First elected: 7th May 2015
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
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).
Suspend trade agreement with Faroe Islands until all whale & dolphin hunts end
Gov Responded - 26 Oct 2021 Debated on - 11 Jul 2022 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsIn 2019 UK Government finalised a free trade agreement (FTA) with Faroe Islands which allows for £100 million of exports of wild caught and farmed fish to Britain per annum (20% of the Faroe Islands global trade). This FTA should be suspended until all whale & dolphin hunts on Faroe Islands end
Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults
Gov Responded - 3 Feb 2022 Debated on - 4 Jul 2022 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsThe Government should bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity. It should be permitted subject to strict upfront safeguards, assessed by two doctors independently, and self-administered by the dying person.
Tougher sentences for hit and run drivers who cause death
Gov Responded - 28 Aug 2020 Debated on - 15 Nov 2021 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsThe maximum penalty for failure to stop after an incident is points and a 6-month custodial sentence. Causing death by careless/dangerous driving is between 5-14 yrs. The sentence for failing to stop after a fatal collision must be increased.
Ryan's Law: Widen definition of 'death by dangerous driving'
Gov Responded - 24 Mar 2021 Debated on - 15 Nov 2021 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsThe offence of causing 'death by dangerous driving' should be widened to include: failure to stop, call 999 and render aid on scene until further help arrives.
Grant an urgent Amnesty to Undocumented Migrants living in the UK
Gov Responded - 18 Mar 2021 Debated on - 19 Jul 2021 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsUndocumented Migrants are suffering in silence, with no access to adequate Financial support, or any help. The Government should grant an urgent Amnesty of 5years to those with no criminal record so that they could live their lives as normal human beings and pay tax to help the UK economy.
Allow football fans to attend matches at all levels
Gov Responded - 21 Oct 2020 Debated on - 9 Nov 2020 View Ruth Cadbury's petition debate contributionsFootball is a powerful tool of which allows a range of benefits such as employment, and other important aspects of life. Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community. With Fans attending football games a range of economic benefits are there too.
These initiatives were driven by Ruth Cadbury, 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.
Ruth Cadbury has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A bill to require HM Commissioners of Revenue and Customs to record income tax revenues where the payee self-certifies as holding a conscientious objection to public spending on defence purposes and report to Parliament thereon; to place a duty on HM Treasury to take account of the amount and proportion of such self-certified income tax income in preparing the supply estimates; and for connected purposes.
Children (Access to Treatment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Ind)
Dockless Bicycles (Regulation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Daniel Zeichner (Lab)
Kew Gardens (Leases) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con)
Freedom of Information (Extension) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Andy Slaughter (Lab)
Short and Holiday-Let Accommodation (Notification of Local Authorities) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Karen Buck (Lab)
Statutory Nuisance (Aircraft Noise) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Tania Mathias (Con)
The Government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable during the cost of living crisis and has taken a number of steps to ensure that necessities like period products are available and affordable for all who need them.
Since January 2020, a Department for Education scheme provides free period products in schools and 16-19 education institutions in England. 97% of secondary schools, 92% of post-16 organisations and 68% primary schools have made at least one order since the scheme began in January 2020. Since 2019 the NHS has also offered free period products to every hospital patient who needs them (including long-term in-patients).
In addition, we have been clear that a zero rate of VAT applies to period products. These products are essential, so it is right that there is now no VAT charge. This is part of the Government's wider strategy to make period products affordable and available for all women.
The Government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable during the cost of living crisis and has taken a number of steps to ensure that necessities like period products are available and affordable for all who need them.
Since January 2020, a Department for Education scheme provides free period products in schools and 16-19 education institutions in England. 97% of secondary schools, 92% of post-16 organisations and 68% primary schools have made at least one order since the scheme began in January 2020. Since 2019 the NHS has also offered free period products to every hospital patient who needs them (including long-term in-patients).
In addition, we have been clear that a zero rate of VAT applies to period products. These products are essential, so it is right that there is now no VAT charge. This is part of the Government's wider strategy to make period products affordable and available for all women.
