Alicia Kearns Portrait

Alicia Kearns

Conservative - Rutland and Melton

First elected: 12th December 2019




Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Alicia Kearns has voted in 771 divisions, and 11 times against the majority of their Party.

23 Jun 2020 - Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 45 Conservative Aye votes vs 235 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 243 Noes - 238
17 Jun 2020 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 104 Conservative Aye votes vs 124 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 253 Noes - 136
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns 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
30 Mar 2022 - Health and Care Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 72 Conservative Aye votes vs 175 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 188
27 Jun 2023 - Schools (Gender and Parental Rights) - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Conservative No votes vs 25 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 34 Noes - 40
17 Jul 2023 - Illegal Migration Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Conservative No votes vs 292 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 212
17 Jul 2023 - Illegal Migration Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative No votes vs 281 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 289 Noes - 220
17 Jul 2023 - Illegal Migration Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 279 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 282 Noes - 227
17 Jul 2023 - Illegal Migration Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Conservative No votes vs 280 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 284 Noes - 226
10 Jan 2024 - Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Conservative No votes vs 279 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 282 Noes - 235
1 Mar 2024 - Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill - View Vote Context
Alicia Kearns voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Conservative Aye votes vs 14 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 68 Noes - 15
View All Alicia Kearns 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
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(38 debate interactions)
Ben Wallace (Conservative)
(20 debate interactions)
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(19 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(35 debate contributions)
Home Office
(24 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Agriculture Act 2020
(2,344 words contributed)
Procurement Act 2023
(1,623 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Alicia Kearns's debates

Rutland and Melton 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

We want the Government to amend the Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCP) to require retailers, without exception, to:

- Buy what they agreed to buy
- Pay what they agreed to pay
- Pay on time

We believe the current GSCP is inadequate and doesn't protect farmers from unfair behaviour.

The Government should bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity. It should be permitted subject to strict upfront safeguards, assessed by two doctors independently, and self-administered by the dying person.

Ensure any ban fully includes trans people and all forms of conversion therapy.

I would like the Government to:
• make running conversion therapy in the UK a criminal offence
• forcing people to attend said conversion therapies a criminal offence
• sending people abroad in order to try to convert them a criminal offence
• protect individuals from conversion therapy


Latest EDMs signed by Alicia Kearns

Alicia Kearns has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Alicia Kearns, 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.


6 Urgent Questions tabled by Alicia Kearns

2 Adjournment Debates led by Alicia Kearns

Alicia Kearns has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


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
10 Other Department Questions
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to introduce a bill to ban conversion therapy in this parliamentary term.

The Government remains committed to protecting everyone who is at risk of conversion practices from harm, and will shortly publish a draft Bill and consultation response setting out our approach to banning these abhorrent practices. The draft legislation will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in this parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps she has taken to ban conversion therapy; and if she will make a statement.

The Government remains committed to protecting everyone who is at risk of conversion practices from harm, and will shortly publish a draft Bill and consultation response setting out our approach to banning these abhorrent practices. The draft legislation will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in this parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when pre-legislative scrutiny on the draft bill to ban conversion therapy will commence.

The Government remains committed to protecting everyone who is at risk of conversion practices from harm, and will shortly publish a draft Bill and consultation response setting out our approach to banning these abhorrent practices. The draft legislation will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in this parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
7th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to complete pre-legislative scrutiny on the bill to ban conversion therapy in this parliamentary term.

The Government will publish a draft Bill setting out our approach to banning conversion practices (also known as ‘conversion therapy’) for pre-legislative scrutiny by joint committee in this parliamentary session. It is the Government's intention to complete pre-legislative scrutiny in the current parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
1st Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when the Government will begin pre-legislative scrutiny for the proposed ban on conversion therapy.

The Government will publish a draft Bill setting out our approach to banning conversion practices (also known as ‘conversion therapy’) which will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by joint committee in this parliamentary session.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
24th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress the Government has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to ban conversion therapy; and what his timetable is for the publication of the Government response to the consultation entitled Banning conversion therapy which closed in February 2022.

We will give careful consideration to our public consultation on the issue and respond in due course. In the meantime, we have launched a support service open to all victims or those at risk of conversion practices regardless of their background or circumstances.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
19th Nov 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Government's consultation on Banning conversion therapy, published on 29 October 2021, and the consultation document which states that the proposals do not alter the existing clinical regulatory framework or the independence of regulated clinicians working within their professional obligations, if the Government will commit to ensuring that a forthcoming ban on conversion therapy will protect access to healthcare for transgender people who are under 18 years old.

