First elected: 8th June 2017
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).
Recognise Teaching Assistants as an important asset to schools by raising wage.
Gov Responded - 12 Aug 2022 Debated on - 17 Jul 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsTeaching Assistants are an extremely important part of the running of schools in England, but are not currently recognised as this by our government when reflecting on the wage.
Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex
Gov Responded - 26 Jan 2023 Debated on - 12 Jun 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsThe Government must exercise its power under s.23 of the Gender Recognition Act to modify the operation of the Equality Act 2010 by specifying the terms sex, male, female, man & woman, in the operation of that law, mean biological sex and not "sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate"
Commit to not amending the Equality Act's definition of sex
Gov Responded - 25 Jan 2023 Debated on - 12 Jun 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsIt has been reported that the Government may amend the Equality Act to "make it clear that sex means biological sex rather than gender." The Government has previously committed to not remove legal protections for trans people, an already marginalised group, but this change would do so.
Protect free NHS prescriptions for over 60s
Gov Responded - 28 Jan 2022 Debated on - 6 Mar 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsContinue to give free NHS prescriptions to over 60s. The Government is consulting on aligning the upper age exemption for NHS prescription charges with the State Pension age (SPA), which would render many people in their 60s ineligible.
Reduce Indefinite leave to remain fees from £2389 to £243 for Health workers
Gov Responded - 1 Feb 2022 Debated on - 30 Jan 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi'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.
Make it a legal requirement for drivers to stop & report collisions with cats
Gov Responded - 22 Feb 2022 Debated on - 9 Jan 2023 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsAmend legislation to make it a legal requirement for a driver to stop & report accidents involving cats.
Include abortion rights in the Bill of Rights
Gov Responded - 20 Sep 2022 Debated on - 28 Nov 2022 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsAs Parliament considers the Bill of Rights, the Government must reconsider including abortion rights in this Bill. Rights to abortion must be specifically protected in this legislation, especially as the Government has refused to rule out leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.
Automatically suspend PR rights of parent guilty of murdering the other parent.
Gov Responded - 16 Jun 2022 Debated on - 7 Nov 2022 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsProvide a mechanism within existing legislation whereupon a person with parental responsibility (PR) is found guilty of murdering the other parent with PR, has PR automatically suspended throughout the duration of the term of imprisonment of the aforesaid person convicted.
Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults
Gov Responded - 3 Feb 2022 Debated on - 4 Jul 2022 View Tonia Antoniazzi'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.
Reduce fuel duty and VAT by 40% for a period of 2 years
Gov Responded - 17 Nov 2021 Debated on - 23 May 2022 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsThe Government should reduce the cost of fuel through a reduction of 40% in fuel duty and VAT for 2 years. This can effectively offset the rise in fuel prices since 2020.
Provide more funding for stalking advocates for victims of stalking
Gov Responded - 27 Aug 2021 Debated on - 31 Jan 2022 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsThe Government should provide more funding for stalking advocates for victims of stalking. This would help support victims, and should also help the police to investigate cases more thoroughly, potentially helping prevent threats to life.
Ban Water Companies discharging raw sewage into water courses.
Gov Responded - 5 May 2021 Debated on - 15 Nov 2021 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsEnsure Water companies treat the sewage they are responsible for. Not discharge it into rivers and water courses. After all what goes into the ocean comes back as the fish we eat.
Make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry
Gov Responded - 4 Nov 2021 Debated on - 8 Nov 2021 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsI would like the UK Government to make it law that nightclubs must search guests on arrival to prevent harmful weapons and other items entering the establishment. This could be a pat down search or metal detector, but must involve measures being put in place to ensure the safety of the public.
FIONA'S LAW - Women should be allowed a yearly Cervical screening
Cervical screening needs to be every year.
This is because women are dying, mothers, wives, daughters, granddaughters and sisters are dying.
Hold a public inquiry into Government contracts granted during Covid-19
Gov Responded - 5 Jan 2021 Debated on - 21 Jun 2021 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsThere should be a public inquiry into Government contracts granted during Covid-19. Many contracts have been granted without full and open procurement processes. A public inquiry would be able to ascertain whether contracts had been procured fairly and represent value for money for tax payers.
Prioritise teachers, school and childcare staff for Covid-19 vaccination
Gov Responded - 23 Feb 2021 Debated on - 11 Jan 2021 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsAdvice from the JCVI on the priority groups for a Covid-19 vaccine does not include school/childcare workers. This petition calls for these workers, who cannot distance or use PPE, to be kept safe at work by being put on the vaccine priority list when such a list is adopted into government policy.
Give all key workers a 100% tax and Nat. Ins. holiday through COVID-19 crisis
Gov Responded - 27 Apr 2020 Debated on - 14 Dec 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsThe government is helping private firms to protect jobs by paying up to 80% of staff wages through this crisis. If it can do this why can it not help key workers who will be putting themselves/their families at risk and working extra hard under extremely challenging and unprecedented circumstances.
Give government workers a fair pay rise
Gov Responded - 16 Oct 2020 Debated on - 14 Dec 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsDuring the pandemic government workers have delivered vital public services and kept our country safe and secure. After ten years in which the real value of civil service pay has fallen, many face hardship. The Government must start to restore the real value of their pay with a 10% increase in 2020.
Fund research for childhood cancers with the worst survival rates
Gov Responded - 24 Mar 2020 Debated on - 7 Dec 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributions12 kids in the UK are diagnosed with cancer daily. 1 in 5 will die within 5 years, often of the deadliest types like DIPG (brainstem cancer) - fatal on diagnosis & other cancers on relapse. Yet there has been little, or no, funding for research into these cancers and little, or no, progress.
Ban fireworks for general sale to the public.
Gov Responded - 5 Nov 2019 Debated on - 2 Nov 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsEvery year more and more people, animals and wildlife get hurt by fireworks. It’s time something was fine to stop this. There are enough organised firework groups around for us to still enjoy fireworks safely so please help me stop the needless sale of them to the public!
Review the decision to use previous data to calculate exam grades
Gov Responded - 4 Sep 2020 Debated on - 12 Oct 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsWe want the Education Secretary and the Government to step in and review the exam board’s decision on how GCSE and A-Level grades will be calculated and awarded due to the current coronavirus crisis. We want a better solution than just using our previous data to be the basis of our grade.
Reduce curriculum content for year 10 & 12 students who will sit exams in 2021.
Gov Responded - 30 Jul 2020 Debated on - 12 Oct 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsA significant number of students will sit their final 2021 examinations. The outcome of which undoubtedly will be their passport, for many of their future life chances and successes. In order for this to be done fairly, it is imperative that the amount of content they are tested on is reduced.
Increase pay for NHS healthcare workers and recognise their work
Gov Responded - 4 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsI would like the government to review and increase the pay for healthcare workers to recognise the work that they do.
Reduce or scrap the immigration health surcharge for overseas NHS Staff.
Gov Responded - 29 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsTo revoke the Immigration Health Surcharge increases for overseas NHS staff. The latest budget shows an increase of £220 a year for an overseas worker to live and work in the UK, at a time when the NHS, and UK economy, relies heavily on them.
We would like the government to consider social care as equally important to NHS
Gov Responded - 20 Apr 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsWe would like the government to support and regard social care: financially, publicly and systematically on an equal par as NHS. We would like parliament to debate how to support social care during COVID-19 and beyond so that it automatically has the same access to operational and financial support.
Give non-British citizens who are NHS workers automatic citizenship
Gov Responded - 6 May 2020 Debated on - 25 Jun 2020 View Tonia Antoniazzi's petition debate contributionsGive NHS workers who are EU and other Nationals automatic UK citizenship if they stay and risk their own lives looking after the British people during the COVID crisis.
These initiatives were driven by Tonia Antoniazzi, 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.
Tonia Antoniazzi has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to require police officers and certain employees of police forces to declare a membership of or affiliation to certain types of society and organisation; to require such declarations to be accompanied by a statement relating to that membership; and for connected purposes.
