Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Daniel Kawczynski, 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.
Daniel Kawczynski has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Daniel Kawczynski has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Dog Meat (Consumption) (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Bill Wiggin (Con)
Representation of the People (Gibraltar) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Craig Mackinlay (Con)
British Victims of Terrorism (Asset-Freezing and Compensation) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Queen's Sapphire Jubilee Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th December is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentlemen’s Parliamentary Question of 15 March is attached.
UK public procurement is regulated by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project.
Public sector procurers are required by law to assess the most economically advantageous tender from the perspective of the contracting authority, using criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract, including compliance with the published specification for all contracts.
Security implications are considered in detail on a case-by-case basis by commercial teams, and security clauses and schedules are included in government contracts, where necessary.
Public bodies must also comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 when letting contracts involving personal data, including adequacy for the purposes of off-shoring, where relevant.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the hon. Member's Parliamentary Questions of 26 May is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the hon. Member's Parliamentary Questions of 26 May is attached.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The Government has been working closely with stakeholders in the wedding industry, the Places of Worship Taskforce, and the National Panel for Registration to enable small marriages and civil partnerships to begin safely from 4 July 2020. Guidance can be found at the link below, which remains under review and may be updated in line with the changing situation:
Large gatherings, for example of one hundred or more people, present greater risks of transmission.The Government continues to work with relevant stakeholders to consider how to enable receptions and larger marriage and civil partnership ceremonies to take place safely.
The Business Recovery Grant (BRG), part of the Flooding Framework, provides £2500 per affected business premises to small and medium sized businesses in the immediate aftermath of flooding to help them get back on their feet.
This support was provided in October 2023 in response to Storm Babet and those affected by Storm Henk interested in the BRG should contact their Local Authority for details and qualification requirements.
Businesses significantly affected by recent flooding could also be eligible for business rates relief via schemes delivered by DLUHC and via DEFRA schemes.
The Government has set up a statutory inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal. Collective and individual accountability for the scandal can only be considered when the Inquiry has reviewed all the evidence.
The UK-Morocco Association Agreement requires both parties to undertake a review of all agriculture and fisheries tariffs within three years of its entry into force in 2021. This review was launched on 16 November 2023. Following conclusion of the review, the parties will examine granting further liberalisation on agriculture products on a regular basis.
The UK works closely with Morocco to maximise cooperation in several areas, including in trade and investment. The UK-Morocco Association Agreement facilitates this trading relationship, which has grown significantly since entry into force in January 2021.
The Department of Business and Trade frequently engages its Moroccan counterparts to promote and support green investment into Morocco. The UK and Morocco are co-leads on the Power Breakthrough, which aims to make clean power the most affordable and reliable option for all countries by 2030. With regard to Western Sahara, I refer my hon. Friend to my response to Question 1500.
HM Government does not provide legal advice to private companies and individuals in relation to their commercial activities. It is therefore for companies to take their own decisions on whether to do business in Western Sahara, as elsewhere.
My department does not issue guidance to employee relocation businesses on the Association of Relocation Professionals' Code of Conduct as a professional standard.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 March 2023, UIN 167068.
My department has a team which covers the Caribbean and is in regular contact with governments and businesses, actively seeking export and investment opportunities for British firms. We are working with a number of UK companies on infrastructure projects in the region and would be delighted to discuss these opportunities with any UK exporters the Member is aware of. Please contact DITLATAC@fcdo.gov.uk.
Furthermore, Department for Business and Trade trade advisers in the region can provide dedicated, well-informed guidance on viable long-term commercial prospects across the Caribbean, including St Kitts and Nevis.
The UK has a trade agreement with 14 Caribbean States, including St Kitts and Nevis. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides detailed information on St Kitts and Nevis’ preferential access to UK markets, including duty-free access on goods.
To assist access to UK markets, Gov.uk also provides a range of tools and resources for exporters. A key resource is the tariff-look up tool that can be used to search commodity codes, duties and VAT rates on exports to the UK. There is also guidance on finding trade partners, such as importers and retailers, to assist with trade in the UK.
The UK has a comprehensive trade agreement with all 12 Caribbean Commonwealth countries covering both goods and services. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides immediate duty-free quota-free access to the UK market for all goods from partner Caribbean States, except arms and ammunition.
The Agreement also provides CARIFORUM partners access to the majority of UK service sectors and opens most services in the UK and CARIFORUM to investment. Under the agreement the UK has committed to allowing specific categories of professional employees of CARIFORUM firms and self-employed CARIFORUM professionals in specific sectors, to enter the UK to supply services.
My department has a team covering the Caribbean and is in regular contact with governments and businesses about opportunities for UK firms. We are working with a number of UK companies on infrastructure projects in the region and would be delighted to discuss these opportunities with any UK exporters the Member is aware of. Please contact DITLATAC@fcdo.gov.uk.
Additionally, validated infrastructure opportunities overseas are published on the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) export opportunities portal https://www.great.gov.uk/export-opportunities/ and UK companies can also engage DBT trade advisors in the region directly, who can provide well-informed guidance on viable long-term commercial prospects in the Caribbean.
The Department for International Trade is constantly reviewing suitable markets to identify where the appointment of a Trade Envoy can be of greatest benefit to the trade and investment aims of the UK alongside the Department’s other support for exporters and investors. There are currently no plans at present to solely appoint a Trade Envoy to St Kitts & Nevis.
HM Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and rigorously assesses every export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. These Criteria are one of the means by which we implement a range of international legal commitments including United Nations sanctions.
HM Government will not grant a licence for items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, or where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. We also do not license items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items would, overall, undermine peace and security, including internal peace and security.
Licensing decisions are based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time and all licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.
The UK condemns recent atrocities committed by armed group March 23 Movement (M23) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Certification Officer is the regulator of trade unions and employer associations. The Government modernised the role of the Certification Officer recently by implementing in April last year the reforms under the Trade Union Act. This has given the Certification Officer greater investigatory powers, the power to impose financial penalties and the ability to raise a levy on trade unions and employer associations. The Government has no further plans to reform the role of the Certification Officer at this time.
The North Sea Transition Authority, the regulator and licensing body for oil and gas, offshore hydrogen and carbon storage, has made no such assessment.
Our ‘Help to Heat’ schemes ensure homes will be warmer and cheaper to heat. We are continuing to deliver energy efficiency improvements to a significant number of homes, helping households to save money on energy bills.
Double glazed windows are currently eligible to be installed under the Home Upgrade Grant, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Energy Company Obligation schemes, and many households have already benefited from this measure.
We are considering which measures will be eligible under the future schemes announced in December 2023.
The Government has awarded up to £210m from the Advanced Nuclear Fund to Rolls Royce SMR Ltd to support the development of their Small Modular Reactor design.
As outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy, the Government intends to initiate a selection process in 2023, with the intention that we will enter negotiations with the most credible projects to enable a potential Government award of support as soon as possible.
The British Energy Security Strategy (BESS) announced that Government will scope and set up Great British Nuclear (GBN), a body to help projects through every stage of the development process and develop a resilient pipeline of new build projects.
There remains a wide range of nuclear technologies available for deployment, including small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs have the potential to play a key role in the UK’s future energy mix as we transition to Net Zero in 2050 and in supporting our energy security.
The Department’s engagement with Rolls Royce SMR Ltd and with vendors across all technologies reflects the Government’s policy priorities, and ambitions, in line with the BESS.
According to projections from a June 2022 report by the Faraday Institution, in 2040 lithium-ion batteries manufactured for private cars and light commercial vehicles will account for around 80% of total UK battery demand, with the remainder manufactured for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), buses, micromobility and grid storage:
https://www.faraday.ac.uk/news-ev-battery-prod-2040-update-june2022/.
The use of large lithium-ion batteries in UK wind farms is limited to wind turbines attached to battery storage facilities or that are involved in the National Grid’s Black Start service. Any UK windfarms that use lithium-ion batteries will source them globally.
The Government does not have a specific policy on the stockpiling of lithium-ion batteries.
As for other goods, the approach to the storage or stockpiling of batteries will be a decision for any parties involved. The storage of batteries should be carried out in compliance with UK laws, including ensuring safety requirements are met.
I refer the Honourable Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham to the answer given in response to PQ 4875 and PQ 4876.
The Critical Minerals Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to make critical mineral supply chains more resilient. The Department of International Trade’s Supply Chains Resilience framework highlighted stockpiling as one of five possible areas to explore when building resilience in supply chains. We are analysing the pros and cons of stockpiling, including engagement of stakeholders and international partners, before making commitments.
We work collaboratively with mineral producing countries, putting environmental, social and governance considerations at the heart of our engagement. In recent months the UK has signed a Partnership on Minerals for Future Clean Energy Technologies with South Africa and agreed to deepen collaboration on critical minerals with Saudi Arabia. To support this work, I will be travelling to the Mining Indaba in South Africa, where I will meet with my ministerial counterparts to strengthen UK ties with key producer countries, attend the Minerals Security Partnership Ministerial, and promote the UK’s key role in global critical mineral supply chains
Households not on standard gas or electricity contracts, such as those in rural areas, will receive equivalent support to that provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and the Energy Price Guarantee. The Government is working at pace to determine the most practical and tested routes to deliver this support. As part of this, for households who do not use gas for domestic heating, the Government has committed to provide an additional payment of £100 to compensate for the rising costs of other fuels such as coal.
On 1 April 2022 the Insolvency Service commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries. As these are ongoing investigations, no further comment or information can be provided at this time.
The Department for Transport regularly looks at resilience of businesses within the maritime sector.
An industry agreement reached in October ensured that CF Fertilisers on Teesside could continue to operate for 3 months. This market-led agreement was renewed in January 2022 and continue a the current time, even with high global gas prices.
The Government welcomes industry’s agreement which is in the best interests of businesses.
The continued operations at Billingham, and any decision to restart operations at Ince, remains a commercial matter for the company. In the longer term, the Government would like to see the market take measures to improve resilience, and we are engaging on ways this could happen. We would encourage industry, where possible, to pay a price necessary to continue to secure the supply of these critical chemicals and to continue to build their resilience plans.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not made a specific assessment of the merits of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in this context. The British Museum has noted that, due to the cost and resource requirements involved, and as they do not significantly mitigate risk, the Museum currently has no plans to adopt the use of NFTs in this way.
Although DCMS has not made a specific assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), HMT looked at NFTs as part of its consultation on cryptoassets. Developments like NFTs may provide new opportunities, as well as challenges, and we are aware of private sector services offering NFT-based authentication for digital art.
The Government strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked, flagrant actions. Russia must not be allowed to exploit major sporting and cultural events on the world stage to seek to legitimise its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
That is why we brought together an international coalition to see what more we could do to increase the pressure on Putin’s regime, and issued a joint statement with 36 other nations calling on international sporting federations to endorse the principles that:
Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events.
Individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs.
Wherever possible, appropriate actions should be taken to limit sponsorship and other financial support from entities with links to the Russian or Belarusian states.
The full statement is available here.
The issue of Russian or Belarussian individual sports persons participating in a truly neutral capacity - in the UK and overseas - adds further complexity, and our position will have the greatest impact if it is taken in line with other nations. We are engaging with national governing bodies, including the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and international counterparts in order to reach an agreed position that can be implemented as consistently as possible.
The Government recognises the vital role that the BBC, including the World Service, plays across the globe. However, the BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the government and the government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations, including its editorial decisions.
The BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content under its Royal Charter. It is for the BBC Board to ensure the quality of all BBC’s content, and that BBC output meets the highest standards the public expects.
The BBC is an independent body governed by the Royal Charter. It is operationally and editorially independent from the government, and the government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations.
Community Fibre Partnerships are an Openreach product that they use on our Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS). Openreach operates the Community Fibre Partnership (CFP) Scheme all over the UK and they use this as an aggregation platform to gather initial contact details and ‘pledges’ (Openreach term) for communities who want to improve their broadband. The particular costings of a CFP scheme are determined by Openreach, but since the launch of the GBVS, Openreach has encouraged communities to use the voucher funding provided by the government to pay for the cost of installing the network to rural communities.