It is important that people are able to have open and explorative conversations that allow them to come to the right decision for themselves. People who are transgender or are exploring their transgender status, including under 18s, will remain able to access the support they need from qualified health professionals without change. Our proposed approach to banning conversion therapy will complement the existing clinical regulatory framework and not override the independence of clinicians to offer support in line with professional obligations. We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure that our legislative interventions operate effectively, with no unintended impact on clinical practitioners.

Mike Freer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
9th Jul 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what plans he has to ensure a ministerial-level representative from the Overseas Territories is included in the UK's delegation to COP26.

The UK Government is working closely with all Overseas Territories, and UK officials regularly meet with representatives from the Overseas Territories to ensure that their perspectives are accurately represented. We are currently developing the policy for those who will be included under the COP26 UK delegation based on precedent and this will be communicated in due course.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
5th Mar 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of legislation in other jurisdictions banning conversion therapy.

We are following through with our commitment to end conversion therapy in the UK and will bring forward plans to do so shortly. We have undertaken research to understand practices, experiences and impacts associated with conversion therapy and will publish this in due course. Officials are also in discussion with international policy counterparts, to fully understand the detail and impact of other jurisdictions’ measures, in order to inform the UK’s next steps.

Alongside this work, officials are reviewing the current legislative framework and engaging a number of relevant departments across Whitehall. We have engaged experts and survivors to understand how Government action may impact them and continue to engage with key stakeholders.

The Government is working at pace on ending conversion therapy and will outline in due course how it intends to proceed with an effective response.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
12th Dec 2022
To ask the Attorney General, what the average time is for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges once a suspect has confessed a crime to the police.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold data on the time between a suspect confessing to a crime and them being charged. The CPS is able to provide the average number of days between the first referral by the police for early advice or a charging decision and the CPS authorising charge. Once the CPS authorise charge the case is returned to the police to charge the defendant. In the 2021/2022 period, the average number of calendar days between when a referral is made to the CPS by the police and when the suspect is charged was 41.9 days.

Michael Tomlinson
Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
12th Dec 2022
To ask the Attorney General, what data her Department holds on the average length of time between (a) a suspect admitting committing an offence to the police and (b) that suspect being prosecuted for that offence.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold data on the time between a suspect confessing to a crime and them being charged. The CPS is able to provide the average number of days between the first referral by the police for early advice or a charging decision and the CPS authorising charge. Once the CPS authorise charge the case is returned to the police to charge the defendant. In the 2021/2022 period, the average number of calendar days between when a referral is made to the CPS by the police and when the suspect is charged was 41.9 days.

Michael Tomlinson
Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many National Security Council meetings at Ministerial level there have been since 1 September 2023.

It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Nov 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Hikvision CCTV or other surveillance software or equipment from Hikvision, is used on any property owned or administered by his Department.

As has been the case under successive administrations, it is not government policy to comment on the security arrangements of government buildings. Specific details regarding the make and model of security systems are withheld on national security grounds.

21st Jul 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria are being used to evaluate value for money of possible relocations of Government offices under the Places for Growth programme.

The Government has committed to ensuring that the administration of Government is less London-centric through the relocation of 22,000 civil service roles to locations across the United Kingdom.

Departments are taking into account a range of factors including their operating model, workforce and location analysis to assess possible locations for roles. The department will select places that they judge to have the skills, transport links and capacity to meet their needs and flourish in their chosen locations as well as ensuring locations are suitable for the long term success and sustainability of the civil service.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
27th May 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to identify rural areas with strong transport connections to urban centres as suitable locations for the Places for Growth programme.

Places for Growth was established to contribute towards the government’s levelling up aims and commits to relocating 22,000 civil service roles from central London to the regions and nations of the UK by the end of the decade.

Departments will decide on their locations taking into account a range of factors including their specific operating models, workforce and location analysis. Departments will select places that they judge to have the skills, transport links and capacity to meet their needs and flourish in their chosen locations as well as ensuring locations are suitable for the long term success and sustainability of the civil service.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
25th Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of firms that have been successful in bidding for Government contracts between 2015 and 2020 are (a) headquartered and (b) registered with Companies House at an address in a predominantly rural area as defined by the Office of National Statistics' Rural/urban classification 2011.

