3 APPG memberships (as of 8 Apr 2024)
Future of Work, Limits to Growth, Race and Community18 Former APPG memberships
Afghan Women and Girls, Afrikan Reparations, Bullying, Climate Change, Coronavirus, County, Drones, East of England, Fair Business Banking and Finance, Global Security and Non-Proliferation, Governance and Inclusive Leadership, Green New Deal, Guantanamo Bay, Home Electrical Safety, Humanist, Kurdistan Region in Iraq, Vaccinations for All, Yoga in SocietyDivision Voting information
Clive Lewis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Labour No votes vs 176 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
Clive Lewis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Labour No votes vs 53 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 44
Clive Lewis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Labour No votes vs 142 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
Clive Lewis voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Labour No votes vs 124 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
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
View All Sparring PartnersDepartment Debates
(20 debate contributions)
(15 debate contributions)
(14 debate contributions)
(14 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(4,790 words contributed)
(1,595 words contributed)
(1,342 words contributed)
(1,072 words contributed)
Norwich South 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).
of 45,778 signatures (0.25%)
of 75,314 signatures (0.25%)
of 202,899 signatures (0.18%)
of 103,517 signatures (0.10%)
of 202,899 signatures (0.18%)
of 75,314 signatures (0.25%)
of 45,778 signatures (0.25%)
of 103,517 signatures (0.10%)
of 71,577 signatures (0.13%)
Latest EDMs signed by Clive Lewis
Civil Service Pay
Tabled by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)That this House notes that civil service pay has been eroded over the past 40 years, which has seen wages fall from above the national average to below average; regrets that, despite this, the Government did not ring-fence funding for a pay rise for civil servants in the recent Budget; …
(Most recent: 23 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 17
Plaid Cymru: 3
Scottish National Party: 1
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Office of National Statistics and mandatory attendance at workplaces
Tabled by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)That this House expresses support and solidarity with the 1,200 Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) union members working for the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in Newport, Titchfield, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh who are currently balloting for industrial action over mandatory attendance at workplaces; notes that there was …
(Most recent: 19 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 21
Scottish National Party: 6
Independent: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Clive Lewis, 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 Clive Lewis
Clive Lewis has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
1 Bill introduced by Clive Lewis
A Bill to establish an Energy Equity Commission to prepare a strategy for the UK Government to help manage energy costs for households, businesses, non-profit organisations and public services by ending fossil fuel dependence; to require the Commission to set equalities and environmental objectives to be met by the UK Government in implementing the strategy; to require the Commission to make recommendations on replacing the price cap system with a free Universal Basic Energy Allowance and an associated social tariff for retail energy, on an energy allowance in Universal Credit and legacy benefits, on writing off household energy debt, on the remit and objectives of Ofgem, and on how the UK Government should meet the costs of the measures recommended by the Commission; to require the Commission to prepare a Retrofitting Strategy for the Nations, including proposals for a street-by-street retrofit programme led by devolved administrations and local authorities, for financial support for improving energy efficiency, for how to target households, businesses, not-for-profit organisations and public services most in need of support, for any changes required to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and Future Buildings Standards, for addressing workforce and training needs, and proposals on how the UK Government should meet the costs of these measures; to require the UK Government to implement the strategy and recommendations of the Energy Equity Commission within a specified timeframe; and for connected purposes.
Tuesday 18th October 2022
10 Bills co-sponsored by Clive Lewis
Tax Reform Commission Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
National Eye Health Strategy Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Marsha De Cordova (Lab)
Decarbonisation and Economic Strategy Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
Climate Education Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Nadia Whittome (Lab)
Problem Drug Use Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tommy Sheppard (SNP)
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Decarbonisation and Economic Strategy Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
Banknote Diversity Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Helen Grant (Con)
Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018
Sponsor - Steve Reed (LAB)
Employment and Workers' Rights Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Stephanie Peacock (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)2 Other Department Questions
Fiscal space and debt sustainability was one of four key themes I took forward at the Climate and Development Ministerial in March. I have continued to prioritise this issue, for example in engagements with the IMF, World Bank and climate vulnerable countries, and welcome progress has been made.
Since March, the G20 and Paris Club have agreed to a further, final extension of the Debt-Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which is providing much needed short-term fiscal space to help countries tackle the immediate effects of the pandemic and avoid a worsening of debt problems. The G20 and the Paris Club have also continued implementation of the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, designed to provide a more long-term solution to debt vulnerabilities.
The IMF have implemented a historic $650bn allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which will boost global liquidity and provide fiscal space, and G7 Leaders agreed to magnify the impact of this allocation by considering options for voluntary SDR channelling to developing and vulnerable countries.
Finally, the UK-led G7 Private Sector Working Group is also exploring the development and use of Climate Resilient Debt Instruments (CRDIs) that quickly suspend debt service repayments following a pre-defined climate-related event or shock.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Our default approach is that travel to and from Glasgow will be by train or other appropriate public ground transportation. COP26 will be carbon neutral, our principal priority is to reduce emissions from the conference, with any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 to be offset. We are working to achieve PAS2060 Carbon Neutrality validation for COP26 to ensure this approach. We will also encourage delegates to consider low-carbon travel options and will be offsetting the emissions associated with travel, including those of the COP President and UK officials in the run up to COP26.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
All British multinationals must comply with relevant British and international law as applicable to their location and operation. The Government is committed to the implementation of the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, which includes recommendations to multinational enterprises on the environment.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Environmental Impact Assessments for Shell’s activities in Nigeria since 2014 are published on the company’s website. Please see https://www.shell.com.ng/sustainability/environment/environment-impact-assessments.html
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
SPDC is a Nigerian registered subsidiary of Shell whose operations in the Niger Delta are as a member of a Joint Venture in which it has a minority stake (the majority - 55% - stake is held by Nigerian state-owned company NNPC Ltd). This Joint Venture operates under a regulatory regime set and enforced by the Government of Nigeria. It would not be appropriate for His Majesty's Government, as a foreign government, to seek to influence the regulatory process.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department currently does not routinely collect heat network customer tariffs. However, we did collect tariff information under our Heat Network Consumer and Operator Survey 2022. This survey found that heat network customers reported paying on average less than those not on heat networks. The energy price cap for the period 1 October to 31 December 2023 is £1,834 a year for a typical household who use gas and electricity and pay by Direct Debit, for non-heat network consumers who were eligible.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government have not made an estimate of the number of fuel poor households whose energy is provided by a heat network.
Low income and fuel poor households on a heat network may be eligible for support schemes, such as the Warm Home Discount, and energy efficiency schemes including the Energy Company Obligation.
Under the Energy Bill Discount Scheme heat suppliers face a legal obligation to pass support on to consumers. Heat network customers in Great Britain can contact the Energy Ombudsman if they are concerned that their operator is not meeting the requirements under the scheme. The Government further regulated heat networks via the Energy Bill.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The legislation was introduced to ensure that intermediaries who received energy price support were legally required to pass through the benefit. The regulations allowed end users to pursue recovery of benefits from their intermediary as a debt through civil proceedings. Should a court rule in the end user’s favour, they will be entitled to the payment, plus interest.
