Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 07 Dec 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"T3. The decay of NHS dentistry and indeed the cavity of NHS dentists across the country affects my constituents in Lancaster and Fleetwood, but I note that on 7 February 2018 the Chancellor spoke on his own website about the lack of NHS dentists in his constituency, too. Now that …..."Cat Smith - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 26th July 2021
Asked by:
Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he or any of the Ministers of his Department use personal email addresses to conduct Government business.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch
- Leader of HM Official Opposition
I refer the Hon. Member to the Cabinet Office guidance to departments on use of private emails (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-departments-on-private-email-use). This states that civil servants and Ministers are generally provided with access to Government email systems. Other forms of electronic communication may be used in the course of conducting Government business, in line with security and record-keeping requirements.
Written Question
Thursday 22nd July 2021
Asked by:
Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which of his Department's non-executive directors were appointed through open competition.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch
- Leader of HM Official Opposition
All HM Treasury Non-Executive Directors were recruited according to the guidance set out in the Corporate governance code for central government departments.
HM Treasury announces the appointments (including reappointment dates) of Non-Executive Directors, as well as their experience, in the Annual Report and Accounts. Our current Non-Executives are covered in the following Annual Report and Accounts.
Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 (Page 24, 41)
Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (Page 41)
Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19 (Page 45)
Written Question
Tuesday 29th June 2021
Asked by:
Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Minister is responsible for the allocation of the £22 billion of funding for research and development announced in the Queen's Speech 2021.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch
- Leader of HM Official Opposition
Many government departments and agencies fund and undertake Research and Development. Departmental allocations are determined at Spending Reviews.
Written Question
Monday 28th June 2021
Asked by:
Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria his Department plans to use for the allocation of the £22 billion of funding for research and development announced in the Queen's Speech 2021.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch
- Leader of HM Official Opposition
Many government departments and agencies fund and undertake Research & Development. Decisions on R&D spending beyond 2021-22 will be taken as part of the next Spending Review.
The Government carefully considers its plans to spend public money and how best to ensure value for the taxpayer. Regular spending reviews set budgets across all government departments and provide an opportunity to take a systematic view across all spending.
Further details about the Spending Review will be set out in due course.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Jun 2021
Economy Update
"For as long as the health restrictions mean that businesses must stay closed, it is right that the economic support package supports jobs in those workplaces, but that simply is not the case. With the extension of the restrictions and, from 1 July, employers having to make a 10% further …..."Cat Smith - View Speech
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Written Question
Friday 12th March 2021
Asked by:
Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to support community pharmacies.
Answered by Steve Barclay
We recognise the vital role community pharmacies have played throughout the pandemic, and have put in place a comprehensive package of support:
- We have provided extra funding for Bank Holiday openings, a new medicines delivery service for shielded patients and a contribution to social distancing for every pharmacy.
- Between April and July 2020, a total of £370 million in increased advance payments were made to support community pharmacies with cash-flow pressures due to Covid-19.
- Most community pharmacies have been able to access general Covid-19 business support, including business rate relief and Retail, Leisure, Hospitality grants - we estimate community pharmacies have had access to some £82 million in grants.
- We provide personal protective equipment (PPE) free of charge and reimburse community pharmacies for PPE purchased.
- The Government has put forward firm proposals for additional funding to meet extra costs incurred by pharmacies during the pandemic, which are under active discussion with the PSNC.
- We have also provided non-monetary support such as the removal of some administrative tasks, flexibility in opening hours, support through the Pharmacy Quality Scheme for the sector’s response to Covid-19 and the delayed start of new services.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Mar 2021
Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill
"Having covered many of the key arguments on this Bill in previous Commons stages, I will keep my comments brief. Labour has agreed to support the Bill for the specific purpose of ensuring that the Attorney General can take maternity leave as a matter of urgency. It is shocking that …..."Cat Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Feb 2021
Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill
"It is a pleasure to take part in the Second Reading debate on this Bill, in which we have heard contributions from so many trailblazing women. The two speeches that stood out for me were those from my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Camberwell and Peckham (Ms …..."Cat Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Feb 2021
Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill
"I thank my hon. Friend for that and for her support when I was expecting. It just goes to show that this is a debate that has had to come forward in baby steps. If we have learnt anything from the covid-19 crisis, it is that acting at a point …..."Cat Smith - View Speech
View all Cat Smith (Lab - Lancaster and Wyre) contributions to the debate on: Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill