Stephen Metcalfe Portrait

Stephen Metcalfe

Conservative - South Basildon and East Thurrock

First elected: 6th May 2010


Powers of Attorney Bill
22nd Feb 2023 - 1st Mar 2023
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Science and Technology Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Liaison Committee (Commons)
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Science and Technology Committee
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Science and Technology Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Stephen Metcalfe has voted in 916 divisions, and 3 times against the majority of their Party.

20 Oct 2021 - Environment Bill - View Vote Context
Stephen Metcalfe voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 300 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 307 Noes - 185
14 Dec 2021 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Stephen Metcalfe voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 97 Conservative No votes vs 224 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
18 Oct 2022 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
Stephen Metcalfe voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 103 Conservative No votes vs 113 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 110
View All Stephen Metcalfe Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Chi Onwurah (Labour)
Shadow Minister (Science, Research and Innovation)
(18 debate interactions)
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(16 debate interactions)
Michael Gove (Conservative)
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
(13 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(30 debate contributions)
Home Office
(29 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(23 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Stephen Metcalfe's debates

South Basildon and East Thurrock 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).

Stephen Metcalfe has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Stephen Metcalfe

9th May 2023
Stephen Metcalfe signed this EDM on Tuesday 16th May 2023

Hereditary angioedema awareness day (No. 2)

Tabled by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
That this House celebrates Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) day on Tuesday 16 May 2023; recognises that HAE has a significant impact on patient lives and can cause unpredictable potentially life-threatening attacks; commends the important work patient organisations, such as HAE UK, and leading immunology specialists have done to support and advocate …
28 signatures
(Most recent: 22 May 2023)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 21
Plaid Cymru: 3
Labour: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Conservative: 1
6th March 2023
Stephen Metcalfe signed this EDM on Monday 13th March 2023

The Loan Charge

Tabled by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
That this House is concerned that suicides have been linked to the Loan Charge and that despite the Morse Review, thousands face unaffordable demands, with the risk of further suicides; notes that most people facing action were mis-sold schemes and that HMRC are demanding scheme users repay disputed tax; further …
118 signatures
(Most recent: 11 Jul 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 36
Scottish National Party: 33
Conservative: 17
Liberal Democrat: 14
Democratic Unionist Party: 7
Independent: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Alba Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Stephen Metcalfe's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Stephen Metcalfe, 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 Metcalfe has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Stephen Metcalfe has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Stephen Metcalfe


A Bill to make provision about lasting powers of attorney; to make provision about proof of instruments creating powers of attorney; and for connected purposes

This Bill received Royal Assent on 18th September 2023 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to require the provision of automated external defibrillators in all new housing developments of ten dwellings or more; to require developers to provide funding for the maintenance of such defibrillators for a period of ten years after installation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 6th September 2023
(Read Debate)

Latest 26 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
9th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support growth in the creative industries.

The creative industries are an economic powerhouse, and one of my priorities is to continue this growth.

My Department will publish a Creative Industries Sector Vision in the coming months, which will set out how we will work together with industry to drive the sector’s growth between now and 2030.

My Department is investing £50 million into creative businesses up and down the country to help them grow, in addition to more than £100m from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
1st Nov 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to appoint a Chief Mathematical Adviser.

While there are currently no plans to appoint a Chief Mathematical Adviser, we consult a wide range of advisers on a regular basis, including those with mathematical expertise.

25th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of a potential link between (a) the rebate in the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access and (b) the accompanying Statutory Scheme on the level of foreign direct investment into UK R&D.

The Government is working to better understand the impacts the operation of the current Voluntary Scheme and the accompanying Statutory Scheme on investments in the UK. We are therefore in direct conversations with companies to understand these impacts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is in close discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department responsible for the Voluntary Scheme and Statutory Scheme, about the business environment for life sciences and its impact on investment.

1st Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is planning to take to help ensure that the number of students undertaking PhD research in mathematics is sustained.

The UK is a world leader in Mathematics. British mathematicians publish a large volume of highly regarded work. When compared to international colleagues, British mathematicians have the 5th largest share of publications in the world. When looking at the top 1% of most cited publications, UK mathematicians are responsible for the third largest share.

Since January 2020, UKRI has awarded £104 million of additional funding into Mathematical Sciences, over and above EPSRC’s core Mathematical Sciences Theme budget. The additional funding has funded institutes, small and large research grants, fellowships, doctoral studentships, and postdoctoral awards.

Following the SR, BEIS will set R&D budgets through to 2024/25. Further details of how this funding will be allocated will be announced in due course.

1st Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many of the Government’s Chief Scientists have a mathematical background; and if will provide information on the academic backgrounds of the Government’s Chief Scientists.

Most government departments have a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to provide scientific advice. A CSA is typically a distinguished scientist or engineer, recruited externally from academia or industry. Of the current cohort of CSAs, two have a purely mathematical background (FCDO CSA & MOD CSA).

However, all CSAs bring deep science and/or engineering knowledge and are able to work fluently across a range of sciences including mathematics.

All current departmental CSAs have their academic background published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/chief-scientific-advisers.

25th May 2021
What steps his Department is taking to support UK research and development.

We have committed to investing £14.9 billion in R&D in 2021/22, meaning Government R&D spending is now at its highest level in four decades.

We are working to ensure the benefits are felt nationwide, with our UK Innovation Strategy and R&D Places Strategy due to be published this summer.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
8th Jun 2023
What plans she has for the future of the TV licence.

The BBC's funding model faces major challenges to its sustainability due to changes in the way people consume media.

We remain committed to reviewing the licence fee model ahead of the next Charter period to explore the potential for alternative ways to ensure the BBC remains appropriately funded over the long-term.

17th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the recent decision to replace the mandatory qualification for the laboratory technician apprenticeship with a requirement for theoretical knowledge, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that standards for apprenticeships are consistent across the science sector.

This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. I have asked its Chief Executive, Jennifer Coupland, to write to the honourable member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
17th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the recent decision to replace the mandatory qualification for the laboratory technician apprenticeship with a requirement for theoretical knowledge, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) that apprenticeship delivers sufficient scientific knowledge and skills for apprentices and (b) the career progression of apprentices is not adversely affected by that decision.

This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. I have asked its Chief Executive, Jennifer Coupland, to write to the honourable member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
19th May 2020
What steps he is taking to support farmers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Defra took early steps to support farmers, by designating them as key workers and temporarily relaxing drivers’ hours rules. We have worked with banks to help farmers access financial support measures outline by the Chancellor, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

We have supported dairy farmers by announcing a fund in England to help those affected by the loss of the food service sector. We have also temporarily relaxed competition law rules. We are working with AHDB and Diary UK, who have launched a new £1 million campaign to drive consumption of milk. A similar campaign is promoting beef. We are also ensuring that farmers and growers are able to recruit the workers that they require as we approach the busy harvest months.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
15th Jul 2021
What plans she has to enhance the UK’s trade deal with Mexico.

We have committed to start negotiations on a new upgraded trade deal with Mexico this year. Discussions will commence later in the year and will aim to secure even more benefits for British industries and go further in areas of mutual interest such as procurement, digital trade and service.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
25th Feb 2021
What steps she is taking to strengthen the UK’s trade relationship with India.

Earlier this month I visited India to deepen trade ties and agree a pathway towards a future FTA with the world’s biggest democracy. A closer partnership with India will help us lead the world in areas like science, tech and the green economy, driving jobs and growth across the UK.

25th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has received evidence from the life sciences industry of the impact on UK R&D investment and potential increases in payment rates under the voluntary and statutory schemes for branded medicines; and if it will make a statement.

The Department has been consulting on a proposed update to the statutory scheme for branded medicines and the life sciences industry has been able to give evidence as part of this consultation process.

The Government remains firmly committed to the statutory and voluntary schemes for branded medicines and to working with the pharmaceutical industry to deliver on the ambitions set out in the Life Sciences Vision to create an environment that facilitates innovation for the development of medicines in the UK.

19th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into intra-nasal covid-19 vaccines.

The Department of Health and Social Care commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) which, with UK Research and Innovation, has co-funded an Imperial College London study worth £580,000 looking specifically at the safety and effectiveness of two COVID-19 vaccines administered via the respiratory tract.

The study is ongoing but in later stages and results will be made public in due course and following peer review.

The NIHR is also providing infrastructure support to an Oxford University study looking at safety and effectiveness of intranasal administration of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

9th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of when his Department will receive the report and recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee on a national lung screening programme.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) plans to open a three-month public consultation on the evidence for lung cancer screening in the coming weeks.

The Department will receive the UK NSC’s recommendation on lung cancer screening in individuals at an increased risk following its June meeting.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
9th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 15 of NHS England’s 2022-23 priorities and operational planning guidance, whether NHS England plans to publish details of the Targeted Lung Health Check projects that will be launched in 202-23.

Up to £70 million of targeted funding under the National Health Service Cancer Programme’s Service Development Funding budget has been made available to support the running of Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) in 2022/23. This will include the expansion of the programme to ensure a project in each Cancer Alliance.

NHS England and NHS Improvement also supports the delivery of the TLHC programme with standard protocols, expert advice, and nationally procured and coordinated quality assurance and training.

There are currently nine Cancer Alliances without a TLHC project. NHS England and NHS Improvement plan to expand the TLHC programme in 2022/23 to ensure that each of these Cancer Alliances has at least one TLHC programme. We estimate an additional eight computerised tomography (CT) scanners will be needed to facilitate this expansion.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
9th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) funding and (b) additional support NHS England has made available to Cancer Alliances to ensure each operates at least one targeted lung health check project from 2022-23.

Up to £70 million of targeted funding under the National Health Service Cancer Programme’s Service Development Funding budget has been made available to support the running of Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) in 2022/23. This will include the expansion of the programme to ensure a project in each Cancer Alliance.

