Oliver Heald Portrait

Oliver Heald

Conservative - North East Hertfordshire

First elected: 9th April 1992


Victims and Prisoners Bill
14th Jun 2023 - 11th Jul 2023
Local Government (Disqualification) Bill
24th Nov 2021 - 1st Dec 2021
Regulatory Reform
2nd Mar 2020 - 20th May 2021
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
16th Jul 2016 - 12th Jun 2017
House of Commons Governance Committee
16th Oct 2014 - 17th Dec 2014
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
6th Sep 2012 - 15th Jul 2014
Standards and Privileges
26th Jul 2010 - 12th Dec 2012
Work and Pensions Committee
22nd Oct 2007 - 29th Oct 2012
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
26th Oct 2010 - 15th Oct 2012
Draft House of Lords Reform Bill (Joint Committee)
23rd Jun 2011 - 26th Mar 2012
Committee of Selection
26th Oct 2009 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Secretary of State (Justice)
15th Jun 2004 - 3rd Jul 2007
Shadow Secretary of State
10th May 2005 - 3rd Jul 2007
Modernisation of the House of Commons
9th Dec 2003 - 13th Jul 2005
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
1st Jun 2003 - 1st Jun 2005
Shadow Cabinet Minister (Work and Pensions)
1st Jun 2002 - 1st Jun 2003
Shadow Spokesperson (Health)
1st Jun 2001 - 1st Jun 2002
Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
1st Jun 2000 - 1st Jun 2001
Opposition Whip (Commons)
1st Jun 1997 - 1st Jun 2000
Administration Committee
22nd Jun 1998 - 21st Feb 2000
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
6th Jul 1995 - 2nd May 1997
Employment
27th Apr 1992 - 31st Oct 1994


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Oliver Heald has voted in 852 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

20 Oct 2021 - Environment Bill - View Vote Context
Oliver Heald voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative No votes vs 265 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 268 Noes - 204
22 Jun 2022 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Oliver Heald voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 61 Conservative No votes vs 106 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 70
View All Oliver Heald Division Votes

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
Edward Argar (Conservative)
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
(9 debate interactions)
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(7 debate interactions)
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(7 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(26 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(22 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(19 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(10 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Oliver Heald's debates

North East Hertfordshire 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).

Oliver Heald has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Oliver Heald

1st July 2020
Oliver Heald signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 1st July 2020

National Museum of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic History and Culture

Tabled by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
That this House recognises the important role played by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC since it opened its doors to the public on 24 September 2016, documenting and enabling the study of the life, history and culture of African Americans; notes that …
15 signatures
(Most recent: 15 Jul 2020)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 9
Liberal Democrat: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Independent: 1
Labour: 1
9th January 2020
Oliver Heald signed this EDM on Tuesday 2nd June 2020

Ban on trophy hunting imports

Tabled by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
That this House welcomes the Government's public consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies; notes the strong cross-party support for EDM 1829, Session 2017-19 and that 86 per cent of the British public support an end to trophy hunting; further notes that most UK trophy imports …
168 signatures
(Most recent: 12 Apr 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 77
Scottish National Party: 42
Conservative: 17
Liberal Democrat: 11
Independent: 9
Democratic Unionist Party: 6
Alba Party: 2
Plaid Cymru: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Alliance: 1
View All Oliver Heald's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Oliver Heald, 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.


Oliver Heald has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Oliver Heald

Monday 5th June 2023

4 Bills introduced by Oliver Heald


Parallel Parliament Note:

The substantive text of this bill was re-introduced by the Government as the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act which received Royal Assent during the 2017-2019 Parliament.

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 make it an offence to attack service animals, including police dogs and horses; to make certain offences aggravated when perpetrated against such animals; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 15th June 2018

To amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in relation to service animals.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th April 2019 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of providing financial support for parents of children receiving care in hospital for extended periods.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 19th January 2024
(Read Debate)

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of providing financial support for parents of children receiving care in hospital for extended periods.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 20th June 2023
(Read Debate)

Latest 41 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
9th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate she has made of when Mrs Jasvinder Barang will receive compensation in respect of her overturned conviction by the Post Office.

Our aim is to ensure that every affected postmaster is fully recompensed for their losses and the suffering they have had to endure as a result of the Horizon scandal. To date, more than £148 million has been paid to 2,700 victims across all compensation schemes, 95 convictions have been overturned and, of those, 30 have agreed full and final settlements. Just over £30 million has been paid out in compensation to those with overturned convictions, including interim payments.

I cannot comment on individual claims for reasons of confidentiality.