Fertility Treatment (Transparency) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Alex Davies-Jones (Lab)
Welfare (Terminal Illness) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Jessica Morden (Lab)
Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)
Problem Drug Use Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tommy Sheppard (SNP)
High Performance Vehicle Renting (Regulation) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Holly Lynch (Lab)
Pension Charges Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Angela Eagle (Lab)
Police Officer Training (Autism Awareness) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ann Clwyd (Lab)
Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Chalk (Con)
Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) and Conversion Therapy Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Karen Lee (Lab)
Charity Trustees (Time Off for Duties) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Susan Elan Jones (Lab)
Gender-based Pricing (Prohibition) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Tobacco Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kevin Barron (Lab)
Terminal Illness (Provision of Palliative Care and Support for Carers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Bambos Charalambous (Ind)
We will publish the new cross-government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy this year. We are currently analysing over 180,000 responses to the first-ever Violence Against Women and Girls Call for Evidence we ran, which will help inform the Strategy.
This was a significant response and we are working closely with all government departments to ensure the development of the Strategy takes into account those views.
Our schools and teachers are committed to supporting all pupils to thrive and reach their potential in a safe and respectful environment.
The Department for Education is also rolling out new inclusive statutory Relationships Education in all primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education in all secondary schools, so that children leave school prepared for life in modern, diverse, Britain.
As the Equality and Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body, it is for them to comment on any guidance they plan to publish. We are not able to provide further information on this.
Covid-19 is particularly challenging for those in vulnerable groups, including pregnant women.
Pregnant women can be furloughed if the employer and employee agree to this. Where this happens, the Government has amended the law to ensure they do not lose out on maternity and parental pay.
Employers should review their risk assessments for pregnant women, considering also the risk of severe illness for the shielding group. In some circumstances, medically suspending the woman may be appropriate.
The next Quinquennial Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, due to commence in 2022, will review the process in place for Veterans UK Advisors.
DBT Ministers and officials engage regularly with Post Office Ltd on a range of strategically important issues, including the company’s IT platform.
The Government is supportive of Post Office’s plans to replace Horizon with a modern, fit for purpose New Branch IT system. In December 2023, I announced the award of an additional £103m to support Post Office Limited to meet its IT costs in the 2023/34 and 2024/25 financial years.
The Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code) was put in place by the Competition Commission (CC) following a market investigation in 2008. The investigation found some unfair practices in the supply of groceries to large retailers had adversely affected competition in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for keeping under review the effectiveness of the Code in addressing the issues identified in the CC market investigation.
Last winter, the Government delivered the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund which many park homes were eligible for, delivering over £20 million in support to park home households. The Government is continuing to support those who need it the most, with millions of vulnerable and low-income households receiving £900 in further cost of living payments, including £150 to those on eligible disability benefits. This in addition to established support for vulnerable households such as the Winter Fuel Payment worth between £250 - £600.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) will continue to provide support to eligible non-domestic energy users from April 2023 until March 2024.
Contract negotiations are ultimately a matter for suppliers and their customers who should make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances. We continue to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure they are doing all they can to address price pressures and support their customers.
Gas prices for industrial users in the UK are typically among the cheapest in Europe. However, the UK’s industrial electricity prices are higher than those of other comparable countries, in part reflecting how the UK has spread electricity infrastructure costs more evenly between industry and households compared to other European countries. Recognising potential implications on industrial competitiveness, the Government announced in February that approximately 300 businesses across the UK will benefit from the British Industry Supercharger: targeted measures to ensure energy costs for key UK industries are in line with other major economies.
Prices data are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-energy-price-comparisons.
The review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme assessed a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence from businesses and stakeholders on sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices based on energy and trade intensity. The results were used alongside results from a BEIS business survey, inputs from Government departments, wider economic and public policy considerations. The outcome of the review informed the criteria used to determine eligibility for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS).
The EBDS reflects the scale of change in the energy market since last September and strikes the right balance by supporting businesses over the next year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and limiting the taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.
