First elected: 12th December 2019
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).
Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms
Sign this petition Gov Responded - 5 Dec 2024 Debated on - 10 Feb 2025 View Wendy Chamberlain's petition debate contributionsWe think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.
These initiatives were driven by Wendy Chamberlain, 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.
Wendy Chamberlain has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about unpaid leave for employees with caring responsibilities.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th May 2023 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to require the Government to have regard to the desirability of boards of public bodies including at least one person with relevant experience in at least one of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A Bill to remove monetary limits on proceeds from the mandatory conditions of lottery operating licences; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to undertake and publish a review of the merits of raising the income threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge and of reforming the process for declaring income above that threshold; to require the Secretary of State to publish an assessment of the impact of the High Income Child Benefit Charge on single parents and on full-time caregivers for children; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Government to have regard to the desirability of boards of public bodies including at least one person with relevant experience in at least one of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Subsequent to the Bill being tabled, the Government extended the deadline for voluntary Class 2 and 3 National Insurance contributions to 5 April 2025 for the tax years 2016-17 and 2017-18
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of extending to 5 April 2025 the period for which voluntary Class 2 and 3 National Insurance contributions may be paid in respect of one or more of the tax years 2006-07 to 2016-17; to require the Secretary of State to publish certain information about the performance of the Future Pension Centre in providing advice about voluntary Class 2 and 3 contributions in relation to the state pension; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for increasing public awareness of voluntary Class 2 and 3 contributions; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require Ministers of the Crown to undertake annual training in matters relating to propriety, ethics and standards; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require a Minister to move a motion in the House of Commons seeking to establish a select committee to monitor Overseas Development Assistance expenditure by government departments.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report on the use of official development assistance to increase the availability of women’s sanitary products; and for connected purposes.
Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Sarah Olney (LD)
Scottish Law Officers (Devolution) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Joanna Cherry (SNP)
State Pension Age (Compensation) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Alan Brown (SNP)
Spiking Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Richard Graham (Con)
National Minimum Wage Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Paula Barker (Lab)
Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Fire and Building Safety (Public Inquiry) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Daisy Cooper (LD)
Shared Prosperity Fund (Wales) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Ben Lake (PC)
School Toilets (Access During Lessons) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)
Problem Drug Use Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tommy Sheppard (SNP)
Environment (Regulation) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tim Farron (LD)
Ministerial Interests (Emergency Powers) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Owen Thompson (SNP)
Hong Kong Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Details of changes to Parliamentary Private Secretary post holders since the September 2024 list was published will be included in the next list when it is published on gov.uk.
A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries was published by the Cabinet Office in September 2024 on gov.uk and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-parliamentary-private-secretaries-pps-september-2024. It will be updated periodically.
The inaugural Council of the Nations and Regions met on 11 October in Edinburgh to discuss growth and investment. On 17 October the UK Government published the Terms of Reference for the Council and a communique summarising the discussion. A communique will be published following each meeting of the Council, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-of-the-nations-and-regions-inaugural-meeting.
The department is dedicated to making education fairer for all. Funding is provided to educational institutions to administer discretionary 16-19 bursaries for vulnerable students, including those who may have caring responsibilities.
Additionally, young carers under 18 and their families have the right to request a holistic assessment of their support needs, ensuring the whole family receive coordinated support from their local authority wherever necessary.
The department continues to encourage schools and local authorities to work closely with young carers and families to identify their needs and provide tailored support for them, ensuring they do not miss out on vital educational opportunities.
The department believes it is very important to make sure young carers can participate in education and get the support they need. This support will vary depending on family circumstances.
The ‘defined vulnerable groups’ face specific issues that mean they are not getting financial support from their families. This will be true of some young carers but not all.
The department provides a range of financial support for students who need it to enable them to participate in further education. This includes free meals, bursaries to help with the cost of education, such as travel, books, equipment and trips,as well as support for childcare and residential costs where required.
Young carers can discuss their individual needs with their school or college which can provide appropriate support, including from the institution’s discretionary Bursary Fund.
It is for each local authority to decide the best way of delivering effective and cost-effective weed control in its operations without harming people or the environment. We are working with stakeholders in the sector to increase awareness and uptake of Integrated Pest Management to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.
Defra’s post-implementation review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 considers whether the Regulations have met their original objectives, their impact and effectiveness, including in relation to the protections provided to cats. The review will be published in due course.
Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences.
Defra has been working on a post-implementation review of the Regulations. This review considers whether the Regulations have met their objectives, and where there could be scope to further improve the protections they provide.