Kevin Hollinrake
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
20th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the newly launched Advanced Research and Invention Agency will support the UK’s ambition to become a global scientific superpower and the work of the UK Innovation Corridor in emerging sectors such as Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and R&D.

The Advance Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will cement the UK’s position as a science superpower, building on the UK’s proud history of scientific excellence by seeking to fund transformational advances in science and technology – discoveries that create new technologies and new industries that drive our future economy. ARIA will be equipped for this work by having minimal research bureaucracy and prioritising agility: it will move quickly and decisively to ensure the UK retains its competitive edge in R&D. We will appoint an exceptional and visionary leadership team and entrust them to set the research agenda on where and what to fund for ARIA.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
20th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure investment for projects in the UK Innovation Corridor; and if he will make a statement.

The R&D Places Strategy, to be published later this year, will ensure that research and innovation benefits the economy and society in nations, regions and local areas across the UK contributing to the Government’s wider levelling up ambitions. We want to build on existing place-based funding initiatives and work with stakeholders to promote increased private investment across the UK to support promising research and innovation that drives local economic growth.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
25th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timeframe is for the restarting of cricket as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.

Officials are working very closely with the ECB on plans to deliver the safe return of club cricket as soon as possible. We are working at pace to shape guidance that will allow the safe return of competitive cricket and other team sports. Any shared sporting equipment may risk transmission, but these risks can be mitigated with good hygiene practice as being adopted across a wide range of sectors. I hope to make further progress on this in the coming weeks so that teams can enjoy a great cricketing summer.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
24th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 23 June 2020, Official report, column 1169, when the taskforce on re-opening swimming pools will have its first meeting; what the timetable is to make swimming pools covid-19-secure so that they can reopen; and if he will make a statement.

The issues around the re-opening of swimming pools are being considered in a number of fora. The consideration of different venues and the activities involved are underpinned by understanding the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with particular activities.

We recognise the importance of re-opening our indoor and outdoor pools and we agree that swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. There are concerns about transmission around points of contact within such facilities, like changing rooms due to the high volume of contacts. As such, we need to provide reassurance that these facilities will be safe, and are working hard to achieve this in the coming weeks.

The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.

The Government is actively working towards a safe way to re-open these facilities, with supporting guidance.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
18th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a national museum for the study of Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture on a similar scale and model to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently no plans to expand the portfolio of DCMS-Sponsored national museums.


Many of the existing national museums display material relating to Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture as part of their permanent exhibitions. This includes material displayed at the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Tate, Horniman, and National Museums Liverpool. These collections include art, ceramics, fashion and photography. Many museums work with diaspora communities to better understand collection items and place them in historical and contemporary context. A number of museums have also held temporary exhibitions that focus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture.

10th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the King James Academy in Royston following recent flooding and the loss of its roof.

The department is working with The Diamond Learning Partnership Trust, the responsible body for the school, to return pupils to face-to-face education as soon as possible. The trust is considering using alternative teaching sites and whether to install temporary facilities on the existing site. A loss adjustor from the Risk Protection Arrangement scheme is carrying out a site assessment on 12 January 2024. The department will discuss next steps with the trust once the outcomes from the site assessment have been received.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
6th Sep 2021
What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of places on medical courses available to undergraduates.

The government is committed to ensuring that the number and distribution of medical school places are in line with England’s workforce requirements and continues to monitor the effectiveness of current arrangements.

Applications for medicine and dentistry made by the June deadline increased by over 20,000 this year compared to last year for all domiciles. We have increased the medical and dentistry caps so that providers can take on more students and we have run a brokerage scheme to help move over 80 students at oversubscribed providers into unfilled places.

In addition, we are providing up to £10m in grant funding for providers to take on more students in high-cost subjects, such as medicine, dentistry, nursing and other lab-based courses.

Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
7th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to improve methods of measuring the (a) amount and (b) types of (i) microplastic and (ii) microfibres in chalk streams; and if she will make a statement.

The Environment Agency is currently developing a microplastics monitoring plan for English rivers . The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to work with water companies to explore (a) the management of microplastics in sewage sludge and (b) options for protecting chalk streams; and if she will make a statement.

Last year the Government launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. The Environment Agency is currently developing a microplastics monitoring plan for English rivers . The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce water efficiency labelling for white goods; and if he will make a statement.

On 1st July 2021 Defra released a written ministerial statement on reducing demand for water in which we committed to introduce a mandatory water efficiency label. We published a consultation on 2nd September including our proposal for dual labelling for white goods that already have an energy label: UK Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling - Defra - Citizen Space (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water-efficiency-labelling/water-efficiency-labelling/).

21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to implement at least five no-take Highly Protected Marine Areas as defined by the Benyon Review.

We are currently consulting on five candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). The consultation closes on 28th September. All evidence gathered will be analysed and will be used to inform the Secretary of State's decision on which sites to designate. Any pilot HPMAs will be designated by 6th July 2023, within one year of the consultation launch.

Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ban (a) bottom-trawling and (b) other bottom-towed fishing gear in all offshore Marine Protected Areas; and if he will make a statement.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a devolved competency and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

We have designated a comprehensive network of MPAs and are now focused on making sure they are properly protected. Using new powers provided by the Fisheries Act 2020, we have already introduced byelaws in the first four offshore sites to protect sensitive habitats and species from bottom-towed gear and other damaging fishing activity. A call for evidence relating to the next 13 offshore sites has also been published and we are aiming to have all 40 MPAs in English offshore waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.

Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to reduce over-abstraction by water companies from chalk streams.

The Government's Water Abstraction Plan, that was published in December 2017 sets out clear objectives for achieving sustainable abstraction for England, plus mechanisms for delivery. Our approach to addressing these issues has three main elements:

  • making full use of existing regulatory powers and approaches to address unsustainable abstraction;
  • developing a stronger catchment focus;
  • and supporting these reforms by modernising the abstraction service.


Progress was last reported to parliament in May 2019 ( Report to Parliament )

The Environment Agency has already made changes to 124 licences to protect chalk streams from over abstraction, returning over 37 billion litres of water per year to chalk streams, and preventing a further 100 billion litres per year being abstracted. In addition, they have revoked 85 unused and underused licences in chalk streams, preventing 7.5 billion litres of water being abstracted every year.

Further sustainability reductions amounting to about 100 million litres per day in chalk streams will be delivered in the next 5 years by water companies through the Water Industry National Environment Programme. In addition, the Environment Agency is working with water companies to prioritise additional voluntary reductions in sensitive chalk catchments.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to reduce sewage releases by water companies into chalk streams; and if he will make a statement.

As part of its planning the Environment Agency (EA) has assessed the impact of sewage discharges on the water environment which has informed the development of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) for the period 2020 to 2025. This programme of work is now being implemented by the water companies at a cost of over £4 billion with many of the improvements targeted at improving river water quality to support fisheries and improved habitats for wildlife. Within the programme there is work associated with sewage discharges at about 39% of the chalk stream water bodies in England. This work consists of improvement monitoring of sewage treatment works’ performance, investigations and improvements schemes. These investigations will inform further improvement work in the next investment programme (2025 to 2030).

Additionally, a new Taskforce has been established between Defra, the Environment Agency, Ofwat, the Consumer Council for Water and Water UK to set out clear proposals to address the volumes of sewage discharged into our rivers from storm overflows. The impacts on chalk streams are being considered by the taskforce as part of the prioritisation of work on storm overflows.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2023 to Question 126505 on Community Diagnosis Centres: Royston, whether the Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care Board will make decisions on primary care facilities in Royston.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board is responsible for making commissioning decisions on primary care facilities in Royston.

All integrated care boards (ICBs) have been responsible for commissioning primary medical services since they were established on 1 July 2022. NHS England plans to delegate additional responsibility for ICBs to commission dentistry, eyecare and pharmacy services from April 2023.

18th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans for a new health centre, including for diagnostics, for (a) Royston and (b) the surrounding area; and if he will make a statement.

Locations of new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are determined by each integrated care system based on a detailed review of a range of factors, including accessibility for the most deprived local populations and through discussions with relevant local stakeholders. West Essex Community Diagnostic Centre will be opening in 2024 to increase diagnostic capacity and reduce waiting times, with state of the art equipment to deliver non obstetric ultrasound, x-ray, phlebotomy and point of care tests. Once fully operational, the CDC plans to deliver up to 115,157 scans, tests and checks a year. It is for Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board to determine whether a CDC is needed in Royston.

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the number of hospital stays of more than two months for children in each of the last three years for which records are available.

The following table shows the number of hospital stays where the duration was greater than 60 days for patients aged between 0 and 17 years old in each of the last three years where data is available. Data for 2021/22 is currently being collated and centrally validated.

2018/19

4,598

2019/20

4,562

2020/21

3,894

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

  1. Hospital Episode Statistics figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time should be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in National Health Service practice. The decrease in the number of hospital stays of more than two months for children for 2020/21 is due to the overall reduction in hospital activity in 2020/21.
  2. Hospital Episode Statistics include activity ending in the year in question from 1 April to 31 March 2013. A discharge episode is the last episode during a hospital stay (a spell), where the patient is discharged from the hospital or transferred to another hospital. Discharges do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one discharge from hospital within the period.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
4th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commit additional funding for clinical trials on the repurposing of drugs to treat Epidermolysis Bullosa; and if he will make a statement.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). While the usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of health or care research, including trials for the repurposing of drugs for conditions such as Epidermolysis Bullosa. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

25th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals follow the sepsis six care pathway approach; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not held centrally. However, all 29 pathology networks in the National Health Service in England have the capability to undertake the tests required to support the diagnosis of sepsis. Healthcare providers are encouraged to adopt the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) which supports clinicians to identify and respond to patients at risk of acute deterioration, including those with suspected sepsis.  Since 2019, NEWS2 has been implemented in 100% of ambulance trusts and all except one acute trust in England.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of cancer patients receiving treatment at Mount Vernon Hospital live in Hertfordshire.

As of November 2020, 44% of cancer patients receiving treatment at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre live in Hertfordshire. In 2019/20, 32% of activity on the Mount Vernon site was from West Hertfordshire or the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group area and 12% from East and North Hertfordshire.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for a satellite radiotherapy centre for Hertfordshire.

The Hertfordshire radiotherapy service is provided by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust from a specialised cancer centre in Northwood in North Middlesex. The cancer service is not clinically sustainable on its present site and a review is underway to relocate the services, including radiotherapy.

Final options are expected to be decided in April 2021 before the public consultation, which is expected to start from June 2021, dependent on receiving confirmation that capital funding will be available, and a decision expected next autumn.

No capital funding has been identified for either a satellite radiotherapy centre or the relocation of the main centre.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on waiting lists for CAMHS.

There is broad consensus that there is the potential for an increase in demand for children and young people’s mental health services as a result of the effects of the pandemic. We are working with the National Health Service and a wide range of stakeholders to assess potential need over the coming weeks and months and to plan accordingly.

Mental health services are still open and working to support people with mental health issues through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Our community, talking therapies and children and young people’s services have deployed innovative digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support.

15th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to UK International Development's white paper entitled International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change, published in November 2023, if his Department will publish a plan to deliver the policy commitments in that white paper.

International development in a contested world, the International Development White Paper, sets out our strategic goal, to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, and how the UK can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, through to 2030. The FCDO will set out how it is delivering the White Paper through existing departmental planning processes, including the Outcome Delivery Plan and the Annual Report and Accounts.

Andrew Mitchell
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
15th Jan 2024
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure maximum value for money in overseas development assistance spending decisions.

The FCDO employs robust systems and frameworks to ensure we achieve value for money for UK taxpayers. The suitability of organisations receiving ODA, including the projects undertaken, is assessed through FCDO business cases and annual reviews, as set out in the Department's Programme Operating Framework. The Department uses evidence to inform spending decisions and maximise the impact of the UK's ODA. FCDO officials are empowered to adjust programming using our approach to prioritisation set out in the White Paper on International Development.

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) independently scrutinises UK ODA to assess value for money and impact [https://icai.independent.gov.uk/].

Andrew Mitchell
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
4th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much has been spent from the public purse on the (a) Blue Belt Programme and (b) domestic Marine Protected Area roll out around the UK in each of the last five years.

From 2018-19 to 2022-23, Blue Belt spend has been £7 million, £5.4 million, £6.9 million, £7.7 million and £7.7 million respectively. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) does not keep the detail of funding specifically devoted to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Defra's MPA team is funded through general administrative budgets to deliver management, monitoring and enforcement working alongside Defra's Arms Length Bodies.

David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of industrial fisheries on the (a) penguin and (b) whale populations around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) manages a highly regulated fishery, in accordance with its Marine Protected Area legislation. Only vessels which fully meet requirements of both the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and strict GSGSSI licensing requirements are able to conduct fishing activities. Scientific observers are deployed on every fishing vessel, and there are seasonal and spatial controls to ensure the fishery does not impact on the conservation of all animals living around these islands.

David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has plans to strengthen the marine protected area around (a) the South Sandwich Islands and (b) South Georgia.

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its Marine Protected Area (MPA). GSGSSI launched the review with a 2-day science symposium in June 2023 and is currently assessing the extent to which existing provisions are delivering the objectives of the MPA. GSGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.

David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect on children’s (a) health and (b) education globally of the planned cut in UK aid from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent.

The seismic impact of the pandemic has forced us to take tough decisions, including temporarily reducing our aid budget. We will remain a world leading aid donor. We plan to spend more than £10 billion next year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health. As set out by the Foreign Secretary, our priorities will include girls' education and global health, including tackling COVID-19 and strengthening international health security.

We will build on our existing achievements in supporting girls' education and working to end the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children. We have set ambitious global targets of getting 40 million girls into education, and one third more reading by the age of 10, and we will co-host the replenishment for the Global Partnership for Education next year. We have pledged up to £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support immunisation of 300 million children over the next five years.

28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on routine immunisation funded by the UK Government through GAVI.

Routine immunisation is the strongest shield against outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and yellow fever. Mitigating indirect impacts of COVID-19 on essential health services in the poorest countries is a core UK priority. As Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's largest donor, the UK's first and foremost priority is to deliver routine immunisation, maintain coverage levels, and reach underserved zero-dose children. In June, the Prime Minister hosted the Global Vaccine Summit, which raised $8.8 billion for Gavi's core mission of immunising a further 300 million children, and saving up to 8 million lives by 2025.

Since the start of the pandemic in March, 70 Gavi-eligible countries have reported cases of COVID-19. Lockdown measures for COVID-19 have affected routine immunisation in the poorest countries - 44 Gavi vaccine introductions have been impacted so far, 18 Gavi-eligible countries have reported shipment delays, and approximately seven countries have reported stock-outs of vaccines at the central or subnational level. A number of Gavi-eligible countries have resumed campaigns and vaccine introductions, such as a measles campaign in Ethiopia, and diphtheria and oral polio vaccine campaigns in Yemen.

19th Jul 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to correspondence of 30 June 2023 from the hon, Member for North East Hertfordshire, enclosing a letter from the Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey.

I responded to the Rt Honourable Member on 20 July 2023.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
15th Mar 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the email of 10 October 2022 from the Rt Hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire on Clements Construction Ltd.

A response was sent to the hon. Member on 21 March 2023.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
20th May 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement in the 2021 Budget of £100 billion of funding for infrastructure, how that funding will be allocated across the South East region to (a) transport projects, such as East West Rail and the West Anglia mainline, (b) the roll out of high speed broadband and 5G and (c) other services to support the long-term growth of that region and places within the UK Innovation Corridor.

The Government has committed to increase investment in infrastructure for the benefit of the whole of the UK. As part of this, we will invest £760 million to deliver the next phase of East West Rail, reinstating direct rail services between Bicester and Bletchley and creating 1500 skilled jobs. Local areas in the South East will also benefit from the Government’s landmark £5bn commitment to support the rollout of gigabit connectivity in the hardest to reach parts of the country and our ambition for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027. Furthermore, in 21-22 we are investing £14.6 billion in research and innovation grants and facilities across the UK, backing the priorities set out in the UK Government’s Research and Development Roadmap. The Government welcomes any endeavour that aims to support innovation and ‘build back better’, including the initiatives of the Innovation Corridor to link opportunities in the South East.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has a timetable for reinstatement of the 0.7 per cent UK aid commitment to be reinstated.

The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.

Steve Barclay
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1st Dec 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy that a reduction to the 0.7 per cent UK Aid commitment is time-bound to 2021; and if he will make a statement.

The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.

Steve Barclay
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
7th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to strengthen civil law in respect of intentional unauthorised development; and what the timetable is for such action.

In the Government’s response last year to our consultation on powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments, we committed to strengthening national planning policy on intentional unauthorised development. We intend to consult on proposals for doing so shortly.

Esther McVey
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
12th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many multi-agency public protection arrangements lay advisers there are in post.

There are currently 63 Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Lay Advisers in post across England and Wales. Details of their role can be found in the MAPPA Guidance at https://mappa.justice.gov.uk/MAPPA/view?objectID=403300.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
21st Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to respond to an email from Lesley Taunton dated 18 October 2022.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have assured me that they will be providing a response to both Sir Oliver’s correspondence to OPG dated 18 October, and Ms Taunton’s correspondence by 28 November.

I apologise for the delay in full responses to their correspondence being provided. OPG is currently experiencing backlogs in processing Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs) and the corresponding increase in correspondence has had an impact on OPG’s ability to respond to complaints within the target. OPG understands the importance of customers receiving timely responses to complaints. To improve the service OPG is recruiting more staff to process LPAs and to respond to complaints, carrying out overtime and making improvements to internal processes. We are pressing ahead with plans to digitise LPA applications, making the process simpler and quicker for customers.

Mike Freer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)