Carolyn Harris Portrait

Carolyn Harris

Labour - Swansea East

First elected: 7th May 2015


Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill
20th Jul 2022 - 7th Sep 2022
Shadow Minister (Equalities Office) (Women and Equalities)
3rd Jul 2017 - 10th Apr 2020
Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)
9th Oct 2016 - 3rd Jul 2017
Environmental Audit Committee
20th Jul 2015 - 12th Sep 2016
Welsh Affairs Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 18th Jul 2016


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Carolyn Harris has voted in 687 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Carolyn Harris 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
Penny Mordaunt (Conservative)
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(14 debate interactions)
David T C Davies (Conservative)
Secretary of State for Wales
(12 debate interactions)
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)
(11 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(44 debate contributions)
Wales Office
(20 debate contributions)
Home Office
(19 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Carolyn Harris's debates

Swansea East 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 abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet. We believe such checks – which could include assessing whether people are ‘at risk of harm' based on their postcode or job title – are inappropriate and discriminatory.

Amend legislation to make it a legal requirement for a driver to stop & report accidents involving cats.

The Government should not reduce the existing adult-child childcare ratios as has been suggested. There are surely better ways to reduce the cost of living – potentially endangering children in trusted care is not how it should be done.

Enact legislation to protect retail workers. This legislation must create a specific offence of abusing, threatening or assaulting a retail worker. The offence must carry a penalty that acts as a deterrent and makes clear that abuse of retail workers is unacceptable.


Latest EDMs signed by Carolyn Harris

13th December 2023
Carolyn Harris signed this EDM on Monday 8th January 2024

Girlguiding UK and the British Overseas Territories and military bases

Tabled by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
That this House expresses its concern and disappointment in Girlguiding UK’s withdrawal of support in the British Overseas Territories and on military bases and the closure and sale of all their outdoor activity centres in the UK; notes this will have a detrimental impact on young women and communities within …
29 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Jan 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 9
Conservative: 7
Scottish National Party: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Liberal Democrat: 2
6th June 2022
Carolyn Harris signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Wednesday 1st June 2022

Maggie's You Care, We Care Campaign

Tabled by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
That this House supports Maggie’s campaign You Care, We Care highlighting the pressure felt by those closest to people living with cancer; notes research showing nearly 90 per cent of people looking after someone with cancer have experienced feelings of anger, guilt and helplessness; recognises the importance of providing support …
20 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Sep 2022)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 7
Labour: 6
Plaid Cymru: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Independent: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Alba Party: 1
View All Carolyn Harris's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Carolyn Harris, 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.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Carolyn Harris

Thursday 9th January 2020

1 Adjournment Debate led by Carolyn Harris

Thursday 19th March 2020

3 Bills introduced by Carolyn Harris


A Bill to make provision about menopause support and services; to exempt hormone replacement therapy from National Health Service prescription charges; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 29th October 2021
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a report on any proposal to award NHS staff a pay rise for 2021/22 below 2.1%; to require the Secretary of State to move a motion in the House of Commons to approve any such report; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 14th April 2021

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 establish a review of pension arrangements for women affected by changes made by the Pensions Act 1995 and the Pensions Act 2011; to require the review in particular to undertake costings for a compensation scheme and consider the operation of section 1(4) of the Pensions Act 2011; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 7th September 2017
(Read Debate)

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
1 Other Department Questions
30th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the provision of cross-departmental funding for women’s centres.

Women’s centres play a vital role in supporting women in the community and the Ministry of Justice is investing up to £24 million in community support for women in 2022-25.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
28th Feb 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the cost of a defibrillator has prevented the government from mandating their access in all government managed buildings and infrastructure.

There are no plans to mandate defibrillators be located in all government buildings and infrastructure. Health and safety legislation does not require an employer to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the workplace. Where an employer has identified through their needs assessment that they wish to provide an AED in the workplace, then the Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply.

This was not a decision based on cost, but it is worth noting that individual government departments are responsible for their own estate and the installation of defibrillators, with the exception of where the Government Property agency manages their office portfolio.

28th Feb 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has plans to mandate defibrillators to be located in all government managed buildings and infrastructure.

There are no plans to mandate defibrillators be located in all government buildings and infrastructure. Health and safety legislation does not require an employer to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the workplace. Where an employer has identified through their needs assessment that they wish to provide an AED in the workplace, then the Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply.

This was not a decision based on cost, but it is worth noting that individual government departments are responsible for their own estate and the installation of defibrillators, with the exception of where the Government Property agency manages their office portfolio.

19th Mar 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including funeral directors as Category 2 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act.

The Government is committed to undertaking a statutory review of the Civil Contingencies Act every five years. This was last undertaken in March 2017 which means we must complete a further review by 2022. As part of this, we will consider whether changes need to be made to the list of category 1 and 2 responders under the Act. In doing so, we will want to reflect carefully on lessons from recent events, including the part funeral directors and others have played in ensuring the dignified and effective management of the deceased during the Covid pandemic.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Jan 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has published on civil service employers recording (a) absence due to illness and (b) periods of self-isolation as a result of exposure to covid-19 infection.

Civil Service organisations should record COVID-19 related absences, which includes those for both sickness and self-isolation.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to implement the recommendations of the report by the Low Pay Commission entitled, The National Living Wage Review (2015-2020), published on 18 May 2022.

We welcome the publication of the Low Pay Commission’s review. We would like to thank them for their continued excellent work and look forward to receiving their recommendations in the Autumn for minimum wage rates to apply from April 2023.

8th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent the selling by online marketplaces of teeth whiteners which exceed the legal amount of hydrogen peroxide permitted for home use.

Cosmetic products such as teeth whitening kits sold in the UK must meet some of the strictest safety requirements in the world and may only be placed on the market if they meet strict safety requirements, including specific restrictions on the use of potentially harmful chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take effective enforcement action where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale.

Through its Call for Evidence, OPSS is reviewing the UK’s product safety framework to ensure it is fit for purpose, protects consumers, and enables businesses to safely innovate and grow. The implications of non-traditional models of supply, including e-commerce, and how it has changed the way products are distributed, forms of part of the review.

8th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure online marketplaces are preventing unsafe cosmetic products from being listed and sold on their sites.

Cosmetic products available on the UK market must meet strict safety requirements and the Government is committed to ensuring that only safe cosmetic products can be sold in the UK. Furthermore, there must be a Responsible Person established in the UK who is responsible for ensuring the cosmetic product is safe.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is engaged with online marketplaces to ensure that they are playing their part in protecting UK consumers from unsafe products. OPSS works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take effective enforcement action where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale.

8th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps Trading Standards has taken in the last five years against (a) sellers of unsafe products on online marketplaces and (b) online marketplaces that have sold unsafe products on their sites.

The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe consumer products can be sold in the UK. Product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors and this includes online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take effective action where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale. This has recently included action taken to ensure that a number of non-compliant products, including toys, electrical equipment and high-risk products such as pool heaters and balcony barbecues being sold by third-party sellers have been removed from sale, delisted, recalled or destroyed.

Where criminal offences are identified, both Trading Standards and OPSS can conduct criminal investigations into the actions of economic operators.

OPSS is taking forward a programme of work to ensure that major online marketplaces are playing their part to protect UK consumers from unsafe goods.

This includes developing a new voluntary commitment for online marketplaces to agree further actions they will take to reduce the risks from unsafe products being sold online.

OPSS is also encouraging online marketplaces to establish Primary Authority arrangements with local Trading Standards authorities. These agreements enable one authority to work with each business providing expert and tailored advice as to how they should meet their legal obligations.

OPSS is reviewing the UK’s product safety framework to ensure that we have a framework that continues to deliver safety for consumers while supporting businesses to safely innovate and grow and will consider non-traditional business models, including online sales.

8th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Office for Product Safety and Standards is taking to tackle (a) sellers of unsafe products on online marketplaces and (b) online marketplaces in respect of the sale of unsafe products.

The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe consumer products can be sold in the UK. Product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors and this includes online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take effective action where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale. This has recently included action taken to ensure that a number of non-compliant products, including toys, electrical equipment and high-risk products such as pool heaters and balcony barbecues being sold by third-party sellers have been removed from sale, delisted, recalled or destroyed.

Where criminal offences are identified, both Trading Standards and OPSS can conduct criminal investigations into the actions of economic operators.

OPSS is taking forward a programme of work to ensure that major online marketplaces are playing their part to protect UK consumers from unsafe goods.

This includes developing a new voluntary commitment for online marketplaces to agree further actions they will take to reduce the risks from unsafe products being sold online.