Such an assessment is not possible as data is not held in this way. We believe in the majority of cases energy price support was passed on to the consumer. We are aware of a small number of cases which have been escalated and are currently being investigated by the authorities.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department currently does not routinely collect heat network customer tariffs. However, the Heat Network Consumer and Operator Survey 2022 found that heat network customers reported paying less than non-heat network consumers for heating and hot water. The Energy Bill will allow the Government to introduce regulations for heat networks, including requirements for network operators to continually report their prices and other data to Ofgem.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Final investment decisions are based on commercially privileged information specific to each project developer. The Government has engaged extensively with renewables developers over the past year and is aware that they have faced unprecedented global economic challenges resulting in supply chain bottlenecks, increases in capital costs, and a rising cost of finance. The Department reviews the Contracts for Difference scheme (the main support mechanism for renewable projects) every year and updates its evidence base to include reliable new industry data.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold this data.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Clive Lewis's BEIS questions)The Government published the results of Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review on 13 January 2023 and thanks the chair for conducting this review. The Government will carefully consider the recommendations and respond to the review later in the year.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
UK greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are compiled in the context of the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory and this data is published annually in the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions national statistics. Emissions estimates for domestic and international aviation in each of the last five years up until 2020 can be found in tables 1.2 and 6.1 respectively, although these are not broken down by plane weight or number of passengers:
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government seeks to respond to communities with concerns about the impact of wind turbines in England while also delivering cheaper, cleaner, more secure power including onshore wind. The Government will consider all options for increasing deployment in ways that local communities will support.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning (OPRED) is in the process of considering the environmental statement submitted by Equinor in support of the proposed Rosebank development. As part this process, OPRED completes an Environmental Impact Assessment ; consulting with Statutory Nature Consultation Bodies, including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Marine Management Organisation, which are key delivery partners of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will take into account the impact a project may have on the environment within marine protected areas, designated by UK Government and Devolved Administrations under relevant legislation.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New North Sea oil and gas fields are part of the managed decline of the basin’s production, reducing our dependence on imports from abroad and supporting UK employment in sectors vital to the transition to net zero.
Development proposals for oil fields are dealt with by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED). The NSTA’s monitoring and assessment of future emissions from UK Continental Shelf production includes all new projects. Its 2022 report can be found here: https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/news-publications/publications/2022/emissions-monitoring-report-2022/.
The North Sea Transition Deal's emissions reduction targets take into account an absolute reduction in production on the pathway to net zero by 2050. The Government's Net Zero Strategy sets out how those targets are consistent with the UK meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution and Carbon Budgets.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The ‘Broader Group’ is the only application-based element of the Warm Home Discount scheme. Energy suppliers are responsible for administering their own Broader Group processes, including deciding how they award rebates to their customers.
The Government consulted last summer on reforms to the scheme that would enable the vast majority of customers to receive their rebate automatically, without the need to apply. The Government will publish the response to the consultation in the spring, with the reforms coming into force from the 2022/23 scheme year.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has no sponsorship agreements with the East of England Energy Group.
The Oil and Gas Authority wishes to develop Bacton gas terminal as an energy transition hub and has engaged the East of England Energy Group to facilitate a number of Special Interest Groups for which a contribution has been agreed.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has invested over £300 million in securing and scaling up the UK’s manufacturing capabilities to be able to respond to this pandemic. This has included:
- expanding the UK vaccine manufacturing footprint through investments in expanding and accelerating the Vaccine Manufacturing & Innovation Centre’s (VMIC) Harwell site which is being run as a not-for profit; and
- collaborating with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC) to fund a state-of-the-art Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Braintree
The Government has step in rights during pandemics at both VMIC and CGTC Braintree.
In addition, the Government has partnered with industry – for example Wockhardt where we have secured fill and finish reservation in the UK to support our vaccine programme.
As a result of these investments, and ongoing support of the Vaccine Taskforce three of the UK's eight COVID-19 vaccines (Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva) are being or will be manufactured in the UK. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is delivered through a majority UK supply chain. The contracts for supply agreements with these vaccine companies are available on the Contracts Finder website.
The Government has invested over £300 million in securing and scaling up the UK’s manufacturing capabilities to be able to respond to this pandemic. This has included:
- expanding the UK vaccine manufacturing footprint through investments in expanding and accelerating the Vaccine Manufacturing & Innovation Centre’s (VMIC) Harwell site which is being run as a not-for profit; and
- collaborating with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC) to fund a state-of-the-art Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Braintree
The Government has step in rights during pandemics at both VMIC and CGTC Braintree.
In addition, the Government has partnered with industry – for example Wockhardt where we have secured fill and finish reservation in the UK to support our vaccine programme.