I announced the Community Champions scheme in my first quarterly report to the Prime Minister on progress to address disparities in risks and outcomes from COVID-19, published on 22 October, and provided an update in my second quarterly report published on 26 February. Officials in the Race Disparity Unit, who are supporting me in this work, continue to meet regularly with colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading on the scheme.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold data on the number of prosecutions for offences relating specifically to assaults on prison officers. The number of prosecutions commenced in the last five years for charges relating to assault and/or battery against emergency workers (charged by way of section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers
(Offences) Act 2018), which include prison officers, is set out below. It would not be possible to determine the outcome of these prosecutions or whether the charge related specifically to an assault on a prison officer without an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
| 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 |
Section 39, Criminal Justice Act 1988; Section 1, Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 | 4,401 | 23,676 | 28,906 | 35,301 | 31,996 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
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A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries is published on gov.uk. An updated list will be published shortly, taking into account recent changes within Government.
Current Ports Infrastructure Fund (PIF) payments either paid (or in the payment system being processed) as of 6th Sept 2022 is £161,039,513.57 and this includes funding for border control posts. The information required to breakdown specific funding for border control posts is not readily available and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
The Government allocated £17,155,151 to Portsmouth City Council for the construction of the Border Control Post from the Port Infrastructure Fund.
The primary objective of the Port Infrastructure Fund was to assess and identify the projects that best ensure that the UK’s borders can more fully facilitate EU trade. In assessing the value for money, amongst other factors, the Government took into consideration the level of benefits the project is expected to deliver in terms of avoiding trade disruption and other areas.
We continue to analyse the financial impact of the decision to not impose physical borders checks in July and work on a port-by-port basis to address any issues or concerns they may have.
The Cabinet Office is committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.
As the Privileges Committee inquiry relates to the conduct of the now former Prime Minister making statements at the despatch box on behalf of the Government as a Minister, the Government is supporting his response to Parliament, as with any Minister, and has instructed legal support.
It has been the practice of successive administrations to preserve a space for the provision of advice from senior officials, which necessarily requires discretion about whether or not that advice has been sought or received in respect of particular matters.
Notwithstanding that in the exceptional circumstances the Government determined it was in the public interest for Lord Pannick’s legal opinion to be published, it remains the case that the Government does not comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received. This is in line with the long-standing policy under successive administrations.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to PQ 47506. Please see here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-09-05/47506
To reveal the number of National Security Vetting (NSV) checks in progress is likely to prejudice national security. It would also impact the protective measures employed in safeguarding Her Majesty’s Government (HMG). Security checks are being processed in a timely manner with no current delays.
In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Government Consultation Principles, which provide departments with guidance on conducting consultations. Individual departments are responsible for their own consultation practice. The Principles are published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691383/Consultation_Principles__1_.pdf
The Consultation Principles are clear that consultations should be targeted. This should include consideration of how to tailor consultation to the needs and preferences of particular groups affected by a policy. The Principles also state that in responding to a consultation the government should explain the responses that have been received, state how many responses have been received and how these have informed the policy. Decisions on the potential merits of publishing individual responses to consultations are for consulting departments.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Government Consultation Principles, which provide departments with guidance on conducting consultations. Individual departments are responsible for their own consultation practice. The Principles are published at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691383/Consultation_Principles__1_.pdf
The Consultation Principles are clear that consultations should be targeted. This should include consideration of how to tailor consultation to the needs and preferences of particular groups affected by a policy. The Principles also state that in responding to a consultation the government should explain the responses that have been received, state how many responses have been received and how these have informed the policy. Decisions on the potential merits of publishing individual responses to consultations are for consulting departments.
The Fireworks Regulations 2004 set a maximum noise limit of 120 decibels on all consumer fireworks. It should be noted, however, that many consumer fireworks go off at a noise level below this rate, as demonstrated in the Government’s noise testing research, published in February 2023.
Lower noise fireworks are also commercially available to consumers to purchase if they wish to, potentially reducing distress to vulnerable groups and animals. The Government has no current plans to reduce the maximum permitted noise level of fireworks for consumer use but we continue to monitor the situation.
Engagement on trade policy continues at all levels and with all our key stakeholders, to help secure the best outcomes for the UK in trade policy. Over summer 2023, convening Trade Advisory Groups have not formed part of our program of engagement.
Following its creation, the Department for Business and Trade is considering how best to broaden and deepen our engagement with business and stakeholders to harness the power of the new Department.
Global trade flows on shell eggs are minimal given difficulties in transporting over long distances and exports of egg products are not significant within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) membership. The UK did not import any eggs from CPTPP Parties in 2022. We will retain tariffs on eggs and egg products until year 10 of the agreement. For Australia, eggs will remain subject to Most Favoured Nation tariff rates.
