Select Committees
International Development Committee (since March 2020)Administration Committee (since March 2020)
Panel of Chairs (since October 2022)
2 APPG memberships (as of 8 Apr 2024)
Biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, Global Tuberculosis36 Former APPG memberships
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Afghanistan, Africa, African Great Lakes Region, Agriculture and Food for Development, Banning Trophy Hunting, Barbados, Brain Tumours, British Overseas Territories, British Virgin Islands, Catalonia, Cayman Islands, Corruption, Critical Minerals, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Endangered Species, Headache Disorders, Industrial Heritage, International Mining, Kenya, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Markets, Montserrat, Population, Development and Reproductive Health, Qatar, Safeguarding in Faith Communities, Safeguarding in Faith Settings, Street Children, Tanzania, Tuberculosis, Uganda, Ukraine, United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, War Crimes, Zambia and MalawiDivision Voting information
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 35 Conservative No votes vs 305 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 33 Conservative No votes vs 320 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 322 Noes - 253
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative No votes vs 327 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 526 Noes - 24
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Conservative No votes vs 318 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 303
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative No votes vs 319 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 308
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 53 Conservative No votes vs 290 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 78
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 42 Conservative No votes vs 298 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 299 Noes - 82
Pauline Latham voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 45 Conservative Aye votes vs 235 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 243 Noes - 238
Pauline Latham voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 316 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 262 Noes - 323
Pauline Latham voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative Aye votes vs 326 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 328
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative No votes vs 268 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 434 Noes - 23
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 32 Conservative No votes vs 259 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 431 Noes - 36
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 38 Conservative No votes vs 271 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 441 Noes - 41
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 60 Conservative No votes vs 258 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
Pauline Latham voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Conservative No votes vs 282 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 290 Noes - 14
Pauline Latham voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 107 Conservative Aye votes vs 109 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 116 Noes - 299
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
(28 debate interactions)
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(26 debate interactions)
(17 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(38 debate contributions)
(35 debate contributions)
(34 debate contributions)
(25 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(7,150 words contributed)
(1,435 words contributed)
(750 words contributed)
(715 words contributed)
Mid Derbyshire 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 50,826 signatures (0.26%)
of 199,287 signatures (0.16%)
of 104,974 signatures (0.12%)
of 103,502 signatures (0.10%)
of 268,878 signatures (0.06%)
of 199,287 signatures (0.16%)
of 268,878 signatures (0.06%)
of 50,826 signatures (0.26%)
of 104,974 signatures (0.12%)
of 103,502 signatures (0.10%)
Latest EDMs signed by Pauline Latham
VAT on hair and beauty salons
Tabled by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)That this House recognises the significant contribution made by hair and beauty salons to high streets across the country; notes the severe pressure which businesses in the hair and beauty sector are currently facing due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, increasing bills, and payroll pressures; understands that salons which operate …
(Most recent: 15 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 10
Green Party: 1
Conservative: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
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 …
(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
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Pauline Latham, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
1 Urgent Question tabled by Pauline Latham
Pauline Latham has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
3 Bills introduced by Pauline Latham
A Bill to make provision about the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to revoke parental or judicial consent which permits the marriage or civil partnership of a child and to criminalise child marriage or civil partnership under the age of 18; 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 raise the minimum age of consent to marriage or civil partnership to eighteen; and for connected purposes.
10 Bills co-sponsored by Pauline Latham
Sun Protection Products (Value Added Tax) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Amy Callaghan (SNP)
Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Darren Henry (Con)
Fashion Supply Chain (Code and Adjudicator) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Liz Twist (Lab)
Institutes of Technology (Royal Charter) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Buckland (Con)
Breast Screening Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Steve Brine (Con)
Electric Vehicle Charging Points (New Buildings) (No. 2) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Felicity Buchan (Con)
Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Jim Shannon (DUP)
Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Jonathan Gullis (Con)
Low-level Letter Boxes (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Vicky Ford (Con)
Hospital Car Parking Charges (Abolition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)1 Other Department Questions
In the Mid Derbyshire constituency the Church of the Holy Trinity in Belper, and All Saints Church in Ockbrook and Borrowash, are on the 'At Risk Register'. Support and advice for parishes about the management of their building is available from their local Archdeacon, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and from the national ChurchCare website, including on available grants: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare
Around 2,500 Church of England buildings are listed by Historic England, with 45% of all England's Grade I listed buildings being cathedrals and churches. The average annual cost for the maintenance and repairs to parish churches is estimated at £150 million, and the maintenance of churches across the country is mostly financed by generous local donors and volunteers.
The Church remains grateful for the continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Money invested in church buildings brings positive benefits to the wider community: the 2021 House of Good report by the National Churches Trust (https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/) found that "the annual social and economic value of church buildings to the UK is worth around £55 billion. This sum, calculated using the latest HM Treasury Green Book guidance, includes the contribution churches make to wellbeing and to local economies."
The Government commissioned an independent review of the sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals in 2017, known as the 'Taylor Review'. The Church is still awaiting the formal response from the Government to this report; however, the National Church Institutions have started to implement several of the recommendations. The Taylor Review can be read here: The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In November 2023 the Church of England awarded £9 million to dioceses for repairs and specialist advice to parishes. This will fund 30 support officers across the country to give specialist advice on the management, conservation, repair and development of church buildings, including community use alongside worship. A further £6.2 million has been allocated across 41 dioceses for making grants of up to £12,000 for repairs to churches. The grants will focus on small-scale but urgent works and projects that could save larger sums in the long term. The fund will also be able to help cover the cost of essential improvements for the mission and ministry of a church. More information can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-england-announces-ps9-million-help-parishes-repairs-and
Second Church Estates Commissioner
The Cabinet Office supports the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals across Government, and is responsible for reporting on Goal Five (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and Goal Ten (Reduce inequality within and among countries), through the work of the Government Equalities Office.
Last year’s Single Departmental Plan provided an update of these Goals, and highlighted the work the Cabinet Office has done to support Government work towards Goals Seven (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy), Eight (Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all), Twelve (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) and Seventeen (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development).
Cabinet Office continues to play an important role in maximising progress on the Government's priorities, including supporting a coordinated approach to domestic implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), following the UK’s Voluntary National Review.
There are no current import sanctions on goods originating from Israeli settlements. However, goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the trade agreement between the UK and Israel, or the agreement between the UK and the Palestinian Authority.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The lifecycle emissions of individual plants depend strongly upon the efficiency of generation, supply chains, production techniques, agricultural practices, and transport distances. Typical values in CO2 equivalents for the UK are Wood: 96 kg/MWh, Coal: 968 kg/MWh, Natural gas: 411 kg/MWh and Nuclear: 12 kg/MWh.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government will publish its response to the consultation, Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency, in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department estimates that developing the UK heat pump market to 600,000 installations per year will support over 30,000 futureproof low-carbon jobs by 2028. The Clean Heat Market Mechanism is a key part of the policy framework that the Government is bringing forward to support this expansion of the heat pump market. The Government anticipates significant investment opportunity in this growing market for both domestic-origin and inward investors. As the market for heat pumps expands, the Government expects to see improvement in the range and affordability of consumer propositions related to heat pump installations available to UK home- and building-owners.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government supports an expansion of UK heat pump manufacturing and has set out an ambition for a thirty-fold increase in the number made and sold in the UK each year. The Government recently launched a £30 million Heat Pump Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Competition to complement the support offered by the new capital allowances announced in this year’s Spring Budget.
The Government is publishing a policy framework, including the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, to give clarity around the scale of the UK heat pump market.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the consultation, the Government has proposed proportionate and realistic targets for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, along with a set of other flexibility options for scheme participants. The Government is confident that all market actors will be able to meet the scheme targets, avoiding the need to make payments in lieu. If companies do choose to make any such payments, these will go to the Government’s Consolidated Account.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Pauline Latham's BEIS questions)In response to the single enforcement body consultation published in 2021, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to continue engaging with the enforcement bodies and industry partners to strengthen our understanding of the garment trade. We will continue to review this issue and consider options to drive up standards across the sector.
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for working with the nation’s health and social care sectors to support individuals with electricity dependent medical equipment at home, including those who need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply.
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. The Government is confident in its plan to protect households and businesses in the full range of scenarios this winter, in light of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. BEIS continues to work closely with industry and across Government to mitigate the impacts associated with the upcoming winter.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Sustainable biomass can be used to produce renewable and low-carbon electricity and has system benefits, such as dispatchability and inertia, and stable established supply chains and prices, providing energy security within a net zero consistent energy system.
Drax has been supported under the Renewables Obligation since 2011, and under the Contracts for Difference scheme since 21st December 2016 to generate renewable electricity. There is no cost to the public purse as both schemes are paid for by compulsory levies on electricity suppliers.
The Government only supports sustainable biomass and generators only receive subsidies for biomass that complies with the UK’s strict sustainability criteria.
The forthcoming Biomass Strategy will detail the Government’s assessment of the priority use of biomass across the economy.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Capacity caps can drive competitive auctions and deliver value for money for consumers.
A capacity cap was first deployed in the third Contract for Difference auction in 2019, which secured nearly twice the capacity of the previous auction with a 30% reduction in clearing prices.
We will publish auction parameters well in advance of the next auction in 2021, taking into account our ambitions for net zero.
In March this year, the Government published a consultation on proposals to amend the Contracts for Difference scheme for future allocation rounds. This included options to introduce flexibility in the use of capacity caps as either a 'hard' or 'soft' constraint. The consultation closed on 29 May and responses are being analysed. A government response to this consultation will be published in due course.
In March this year, the Government published a consultation on proposals to amend the Contracts for Difference scheme for future allocation rounds. This included options for changes to the current pot structure. The consultation closed on 29 May and responses are being analysed. A Government response to this consultation will be published in due course.
As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is greener, more sustainable and more resilient. The UK already has over 460,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains and it is estimated that the low-carbon economy could grow more than four times faster than the rest of the economy between 2015 and 2030 and support up to 2 million jobs.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s main mechanism for supporting new large-scale renewable electricity generation projects in Great Britain.
In the latest CfD allocation round 12 new renewable electricity projects were awarded contracts at record low costs across a range of technologies, which could see the creation of 8,000 jobs across the UK.
Offshore wind employs around 14,000 people in the UK. The Offshore Wind Sector Deal that was agreed last year between the government and industry aims to increase UK employment to 27,000 jobs by 2030 - these jobs will support communities right across the UK.
In March this year, the Government published a consultation on proposals to amend the Contracts for Difference scheme for future allocation rounds. This included options for changes to the current pot structure to ensure it continues to reflect changes in expected costs across technologies and best supports our ambitions for long term decarbonisation. The consultation closed on 29 May and responses are being analysed. A Government response to this consultation will be published in due course.
The Business Interruption loan schemes are delivered by the British Business Bank through accredited lenders. Individual lending decisions are at the discretion of these lenders. The accreditation agreement makes clear that the interest rate at which the?lender is prepared to lend at, and any associated fees, should be based on a?lender’s normal pricing framework.
For the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Government pays the interest and any lender-levied fees in the first 12 months. For BBLS the interest rate is set at 2.5% per annum.
The Government is already collaborating through regionally-focused private equity firms which are benefiting from funding from the government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) programmes such as the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Midlands Engine Investment Fund and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund. As of June 2020, the BBB’s dedicated regional funds support more than £240m worth of finance.
In order to support its regional activities further, BBB launched the £100m Regional Angels programme in 2018 – which is designed to help reduce regional imbalances in access to early stage equity finance for smaller businesses across all regions; and the UK Network – which engages with business finance stakeholders in each of the English regions and Devolved Nations, to increase small businesses’ awareness and understanding of the finance options best suited to their needs. The Future Fund is also open to companies from all regions and from all backgrounds.
We are considering a range of options that look at enhancing both new and existing levers to increase the supply of equity finance, particularly in regions, as part of the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review discussions in order to support local businesses to expand as the economy reopens.
6 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Questions
(View all Pauline Latham's DCMS questions)The Commission does not have a specific responsibility in relation to scrutinising subcontractors of the National Lottery Operator, and as such, was not previously aware of IGT’s report.
The National Lottery is run by Camelot under licence by the Gambling Commission, and as such it is for the operator to ensure compliance with a range of reporting requirements, including under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The Section 5 National Lottery Licence requires the Operator to comply with all relevant laws to the extent they impose obligations or restrictions on it. It also requires any subcontractors to operate with due propriety.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Commission does not have a specific responsibility in relation to scrutinising subcontractors of the National Lottery Operator, and as such, was not previously aware of IGT’s report.