As a result of these investments, and ongoing support of the Vaccine Taskforce three of the UK's eight COVID-19 vaccines (Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva) are being or will be manufactured in the UK. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is delivered through a majority UK supply chain. The contracts for supply agreements with these vaccine companies are available on the Contracts Finder website.
The UK Government does not consider waiving IP rights to be an appropriate course of action to boost the manufacturing of safe, effective and quality vaccines.
The existing intellectual property framework has mobilised research and development to deliver a host of new medicines and technologies, to detect, treat and defend against COVID-19. The incentives and access mechanisms provided by the IP framework have been integral to this success, without which we would not have seen the impressive surge of R&D and the unprecedented scaling up of production.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In 2017 as part of the Local Energy Programme, BEIS provided funding to all Local Enterprise Partnerships to develop an energy strategy. New Anglia’s strategy was part of the tri-LEP approach including Greater Cambridgeshire, Greater Peterborough and Hertfordshire LEPs. This strategy identified, assessed and prioritised low carbon energy projects including local energy generation across the region.
The Local Energy Programme also funds 5 local energy hubs covering all of England to support the development of energy projects. The Greater South East hub is based in Greater Cambridgeshire, Greater Peterborough and supports projects across New Anglia.
BEIS has also allocated over £2.5m to the Greater South East region to support rural communities develop renewable energy schemes under the Rural Community Energy Fund.
An employer can opt to make a worker redundant under certain conditions, if they deem this to be the best course of action to take for their business. The employee will maintain rights against unfair dismissal and to redundancy payments during the period of furlough. Any redundancy process should be fair and reasonable, with appropriate equalities considerations.
Pay during the redundancy notice period is based on the individual’s rights under their contract of employment and the statutory right to notice pay (under section 86 and the following sections of the Employment Rights Act 1996).
In these difficult times, we would not expect an employer to take advantage of CJRS, which has brought benefit to employers and employees alike, to make someone redundant on less favourable terms than they would otherwise have received. Please visit the Gov.uk page for updates and changes to the scheme at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
The Pubs and Restaurants working level Technical Group comprised stakeholders from a cross-section of the sector, with representation from trade bodies to small and medium sized operators, unions, as well as the supply chain. We consulted these stakeholders due to their expertise and real-life knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive also took part in the Technical Group discussion to ensure the COVID-19 secure guidance for restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services is consistent with the latest scientific and health and safety advice.
In addition to the Technical Group, we consulted over 400 stakeholders from the hospitality sector in the development of the guidance. This includes ongoing discussions that I have had with business leaders.
The Government have engaged with the British Pubs Confederation through correspondence and continue to engage with a broad variety of representatives across the industry on the challenges facing the pub sector, including on the re-opening of pubs.
The Gambling Commission has suspended the licence of BetIndex Ltd, the operators of Football Index, and a live investigation is ongoing. The Secretary of State and I have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports and are monitoring the situation very closely. Further information, including an update on the status of customer funds, can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspx
It is a condition of a gambling operating licence that customers should be able to withdraw funds from their accounts. The Commission acted to suspend BetIndex’s licence on learning that the operator planned to freeze access to funds. Operators who hold customer funds must tell customers whether funds are protected in event of insolvency and the level of the protection offered. Football Index provides a medium level of customer funds protection, which means customer funds are kept in accounts separate from business accounts, and arrangements are made to ensure assets in the customer accounts are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.
The government has launched a Review of the Gambling Act 2005 and has called for evidence on a range of issues across the sector, including the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission. The call for evidence closes on 31 March, and we will be led by the evidence received.
The Gambling Commission has suspended the licence of BetIndex Ltd, the operators of Football Index, and a live investigation is ongoing. The Secretary of State and I have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports and are monitoring the situation very closely. Further information, including an update on the status of customer funds, can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspx
It is a condition of a gambling operating licence that customers should be able to withdraw funds from their accounts. The Commission acted to suspend BetIndex’s licence on learning that the operator planned to freeze access to funds. Operators who hold customer funds must tell customers whether funds are protected in event of insolvency and the level of the protection offered. Football Index provides a medium level of customer funds protection, which means customer funds are kept in accounts separate from business accounts, and arrangements are made to ensure assets in the customer accounts are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.
