1 APPG membership (as of 8 Apr 2024)
Access to Justice13 Former APPG memberships
Air Pollution, British Jews, Get Refusal, Households in Temporary Accommodation, Housing and Planning, Jews, Legal Aid, Local Democracy, Private Rented Sector, Race Equality in Education, Short Lets Sector, Street Children, Temporary AccommodationDivision Voting information
Karen Buck voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Labour No votes vs 150 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 197 Noes - 276
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
(22 debate interactions)
(11 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(11 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(76 debate contributions)
(71 debate contributions)
(17 debate contributions)
(16 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(10,511 words contributed)
(2,402 words contributed)
(1,720 words contributed)
(1,524 words contributed)
Westminster North 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 9,605 signatures (1.52%)
of 12,979 signatures (1.52%)
of 11,381 signatures (1.47%)
of 31,572 signatures (1.43%)
of 268,842 signatures (0.52%)
of 31,572 signatures (1.43%)
of 103,590 signatures (0.41%)
of 12,979 signatures (1.52%)
of 45,530 signatures (0.40%)
Latest EDMs signed by Karen Buck
Social Security
Tabled by: Keir Starmer (Labour - Holborn and St Pancras)That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2022 (S.I., 2022, No. 752), dated 4 July 2022, a copy of which was laid before this House on 4 July 2022, be annulled.
(Most recent: 13 Oct 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 10
Scottish National Party: 3
Green Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Social Security
Tabled by: Keir Starmer (Labour - Holborn and St Pancras)That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance (Work Search and Work Availability Requirements - limitations) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I., 2022, No. 108), dated 7 February 2022, a copy of which was laid before this House on 7 February 2022, be …
(Most recent: 20 Apr 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Karen Buck, 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.
Karen Buck has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Karen Buck has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
8 Bills introduced by Karen Buck
To amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; to amend the Building Act 1984 to make provision about the liability for works on residential accommodation that do not comply with Building Regulations; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th December 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to establish a national register of short and holiday-let accommodation; to give local authorities powers to require information in association with that register; and for connected purposes.
Friday 6th May 2022
A Bill to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; and for connected purposes.
Friday 16th October 2015
A Bill to place a duty on local authorities to ensure that persons for whom a homeless duty has been accepted are accommodated in the local area, including on discharge into private rented accommodation; to require local authorities to publish annual reports on steps relating to housing demand and supply taken or intended to be taken to meet that duty; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require householders to notify local authorities of an intention to register accommodation for short or holiday lets; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require householders to notify local authorities of an intention to register accommodation for short or holiday lets; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to restrict the application of permitted development rights; to grant local planning authorities powers to restrict the size and depth of basement excavations underneath or adjacent to residential properties; and for connected purposes.
Wednesday 16th September 2015
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to regulate the construction of new basements and extensions to basements; and for connected purposes.
Tuesday 12th November 2013
9 Bills co-sponsored by Karen Buck
Co-operatives (Permanent Shares) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)
Social Housing (Emergency Protection of Tenancy Rights) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Child Criminal Exploitation Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Lyn Brown (Lab)
Pedicabs (London) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Nickie Aiken (Con)
Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Welfare of Women) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Siobhain McDonagh (Lab)
Freedom of Information (Extension) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Andy Slaughter (Lab)
Homelessness (End of Life Care) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ed Davey (LD)
Pedicabs (London) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Paul Scully (Con)
Mutualisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)No investigation will be carried out by the Government Legal Profession.
If a person making a request under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) is not satisfied with a response, they may exercise their statutory rights of challenge under the Act, complaining to the ICO and then appealing to the First-tier Tribunal.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
We do not hold centrally those who were in receipt of the report (dated three years ago) but details about the report are available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a).
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
We would not centrally hold a list of all the civil servants who would have been in receipt of the report, three years ago. We have already deposited the Universal Credit Programme Board documentation which lists the senior officials in attendance at such meetings.
Information about the report is available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a)
Information about the report is available as a Deposited Paper in the Libraries of the House (Ref: Dep2021-0836 Paper No. 7a)
The department does not routinely collect data on the number of children who are accessing programmes through children’s centres or family hubs. This data is held at a local level.
Local authorities have statutory duties under Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006 to facilitate access to early childhood services and encourage parents to take advantage of them. The act, and the duties, are available to view here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1.
Local authorities should be reviewing data on service use and outcomes to ensure that they are meeting these duties and that their commissioning decisions are informed by evidence of the impact of their local services.
Up until 31 December 2013 Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was paid directly to bus operators and was not split between commercially run or subsidised bus services. We are therefore unable to provide figures for this period. From 1 January 2014 local authorities have received funding equivalent to the level of BSOG which would otherwise have been paid to operators for running subsidised services in 2014. The current dataset provides details of amounts paid up to and including the period to 31/03/21. Details of the amounts paid to local authorities each year can be found on the “Payments to Local Authorities” tab of the relevant spreadsheets published at
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend
We invited and received bids to the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund from across England and Wales. The Ideas Fund provides 75% of costs, up to £50,000, to help fund transport and economic studies and create a business case. Details, including regions, of the 25 Ideas Fund schemes awarded funding to date are on GOV.UK.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Up until 31 December 2013 Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was paid directly to bus operators and was not split between commercially run or subsidised bus services. We are therefore unable to provide figures for this period. From 1 January 2014 local authorities have received funding equivalent to the level of BSOG which would otherwise have been paid to operators for running subsidised services in 2014. The current dataset provides details of amounts paid up to and including the period to 31/03/21. Details of the amounts paid to local authorities each year can be found on the “Payments to Local Authorities” tab of the relevant spreadsheets published at
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend
The total amount of Transforming Cities Fund awarded to the six original Mayoral Combined Authorities and the remaining twelve Competitively Funded Authorities, including West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Sheffield City Region Combined Authority have been published. Details about the total funded awarded to each city is available on Gov.UK.
The Transforming Cities Fund is available to selected cities within England only, not the other devolved nations. By completion of the Transforming Cities Programme, a total of £2.36 billion will have been invested in these 18 cities across England.
The Pothole Action Fund, announced in 2016¸ was for local roads in England outside London, as that has a separate funding arrangement. The other nations of the UK receive a share of any new funding through the Barnett Formula.
For 2020/21, the Pothole Action Fund (£50 million in 2020/21) was combined with the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund (£100 million) and the new £2.5 billion Potholes Fund announced at Budget 2020 (£500 million). This £650 million funding was allocated by formula, and paid to local highway authorities in England, outside London.
The allocations were published in the Roads Funding Information Pack which is at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-funding-information-pack/roads-funding-information-pack.
The cost to the public purse is highly dependent on the course of the pandemic and also how many people are using the railway and generating revenue, which is highly uncertain at this point.
Details of past payments made by the Department to individual franchised passenger rail operators under the Emergency Measures Agreements up until late June can be found on the government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payments-to-passenger-rail-operators-march-to-june-2020.
We plan to update these figures regularly and expect to publish figures up to late September in the coming weeks once the final payment adjustment processes are concluded.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department continues to request periodic management accounts and cashflow forecasts from all Train Operating Companies as per the underlying Franchise Agreements.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State does not plan to appoint special representatives to attend Southern Railway board meetings.
The classification of train operating companies by the Office for National Statistics does not have any direct implications in areas such as ownership, legal status, or management structure.
The Department continues to monitor the delivery of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Franchise Agreement, which encompasses the Southern Railway brand.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department continues to monitor actual levels of passenger revenue through the submission of periodic management accounts from Govia Thameslink Railway, and the calculation of Franchise Payments is driven by the level of actual revenue received by the franchisee.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decision was made in response to a very significant change in the commercial terms of Train Operating Companies (TOCs). In adapting to managing contract with TOCs under these new arrangements my department continues to keep its governance arrangements under close review, and we will communicate any changes (including any arising specifically from the ONS decision) to operators as needed.
All Emergency Measures Agreement (EMAs) have been published in redacted form on the public register of rail franchises on the gov.uk website. The Department is continuing to follow its processes in order to finalise the publication of the ERMAs. Given that a number of third party stakeholders are being consulted on proposed redactions, we cannot provide a definitive timescale for the redacted versions of the ERMAs however we continue to work towards publishing them as soon as reasonably practicable and the Department’s redactions have been completed.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decision was made in response to a very significant change in the commercial terms of Train Operating Companies (TOCs). In adapting to managing contract with TOCs under these new arrangements my department continues to keep its governance arrangements under close review, and we will communicate any changes (including any arising specifically from the ONS decision) to operators as needed.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Approximately £4.2bn has been paid in operational support to all 14 Train Operating Companies, including the 2 in public ownership, up to the end of rail period 6 (from 1 March to 20 September).
Details of past payments made by the Department to individual franchised passenger rail operators under the Emergency Measures Agreements up until late June can be found on the government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payments-to-passenger-rail-operators-march-to-june-2020.
We plan to update these figures regularly and expect to publish figures up to 20 September in the coming weeks once the final payment adjustment processes are concluded
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department has contracted Govia Thameslink Railway to act as a Good and Efficient Operator, as defined in the Emergency Measures Agreement and subsequently the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement and will assess their performance against this requirement.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Schedule 8.A of the Emergency Measures Agreement, outlines the calculation of Franchise Payments from 01 April 2020 – 21 September 2020. In addition, Schedule 8.1A of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement outlines the Franchise Payments from 22 September 2020 onwards.
The Emergency Measures Agreement for Govia Thameslink Railway is publicly available, and the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement will be publicly available in due course.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
There are a number of national rail concessions in the form of railcards. Under Section 28(3) of the Railways Act 1993, train operating companies are required to participate in certain approved discount card schemes for young and student travellers, disabled passengers and those over 60.
In addition, recent introductions include the 16-17 Saver and 26-30 ‘millennial’ railcard to help young people, and in October we launched a new Veterans Railcard to help former servicemen and women.
Funding for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) for bus travel is provided to local authorities through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG’s) revenue support grant. This funding is not ringfenced, which enables local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely match local needs and circumstances.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rail operators continue to assess local demand regularly to deliver the services passengers need. We continue to work closely with Govia Thameslink Railway (the operator of Southern services) as they develop future timetable proposals to make sure we strike the right balance between running the maximum levels of service that can be resourced reliably to meet demand and protecting taxpayers’ best interests.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations on train operators to provide management accounts to the Department for each 4-week rail period. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The EMAs include an additional provision that requires the management accounts to show greater disaggregation of the periodic profit and loss account, to allow more detailed scrutiny of expenditure by the Department.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) have introduced a formal process of budget reviews in each four-week rail period to enable additional financial scrutiny of operators. This is a new process to reflect the fact that the Government is bearing financial risk on almost all operator costs under the EMAs. This risk previously sat with the private operators. The two operators under direct public ownership are not under EMA provisions but follow similar requirements.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) prohibit the payment of dividends to shareholders during the six-month EMA term.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Operators that have entered into Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) will see a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreement’s financial mechanisms for a period of six months.
The arrangements after the EMA period ends are being developed and will be announced in due course.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State has not appointed an external advisor to train operator boards and has no immediate plans to do so. The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) give the Department enhanced controls over financial decisions made by train operators. This includes a formal process of monthly budget reviews, allowing additional financial scrutiny of operators, with the ability for the Department to deem expenditure disallowable, in which case the train operator would have to bear the costs.
The funding and financing package for TfL amounts to £1.6 billion.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State has not appointed an external advisor to train operator boards and has no immediate plans to do so. The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) give the Department enhanced controls over financial decisions made by train operators. This includes a formal process of monthly budget reviews, allowing additional financial scrutiny of operators, with the ability for the Department to deem expenditure disallowable, in which case the train operator would have to bear the costs.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department is reviewing its approach to the contractual arrangements following the period in which the Emergency Measures Agreements apply. Work is underway to determine the most effective approach once this period ends. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway.
The Department continues to monitor the financial position of all train operators to ensure to continuity of passenger services.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) place a number of new restrictions on operator’s financial transactions in recognition of the risk that the government bears while they are in place. This includes restrictions on the payment of dividends to shareholders during the EMA term.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations to require train operators to provide periodic management accounts to the Department. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The management accounts include a periodic profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement.
The EMAs have also introduced a formal process of periodic budget reviews to enable additional financial scrutiny of operators.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations to require train operators to provide periodic management accounts to the Department. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The management accounts include a periodic profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) require operators to act in a commercial manner in relation to the management of revenues and costs.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) require operators to act in in a commercial manner in relation to the management of revenues and costs. This includes implementing initiatives to protect and grow revenue.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) require operators to act in in a commercial manner in relation to the management of revenues and costs.
The Department has required operators to identify and implement cost reductions for the EMA term. The EMAs have also introduced a formal process of periodic budget reviews to enable additional financial scrutiny of operators.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) require operators to act in in a commercial manner in relation to the management of revenues and costs. This includes implementing initiatives to protect and grow both passenger and non-passenger revenue.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This information has not yet been finalised.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State has not appointed an external advisor to train operator boards and has no immediate plans to do so.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government has approved £2.9billion of additional expenditure during the 2020/21 financial year to ensure that vital rail services continue to operate. This expenditure covers all train operators with franchise agreements with the Department for Transport. However, individual TOC payments have not yet been finalised for all of the above periods.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Due to an administrative error a second attachment was not uploaded as part of the response to PQ 191729: it has now been amended, and a copy of the second attachment has also been sent directly to you along with a letter explaining. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The requested information is provided in the separate spreadsheet.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. Data on local LHA rates and averages can be found in the attachments provided.
In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates. These rates were aligned to the 30th percentile of market rents in Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) across the country, therefore in those areas with higher rent costs this is reflected in higher LHA rates for that BRMA. In 2022/23, the Government is projected to spend around £30 billion to support renters. This is approximately 1.4% of GDP, more than any other OECD country, with the next highest being 0.9% of GDP.
Information on the legislation increasing LHA rates to 30th percentile in April 2020 can be found here. Information on the legislation maintaining LHA rates at their current rates for 2023/24 can be found here.
For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.
We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. Data on local LHA rates and averages can be found in the attachments provided.
In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates. These rates were aligned to the 30th percentile of market rents in Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) across the country, therefore in those areas with higher rent costs this is reflected in higher LHA rates for that BRMA. In 2022/23, the Government is projected to spend around £30 billion to support renters. This is approximately 1.4% of GDP, more than any other OECD country, with the next highest being 0.9% of GDP.
Information on the legislation increasing LHA rates to 30th percentile in April 2020 can be found here. Information on the legislation maintaining LHA rates at their current rates for 2023/24 can be found here.
For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.
We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Our new approach will provide more personalised levels of conditionality and employment support, with the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a more independent life. This more tailored approach will allow work coaches to build a relationship with an individual and determine what, if any, work-related activities an individual can participate in.
These activities could start from voluntary and dial up to mandatory where appropriate, with requirements added at a pace that is appropriate for the individual.
We will take time to carefully consider how best to implement these changes and take a test and learn approach with the new system before introducing it, to ensure it provides the taxpayer with value for money and is accessible and effective in delivering for our service users.
We will continue to listen to, and to work closely with, disabled people, people with health conditions and many other partners, on how to best deliver these reforms.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We are committed to reforming the system to better support people with health conditions overcome the barriers that prevent them from working. We are also committed to making work pay, and incentivising people to seek and stay in work.
The new health element will be awarded to people who are receiving the UC Standard Allowance and any PIP element. Entitlement to the new UC health element will only end when the functional impact of a person’s health condition improves and they are no longer eligible for PIP, or as people earn more money and their UC is tapered away, which ensures that they are financially better off in work.
As we develop our reform proposals, we will consider how some interactions with the UC system will be reflected in the reformed system. This will be carefully worked through and reported on before we introduce legislation in the next parliament.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We are committed to reforming the system to better support people with health conditions overcome the barriers that prevent them from working. We are also committed to making work pay, and incentivising people to seek and stay in work.
The new health element will be awarded to people who are receiving the UC Standard Allowance and any PIP element. Entitlement to the new UC health element will only end when the functional impact of a person’s health condition improves and they are no longer eligible for PIP, or as people earn more money and their UC is tapered away, which ensures that they are financially better off in work.
As we develop our reform proposals, we will consider how some interactions with the UC system will be reflected in the reformed system. This will be carefully worked through and reported on before we introduce legislation in the next parliament.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
In May 2022, there were 120,610 claimants on ESA in permitted work, which is 7.2% of all ESA claimants.
Of these, there were: 700 (0.6%) with Working Tax Credits; 5,420 (4.5%) with Child Tax Credits; and 1,810 (1.5%) with both.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)