First elected: 5th May 2005
Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Theresa Villiers, 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.
To make provision for the incorporation of the Direct Payments Regulation into domestic law; for enabling an increase in the total maximum amount of direct payments under that Regulation; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 30th January 2020 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to prevent the Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Act 2009 from expiring on 11 November 2019.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 4th July 2019 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the Independent Reporting Commission, extend the period for the appointment of Northern Ireland Ministers, modify the pledge made by Northern Ireland Ministers on taking office, provide for persons becoming Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to give an undertaking, and make provision about the draft budget of the Northern Ireland Executive, in pursuance of the agreement made on 17 November 2015 called A Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 4th May 2016 and was enacted into law.
To make provision in connection with social security and child support maintenance in Northern Ireland; to make provision in connection with arrangements under section 1 of the Employment and Training Act (Northern Ireland) 1950; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th November 2015 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about donations, loans and related transactions for political purposes in connection with Northern Ireland; to amend the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 and the Northern Ireland Act 1998; to make provision about the registration of electors and the administration of elections in Northern Ireland; and to make miscellaneous amendments in the law relating to Northern Ireland.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 13th March 2014 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about the regulation of operators of dominant airports; to confer functions on the Civil Aviation Authority under competition legislation in relation to services provided at airports; to make provision about aviation security; to make provision about the regulation of provision of flight accommodation; to make further provision about the Civil Aviation Authority’s membership, administration and functions in relation to enforcement, regulatory burdens and the provision of information relating to aviation; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 19th December 2012 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about the regulation of operators of dominant airports; to confer functions on the Civil Aviation Authority under competition legislation in relation to services provided at airports; to make provision about aviation security; to make provision about the regulation of provision of flight accommodation; to make further provision about the Civil Aviation Authority’s membership, administration and functions in relation to enforcement, regulatory burdens and the provision of information relating to aviation; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 19th December 2012 and was enacted into law.
A has been called and Parliament is no longer sitting. The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before . This means the Bill will make no further progress. To make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; to make provision for the Office for Environmental Protection; to make provision about waste and resource efficiency; to make provision about air quality; to make provision for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; to make provision about water; to make provision about nature and biodiversity; to make provision for conservation covenants; to make provision about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to provide for the prohibition of the sale in England of horticultural peat by the end of 2024; to provide for certain exemptions from that prohibition; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to give the Secretary of State power to review and overturn decisions made by the Mayor of London relating to transport and to air quality; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to make provision for improving air quality.
A has been called and Parliament is no longer sitting. The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before . This means the Bill will make no further progress. To make provision about the mode of trial and maximum penalty for certain offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
To prohibit the export of live farmed animals for slaughter or fattening; and for connected purposes.
The Bill was read and discharged. Bill withdrawn on Wednesday 24 October 2018.
Disposable Barbecues Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Selaine Saxby (Con)
Pig Husbandry (Farrowing) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - David Amess (Con)
Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Hares Preservation Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - George Eustice (Con)
Kew Gardens (Leases) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con)
Wild Animals in Circuses Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Trudy Harrison (Con)
Fire Safety Information Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Maria Miller (Con)
Lee Valley Regional Park (Amendment) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Jake Berry (Con)
The department works closely with the Foreign Secretary on many issues, including tackling violence against women and girls in other countries.
The UK is a global leader on action to address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and has committed £60m since the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative(PSVI) in 2012.
We have also put forward the first ever UK nomination to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Professor Shazia Choudhry, whose academic work
focuses on violence against women and girls.
The R&R Client Board last month published the strategic case for the R&R Programme. This set out that three options for how to deliver the R&R works to the Palace will be developed in detail over the next year. This detailed work, which will include robust cost, timescale and risk estimates for all three options, is expected to be presented to the Houses in 2025 to enable an evidence-based decision on how best to restore the Palace.
The Government wants disabled people to travel easily and confidently
The October ‘Plan for Drivers’ outlined how government is working to improve the driving experience for everyone
DfT’s strategic priorities for improving access for disabled people were set out in the 2018 Inclusive Transport Strategy
In the PM’s ‘Network North’ announcement, £350m was made available for Access for All rail schemes in the five years from 2024/25, in addition to the £900m committed since 2006.
