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).
Reduce Indefinite leave to remain fees from £2389 to £243 for Health workers
Gov Responded - 1 Feb 2022 Debated on - 30 Jan 2023 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsThe Home office is charging almost ten times the actual processing cost of indefinite leave to remain application fee from overseas health care workers. The Government should stop making profit from foreign health workers and instead seek to retain those foreign doctors and nurses in our NHS.
Waive visa requirement for Ukrainian refugees.
Gov Responded - 6 Apr 2022 Debated on - 14 Mar 2022 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsJoin other nations in providing a route to safety for refugees. Waive all visa requirements for Ukrainian passport holders arriving in the UK.
Urge the Indian Government to ensure safety of protestors & press freedom
Gov Responded - 15 Feb 2021 Debated on - 8 Mar 2021 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsThe Government must make a public statement on the #kissanprotests & press freedoms.
India is the worlds largest democracy & democratic engagement and freedom of the press are fundamental rights and a positive step towards creating a India that works for all.
Impose sanctions on China over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims
Gov Responded - 28 Jul 2020 Debated on - 12 Oct 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsThe UK Government plans to introduce “Magnitsky law”, a law which targets people who commit gross human rights violations. Through this law or alternative means, this petition urges the UK Government to impose sanctions on China for their human rights violations on the Uyghur people.
Make nurseries exempt from business rates to support the childcare sector
Gov Responded - 2 Apr 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsAfter owning nurseries for 29 years I have never experienced such damaging times for the sector with rising costs not being met by the funding rates available. Business Rates are a large drain on the sector and can mean the difference between nurseries being able to stay open and having to close.
Government to offer economic assistance to the events industry during COVID-19
Gov Responded - 27 Mar 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsFor the UK government to provide economic assistance to businesses and staff employed in the events industry, who are suffering unforeseen financial challenges that could have a profound effect on hundreds of thousands of people employed in the sector.
Give UK nurseries emergency funding if they have to close down amid COVID-19
Gov Responded - 14 Apr 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsIf nurseries are shut down in view of Covid-19, the Government should set up an emergency fund to ensure their survival and ensure that parents are not charged the full fee by the nurseries to keep children's places.
Provide financial support to performers and creators during the COVID-19 crisis
Gov Responded - 22 Jul 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsThe prospect of widespread cancellations of concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions due to COVID-19 threatens to cause huge financial hardship for Britain's creative community. We ask Parliament to provide a package of emergency financial and practical support during this unpredictable time.
Support the British aviation industry during the COVID-19 outbreak
Gov Responded - 7 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsAs a result of the COVID-19 outbreak there are travel bans imposed by many countries, there is a disastrous potential impact on our Aviation Industry. Without the Government’s help there could be an unprecedented crisis, with thousands of jobs under threat.
Extend grants immediately to small businesses outside of SBRR
Gov Responded - 29 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsThe cash grants proposed by Government are only for businesses in receipt of the Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Relief, or for particular sectors. Many small businesses fall outside these reliefs desperately need cash grants and support now.
Business Rate Relief to be extended to all small businesses in healthcare.
Gov Responded - 5 Jun 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsTo extend the business rate relief to all dental practices and medical and aesthetics clinics and any small business that’s in healthcare
Provide financial help to zoos, aquariums, & rescue centres during the pandemic.
Gov Responded - 28 Jul 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsZoos, aquariums, and similar organisations across the country carry out all sorts of conservation work, animal rescue, and public education. At the start of the season most rely on visitors (who now won't come) to cover annual costs, yet those costs do not stop while they are closed. They need help.
Offer more support to the arts (particularly Theatres and Music) amidst COVID-19
Gov Responded - 20 Jul 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Stephen Kinnock's petition debate contributionsAs we pass the COVID-19 Peak, the Government should: State where the Theatres and Arts fit in the Coronavrius recovery Roadmap, Create a tailor made financial support mechanism for the Arts sector & Clarify how Social Distancing will affect arts spaces like Theatres and Concert Venues.
These initiatives were driven by Stephen Kinnock, 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.
Stephen Kinnock has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Football Supporters (Access) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Justin Madders (Lab)
Promotion of Israeli-Palestinian Peace (United Kingdom Participation) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Joan Ryan (TIG)
Transparency and Accountability (European Union) Bill 2015-16
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
The UK is committed to delivering an ambitious and inclusive COP26. We know that approaching our Presidency in a fair, inclusive and balanced way will lead to the most sustainable outcomes.
We are working with a diverse group of Friends of COP, leading figures from around the world who are sharing their expertise in support of a successful summit. This includes Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. We are also engaging regularly with the UNFCCC constituency focal points, which include the Trade Union non-governmental organisations.
The Expression of Interest process for stakeholders such as Trade Unions to apply to put forward proposals for involvement in the UK-run areas of COP26 closed on Friday 5 March 2021. We have begun notifying organisations of the outcomes.
The UK is committed to delivering an ambitious and inclusive COP26. We know that approaching our Presidency in a fair, inclusive and balanced way will lead to the most sustainable outcomes.
We are working with a diverse group of Friends of COP, leading figures from around the world who are sharing their expertise in support of a successful summit. This includes Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. We are also engaging regularly with the UNFCCC constituency focal points, which include the Trade Union non-governmental organisations.
The Expression of Interest process for stakeholders such as Trade Unions to apply to put forward proposals for involvement in the UK-run areas of COP26 closed on Friday 5 March 2021. We have begun notifying organisations of the outcomes.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend, the Member for Chippenham, to PQ 58831 on 27 October 2021.
As part of the new Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022-24, the Defence Secretary and I announced that we will commission an Independent Review into the impact of the pre-2000- ban on homosexual personnel in the Armed Forces. The Government will consider any further action in response to that Independent Review.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not usually disclosed.
The Government has published comprehensive sector-specific guidance for businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. There is a collated list of the applicable arrangements for goods movements available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/moving-goods-into-out-of-or-through-northern-ireland-from-1-january-2021.
Our message to the British public is clear: stay at home, in order to protect the NHS and save lives. The position remains, as outlined on gov.uk, that everyone who can work from home should do so.
Where that is not possible, people should go into work where it is safe and they are not symptomatic, isolating or shielding. Relevant guidance including from Public Health England should be followed.
In terms of the provision of education for the children of certain key workers, it is already the case that security officers and private security workers working in, for example, hospitals and social care could be eligible as long as "their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service". This is set out here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
The Government has placed restrictions on the operations of certain businesses as part of the strategy to ensure people stay at home and away from others. Separate guidance has been published on this and is also available on gov.uk.
The Director of Labour Market Enforcement’s 2023-24 Strategy is due to be presented to Secretaries of State in Spring. Following this, it will be published in due course.
Value for money assessments for all applications will consider the wider economic benefits of applications including job creation, upskilling and wider regional investment.
The application window for the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme closed on 27 August. Applications have been received and are currently being assessed.
The Department expects the initial assessment of applications to conclude towards the end of the year and will notify projects at that point if they have been placed on either the primary or reserve list. The Department will also notify unsuccessful applicants at that time.
The Government fully supports the Crown Estate's Leasing Round 5, which will make available seabed areas capable of supporting up to 4.5 gigawatts of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate will set out next steps on the Round later this year.
The Department is currently assessing applications for the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme, worth up to £160 million, which will support investment in port infrastructure to deliver the Government's floating offshore wind ambitions.
The UK and Welsh Governments have also jointly announced two freeports in Wales, each backed by UK Government funding of £26 million.
The Government is running a competitive process in line with the published scheme guidance.
The balance of funding across different parts of the UK, worth up to £160 million, will depend on the assessment of applications that the Government has received.
Any funding awards will be based on a project’s ability to demonstrate value for money and its ability to meet the strategic objectives of the scheme.
The balance of funding across different parts of the UK, worth up to £160 million, will depend on the assessment of applications that the Government receives.
Any funding awards will be based on a project’s ability to demonstrate value for money and its ability to meet the strategic objectives of the scheme.
The major impact of road fuels prices on the cost of goods will be from the impact on supply chain logistics and distribution. These will be only one of many different sources of cost and the proportion will vary from one product to another. In general, large hauliers involved in these activities will not purchase fuel at the retail prices quoted at forecourts of either supermarkets or other retailers.
The Government supports The Crown Estate's Leasing Round 5 for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and worked with it to agree the spatial design set out in their market update on 4 July.
My Right Hon. Friend the then Secretary of State and I met with The Crown Estate in July and my officials are in regular contact with The Crown Estate to realise the opportunities from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate will set out the next steps on Leasing Round 5 later this year.
The Government supports The Crown Estate's Leasing Round 5 for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and worked with it to agree the spatial design set out in their market update on 4 July.
My Right Hon. Friend the then Secretary of State and I met with The Crown Estate in July and my officials are in regular contact with The Crown Estate to realise the opportunities from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate will set out the next steps on Leasing Round 5 later this year.
The Government supports The Crown Estate's Leasing Round 5 for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and worked with it to agree the spatial design set out in their market update on 4 July.
My Right Hon. Friend the then Secretary of State and I met with The Crown Estate in July and my officials are in regular contact with The Crown Estate to realise the opportunities from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate will set out the next steps on Leasing Round 5 later this year.
The Government is developing a new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS), which will set planning policy for deploying new nuclear power stations beyond 2025 and support the UK in meeting the ambition of reaching up to 24GW of nuclear energy by 2050. As a first step towards developing the new nuclear NPS, later this year we intend to consult on how new nuclear developments could be sited in future prior to consulting on a draft NPS.