This information is not held centrally.

Records of central government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many businesses have (a) signed up to and (b) completed the Help to Grow: Management Course; and what proportion of those businesses have an annual turnover of (i) £0 - £499,999, (ii) £500,000 - £999,999, (iii) £1 million - £4,999,999, (iv) £5 million - £10.19 million, (v) £10.20 million - £49.99 million and (vi) £50 million or more.

Data on the Help to Grow: Management scheme will be released in Spring 2023.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many businesses have (a) signed up for and (b) completed the Help to Grow: Management training; and what proportion of those businesses employ (i) five to 19 employees, (ii) 20 to 49 employees, (iii) 50 to 99 employees and (iv) 100 to 249 employees.

Data on the Help to Grow: Management scheme will be released in Spring 2023.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department plans to introduce a national monitoring system to track land being developed for ground mounted solar.

The Department has no current plans to introduce such a system.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the supply chains of UK solar companies do not include Uyghur slave labour.

The Government is committed to tackling the issue of forced labour in supply chains, including the mining of polysilicon used in the manufacture of solar panels.

The Solar Taskforce is considering this issue as a priority, taking forward the actions needed to develop resilient and sustainable supply chains.

The solar industry has developed and implemented the Solar Stewardship Initiative which will ensure a responsible and transparent solar value chain.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2nd May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing mandated community benefit criteria for new solar developments.

Solar developers offer a range of community benefit schemes. These include funding for environmental enhancements, job schemes and energy discounts. Other schemes offer investment in local infrastructure, such as faster broadband, electric vehicle charging points or energy efficiency measures. The Government considers these schemes are best agreed locally and voluntarily to ensure they meet the needs of the local area.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what regulatory framework is in place for foreign parties that access and utilise human genetic resources when operating in the UK.

Organisations which hold human genetic data are subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In addition, Genomics England, UK Biobank and NIHR BioResource actively consider national security in decision making about partnerships with companies overseas. These organisations consulted with security personnel on a regular basis to ensure partnerships are aligned with our national security interests.

The Human Tissue Authority, a non-departmental body of the Department for Health and Social Care, is the independent regulator of organisations that remove, store and use human tissue for research, medical treatment, post-mortem examination, education and training, and display in public. It enforces the Human Tissue Act 2004 which regulates the removal, storage and use of human tissue.

20th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that private Chinese companies operating in the life sciences sector are adhering to UK ethical standards.

The Life Sciences sector in the UK is key to both the health and economic growth of our country and, through our new Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, this Government is committed to placing the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advances.

All life sciences companies operating in the UK must adhere to UK ethics standards, research codes of conduct and associated legal obligations. We will shortly publish our new UK Biological Security Strategy, under the umbrella of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Integrated Review, which will outline our approach to preventing biological threats as science and technology develops.

29th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish a breakdown of the investments allocated to each of the four recipient companies of the Government’s Life Sciences Innovation Manufacturing Fund grants by proportion of public and private sector for each investment.

The first four grant recipients of the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund were announced on 28th March 2023, which saw £277 million in joint government and industry backing to help Life Sciences companies grow and innovate.

Government grants have been supported by private investment from the successful companies. The proportion of the funding for each of the investments is as follows:

  • Ipsen: 4% public, 96% private;
  • Pharmaron Biologics UK: 7% public, 93% private;
  • Randox Laboratories Ltd: 4% public, 96% private;
  • Touchlight Genetics Ltd: 18% public, 82% private.
16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to take steps to review the takeover of semiconductor start-up Flusso by Shanghai Sierchi Enterprise Management Partnership.

The acquisition of Flusso was screened and issued with a Final Notification in June 2022 by the then Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng.

As with any transaction, should the company be sold on, that, or any subsequent acquisition, could be called in if the thresholds under the NSI Act are met. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, acquisitions called in for screening that are subsequently cleared by the National Security and Investment Act are not routinely publicised. The Government will not comment further on the detail of the transaction, or any national security assessment made.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
16th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has taken steps to ensure that (a) reviews and (b) interventions made by the Investment Security Unit under the National Security and Investment Act are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Transparency and accountability to Parliament are fundamental parts of effective government. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is therefore considering a Memorandum of Understanding regarding scrutiny of his use of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 with the BEIS Select Committee.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to make it easier to secure planning permission for new onshore wind turbines.