Following a full discussion at its meeting on Monday 8th March, the House of Commons Commission published on its website a roadmap on the plans for easing restrictions: The roadmap is available at the link below:
At this present time the priority of the Commission continues to be the safety of all Members and staff and the continuation of Parliamentary business. Any decisions relating to non-passholder access is a matter for the Commissions of both Houses and will be reviewed at a later point based on the current public health advice at that time.
Following a full discussion at its meeting on Monday 8th March, the House of Commons Commission published on its website a roadmap on the plans for easing restrictions. The roadmap is available at the link below:
The Returners grant fund supports women returning to work after caring for others. We have launched public sector returner programmes and grant funding to support private sector programmes. Most recently we announced £500,000 of funding to help those with additional barriers – such as those with disabilities or who have experienced domestic abuse - to re-enter labour market.
In the Budget my Rt hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that £1.2 million of the centenary fund will go directly to seven Centenary Cities and towns in England with a strong suffrage history, to strengthen the reach and legacy of regional activity to inspire a new generation with this story.
A further £1.5 million will be available to organisations and communities through a grants scheme. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) have appointed a grant administrator to oversee the application and award process and I will write to all Members with details of the scheme including application criteria shortly.
The rest of the £5 million fund will be spent on a statue of Millicent Fawcett, to be erected in Parliament Square; on activities to increase young people’s engagement with democracy; and on activities to increase women’s engagement with political representation. GEO will announce further details in due course.
The Government is exploring a number of options to extend protections from discrimination in the workplace, including through the Equality Act 2010, for people with mental health conditions. We will make an announcement on these issues in due course.
The right to Shared Parental Leave and the right to request flexible working help share caring responsibilities more fairly in families so that women can fulfil their potential at work. We are doubling the childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds from 15 to 30 hours a week from September 2017. We have also allocated £5 million to help people return to work after a break in employment, the majority of whom will be women.
No industry can afford to miss out on talent from any gender. The Department for Transport has set an ambition for women to represent at least 20% of new entrants to engineering and technical apprenticeships in the transport sector by 2020.
I am pleased that Crossrail is exceeding this: 27% of their apprentices are female.
As a result of leaving the EU, we now have the freedom to conceive and implement rules that serve our own interests and that are specifically tailored to the needs of the UK economy.
Ministers across departments have responsibility for regulatory reform in their respective areas and for ensuring we seize the opportunities of Brexit. In September 2021, we announced a package of regulatory reforms covering areas as diverse as: data reform, gene editing, clinical trials directive, the Future of Transport and AI strategy. Cabinet Office officials will continue to work with departments to deliver further reforms.
An announcement will be made in due course to confirm which Minister will lead this work, following the resignation of my Rt Hon Friend Lord Frost.
On 16 September, Lord Frost announced how the government intends to implement recommendations of the Taskforce. This includes: concluding the consultation on developing a new regulatory framework, setting out bold strategies and proposals in the areas of data reform, gene editing, medical devices and Artificial Intelligence.
Across Government, departments are continuing to implement the recommendations, including bringing forward legislation when parliamentary time allows. The Brexit Opportunities Unit in the Cabinet Office is driving this work forward across government.
The UK Statistics Authority is responsible for delivering the census and the National Statistician will make recommendations in 2023 on the future of the census. Census 2021 questions were based on their recommendations following 3 years of extensive research, consultation and evidence gathering. Any future census would follow a similar process when deciding on the format of questions.
The Government understands the huge significance of weddings. We recognise that because weddings have not been able to take place in recent months this has caused difficulty and distress for many people. As set out in the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, published in May, the Government has been examining how to enable people to gather in slightly larger groups better to facilitate small weddings. We have worked closely with faith leaders and local government on how best to achieve this. The Prime Minister announced on 23 June that wedding and civil partnership ceremonies will be able to take place in England from 4 July. People should avoid having a large ceremony, and should invite no more than thirty family and friends. Venues should ensure they are COVID-19 secure.
The Government is committed to introducing Voter ID to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st century.
We will bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.
Trading Standards provide a range of services that fall under the remit of a number of Departments. However, Trading Standards services are delivered by Local Authorities, who are responsible for their operation and effectiveness. As Local Government is independent of Central Government, the Department for Business does not therefore have a remit to assess the performance of Trading Standards and would not therefore produce or publish league tables of such bodies.