Science and technology research in green steel is still at an early stage of development and hence has not reached the point of commercialisation. But development of science and technology in green steel is being supported by a number of programmes including SUSTAIN (Future steel manufacturing research Hub) funded by £10m EPSRC funding and studies undertaken as part of the £55m NZIP Industrial Fuel Switching programme.
The Department is processing information provided to the department through the Request for Information process that ran over the summer for which there was significant interest. The Government will set out the next steps on the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme soon.
The Department is working with Ofgem to ensure that they take a more robust approach to the protection of vulnerable customers, and make sure energy suppliers are complying with the rules.
Ofgem has now asked suppliers to pause the installation of prepayment meters under warrant until they have assured Ofgem they are compliant with all relevant regulations and obligations.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked domestic energy suppliers to report back on the steps they have planned to identify customers who may have had a prepayment meter installed inappropriately, and confirm that appropriate action will be taken in these instances.
Ofgem has stringent rules on force-fitting prepayment meters on customers. Suppliers are required to follow specific processes before switching a customer to a prepayment meter.
As part of efforts to increase greater transparency around prepayment meters, the Government has announced a five-point plan, calling on suppliers to stop voluntarily the practice of force-fitting prepayment meters on customers and make greater effort to help the most vulnerable, such as offers of additional credit and debt forgiveness.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that all eligible businesses and other non-domestic customers, who receive their energy from licensed suppliers, including Post Offices, are protected from high energy costs over the winter period. Following a HMT-led review, the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme, will run from April until March 2024, and will provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including Post Offices. The new scheme strikes a balance between supporting businesses, charities and other non-domestic customer over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that all eligible businesses and other non-domestic customers, who receive their energy from licensed suppliers, including Post Offices, are protected from high energy costs over the winter period. Following a HMT-led review, the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme, will run from April until March 2024, and will provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including Post Offices. The new scheme strikes a balance between supporting businesses, charities and other non-domestic customer over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion.
The Government recognises that postmasters – like many small business owners – may be facing challenging financial circumstances. That is why the Government introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic consumers, including Post Offices. The scheme came into effect on 1 October 2022 and will end on 31 March 2023. On 9 January, the Government announced the Energy Bill Discount Scheme which will run for 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The new scheme will be available to everyone on a non-domestic contract and suppliers will automatically apply reductions to the bills of all eligible customers.
In the first 3 months of the scheme energy suppliers issued 6,020,560 (99%) vouchers to customers with traditional prepayment meters, of which 4,261,940 (71%) have been redeemed by end December. This is an increase from 66% in the previous month.
The Government works with suppliers, consumer groups and charities to communicate the scheme and the importance of checking post, emails and text for the vouchers and taking action to redeem them.
Suppliers have an obligation to make a minimum of three attempts by at least two different methods to contact customers who have not redeemed their voucher. Vouchers are valid for 90 days. Replacement vouchers can be issued but must be redeemed by the 30 June 2023.
In the first 3 months of the scheme energy suppliers issued 6,020,560 (99%) vouchers to customers with traditional prepayment meters, of which 4,261,940 (71%) have been redeemed by end December. This is an increase from 66% in the previous month.
The Government works with suppliers, consumer groups and charities to communicate the scheme and the importance of checking post, emails and text for the vouchers and taking action to redeem them.
Suppliers have an obligation to make a minimum of three attempts by at least two different methods to contact customers who have not redeemed their voucher. Vouchers are valid for 90 days. Replacement vouchers can be issued but must be redeemed by the 30 June 2023.
Communal residential spaces may be under a commercial energy contract, covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS). This provides a price reduction to ensure that eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. If the communal area is covered by a domestic energy contract, it may be eligible for the Energy Bill Support Scheme. An intermediary that will or has received support from any of the above schemes is required to pass support on to end-users in a just and reasonable way.
Offshore wind is an important growth industry for the UK. We estimate the 50GW ambition outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy, including up to 5GW of innovative floating offshore wind, could support an estimated 90,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The UK is already a world leader in floating offshore wind, with more installed capacity than any other country and a strong and growing pipeline of floating offshore wind projects. This includes an expected 4GW upcoming in the Celtic Sea leasing round, with the potential for up to an additional 20GW in the Celtic Sea by 2045.
Offshore wind is an important growth industry for the UK. We estimate the 50GW ambition outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy, including up to 5GW of innovative floating offshore wind, could support an estimated 90,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The UK is already a world leader in floating offshore wind, with more installed capacity than any other country and a strong and growing pipeline of floating offshore wind projects. This includes an expected 4GW upcoming in the Celtic Sea leasing round, with the potential for up to an additional 20GW in the Celtic Sea by 2045.
