintenance and staffing costs. Details of the grant-in-aid are published after the end of the financial year and accounted for in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts, which can be accessed on the GOV.UK website.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
10 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
The table below sets out the cost of sickness pay paid to staff in my Department each year from 1 April 2009 to 30th June 2016. Information about the cost of sickness pay paid to staff in my Department before April 2009 is not available.
| 2009* | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016** |
Statutory Sick Pay | £269 | £1,567 | £5,163 | £2,063 | £4,903 | £3,266 | £6,628 | £4,928 |
Occupational Sick Pay | £139,535 | £203,025 | £528,810 | £406,837 | £405,908 | £439,844 | £465,716 | £290,081 |
Total | £141,813 | £206,602 | £535,984 | £410,911 | £412,824 | £445,124 | £474,358 | £297,025 |
| * From 1 Apr 2009 |
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| **To 30 Jun 2016 | ||
Information about sickness absence in the Cabinet Office is published on the Cabinet Office website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-absence-data
The most recent published figures show that for the year to 30 June 2017, the Cabinet Office has one of the lowest recorded sickness rates across the Civil Service at 2.9 average working days lost when compared to the latest Civil Service average of 7.0 .
My Department is committed to reducing work related absence due to mental illness and has a number of services in place to support members of staff suffering from such conditions. Our Workwell community is staffed by volunteers who aim to make Cabinet Office a happy and healthy workplace through a number of interventions including a listening service for staff. We also offer a 24 hour counselling support helpline through our Employee Assistance Programme provider and advocate early referral to our occupational health service where appropriate, for advice on a number of conditions including mental health.
Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each department. The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government's commitment to leave the EU and get the best deal for the UK. Civil Service HR is working with all departments across the Civil Service to better understand their capacity and capability requirements.
Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each department. The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government's commitment to leave the EU and get the best deal for the UK. Civil Service HR is working with all departments across the Civil Service to better understand their capacity and capability requirements.
The cost of sickness pay to staff in the Cabinet Office was £353K between 1 June 2016 and 31 May 2017.
Costs of hospitality for the Cabinet Office are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which is available on the gov.uk website. The annual report and accounts for 2016/2017 will be released in due course.