Amanda Solloway Portrait

Amanda Solloway

Conservative - Former Member for Derby North

First elected: 12th December 2019

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Amanda Solloway is not a member of any APPGs
6 Former APPG memberships
Markets, Micro Business, School Food, Small Business, Women and Enterprise, Youth Affairs
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
20th Sep 2022 - 5th Jul 2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Feb 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
8th Jul 2022 - 20th Sep 2022
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Equalities)
8th Jul 2022 - 20th Sep 2022
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
16th Sep 2021 - 8th Jul 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
13th Feb 2020 - 16th Sep 2021
European Statutory Instruments
10th Feb 2020 - 2nd Mar 2020
European Statutory Instruments Committee
10th Feb 2020 - 2nd Mar 2020
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
17th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Consolidation Bills (Joint Committee)
9th Nov 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
28th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Consolidation, &c., Bills (Joint Committee)
9th Nov 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Business and Trade Committee
17th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Business, Innovation and Skills Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 17th Oct 2016
Education, Skills and the Economy Sub-Committee
1st Dec 2015 - 14th Jun 2016


Division Voting information

Amanda Solloway has voted in 1370 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Chi Onwurah (Labour)
Shadow Minister (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
(33 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(24 debate interactions)
Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party)
SNP Chief Whip
(14 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
(250 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(33 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(22 debate contributions)
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Latest EDMs signed by Amanda Solloway

Amanda Solloway has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Amanda Solloway, 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.


Amanda Solloway has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Amanda Solloway has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Amanda Solloway has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 34 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
1 Other Department Questions
23rd Nov 2015
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to raise girls' aspirations in schools.

We are determined to tackle gender inequality at its root so that every child can fulfill their potential. Too often girls’ success at school is not reflected in the workplace.

In my role as Education Secretary, I’ve strengthened links between schools and employers. That’s why we are backing the inspirational Your Life scheme and why we published the Your Daughter’s Future Guide.

I am also encouraging schools to focus on character skills, as well as attainment, including a £5m investment in character education.

27th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward proposals to enable people who have previously undertaken university education to be eligible for funded apprenticeships.

Currently the apprenticeship funding rules allow a university graduate to take an apprenticeship standard at a higher level than their current qualification. Further detail on the proposed funding rules that will apply from 2017-18 will be published shortly.

24th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to provide additional support to people with special educational needs so that they may better access apprenticeships.

Supported internships offer young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities a clear pathway into employment, including apprenticeships, by equipping them with the skills they need for work. Since September 2013, all qualified post-16 education providers in England can deliver supported internships.

To encourage employers to hire apprentices, the Government funds apprenticeship training for all 16-18 year olds. This level of funding is extended for apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) aged 19-24. Apprentices aged 19 to 24 without an EHC Plan, who have a learning difficulty and/or disability, can benefit from additional funding through Learning Support.

A Taskforce, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard), has been looking at issues around apprenticeships for people with learning difficulties or disabilities. Ministers are currently considering its recommendations.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that apprenticeships in Derby North constituency are undertaken by people from less-affluent households.

Apprenticeships are paid jobs that give people from all regions and backgrounds the opportunity to reach their potential - acquiring transferable skills much valued in the labour market without having to contribute to the costs of their learning. The locations and sectors where apprenticeships are available are determined by employers choosing to offer opportunities and employ apprentices.

We will be publishing details of our funding policy for apprenticeships in England from May 2017 shortly, which will demonstrate how we will provide opportunities for people regardless of their background.

We will also continue to demonstrate, with Traineeships and our national campaigns, that an apprenticeship can be a very worthwhile and achievable goal for those from less well-off households.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to remove the presence of asbestos on school sites in (a) England and Wales and (b) Derby North constituency.

The issue of asbestos in schools is a serious one. Policy on the effective management and removal of asbestos at Welsh school sites is devolved to the Welsh Government, but in England it is one of the department’s priorities in order to ensure that our schools are safe for children and teachers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is the lead regulator on managing asbestos, advise that as long as asbestos is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, it is not a significant risk to health.

The Department directly funds the removal of asbestos through schemes such as the Priority Schools Building Programme and provides capital funding for asbestos management and removal where appropriate for those schools that have identified that asbestos is in poor condition or poses a high risk of deterioration.

We also provide support to those who are legally responsible for managing asbestos in schools by providing targeted guidance to schools on the effective management of asbestos in their schools.

The duty holder has the legal responsibility of effectively managing asbestos in schools. In schools where asbestos poses a high risk of disturbance or is deteriorating, the duty holder should remove asbestos using capital funding that has been provided by the Department.

The Department is not committing to the removal of asbestos in all schools, as blanket and accelerated removal of asbestos in schools is potentially more dangerous and may involve greater risk to school children and staff.

It is, however, the aim of the government that, over time, as more school buildings are replaced and refurbished, all asbestos will be removed from schools.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school leavers in Derby North constituency who went to university in the last five years for which figures are available were (a) entitled and (b) not entitled to free school meals.

Information is given on the number and percentage of students completing Key Stage 5 study (A level and other Level 3 qualifications) in mainstream state-funded schools and colleges, before progressing to study at a UK higher education institution for at least two terms the following year, in each of the last five years for which information is available. Free school meal eligibility is as recorded when students were in Year 11.

The table below show figures for the Derby North constituency for the years 2010/11 to 2014/15. Numbers of pupils are shown rounded to the nearest ten in line with how published information was shown in these years. Percentages are calculated using unrounded figures.

In each of the last five years ten students in the Derby North constituency (rounded to the nearest ten), who had been eligible for free school meals in Year 11 and completed Key Stage 5 study, progressed to higher education. This compares to between 190 and 220 students who had not been eligible for free school meals completing Key Stage 5 study in the latest year. Due to the small numbers involved, the proportion of students represented by these numbers has varied year on year.

Information on pupil destinations at local authority, regional and national level is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations

Number of students completing KS5

Number at UK Higher Education Institution

% at UK Higher Education Institution (calculated on unrounded figures)

(rounded to nearest 10)

(rounded to nearest 10)

FSM

Non-FSM

FSM

Non-FSM

FSM

Non-FSM

2014/15 (2013/14 KS5 cohort)

20

320

10

210

64%

65%

2013/14 (2012/13 KS5 cohort)

20

310

10

190

43%

61%

2012/13 (2011/12 KS5 cohort)

30

310

10

200

32%

63%

2011/12 (2010/11 KS5 cohort)

20

300

10

190

50%

64%

2010/11 (2009/10 KS5 cohort)

20

330

10

220

55%

66%

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing life skills into secondary education.

We are clear that as part of schools’ duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, all young people should be provided with a curriculum that prepares them for success in adult life. High quality personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) teaching has a vital role to play in this, helping young people understand the world around them, building resilience and helping them to make good choices and stay safe. We have made it clear in the introduction to the national curriculum that all schools should make provision for high quality, age appropriate PSHE, drawing on examples of good practice.

During the Education Select Committee hearing in September 2016, the Secretary of State agreed that we need to look again at how schools deliver high quality PSHE. We are considering all the options and will come to a view in due course..

2nd Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that the review of fair funding for early years education includes steps to close the attainment gap in children at age five.

This Government is committed to narrowing the gap in attainment between the most disadvantaged children and their peers, including in the early years. We will be investing over £1 billion more per year by 2019-20 to fund our commitments on the early years entitlements – this includes £300 million per year from 2017-18 for a significant increase to the hourly rate paid for the two, three and four year old entitlements.

The 2014-15 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results tell us that the proportion of children achieving a good level of development continues to increase – 66% in 2015, compared to 60% in 2014 and 52% in 2013. A higher proportion of children eligible for free school meals are achieving a good level of development – 51% in 2015 compared to 45% in 2014.

We need to continue this improvement. This is why we propose an additional needs factor in our new early years national funding formula, to channel funding towards local authorities with a higher relative proportion of children with additional needs.

The Government already provides additional funding for the most disadvantaged three- and four-year olds through the Early Years Pupil Premium. This will continue as a separate funding stream, additional to the early years national funding formula.

27th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve under-performing schools in the East Midlands.

Eighty two percent of all schools in the East Midlands region are rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, but there remain pockets of underperformance, and we are taking a range of actions to tackle them. The Education and Adoption Act gives us powers to intervene more quickly in failing schools and to tackle for the first time schools that have been coasting. Where a maintained school is judged inadequate by Ofsted it will immediately receive an academy order, leading to a sponsor taking responsibility for improving standards. The Act also provides consistent powers to take action in inadequate academies and the Regional Schools Commissioner for the East Midlands and Humber will not hesitate to intervene when academies under-perform.

We are also creating Achieving Excellence Areas in areas such as the East Midlands to create rapid and sustainable improvement. Further details are set out in: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/educational-excellence-everywhere

24th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that deaf parents receive adequate support so that they can participate in their children's schooling and all related school activities undertaken by parents.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) requires public bodies, and those carrying out public functions, such as schools, to have due regard to the following aims when designing policies and delivering services:

  • eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010
  • advance equality of opportunity, and;
  • foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

This includes discrimination against people with a disability, such as deafness. Public bodies must be able to show how equality issues have been considered when they develop, implement, evaluate and review policies, services and processes.

We are committed to ensuring all parents have a more significant voice in all schools. Through the new Parent Portal, we will ensure parents have access to clear and simple information about the school system and how to support their child. This will work alongside the new performance tables website which is making it easier for parents to find out how well their child’s school is performing and to compare schools across a range of key measures.

11th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing price regulation in the veterinary industry.

The Government has no plans to introduce price regulation in the veterinary industry. The prices of veterinary services are driven by market forces and vary according to the animal sector involved, the region of the UK and the costs incurred by individual veterinary practices.

The fees charged are a private matter between the client and the practice.

2nd Sep 2016
A52
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the proposed A52 improvement programme.

Highways England, in accordance with its Delivery Plan, is delivering the A52 scheme in Roads Investment Strategy Period 1 (2015-2020) and plans to start construction by 2019/20. The scheme will deliver a package of measures to improve junctions along the A52 near Nottingham to assist with the development of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone adjacent to the A52.

Highways England has appointed design consultants to work up and assess a range of options and will be engaging stakeholders in the coming months.

15th Jul 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects work on the electrification of the Midland Mainline to resume; and if he will make a statement.

On 25th June the Secretary of State announced that work on Midland Main Line electrification was being paused pending Sir Peter Hendy’s proposals this autumn on re-planning the Control Period 5 programme, at which point the Secretary of State will make a statement to the House. It would be premature to speculate now on the outcome of the re-plan.

8th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to recover outstanding child maintenance payments in Derby North.

Where parents fail to fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children we have a range of strong enforcement powers at our disposal. These powers include deducting maintenance directly from earnings, instructing bailiffs to collect arrears or seize goods, forcing the sale of property, commitment to prison and disqualification from driving. We’re also seeking to extend these powers where appropriate for instance deducting money from bank accounts held jointly by the paying parent.

8th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of funeral services in each of the last five years; and what steps he plans to take to provide a more affordable service.

The Department for Work and Pensions is not responsible for providing funeral services and has made no assessment of the cost of funeral services. The Department continues to make Funeral Expenses Payments to people on qualifying income-based benefits and tax credits who are arranging a funeral. Funeral Expenses Payments make a significant contribution towards the costs of a simple, respectful funeral.

24th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to facilitate and promote (a) work opportunities and (b) apprenticeships for people with both a physical and mental disability.

The Government is committed to halving the disability employment gap between disabled and non disabled people. Employers have a crucial role to play in this.

Disability Confident is encouraging employers to attract, recruit and retain disabled people who are eager to work and have the skills, talents and abilities that employers are looking for. Employers can register their interest in being Disability Confident and will then be sent advice, support materials and links to other resources. More than 600 employers have registered and the number continues to grow.

There are also DWP programmes that can provide practical assistance to disabled people in work, such as Access to Work. During 2014/15 Access to Work supported over 36,000 disabled people to take up or remain in employment.

We have expanded Access to Work’s Mental Health Support Service to conduct a two-year trial of targeted support for apprentices with mental health conditions. In addition a Taskforce, led by Paul Maynard MP, has been looking at issues around apprenticeships for people with learning difficulties or disabilities. Ministers are currently considering its recommendations.

11th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of maintaining increases in mental health funding or funding for other NHS services; and if he will make a statement.

The Spending Review in November 2015 settled the level of funding that the National Health Service in England will receive over the course of this Parliament. The NHS will be receiving £10 billion more per year in real terms by 2020-21 compared to 2014-15. This increase in funding enables increases in both mental health funding and other key priorities. It supports NHS England’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View, delivering high quality care seven days a week.

This also supports the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, published in February 2016. The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, as the report of the Mental Health Taskforce, made the case for additional investment in mental health which will in turn deliver savings to the NHS including the acute sector. The Taskforce recommended, and we have accepted, investing £1 billion more per year in mental health by 2020-21.

NHS England is also monitoring investment in mental health as commissioners are required to increase their mental health spending in line with the growth in their overall programme allocation.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust response times for stroke victims for whom 999 emergency services are requested.

This is a matter for East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, working with its commissioners and other local partners and supported by NHS Improvement.

The Trust intends to deliver improved performance for all patients, including patients who have had a stroke. This includes increasing the resources available to respond to patients by recruiting more frontline staff and investing in new ambulances to increase the fleet size. The Trust is also working with the local acute hospitals and commissioners to help reduce the delays experienced by ambulance crews when handing over patients at hospitals and reviewing its stroke care practice to ensure that stroke patients are taken to specialist centres within the ideal timeline.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the additional £1.25 billion made available in the March 2015 Budget for child and adolescent mental health services has been spent in Derby North constituency.

This information is not available in the format requested.

We are advised by NHS England that from this additional funding the amount allocated to Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group in 2015/16 was £1.029 million and for 2016/17 the amount is £1.370 million.

This Government has made £1.4 billion funding available over the course of the Parliament for spending on children and young people’s mental health, with total investment to date of £453 million.

Investment in 2015/16 included:

- £75 million to transform local services through delivery of Local Transformation Plans (LTPs);

- £30 million to improve community based eating disorder services; and

- £68 million to fund expansion of the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme (CYP IAPT); improvements to perinatal mental health care; investment in inpatient services for children and young people; increased workforce capability; and innovation and development of online support.

Investment for 2016/17 includes:

- £119 million for LTPs;

- £30 million to improve community based eating disorder services; and

- £131 million for workforce and system development to support LTPs; a proportion of this will be allocated to commissioners for CYP IAPT and perinatal mental healthcare.

2nd Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the effect that inability to access GP appointments is having on the levels of people presenting at Accident and Emergency services in Derby; and if he will take steps to increase access to GP appointments in Derby.

The commissioning and provision of primary medical care services, including general practitioner (GP) appointments, is a matter for NHS England and local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). As such, the Department itself makes no assessment of the effect of accessibility of GP appointments on accident and emergency services in Derby.

Southern Derbyshire CCG acknowledges that results from this year’s GP Patient Survey varied across its 55 GP practices, although the CCG believes that overall it is in line with average national performance. The CCG is therefore focusing support on those practices in greatest need. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the Chief Officer of her local CCG, Southern Derbyshire CCG, for the relevant information.

To implement the Government’s commitment to transform GP access, £175 million has been invested in the GP Access Fund from April 2014 to test improved and innovative access to GP services in schemes across the country. Across the two waves of the Access Fund, there are 57 schemes covering over 2,500 practices. 18 million patients, a third of the population, have benefited from improved access and transformational change at local level including evening and weekend appointments.



29th Jun 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made on supporting women with perinatal mental health issues.

The Government is fully committed to improving perinatal mental health services. Following an announcement by the Prime Minister in January, we are investing an additional £365 million by 2021 to improve services so that women are able to access the right care, at the right time and close to home.

1st Jul 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to improve support for children and young people with mental health problems.

We are working to develop seamless and integrated mental health services for children and young people through a major transformation programme backed by additional funding. NHS England are expanding the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme to cover all England by 2018 and, with the Department for Education, developing single points of contact for mental health in schools.

11th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory identification checks for people purchasing pay-as-you-go SIM cards to assist in tackling terrorism and crime.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I given to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 7 September 2016, UIN 44233.

8th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the suitability of the 28 day period given to people granted the right to remain in the UK to find housing and employment.

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are supported by the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If they are granted refugee status, this support ends 28 days later because they are given permission to work and can apply for any welfare benefits and local authority housing assistance for which they may be eligible.

We are working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and others to ensure that newly recognised refugees engage promptly with Jobcentre Plus and the local authority about these matters.

8th Nov 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the incidence of cyber-fraud; and by what means she plans to advise the public of the steps to take to protect themselves against such fraud.

In February this year the Government launched the Joint Fraud Taskforce, a partnership of government, law enforcement and the banks to collectively tackle fraud. The Taskforce is looking at new ways to ensure individuals have the tools and knowledge to protect themselves from fraudsters. A Joint Fraud Taskforce partner, Financial Fraud Action UK, recently launched a nation-wide fraud prevention campaign ‘Take 5’ which advises that individuals take five minutes to consider what they are being asked to do, especially if being pressured to take an unusual course of action such as transferring funds to an unknown individual.

The Government’s Cyber Aware campaign aims to help small business and individuals protect themselves from cyber criminals by adopting simple secure online behaviours such as having a strong password and always downloading the latest software updates. Cyber Aware works with a range of public and private sector partners to embed cyber security advice into a range of every day touch points, including Get Safe Online, whose remit is to help individuals and small businesses safeguard themselves against fraud and other online data threats.

The Home Office has also invested in new IT for the Action Fraud / National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) capability. Benefits of the new system will include an improved reporting system and better information for victims as well as more disseminations of crime packages to forces, and better identification of vulnerable victims.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of spit hoods; and what assessment she has made of the extent of use of such hoods by police forces.