The government has launched a Review of the Gambling Act 2005 and has called for evidence on a range of issues across the sector, including the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission. The call for evidence closes on 31 March, and we will be led by the evidence received.
The Gambling Commission has suspended the licence of BetIndex Ltd, the operators of Football Index, and a live investigation is ongoing. The Secretary of State and I have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports and are monitoring the situation very closely. Further information, including an update on the status of customer funds, can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspx
It is a condition of a gambling operating licence that customers should be able to withdraw funds from their accounts. The Commission acted to suspend BetIndex’s licence on learning that the operator planned to freeze access to funds. Operators who hold customer funds must tell customers whether funds are protected in event of insolvency and the level of the protection offered. Football Index provides a medium level of customer funds protection, which means customer funds are kept in accounts separate from business accounts, and arrangements are made to ensure assets in the customer accounts are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.
The government has launched a Review of the Gambling Act 2005 and has called for evidence on a range of issues across the sector, including the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission. The call for evidence closes on 31 March, and we will be led by the evidence received.
The Gambling Commission has suspended the licence of BetIndex Ltd, the operators of Football Index, and a live investigation is ongoing. The Secretary of State and I have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports and are monitoring the situation very closely. Further information, including an update on the status of customer funds, can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspx
It is a condition of a gambling operating licence that customers should be able to withdraw funds from their accounts. The Commission acted to suspend BetIndex’s licence on learning that the operator planned to freeze access to funds. Operators who hold customer funds must tell customers whether funds are protected in event of insolvency and the level of the protection offered. Football Index provides a medium level of customer funds protection, which means customer funds are kept in accounts separate from business accounts, and arrangements are made to ensure assets in the customer accounts are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.
The government has launched a Review of the Gambling Act 2005 and has called for evidence on a range of issues across the sector, including the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission. The call for evidence closes on 31 March, and we will be led by the evidence received.
The Gambling Commission has suspended the licence of BetIndex Ltd, the operators of Football Index, and a live investigation is ongoing. The Secretary of State and I have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports and are monitoring the situation very closely. Further information, including an update on the status of customer funds, can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspx
It is a condition of a gambling operating licence that customers should be able to withdraw funds from their accounts. The Commission acted to suspend BetIndex’s licence on learning that the operator planned to freeze access to funds. Operators who hold customer funds must tell customers whether funds are protected in event of insolvency and the level of the protection offered. Football Index provides a medium level of customer funds protection, which means customer funds are kept in accounts separate from business accounts, and arrangements are made to ensure assets in the customer accounts are distributed to customers in the event of insolvency.
The government has launched a Review of the Gambling Act 2005 and has called for evidence on a range of issues across the sector, including the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission. The call for evidence closes on 31 March, and we will be led by the evidence received.
In addition to the requirement for an academy trust’s Accounting Officer to sign and return an acknowledgement letter, the department is considering measures to monitor compliance of conditions by academy trusts and other Responsible Bodies.
Measures under consideration include carrying out spot checks on cases, contacting academy trusts directly for confirmation that the conditions have been met and asking trusts to notify the department once they have been met.
Minister of State (Education)
The department’s general policy is that the freehold sale of playing field land requires improvement to playing field in the educational estate by reinvesting capital receipt in sporting provision. Capital receipt from the sale of non-playing field land can be used for other benefits to the education estate, such as capital projects, save for any exceptional circumstances.
The department currently publishes a list of all playing field land disposals considered by the School Playing Field Advisory Panel since 2010, including freehold disposals, which is available on GOV.UK. This list is currently being updated for the period May to December 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-land-decisions-about-disposals/decisions-on-the-disposal-of-school-land.
Minister of State (Education)
Consent to the freehold sale of publicly funded playing field land by an academy trust will usually be subject to a condition specifying how the capital receipt should be reinvested.