OPSS is also encouraging online marketplaces to establish Primary Authority arrangements with local Trading Standards authorities. These agreements enable one authority to work with each business providing expert and tailored advice as to how they should meet their legal obligations.

OPSS is reviewing the UK’s product safety framework to ensure that we have a framework that continues to deliver safety for consumers while supporting businesses to safely innovate and grow and will consider non-traditional business models, including online sales.

26th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of potential job losses in the wedding industry without additional covid-19 financial support as the sector operates at restricted capacity until 21 June 2021.

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce, established to represent a wide range of interests in the weddings sector [in England], to understand the impact of the pandemic on jobs and businesses.

Over the course of the pandemic the Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to businesses, including those in the wedding industry, which we keep under regular review. The Chancellor announced in his Budget a raft of new measures to further support businesses, including those in the wedding industry. These include:

  • Extension of the Coronavirus Job Support Scheme to the end of September 2021.
  • £5 billion for new Restart Grants.
  • The Government is also providing all Local Authorities in England with an additional £425 million of discretionary business grant funding, on top of the £1.6 billion already allocated.
  • Eligible businesses in hospitality sector will benefit from business rates relief worth over £6 billion in 2021 to 2022.
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wedding (a) venues and (b) suppliers are supported during the third covid-19 lockdown.

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce to understand the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and in both the venue and supply chain sector.

We have provided an unprecedented package of financial support since March 2020 to businesses, including those in the weddings sector. We keep this regularly under review, through discussions with HM Treasury.

9th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the effect the number of guests allowed to attend weddings when the sector reopens will have on the sector's financial viability.

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses and jobs in the sector.

As my Rt Hon friend the Prime Minister has said, we intend to publish our plan for taking the country out of lockdown in the last week of February.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he made of the effect on women of job losses in the wedding industry due to the covid-19 outbreak.

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce, established to represent all parts of the UK Weddings sector, to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses and jobs in the sector.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what economic impact assessment his Department has undertaken of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the extended closure of the wedding industry.

Over the course of the pandemic the Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to businesses, including those in the wedding sector, which we keep under regular review.

I meet regularly with representatives of the wedding sector to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses.

17th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government funding for local authorities to allocate to businesses affected by the covid-19 lockdown is being distributed so that closed businesses are able to access that funding as soon as possible.

The Government is working closely with local authorities in England to get funding out to businesses as quickly as possible. Local authority guidance was published on 3rd November and grant offer letters were sent to local authorities on 6th November. Payments to local authorities were made from 13th November.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed) is applicable in England only. The Devolved Administrations are responsible for the administration of support schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

2nd Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government’s trade credit reinsurance scheme will be ratified by the EU; and what steps the Government is taking to expedite that process.

The Government’s Trade Credit Reinsurance scheme, which has been agreed following extensive discussions with the insurance sector, will see the majority of Trade Credit Insurance coverage maintained for businesses across the UK.

This scheme is subject to State aid approval from the European Commission. We are working closely with the Commission to address any outstanding concerns. Once approval is secured we will swiftly be able to put contractual arrangements in place with insurers.

25th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on (a) new online harms legislation and (b) the inclusion of the sale of unsafe electrical goods in that legislation.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is engaging closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the issues of unsafe goods sold online.

DCMS is continuing to scope the Online Harms regulation and is working to finalise the details of the regulatory framework. The Government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation will be published in due course.

25th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent the sale of unsafe electrical goods on online platforms.

The UK has a strong product safety system which requires that products should be safe before they can be placed on the market, including those sold online.

Officials in OPSS are reviewing the product safety legislation to determine whether the existing legislative framework is adequate in light of the changes to traditional supply and distribution chains brought about by e-commerce.

25th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with online platforms on preventing sales of counterfeit and substandard electrical goods on their websites.

The Government takes the issue of IP infringement seriously, including counterfeit electrical goods, and is working with industry and law enforcement agencies on several initiatives to tackle this issue.

Department officials have been holding roundtable meetings with representatives from online platforms and rights holders to discuss the availability of counterfeits on their platforms and to help co-ordinate law enforcement action against sellers.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
24th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish further clarification on when (a) spas, (b) beauty businesses (c) mobile practitioners can resume their operations during the covid-19 outbreak.

Hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines.

Other close contact services, like nail salons, beauty and tattoo parlours remain closed until further notice.

We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

The Government will work with the remaining closed services to establish a timeline for when they can reopen safely.

