Jo Platt
Labour (Co-op) - Former Member for Leigh
First elected: 8th June 2017
Left House: 6th November 2019 (Defeated)
2 Former APPG memberships
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Post-Brexit Funding for Nations, Regions and Local AreasDivision Voting information
Jo Platt voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 19 Labour Aye votes vs 217 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 329 Noes - 299
All Debates
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
(13 debate interactions)
(10 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(37 debate contributions)
(15 debate contributions)
(12 debate contributions)
(11 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(2,036 words contributed)
(2,036 words contributed)
(1,974 words contributed)
(509 words contributed)
Leigh 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 25,881 signatures (0.46%)
of 40,333 signatures (0.25%)
of 50,829 signatures (0.24%)
of 65,156 signatures (0.22%)
of 103,503 signatures (0.22%)
of 199,504 signatures (0.12%)
of 103,503 signatures (0.22%)
of 65,156 signatures (0.22%)
of 71,539 signatures (0.18%)
Petition Closed
Do not prorogue Parliament
Gov Responded - 9 Sep 2019 Debated on - 9 Sep 2019 View Jo Platt's petition debate contributionsclosed 4 years, 2 months ago
Parliament must not be prorogued or dissolved unless and until the Article 50 period has been sufficiently extended or the UK's intention to withdraw from the EU has been cancelled.
Petition Closed
Make fair transitional state pension arrangements for 1950’s women
Gov Responded - 27 Sep 2017 Debated on - 14 Dec 2017 View Jo Platt's petition debate contributionsclosed 6 years, 1 month ago
That this Government without delay recognises the need for a non-means tested bridging pension for women born on or after 6/4/1950 who are affected by the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts and compensate those at risk of losing up to around £45,000, to also give proper notification for any future changes.
Latest EDMs signed by Jo Platt
PROVIDING FINANCIAL RESTITUTION TO 1950s WOMEN
Tabled by: Anna McMorrin (Labour - Cardiff North)That this House welcomes the positive interventions from many hon. Members from across the House on behalf of women born in the 1950s who have lost their pensions; welcomes the equalisation of retirement ages between women and men; recalls that women born in the 1950s were subject to discriminatory employment …
(Most recent: 8 Oct 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 131
Conservative: 24
Scottish National Party: 22
Independent: 15
Liberal Democrat: 15
Democratic Unionist Party: 9
Plaid Cymru: 3
Non-affiliated: 3
Crossbench: 2
The Independent Group for Change: 2
Green Party: 1
RATES OF PAY FOR SECURITY STAFF ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ESTATE
Tabled by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)That this House notes the valuable work done by security staff on the parliamentary estate; further notes the current dispute between security staff represented by the PCS union and the House authorities concerning overtime rates; believes that security staff recruited in summer 2016 should be paid in line with the …
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 64
Scottish National Party: 13
Independent: 8
Plaid Cymru: 3
Conservative: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Jo Platt, 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 Jo Platt
1 Adjournment Debate led by Jo Platt
Jo Platt has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
6 Bills co-sponsored by Jo Platt
Freehold Properties (Management Charges) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Preet Kaur Gill (LAB)
Packaging (Extended Producer Responsibility) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
National Health Service Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Eleanor Smith (Lab)
Bus Drivers (Working Hours on Local Routes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Matt Western (Lab)
Terminal Illness (Provision of Palliative Care and Support for Carers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Lab)
Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Norris (LAB)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)1 Other Department Questions
No Huawei equipment is used in the parliamentary telecoms, communications, security or surveillance networks.
The only use of Huawei kit is for mobile cellular enhancement. Firstly, this is in devices (commonly referenced as MiFi devices) that are used to boost access to the parliamentary mobile phone provider’s network (O2) where signal strength is problematic. The MiFi devices do not connect to the Parliamentary network and should be viewed as extensions to the O2 mobile phone network. This equipment is branded O2 rather than Huawei.
Secondly, there already is, and there will be some additional, Huawei equipment installed by the four Mobile Network Operators to provide cellular signal enhancement in Parliament.
Huawei components are used by all the major mobile telephony networks in the UK. Parliament has no evidence on which to base a recommendation either in favour of or against the use of Huawei kit on such networks. The risk of mobile phone telecommunications networks use of Huawei kit is managed at a national level by the National Cyber Security Centre, Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and the private sector, and Parliament takes its lead from the national stance on the risks present from its use.
As per PQ 359 not all the services originally considering using GOV.UK Verify completed their digital transformation, or had well-evidenced need for digital identity. It is therefore not appropriate to publish these services, a number of which are no longer in existence. The current government services available through GOV.UK Verify are available on GOV.UK.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
No specific date has been set for the appointment, however the government remains committed to appointing within the timeframe set out in the Government Transformation Strategy.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government continues to work with the Accessibility of Elections Working Group to make an informed assessment of the most suitable options to take forward. Officials are due to hold a meeting on this topic with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) very soon
Work has been undertaken to revise guidance to electoral administrators and, with input from RNIB, to research technical solutions which will be further discussed at a dedicated sub-group.