The department requires the trust’s Accounting Officer to sign and return an acknowledgement letter attached to the consent letter confirming that the trust will comply with all conditions of consent. Failure to comply with any conditions will mean that the trust may be in breach of its funding agreement.
Departmental officials will only mark a case closed once the signed acknowledgement letter is received by the department.
Minister of State (Education)
Departmental officials have checked records from 1 January 2020 to 12 February 2024, and the total number of successful applications from academy trusts for the freehold sale of school land is 49.
The department’s policy is that capital receipts from the disposal of publicly funded playing field land should ordinarily be reinvested in improving sports provision at the affected school or local schools. Capital receipts from the disposal of publicly funded non-playing field land should be reinvested in capital projects at the affected school or local schools. Playing field land is defined widely as: land in the open air which is provided for the purposes of physical education or recreation.
Departmental officials have checked the records from 1 January 2020 to 12 February 2024, and the department has not received any applications from academy trusts in Norwich to sell school land.
Minister of State (Education)
Departmental officials have checked records from 1 January 2020 to 12 February 2024, and the total number of successful applications from academy trusts for the freehold sale of school land is 49.
The department’s policy is that capital receipts from the disposal of publicly funded playing field land should ordinarily be reinvested in improving sports provision at the affected school or local schools. Capital receipts from the disposal of publicly funded non-playing field land should be reinvested in capital projects at the affected school or local schools. Playing field land is defined widely as: land in the open air which is provided for the purposes of physical education or recreation.
Departmental officials have checked the records from 1 January 2020 to 12 February 2024, and the department has not received any applications from academy trusts in Norwich to sell school land.
Minister of State (Education)
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) does not contain asbestos.
Any intrusive works that are required to assess the presence of RAAC, are carried out by licensed asbestos contractors where asbestos containing materials are suspected, as Health and Safety Executive guidance dictates.
Further information on RAAC in education settings is available at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/06/new-guidance-on-raac-in-education-settings/. Background on RAAC management information can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information/background-on-raac-management-information.
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) does not contain asbestos.
Any intrusive works that are required to assess the presence of RAAC, are carried out by licensed asbestos contractors where asbestos containing materials are suspected, as Health and Safety Executive guidance dictates.
Further information on RAAC in education settings is available at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/06/new-guidance-on-raac-in-education-settings/. Background on RAAC management information can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information/background-on-raac-management-information.
The department has not had discussions with the Girls' Day School Trust about its proposal to withdraw from the teachers’ pension scheme (TPS).
Independent schools participate in the TPS voluntarily and are therefore free to leave the scheme, following appropriate consultation with their staff and provision of alternative pension arrangements, if they wish to do so.
Following the review into when the remaining higher education students can return to in-person teaching and learning, the government has announced that the remaining students should return to in-person teaching no earlier than 17 May 2021, alongside Step 3 of the roadmap. Students and institutions will be given at least a week’s notice of any further return in accordance with the timing of Step 3 of the roadmap.
The government roadmap is designed to maintain a cautious approach to the easing of restrictions to reduce public health risks and ensure that we can maintain progress towards full reopening. However, the government recognises the difficulties and disruption that this may cause for many students and their families and that is why the government is making a further £15 million of additional student hardship funding available for this academic year 2020/21. In total we have made an additional £85 million of funding available for student hardship.
We are supporting universities to provide regular twice weekly asymptomatic testing for all students and staff on-site and, from May, at home. This will help break chains of transmission of the virus.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
On the 2 February 2021 we announced that we are making available a further £50 million of hardship funding for this financial year, for higher education providers to use to support students in greatest need.
This funding can be distributed to a wide population of students, including international students impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
This funding is in addition to the £20 million of hardship funding made available in December 2020 and to the £256 million of Student Premium funding which higher education providers are also able draw on this academic year towards student hardship funds.
We shall continue to monitor the situation going forward to look at what impact this funding is having.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Following last year’s Spending Round, school budgets are rising by £2.6 billion in the 2020-21 financial year, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23, compared to the 2019-20 financial year. This increase in funding will help schools with costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. As stated in our guidance, schools should use their existing resources when making arrangements for the autumn term. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.
This year, Norfolk is receiving an extra £25 million for schools, an increase of 3.8% per pupil. This takes total funding for the 2020-21 financial year in the local authority to over £507 million. Norwich South is receiving an extra £1.5 million for schools this year, an increase of 3.0% per pupil. This takes total funding for the 2020-21 financial year in the constituency to over £55 million.
Keeping schools, nurseries and colleges open is a national priority. The Department has announced a new COVID-19 workforce fund for schools and colleges to help them to remain open. It will fund the cost of teacher absences over a certain threshold for those schools and colleges facing high staff absences and significant financial pressures. Guidance on the claims process will be published shortly.
On Friday 4 December the Department updated the guidance for exceptional costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. These instructions are to help schools claim exceptional costs that were not claimed for during the first window, which closed on 21 July 2020. Guidance on exceptional costs is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19/exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19--2.
Over 9 million items of personal protective equipment have been delivered to schools, colleges and universities as part of 50,000 one-off deliveries distributed by the Department of Health and Social Care to build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of COVID-19 on-site. This was a one-off delivery with no cost to schools.
Following last year’s Spending Round, school budgets are rising by £2.6 billion in the 2020-21 financial year, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23, compared to the 2019-20 financial year. This increase in funding will help schools with costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. As stated in our guidance, schools should use their existing resources when making arrangements for the autumn term. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.
This year, Norfolk is receiving an extra £25 million for schools, an increase of 3.8% per pupil. This takes total funding for the 2020-21 financial year in the local authority to over £507 million. Norwich South is receiving an extra £1.5 million for schools this year, an increase of 3.0% per pupil. This takes total funding for the 2020-21 financial year in the constituency to over £55 million.
Keeping schools, nurseries and colleges open is a national priority. The Department has announced a new COVID-19 workforce fund for schools and colleges to help them to remain open. It will fund the cost of teacher absences over a certain threshold for those schools and colleges facing high staff absences and significant financial pressures. Guidance on the claims process will be published shortly.
On Friday 4 December the Department updated the guidance for exceptional costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. These instructions are to help schools claim exceptional costs that were not claimed for during the first window, which closed on 21 July 2020. Guidance on exceptional costs is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19/exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19--2.
Over 9 million items of personal protective equipment have been delivered to schools, colleges and universities as part of 50,000 one-off deliveries distributed by the Department of Health and Social Care to build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of COVID-19 on-site. This was a one-off delivery with no cost to schools.
4 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Clive Lewis's Defra questions)The Government and Ofwat take the financial resilience of the water sector very seriously.
Ofwat continues to monitor the financial position of all water and wastewater companies. It sets out its assessment of the financial resilience of each company in its annual Monitoring Financial Resilience report. The Government is prepared for a range of scenarios across our regulated industries - including water - as any responsible government would be.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Food and drink businesses should report their food waste through the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap. There are no plans at this time to extend this voluntary scheme to a mandatory one.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
46 organisations responded to the consultation on improved food waste reporting as large businesses. 30 supported a mandatory approach while 13 supported an enhancement of the voluntary approach. The remainder were unsure or did not have an opinion.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
When identifying UK priorities for action under UK REACH, we will look at evidence from the European Chemicals Agency, along with other countries. If the EU is taking action on a substance, this does not mean that there has been a clear demonstration of risk within Great Britain. Where a risk has been identified within Great Britain, we might decide to address the issue in other ways, such as initiating actions under the occupational health and safety regulations or the classification, labelling and packaging regulations. The first two UK REACH Work Programmes have set out work in similar areas to the EU.
Under UK REACH, all chemical substances that are manufactured in, or imported into, Great Britain in quantities of over 1 tonne a year must be notified and registered with the Health and Safety Executive. In addition, manufacturers, importers and downstream users have the ongoing duty to identify appropriate risk management measures, pass them down the supply chain, and apply them when they use a substance.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)