NHS England and NHS Improvement also supports the delivery of the TLHC programme with standard protocols, expert advice, and nationally procured and coordinated quality assurance and training.

There are currently nine Cancer Alliances without a TLHC project. NHS England and NHS Improvement plan to expand the TLHC programme in 2022/23 to ensure that each of these Cancer Alliances has at least one TLHC programme. We estimate an additional eight computerised tomography (CT) scanners will be needed to facilitate this expansion.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
12th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial provision he has made to support the health needs of those affected by Sodium Valproate.

Those affected by sodium valproate may be in receipt of Continuing Healthcare where individuals with long-term complex health needs qualify for free social care arranged and funded solely by the National Health Service. Personal Health Budgets are also available to support health and wellbeing needs, which is planned and agreed between the individual or their representative and the local clinical commissioning group.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to strengthen outpatient care online to ensure that appropriate patients and clinicians have access to remote diagnostics alongside remote consultation.

The first four phases of the Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care award included innovations in remote diagnostics, including the Neuronostics Limited smartphone-based app which can receive EEG recordings from wireless headsets to assist with assessing epilepsy treatment; Senti Tech Limited’s project enabling remote chest examination for respiratory patients through sensors embedded into a jacket; and Healthy.io (UK) Limited’s smartphone albuminuria self-test, which uses a home test kit and a mobile app to allow patients to self-test at home with clinical grade results.

18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to promote the use of (a) the quality and outcomes framework and (b) other incentive models to ensure the adequate uptake of proven AI health technologies at a local level.

The National Health Service Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory was set up in 2019 to support the safe and ethical development and deployment of AI across health and care. The AI in Health and Care Awards will channel £140 million of funding to AI innovation.

The NHS AI Laboratory, is also developing the evidence base for technologies and providing guidance on best practice.

18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether PHE plans to update its guidance on UTIs to recommend the use of a dipstick to diagnose UTI patients with suggestive symptoms and to reflect Scotland’s guidance SIGN 88: Management of suspected bacterial urinary tract infection in adults.

The Public Health England (PHE) diagnostic urinary tract infection (UTI) guidance was last updated in October 2020 and will be reviewed again in November 2021. The current guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/urinary-tract-infection-diagnosis

PHE recommends dipstick testing in patients with one or fewer of the key UTI diagnostic symptoms (new nocturia, dysuria, or cloudy urine). The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network approach recommends using dipsticks in a slightly larger subset of patients. PHE will keep the emerging evidence on dipstick use within UTI diagnosis under review in order to inform future guidance updates.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
22nd Mar 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of differing VAT rates for public and domestic charging of electric vehicles with the principle of VAT neutrality.

In order to keep costs down for families, the supply of electricity for domestic use attracts the reduced rate of VAT (five per cent).

Electricity supplied at EV charging points in public places is subject to the standard rate of VAT (twenty per cent). The Government has not specifically introduced a reduced rate for charging EVs at home. However, the practical challenges of differentiating between the electricity used at home for general domestic purposes, and electricity used to charge EVs currently mean that the reduced rate is effectively being applied to EV home-charging.

Applying the reduced rate of VAT to electricity supplied at EV charging points in public places would come at a cost. VAT makes a significant contribution towards the public finances, raising around £130 billion in 2019/20, and helps fund the Government's priorities including the NHS, schools, and defence. Any loss in tax revenue would have to be balanced by a reduction in public spending, increased borrowing or increased taxation elsewhere.

The Government has no current plans to review the current rate of VAT applied to EV charging.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
22nd Mar 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Value Added Tax Act 1994 Schedule 7A, Group 1, Paragraph 5, on what basis some electric vehicle charging is taxed at a rate of 20 per cent VAT.

The domestic use of fuel (including electricity that may be used to recharge vehicles) is subject to the reduced rate of VAT of 5%. As set out in Paragraph 5 of Schedule 1, where a supply to a person at their premises does not exceed 1000 kilowatt hours per month, this is deemed to be domestic use.

However, for this provision to apply, the supply of electricity must be to a customer’s house or building. Where this is not the case (such as where a vehicle is recharged at a public charge point), the electricity is standard rated.

Further clarification can be found in HM Revenue and Customs Brief 7 (2021): VAT liability of charging of electric vehicles.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
7th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase wages and support the lowest-income households.

The government is increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour from April 2022, which keeps us on track to meet our target to end low pay by 2024-25.

We have taken decisive action to make work pay by cutting the Universal Credit taper rate from 63p to 55p and increasing Universal Credit work allowances by £500 p.a.

These measures will help us to build a high skilled, high productivity, high wage economy.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
31st Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent migrants from illegally crossing the English Channel.

Small boats crossings perpetuated by evil people-smuggling gangs are illegal, life-threatening, and unnecessary.

New legislation will make it crystal clear that if you enter this country illegally you will not be allowed to stay and will instead be detained and promptly removed.

I am clear that the British public want us to stop the boats, and I call on Honourable Members opposite to back our proposals, instead of siding with criminal people smuggling gangs.