The details of ministerial portfolios in the Department for Business and Trade will be published shortly and will then be found on: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade
I can confirm that my Department will be leading on implementing the recommendations of the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform report following the recent Machinery of Government change. Working with my colleagues, particularly the Chancellor, we have already delivered on key recommendations - such as offshore energy network coordination, costs and charges reports in the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) and clinical trials approval. I will continue working with Cabinet colleagues on the delivery of the remaining recommendations. This will include building on the announcements made in the Spring Budget.
Performers such as those in the music, comedy and wider arts sectors have their performances protected under Part II of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended. Sections 182 and 182A of the Act give performers the right to control who is able to record and make reproductions of their performances. These provisions apply regardless of the technology used to make such reproductions, including AI technology.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is working to develop a code of practice on copyright, related rights and AI. The IPO has met with representatives of performers as part of this process, as well as representatives of AI firms, AI users, and the wider creative industries. Alongside this, the IPO will be developing guidance on how copyright and related rights apply to material used and generated by AI models. The Government seeks to strike a balanced and pragmatic approach which allows AI innovators and the creative industries to grow in partnership.
Ministers regularly meet with external stakeholders. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology
Data is due to be published shortly in line with Cabinet Office Guidance organisations are listed instead of individuals.
The Government recognises the role community and locally owned renewable energy schemes can, and do, play in supporting the UK’s national net zero targets. The Government will continue to ensure that policies will support the success of these schemes.
On 21 September, the Business Secretary confirmed equivalent support for households in Northern Ireland through The Northern Ireland Energy Price Guarantee.
Energy suppliers will reduce the unit prices within household bills by up to 17p/kWh for electricity and 4.2p/kWh for gas, and there is no need for households to take any action to receive this support. This scheme is expected to take effect from November in Northern Ireland, but the Government will ensure households receive the same benefit overall as households in Great Britain by backdating support for October bills through bills from November.
A non-domestic scheme will be established in Northern Ireland, providing a comparable level of support. The Great Britain scheme announced on 21 September, will need the different market arrangements in place in Northern Ireland. The Government intend to provide more information on the support for non-domestic customers in Northern Ireland by the end of September.
To ensure the scheme can work effectively for government, energy suppliers, businesses and other non-domestic organisations, with the minimum disruption to existing processes, emergency legislation is being introduced to underpin the scheme. This will be subject to the standard parliamentary process for emergency legislation.
Emergency legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity when Parliament is back from recess in October. The precise timeline will depend on parliamentary scheduling and is still to be confirmed.
Households not on standard gas or electricity contracts, such as those using home heating oil, will receive equivalent support to that provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and the Energy Price Guarantee. The Government is working at speed to determine the most practical and tested routes to deliver this support and will publish details in due course.
The Government is committed to helping consumers with the cost of living, particularly high energy prices. Therefore, we are implementing a scheme to provide £400 to help domestic electricity customers with energy bills over the coming winter, in addition to measures specifically targeted to help vulnerable consumers.
Mechanisms are already in place to ensure that the electricity demand from the transition to electric vehicles can be met, both in terms of electricity generation capacity and electricity network capacity.
The market is already set up to bring forward investment in new generation capacity. The Contracts for Difference scheme supports investment in new low carbon generation, and additional demand can be managed through adjustments to the amount of capacity secured through the Capacity Market auctions.
Ofgem, as the independent regulator, uses the price control framework to ensure that electricity network companies provide the required infrastructure to deliver the capacity to meet both current and future demand on the network. Additionally, electric vehicles offer new opportunities for consumers to be part of a smarter and more flexible energy system. Smart charging during off-peak periods when electricity demand is low reduces the need for additional generation capacity and network reinforcement.
My Rt. Hon. Friend will be unsurprised to hear that I welcomed the radical and ground-breaking report from TIGRR. On 16 September, my Noble Friend the Rt. Hon. Lord Frost outlined the Government’s overall response to the report. This included the list of recommendations which BEIS agreed to take forward. Lord Frost also wrote to my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green. These can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/brexit-opportunities-regulatory-reforms
BEIS is continuing work to implement the agreed recommendations, subject to parliamentary time allowing.
Recent public consultations relevant to the agreed TIGRR recommendations include:
Offshore Networks Coordination – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/offshore-transmission-network-review-proposals-for-an-enduring-regime; and
Reforming the framework for better regulation – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-framework-for-better-regulation.
We are analysing responses to the consultations and will announce more in due course. The conclusions of the latter consultation in particular – on which we are working closely with Lord Frost’s Brexit Opportunities Unit – will allow us to modernise our approach to regulatory design and deliver the aims for regulation in the Plan for Growth: to cut red tape, unlock cutting-edge technologies and boost competition.
The Government has confirmed we are preparing for a booster programme to take place later this year. We have secured early access to 397 million vaccines doses through supply agreements with six separate vaccine developers, of which four have been approved for use and three are currently in deployment. This includes agreements with:
In addition, the Government has a reservation agreement with GlaxoSmithKline/Sanofi Pasteur for 60 million doses and a non-binding agreement with CureVac for 50 million doses.
Final decisions on what a booster programme would look like – including which vaccines will be used - will depend on the data from ongoing clinical trials, such as the COV-Boost trial, and advice from the independent medical experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The Government has confirmed we are preparing for a booster programme to take place later this year. We have secured early access to 397 million vaccines doses through supply agreements with six separate vaccine developers, of which four have been approved for use and three are currently in deployment. This includes agreements with:
In addition, the Government has a reservation agreement with GlaxoSmithKline/Sanofi Pasteur for 60 million doses and a non-binding agreement with CureVac for 50 million doses.
Final decisions on what a booster programme would look like – including which vaccines will be used - will depend on the data from ongoing clinical trials, such as the COV-Boost trial, and advice from the independent medical experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
We are working closely with the fashion and textiles sector to ensure businesses get the support they need around specific aspects of our new trading relationship with the EU.
We are operating export helplines, running webinars with policy experts and offering businesses support via our network of 300 international trade advisers. In addition, we invested millions to expand the customs intermediaries sector.
When EU-based traders trade in or target their activities at the UK, UK standards will apply. Otherwise, the protection consumers have within the EU after the end of the transition period will depend on the consumer’s contract and the laws of the relevant Member State.
The Government carried out a detailed examination of the business which demonstrated a rational commercial case for investment. As my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out, even with substantial cuts to OneWeb's base case financial projections, the investment would have a positive return.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State confirmed that the Government will invest $500 million and take a significant equity share in OneWeb. This investment is made alongside Bharti Global Ltd. Bharti will provide the company commercial and operational leadership and bring OneWeb a revenue base to contribute towards its future success.
The Government announced the introduction of the Small and Micro Business Assessment (SaMBA) in June 2013. It requires that Impact Assessments provide clear evidence of the potential impact of regulations on small and micro businesses.
The default assumption under SaMBA is that there will be a legislative exemption for small and micro businesses where a large part of the intended benefits of the measure can be achieved without including them. As a result of this policy, small firms can have confidence that future regulation will be more manageable for them and that they will not face disproportionate regulatory burdens.
The Department is currently reviewing the way we account for regulatory impacts on business and considering options for future policies, and more detail will be announced in due course.
The Government is leading efforts to find and manufacture a vaccine, working with industry and experts, both here in the UK and internationally?to?ensure?we are in the best position possible to support the discovery, manufacture and mass-deployment of a successful vaccine?should a candidate prove successful. A number of?agreements to procure millions of doses of vaccines have been made, ensuring the greatest possible chance of securing access to a safe and effective vaccine.?The UK has now secured access to 6 different candidates, across 4 different vaccines types, including University of Oxford’s vaccine being developed with AstraZeneca and agreements with?BioNTech/Pfizer alliance, Valneva, Novavax, Janssen and GSK/Sanofi Pasteur.
Opening up more of Britain in a COVID-Secure way is only possible if everyone continues to stay alert to the risks of Coronavirus by keeping 2m apart where possible (or 1m with precautions if not), washing their hands regularly, following the rules when they are visiting businesses and, crucially, getting a test immediately if they develop symptoms and self-isolating if they are instructed to by NHS Test and Trace.
Government has set out COVID-Secure guidance to help businesses – like pubs – take the measures that will protect themselves and their customers.
We are taking a phased approach to further reopening of sectors in the economy, in line with prevailing public health conditions. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence.
The Government has had regular engagement with a wide range of stakeholders from across the hospitality industry, including the pub sector. The Department will continue to engage with a variety of representatives from the sector to discuss how to support pubs through this challenging period.
The Government will not be publishing additional guidance in relation to this. However, the Government is reviewing existing guidance in light of the updated information from Public Health England.
Employers proposing to make 20 or more employees redundant from one establishment are required to consult employees or their representatives:
- at least 45 days before the first dismissal takes effect where 100 or more redundancies are proposed.
- at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect where 20 or more redundancies are proposed.
The consultation must include consultation on ways to avoid redundancies, reducing the numbers of redundancies, or mitigating their impact. Where an employer has failed to adequately consult with their employees about impending redundancies, those employees may apply to an Employment Tribunal for a Protective Award.
Within the same timescales, the employer must notify my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the proposed collective redundancies. Failure to notify is an offence.
If special circumstances exist making it unreasonable for the employer to comply with the consultation or notification obligations, the employer must take such steps as are reasonably practicable to comply.
The Pubs and Restaurants taskforce is considering a range of measures to support the reopening of this sector as soon as it is safe to do so.
The taskforce consulted with a cross-section of the sector to develop guidance, with representation from trade bodies to small and medium sized operators, unions, as well as the supply chain. We consulted these stakeholders due to their expertise and real-life knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The guidance will be published in due course.
The Government recognises the significant impact on pubs caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and has announced measures, included in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill, to prevent landlords from using aggressive debt recovery tactics.
These measures include a temporary ban on statutory demands and winding up orders where a company cannot pay its bills due to coronavirus, to ensure they do not fall into deeper financial strain. Government is also laying secondary legislation to provide tenants with more breathing space to pay rent by temporarily preventing landlords using Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery.
However, while landlords are urged to give their tenants the breathing space needed, the Government calls on tenants to pay rent where they can afford it, or what they can, in recognition of the strains felt by commercial landlords too.
A working group has been established by the government with the commercial rental sector to develop a code which encourages fair and transparent discussions between landlords and tenants over rental payments during the coronavirus pandemic and guidance on rent arrear payments.
The Government has published guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. If businesses are not required to close at this time, they can use this guidance to consider how they can operate to keep employees and customers safe.
Businesses should carry out a risk assessment to identify sensible measures to control risk in the workplace, wherever that might be. General guidance on how to complete risk assessments is available on the Health and Safety Executive website, and the guidance we published on 11 May sets out the steps employers should consider in relation to the risks of COVID-19. The guidance can be accessed at www.gov.uk/workingsafely.
On 11th May we published our COVID-19 recovery strategy, which sets out a roadmap to a phased recovery. Over the coming months, the Government will introduce a range of adjustments to current social distancing controls, timing these carefully according to both the current spread of the virus and the Government’s ability to ensure safety. Each step may involve adding new adjustments to the existing restrictions or taking some adjustments further.
The ambition at step three of the roadmap is to?open at least some of the remaining businesses and premises that have been required to close, including personal care?(such as hairdressers and beauty salons), and we will work with the sector to develop safe ways for them to open at the earliest point at which it is safe to do so. The Government’s current planning assumption is that this step will be no earlier than 4 July.
Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU State Aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period.
It is not possible for the UK (or indeed any EU Member State) to unilaterally suspend the EU State aid rules.
However, it should be noted that the European Commission has introduced some flexibilities into the rules to deal with the impacts of the Coronavirus, in the form of a Temporary Framework.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is a State Aid approved scheme under the Temporary Framework. Companies that are in difficulty are eligible for support, in recognition of the impact of Coronavirus, unless they were in difficulty on 31 December 2019, prior to the outbreak.
CBILS does include a provision enabling banks to make the facility available on a de minimis basis to businesses that would not otherwise be eligible, for example because they were in difficulty as at 31 December 2019.
However, the British Business Bank is establishing a new Future Fund to support the UK’s innovative businesses currently affected by Covid-19. This will launch in May and is intended to help businesses that have been unable to access other government business support programmes, such as CBILS, because they are either pre-revenue or pre-profit and typically rely on equity investment. The £500m scheme will deliver an initial commitment of £250m of new government funding which will be match funded by private investment.