David Davis Portrait

David Davis

Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden

First elected: 10th July 2008


1 APPG membership (as of 8 Apr 2024)
Trafficked Britons in Syria
5 Former APPG memberships
Deliberative Democracy, Drones, Future of Work, Responsible Tax, Social Integration
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
13th Jul 2016 - 8th Jul 2018
Shadow Secretary of State (Home Office)
10th Nov 2003 - 12th Jun 2008
Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (also Shadow Minister for London)
23rd Jul 2002 - 10th Nov 2003
Shadow Minister without Portfolio
18th Sep 2001 - 23rd Jul 2002
Liaison Committee (Commons)
30th Oct 1997 - 11th May 2001
Public Accounts Committee
25th Jul 1997 - 11th May 2001
Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
20th Jul 1994 - 2nd May 1997
Parliamentary Secretary (Duchy of Lancaster Office)
27th May 1993 - 19th Jul 1994
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
3rd Dec 1990 - 27th May 1993


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, David Davis has voted in 711 divisions, and 68 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Mar 2021 - Coronavirus - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 35 Conservative No votes vs 305 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
22 Mar 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 29 Conservative Aye votes vs 318 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 318
22 Mar 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Conservative No votes vs 318 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 297
22 Mar 2021 - Fire Safety Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 33 Conservative No votes vs 320 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 322 Noes - 253
10 Feb 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative No votes vs 327 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 526 Noes - 24
9 Feb 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 341 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 351 Noes - 276
9 Feb 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Conservative No votes vs 318 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 303
9 Feb 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative No votes vs 354 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 363 Noes - 267
27 Jan 2021 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative No votes vs 354 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 363 Noes - 267
27 Jan 2021 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative No votes vs 353 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 361 Noes - 267
19 Jan 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative No votes vs 344 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 353 Noes - 277
19 Jan 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative No votes vs 319 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 308
30 Dec 2020 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 328 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 212
1 Dec 2020 - Public Health - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 53 Conservative No votes vs 290 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 78
10 Nov 2020 - Committee on Standards - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 334 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 261 Noes - 334
4 Nov 2020 - Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 330 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 333 Noes - 264
3 Nov 2020 - Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 335 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 266 Noes - 336
3 Nov 2020 - Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 336 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 335
3 Nov 2020 - Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 333 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 269 Noes - 334
19 Oct 2020 - Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative No votes vs 324 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 327 Noes - 264
19 Oct 2020 - Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 326 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 328 Noes - 264
15 Oct 2020 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 314 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 256 Noes - 317
15 Oct 2020 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 312 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 256 Noes - 316
15 Oct 2020 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 310 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 311
15 Oct 2020 - Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 310 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 255 Noes - 314
13 Oct 2020 - Public Health: Coronavirus Regulations - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Conservative No votes vs 298 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 299 Noes - 82
2 Sep 2020 - Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 41 Conservative No votes vs 47 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 55 Noes - 52
1 Jul 2020 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative Aye votes vs 317 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 232 Noes - 321
1 Jul 2020 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative Aye votes vs 316 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 254 Noes - 317
30 Jun 2020 - Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 332 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 252 Noes - 332
20 May 2020 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 345 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 352
20 May 2020 - Liaison (Membership) - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 316 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 323
10 Mar 2020 - Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 36 Conservative Aye votes vs 301 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 282 Noes - 306