The use of ‘spit hoods’, as with any other use of restraint or force, is an operational matter for Chief Officers. The Home Office is clear that all uses of force or restraint must be necessary and proportionate.

In recognition of the importance of ensuring transparency in how police forces use various means of restraint, the former Home Secretary asked Chief Constable David Shaw to review what data should be collected and published. The review recommended that forces record a range of data in all instances when significant force is used, including restraint techniques and the use of spit hoods.

The data to be collected includes the age, gender, ethnicity and sex of the subject, the type of force used, reason for the use of force, and the outcome of the incident.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to locate missing refugee children in the UK.

The government takes the issue of missing children extremely seriously and has published a cross government strategy on missing children and vulnerable adults.

Migrant children over the age of 5, including asylum seeking children have their biometrics captured by the Home Office. If a child goes missing, the local police and UK Missing Persons Bureau will be notified and the child’s details will be circulated on the Police National Computer.

Home Office guidance requires staff to maintain contact with the local authority and the police until the child is found.

29th Feb 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of developing mental health conditions among remote combat pilots; and what safeguards his Department has in place to protect such pilots from any such risk.

The Government is committed to improving the mental health of our Armed Forces and has long recognised that Service life can cause stress. Support to personnel has improved in a number of ways, including providing pre and post-operational stress management training, a wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments and initiatives such as Decompression, Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) and Post Operational Stress Management.

Trained TRiM providers are embedded in both - 13 Squadron and 39 Squadron, the Royal Air Forces's (RAF) frontline Reaper units based at RAF Waddington and Creech AFB.

For Financial Year 2014-15, out of a total of approximately 180 personnel, there were fewer than five RAF personnel from 13 Squadron or 39 Squadron who were seen for an initial assessment at Ministry of Defence Specialist Mental Health Services. This is a lower rate than the military population as a whole.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) homelessness and (b) rough sleeping.

One person without a home is one too many, and nobody should ever have to sleep rough. That is why the Government is clear that prevention must be at the heart of everything we do to reduce homelessness. We are investing £500 million to prevent, relieve and reduce homelessness in this Parliament, including protecting £315 million homelessness prevention funding for local authorities to help them continue to provide quality advice and assistance to everyone who approaches them for help.

We have also increased central government investment to tackle homelessness to £139 million. This includes £10 million to help those new to the streets, or at imminent risk of sleeping rough, building on the success of projects such as No Second Night Out. Alongside this, we have £10 million of Social Impact Bond funding to support entrenched rough sleepers with the most complex needs, building on the success of the world’s first homelessness Social Impact Bond, run by the Greater London Authority.

In addition, we committed £100 million at Budget to deliver low cost ‘move on’ accommodation to provide at least 2,000 places for people leaving hostels and refuges to make a sustainable recovery from a homelessness crisis.

I am also considering Bob Blackman MP's Homelessness Reduction Bill and the role that further legislation might play in preventing homelessness.

13th Oct 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Derby City Council on the re-development of brownfield sites in the city with support from the grant announced on 28 January 2015 to help develop such sites following the announcement of a £4.4 million fund to help unlock potential sites.

The Secretary of State has not held any meetings with Derby City Council in connection with the re-development of brownfield land or the funding made available to local authorities to develop local development orders for housing on brownfield land in January.

Derby City Council did not submit a bid to the £4.4 million fund.

7th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department has taken to ensure first-time offenders entering the prison system are (a) made aware of gang culture in prisons and (b) discouraged from becoming involved in that culture.

Safety in prisons is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans. We do not tolerate violence or bullying in prisons and take appropriate action against victimisation of any kind.

Gang membership and youth violence cause serious harm to those involved and their communities. The Government is committed to reducing the likelihood of young people joining gangs, and to responding effectively when they do.

Many young and vulnerable people come into contact with the criminal justice system as a result of their involvement with gangs.

Prison gives young people the opportunity to leave gangs behind and lead safe and productive lives in their communities. Prison staff work with the police to tackle gang related activity in prison, and to provide new opportunities for young people.

All offenders entering prison participate in induction programmes designed to help them make the most from their time in that prison. Some prisons have appointed a gangs officer, and prison staff work closely with the police to respond where gang members are coming into prison.

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will shortly issue guidance to all prison staff to help them identify gang members, take action against gang related violence and help them use their time in prison to leave gangs behind. The Identity Matters programme is specifically designed to help prisoners disengage from gangs and stop offending.