Gareth Bacon Portrait

Gareth Bacon

Conservative - Orpington

5,118 (11.1%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 12th December 2019

Shadow Minister (Justice)

(since July 2024)

Shadow Minister and Shadow Minister for London

(since July 2024)

Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
13th Nov 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill
14th May 2024 - 15th May 2024
Firearms Bill
8th Mar 2023 - 15th Mar 2023
Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill
8th Mar 2023 - 15th Mar 2023
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill
1st Mar 2023 - 8th Mar 2023
Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Bill
1st Feb 2023 - 8th Feb 2023
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform Bill)
2nd Nov 2022 - 29th Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill
12th Oct 2022 - 3rd Nov 2022
Public Accounts Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 15th Mar 2022
British Sign Language Bill
9th Feb 2022 - 23rd Feb 2022
Glue Traps (Offences) Bill
12th Jan 2022 - 19th Jan 2022
Backbench Business Committee
20th Jul 2020 - 2nd Nov 2021
Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
7th Sep 2021 - 22nd Sep 2021
National Insurance Contributions Bill
16th Jun 2021 - 22nd Jun 2021


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Gareth Bacon has voted in 8 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Gareth Bacon Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 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
Rachel Reeves (Labour)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
(2 debate interactions)
Alex Davies-Jones (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
(2 debate interactions)
Judith Cummins (Labour)
(1 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Justice
(2 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(1 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Gareth Bacon has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Gareth Bacon's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Gareth Bacon

13th September 2021
Gareth Bacon signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 13th September 2021

Emma Raducanu, 2021 US Open women's champion

Tabled by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
That this House is delighted, amazed and inspired by the performances of Emma Raducanu in winning the US Open without losing a set; notes that she is the first qualifier in the history of tennis to win a grand slam event; congratulates Emma and all those involved in her success; …
21 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Oct 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 7
Scottish National Party: 5
Conservative: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Independent: 2
Liberal Democrat: 1
19th December 2019
Gareth Bacon signed this EDM on Friday 20th December 2019

Big Ben chiming on the day of Brexit

Tabled by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
That this House notes the ongoing refurbishment works on the Elizabeth Tower and the fact that during this period Big Ben currently only chimes for Remembrance Sunday and New Year's Eve; further notes that the United Kingdom will now leave the European Union at 11.00pm GMT on 31 January 2020; …
53 signatures
(Most recent: 7 Jan 2020)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 42
Independent: 5
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Labour: 1
Reform UK: 1
View All Gareth Bacon's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Gareth Bacon, 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.


Gareth Bacon has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Gareth Bacon has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Gareth Bacon


A Bill to make unauthorised development without planning permission an offence; to prohibit retrospective planning applications; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 21st September 2021
(Read Debate)

Latest 19 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
19th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what services are outsourced by his Department.

The department outsources direct support to businesses through our Business Support Helpline and through our Export Support Service in specific international markets, alongside mediation services related to responsible business behaviour. The department also funds outsourced legal advice and support to those postmasters affected by the Post Office IT issues.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether civil servants in his private office will have the right to switch off on (a) weekends and (b) evenings.

All DBT employees have an existing set of Terms and Conditions which confirm their expected hours of work. Given the nature of private office roles, employees may need to work additional or irregular hours, which is taken into account when determining their remuneration. The private offices operate as a team which ensures responsibility for being available to support Ministers outside of regular working hours is shared, work/life balance is monitored, and all employees can switch off regularly.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to (a) increase the level and (b) promote the use of trade union facility time in the private sector.

The Government is committed to ensuring there is sufficient facilities time for all trade union representatives, in both the public and private sector, so that they have capacity to represent and defend workers, negotiate with employers and conduct training.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether it is his policy that trade unions should be able to initiate industrial action across all employers in a sector subject to collective bargaining.

The Government is committed to bringing in a new era of partnership that sees employers, unions and Government work together in co-operation and through negotiation – putting an end to the worst strikes chaos seen in decades under the previous administration. The Employment Rights Bill will be introduced in the first 100 days in Government and will play a key role in delivering aspects of the Plan to Make Work Pay. This will include legislation on sectoral collective bargaining, with Adult Social Care being the first sector for this to be introduced

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the cost to employers of plans to introduce statutory rights for trade union equality representatives.

The Government is committed to introducing statutory rights for trade union equality representatives to strengthen equality at work for all. Further information including impact assessments will be published in due course.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government's plans to legislate on employment law within 100 days, what his planned timetable if for consulting on those legislative proposals.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many separate Government consultations are planned to support implementation of the proposals relating to worker's rights; and what the planned scope of each consultation is.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his planned timetable is for each consultation relating to worker's rights.

The Government is committed to delivering the plan to Make Work Pay in full. The Employment Rights Bill will be key to delivery and we are committed to introducing this legislation to improve the rights of workers within 100 days.The details of this are in rapid development

Some parts of the plan to Make Work Pay will take longer to review and implement. Work is underway to prepare consultations on several aspects of the plan. There are also parts of the plan that will not require primary legislation to implement. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the plan and are committed to carrying out full and comprehensive consultation on the implementation of the plan to Make Work Pay.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his policy is on electronic voting for trade union ballots; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of cyber security for electronic voting.

The Government has committed to introducing modern, secure, electronic balloting, while ensuring we maintain high standards of engagement, participation, and cyber security. Further information on the implementation of electronic balloting will be outlined in due course.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to allow workplace voting for trade union ballots; and whether he plans to introduce changes to secret trade union ballots.

The Government is committed to introduce modern, secure, electronic balloting and workplace balloting for trade union ballots. In doing so, we will ensure that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his policy is on whether secondary picketing would apply in sectors subject to sectoral collective bargaining.

The Government has no intention of changing the law in relation to secondary action, including secondary picketing. We are working on establishing a Fair Pay Agreement in the social care sector and will bring forward proposals in due course.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding the retention of 50% of the contributions of apprenticeship levy-paying companies.

The government is transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department is working across government to develop the design of the Growth and Skills Levy and will set out more detail in due course. This will include further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of levy paying and non-levy paying businesses.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 201370 on Apprentices: Finance, how she plans to fund the policy of allowing levy-paying companies to retain 50% of their contributions under the Growth and Skills levy.

The government is transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department is working across government to develop the design of the Growth and Skills Levy and will set out more detail in due course. This will include further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of levy paying and non-levy paying businesses.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the economic impact of growth and skills levy proposals to allow levy-paying companies to retain 50% of their contributions.

The government is transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department is working across government to develop the design of the Growth and Skills Levy and will set out more detail in due course. This will include further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of levy paying and non-levy paying businesses.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the financial impact of the proposed growth and skills levy on (a) non-levy paying companies, (b) the apprenticeship budget and (c) overall apprenticeship spending.

The government is transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department is working across government to develop the design of the Growth and Skills Levy and will set out more detail in due course. This will include further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of levy paying and non-levy paying businesses.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of the growth and skills levy on non-levy paying companies.

The government is transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department is working across government to develop the design of the Growth and Skills Levy and will set out more detail in due course. This will include further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of levy paying and non-levy paying businesses.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Aug 2024
What recent assessment she has made of the impact of levels of borrowing on public finances.

Borrowing for the first four months of the financial year was £51.4bn, £4.7bn higher than the OBR forecast in March. This adds to the challenging fiscal position the government has inherited, with debt at its highest level since the 1960s. The Chancellor has commissioned a full economic and fiscal forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility for the Budget on 30th October.

Tulip Siddiq
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)