We are also starting to bring forward measures following the Government’s response to the 2018 Call for Evidence on Access to Elections. Proposals were announced during the Queen’s Speech. This will include increasing the range of support available to voters with disabilities in polling stations and allowing a wider range of people (such as carers) to assist disabled voters in polling stations if needed.
The Government continues to work with the Accessibility of Elections Working Group to make an informed assessment of the most suitable options to take forward. Officials are due to hold a meeting on this topic with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) very soon
Work has been undertaken to revise guidance to electoral administrators and, with input from RNIB, to research technical solutions which will be further discussed at a dedicated sub-group.
We are also starting to bring forward measures following the Government’s response to the 2018 Call for Evidence on Access to Elections. Proposals were announced during the Queen’s Speech. This will include increasing the range of support available to voters with disabilities in polling stations and allowing a wider range of people (such as carers) to assist disabled voters in polling stations if needed.
Individual technology choices and volumes purchased rest with individual departments
The Cabinet Office will soon start work on an audit to allow for a more comprehensive and consistent approach to reviewing legacy IT in government and will support departments to understand their legacy systems and any risks associated with those systems.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
We are not aware of any cases where an individual has been verified as being someone they are not, or as an identity that is fake or synthetic through GOV.UK Verify.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Cabinet Office, including ministers, is in regular contact with all GOV.UK Verify identity providers. For example, we held a roundtable in July 2019. Details of ministerial meetings are published as part of routine government transparency on GOV.UK.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
There is an increased desire for standards and guidance for application programming interfaces (APIs) due to their increasing popularity and the benefits they offer to departments and their users.
APIs are being used more frequently within government because they assist the interoperability of databases in an affordable and user-friendly way.
While APIs allow interoperability to enable data sharing, in government they are programmed to only share small subsections of data or “attributes”, thereby protecting identity and limiting the specific data available.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government will bring forward measures to introduce voter ID when parliamentary time allows.
As was the case in the 2018 and 2019 voter ID pilots, electors who do not have any of the required types of ID will be able to apply for a locally issued electoral identity document, free of charge. We will continue building on this experience and working with the pilot authorities who have tested voter ID, the Electoral Commission, and the Cabinet Office pilot and reference group to develop a process for national implementation.
No decision has been made regarding an extension of the objective of appointing a Chief Data Officer It remains our intention to appoint the Chief Data Officer in the timescales set out in the Government Transformation Strategy.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The role of Chief Data Officer will be outlined in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government Chief Digital and Information Officer (GCDIO) will lead HMG’s 17,000 strong DDaT community and be responsible for shaping and delivering HMG’s innovation and transformation strategies, the Chief Data Officer will work with the GCDIO to deliver this agenda.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government intends to appoint a Chief Data Officer in 2020 as set out in the Government Transformation Strategy. The role of the Chief Data Officer will be outlined in due course.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government Digital Service (GDS) provides government departments with guidance on selecting technology through the Technology Code of Practice. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-code-of-practice/technology-code-of-practice
Individual technology choices and volumes purchased rest with individual departments. As such, GDS does not provide guidance to departments on specific operating systems, such as Windows 7 and the Government does not hold information concerning departments choice to use Windows 7 machines centrally. Microsoft provides guidance for its operating systems should departments need specific information.
Additionally, the National Cyber Security Centre published information on their blog on the upcoming removal of Windows 7 Support. The blog post can be found here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/one-year-left-windows-7-support
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
Severance payments for Ministers are a statutory entitlement under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Information relating to Cabinet Ministers’ severance payments is held by individual departments, and is published in their departmental annual report and accounts. These are published on gov.uk.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The Government Transformation Strategy concludes in March 2020. The Government Digital Service (GDS) will publish an assessment of progress against the commitments set out in the strategy later in 2020.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
As stated in my answer to Question 276281 of 16 July, regular meetings take place between telecommunications operators and HM Government officials from the National Cyber Security Centre, Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Decisions about technology choices rest with individual departments and bodies in the public sector. As such, Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.
The Cabinet Office itself does not have any computers using Windows 7.
The National Cyber Security Centre has published information on the upcoming removal of Windows 7 Support, here:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/one-year-left-windows-7-support
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Details of Ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Regular meetings take place between telecommunications operators and HM Government officials from the National Cyber Security Centre, Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The National Cyber Security Centre engage with every operator who uses the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre to manage cyber security risks within their networks. Other operators may use the guidance that is publicly available on the NCSC website, which we cannot track, or advice from other relevant bodies such as Ofcom, the regulator.
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given to Question 271623 on 2 July 2019.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I am accountable to Parliament for the National Cyber Security Strategy and the accompanying investment programme. I am also the lead Minister for the cyber resilience of the government sector.
The Government Chief Security Officer (GCSO) leads the Government Security Function, which seeks to build the capacity and capabilities of security professionals across UK government departments, covering physical, human and information security.
The GCSO is also Director General of the Government Security Group within the Cabinet Office, which is responsible for the oversight, coordination and delivery of protective security capabilities within all central government departments, their agencies and arms-length bodies.
The responsibility for security, including risk management and policy implementation, sits with the Accounting Officer and the executive board of each department.
The complete selection criteria required for all GovTech Catalyst challenges can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-submit-a-govtech-catalyst-challenge#criteria
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
A Chief Data Officer would lead on government's use of data, working closely with the Data Advisory Board which provides strategic oversight for the collection and use of data held by government departments
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Yes. The cross-government Data Advisory Board, chaired by the Chief Executive of the Civil Service, is a permanent board that provides strategic oversight for the collection and use of data held by Government departments.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) engages with every operator who uses the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) to manage cyber security risks within
their networks. The number of operators that use HCSEC is recorded centrally but for commercial reasons we will not release the number or the names of operators. All of the
significant commercial networks in the UK who use Huawei have access to and work with the HCSEC. It is the responsibility of operators to ensure the security and resilience of
their networks. Other operators may use the guidance that is publicly available on the NCSC website, which we cannot track, or advice from other relevant bodies such as Ofcom, the regulator.
Five of the eleven challenges have now completed Phase 1, which involves testing different approaches to the challenge raised.
Most of the GovTech Catalyst challenges are at an early stage of development so measuring long term economic effects is not yet possible. Independent economic analysis will be undertaken as part of measurement and evaluation at a later stage.
All information on the GovTech Catalyst, including the selection criteria can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-govtech-catalyst-challenge-process#public-sector-challenge-process
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Of the total number of bidding suppliers for which we have data, 88% or 352 are SMEs. Whilst 91% or 50 of the funded suppliers are SMEs.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Owing to commercial sensitivities the names and number of operators who use HCSEC advice cannot be published. All of the significant commercial networks in the UK who use Huawei have access to and work with the HCSEC.
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given to Question 255390 on 21 May 2019.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Honourable Member to my response to Question 268379 on 2 July 2019. A number of the industry bodies in attendance represent SMEs.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Out of the 11 challenges launched to date, 416 suppliers have bid and 55 have been selected to offer their technological solutions. There were 25 suppliers appointed in both Round 1 and 2 and 5 so far in Round 3.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given to Question 255390 on 21 May 2019.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Significant and impactful commercial networks in the UK have access to the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre. The remaining, mostly smaller operators are able to refer to the annual report from the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre Oversight Board. It is the responsibility of operators to ensure the security and resilience of their networks.
Details of external meetings by Ministers are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The event on 12 February 2019 was a roundtable discussion, jointly hosted by the Spectator and Amazon Web Services. The purpose of the event was to have a broad discussion on digital transformation in government and the role of the private sector in supporting this.
It was attended by stakeholders from industry, the media and the public sector. Ministers regularly meet with external stakeholders in a range of forums as part of their normal duties.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given to Question 255390 on 21 May 2019.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The government announced the creation of a new Digital Identity Unit, a collaboration between the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) on 11 June. The Digital Identity Unit will work closely with other government departments. We will set out the remit of the unit in more detail in the coming weeks. The Home Office will take decisions on areas on which that Department has policy responsibility.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
5G standards are still being ratified and the hardware and software that implements them is still being updated often during early commercial service. As a result, there are limited benefits in testing 5G equipment pre-deployment due to those changes and updates. The National Cyber Security Centre is focusing on those deployments and software releases in the UK which are most important.
The National Cyber Security Centre engage with every operator who uses the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) to manage cyber security risks within their networks. All of the significant commercial networks in the UK who use Huawei have access to and work with the HCSEC.
As detailed in the HCSEC Oversight Board report, the HCSEC work programme is
determined by a risk-based prioritisation scheme and their plan of evaluation is driven by
the commercial rollout of services by the UK operators that use Huawei equipment. The
operators, NCSC and the HCSEC collaboratively prioritise the work of HCSEC. Providing
further details on what equipment has, and has not, been subject to HCSEC evaluation is
commercially sensitive.
As detailed in the HCSEC Oversight Board report, the HCSEC work programme is
determined by a risk-based prioritisation scheme and their plan of evaluation is driven by
the commercial rollout of services by the UK operators that use Huawei equipment. The
operators, NCSC and the HCSEC collaboratively prioritise the work of HCSEC. Providing
further details on what equipment has, and has not, been subject to HCSEC evaluation is
commercially sensitive.
The National Cyber Security Centre engage with every operator who uses the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre to manage cyber security risks within their networks. Owing to commercial sensitivities this list cannot be disclosed. Other operators may use the guidance that is publicly available on the NCSC website, which we cannot track, or advice from other relevant bodies such as Ofcom, the regulator.
The total floor area for the North West as at March 2018 was 983,403 sq.m, c.12.7% of the total size of the central estate.
For the purposes of comparison, the proportion of the general UK population in the North West is approximately 11%, whilst the proportion of Civil Servants based in the North West is 12.27%.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster