John Cooper
Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway
930 (2.0%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 4th July 2024
Division Voting information
John Cooper voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 18 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 41 Noes - 378
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
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
(8 debate interactions)
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(8 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(16 debate contributions)
(14 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,035 words contributed)
(107 words contributed)
(57 words contributed)
Dumfries and Galloway 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 6,241 signatures (1.62%)
of 43,465 signatures (0.33%)
of 161,204 signatures (0.25%)
of 161,204 signatures (0.25%)
of 153,768 signatures (0.21%)
of 247,920 signatures (0.11%)
c. 847 added daily
153,948
(Estimated)
Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms
Sign this petition Gov Responded - 5 Dec 2024 Debated on - 10 Feb 2025 View John Cooper's petition debate contributionscloses in 1 week, 4 days
We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.
Latest EDMs signed by John Cooper
Scottish Men’s Team Curling World Championship gold
Tabled by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)That this House congratulates Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan, Kyle Waddell and team coach Michael Goodfellow on winning gold at the BKT World Curling Championships for Scotland; notes that this is Team Mouat’s second world championship title, winning also in 2023; commends their efforts winning silver at …
(Most recent: 30 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Posthumous Victoria Cross for Blair Paddy Mayne
Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)That this House remembers the heroic endeavours of Blair Mayne; believes that these should be acknowledged through the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross; notes that Blair, known as Paddy, Mayne was a native of Newtownards in the constituency of Strangford and that he was a legendary member and officer …
(Most recent: 21 Jan 2025)
Signatures by party:
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Conservative: 2
Independent: 2
Labour: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by John Cooper, 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.
John Cooper has not been granted any Urgent Questions
John Cooper has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
John Cooper has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
1 Bill co-sponsored by John Cooper
Maternity Units (Requirement for Bereavement Suite) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Rosie Wrighting (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)1 Other Department Questions
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held for the Office for Equality and Opportunity or the Social Mobility Commission. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an independent arm’s length body. Questions on their spend would need to be directed to the EHRC.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
As part of the GPA’s Government Workplace Design Guide and Inclusive Design Standards, we are committed to improving the standard of inclusive and accessible signage across our estate including the quality and availability of braille and tactile symbols. Our Inclusive Design Standards state signs should be clear, use simple and concise text, and include raised text, braille, and raised pictograms when appropriate.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This was an acquisition of Harbour Energy shares by BASF and LetterOne, with LetterOne receiving a class of non-voting shares which does not give it the ability to influence Harbour Energy. On 30 July 2024, following a detailed national security assessment, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster imposed a necessary and proportionate Final Order under the National Security and Investment Act on the acquisition of a 46.5% shareholding of Harbour Energy plc by BASF Handels-Und Export GmbH. The Final Order and the conditions imposed within it enable the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to consider further the exercise of his powers under the Act should a share conversion lead to: LetterOne owning 10% or more ordinary shares in Harbour Energy; and/or the appointment of a Harbour Energy plc board member by LetterOne. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has a statutory duty to keep all Final Orders under review and will exercise this power if and when necessary.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade has not spent anything on media and voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has nil spend on external public relations since 5 July 2024. DESNZ conducts all public relations in house and does not use any external providers/firms.
The Department’s Arm’s Length Bodies record and publish their own spend data on public relations. This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There has been no spend on either (a) media or (b) voice training for Ministers since 5th July 2024 in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We considered a range of factors including (1) labour market analysis, (2) mapping of Government estate availability and costs, and (3) proximity to strategic partners and establishments.
I am confident that Aberdeen is the right place for Great British Energy’s Headquarters. This decision recognises that Aberdeen is at the heart of the energy transition away from fossils fuels. The city also has an excellent talent pool to support the delivery of Great British Energy. Additional smaller sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow will enable us to take advantage of the expertise, skilled workforce and diversity of projects in place across Scotland.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department has spent no money on (a) media or (b) voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible. It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The department has not spent any expenses on media or voice training for ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Total spend on external communications from 5 July 2024 to 6 March 2025 is £35,478,270.30.
This includes the following spending:
- Core department: £35,342,797.68.
- The Education and Skills Funding Agency: £3,853.24.
- Standards and Testing Agency: £3,153.39.
- Total departmental spend: £35,349,804.30.
We only have data for arms length body spending through Oak National Academy, which spent £128,465.98.
Total spend through the framework is £34,553,792.52.
The vast majority of the spend constitutes the department’s key campaigns which are Get in to Teaching, Childcare Choices, Skills for life and Further Education. We are unable to detail the spend by campaign.
Top ten supplier spend through the framework is shown here:
Supplier | Spend (£) | % participation |
WAVEMAKER LIMITED | 163,975.79 | 0.47% |
KINDRED AGENCY LIMITED | 180,430.41 | 0.52% |
Verian Group UK Limited | 308,302.50 | 0.89% |
FOUR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED | 536,585.42 | 1.55% |
BLACKBERRY PRODUCTIONS LTD | 610,447.58 | 1.77% |
SCROLL PROJECTS LTD | 939,406.87 | 2.72% |
M&C SAATCHI (UK) LIMITED | 969,646.82 | 2.81% |
BAM AGENCY LTD | 1,017,463.71 | 2.94% |
HAVAS WORLDWIDE LONDON LTD | 1,231,164.17 | 3.56% |
OMD GROUP TA MANNING GOTTLIEB OMD LTD | 28,028,649.23 | 81.12% |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has not spent any money on media or voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
3 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all John Cooper's Defra questions)Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible. It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels, so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The availability and accessibility of essential food information to all consumers is vitally important. It is already a requirement that food information must be easily visible, clearly legible and where appropriate indelible, in addition to there being a required minimum font size for mandatory information.
We continue to assess other possibilities to ensure accessibility of food packaging information.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department has not spent any money on media or voice training services for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
A summary of the department and it’s Arm’s Length Bodies spend on external public relations since 5 July 2024 is as follows:
Department for Transport, DVSA, DVLA and National Highways: £0
Maritime and Coastguard Agency: £24,560 with the agency 23Red.
Network Rail: £21,250 with agencies Four Communications and On Broadcast.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor committed to move forward feasibility work on improvements to the A75 by providing up to £5 million to the Scottish Government in 2025-26.
Initial work has been done by Transport Scotland to scope out possible options for the realignment of the A75 around the settlements of Springholm and Crocketford. Following the Budget, the Scottish Government announced they have awarded a contract to progress this work.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has had no spend on media and voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
At the time of writing, there has been NIL spend on this type of training for ministers.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The following table shows the Department's spend through CCS agreements RM6125 (lots 1 and 2) and RM6123 since 5 July 2024:
Agreement | Contractor | Spend |
RM6125 (Lot 1: end to end campaign solutions) | Mullen Lowe | £3,929,499.92 |
RM6123 (Media services) | Manning Gottlieb OMD | £15,232,110.00 |
RM6125 (Lot 2: Media strategy and planning) | Wavemaker | £212,763.00 |
Source: Department of Health and Social Care
Information on spend by arm’s length bodies is not held centrally. The spend outlined above includes advertising, creative development and production, and media planning. Investment is set as part of the campaign planning process based on the audiences and objectives. This spend includes campaigns such as adult social care recruitment, childhood immunisations, smoking and mental health.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department had 90 full-time equivalent staff in post working in the Communications Directorate at the end of January 2025; this is a reduction from a headcount of 110 in July 2021. Staff in this Directorate cover a broad range of communications roles including media relations, marketing and branding, public health and prevention campaigns, internal communications and external publishing on GOV.UK.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Figures are available only for the total cost of external public relations support to paid campaigns incurred by the Department for the period 5 July 2024 to 3 February 2025. This cost is £474,763.33. All spend has been through a single contract with Mullen Lowe.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has spent at total of £840 including VAT on media training for ministers, since 5 July 2024.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
ODA allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% in 2027.
We will be taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money.
We will set out our spending plans following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation processes.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Contracts awarded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are available via ContractsFinder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and Find-a-Tender-Service (https://www.gov.uk/find-tender). FCDO spend above £25,000 is available via https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fcdo-departmental-spending-over-25000, and summary figures are available via the FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts (the latest report is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024).
The FCDO is not responsible for procurement on behalf of our arm's length bodies.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible. It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks [https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125], with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The contractor used for media training was Robert Taylor Communications Ltd. As Minister for Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development I received the media training. No voice training was conducted as part of the media training.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is in constant contact with our Allies to ensure a collective doubling down of support for Ukraine and pressure on Putin’s war machine. The Foreign Secretary spoke to President Zelenskyy on 18 December at a meeting of European leaders hosted by NATO Secretary General Rutte, and reiterated the UK’s unwavering commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. On the 10 January, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions on two Russian oil giants, Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas, alongside the US. The UK has sanctioned 93 vessels in the Russian shadow fleet.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held.
The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The media training was provided by Freud Communications. The Ministers who received the training were the former Economic Secretary, the Exchequer Secretary and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since 5 July 2024, the Department has spent £9.7k on media training for members of the Ministerial team. No costs on voice training for Ministers have been incurred since the 5th July 2024.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
To identify the information requested would require a manual review of all transactions made in communications related account categories in the Home Office’s financial system since 5 July 2024, to confirm if they related to Crown Commercial Service agreement RM6125 and other agreements, and then to collate and verify relevant data.
This could only be done for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Home Office)
While the Home Office has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the police pension regulations in England & Wales, the police pension scheme is locally administered by individual police forces. The Home Office is working with the policing sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud remedy for all affected individuals.
It is for each Chief Constable, in their role as scheme manager for their force, to determine their administrative timetable. This includes the timetabling of when scheme members’ Remediable Service Statements will be distributed, which are produced for each scheme member by the relevant scheme administrator.
The devolved governments have overarching policy and legislative responsibility in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Minister of State (Home Office)
There has been no spend on media or voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The total MOD, including DE&S, spends since 5 July 2024 against RM6125 Framework via call off contracts is: £3,550,081.59. The suppliers are Identity events Management Limited and Occam Group LTD.
The MOD, including DE&S, total spends since 5 July 2024 for external communications, not against RM6125 Framework via call off contract is: £32,702,226.04. The suppliers are listed in the table below.
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The MOD ALB contractual data is not captured centrally on the Contracting Purchasing & Finance (CP&F) system.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A full Departmental response is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Public Relations spend is managed locally across the various departments within the Ministry of Defence, and Arms Lengths Bodies within their own individual budgets. Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Directorate of Defence Communications in the Ministry of Defence Head Office spend on media and voice training for Ministers since 5 July 2024 is nil.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials have engaged with Scottish counterparts on the impact of Armed Forces training on nature conservation and public access to the countryside in Dumfries and Galloway.
MOD officials have developed Integrated Rural Management Plans (IRMP) for MOD sites in Dumfries and Galloway. These plans include a level of ecological impact assessment and public access management. The IRMPs identify appropriate avoidance or mitigation measures that must be applied to manage the impact of military training and operations on these sites.
MOD officials have not held any discussions with counterparts in Scotland on the proposed national park in Galloway.
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
4 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Questions
(View all John Cooper's MHCLG questions)The Chancellor confirmed at the Budget on 30 October that the Long-Term Plan for Towns will be retained and reformed as part of a new regeneration programme.
A revised prospectus for the programme will be published in due course, confirming the associated timelines and a new set of strategic objectives aligned to this government’s missions.
All 75 towns have now received an initial £250,000 of capacity funding. A further £200,000 of capacity funding will be issued in the 2025/26 financial year, to support the development of plans in line with our new objectives.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible. It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The department has not incurred any expenses on media or voice training for ministers since 5 July 2024.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government remains committed to working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive on delivering growth for Northern Ireland. Given the need to repair the public finances we must ensure that we are making responsible decisions about public spending. The Enhanced Investment Zone will be addressed as part of the process for confirming plans for this year and next at the forthcoming Budget on October 30th, and plans beyond that at the Spending Review in Spring 2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Ministry of Justice does not hold any active contracts awarded under Crown Commercial Service (CCS) agreement RM6125, nor have any contracts been awarded under this agreement in the time period specified.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Department carries out media training in-house and so did not spend any money on media or voice training for Ministers in this period.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)