The table below provides the number of drivers who have been revoked in each month since January 2024.
| Volumes | ||
Month | Drivers revoked under the New Drivers Act 1995 | Group 1 (car & motorcycle) drivers revoked on medical grounds | Group 2 (bus and lorry) drivers revoked on medical grounds |
Jan-24 | 1,173 | 3,226 | 341 |
Feb-24 | 1,121 | 3,214 | 322 |
Mar-24 | 1,160 | 3,164 | 342 |
Apr-24 | 1,148 | 3,094 | 248 |
May-24 | 1,201 | 3,099 | 260 |
Jun-24 | 1,125 | 2,616 | 294 |
Jul-24 | 1,223 | 3,603 | 424 |
Aug-24 | 1,091 | 3,298 | 359 |
Sep-24 | 1,106 | 3,345 | 342 |
Oct-24 | 1,112 | 3,410 | 390 |
Nov-24 | 1,111 | 3,109 | 331 |
Dec-24 | 1,048 | 2,503 | 301 |
Jan-25 | 1,083 | 3,056 | 415 |
Feb-25 | N/A | 3,032 | 353 |
Total | 14,702 | 43,769 | 4,722 |
Group 1 and 2 revocations should not be added together as there will be an element of double accounting. The medical standards for Group 2 driving are higher than Group1 and Group 2 drivers may lose just their Group 2 entitlement or may lose both Group 1 and 2 entitlement.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) uses several methods of communicating with licence holders to ensure they are kept informed.
The DVLA sends out important documents, reminders, notifications by traditional mail and encrypted email where a licence holder consents to correspond in this way. The DVLA also provides a suite of online driver services, where customers can renew their driving licence or notify a medical condition.
Licence holders can access their information and manage their driving licence, vehicle registration and other services if they have a customer account. Digital tax reminders are already available within the customer account and this is being extended to include digital driving licence reminders. Customers can track the progress of their driving licence application and communicate with the DVLA using this service.
The DVLA also provides customer service via telephone, which allows licence holders to ask questions or resolve issues directly. In addition to these services, the DVLA uses social media platforms to share information and updates with the public about its services.
The DVLA has a dedicated team responsible for the improvement of its driver licensing services and communications.
The government is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and meeting our climate change obligations, as set out in the Climate Change Act. Delivering greener transport to help make Britain a clean energy superpower is a Department for Transport priority.
We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals will need to demonstrate they contribute to economic growth and can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitment.
DfT analysis shows that we can achieve aviation net zero 2050 under a range of assumptions about future technology development without the Government needing to intervene directly to limit airport expansion.
The Government recognises the challenges unpaid carers are facing and is determined to provide them with the help and support they need and deserve. It is looking closely at how the benefit system currently does this.
The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the level of the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit will be considered as a part of this review.
No impact assessment has been made on changes to the Universal Credit assessment periods or payment structures. However, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.
The consultation on Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July.
There were over 16,000 responses to the consultation, which demonstrates the depth of feeling about the previous Government’s proposals. I can confirm that responses to the set of proposals on the reform of Personal Independence Payment were mixed and for some proposals consistently negative.
We do not intend to publish a response to the previous Government’s consultation. We will be considering our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.
This Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by all unpaid carers.
It is a general principle that people in full-time education should be supported by the educational maintenance system, rather than the social security benefit system. That is why full-time students are usually precluded from entitlement to income-related and income-maintenance benefits, including Carer’s Allowance. Part-time students may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance though. This reflects long-standing principles of the benefit system, and we have no plans to change these rules.
Department for Work and Pensions officials work very closely with their Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care counterparts to ensure that young carers get the help and support they need.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of State Pensions and benefits. Her review for this year will be based on CPI in the year to September 2024, and on earnings growth in the year to May-July 2024.
The Office for National Statistics will publish the average weekly earnings figure for May to July on 15 October and the CPI figure will be published on 16 October. The outcome of the review will be announced in the Autumn – and until the review has been concluded, it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome. The new rates will take effect from April 2024.
The Government remains committed to supporting pensioners, and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners will benefit, with many expected to see their State Pension increase by over a thousand pounds over the next five years; the full new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,700 this Parliament.
The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the value of Carer’s Allowance is protected by up-rating it each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).
This government will keep eligibility criteria and processes of Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meeting its objectives.
We recognise the challenges carers are facing and we are determined to provide unpaid carers with the support they need and deserve.
With respect to overpayments of Carer’s Allowance, we are moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong so we can set out our plan to put things right.
Claimants have a responsibility to report change of circumstances as they happen. Customers taking action as soon as possible, to let the department know of a change will reduce the number and size of overpayments.
The Department is currently assessing the results of a recent trial that issued an SMS message to prompt Carer’s Allowance recipients, to remind them to contact the department to report a change of earning. Changes of circumstances can be reported through Gov.uk, telephony and post.
Supporting unpaid carers is a cross-Government issue which requires cross-Government support. I recently met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets in the Department for Business and Trade and the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability in the Department for Work and Pensions to look at how we can work together more closely to support unpaid carers.
The Government has already taken steps to support unpaid carers. From April 2025, we are increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196. This means carers can earn up to £10,000 a year whilst still retaining Carer's Allowance; this is approximately an additional £2,000 a year.
The Government recognises the challenges facing the adult social care system. That is why the Government is launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.
The commission will start a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support.
The Government is also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.
The final delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, will cover the population of England only.
However, due to the United Kingdom-wide nature of this issue, we have maintained engagement with the devolved administrations during the analysis of the consultation responses on the interim delivery plan, as well as on the ongoing development of the final plan.
We will continue to work closely with those devolved administrations to ensure that policy development and learning across the UK’s nations is shared.
The Government is committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harms of pollution and plans to introduce a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy which will include a series of interventions to reduce emissions, and in turn everyone’s exposure to air pollution.
There are currently no plans to undertake a general assessment of the potential impact on human health given that it is already well established that even low concentrations of air quality pollutants are likely to be associated with adverse effects on health. Therefore, continued reductions, even where concentrations are below the air quality guidelines, are likely to be beneficial to health.
Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care and the NHS. We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-year plan for reforming and modernising the NHS and as we develop plans to reform adult social care, including through the National Care Service.
This Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed in social care. That is why we will engage widely with a range of stakeholders, including unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service. The Government are also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave. We will also keep Carer’s Allowance under review to ensure it meets its objectives.
There are a number of initiatives in place to help support National Health Service staff who are balancing their jobs with caring responsibilities. Sections 33 and 34 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) Handbook sets out the provisions required to support staff who have caring responsibilities for children and adults. These provisions were negotiated and agreed with trade unions. Further information on the handbook is available at the following link:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook
This includes the requirement for employers to have a local policy in place which emphasises the benefits of balancing work and personal life, staff rights to request flexible working arrangements, and for employers to reasonably consider any such requests.
NHS England provides policy and guidance to support unpaid workers and includes the National Flexible Working People Policy Framework that sets out the right for everyone to request flexible working from day one of employment. This framework is available at the following link:
Additional support for unpaid carers also includes special leave policies which enable staff to take emergency leave for caregiving responsibilities at short notice. NHS staff are able to access the Carer Passport Scheme which helps identify staff as carers to ensure support and reasonable adjustments are put in place. Further information on the scheme is available at the following link:
There are also flexible retirement options in place to allow carers to reduce their hours or take phased retirement. NHS England also committed to and promoted the five days of unpaid carers' leave allowance stipulated in the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, which came into force on 6 April 2024.
On 16 and 17 January, violent protests and looting of Sudanese businesses took place in Juba and across South Sudan. Security forces rapidly managed to restore calm but around 10,000 people were displaced and an unknown number killed. The protests were triggered by reports (including footage circulated on social media) of South Sudanese civilians being killed by allied militias of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Wad Madani, Sudan. Working with partners, the Foreign Secretary is determined to re-energise a political process on ending the Sudan conflict, protecting civilians, and getting aid to where it is most needed. The UK has also raised the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians with the transitional government of South Sudan. This includes my visit to South Sudan in August 2024 where I pressed the South Sudanese Government to make progress towards peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, emphasising the need for political dialogue to ensure peace and stability.
The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.
It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
The UK is a strong advocate for enhancing debt transparency including for private sector debt. As part of this, we supported the Institute of International Finance (IIF) and OECD Debt Transparency Initiative, set up in 2021, and the IIF’s Voluntary Principles for Debt Transparency, which underpinned it. The UK has taken a lead in ensuring its own lending is transparent and meets G20 best practice, publishing details of all new direct lending quarterly and the stock of debt owed to the UK annually.
The UK continues to engage closely with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders through international fora, such as the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, to promote the importance of transparency, and to explore ways to build on and improve existing efforts.
The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.
Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.*
The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:
Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.
Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.*
The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:
Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.
Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.*
The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:
Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.
Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.*
The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:
Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.
Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.*
The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:
Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
As the Hon Member will be aware the Migration Advisory Committee published a Review of the Seasonal Worker Visa on 16 July.
The Government will carefully consider the MAC’s recommendations and will provide a detailed response in due course.
Announcements were made on Round 3 Window 1 of the Community Ownership Fund on 25 September 2023, Window 2 on 22 December 2023 and Window 3 on 23 March 2024. A full list of successful bidders can be found here.