24th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis was for the decision to permit hair and not beauty appointments during the covid-19 outbreak from 4 July 2020.

From 4 July, hairdressers will be able to reopen provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. However, beauty parlours and make-up studios remain closed until further notice. The Government recognises that this is difficult for some businesses. Every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.

Our approach to the types of businesses who can reopen is guided by the scientific and medical advice. SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the Government. However, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests.

We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.

24th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to review the guidelines on restrictions in place for close contact services during the covid-19 outbreak.

Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June, some close contact services such as hairdressers, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen on 4 July, provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. We have published guidance for these sectors on 23 June to provide ways these businesses can ensure a safe reopening.

As some examples, hairdressers and barbers should wear visors as additional protection, use an appointment only policy, avoid overlapping appointments, distance customer seating appropriately, clean thoroughly after each client, prepare equipment in advance to reduce movement in spaces, and screen customers ahead of the appointment to check they do not have symptoms.

We have been taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, so that we do not risk a second peak of the virus. We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.

16th Jun 2020
If he will publish guidance on when hair, beauty, spa and wellness businesses can reopen in (a) salon and (b) non-salon settings during the covid-19 outbreak.

As set out in Government’s roadmap, it is our ambition to reopen such businesses from 4 July at the earliest, subject to the scientific advice at the time.

Our guidance will be published before any reopening in order to allow businesses time to adequately prepare.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of the number of recalled second hand electrical goods being sold on online marketplaces.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) engages regularly with online platforms on a range of issues and its work programme includes a focus on regulating the online marketplace. The Chief Executive of OPSS wrote to online platforms when the recall of washing machines was announced by Whirlpool to ensure affected washing machines and other recalled items were not available on their platforms in order to protect public safety. OPSS is keeping the issue under close scrutiny.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) a central recall database for electrical products and (b) a database of injuries caused by electrical products.

Consumers can find the latest information on product recalls through the Government’s website including a list of recalls of household products since January 2018 - https://productrecall.campaign.gov.uk/. The site also provides information on how UK consumers can register their products with manufacturers in order to receive important safety messages. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is continuing to work on improvements to this site, in order to provide consumers with relevant information about product safety issues.

Access to information on products posing a safety risk is a key element of ensuring the safety of the public. OPSS is working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) on a pilot programme to collect accident data relating to consumer products from hospital Accident and Emergency departments. OPSS will review the benefits of this pilot programme when it has concluded. This is one of a number of workstreams OPSS is leading to improve the information available to consumers on safety issues.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of mandatory registration of electrical products.

It is important that consumers can access safety information about the products in their homes so they can take appropriate action when necessary. The Government encourages consumers to register their domestic appliances and works with consumer organisations and business groups to promote this. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is conducting extensive research with 4,000 consumers to understand their attitudes to product registration and trial different approaches. Officials are developing proposals to increase registration, including mandatory registration for electrical products as part of this work.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to increase the uptake of product registration of electrical products.

It is important that consumers can access safety information about the products in their homes so they can take appropriate action when necessary. The Government encourages consumers to register their domestic appliances and works with consumer organisations and business groups to promote this. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is conducting extensive research with 4,000 consumers to understand their attitudes to product registration and trial different approaches. Officials are developing proposals to increase registration, including mandatory registration for electrical products as part of this work.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the recall of washing machines by Whirlpool on Tuesday 17 December 2019 is effective.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) assessed Whirlpool’s proposal for a recall of affected washing machines and served statutory notices requiring information from Whirlpool. This will enable OPSS to monitor the progress of the recall and assess whether further action is necessary to protect public safety and to hold the company to account.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what contact her Department has had with online marketplaces on the recall of washing machines issued by Whirlpool on Tuesday 17 December 2019.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. The Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards, wrote to online platforms when the recall was announced by Whirlpool to ensure affected washing machines and other recalled items were not available on their platforms to protect public safety. OPSS is closely monitoring the situation.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the recall of washing machines by Whirlpool on Tuesday 17 December 2019 is being carried out at the request of the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. Legislation is in place to ensure that manufacturers only place safe products on the market and take action where they identify a safety issue with products already on the market.

Therefore Whirlpool is responsible for the safety of the products it supplies and for taking effective action when unsafe products are discovered. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the national regulator for product safety. It assessed the company’s proposal for a recall against regulatory standards and best practice to ensure the proposed action was sufficient to address the risk and provided timely notification of consumers as to the action they need to take.

OPSS is now monitoring the recall closely and will hold the company to account if the recall is not effective.

1st Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the study by Gabriel A. Brooks and Luke Clark entitled, The gamblers of the future? Migration from loot boxes to gambling in a longitudinal study of young adults, published in Computers in Human Behaviour, volume 141, in April 2023.

His Majesty’s Government struck a balanced and evidence-led approach in our review of gambling regulation. We continue to monitor research, and have carefully considered the findings in this study. We recognise that there is a growing body of research that provides evidence of an association between loot box purchases and gambling activity, as well as evidence of a link with a variety of harms, including harmful gambling. However, research has not established whether a causal relationship exists, and there are a range of plausible explanations.

In order to address gaps in research around these and similar areas, we have developed and published the Video Games Research Framework to support high quality independent research into video games, including loot boxes. We are also introducing a statutory levy charged to gambling operators which will raise trusted, long-term funding for gambling research. We are clear that we will continue to look carefully at any further research that results from that and take action if necessary.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
22nd Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the University of Bristol research paper entitled, The prevalence of gambling adverts during the opening weekend of the English Premier League 2023-23, published 2024; and if she will take legislative steps to reduce the number of gambling adverts shown during football matches.

His Majesty’s Government recognises that, while millions of people gamble online without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences. In our approach to gambling advertising, we have struck a balanced and evidence-led approach which tackles aggressive advertising that is most likely to appeal to children, while still allowing sports bodies and others to benefit commercially from deals with responsible gambling firms. There are robust rules in place to ensure that gambling advertising is socially responsible and cannot be targeted at or strongly appeal to children. The Government welcomed the voluntary whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting ads during live sports programmes, agreed by industry. According to figures from the Betting and Gaming Council, the ban reduced gambling advertisement views by children (age 4-17) by 70% over the full duration of live sporting programmes. We also welcomed the Premier League’s announcement that it will ban gambling sponsors from the front of shirts, and are working with a wider group of sports governing bodies to introduce a Code of Conduct on responsible gambling sponsorship.

We continue to monitor research, and have carefully considered the findings in the study by the University of Bristol. Furthermore, we are introducing a statutory levy charged to gambling operators which will raise trusted, long-term funding for gambling research. We are clear that we will continue to look carefully at any further research that results from that and take action if necessary.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the gambling industry on the effectiveness of safer gambling week for reducing gambling harm.

His Majesty’s Government recognises that while millions of people gamble without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences.

The Secretary of State and I recently met with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and other industry representatives to discuss industry-led safer gambling measures and implementation of the gambling white paper. We welcome industry-led initiatives such as Safer Gambling Week. Figures from the BGC indicate that in 2022 Safer Gambling Week messaging made nearly 30 million impressions on social media, and that around 200,000 accounts set deposit limits during that month, with 61 percent of those players setting a limit for the first time. Such limits can be an important measure in preventing harm. We understand safer gambling week has no impact on the volume of marketing (although its content is likely to be different) or game speed.

However, as outlined in the gambling white paper, we are working with the industry, Gambling Commission and others to implement a wide range of proportionate measures to protect customers from practices and products which can drive harm.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the gambling industry on the potential impact of safer gambling week on (a) the volume of (i) marketing and (ii) direct marketing offers, (b) game speed and (c) gambling harm.

His Majesty’s Government recognises that while millions of people gamble without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences.

The Secretary of State and I recently met with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and other industry representatives to discuss industry-led safer gambling measures and implementation of the gambling white paper. We welcome industry-led initiatives such as Safer Gambling Week. Figures from the BGC indicate that in 2022 Safer Gambling Week messaging made nearly 30 million impressions on social media, and that around 200,000 accounts set deposit limits during that month, with 61 percent of those players setting a limit for the first time. Such limits can be an important measure in preventing harm. We understand safer gambling week has no impact on the volume of marketing (although its content is likely to be different) or game speed.

However, as outlined in the gambling white paper, we are working with the industry, Gambling Commission and others to implement a wide range of proportionate measures to protect customers from practices and products which can drive harm.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
7th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the timing of the publication of the gambling white paper on (a) the economy and (b) society.

The Gambling Act Review is an extensive evidence-led review, which aims to ensure regulation is fit for the digital age. We will publish a White Paper setting out our vision and next steps in the coming weeks.

10th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) the Gambling Commission and (b) her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of technology such as open banking to remove the need for customers to hand over financial information for affordability checks to multiple online gambling operators.

The Government and Gambling Commission are exploring how technology and data can be harnessed in a number of areas to better prevent harmful gambling online. We recognise the role that data sharing could play in supporting interventions across multiple operators, as well as the benefits of considering a player’s financial circumstances as part of a rounded assessment of whether they are at risk of harm. The government’s white paper on the Gambling Act Review will be published in the coming weeks.

It is important that any data-driven protections are proportionate, handle data securely, and are implemented in a way that is acceptable to consumers. Officials from the Department and the Commission have therefore met a range of technology providers to understand potential delivery options, including those which may cause less friction in the customer journey such as checks facilitated by open banking.

The Single Customer View project is currently in a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider. This is taking place within the Information Commissioner’s Office regulatory sandbox, and progress will be closely monitored by Government and regulators. There will be ongoing evaluations once data sharing has started. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here, and the Information Commissioner’s update on the sandbox can be found here.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to introduce online gambling affordability assessments as part of the gambling white paper, to be conducted independently of the industry.

The Government and Gambling Commission are exploring how technology and data can be harnessed in a number of areas to better prevent harmful gambling online. We recognise the role that data sharing could play in supporting interventions across multiple operators, as well as the benefits of considering a player’s financial circumstances as part of a rounded assessment of whether they are at risk of harm. The government’s white paper on the Gambling Act Review will be published in the coming weeks.

It is important that any data-driven protections are proportionate, handle data securely, and are implemented in a way that is acceptable to consumers. Officials from the Department and the Commission have therefore met a range of technology providers to understand potential delivery options, including those which may cause less friction in the customer journey such as checks facilitated by open banking.

The Single Customer View project is currently in a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider. This is taking place within the Information Commissioner’s Office regulatory sandbox, and progress will be closely monitored by Government and regulators. There will be ongoing evaluations once data sharing has started. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here, and the Information Commissioner’s update on the sandbox can be found here.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) the Gambling Commission and (b) officials in her Department have met providers of online gambling affordability checks technology for the purposes of understanding the potential merits of alternative approaches to the single customer view project.

The Government and Gambling Commission are exploring how technology and data can be harnessed in a number of areas to better prevent harmful gambling online. We recognise the role that data sharing could play in supporting interventions across multiple operators, as well as the benefits of considering a player’s financial circumstances as part of a rounded assessment of whether they are at risk of harm. The government’s white paper on the Gambling Act Review will be published in the coming weeks.

It is important that any data-driven protections are proportionate, handle data securely, and are implemented in a way that is acceptable to consumers. Officials from the Department and the Commission have therefore met a range of technology providers to understand potential delivery options, including those which may cause less friction in the customer journey such as checks facilitated by open banking.

The Single Customer View project is currently in a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider. This is taking place within the Information Commissioner’s Office regulatory sandbox, and progress will be closely monitored by Government and regulators. There will be ongoing evaluations once data sharing has started. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here, and the Information Commissioner’s update on the sandbox can be found here.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the Gambling Commission to assess the single customer view technology trial; and whether a range of technology solutions for online gambling affordability assessment will be considered.

The Government and Gambling Commission are exploring how technology and data can be harnessed in a number of areas to better prevent harmful gambling online. We recognise the role that data sharing could play in supporting interventions across multiple operators, as well as the benefits of considering a player’s financial circumstances as part of a rounded assessment of whether they are at risk of harm. The government’s white paper on the Gambling Act Review will be published in the coming weeks.

It is important that any data-driven protections are proportionate, handle data securely, and are implemented in a way that is acceptable to consumers. Officials from the Department and the Commission have therefore met a range of technology providers to understand potential delivery options, including those which may cause less friction in the customer journey such as checks facilitated by open banking.

The Single Customer View project is currently in a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider. This is taking place within the Information Commissioner’s Office regulatory sandbox, and progress will be closely monitored by Government and regulators. There will be ongoing evaluations once data sharing has started. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here, and the Information Commissioner’s update on the sandbox can be found here.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the results of the GAMSTOP single customer view trial will be independently assessed.

In October 2019, the Gambling Commission called on the industry to work together to develop a single customer view which could support interventions across multiple operators to prevent harmful gambling. Operators have appointed GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as the technical provider for a pilot scheme which is currently progressing within the Information Commissioner’s Office sandbox process. This means the industry’s technical solution can be closely scrutinised by both the ICO and the Gambling Commission. The Commission’s most recent update can be found here and the ICO’s most recent update can be found here. Results from the trials will be released in due course, and we will work closely with both organisations to consider next steps.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the results of the GAMSTOP single customer view trial will be made publicly available.

