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).
Reform the Grocery Supply Code of Practice to better protect farmers
Gov Responded - 27 Nov 2023 Debated on - 22 Jan 2024 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsWe 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.
'Owen's Law' - Change the law around allergy labelling in UK restaurants
Gov Responded - 14 Jul 2021 Debated on - 15 May 2023 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributions1.Restaurants to put all information about allergens in their food on the face of the main menu so customers have full visibility on what they're ordering.
2.Servers must initiate a discussion with customers about allergies on all occasions.
3.National register for anaphylaxis deaths
Appoint an Allergy Tsar as a champion for people living with allergies
Gov Responded - 25 Aug 2021 Debated on - 15 May 2023 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsThe Government should appoint an Allergy Tsar to act as a champion for people with allergies to ensure they receive appropriate support and joined up health care to prevent avoidable deaths and ill health.
Make it unlawful for shops to refuse cash payments.
Gov Responded - 25 Apr 2022 Debated on - 20 Mar 2023 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsMake it illegal for retailers and services to decline cash payments.
Require all businesses and public services to accept cash payments
Gov Responded - 22 Sep 2022 Debated on - 20 Mar 2023 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsAll businesses (excepting internet-based ones) and public services in which monetary transactions take place should be required by law to accept cash as a method of payment
Suspend trade agreement with Faroe Islands until all whale & dolphin hunts end
Gov Responded - 26 Oct 2021 Debated on - 11 Jul 2022 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsIn 2019 UK Government finalised a free trade agreement (FTA) with Faroe Islands which allows for £100 million of exports of wild caught and farmed fish to Britain per annum (20% of the Faroe Islands global trade). This FTA should be suspended until all whale & dolphin hunts on Faroe Islands end
Give further financial support to the Events and Hospitality industry
Gov Responded - 15 Oct 2020 Debated on - 11 Jan 2021 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsBeing the first to close and still no clue as to when we can open, this seasonal industry is losing its summer profits that allows them to get through the first quarter of next year.
Even if we are allowed to open in December, 1 months profit won't be enough to keep us open in 2021. We need help
Create a Minister for Hospitality in the UK Government
Gov Responded - 3 Nov 2020 Debated on - 11 Jan 2021 View Ben Lake's petition debate contributionsThe UK hospitality industry. Responsible for around 3m jobs, generating £130bn in activity, resulting in £38bn in taxation. Yet, unlike the Arts or Sports, we do not have a dedicated Minister.
We are asking that a Minister for Hospitality be created for the current, and successive governments.
These initiatives were driven by Ben Lake, 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.
Ben Lake has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of devolving management and administration of the money allocated to Wales via the Shared Prosperity Fund to the Welsh Government.
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 make provision about access by customers, in particular those in rural areas, to banking services; to make provision for community banking hubs; to review access to banking services through the Post Office network; and for connected purposes.
Mortgages (switching) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Martin Docherty-Hughes (SNP)
Police (declaration) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Tonia Antoniazzi (Lab)
Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)
Tax Reform Commission Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Markets and market traders (review of support) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Simon Baynes (Con)
Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rob Roberts (Ind)
Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Clean Air Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)
Banking and postal services (rural areas) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Drew Hendry (SNP)
Asbestos (national register) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Andrew Percy (Con)
Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - George Eustice (Con)
Seals (Protection) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Tracey Crouch (Con)
Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Fleur Anderson (Lab)
Energy Pricing (Off Gas Grid Households) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Drew Hendry (SNP)
Co-operatives (Employee Company Ownership) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Christina Rees (LAB)
Trade Agreements (Exclusion of National Health Services) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Peter Grant (SNP)
Problem Drug Use Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tommy Sheppard (SNP)
Essay Mills (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Chris Skidmore (Con)
Internet Access Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Darren Jones (Lab)
Driving Offences (Amendment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Gerald Jones (Lab)
Jet Skis (Licensing) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Hywel Williams (PC)
Local Electricity Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
Public Expenditure and Taxation (Advisory Body) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jonathan Edwards (Ind)
Plastic Pollution (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)
Parental Leave (Premature and Sick Babies) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - David Linden (SNP)
Animals (Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kerry McCarthy (Lab)
Plastic Pollution Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)
Packaging (Extended Producer Responsibility) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
Green Deal (Conduct of Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Brown (SNP)
Automatic Travel Compensation Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Huw Merriman (Con)
European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 4) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Yvette Cooper (Lab)
European Union Withdrawal (Evaluation of Effects on Health and Social Care Sectors) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)
Unsolicited Calls (Prevention) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Stephen Kerr (Con)
Banking and Post Office Services (Rural Areas and Small Communities) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Luke Graham (Con)
Cold Weather Payments Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Hywel Williams (PC)
Voyeurism (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Wera Hobhouse (LD)
Courts (Abuse of Process) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities aims to provide its full report to the Prime Minister by the end of February 2021, as agreed following Dr Sewell’s letter to me of 26 November 2020.
The Commission intends to separately publish the results of the Call for Evidence on GOV.UK following provision of its full report to the Prime Minister.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 7 November is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 2 September is attached. As Minister for the Cabinet Office, I authorise the update to be deposited into the House of Commons Library when ready.
Government has arrangements and guidance in place for the management of all electronic communications. As with all guidance, this is kept under review and updated as necessary. We are currently awaiting the judgement in legal proceedings in relation to government policy in this area. As such, I am not able to comment any further at this time.
The Government committed to explore whether and how COVID-status certification might be used to reopen our economy, reduce restrictions on social contact and improve safety. As set out in the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021,’ the Government will set out its conclusions on the COVID-status Certification Review in advance of Step 4 of the Roadmap, in order to inform the safe reopening of society and the economy.
An update on the Roadmap Reviews was published on 5 April and can be found here:
The Government maintains efforts to support businesses to adapt to the new trading environment. There are a number of online tools available to support businesses, such as the Brexit checker tool and HMRC’s Brexit transition communications resources, and helplines for those who wish to speak to someone. The Government are regularly speaking with businesses and trade representative organisations at the Brexit Business Taskforce in order to hear businesses’ feedback, work through particular issues and discuss what further steps the government may be able to take to help businesses adapt and to thrive.
The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the number of businesses, if any, that have relocated outside of Wales.
The UK Government is working cooperatively with all the devolved administrations to deliver interoperability and alignment of deposit returns across the whole of the UK. The interaction with the provisions of the UK Internal Market Act 2020 are being fully considered as part of those discussions.
The UK is fully engaged in the ongoing negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council and Assembly. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads the UK delegation to the ISA.
The UK’s policy is not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems, and strong enforceable environmental Regulations, Standards and Guidelines have been developed by the ISA and are in place. The UK’s approach is both precautionary and conditional.
The government introduced in Parliament the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill on 25 April. The DMCC Bill includes a delegated power to amend the list of automatically unfair practices in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The government will consult during bill passage on using this power to ensure that reviews are genuine, with a view to adding practices related to fake and misleading reviews to the list of automatically unfair practices. This will give greater clarity to companies who provide review services on their responsibilities in relation to consumer reviews and will allow enforcers to take effective action quickly.
The government introduced in Parliament the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill on 25 April which includes a delegated power to amend the list of automatically unfair practices set out in the Bill.
Government plans to address fake and misleading reviews that by adding these practices to the banned list following consultation this year. This will include where individuals are procured by traders, or are acting on their behalf, to denigrate another business by posting fake negative reviews.
On 1 April 2023, workers under 18 saw a 9.7% increase in their National Minimum Wage rate to £5.28. The Government aims to increase the National Minimum Wage as much as possible without damaging employment prospects for younger workers. By seeking expert and independent advice from the Low Pay Commission when setting the minimum wage rates, the Government is able to ensure that the right balance is struck between the needs of workers, the affordability for businesses and the impact on the economy.
As of 31st December 2022, there were 83 companies in the Future Fund portfolio which have loans that have not converted into equity, and which have started Administration or other insolvency proceedings. The total Future Fund loan amount for these 83 loans is equal to £70,057,178.00.
The Future Fund is a government scheme to support UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors. The scheme, alongside other Government support schemes, aims to support companies facing financing difficulties due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Future Fund scheme is being delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB).
In respect of the 83 companies which have gone into administration or insolvency, those companies’ loans had not converted into equity and therefore the equity value retained by the Future Fund is zero.
The Future Fund is a government scheme to support UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors. The scheme, alongside other Government support schemes, aims to support companies facing financing difficulties due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Future Fund scheme is being delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB).
The number of Convertible Loan Agreements (CLAs) issued by the Future Fund in Wales was 25 with a total value of £18.7m. Future Fund data is not provided on a constituency level.
To ensure that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) delivers genuine negative emissions, Government will require that only sustainable biomass is used. The 2023 Biomass Strategy included an assessment of sustainable biomass availability to the UK (including woody biomass), to support the UK’s net zero target. The availability of sustainable woody biomass was estimated using updated modelling which included considerations of global land use to exclude unsustainable changes, as well as accounting for wider land use pressures such as food security and biodiversity.
The Government is consulting on a possible transitional support mechanism to support the transition of large-scale biomass generators to power BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage). The Government values Power BECCS as a vehicle for delivering significant volumes of CO2 removals to support our Carbon Budgets and Net Zero targets. We will continue to consider relevant recommendations from the CCC and other parties when determining next steps; no decision has been taken at this stage.
The Government is working closely with industry to ensure a smooth transition of services when 2G/3G communication services are switched off by the end of 2033.
In premises where smart meters have reached the end of their expected lifespan, they will be replaced with a new smart meter as part of business-as-usual activity. Where smart meters are within their lifespan we expect suppliers to upgrade communications hubs, without the need to replace the smart meter itself.
The transfer will occur from 2025 until the end of 2033, when the smart metering communications service in the Central and South regions of Great Britain will have been transitioned to a 4G service using the Vodafone network.
The Government responded to the Committee’s report in June 2021 explaining that it was unable to agree to the Committee’s recommendations. That response is available to read here.
From winter 2022 the Government extended and expanded the Warm Home Discount to support more households in fuel poverty, by increasing the spending envelope from £350m to £475m (in 2020 prices) and also raising the rebate to £150. This winter, we expect over 3 million households to receive the increased rebate.
As the scheme is funded by participating energy suppliers, we have struck a balance between supporting as many households as possible, providing meaningful support, and limiting the impact on wider consumer bills.
The Government recognises the challenges posed by the impact of high energy bills and debt and is already providing extensive financial support to households. The Government provided nearly £40 billion to protect households and businesses from spiralling energy bills over last winter.
Ofgem recently announced new customer service standards to help support those who maybe struggling with their bills this winter, including requirements on suppliers to: contact customers if they miss payments, offer support such as affordable payment plans if they are struggling, prioritise vulnerable customers and offer free contact methods for people struggling to pay their bills.
To support households with the upfront costs of retrofitting, the Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings, and a further £6 billion of new Government funding will be made available from 2025 to 2028.
In addition, the Energy Company Obligation and GB Insulation Scheme, worth £5 billion in total, offer free or highly subsidised retrofits to lower and middle-income households living in energy inefficient homes.
The Government is spending £6bn this Parliament and a further £6bn to 2028 on making buildings cleaner and warmer. In addition, £5bn will be delivered through the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme up to March 2026.
In September, the Government launched a new eligibility tool on its ‘Help for Households’ GOV.UK page to help people find the support available to them via the Home Upgrade Grant and the Great British Insulation Scheme.
In September 2023, my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister announced the Government will push back the end date for installing oil, LPG and coal heating systems in England to 2035. As this is a devolved policy, it is for the Welsh Government to consider steps to decarbonise off gas grid homes in Wales.
The Government considers the impact of policies on fuel poor households, including those households that replace their electric heating with heat pumps.
Heat pumps are around three times more efficient than direct electric heating, implying a two-thirds reduction in electricity consumption. The impact on carbon emissions will depend on the carbon intensity of the grid. Under current assumptions the Government estimates 9 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent reduction over the lifetime of the heat pump for a typical home that was heated by direct electric heating.
The Government is committed to working with industry to keep costs down and deliver fair electric vehicle charging prices while also ensuring the financial health and attractiveness to investors of the sector . As part of this work, we are introducing regulations to improve the consumer experience across the public charging network. To ensure pricing transparency, these regulations will mandate use of a common pricing metric, allowing consumers to compare prices in a single format.
The Department published data on the proportion of operational smart meters by local authority across Great Britain, in its Q1 2023 statistics report. This can be accessed at www.gov.uk by searching for ‘Smart meter statistics March 2023’.
Ninety one percent of the 32.4 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses are operating as intended. We do not hold data on the number of non-operational meters or T3 aerial installations by local authority.
The Department published data on the proportion of operational smart meters by local authority across Great Britain, in its Q1 2023 statistics report. This can be accessed at www.gov.uk by searching for ‘Smart meter statistics March 2023’.
Ninety one percent of the 32.4 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses are operating as intended. We do not hold data on the number of non-operational meters or T3 aerial installations by local authority.
The Department published data on the proportion of operational smart meters by local authority across Great Britain, in its Q1 2023 statistics report. This can be accessed at www.gov.uk by searching for ‘Smart meter statistics March 2023’.
Ninety one percent of the 32.4 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses are operating as intended. We do not hold data on the number of non-operational meters or T3 aerial installations by local authority.
Analysis from the Government’s Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan (2021) suggests that use of flexibility from low carbon technologies such as smart charging of electric vehicles and flexible heating systems could play a significant role in reducing peak demand.
The Building Regulations will continue to set a performance-based standard rather than mandating or banning the use of any technologies. We expect heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes under the Future Homes Standard. In the 2021 uplift we set the performance standards for new buildings at a level that means most new homes are likely to be built with solar panels.
The Government recognises the potential benefits of enabling more local energy planning to support efficient and strategic investment in the electricity distribution network. We are working closely with Ofgem to consider this in more detail as part of their ongoing governance review into local energy institutions and its proposals on regional energy system planning.
Whilst we recognise the potential opportunities around local energy plans, it is vital that any approach endorsed by government is considered carefully to ensure it is deliverable, cost-effective and aligned with wider policy.
The Department is engaging with Ofgem and network companies to reduce connection timescales for all connection types and scales. As part of this, the Energy Networks Association and Electricity System Operator are taking action to improve the connection process for the distribution and transmission networks respectively, and Ofgem published an open letter on future reform to connections in May.
I also recently co-chaired, with Ofgem, a roundtable discussion with network companies and industry stakeholders on accelerating connections. Building on this work, the Government and Ofgem will publish a joint action plan on accelerating connections this summer.
The Department is engaging with Ofgem and network companies to reduce connection timescales for all connection types and scales. As part of this, the Energy Networks Association and Electricity System Operator are taking action to improve the connection process for the distribution and transmission networks respectively, and Ofgem published an open letter on future reform to connections in May.
I also recently co-chaired, with Ofgem, a roundtable discussion with network companies and industry stakeholders on accelerating connections. Building on this work, the Government and Ofgem will publish a joint action plan on accelerating connections this summer.
Ofgem publishes statistics on energy debt and arrears which can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/debt-and-arrears-indicators
Ofgem's published figures show that domestic energy debt and arrears sat at around £2.3bn at the end of Q4 2022.
The amount owed by domestic customers to suppliers has grown since 2021, although significant Government support with energy bills helped to bring debt levels down in Q4 2022, the latest quarter for which data are available.
The standing charge includes some electricity distribution costs, which vary regionally to reflect the different costs of maintaining and upgrading the distribution network in different regions. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator overseeing network charges, has previously reviewed regional differences in network charges. Its report found that there are advantages in charges that broadly reflect the costs that different users place on the system. In particular, this cost-reflective approach to network charging supports an efficient system where overall network costs are minimised for consumers across Great Britain.
There are many factors that have driven the rise in balancing costs over recent years, including an ongoing and growing need to take actions to maintain system security and high energy prices throughout the wholesale market which have increased the costs of these balancing actions.
It is critical in all times that consumers pay a fair price for their energy. Ofgem have consulted on new rules to protect consumers from the high balancing costs witnessed in recent years and are working to introduce these new rules later this year. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the effectiveness of the proposals at this stage.
Balancing costs over the last five years were:
- £1.2bn in 2018/2019
- £1.3bn in 2019/2020
- £1.9bn in 2020/2021
- £3.1bn in 2021/2022
- £3.9bn in 2022/23 (note: incomplete as March 2023 data is not yet available)
Source: National Grid ESO Monthly Balancing Services Summary data.
In order to protect public funds against potentially fraudulent activity, the Government require applicants to show proof of address, such as a tenancy agreement or a utility bill. The Government understands that some Gypsy and Traveller households may not be able provide this evidence, which means they won’t currently be able to receive the EBSS AF or the AFP AF. However, the Government is keen to support these households and officials are working to establish whether there is a robust method for them to provide proof of eligibility, whilst protecting public funds, so they can receive support.
Under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) main fund, Wave 1 has awarded around £179m of grant funding for delivery from 2022 into 2023. At the point of award, 7% of projects were expected to install ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), including shared ground loops (SGLs). Published SHDF Wave 1 Official Statistics will show which measures have been delivered.
Around £778m of grant funding was allocated to 107 projects under SHDF Wave 2.1 on 22 March 2023. At the point of award, 8% of successful projects intended to install GSHPs or SGLs.
The Contracts for Difference scheme is the Government’s main mechanism for supporting investment in new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. This month we will be launching the Allocation Round 5, for which Government has set an initial budget of £205 million. Allocation rounds will now run annually to accelerate deployment and investment in renewable generation.
The Heat and Buildings Strategy sets out a range of policies supporting the development of the heat pump market towards 600,000 installations per year by 2028. These policies include the Future Homes Standard, which will ensure new homes are built zero carbon-ready, a market-based mechanism for low-carbon heat and proposals to phase out fossil-fuel heating systems in off-gas-grid buildings.
The Government is also investing £6.6 billion in this parliament, with a further £6 billion committed to 2028, in schemes that support the installation of heat pumps, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Home Upgrade Grant.
The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to support a range of research, development and testing projects. This includes pioneering hydrogen heating consumer trials, designed to determine the feasibility, costs and convenience of using hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas for heating.
The knowledge and experience gained in delivering trials in communities, together with the results of our wider R&D and testing programme, will enable the Government to take strategic decisions in 2026 on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat.
The Government is continually monitoring delivery and developments in the ECO market, and if the Government determine that further action is required then, it will explore all options available.
Yes, receipts used as evidence of alternative fuel use as part of an application to the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund must show a date of purchase between September 2022 and the end of the application window on 31 May 2023.