27 Apr 2021 - Fire Safety Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Conservative No votes vs 320 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 320 Noes - 256
28 Apr 2021 - Fire Safety Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 32 Conservative No votes vs 321 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 322 Noes - 256
20 Oct 2021 - Environment Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative No votes vs 265 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 268 Noes - 204
7 Dec 2021 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative Aye votes vs 305 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 245 Noes - 309
7 Dec 2021 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 289 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 251 Noes - 296
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 97 Conservative No votes vs 224 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 60 Conservative No votes vs 258 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
17 Jan 2022 - Elections Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 315 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 327
7 Mar 2022 - Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Conservative Aye votes vs 296 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 300
22 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 305 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 223
22 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative No votes vs 296 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 302 Noes - 232
22 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative No votes vs 296 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 313 Noes - 227
20 Apr 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative No votes vs 304 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 311 Noes - 231
20 Apr 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative No votes vs 291 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 294 Noes - 242
20 Apr 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Conservative No votes vs 298 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 303 Noes - 236
20 Apr 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Conservative No votes vs 298 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 303 Noes - 234
18 Oct 2022 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative Aye votes vs 282 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 235 Noes - 302
18 Oct 2022 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative No votes vs 276 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 283 Noes - 234
16 Nov 2022 - National Security Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 280 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 283
16 Nov 2022 - National Security Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 275 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 212 Noes - 283
16 Nov 2022 - National Security Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 275 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 56 Noes - 282
5 Dec 2022 - Online Safety Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 308 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 242 Noes - 308
18 Jan 2023 - Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative Aye votes vs 286 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 242 Noes - 295
16 Jan 2023 - Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 299 Conservative No votes vs 18 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 49 Noes - 482
14 Dec 2022 - Asylum Seekers (Removal to Safe Countries) - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 67 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 69 Noes - 188
14 Dec 2022 - Architects - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 295 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 303 Noes - 42
12 Dec 2022 - Council Tax - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 292 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 298 Noes - 199
12 Dec 2022 - Standards: Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 234 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 135 Noes - 239
22 Mar 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative No votes vs 288 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 296 Noes - 229
7 Mar 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 107 Conservative Aye votes vs 109 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 116 Noes - 299
7 Mar 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative No votes vs 269 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 281 Noes - 236
7 Mar 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative No votes vs 271 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 232
24 Apr 2023 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 263 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 200
11 Jul 2023 - Illegal Migration Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative No votes vs 279 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 284 Noes - 242
29 Nov 2023 - Data Protection and Digital Information Bill - View Vote Context
David Davis voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 265 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 209 Noes - 275
View All David Davis 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
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(24 debate interactions)
Priti Patel (Conservative)
(24 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(24 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(99 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(88 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(70 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
National Security Act 2023
(3,120 words contributed)
Online Safety Act 2023
(2,872 words contributed)
Nationality and Borders Act 2022
(2,586 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all David Davis's debates