In October 2019, the Gambling Commission called on the industry to work together to develop a single customer view which could support interventions across multiple operators to prevent harmful gambling. Operators have appointed GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as the technical provider for a pilot scheme which is currently progressing within the Information Commissioner’s Office sandbox process. This means the industry’s technical solution can be closely scrutinised by both the ICO and the Gambling Commission. The Commission’s most recent update can be found here and the ICO’s most recent update can be found here. Results from the trials will be released in due course, and we will work closely with both organisations to consider next steps.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will introduce an affordability system for gambling, incorporating assessments of average bets and average levels of disposable income, to prevent extreme financial losses and avoidable harm.

The Government and Gambling Commission recognise the benefits of considering a customer’s financial circumstances as part of an assessment of whether their levels and patterns of spend are likely to be harmful, and also that any such checks need to be proportionate. The Gambling Commission’s consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction (including on issues to do with affordability) received over 13,000 responses and the Commission published an interim update on its website outlining next steps. We will continue to work closely with the Commission on this issue in the run up to publishing our white paper on our Review of the Gambling Act 2005.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
23rd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the extent to which exposure to gambling advertising is a predictor of (a) at risk and (b) problem gambling among secondary school children.

Public Health England’s evidence review of gambling-related harms did not find any review-level evidence that exposure to advertising is a risk factor for harmful gambling. However, we are aware that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on some groups, such as those who are already experiencing problems with gambling, and there are aspects of advertising which can appeal to children.

While rules are already in place to prevent advertising from causing harm to children and vulnerable people, the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) has recently implemented strengthened protections for adults who are vulnerable to gambling harm. A further announcement on new rules aimed at reducing the appeal of gambling adverts to children is also expected shortly.

The Government is reviewing the Gambling Act 2005 to ensure it remains fit for the digital age. As part of its broad scope, the review called for evidence on the benefits or harms of allowing operators to advertise and engage in sponsorship arrangements. We are considering the evidence carefully and will publish a White Paper outlining conclusions and next steps in the coming months.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
23rd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential causal relationship between gambling advertising and harm caused by gambling.

Public Health England’s evidence review of gambling-related harms did not find any review-level evidence that exposure to advertising is a risk factor for harmful gambling. However, we are aware that gambling advertising can have a disproportionate impact on some groups, such as those who are already experiencing problems with gambling, and there are aspects of advertising which can appeal to children.

While rules are already in place to prevent advertising from causing harm to children and vulnerable people, the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) has recently implemented strengthened protections for adults who are vulnerable to gambling harm. A further announcement on new rules aimed at reducing the appeal of gambling adverts to children is also expected shortly.

The Government is reviewing the Gambling Act 2005 to ensure it remains fit for the digital age. As part of its broad scope, the review called for evidence on the benefits or harms of allowing operators to advertise and engage in sponsorship arrangements. We are considering the evidence carefully and will publish a White Paper outlining conclusions and next steps in the coming months.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
23rd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of offering sporting bodies sports betting rights, where gambling companies can be charged a fee for the right to use sporting content and to offer bets on sporting competitions.

The Government currently has no plans to introduce a requirement for gambling operators to pay a fee or levy to sporting bodies. We are fully supportive of the Horserace Betting Levy, which recognises the symbiotic relationship between horseracing and gambling. This unique relationship is not replicated in other sports, which have a broader appeal beyond gambling. However, we recognise that gambling contributes to the funding of sports by way of media rights, advertising and sponsorship.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish the White Paper on the gambling review.

The Gambling Act Review is a priority for the department. We will publish a White Paper with our conclusions in the coming months.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
10th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the announcement that GAMSTOP, an industry-funded organisation, will be operating a single customer view trial, if she will take steps to ensure that the upcoming Gambling White Paper makes provision for affordability to be assessed by an organisation independent of the industry, which is able to make proactive and informed interventions utilising relevant data.

The Gambling Commission received over 13,000 responses to its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction (including on issues to do with affordability) and has published an interim update on its website outlining next steps. We will continue to work closely with them on affordability in the run up to publishing our White Paper which will set out our vision for the sector.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)