The Government understands the strength of feeling that some people have about the impact of wind turbines in England. The Government is considering all options for increasing deployment in ways which are supported by local communities.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether grants are available for the replacement of old oil boilers in properties where a heat pump cannot be installed.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides upfront grants of £5,000 towards the installation and capital costs of biomass boilers to support the transition away from oil boilers and other forms of fossil fuel heating. In order to be eligible for this scheme, biomass boilers must be installed in a property which is in a rural location and is not connected to the gas grid. The biomass boiler must also meet relevant emissions requirements under the scheme.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
10th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many university referrals to the Research Collaboration Advice Team were made in relation to a Chinese linked project; and what the outcomes of those referrals were.

The Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) has engaged with most research-intensive universities to provide support and advice. It is crucial to maintain the confidence of universities when they have identified potential national security risks in international collaboration, therefore there are no current plans to publish the outcomes of requests for advice, nor the countries to which they refer. The RCAT continues to review its processes to ensure we are as transparent as possible when sharing information, without infringing on the assumption of confidence that the model is based on. The RCAT will reach full operational capacity by September.

10th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many requests for support the Research Collaboration Advice Team has received from universities since its inception.

The Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) has engaged with most research-intensive universities to provide support and advice. It is crucial to maintain the confidence of universities when they have identified potential national security risks in international collaboration, therefore there are no current plans to publish the outcomes of requests for advice, nor the countries to which they refer. The RCAT continues to review its processes to ensure we are as transparent as possible when sharing information, without infringing on the assumption of confidence that the model is based on. The RCAT will reach full operational capacity by September.

17th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the policy paper entitled British energy security strategy, published in April 2022, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that large solar developments are located on previously developed or lower value land and not on graded agricultural land.

The Government recognises the need to preserve the UK’s arable farmland. Planning guidance prioritises effective land use and encourages siting large solar projects on previously developed land. Where solar project proposals involve greenfield land, lower quality land should be used where possible, and projects need to justify using better quality land classifications.

The Government will consult on changing planning rules for ground-mounted solar to strengthen policy in favour of development, while ensuring communities continue to have a say and environmental protections remain in place.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to protect nationally significant infrastructure projects such as large scale solar plants in line with the decision to remove China Nuclear Power Group from its involvement in the construction of the Sizewell Nuclear Plant.

The UK welcomes foreign investment in our infrastructure. As part of this, all investment involving critical infrastructure is subject to thorough scrutiny and needs to satisfy the government’s robust legal, regulatory, and national security requirements. This includes the new National Security and Investment Act 2021, which gives the Government robust powers to investigate and, if necessary, intervene in investments and other acquisitions to protect national security.

CGN has a 20% shareholding in the Sizewell C project up to the point of Final Investment Decision. Negotiations on the project are ongoing and no decisions have been made.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
25th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of agricultural land for large scale solar plants, in the context of the relative output of UK solar plants and those in hotter climates.

The Government recognises the need to preserve the UK’s arable farmland. Planning guidance prioritises effective land use and encourages deploying large solar on previously developed land. The Government also supports solar co-located with other functions, such as agriculture, Projects should be designed to avoid, mitigate, and compensate for impacts.

Solar is a cheap, effective, and versatile technology that works better at cooler temperatures and can generate large amounts of electricity even on cloudy days and from indirect sunlight. Solar generation is predictable and can be part of grid balancing to complement other energy sources.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing support for mobile home owners who do not have accounts with energy suppliers and who are ineligible for existing Government support under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Home Upgrade Grant and Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The Government worked with Charis Grants to set up the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme seven years ago, which is open to mobile or park home residents who pay for their bills through pitch fees or to their site owner. The scheme is funded by energy suppliers through Warm Home Discount Industry Initiatives. Around £400,000 in funding was available for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount this year (2021/22), with over 2,600 park home residents across Great Britain receiving £140 towards their energy bills through the scheme.

Existing park homes are eligible for support under the Home Upgrade Grant and the Local Authority Delivery Scheme. Constituents should contact their local authority to make enquiries. Park home residents also benefit from energy efficiency measures under the Energy Company Obligation.

Park homes may also be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provided that the property has an Energy Performance Certificate with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. For full eligibility criteria, please refer to the draft regulations for the scheme.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the fire risk of Lithium-ion batteries when used as part of a Battery Energy Storage System, such as in large scale solar instillations.

