Viscount Trenchard Portrait

Viscount Trenchard

Conservative - Excepted Hereditary

Became Member: 17th May 2004


3 APPG memberships (as of 24 Jan 2024)
Energy Security, Japan, Nuclear Energy
2 Former APPG memberships
Electric Aviation, Mutuals
European Affairs Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 31st Jan 2024
EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee
15th Jan 2019 - 23rd Apr 2020


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Viscount Trenchard has voted in 496 divisions, and 12 times against the majority of their Party.

23 Feb 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 33 Conservative Aye votes vs 188 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 367 Noes - 214
2 Feb 2021 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 40 Conservative Aye votes vs 165 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 359 Noes - 188
7 Dec 2020 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 143 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 161
1 Dec 2020 - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Conservative Aye votes vs 178 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 64 Noes - 246
4 Nov 2020 - Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Conservative Aye votes vs 165 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 30 Noes - 376
28 Sep 2020 - Coronavirus Act 2020: Temporary Provisions - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative Aye votes vs 166 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 99 Noes - 198
15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative Aye votes vs 125 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 112 Noes - 388
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 36 Conservative Aye votes vs 156 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 93 Noes - 418
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Conservative Aye votes vs 151 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 63 Noes - 401
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative Aye votes vs 144 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 70 Noes - 409
6 Dec 2021 - Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Conservative Aye votes vs 70 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 25 Noes - 74
15 Dec 2021 - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Viscount Trenchard voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative Aye votes vs 105 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 38 Noes - 205
View All Viscount Trenchard 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
Lord Callanan (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
(13 debate interactions)
Baroness Penn (Conservative)
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
(10 debate interactions)
Baroness Goldie (Conservative)
(9 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Financial Services and Markets Act 2023
(13,925 words contributed)
Financial Services Bill 2019-21
(12,284 words contributed)
Agriculture Act 2020
(10,682 words contributed)
Environment Act 2021
(8,245 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Viscount Trenchard's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Viscount Trenchard, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Viscount Trenchard has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Viscount Trenchard has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 16 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
3 Other Department Questions
6th Feb 2023
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 1 February (HL5048), what account was taken by the external experts of the proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers' Entrance against the background that further related security works will be undertaken within the next three years.

The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.

To avoid publicly disclosing sensitive security matters it is not possible to go into further detail, however Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.

6th Feb 2023
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 1 February (HL5048), what account was taken of the further security works to be undertaken within the next three years when assessing the proportionality of the cost of the works at Peers' Entrance.

The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.

To avoid publicly disclosing sensitive security matters it is not possible to go into further detail, however Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.

24th Jan 2023
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the proportionality of the cost of replacing the revolving door at Peers' Entrance, given the plans for further related security works within the next three years.

The proportionality of the costs of the works at Peers’ Entrance, and the security benefits arising, have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts.

13th Sep 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a planning framework to facilitate the adoption of new potential sites for nuclear reactors, including (1) small modular reactors, and (2) advanced modular reactors.

We stated in the 2020 Energy White Paper our intention to undertake a review of the energy National Policy Statement (NPS) suite. This review was published for consultation on 6th September 2021.

This consultation includes the revised overarching National Policy Statement for energy (EN-1). The revised EN-1 sets out that a new technology specific NPS for nuclear electricity generation deployable after 2025 is proposed and will be developed to reflect the changing policy and technology landscape for nuclear and support the transition to net zero. This will be consulted on in the usual manner, in due course.

The revised EN1, also sets out that the need for nuclear could be met by large scale gigawatt nuclear, Small Modular Reactors, Advanced Modular Reactors and fusion technologies.

The publication of this consultation is a first step toward a planning framework to facilitate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Sep 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish an updated National Policy Statement for nuclear power to reflect the range of applications envisaged for nuclear technology set out in the Energy White Paper published on 14 December 2020.

We stated in the 2020 Energy White Paper our intention to undertake a review of the energy National Policy Statement (NPS) suite. This review was published for consultation on 6th September 2021.

This consultation includes the revised overarching National Policy Statement for energy (EN-1). The revised EN-1 sets out that a new technology specific NPS for nuclear electricity generation deployable after 2025 is proposed and will be developed to reflect the changing policy and technology landscape for nuclear and support the transition to net zero. This will be consulted on in the usual manner, in due course.

The revised EN1, also sets out that the need for nuclear could be met by large scale gigawatt nuclear, Small Modular Reactors, Advanced Modular Reactors and fusion technologies.

The publication of this consultation is a first step toward a planning framework to facilitate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
15th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to apply for COVID-19 to be considered an exceptional circumstance under Article 107(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and what assessment they have made of how that could alter the support provided to businesses in the UK.

Aid for COVID-19 related losses may be given under article 107(2)(b) or article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Article 107(2)(b) requires the European Commission to approve aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences. The Commission declared on 12 March that COVID-19 qualified as an exceptional occurrence. A key feature of this provision is that schemes must only compensate businesses for damages actually suffered as a result of COVID-19. Schemes under this provision must be individually notified to and approved by, the Commission.

Under Article 107(3)(b) the Commission may approve aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy. Under this article, the Commission has introduced some welcome flexibilities into the rules to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19, in the form of a Temporary Framework. This facilitates aid going to the companies who need it most, quickly and efficiently.

When the Government considered its State aid options in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it took the decision to design schemes that would allow organisations to access funds quickly and easily with a minimal number of checks and balances attached to the application and approval processes.

Following work by BEIS officials, the COVID-19 Temporary Framework was approved by the Commission under the Temporary Framework on 6 April. This allows public authorities to introduce their own aid measures without the necessity of obtaining an individual Commission approval. The combination of this and other measures such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Self Employed Income Support Scheme constitute an important part of the unprecedented programme of Government support for business to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in discussions with the European Commission about amendments to the Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak, adopted on 19 March, to permit small and medium enterprises whose capital is principally represented by long-term shareholders' loans but whose businesses were viable until the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and whether they have raised in such discussions the case for permitting those enterprises to apply for such loans even if those businesses could be deemed as ‘undertakings in difficulty’ under EU State Aid rules.

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. The State aid rules are a sole competence of the European Commission. The 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 European Commission’s Temporary State Aid Framework. Companies that do not pass the ‘undertaking in difficulty’ test are eligible for support, in recognition of the impact of Coronavirus, unless they were in difficulty on 31 December 2019, prior to the outbreak.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the guidelines issued to lenders participating in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme permit such lenders to require that an SME director pledge personal assets in order to receive a Government guarantee of 80 per cent on each loan; and what guidance has been issued to lenders on the terms of such lending.

The terms of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) state that Personal Guarantees of any form (whether or not these include the pledging of personal assets) cannot be used in respect of any CBILS facilities up to £250,000.

Personal guarantees for CBILS facilities above £250,000 are not required by the scheme rules. They may be taken at the lender’s discretion. If that is the case, recoveries under such guarantees are capped at a maximum of 20% of the outstanding balance of the CBILS facility after the proceeds of business assets, if any, have been applied.

A Principal Private Residence cannot be taken as security to support a personal guarantee or as security for any CBILS facility.

These terms were updated on 3 April 2020 and will be retrospectively applied for any CBILS facilities offered since the start of the scheme on 23 March 2020. This means that any personal guarantees already taken for CBILS facilities up to £250,000 will be waived.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
23rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide loans to music festival operators to cover a fixed percentage of staff salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced additional measures to support businesses and organisations that have been impacted by the pandemic. So long as they fulfil the criteria for these measures, businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors will benefit from these measures.

This includes the Government stepping in to help pay people’s wages – a scheme which is one of the most generous of any in the world – and paying grants to support as many jobs as necessary. Any employer in the country who promises to retain their staff can apply for a grant to cover most of the cost of paying people’s wages. Government grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month, with this limit set well above the median income. The cost of wages will be backdated to 1st March and will be open for at least three months. The Government will consider extending the scheme for longer if necessary.

We are also deferring the next three months of VAT, a direct injection of £33 billion of cash to employers which means no business will pay any VAT in March, April or May; and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On 17 March, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million.

The Chancellor has also announced measures to protect the self-employed. As long as they fulfil the necessary criteria, freelancers and the self-employed in the music industry will benefit from these measures. The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
25th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sale of part of the British Embassy in Tokyo during the 150th anniversary year of the visit to the UK of the Iwakura Mission.

The FCDO has completed the sale of an under-used part of our Tokyo compound to Mitsubishi Estates, while retaining the Chancery building and its historic frontage. In line with our ambitions for the Indo-Pacific tilt, this sale gives us the opportunity to modernise and upgrade our Tokyo embassy to ensure it is truly representative of the best of Britain, including through sustainable and inclusive design, whilst also preserving its heritage buildings. The sale has maximised value for money for the British taxpayer, funding much-needed investment not just in Tokyo but also elsewhere in our global estate. The Japanese Government has been kept informed of our plans.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
25th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the decision to sell part of the British Embassy estate in Tokyo.

The FCDO has completed the sale of an under-used part of our Tokyo compound to Mitsubishi Estates, while retaining the Chancery building and its historic frontage. In line with our ambitions for the Indo-Pacific tilt, this sale gives us the opportunity to modernise and upgrade our Tokyo embassy to ensure it is truly representative of the best of Britain, including through sustainable and inclusive design, whilst also preserving its heritage buildings. The sale has maximised value for money for the British taxpayer, funding much-needed investment not just in Tokyo but also elsewhere in our global estate. The Japanese Government has been kept informed of our plans.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
25th May 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Treasury provide the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with financial support for the (1) maintenance, and (2) development, of the overseas diplomatic estate; and if not, what assessment they have made of the compatibility of this approach with their (a) Global Britain, and (b) tilt to Asia–Pacific, policies.

The FCDO's Spending Round settlement provides funds for the maintenance of the diplomatic estate. The disposal of surplus, under-used and uneconomic assets releases capital to enable us to invest in the estate. Taken together, this provides much needed investment in the FCDO's wider diplomatic estate, providing modern, fit for purpose offices and residences, tackling a large deficit of health and safety, backlog building maintenance and security-related needs across Europe, Africa and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, and funding various projects to help towards the FCDO's Net Zero ambitions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to freelance workers, and in particular, to those who work in the music festivals sector.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new support for the self-employed on 26 March 2020.

The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It will allow eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed and is one of the most generous self-employed support schemes in the world.

To qualify, an individual’s self-employed trading profits must be less than £50,000 and more than half of their income comes from self-employment. 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment will be eligible for this scheme.

HM Revenue & Customs will contact individuals if they are eligible for and invite them to apply online using a simple form. HMRC are working on this urgently and expect people to be able to access the Scheme no later than the beginning of June.

More information about the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria and how to claim, is available on GOV.UK.

The Scheme supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses and employees, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and deferral of tax payments.

More information about the full range of business support measures is available on GOV.UK.

23rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all festival businesses whose financial viability have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible to receive loans equal to the amount of financial damage they have suffered as a direct result of the pandemic; and whether any such loans will require owners or directors of these businesses to pledge their personal assets.

The government has announced a significant package of financial support for all businesses and organisations, including through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Details of this package are available at: www.businesssupport.gov.uk. The government has taken new legal powers in the COVID-19 Bill, enabling it to offer whatever further financial support it thinks necessary to support businesses.
23rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is weighted for London; and what plans they have for those whose salaries exceed the threshold of the Scheme.

The grant provided in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is not weighted for London. Any UK organisation with employees can apply for cash grants of 80% of employees’ wages up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

This grant is not designed to subsidise those on very high wages. The cap of £2,500 per month is above the UK median earnings level.