Haltemprice and Howden 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

This petition calls for the Government to allocate Parliamentary time for assisted dying to be fully debated in the House of Commons and to give MPs a vote on the issue. Terminally ill people who are mentally sound and near the end of their lives should not suffer unbearably against their will.


Latest EDMs signed by David Davis

7th November 2023
David Davis signed this EDM on Monday 4th December 2023

Sixth year of detention of Jagtar Singh Johal

Tabled by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
That this House notes that Friday 4 November 2023 marked the sixth anniversary of the arbitrary detention in India of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist and son of the Rock of Dumbarton held since being abducted from the street during his honeymoon by unidentified assailants who turned out to …
54 signatures
(Most recent: 7 Dec 2023)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 35
Labour: 7
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Liberal Democrat: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Alliance: 1
Conservative: 1
13th July 2023
David Davis signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 13th July 2023

Debate on the Intelligence and Security Committee's report on China

Tabled by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
That this House ensures that the Intelligence and Security Committee Report on China, published on 13 July 2023, is debated on the floor of the House of Commons before the House rises on Thursday 20 July 2023.
4 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Jul 2023)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All David Davis's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by David Davis, 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.


2 Urgent Questions tabled by David Davis

Wednesday 10th January 2024

9 Adjournment Debates led by David Davis

Thursday 29th June 2023
Monday 17th October 2022
Thursday 24th June 2021
Thursday 21st January 2021
Thursday 14th January 2021
Thursday 23rd January 2020

6 Bills introduced by David Davis


A Bill to repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and make other provision in connection with the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th June 2018 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to confer power on the Prime Minister to notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 16th March 2017 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the handling of complaints by the Health Service Commissioner for England; to require the Commissioner to notify a complainant of the reason for the delay if the investigation of the complaint is not concluded within a twelve month period; to require the Commissioner to lay before Parliament an annual report giving details of how long investigations of complaints have taken to be concluded and progress towards meeting a target of concluding investigations within a twelve month period; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th March 2015 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to place a duty on universities to promote freedom of speech; to make provision for fining universities that do not comply with that duty; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 19th January 2021
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to make provision about obligations on wind farm operators in respect of financial cover for potential liabilities arising from cause of public nuisance; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 21st July 2015

A Bill to amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to provide that disclosures of information about malpractice to a Member of Parliament where the disclosure is in the public interest be included as protected disclosures; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 19th November 2013

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
30th Jan 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister or official authorised the Rapid Response Unit to collect of data related to public statements, social media and internet activity as part of that unit's work.

The Rapid Response Unit was launched, initially as a six-month pilot in April 2018; its formation having received approval at Ministerial level in January 2018. During the pandemic, the Cabinet Office expanded the team to monitor disinformation about Covid. The Rapid Response Unit used only publicly available data, including material shared on social media platforms, to assess UK disinformation trends and narratives.

5th Sep 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2022 to Question 153746, on Coronavirus: Surveys, if he will publish the timetable for sharing information on polling commissioned by the Government at the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

The Cabinet Office is working with suppliers to finalise campaign evaluation reports. This is a complex process given the amount of data generated during the Covid-19 pandemic and we want to avoid any misleading publication of findings. We aim to begin publishing reports by the end of the year.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2021 to Question 45797, on Coronavirus: Surveys, if he will publish information on polling commissioned by the Government at the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 polling was conducted to help develop and drive the optimisation of campaign messaging. This enabled the maximum effectiveness of messaging and ensured vital public health information reached as many people as possible.

Due to the unprecedented scope of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling was conducted regularly for approximately two years. This represents a significant volume of information that requires review.

The Cabinet Office is committed to conducting a review of the polling information that it holds. A timetable for sharing the appropriate information will be released by Spring 2022.

14th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 14 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.

14th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 13 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.

14th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 11 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.

14th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 10 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.

9th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 9 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
9th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 8 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
9th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 7 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
9th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 6 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
9th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 5 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
8th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 4 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
8th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 3 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
8th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 2 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
8th Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 1 February 2020.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the results of 16 polls on public opinion on covid-19 conducted or commissioned by his Department which took place on Sundays between March and July 2020, which covered public opinion on Covid-19.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.



Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which companies the Cabinet Office's Insight and Evaluation Team commissioned to carry out covid-19 polling on behalf of the Government.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.



Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) contents and (b) results of the 265 covid-19 polling files held by his Department's Insight and Evaluation Team.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.



Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) dates and (b) results of covid-19 polling undertaken by Hanbury Strategy on behalf of the Government.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.



Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates between 1 January 2020 and 28 July 2020 covid-19 polling was undertaken by (a) his Department's Insight and Evaluation Team and (b) companies on behalf of his Department.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.

Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.

The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.



Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff have undertaken work in the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House in each of the last 10 years; and what the annual budget was for the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House in that time period.

This Government is fully committed to transparency, and ensuring all requests for Freedom of Information (FOI) are handled appropriately. All requests are considered in an applicant-blind manner, regardless of - for example - the occupation of the applicant. The Cabinet Office FOI process complies with relevant protections under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Under section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Cabinet Minister issues a Code of Practice, available on gov.uk, which provides guidance and advice to public authorities on the handling of Freedom of Information Requests. In addition, and in line with practice since 2005, the Cabinet Office provides advice to Departments, to ensure cases are handled consistently, and sensitive material handled appropriately. A Clearing House was established in 2004 and has operated in different forms since the FOI Act came into force in January 2005 as an advice centre to coordinate complex requests across Whitehall. There is now no stand alone Clearing House team, but coordination functions are carried out by a number of staff members who have a range of wider responsibilities. Policy responsibility for Freedom of Information transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet Office in 2015.

25th Nov 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria are used to determine whether a Freedom of Information Request is sufficiently sensitive to be referred to the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House.

This Government is fully committed to transparency, and ensuring all requests for Freedom of Information (FOI) are handled appropriately. All requests are considered in an applicant-blind manner, regardless of - for example - the occupation of the applicant. The Cabinet Office FOI process complies with relevant protections under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Under section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Cabinet Minister issues a Code of Practice, available on gov.uk, which provides guidance and advice to public authorities on the handling of Freedom of Information Requests. In addition, and in line with practice since 2005, the Cabinet Office provides advice to Departments, to ensure cases are handled consistently, and sensitive material handled appropriately. A Clearing House was established in 2004 and has operated in different forms since the FOI Act came into force in January 2005 as an advice centre to coordinate complex requests across Whitehall. There is now no stand alone Clearing House team, but coordination functions are carried out by a number of staff members who have a range of wider responsibilities. Policy responsibility for Freedom of Information transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet Office in 2015.

28th Jan 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the introduction of voter identification cards does not affect an individual's civil rights.

Voter ID is part of a body of work this Government is delivering to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st century.

Electors will be required to show an approved form of photographic ID before casting their vote in a polling station across Great Britain at national UK-wide elections, and at local elections in England.

The list of approved photographic ID will not be limited to passports and driving licences, a broad range of documents already in use will be accepted, including, for example, concessionary travel passes, PASS scheme cards, Ministry of Defence identity cards and photocard parking permits issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme.

Any voter who does not have an approved form of ID will be able to apply, free of charge, for a local elector ID from their local authority.

The provision of local elector ID will be the exception rather than the norm, evidenced by the published evaluations of the pilots:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/our-views-and-research/our-research/voter-identification-pilots/may-2019-voter-identification-pilot-schemes/our-findings

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819404/2019_Voter_ID_Pilots_Evaluation.pdf

7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the work of the Counter Disinformation Unit and (b) impact of that work on freedom of speech.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), now called the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), is focused exclusively on risks to national security and public safety.

Preserving freedom of expression is an extremely important principle underpinning the team’s work. The Government believes that people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely.

The NSOIT does not monitor the social media accounts of individuals and does not take any action that could impact anyone’s ability to discuss and debate issues freely. When the NSOIT identifies content which is within one of the areas of focus ministers have agreed, is assessed to pose a risk to national security or public safety and which is assessed to breach the terms and conditions of the relevant platform it may share that content with the platform. No action is mandated by the Government, it is entirely up to the platform to determine whether or not to take any action in line with their terms of service. Under no circumstances is content from Parliamentarians or journalists ever referred to platforms. Ministers continue to keep the work of the NSOIT under review and the approach to sharing any content with platforms.

14th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether online content flagged for removal by the Counter Disinformation Unit can include lawful expression.

Preserving freedom of expression is an extremely important principle underpinning the Counter Disinformation Unit’s (CDU) work. The CDU does not monitor political debate and the CDU does not refer any content from journalists, politicians or political parties to social media platforms.

The CDU works closely with the major social media platforms to understand their terms of service and to encourage them to promote authoritative sources of information.

Where the unit encounters content which poses a demonstrable risk to public health, safety or national security and is assessed to breach the platform’s terms of service, content may be referred to the platform concerned for their consideration.

No action is mandated by the Government and it is up to the platform to independently decide whether or not to take any action in line with their terms of service.

A fact sheet providing further information on the work of the CDU can be found here.

7th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's counter-disinformation unit on freedom of expression.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads HMG’s operational and policy response to understand and counter disinformation and attempts to manipulate the information environment, with the potential to impact domestic audiences. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19, the CDU has considered disinformation relating to key national events such as Operation London Bridge and elections.

Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s work is consistent with the government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet.

7th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what policy areas the Counter Disinformation Unit focuses on in addition to Covid-19 and Ukraine.

The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads HMG’s operational and policy response to understand and counter disinformation and attempts to manipulate the information environment, with the potential to impact domestic audiences. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19, the CDU has considered disinformation relating to key national events such as Operation London Bridge and elections.

Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s work is consistent with the government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet.

26th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment with the Competition and Markets Authority of the implications for their policies of mobile phone policies that (a) remove functionality when using third party components and (b) other potentially anti-competitive practices by (i) Apple and (ii) other companies in the technology sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the independent non-Ministerial department responsible for investigating competition issues in the UK. The Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers to investigate and act if it finds that companies are behaving anti-competitively in a market.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to prevent printer manufacturers from locking devices to only being able to use approved printer cartridges.

The Government is committed to tackling consumer rip-offs and bad business practices. The Government has ensured that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has significant powers and expertise to investigate such issues.

Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, it is a criminal offence to provide consumers with misleading information or omit important details about a product they are purchasing.

Under competition law, the CMA is responsible for investigating individual and market-wide competition issues. Consumers and businesses should report concerns about competition issues to the CMA.

11th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional manufacturing capacity there is in the UK for manufacturing a vaccine for covid-19 once one is developed.

The Vaccines Taskforce is working with the BioIndustry Association Taskforce to review existing domestic capability to manufacture vaccines, in response to Covid-19. The Taskforce is also reviewing options for increasing this capacity. The Business Secretary recently announced that the government will accelerate building the UK’s first Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, which is based at Harwell in Oxfordshire. The government will invest up to a further £93 million in the Centre, ensuring that it opens in summer 2021 – a full 12 months ahead of schedule. The Centre – which is already under construction – will have capacity to produce enough vaccine doses to serve the entire UK population in as little as 6 months. While the Centre is being built, the government will establish a rapid deployment facility thanks to a further investment of £38 million to begin coronavirus vaccine manufacturing at scale from this summer. This facility will support efforts to ensure a vaccine is widely available to the public as soon as possible.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
10th Mar 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps he has taken to increase employment in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK.

As of 12th March, employment rates in the UK are at a record high at 76.5% and unemployment is at a near record low at 3.9%. 33 million people are now in work, which is 271,000 more than last year. The growth in employment has largely been driven by an increase in female full-time employment.

The Government is investing over £1.3 billion through Yorkshire and Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deals. This includes over £141 million through the Humber LEP that is providing financial assistance to local businesses, as well as improving infrastructure and skills. We have also established Enterprise Zones across the UK including in the Humber, which is the largest Enterprise Zone award in the country. The Zone has attracted business investment and new jobs to the area, such as at the Humber Enterprise Park in Brough in the Hon Gentleman’s constituency.

The Government-backed British Business Bank’s Start-Up Loans programme provides loans to entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their own businesses. Since 2012, 5,930 loans have been issued in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, totalling over £50 million. In the Haltemprice and Howden constituency, 110 loans have been issued, totalling over £1 million (as at end-December 2019).

24th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to to improve productivity in each region of the UK.

The Government is committed to levelling up all regions of the UK. We are working with local leaders and businesses on Local Industrial Strategies to boost productivity and living standards, whilst increasing investment in science, research, and development across the country.

These long-term strategies are based on robust evidence, providing an in-depth understanding of?local economies. Local Industrial Strategies explicitly focus on driving productivity by setting out the spatial impacts of national and local policy across our cities, towns, and rural areas.

14th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to support the tidal energy sector.

Renewable electricity generation has more than quadrupled since 2010. A record 52.6% of electricity came from low-carbon sources in 2018.   We have the world’s largest offshore wind capacity at 9.8GW with CfD auction prices for offshore wind falling by two-thirds between 2015 and 2019.

Tidal energy could still have a potentially important role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK. It has to reduce its costs sufficiently, however, to compete with other renewable technologies.

9th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support small businesses in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Government is committed to supporting all entrepreneurs to start and grow a business, to create jobs and spread prosperity.

In the North Yorkshire and Humber regions businesses can access support through www.gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) and their local Growth Hubs (York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Growth Hub and Humber Growth Hub). These are led and governed by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Growth Hubs provide a free, impartial, ‘single point of contact’ to help businesses in these areas identify and access the right support for them at the right time no matter their size or sector. In 2018-2019 the two Growth Hubs supported 14,939 businesses and helped 81 new businesses to start up.

In addition, within the Humber LEP area, the ‘Growing the Humber’ business investment programme has supported the creation of over 2,800 jobs to date. This signposts anyone interested to a range of business support information, as well as to organisations that provide a wide variety of services, including funding, support, advice, mentoring and business services who can help business start-up, survive and thrive.

The Department for International Trade in Yorkshire and the Humber works with a network of International Trade Advisers and partners across the region to enable local businesses to showcase their products and services overseas, with their Northern Powerhouse team running bespoke Trade missions. Since April 2016, there have been 68 Northern Powerhouse missions to 19 countries, supporting 1,252 companies. As we leave the EU, they will be working to deepen our trading ties with overseas markets to maximise export opportunities for small businesses.

The British Business Bank (BBB) with a consortia of LEPs manages the £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), which celebrated the milestone of having invested £100m in 385 Northern-based SMEs. This support addresses the disparity in availability of regional finance was further bolstered last autumn, with a £100m Business Angel investment programme was launched to support clusters of business angels outside London.

The BBB has also established a UK-wide Network of regional managers working with business support partners, delivering advice tailored to local needs.

The Government-backed British Business Bank’s Start-Up Loans programme provides loans to entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their own businesses. Since 2012, 5,875 loans have been issued in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, totalling over £49m, and with an average loan amount of £8,459. In the Haltemprice and Howden constituency, 108 loans have been issued, totalling over £974,000 (as at end-December 2019).

30th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which Minister or official authorised the Counter Disinformation Unit to collect data related to public statements, social media and internet activity as part of the unit's work.

The Counter Disinformation Unit was established in 2019 as part of DCMS’s departmental responsibility for counter-disinformation, and as part of the government's manifesto commitment to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online while defending freedom of expression.

The monitoring of harmful disinformation narratives and trends, using publicly available information online, is an essential part of DCMS’ role in understanding the information environment and working with partners across government and with social media companies to counter narratives that have the potential to cause real world harm. The CDU reports regularly to ministers who have full oversight of the team’s work.

14th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications to de-list a listed building were (a) made and (b) successful in each year since 2010.

(a) The total number of applications received each year for the de-listing of a Listed Building is not recorded.

(b) The number of Listed Buildings de-listed each year since 2010 is detailed below:

Year

Number of Listed Buildings de-listed

2010

138

2011

116

2012

131

2013

235

2014

207

2015

250

2016

306

2017

203

2018

258

2019

185

2020

83

2021

46

2022*

114*

* Up to 15th December 2022.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 11 October to Question 53272 on Social Media: Disinformation, how many times the Counter Disinformation Unit team has referred content to social media platforms in each year since the Unit was set up; and to which companies the content was referred.

The primary purpose of the Counter Disinformation Unit is not to spot every instance of disinformation across all social media platforms, but rather to understand overall trends and coordinated attempts to artificially manipulate the information environment. When the Unit does identify particular pieces of harmful content which may violate platforms’ terms of service these are referred to the relevant platform for consideration, who in turn decide what action to take.

As an operational matter it is not appropriate for the government to publicly provide details of content reported to platforms as doing so would give malign actors insight into our capabilities.

21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish a list of the occasions when her Department's Counter Disinformation Cell has requested social media platforms remove posts from their platforms and what the grounds were for classifying the posted information as disinformation.

The Government takes the issue of disinformation very seriously. The Counter Disinformation Unit team, based in DCMS, works to understand the scope, scale and reach of disinformation and works with a range of partners, including social media platforms, to tackle it.

The primary purpose of the team is not to spot every instance of disinformation across all social media platforms, but rather to understand overall trends and coordinated attempts to artificially manipulate the information environment. When the Unit does identify particular pieces of harmful content which may violate platforms’ terms of service these are referred to the relevant platform for consideration, who in turn decide what action to take.

As an operational matter it is not appropriate for the government to publicly provide details of content reported to platforms as doing so would give malign actors insight into our capabilities.

8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the Samaritans will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service. This does not include volunteers in the Samaritans. Equally, volunteers in the UK vaccination effort are not eligible for the Medal.

The Government does however recognise the extraordinary contributions made by people across communities in response to the pandemic, and notes the outstanding work of Samaritans’ volunteers.

The Prime Minister has announced that the government will establish a UK Commission on COVID Commemoration to consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives and to recognise those involved in the unprecedented response across all critical sectors. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Of the volunteers you ask about, only Royal National Lifeboat Institute volunteers are eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent.

Individual departments, the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies are responsible for applying the criteria and making eligibility decisions regarding the award of the Medal to their staff and other organisations that fall under their sponsorship. The criteria are in line with that of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the St Andrew's First Aid will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Of the volunteers you ask about, only Royal National Lifeboat Institute volunteers are eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent.

Individual departments, the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies are responsible for applying the criteria and making eligibility decisions regarding the award of the Medal to their staff and other organisations that fall under their sponsorship. The criteria are in line with that of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the St John Ambulance will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Of the volunteers you ask about, only Royal National Lifeboat Institute volunteers are eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent.

Individual departments, the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies are responsible for applying the criteria and making eligibility decisions regarding the award of the Medal to their staff and other organisations that fall under their sponsorship. The criteria are in line with that of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Of the volunteers you ask about, only Royal National Lifeboat Institute volunteers are eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent.

Individual departments, the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies are responsible for applying the criteria and making eligibility decisions regarding the award of the Medal to their staff and other organisations that fall under their sponsorship. The criteria are in line with that of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether volunteers in the Red Cross will be eligible for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Of the volunteers you ask about, only Royal National Lifeboat Institute volunteers are eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

To qualify for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent.

Individual departments, the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies are responsible for applying the criteria and making eligibility decisions regarding the award of the Medal to their staff and other organisations that fall under their sponsorship. The criteria are in line with that of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
29th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans in place for allocating the cost of removing and replacing Huawei equipment in the event that its installation is prohibited.

On 28 January, the Government announced the final conclusions of the Telecoms Supply Chain Review in relation to high risk vendors. It was announced that equipment from high risk vendors should be excluded from the core parts of the 5G and full fibre networks that are critical to security, and their presence limited to 35% in the rest of the network. We expect the cost of meeting restrictions on the presence of equipment from high risk vendors to be met by the operators using that equipment.

24th Feb 2020
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the announcement by his Department on 20 February 2020 of a £65 million package for 5G trials, what the Government's policy is on security in the telecommunications supply chain in respect of those trials; and what decisions have been made in respect of the identity of the suppliers that will provide the infrastructure for those trials.

The recent announcement of a new £65 million package of 5G trials forms part of the DCMS £200 million 5G Testbeds and Trials programme. That included £35 million for nine winning projects from our rural and industrial 5G competitions, and a new £30 million open competition - 5G Create - that will launch in due course.

The Programme ensures that each of our projects has a security strategy in place that identifies and mitigates security risks and is proportionate for R&D environments. Testbeds are encouraged to employ nationally recognised standards and best practice security approaches. This includes identifying and mitigating supply chain risks and taking steps to manage High Risk Vendors. None of the successful projects announced as part of Industrial 5G and Rural Connected Communities will use equipment from high risk vendors. We will publish guidance in due course for our 5G Create competition when it launches.