The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays across the economy of the United Kingdom. We will continue to work with the sector to support its decarbonisation efforts and we have already established various funding schemes such as the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support (IDHRS) in this regard. Further proposals, including the approach to the Clean Steel Fund, will be unveiled at the earliest possible occasion.
The Government understands the importance of ports for the development of floating offshore wind to support the opportunities that this new industry offers the UK. The Government is engaging with stakeholders and analysing feedback following the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme Request for Information earlier this year, and the next steps on the Scheme will be set out soon.
There are 8 staff currently working exclusively on registrations. There are an additional 20 staff who are fully trained and offer flexible support according to workload.
The next steps on the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme will be set out in due course, following the completion of the Request for Information process.
The Government has set an ambition to deliver up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. The Government is engaging with stakeholders and analysing feedback following the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme Request for Information earlier this year and next steps will be set out in due course.
The Government has set an ambition to deliver up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. The Government is engaging with stakeholders and analysing feedback following the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme Request for Information earlier this year and next steps will be set out in due course.
The Government has set an ambition to deliver up to 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030. The Government is engaging with stakeholders and analysing feedback following the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme Request for Information earlier this year and next steps will be set out in due course.
At the end of 2021, there were around 32,000 unique overseas company names attached to property in England and Wales and around 95,000 properties registered to overseas companies in England and Wales. As at 8 November, 3214 entities have registered. Existing entities have until the end of the transitional period to register. The overwhelming majority of existing overseas entities that must register hold property in England and Wales.
The number of accepted registrations for the Register of Overseas Entities in August 2022 was 221, with a further 958 registrations in September 2022, and 1,430 registrations in October 2022.
The total value of financial penalties imposed on (a) company directors for an offence related to the registration requirements for People with Significant Control under Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 for each year since 2016 is:
2016 is nil
2017 is nil
2018 (from 1 March 2018) is £5,270.00
2019 is £42,421.00
2020 is £8,960.00
2021 is £51,978.00
2022 (up to 30th September) is £33,585.00
The total value of financial penalties imposed on (b) other company officers is nil.
The number of financial penalties imposed on (a) company directors for an offence related to the registration requirements for People with Significant Control under Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 for each year since 2016 is:
2016 is nil
2017 is nil
2018 (from 1st March 2018) is 19
2019 is 134
2020 is 28
2021 is 95
2022 (up to 30th September 2022) is 71
The number of financial penalties imposed on (b) other company officers is nil.
The Employment Agencies Standards inspectorate (EAS) does not issue financial penalties as it’s legislation does not include provisions to do so. Below is a table setting out the number of prosecutions finalised in each year since 2010 and the proportion of convictions based on Financial Years. The number is low as there are other routes used by EAS to achieve compliance with the legislation and prosecution is considered as a last resort:
Year | Number of Prosecutions | Proportion resulting in conviction |
2009/10 | 0 | 0 |
2010/11 | 0 | 0 |
2011/12 | 0 | 0 |
2012/13 | 4 | 50% |
2013/14 | 2 | 100% |
2014/15 | 2 | 100% |
2015/16 | 1 | 100% |
2016/17 | 0 | 0 |
2017/18 | 0 | 0 |
2018/19 | 3 | 100% |
2019/20 | 2 | 100% |
2020/21 | 3 | 100% |
2021/22 | 5 | 100% |
The Director of Labour Market Enforcement is an independent statutory office holder. The terms of reference, timing, and publication of her review are matters for her.
The creation of this new body will be a substantial organisational change, so it is right that we take our time to thoroughly consider all aspects of this reform before proceeding.
As of 6th September 2022, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate employ 27.4 FTE staff in frontline roles involving site inspections.
This Government has an excellent record on enforcement of employment rights. As part of this we have more than doubled the budget for minimum wage enforcement and compliance, which is now over £27 million per year. In 2020/21 HMRC concluded over 2,700 minimum wage investigations, and returned more than £16.7m in arrears to over 155,000 workers. HMRC issued 575 fines totalling more than £14m to businesses who had failed to pay the minimum wage.
The Government also continues to invest in the work of the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate (EAS) and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) which protects vulnerable and exploited workers.
The following table provides a year-on-year breakdown of full-time equivalent staff employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate:
Year | Number of Full Time Equivalent Staff as of the 1st April for each year (unless otherwise stated) |
2010/11 | 29 (as of 1 May 2010) |
2011/12 | 23 |
2012/13 | 16 |
2013/14 | 12 |
2014/15 | 2 |
2015/16 | 11 |
2016/17 | 11 |
2017/18 | 12 |
2018/19 | 12.6 |
2019/20 | 27.6 |
2020/21 | 17.5 |
2021/22 | 22.3 |
2022 | 30.4 (as of 31st August 2022) |
As of 2nd September 2022, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate employ 27.4 FTE staff in frontline roles involving site inspections.