We are investing up to £210 million in vouchers over the next three years. The new voucher’s value matches that of our previous scheme, £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses,which has already successfully transformed connectivity for communities across the country with 72,000 vouchers issued worth £137 million.
If you are referring to a particular project in your constituency my officials would be happy to investigate this for you, but in order to do so they would need a Pre-Registered Package (PRP) number associated with the voucher project.
The £750 million package offered unprecedented support to allow charities and social enterprises to continue their vital work in our national effort to fight coronavirus. This funding will continue to support this work over the winter.
We are not able to replace every pound of funding charities would have received this year, and many organisations will need to assess what measures they need to take. Information on the wider measures the government has made available and details on how to access the support can be found on gov.uk. The Charity Commission has also published guidance on gov.uk, which sets out how charities can get support for their staff, advice on use of reserves, and other potential issues.
We will continue to work with the charity and social enterprise sectors to assess emerging needs and how we can best support them during the COVID-19 pandemic and through recovery.
Ensuring charities can safely begin fundraising activities will be a crucial part of the sector’s recovery. DCMS has worked closely with its sectors to publish guidance relating to COVID-19. This includes practical guidance and resources from the Fundraising Regulator and Chartered Institute of Fundraising supporting charities to safeguard the public, staff and volunteers as they plan to return to fundraising activities in a safe and responsible way. This can be viewed at;
The £750 million package offered unprecedented support to allow charities and social enterprises to continue their vital work in our national effort to fight coronavirus. This funding will continue to support this work over the winter.
We are not able to replace every pound of funding charities would have received this year, and many organisations will need to assess what measures they need to take. Information on the wider measures the government has made available and details on how to access the support can be found on gov.uk. The Charity Commission has also published guidance on gov.uk, which sets out how charities can get support for their staff, advice on use of reserves, and other potential issues.
We will continue to work with the charity and social enterprise sectors to assess emerging needs and how we can best support them during the COVID-19 pandemic and through recovery.
Ensuring charities can safely begin fundraising activities will be a crucial part of the sector’s recovery. DCMS has worked closely with its sectors to publish guidance relating to COVID-19. This includes practical guidance and resources from the Fundraising Regulator and Chartered Institute of Fundraising supporting charities to safeguard the public, staff and volunteers as they plan to return to fundraising activities in a safe and responsible way. This can be viewed at;
The Government has provided unprecedented support to businesses through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support, which many sport clubs have benefited from. Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund has also provided £210 million directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is working with HM Treasury on what can be done to provide further support since the decision was made to prevent fans returning to stadia from 1 October.
DCMS appreciates the important role that the events sector plays in the UK’s cultural economy, and that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many businesses operating in these sectors.
The Secretary of State provided a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors. This support package will benefit cultural sector services by providing support to cultural venues and many other organisations in the Creative Industries that host live events, to stay open and continue operating.
From 15th August venues and organisations have been able to put on live indoor performances in front of a socially-distanced audience. This is in addition to the earlier announcement that from 11 July we can all enjoy performances outdoors with social distancing. This follows the government’s five-stage roadmap outlining how DCMS will get audiences back into performing arts venues. We are now at Stage Four of the roadmap.
We are committed to continuing to work with the live events sector to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and through recovery.
We recognise that the events industry and its supply chain has been severely impacted by Covid-19. We continue to meet with the stakeholders, including through the Visitor Economy Working Group and the Events Industry Senior Leaders Advisory Panel, to discuss the specific issues facing the industry.
Events businesses can continue to make use of the broader support package available to them. This includes the Bounce Back Loans scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
We have worked closely with events stakeholders, through both the Visitor Economy and Events & Entertainment Working Groups, to develop Covid-19 Secure reopening guidance for the business events industry.
We are holding three business event pilots in September as part of our preparations to help the sector safely reopen and begin its recovery. If prevalence remains around or below current levels into the autumn, we will bring back audiences in stadia, and allow conferences and other business events to recommence in a COVID-19 Secure way, from 1 October. This step will only take place once we have a reliable scientific understanding of the impact of reopening schools on the epidemic.