The British Poultry Council was included in the department’s Trade Advisory Group on agri-food, which met regularly. The British Egg Industry Council was included in a CPTPP roundtable with agricultural stakeholders. The consultation exercises run by the UK Government for CPTPP received almost 150,000 responses, and we published our response to these in 2021.
Global trade flows on shell eggs are minimal given difficulties in transporting over long distances and exports of egg products are not significant within the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) membership. The UK did not import any eggs from CPTPP Parties in 2022. We will retain tariffs on eggs and egg products until year 10 of the agreement. For Australia, eggs will remain subject to Most Favoured Nation tariff rates.
The British Poultry Council was included in the department’s Trade Advisory Group on agri-food, which met regularly. The British Egg Industry Council was included in a CPTPP roundtable with agricultural stakeholders. The consultation exercises run by the UK Government for CPTPP received almost 150,000 responses, and we published our response to these in 2021.
The number of formal applications received by UK Export Finance (UKEF) for support for either projects featuring renewable energy generation or companies involved in the green energy sector, and the number of applications that were successful, were as follows:
Calendar year | Formal applications received | Successful applications |
2018 | 1 | 1 |
2019 | 1 | 1 |
2020 | 3 | 3 |
2021 | 2 | 2 |
2022 | 3 | 1 |
This does not include trade finance support for UK exporters operating in the green energy sector, which is typically lower value (facilities valued up to £25 million) and shorter-term (with maximum repayment terms of up to 5 years).
Other businesses made enquiries to UKEF about the nature of support available, but did not make formal applications for support.
As of 31/05/23 the Department for Business and Trade (ex-DIT only) had 522 members of staff working on free trade negotiations.
Due to the ongoing Machine of Government changes, this figure does not include staff from ex-BEIS who will transfer over to the Department of Business and Trade, to join the Trade Negotiations group.
Ministers and officials from the Department for Business and Trade have been engaging with ministers and officials from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero on the Energy Charter Treaty and will continue to do so, as appropriate.
The majority of DBT support to exporters in the UK and overseas is delivered at no cost to businesses. This support ranges from our innovative Export Academy to the Export Support Service, from our International Markets hubs in nine regions globally through to the in-market expertise of DBT teams in Embassies and Consulates around the world.
We do levy a charge for some additional services, for example the exclusive use of UK Government property for events or the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) which provides market intelligence and connections at a rate of £55 per hour exclusive of VAT.
The Impact Assessment for the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership will be published shortly after signature of the agreement’s Accession Protocol.
We are taking a twin-track approach to trade engagement in the United States, strengthening our ties with individual states in parallel to our work with the federal government – including through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on trade and economic cooperation.
We have signed five MoUs so far – with the states of Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah. We have further announced our intent to pursue an MoU with Colorado, and are actively engaging with states including California, Texas, and Florida to deepen economic cooperation.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has received 7 formal applications for support for projects featuring renewable energy generation during the current calendar year. Other businesses have made enquiries to UKEF about the nature of support available, but have not yet made formal applications.
UKEF has also supported other transactions during the year relating to the construction of electric and hydrogen vehicles, including buses.
The Department is supporting businesses by creating a range of products and services to explain what has been agreed in Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and bilateral agreements, and how they can benefit. This will include specific guidance on rules of origin. Businesses can also access support via the Export Support Service, or through our network of International Trade Advisors.
Where the UK also has a bilateral free trade agreement in place with a CPTPP member, traders will be able to choose which agreement they wish to trade under. Businesses can compare preferential tariffs rates but also consider the administrative processes involved, including the rules of origin.
Please refer to the answer given to Question 187366.
DBT engaged extensively with a range of stakeholders and experts through technical and strategic discussions to inform our CPTPP negotiations and ensure we were representing the views of sectors across the UK economy. DBT also continually worked with stakeholders to understand concerns and ensure that our negotiations benefited businesses and consumers across the UK. Our post-round reporting ensured stakeholders were kept up to date throughout the process. This included, but was not limited to, one-to-one meetings at a senior level and with officials, roundtables with relevant stakeholders, monthly calls on communications for business organisations, Quarterly Stakeholder Briefings, Advisory Group Up-dates, and sector-specific briefings, including with the manufacturing sector.
The Department for Business and Trade is reforming its approach to external engagement to meet the needs of industry and match the priorities of the new Department. A new approach will be set out in due course, but in the meantime the Department continues to engage with a full range of interested parties on key issues.
The most recent formal meeting dates of each of the Trade Advisory Groups are listed below:
Agri-Food: 12/05/2022
Automotive, Aerospace & Marine: 27/04/2022
British Manufactured & Consumer Goods: 23/06/2022
Chemicals: 6/03/2023
Creative Industries: 21/09/2022
Financial Services: 20/02/2023
Investment: 19/05/2022
Life Sciences: 10/06/2022
Professional Advisory Services: 18/05/2022
Telecoms & Technology: 05/05/2022
Transport Services: 21/06/2022
The Department for Business and Trade is reforming its approach to external engagement to meet the needs of industry and match the priorities of the new Department. A new approach, including membership, will be set out in due course, but in the meantime the Department continues to engage with a full range of interested parties on key issues.
This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
A complete Impact Assessment on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be published prior to scrutiny by parliament.
The UK published its strategic approach to the negotiations in June 2021, which outlined how the agreement could give British exporters further opportunities to qualify for preferential market access. It is not possible to model the full range of real-world potential benefits and impacts as it depends on individual firm’s supply chains and investment decisions. As the CPTPP is implemented, UK business could diversify critical supply chains and further benefit from the Rules of Origin.
Ministerial responsibilities can be found on GOV.UK here (under ‘Our Ministers’): https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade.
Ministers and officials from the Department for Business and Trade have been engaging with ministers and officials from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero on the Energy Charter Treaty and will continue to do so, as appropriate.
The hotel expenditure relates to 10 nights (29 October – 07 November 2022) accommodation for Director UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE), and four UKDSE members of staff who supported Director UKDSE during his engagements at Indo Defence 2022 in Indonesia.
The hotel expenditure relates to 3 nights (12-14 Dec 22) accommodation for two UK Defence and Security Export (UKDSE) members of staff who supported Director UKDSE during his engagements at the International Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia.
The opportunity to use the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will depend on individual firms’ supply chains and investment decisions, but will be additional to opportunities under a number of existing bilateral agreements with individual CPTPP member states.
Using CPTPP rules of origin, British businesses could take advantage of new export opportunities and trade more freely across the bloc. They could also help support UK efforts to diversify critical supply chains by deepening our trading links across the Asia-Pacific region.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt. Hon Friend, the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries to the Hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton on 29th March 2023, UIN 171496.
The UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) both include modern slavery provisions. These encourage good business practice and advance our mutual ambition to tackle modern slavery. All the UK’s FTAs include institutional mechanisms for monitoring compliance with all labour provisions in the agreements.
The Government is committed to advancing women’s economic empowerment in the UK and around the world. We are using our free trade agreements to break down barriers and create new opportunities for women as business owners, entrepreneurs, and workers. We have already secured dedicated Chapters to this effect with Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Through our market access work, the Department for Business and Trade is supporting British businesses to build more diverse and resilient supply chains which will be crucial in tackling challenges both today and in the future.
Since the recent machinery of Government change in February 2023, there have been no such discussions.
Our Free Trade Agreements reaffirm our commitment to the International Labour Organization fundamental principle to eliminate forced or compulsory labour.
The Developing Countries Trading Scheme will enable the UK to suspend preferential trading arrangements on the grounds of serious and systematic violations of labour rights.
UK Export Finance conduct human rights due diligence and monitoring, including considering forced labour risk factors for transactions that fall within the scope of their Environmental Social and Human Rights policy.
This Department recently announced that my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business and Trade had appointed my noble Friend Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton in a newly created role as the Defence Export Advocate. The appointment was made in-line with Cabinet Office Direct Appointment procedures.
The Defence Export Advocate role requires an individual with credibility in international, political and military circles, and experience of working in defence and on UK defence policy. Lord Lancaster's current role in the House of Lords and his previous experience as a Defence minister and as an active Brigadier in the Army Reserves provides him with this. Lord Lancaster will engage with industry leaders, ministers and other key players both in the UK and overseas to drive forward UK defence exports.
The hotel expenditure relates to 5 nights (16-20 Oct 22) accommodation for UK Defence and Security Export’s Deputy Director, who attended Def Expo India.
This was the charge for a group meal for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) negotiations team, who were travelling for negotiations. The charge does not include any alcohol and was within the recommended Departmental spending limit.