The National Lottery is run by Camelot under licence by the Gambling Commission, and as such it is for the operator to ensure compliance with a range of reporting requirements, including under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The Section 5 National Lottery Licence requires the Operator to comply with all relevant laws to the extent they impose obligations or restrictions on it. It also requires any subcontractors to operate with due propriety.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS provides funding to community arts projects in England through a number of our arm’s-length bodies. Arts Council England, for example, invests in communities through their Lottery-funded Creative People and Places (CPP) programme. There are 41 CPP programmes covering 58 local authority districts across the country targeting the least engaged places in England. Arts Council England will invest over £38 million of Lottery funds into this programme for the period 2022-25.
Local authorities also need to continue to recognise the huge benefits that investing in arts and culture can bring and many already do, building successful partnerships to deliver arts and culture to their communities. The Local Government Finance Settlement made available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion in 2021/22. The majority of this funding is not ringfenced, in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities, such as their community arts offer.
While we are unable to quantify the total provision of core funding to community arts organisations by private foundations at this time, DCMS continues to work with key actors across the civil society sector to improve the data and evidence available.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government continues to engage on a regular basis with the English Football League and the administrator about Derby County Football Club. Ultimately, it is for the EFL, the administrator and the club to resolve issues to ensure the survival of Derby County FC, but the government has urged pragmatism from all parties to find a solution for the benefit of fans and the community that the club serves. The EFL must equally preserve the integrity of the league on behalf of all member clubs, but all parties want to see one of the founding members of the Football League continue this season and beyond under appropriate ownership.
It is positive that the EFL has granted a four-week extension to Derby County FC and its administrators to demonstrate proof of funding through to the end of the season. This extension must now be used to ensure a suitable outcome is reached and the government has made this point to the EFL and administrators.
The Government welcomes the findings of the Fan Led Review and has endorsed in principle the primary recommendation of the review, that football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game. The Government will now consider the detail of all the recommendations, including those made on ensuring future financial stability, and work at pace to determine the most effective way to deliver an independent regulator, and any powers that might be needed.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government continues to engage on a regular basis with the English Football League and the administrator about Derby County Football Club. Ultimately, it is for the EFL, the administrator and the club to resolve issues to ensure the survival of Derby County FC, but the government has urged pragmatism from all parties to find a solution for the benefit of fans and the community that the club serves. The EFL must equally preserve the integrity of the league on behalf of all member clubs, but all parties want to see one of the founding members of the Football League continue this season and beyond under appropriate ownership.
It is positive that the EFL has granted a four-week extension to Derby County FC and its administrators to demonstrate proof of funding through to the end of the season. This extension must now be used to ensure a suitable outcome is reached and the government has made this point to the EFL and administrators.
The Government welcomes the findings of the Fan Led Review and has endorsed in principle the primary recommendation of the review, that football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game. The Government will now consider the detail of all the recommendations, including those made on ensuring future financial stability, and work at pace to determine the most effective way to deliver an independent regulator, and any powers that might be needed.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Strategic guidance was issued to all 32 local authorities within the Change Programme Partnerships (CPPs) (formerly Regional Expert Partnerships) on 5 October 2023. The strategic guidance supports the set-up phase of the Change Programme. CPPs will be required to set up a CPP Steering Group which will have representation from all partners including school leaders, Parent Carer Forums, and health leads. Each local authority participating in the Change Programme will also establish a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Partnership and produce a local area inclusion plan. Both SEND and AP Partnerships and local area inclusion plans will be tested and refined through working with the local authorities in the CPPs.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The high level strategic guidance and its accompanying strategic delivery plan template will be shared with Change Programme Partnerships (CPPs) ahead of the launch event on 19 September 2023. The event will bring together local authorities and their partners from all nine CPPs to set out expectations for testing the reforms and ensure robust action plans are being put in place. It will also provide access to teams from the Department for Education and the external Delivery Partner who will support CPPs throughout the lifetime of the programme, including helping them to draft their strategic plans.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department will be sharing strategic guidance with all Regional Expert Partnerships (REPs) for delivery of the Change Programme, which will include setting out the local partners they must engage with. Engagement with all partners across all local areas involved in the REPs, including schools, health partners and families, is integral to successfully delivering, testing and refining the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) reforms set out in the Improvement Plan.
Throughout the lifetime of the programme, there will be a constant feedback loop between the department and the REPs in order to monitor the findings and share learning and best practice. This will include the REPs feeding back on the progress of delivering the reforms and any barriers they may be facing. The department will be transparent throughout this process and is currently establishing how it will provide public updates as the programme progresses.
The department previously shared that all REPs would be led by a lead local authority, selected through objective criteria based on published SEND performance data. The department used this data to identify a shortlist of local authorities in each Department for Education region, who were subsequently invited to submit an expression of interest to be considered for the role. To be eligible for the shortlist, prospective lead local authorities must not:
- Have a live written statement of action from the previous Ofsted/ Care Quality Commission (CQC) Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have an 'inconsistent’ or ‘widespread/systemic failure’ outcome from the new Ofsted/CQC Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have a Section 114 notice.
- Be on our Safety Valve programme.
They must also be in the top 75% of authorities nationally against:
- Rates of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan assessment requests.
- Rates of EHC plan assessments completed in 20 weeks.
- Special Educational Needs exclusions.
The department then ranked the remaining authorities based on their Designated School Grant surplus/deficit and shortlisted the top three local authorities in each region.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department will be sharing strategic guidance with all Regional Expert Partnerships (REPs) for delivery of the Change Programme, which will include setting out the local partners they must engage with. Engagement with all partners across all local areas involved in the REPs, including schools, health partners and families, is integral to successfully delivering, testing and refining the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) reforms set out in the Improvement Plan.
Throughout the lifetime of the programme, there will be a constant feedback loop between the department and the REPs in order to monitor the findings and share learning and best practice. This will include the REPs feeding back on the progress of delivering the reforms and any barriers they may be facing. The department will be transparent throughout this process and is currently establishing how it will provide public updates as the programme progresses.
The department previously shared that all REPs would be led by a lead local authority, selected through objective criteria based on published SEND performance data. The department used this data to identify a shortlist of local authorities in each Department for Education region, who were subsequently invited to submit an expression of interest to be considered for the role. To be eligible for the shortlist, prospective lead local authorities must not:
- Have a live written statement of action from the previous Ofsted/ Care Quality Commission (CQC) Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have an 'inconsistent’ or ‘widespread/systemic failure’ outcome from the new Ofsted/CQC Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have a Section 114 notice.
- Be on our Safety Valve programme.
They must also be in the top 75% of authorities nationally against:
- Rates of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan assessment requests.
- Rates of EHC plan assessments completed in 20 weeks.
- Special Educational Needs exclusions.
The department then ranked the remaining authorities based on their Designated School Grant surplus/deficit and shortlisted the top three local authorities in each region.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department will be sharing strategic guidance with all Regional Expert Partnerships (REPs) for delivery of the Change Programme, which will include setting out the local partners they must engage with. Engagement with all partners across all local areas involved in the REPs, including schools, health partners and families, is integral to successfully delivering, testing and refining the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) reforms set out in the Improvement Plan.
Throughout the lifetime of the programme, there will be a constant feedback loop between the department and the REPs in order to monitor the findings and share learning and best practice. This will include the REPs feeding back on the progress of delivering the reforms and any barriers they may be facing. The department will be transparent throughout this process and is currently establishing how it will provide public updates as the programme progresses.
The department previously shared that all REPs would be led by a lead local authority, selected through objective criteria based on published SEND performance data. The department used this data to identify a shortlist of local authorities in each Department for Education region, who were subsequently invited to submit an expression of interest to be considered for the role. To be eligible for the shortlist, prospective lead local authorities must not:
- Have a live written statement of action from the previous Ofsted/ Care Quality Commission (CQC) Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have an 'inconsistent’ or ‘widespread/systemic failure’ outcome from the new Ofsted/CQC Area SEND inspection framework.
- Have a Section 114 notice.
- Be on our Safety Valve programme.
They must also be in the top 75% of authorities nationally against:
- Rates of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan assessment requests.
- Rates of EHC plan assessments completed in 20 weeks.
- Special Educational Needs exclusions.
The department then ranked the remaining authorities based on their Designated School Grant surplus/deficit and shortlisted the top three local authorities in each region.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Through the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Change Programme, the department will establish up to nine Regional Expert Partnerships (REP) to test and refine our reforms. Each REP will be led by a local authority, selected using objective criteria based on published SEND performance data. An additional two to three local authorities will be included in each REP, based predominantly on their geographical proximity to the lead local authority, so we can test in a wide range of local areas with differing performance, capacity and capability. Wherever possible, each REP will be located within a single Integrated Care Board, to ensure close collaboration with health partners.
REPs will be required to engage with their local partners, including health, social care, Multi-Academy Trusts, mainstream, specialist and alternative provision schools, and parents, children and young people, to involve them in testing and refining the reforms.
Real-time learning from the REPs will be fed back to the department on a regular basis, and will inform discussions at the national SEND and AP Implementation Board.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
On the 6 March, the department published the invitation to tender for the Delivery Partner to support the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Change Programme, with a closing date of the 17 April. This was done through the department’s Management Consultancy Framework 3, inviting interested organisations to bid for the contract.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
On 6 December, the Department confirmed further details on how the £2 billion additional funding for schools announced in the 2022 Autumn Statement will be allocated in 2023/24.
£400 million will be allocated to Local Authorities’ high needs budgets, with the rest allocated to schools through a new grant, and to boost the pupil premium.
Mainstream schools will receive this additional funding through a new grant from April 2023, on top of the core funding allocations they receive via the National Funding Formula. The methodology for calculating allocations for schools via this new grant will largely mirror that of the 2022/23 Schools Supplementary Grant. The Department will publish further details and funding rates for the new grant before the end of December 2022.
For a typical primary school with 200 pupils, this new revenue equates to approximately £28,000 additional funding. It equates to approximately £170,000 for a typical secondary school with 900 pupils.
Local Authorities will be obliged to pass on increases comparable to that for mainstream schools to special and alternative provision schools, from the £400 million that will be allocated to their high needs budgets. The Department will confirm details on how this will work shortly.
The minimum per pupil funding levels (MPPLs) in the schools National Funding Formula have been set so that, in the 2023/24 financial year, every primary school will receive at least £4,405 per pupil, and every secondary school at least £5,715.
All schools, including schools funded by reference to the MPPLs, will also receive additional funding in the 2023/24 financial year, following the 2022 Autumn Statement. A typical 200 pupil primary school can be expected to receive approximately £28,000, on average. A typical 900 pupil secondary school can be expected to receive £170,000. The Department will announce further details on allocations shortly.
The MPPL values are compulsory in Local Authority funding formulae, which determine actual funding allocations for maintained schools and academies. Academy trusts have flexibilities over how the funding they are allocated in respect of their individual academies is then distributed across academies in their trust. This means that in some cases, an academy could receive a lower per pupil funding amount than the MPPL value. This may reflect, for example, activities that are paid for by the trust centrally, rather than by individual academies.
10 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Pauline Latham's Defra questions)The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.
Future decisions on which specific animal activities will fall in scope of the advertising ban will be evidence-based and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. Sufficient, compelling evidence will be required to demonstrate why any specific advertising ban is needed.
This Government continues to make animal welfare a priority and we are currently exploring a number of options to ensure progress as soon as is practicable.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the development of the River Basin Management Plans, the Environment Agency evaluates in each water body where redundant physical modifications are damaging ecology and should be removed. Not all physical modifications are redundant and able to be removed, for example straightened rivers. More information is publicly available at: Physical modifications: challenges for the water environment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Environment Agency evaluates key criteria when determining if a weir is removed including ownership, use(s), condition, maintenance costs, any associated risks and additional benefits that the physical modifications provide. These evaluations consider local site-specific factors too, such as biodiversity, flood mitigation, water supply and other ecosystem services.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the development of the River Basin Management Plans, the Environment Agency evaluates in each water body where redundant physical modifications are damaging ecology and should be removed. Not all physical modifications are redundant and able to be removed, for example straightened rivers. More information is publicly available at: Physical modifications: challenges for the water environment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Environment Agency evaluates key criteria when determining if a weir is removed including ownership, use(s), condition, maintenance costs, any associated risks and additional benefits that the physical modifications provide. These evaluations consider local site-specific factors too, such as biodiversity, flood mitigation, water supply and other ecosystem services.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government wants to make sure that our ancient woodlands are adequately protected and suitably managed to provide a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to society.
The National Planning Policy Framework states that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees, should be refused unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.
Natural England and the Forestry Commission have published ‘standing advice’ for ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees. It is a material planning consideration for local planning authorities and as such should be taken into account when making planning decisions that affect ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees.
Furthermore, on 27 May 2022 the Government published the newly updated Keepers of Time policy which recognises the value of England’s ancient and native woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. It restates our commitment to evaluate the threats facing these habitats and sets out our updated principles and objectives to protect and improve them for future generations.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK recorded 63 imports of hunting trophies under CITES in 2019 and 26 imports in 2020.
Data for 2021 is currently being finalised and will be made available through the CITES trade database at https://trade.cites.org/.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have pledged to bring forward legislation to ban imports of hunting trophies from thousands of species. This ban will be among the strongest in the world, leading the way in protecting endangered animals. We intend to bring this forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This year we have already introduced our Animal Sentience and Kept Animals Bills to Parliament and we intend to legislate further to protect animals abroad as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will be setting out our detailed plans for action soon, including by publishing the Government’s response to the consultation on trophy hunting imports.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Section 1A of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 currently sets the conservation, research and education requirements that licensed zoos in Great Britain must meet. The Government is proposing, via the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill currently before Parliament, to allow these standards instead to be set in the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (‘the Zoo Standards’). This will mean that they may be updated more easily in future. The Zoo Standards are in the process of being updated by Defra, in consultation with the UK’s Zoos Expert Committee, and will include new conservation, research and education standards in preparation for the new legislation. Defra is aiming to publish a draft of the new Zoo Standards, for a targeted consultation of relevant zoo stakeholders, later this year.
Attorney General
Event Duration Monitors (EDM) record the number of times there has been a discharge of storm sewage and for how long each discharge was for. The Water Companies send in an annual summary which gives the total number of discharges per year and the total duration per year for each site where it is a permit requirement. The 2020 data is not yet available as it is submitted at the end of February.
Event Duration Monitors started being installed in 2016 and have been progressively installed across Combined Sewer Overflows, Sewage Pumping Stations and Sewage Treatment Works. Not all sites require EDM monitoring, this depends on the sensitivity of where the discharge is made.
Direct storm sewage discharges to the River Derwent, Derbyshire (Source to confluence with River Trent)
Year | 2018 | 2019 |
Number of sites reporting EDM Data | 26 | 45 |
Total number of storm sewage spills | 983 | 1788 |
Total duration (hours) of storm sewage spills | 3845 | 12475 |
The discharge from these water company assets (in this case Severn Trent Water Ltd) is only permitted to occur when there is elevated flow in the combined (sewage and surface water) sewerage network due to rainfall/snowmelt. The discharge is known as storm sewage and the impact on water quality is reduced due to the increased dilution both within the sewer and the receiving watercourse.
In January 2021 the Storm Overflows Taskforce announced plans by the water companies to accelerate work to install monitoring devices on all storm overflows by 2023. The Environment Agency is working with all water companies to increase the transparency of EDM data by 2022. This will provide readily accessible data in a consistent format, which will give greater visibility and increase responsibility of water companies to go faster and further in reducing harm from storm overflow discharges.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is a major funder of the World Bank, a crucial tool in our development work. My Department monitors and assesses the effectiveness of the World Bank continually. We formally review each funding stream to the World Bank Group annually and we publish our assessment online. Our latest assessment concluded that the International Development Association – the concessional arm of the Bank - is ‘performing above expectations’. Amongst other things our money has contributed to the immunisation of 330 million children in the last 9 years.
The exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains unknown, however, UNICEF estimates that at least 200 million have been cut in more than 31 countries. Most of these countries are in Africa, parts of the Middle East and Asia. Prevalence varies hugely across these countries, from less than one percent to almost universal. Today, a girl is about one-third less likely to be cut than 30 years ago. But global efforts need to go further and faster if we are to meet the Global Goal to end FGM by 2030. At current rates, 68 million girls are at risk of being cut in the next decade. The UK is leading change in partnership with the Africa-led movement to end FGM, providing £50 million of support over the next five years. UK aid has already helped 10,000 communities, representing over 27 million people, pledge to abandon FGM.
Female Genital Mutilation is a human rights abuse and an extreme form of gender discrimination. Criminalising FGM and properly enforcing the law is key to ending the practice. The UK has already supported The Gambia, Nigeria, and Mauritania to make FGM illegal. DFID recently allocated £2.5 million to the UN, to work with governments to enforce laws in countries where FGM is already illegal but continues to be practised. Evidence shows that legal change is a critical step towards changing attitudes towards FGM. But this must be part of a multi-pronged approach with community-led change at its heart. The UK supports the Africa-led Movement to end FGM, which works at several levels, including by empowering grassroots activists to hold their governments to account.