This rule was adopted as the named bill payer is responsible for any payment issued on the electricity account. It also ensures that the Government can verify customers’ eligibility and reduces the risk of fraudulent claims. There are exceptions when an eligible customer’s partner is named on the electricity bill and linked on their DWP benefit record, or when an eligible customer has a DWP Appointee or other legally appointed representative who is named on the bill.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) have provided financial support to all families to help manage the rising costs of their energy bills.
Households using alternative fuels are entitled to a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment. In addition to the Energy Affordability schemes, families with children with life-limiting illnesses are also entitled to a one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
As set out in the Autumn Statement, the Government is developing a new approach to consumer protection in energy markets, which will apply from April 2024 onwards including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider energy retail market reforms.
The Warm Home Discount is a supplier obligation scheme, and energy suppliers participating in the scheme are required to provide rebates from energy bills to eligible households. Through data matching, the majority of core group rebates are provided automatically, without the household having to take any action. For that reason, only the named bill payer can receive a rebate.
Owing to the complexities of the schemes delivery, the Government made the decision to extend the pilot phase of the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding. On 23 January, the Government announced that the scheme will be open to all eligible applicants by 27 February.
The Government is delivering the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) to support all families with their energy bills.
Households using alternative fuels will also be entitled to a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment. In addition to the Energy Affordability schemes, families with children with life-limiting illnesses are also entitled to a one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
As set out in the Autumn Statement, the Government is developing a new approach to consumer protection in energy markets, which will apply from April 2024 onwards including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider retail market reforms.
Almost 98% of premises in the Gower constituency can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps), in line with the national average of 97%. Over 69% of premises have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection, which is below the national average of 80%, but has increased significantly since January 2021, when coverage was under 25%.
To improve coverage further, the Government is rolling out Project Gigabit, and we have launched procurements across the UK inviting suppliers to bid for contracts to bring gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses that are unlikely to be reached by broadband suppliers' commercial rollout plans alone. The Gower constituency is included in a cross regional procurement which launched last year, and we expect to award a contract this summer.
The assessment of applications will be completed by local authorities. Cases will vary in complexity and the length of time it takes to assess them will vary accordingly.
The Government is finalising several elements of the scheme that are critical to delivery. There are significant complexities in delivering a novel scheme with a wide variety of eligible groups with different energy arrangements. The Government must ensure consumers are protected; public money is well spent with robust verification and anti-fraud checks; and that local authorities are prepared to deliver support to eligible households.
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as gold and silver, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as gold and silver, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
In 2022, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to undertake the UK’s first criticality assessment. 18 minerals – assessed as having the highest supply risk and highest economic importance – were defined as “critical”. Many other minerals, such as copper, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are defined as “critical”. Supply chain risks can be caused by – for example – rapid demand growth, concentrated supply chains in particular countries or highly volatile prices. Criticality changes over time. The assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. The next review is expected later this year.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will provide support of £400 for energy bills for around 900,000 households without a domestic electricity supply.
The Government recognises the impact rising energy prices is having on both domestic and non-domestic consumers, including public sector leisure. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is available to all eligible non-domestic energy customers, including businesses, charities and the public sector, and will provide a discount on the wholesale costs of gas and electricity. This includes public sector leisure on eligible non-domestic energy supply contracts.
The Government is finalising the eligibility, delivery arrangements for the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding and will be announcing details shortly.
The Government is working to finalise the details of the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding and have the process up and running for applications as soon as possible. Eligibility, timescales and method of delivery will be announced shortly.
The Government confirmed that further funding would be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the small percentage of domestic energy consumers not reached by the Energy Bill Support Scheme. This will include those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier. The Government has had initial engagement with the Welsh Government on this Alternative Funding and will engage with relevant parties over the coming weeks.
The Government confirmed that further funding would be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the small percentage of domestic energy consumers not reached by the Energy Bill Support Scheme. This will include those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier. The Government has had initial engagement with the Welsh Government on this Alternative Funding and will engage with relevant parties over the coming weeks.
As announced on 29 July, the EBSS Alternative Funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the households who will not be reached through the EBSS. This includes those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents.
The Government is working with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, as well as Devolved Administrations and across UK Government, to finalise the details of the Alternative Funding and have the process up and running for applications this winter.
The British Business Bank (BBB) publishes data on loans offered under the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The latest data was published in October 2021 and is available on the BBB’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/press-release/recovery-loan-scheme-offers-over-1bn-to-smaller-businesses/.
Some information about individual loans accessed through RLS are made available on the European Commission State Aid Transparency Database and the UK Subsidy Transparency Database, where required to ensure compliance with EU and international law. Where this does not apply, the Department does not currently plan to publish information about individual loan recipients.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through a network of accredited lenders. The scheme is open to small and medium sized businesses that:
Further information on who is eligible for the scheme can be found on the BBB’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/recovery-loan-scheme/for-businesses/.
Decision-making on whether a company is eligible for RLS and whether it is suitable for them is fully delegated to the accredited lenders. Prospective borrowers do not need to use a broker to access the scheme and are able to apply to lenders directly, subject to each lender’s internal processes. Where a company has applied for an RLS facility and been unsuccessful, the lender is responsible for explaining why the company’s application was declined.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through a network of accredited lenders. The scheme is open to small and medium sized businesses that:
Further information on who is eligible for the scheme can be found on the BBB’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/recovery-loan-scheme/for-businesses/.
Decision-making on whether a company is eligible for RLS and whether it is suitable for them is fully delegated to the accredited lenders. Prospective borrowers do not need to use a broker to access the scheme and are able to apply to lenders directly, subject to each lender’s internal processes. Where a company has applied for an RLS facility and been unsuccessful, the lender is responsible for explaining why the company’s application was declined.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through a network of accredited lenders. The scheme is open to small and medium sized businesses that:
Further information on who is eligible for the scheme can be found on the BBB’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/recovery-loan-scheme/for-businesses/.
Decision-making on whether a company is eligible for RLS and whether it is suitable for them is fully delegated to the accredited lenders. Prospective borrowers do not need to use a broker to access the scheme and are able to apply to lenders directly, subject to each lender’s internal processes. Where a company has applied for an RLS facility and been unsuccessful, the lender is responsible for explaining why the company’s application was declined.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through commercial lenders. The most recent data published on RLS is available at the following link: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/press-release/recovery-loan-scheme-offers-over-1bn-to-smaller-businesses/. The BBB does not capture application data on RLS. Lenders are only required to notify the BBB of RLS facilities that have been offered and drawn.
The BBB intends to publish updated data on usage of the scheme in due course.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through commercial lenders. The most recent data published on RLS is available at the following link: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/press-release/recovery-loan-scheme-offers-over-1bn-to-smaller-businesses/. The BBB does not capture application data on RLS. Lenders are only required to notify the BBB of RLS facilities that have been offered and drawn.
The BBB intends to publish updated data on usage of the scheme in due course.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through commercial lenders. The most recent data published on RLS is available at the following link: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/press-release/recovery-loan-scheme-offers-over-1bn-to-smaller-businesses/. The BBB does not capture application data on RLS. Lenders are only required to notify the BBB of RLS facilities that have been offered and drawn.
The BBB intends to publish updated data on usage of the scheme in due course.
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through a network of accredited lenders. Decision-making on whether a company is eligible for RLS and whether it is suitable for them is fully delegated to these accredited lenders.
The terms of RLS do not specify how lenders should communicate with prospective borrowers. Lenders may provide feedback to prospective borrowers in accordance with their own commercial processes.
Post Office Ltd has admitted it got things wrong in relation to Horizon and has apologised. I have announced an Independent Inquiry to ensure that we understand fully what went wrong and that this situation will never be repeated.
Officials within BEIS have regular engagement with National Grid to discuss issues around the increased uptake of electric vehicles, most recently in the context of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ (OLEV) recent consultation on the phase out of internal combustion engine cars and vans.
BEIS officials also engage with National Grid over their production of the annual Future Energy Scenarios (FES), looking ahead to 2050 to show what the future of energy in GB might look like. The latest FES includes projections of increase in annual electricity demand due to a combination of emerging technologies, including electric vehicles, and highlights the key impact of flexibility services associated with electric vehicles in meeting this future required demand.
The maximum prize for a society lottery draw was increased in July 2020 from £400,000 to £500,000 as part of a wider package of changes to society lottery limits. We are carefully considering the Committee's recommendations and will respond in due course.
Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations, and I am very appreciative of the role they play in supporting such a wide range of sectors. Large society lotteries raised a record £367 million for good causes between April 2019 and March 2020. Society lotteries are regulated under a different framework to the National Lottery and are exempt from paying Lottery Duty.
Reforms to society lotteries came into effect in July 2020, including significant increases in the sales limits, raising the limit for a single draw from £4 million to £5 million and the annual sales limit from £10 million to £50 million. I am pleased that since these changes we have started to see more lottery proceeds going to good causes, as the aim of these reforms was to enable both society lotteries and the National Lottery - often seen as complementary sources of income - to thrive.
There are currently eight England/UK sports governing bodies that are part of the pilot sports programme. Because sports are incredibly diverse, there can be no ‘one-size fits all’ approach and the Sports Councils Equality Group are focusing on providing space, time and support to help sports define the best options and determine whether it may be possible to offer more than one version of their sport to achieve their particular aims.
Due to the fluid nature of the process as the organisations go through their thinking and the potential for this work to come to fruition at different stages, the Sports Councils Equality Group are respecting and protecting this space and not disclosing the detail of these sports at this time.
The Sports Councils Equality Group approached the training requirements around the Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport Guidance via three different approaches: briefings, workshops, and pilot sports.
Soon after the Guidance was launched in September 2021 the Sports Councils Equality Group delivered two high-level 60 minute briefings attended by 22 National Governing Bodies (NGBs). These were a precursor to more in-depth, 3 hour, training sessions which have been running, and continue to do so, at regular intervals. These, to date, have been attended by 24 NGBs and are continuing to attract new NGBs to each online delivered session.
Ministers have had no direct discussions with UK Athletics since October 2021. This relationship is managed by UK Sport who keep the government closely sighted on issues through Board meetings and regular engagement with Ministers and officials.
The Department is confident that fair and proper processes are in place to ensure the best candidates possible are appointed to leadership roles in National Governing Bodies which are funded by UK Sport.
The government is clear that there is no place for discrimination or intimidation in any sport, at any level. The Sports Councils Equality Group (SCEG) transgender inclusion guidance is intended to help provide support and clarity for National Governing Bodies operating in a complex environment. The review was carried out in recognition that the previous guidance was outdated and that sport at every level required more practical advice and support.
With reference to the answer provided on 18th October 2021 to questions 56575-56576, the SCEG guidance provides a decision making framework and a variety of different approaches for the National Governing Bodies of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety.
Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils are not regulators of sport, and the SCEG document serves as guidance that is independent from funding. The expectations for sporting organisations that receive public funding are set out in the Code for Sport Governance.
The government will continue to work through our arm’s length bodies, Sport England and UK Sport, to support National Governing Bodies in reviewing their policies for their sport.
The government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as safety and fairness across all levels of sport. This is at the heart of our strategy ‘Sporting Future’. Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils’ Equality Group (SCEG) transgender guidance is a carefully considered report which addresses the complexities of transgender inclusion in sport. The report has concluded that there is an inherent tension between delivering inclusion, fairness and safety when including transgender women into the women’s sport category due to retained physiological differences.
The guidance advises the national governing bodies (NGBs) of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety. It also includes a decision making framework to help sports undertake such an assessment and if appropriate consider options to modify or adapt their offer to facilitate participation.
Our arm’s length bodies Sport England and UK Sport will continue to support NGBs to undertake the necessary assessment for their sport.