Grid-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems are covered by a robust regulatory framework which requires manufacturers to ensure products are safe before they are placed on the market, that they are installed correctly, and that any safety issues found after products are on the market or after installations are dealt with.

In 2018, BEIS set up an industry-led Storage Health and Safety Governance Group responsible for ensuring that an appropriate, robust, and future-proofed health and safety framework is sustained as the industry develops.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
14th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support households living off grid that rely on heating oil in the context of rising heating oil prices.

The supply of heating oil is subject to UK competition law and consumer protection through a regulatory scheme under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). If residents are off the gas grid, but on a default tariff for their electricity supply, they will still be protected by the Energy Price Cap which continues to protect 15 million households.

In the longer term, improving the energy efficiency of our homes and buildings is vital to keeping household energy costs down and reducing carbon emissions, which is why the Government is driving £6 billion into making homes more energy efficient over the next ten years.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
7th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) the proposed solar plant at Mallard Pass in Rutland and (b) other large scale solar plants on biodiversity.

Due to its proposed size (over 50MW), the Mallard Pass Solar Farm will be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State will therefore be the decision-maker for the application for development consent for the Mallard Pass Solar Project.

The Government recognises that solar projects can affect the local environment. The developers of all large solar projects must complete an Environmental Impact Assessment Statement as part of their planning application, which will include an assessment of the impacts on biodiversity. Well-designed solar farms have been shown to enhance biodiversity.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
2nd Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support households living off the gas grid with rapidly rising gas prices.

Off-gas grid households who are on their electricity supplier’s default or standard variable tariffs are protected by the energy price cap. The price cap methodology used by Ofgem enables a separate rate to be set for households who heat their homes using electric storage heaters. Off-gas grid households will also receive £200 discount on their electricity bill this Autumn, as part of the Government’s package of support worth £9.1 billion to help domestic energy customers with the cost of rising energy bills.

Further support for energy bills is available to eligible households through the Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payments.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
2nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) the proposed solar plant at Mallard Pass in Rutland and (b) other large scale solar plants on biodiversity.

Due to its proposed size (over 50MW) Mallard Pass solar farm will be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It is currently at the pre-application stage. When the application is ready it will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will evaluate whether the application meets the necessary legal requirements. If it does, the Inspectorate will undertake a formal examination of the project in which the public will be able to participate and then provide a report to the Secretary of State to inform his decision-making.

The Government recognises that in some cases solar farms can affect the local environment. Applicants must complete an Environmental Statement as part of their planning application, which will include an assessment of the impacts on biodiversity. Well-designed solar projects have been shown to enhance biodiversity.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
25th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that parents are aware of the provision in the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations laid on 23 January 2020.

When we laid the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations in January, the policy received extensive coverage across broadcast, print and digital media. This announcement will have reached thousands of parents.

Ahead of Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay coming into force, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will publish guidance on GOV.UK to help parents and their employers to understand the new entitlement. We have ensured that employers are aware of Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay by including regular articles in the HM Revenue and Customs Employer Bulletin and Agent Update publications about this. We are also working closely with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to reflect the introduction of the new entitlement in their employer support guidance. We will also continue to work closely with bereavement support organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Care, Child Bereavement UK and SANDS to ensure that they are able to support bereaved parents to use the new entitlement.

11th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether St John Ambulance volunteers will be awarded 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, and this does not include St John Ambulance volunteers.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to utilise data sovereignty to gain a competitive advantage over hostile states.

The Government’s approach to data policy is set out in the National Data Strategy. The strategy is ambitious and pro-growth, placing the availability of data and confidence in its use at its heart, and positioning the UK as a global data champion.

Data sovereignty, including improving data use and access in the UK and controlling our own data laws and regulations, presents a major opportunity for economic growth, strategic innovation as well as boosting our national security and defence capabilities. We have published priority areas for where the government will take action on increasing data access and availability in the National Data Strategy Mission 1 Policy Framework. The Government has also recently consulted on an ambitious package of data reforms to create a new pro-growth and innovation-friendly data protection regime that underpins the trustworthy use of data. We will be setting out next steps shortly.

The UK will also continue to champion the international flow of data and support open data and improved data quality and data standards, while working with like-minded international partners to ensure that global data governance supports better outcomes for us all.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
2nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what her timetable is for commencing the rollout of gigabit broadband in Rutland and Melton constituency.

Commercial delivery of gigabit broadband is extending rapidly and according to the independent website www.thinkbroadband.com over 35% of premises in the Rutland and Melton constituency now have access to gigabit broadband. Approximately 95% have access to superfast broadband with speeds of at least 30 Mbps.

Alongside further commercial roll-out of gigabit broadband, premises in Rutland and Melton which are not within the scope of commercial coverage will be eligible for support through the £210 million Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) or through Project Gigabit procurements.

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme provides a micro-grant of up to £1,500 for residents and up to £3,500 for businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband. It enables households and businesses to club together to increase the total subsidy of a project to cover most, or all, of the costs for installation to eligible areas. Further information on the scheme is available on the GBVS website.

Premises within the constituency of Rutland and Melton are covered by three separate Project Gigabit procurement processes:

  • Most of the constituency falls within Lot 11 which covers Leicestershire and Warwickshire, with some further premises in Lot 10 which focuses on Nottinghamshire and the West of Lincolnshire. These areas are both anticipated to commence procurement between November 2022 and January 2023, before an estimated contract start date of between October 2023 and December 2023.

  • Most of the remaining premises are covered by Lot 5 which covers Cambridgeshire and adjacent areas. This area is currently in procurement with an estimated contract start date of between November and December this year.

  • A small number of premises are included within Lot 23 which is focused on Lincolnshire and East Riding. This procurement is targeted to commence between May and July 2023, before an estimated contract start date of between April and June 2024.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
24th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support food tourism in (a) the UK and (b) Rutland and Melton constituency.

The £45m Discover England Fund supports the development of internationally marketed tourism products, including food tourism experiences. The Gourmet Garden Trails project, for example, promotes a range of regional culinary-themed itineraries.

VisitBritain has created a number of Food and Drink Tourism Hubs to showcase food and drink experiences available across the UK. VisitBritain also includes the Melton Mowbray pork pie in its guide to English food and drink in the East Midlands.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and (b) representatives of higher education institutions on the potential impact of such institutions' collaboration with Chinese higher education bodies linked to the People's Liberation Army on national security.

The government takes the risk of foreign interference in our higher education (HE) sector extremely seriously, regardless of its source. The department has made it clear that it will not accept collaborations that compromise national security. The department recognises concerns about interference in the HE sector and regularly assesses the risks facing academia, working with partners across government. The department will continue to take steps to significantly strengthen the UK’s protections from overseas interference in our HE sector, helping to safeguard intellectual property and sensitive research.

The ‘Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023’ will ensure that universities in England have the tools they need to deal with interference with, and threats to, freedom of speech and academic freedom. The Act will enable the Office for Students to monitor the overseas funding of registered HE providers and their constituent institutions and student unions, and to take appropriate action.

The department expects Confucius Institutes at UK universities to operate transparently and within the law, and with a full commitment to the government's values of openness and freedom of expression. The department has taken action to remove any direct or indirect government funding from Confucius Institutes in the UK.

The ‘Integrated Review Refresh’, published in 2023, committed to launching a review of legislative and other measures designed to protect the academic sector, to identify what more the government could or should be doing. This is currently underway and is led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. This will include an assessment of the risks to research security as a result of collaboration with international bodies.

The department also works with the sector to improve HE providers’ overall resilience and economic security. The department has encouraged Universities UK to publish a number of guidelines and case studies to enable HE providers to assess risks associated with international collaboration.

29th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of his Department's grants for the training of senior mental health leads have been allocated to schools in Rutland and Melton constituency.

In the 2021/22 financial year, 11 schools and colleges in Rutland and Melton constituency had successfully claimed a senior mental health lead training grant, out of 67 eligible schools and colleges.

7th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will take steps to ban the use of surveillance cameras made by Hikvision and Dahua in schools in the UK.

The department is not able to ban the use of surveillance cameras made by Hikvision and Dahua in schools. Any decision to install CCTV in schools should be taken after careful consideration by the headteacher and governors and after appropriate consultation with pupils and parents. Any CCTV installation must comply with all laws relating to its use.

In January, the government announced the provision of new guidance and support for UK public sector bodies, which will include schools, to exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of human rights violations in any of their supply chains.

16th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Hikvision CCTV or other surveillance software or equipment from Hikvision, is used on any property owned or administered by his Department.

As has been the case under successive administrations, it is not government policy to comment on the security arrangements of government buildings. Specific details regarding the make and model of security systems are withheld on national security grounds.

Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology