First elected: 8th June 2017
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).
Repeal the current Dangerous Dogs Act and replace with new framework
Gov Responded - 24 Jan 2023 Debated on - 27 Nov 2023 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsWe want the Government to repeal the Dangerous Dogs Act and replace it with legislation that focuses on early intervention to prevent dog bites and tackle dog-related issues regardless of breed or type, based solely on their behaviour.
Bad owners are to blame not the breed - don't ban the XL bully
Gov Responded - 23 Nov 2023 Debated on - 27 Nov 2023 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributions
I believe that the XL bully is a kind, beautiful natured breed that loves children and people in general, and are very loyal and loving pets.
Ban commercial breeding for laboratories. Implement reform to approve & use NAMs
Gov Responded - 27 May 2022 Debated on - 16 Jan 2023 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsRevoke all licences (PEL) for commercial breeders of laboratory animals. Require all Project Licences (PPLs) applications be reviewed by an independent Non Animal Methods (NAMs) specialist committee. Revise s24 ASPA 1986 to allow review. Urge International Regulators to accept & promote NAMs.
Protect student choice: do not withdraw funding for BTEC qualifications
Gov Responded - 17 Aug 2021 Debated on - 18 Jul 2022 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsReverse the plan to withdraw funding for most applied general qualifications such as BTECs and guarantee they will continue to play a major role in the qualifications landscape. Students should not be forced to choose between studying A levels or T levels from the age of 16.
Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Gov Responded - 24 Aug 2020 Debated on - 1 Nov 2021 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsEndometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.
Protect the UK's dwindling hedgehog population before it's too late.
Gov Responded - 19 Oct 2020 Debated on - 5 Jul 2021 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsNow the hedgehog has been listed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, we are calling on the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection.
Require universities to reimburse students' tuition fees during strike action
Gov Responded - 21 Apr 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsThe University and College Union has repeatedly called on its members to strike. However, strikes are ineffective if students, not employees are the main source of revenue. For this to change, government needs to step in and require universities to reimburse tuition fees lost due to strike action.
Reimburse all students of this year’s fees due to strikes and COVID-19
Gov Responded - 5 Jun 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsAll students should be reimbursed of this years tuition fees as universities are now online only due to COVID-19, with only powerpoints online for learning materials which is not worthy of up to £9,250. Furthermore, all assessments are being reconsidered to ‘make do’ and build up credits.
Refund university students for 3rd Semester Tuition 2020
Gov Responded - 19 May 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsAs students are unable to access facilities or continue with their eduction at their university setting in the following semester, we would like to request that the government considers refunding tuition payments for Semester 3.
Require universities to partially refund tuition fees for 20/21 due to Covid-19
Gov Responded - 24 Sep 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsThe quality of online lectures is not equal to face-to-face lectures. Students should not have to pay full tuition fees for online lectures, without experiencing university life. The Government should require UK universities to partially refund tuition fees while online teaching is implemented.
Lower university tuition fees for students until online teaching ends
Gov Responded - 30 Oct 2020 Debated on - 16 Nov 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsStudents across the UK have returned to University to be told our learning will be predominantly online for the foreseeable future. The Government should therefore lower our tuition fees and we should receive a partial refund for the effects this will have on our learning and university experience.
Provide 15 hours free childcare to working parents for children over 9 months.
Gov Responded - 8 May 2019 Debated on - 9 Mar 2020 View Emma Hardy's petition debate contributionsAfter 9 months of maternity leave, most working mums do not receive any maternity pay and need to go back to work. I think all working parents should be entitled to 15 hours free childcare from the time a child is 9 months. It makes more sense to provide this funding from 9 months instead of 2 years
These initiatives were driven by Emma Hardy, 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.
Emma Hardy has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to set national minimum requirements for flood mitigation and protection measures in new build public and private properties enforced by local planning authorities; to place reporting requirements on local and national government in relation to flood prevention measures; to establish a certification scheme for improvements to domestic and commercial properties for flood prevention and mitigation purposes and an accreditation scheme for installers of such improvements; to require insurers to take account of such improvements and any existing flood prevention and mitigation measures that were planning permission requirements when determining premiums; to extend eligibility to the Flood Reinsurance scheme under section 64 of the Water Act 2014 to small and medium-sized enterprises and homes built after 2009; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require providers of electronic communications networks to grant access to their apparatus to other such providers in certain circumstances; to prohibit the installation of new electronic communications apparatus where services can be provided by sharing apparatus; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to establish a regulator of privately-owned car parks; to make provision about the powers and duties of that regulator; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require employers to ensure that personal protective equipment provided at work to people with certain protected characteristics within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 is suitable for the wearer; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to give the Environment Agency certain powers and duties in respect of the Humber2100+ project; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to grant local authorities increased powers of compulsory purchase; to amend the law relating to land valuation and compensation; to make provision requiring landowners to fulfil conditions relating to planning permission; and for connected purposes.
Multi-Academy Trusts (Ofsted Inspection) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Jonathan Gullis (Con)
Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021
Sponsor - Mike Amesbury (Lab)
Children (Access to Treatment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Lab)
Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Welfare of Women) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Siobhain McDonagh (Lab)
Youth (Services and Provisions) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lloyd Russell-Moyle (LAB)
Terminal Illness (Provision of Palliative Care and Support for Carers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Lab)
Hospital Car Parking Charges (Abolition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)
Patient safety and women’s health is a top priority for this Government.
That’s why since the ‘First Do No Harm’ report we have:
o Appointed England’s first Patient Safety Commissioner
o Setup specialist centres for women impacted by mesh
o Piloted ways doctors can declare their interests
o And launched a national mandatory Medical Device Outcome Registry.
Beyond this, we published the first Women’s Health Strategy for England, which set out our plans for improving how the health and care system listens to women.
There has been a delay in publishing the VSC Call for Evidence report and the Government plans to release it in due course. The Government is considering the findings of the Call for Evidence and how it can improve outcomes for people with VSC.
The Government has today published Command Paper CP 822, which contains a draft Media Bill.
The draft Bill contains measures which will ensure that UK radio remains available to listeners via their smart speakers over the coming years, while providing scope for innovative collaboration and partnerships between stations and the smart speaker platforms.
The Government has today published Command Paper CP 822, which contains a draft Media Bill.
The draft Bill contains measures which will ensure that UK radio remains available to listeners via their smart speakers over the coming years, while providing scope for innovative collaboration and partnerships between stations and the smart speaker platforms.
The Secretary of State and I meet representatives of Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to broadcasting, as do officials from my Department.
The findings of Ofcom’s review of market changes referred to in the Broadcasting White Paper will form part of our evidence base for future long term decisions for the period after 2034. My officials continue to work with Ofcom to suggest areas of potential focus for the review.
As set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to publish the findings of their review before the end of 2025.
As an open economy, we welcome investment where it supports UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk.
As you will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Questions of 22 May are attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Questions of 22 May are attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question: PQ98831 is attached.
The Inquiry’s timescales, process and procedure are all matters for its independent Chair, who is under a statutory duty to avoid unnecessary cost in the conduct of the Inquiry. The Inquiry will publish details of its expenditure on its website in due course.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 12 May is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
On 4 January 2021, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown in England. Details and guidance are available on gov.uk, as well as information on restrictions applicable in other parts of the United Kingdom. Restrictions are kept under review.
I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 November.
I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 November.
In July, the Government launched the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which is looking at outcomes across the country, with a focus on employment, enterprise, education, health and the criminal justice system.
Led by the evidence, the Commission will consider the causes of persistent disparities and barriers different groups face, and make recommendations for further action.
Their work will be crucial in informing and improving the national conversation on race. The Commission will aim to provide its report to the Prime Minister at the end of the year.
The move to Step Three of the COVID-19 Recovery Strategy will take place when the assessment of risk warrants further adjustments to the remaining measures.
Further details will be published in due course as appropriate.
Directors of a company must act in good faith to promote its success for the benefit of its members as a whole. When taking decisions, directors must have regard to the interests of employees and the need to foster business relationships with suppliers, customers and others.
My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business and Trade has powers to appoint inspectors to conduct confidential investigations into trading companies where information suggests serious corporate abuse and such an investigation would be in the public interest. In an insolvency situation, she has powers to investigate the conduct of company directors.
The Government’s objective continues to be ensuring the provision of a sustainable, accessible and affordable universal postal service. However, as the independent regulator of postal services, regulatory decisions are a matter for Ofcom in which Government is not involved.
Ofcom’s regulatory framework imposes prices controls, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices. Ofcom will conduct a public consultation in 2023-24 to inform a review of the safeguard caps that should apply from April 2024.
It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification. The Government has no role in Ofcom’s regulatory investigations.
The UK has a comprehensive legal framework of environmental protection measures for offshore oil and gas activities. This covers the entire oil and gas life cycle, from the initial licence application to decommissioning activities. All exploration activities, including seismic surveys, which could impact the environment are subject to rigorous environmental assessment, and offshore activities are controlled through an environmental permitting process.
The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) undertook a screening assessment under the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001. This assessment included consultation with appropriate nature conservation bodies, including Joint Nature Conservation Committee. OPRED also undertook a Marine Conservation Zone / Marine Protected Area assessment in accordance with the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
OPRED’s assessments concluded that award of the first 27 licences would not result in adverse impacts on the relevant protected areas. The SoS received advice from OPRED on the outcome of these assessments throughout the 33rd Round process. Assessment reports were published in July 2023: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64be43579c2df00012940285/33rd_Round_HRA_Screening_Report.pdf; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c77b5ff92186000d8667b6/33R_Round_MCZ_MPA_Assessment_Report.pdf.
The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will not affect the UK's ability to reach targets for ensuring our Marine Protected Areas are in a good or recovering state.
Nor will it change the robust framework we have in place for licensing oil and gas that ensures this.
Licenses have only ever been awarded once the environmental regulator was satisfied that the activities will not negatively impact protected areas, and their impact is carefully managed by our expert regulators.
There is therefore no reason for the Bill to affect our Environment Act target for maintaining marine protected areas.
The UK has a comprehensive legal framework of environmental protection measures for offshore oil and gas activities, including decommissioning activities. It covers the entire oil and gas life cycle, from the initial licence application to decommissioning.
The decommissioning of wells is important to enable the safety and integrity of the well to protect the marine environment. The relevant regulators, Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), HSE and NSTA continue to work together to ensure well decommissioning is progressed in accordance with the relevant safety and environmental regulations and standards.
The UK has a comprehensive legal framework of environmental protection measures for offshore oil and gas activities, which will apply to new licences. It covers the entire oil and gas life cycle, from the initial licence application to decommissioning activities.
The mission of the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is to drive up the environmental performance of the offshore oil and gas industries, ensuring they minimise their impact on the environment and support the UK’s net zero transition.
The UK is committed to the 30 by 30 global target under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The UK has a comprehensive legal framework of environmental protection measures for offshore oil and gas activities, and this will continue to apply to new licences. It covers the entire oil and gas life cycle, from the initial licence application to decommissioning activities.
The Zero Carbon Humber Partnership is supported by UK Government funding through the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge to support the rollout of decarbonisation technologies.
CCUS technologies have the potential to accelerate the Government's decarbonisation ambitions in the Humber region. The East Coast Cluster was selected as part of the CCUS Programme’s Track-1. The process will be launched later this year to enable expansion of Track-1 clusters, including in the Humber. The Government has also set out its view that the Viking (Humber) transport and storage system, given its maturity, is one of those best placed to deliver the Government's objectives for Track-2 and an update will be provided in the summer.
Greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) emissions estimates are published annually by the department at a local authority and regional level, including Yorkshire & The Humber. The latest publication covers 2005 – 2021.
This information – as well as emissions estimates for large point sources – is also viewable in emissions maps on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) website, maintained by Ricardo Energy & Environment:
To contribute to the ambition of capturing and storing 20-30Mt CO2 per year, the Government will develop the Track-1 clusters to increase the benefits they can deliver. The Government announced in Powering Up Britain that it will launch a process later this year to enable further expansion of the Track-1 clusters, beyond the initial deployment, identifying and selecting projects for the HyNet and East Coast Clusters – including the Humber – and their associated stores, as they become viable, to be operational by 2030.
Analysis suggests there are more than 10MtCO2 per year in the Humber industrial area which carbon capture and storage and hydrogen projects could play a key role in decarbonising.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) review assessed a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence and contributions from businesses and other stakeholders, on sectors that may be most affected by price increases based on energy and trade intensity (ETII). To qualify as an ETII sector, the sector had to be above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and the 60th percentile for trade intensity. The IT industry does not meet these criteria and is therefore not included in the ETII scheme.
The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will provide a baseline discount to all eligible non-domestic customers, including the IT industry, until 2024. The unit discount is capped at £19.61/MW for electricity, and £6.97/MW for gas.
As households previously applied through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria and selected successful applicants each year, the Government has not been able to assess how many households in receipt of Employment Support Allowance are no longer eligible.
The Government has expanded the scheme this year, providing £150 rebates to low-income and vulnerable households. The Government published impact assessments alongside the consultation and the final policy, which compared the option for reforming the scheme in England and Wales to continuing the previous scheme. These can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022.
The Government has expanded and reformed the Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales to target fuel poverty better and provide most rebates automatically.
Households in receipt of means-tested benefits with high energy costs based on certain characteristics of their property are eligible for the rebate. Around 62% of Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance recipients receive a means-tested benefit; those with high energy costs are eligible. As a result of expanding and reforming the scheme, the Government estimates that 160,000 more households where a person has a disability or long-term illness will receive a rebate.
These changes do not apply in Scotland, where customers apply for a Broader Group rebate through their energy suppliers, who can set their own eligibility criteria.
In order to participate under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, installers must first submit a request to create an account with the scheme administrator, Ofgem. Only Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers, who are members of a Consumer Code that ensures customers are protected by a Trading Standards Institute Approved Code of Practice, are eligible to create an account and carry out work under the scheme. This ensures high standards for consumer protection.
Ministers and Departmental officials regularly meet with Ofcom to discuss a range of telecoms issues.
It is the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market of the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three, with input from sectoral regulators.
The Government does not comment on specific mergers or acquisitions, which are subject to the UK’s stringent legal and regulatory requirements.
It is not possible to break down UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding data in this way. The Government actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs), primarily through funding from UKRI for the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). UKRI provide around £10 million funding per annum to the NC3Rs for research to develop 3Rs technologies.
The NC3Rs has committed to increase funding for technologies that replace the use of animals, including through their £4.7 million joint funding call with UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for next generation non-animal technologies.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds a portfolio of research involving humans, human materials, animal models, and non-animal technologies. This includes a recent £5 million investment by UKRI’s Medical Research Council in two new platforms as part of a human nervous tissue resources call; and a £4.7 million joint funding call by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research focussed on supporting next generation non-animal technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip.
This complements work by UKRI including £1.6 million support for an AI in bioscience network.
The Government remains committed to the future of broadcast television and radio, and, in particular, to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology underpinning the popular Freeview platform, which relies on suitable access to ultra high frequency (UHF) spectrum.
The Government has been supportive of Ofcom’s negotiations on behalf of the UK within the ITU and at a European regional level. They have been advocating for the inclusion of a ‘no change’ option, which would maintain broadcast’s priority access to the UHF spectrum.
In addition, from a technical and regulatory perspective, even in a scenario where mobile was granted an allocation at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023, and it is subsequently deployed in neighbouring countries, the UK would be able to rely on the ITU Radio Regulations, ITU Regional Agreements and existing bilateral TV broadcasting agreements with our neighbouring countries to ensure that DTT use of the spectrum in the UK can continue. Before any decisions about the future of DTT in the UK are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences.
The Government remains committed to the future of broadcast television and radio, and, in particular, to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology underpinning the popular Freeview platform, which relies on suitable access to ultra high frequency (UHF) spectrum.
The Government has been supportive of Ofcom’s negotiations on behalf of the UK within the ITU and at a European regional level. They have been advocating for the inclusion of a ‘no change’ option, which would maintain broadcast’s priority access to the UHF spectrum.
In addition, from a technical and regulatory perspective, even in a scenario where mobile was granted an allocation at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023, and it is subsequently deployed in neighbouring countries, the UK would be able to rely on the ITU Radio Regulations, ITU Regional Agreements and existing bilateral TV broadcasting agreements with our neighbouring countries to ensure that DTT use of the spectrum in the UK can continue. Before any decisions about the future of DTT in the UK are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences.