Luke Charters
MP for York Outer
Lab
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
Will the Prime Minister agree that strength as a man means being open about one's emotions and that challenges should not be faced alone? Will he also recognize the importance of initiatives like Menfulness which provides a place for men to talk?
Context
On International Men's Day, the MP shares his personal experience with mental health challenges during a traumatic birth to encourage other men to seek support.
The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)
I thank my hon. Friend for his honesty. It is never easy to stand up and say what he has, and I hope he understands just how important that is for others who are suffering. The Prime Minister also announces the publication of the first-ever men’s health strategy which will tackle challenges disproportionately affecting men.
Session: PMQs 2025-11-19
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What is being done to ensure that the warm home discount reaches private renting households and ends unfair penalties for many simply for renting?
Context
In York, a significant portion of fuel-poor households rent privately. The questioner highlights the issue faced by his mother who had to deal with an ancient heating system in her rented home.
Martin McCluskey
The experience that my hon. Friend outlines is still all too common in our country, and I know that he continues to raise this issue on behalf of all his constituents. The warm home discount is available to eligible private renting households on prepayment meters, and through the warm homes plan we are taking significant action to increase the minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rental sector.
Session: Warm Home Discount 2026-02-10
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What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the extension of the warm home discount on living standards?
Context
The extension of the Warm Home Discount scheme has been announced, affecting millions of households. This question seeks to understand its impact on living standards.
Martin McCluskey
I am proud that the Government have extended the Warm Home Discount to an extra 2.7 million households, taking the total to around 6 million. Last week, we announced that the scheme would continue supporting households for a further five years to 2031.
Session: Warm Home Discount 2026-02-10
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I am proud of York College in my constituency, where talented students are mastering apprenticeships that will power our clean energy future. York College is considering becoming a clean energy technical excellence college under the outstanding leadership of Ken Merry. Will the Secretary of State welcome that and visit the college to see how it leads the way in further education in preparing for the clean energy jobs of the future?
Context
The context is job creation in the energy sector for Yorkshire and the Humber region, where there are opportunities across offshore wind, hydrogen, nuclear, and other areas.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)
I congratulate York College on its work. I know from my constituency in Doncaster, where we are to get a second university technical college specialising in green skills, the importance of that and the excitement of young people about this future. By turning their backs on clean energy, the Opposition turn their backs on young people.
Session: Energy Jobs Yorkshire and the Humber 2026-01-06
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Away tickets cost £45 at championship Coventry and £30 at league one Mansfield Town. Even some national league games are getting close to £30 for York City fans, when premiership clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and United all have a £30 cap. Does the Secretary of State support extending an away ticket cap across all leagues as a ceiling, not a target?
Context
The MP raised concerns about the affordability of away football tickets for fans.
Lisa Nandy (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
Football is nothing without the fans, and my hon. Friend is right to say that it must be affordable for people across the country. The Premier League has shown enormous leadership through the £30 away cap—that is an excellent example of that principle. This is precisely why this Government wasted no time in passing the Football Governance Act 2025 with the permission of both Houses, which implements minimum engagement standards, including requiring clubs to consult fans on ticket prices.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-11-27
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Last week, I held a survey of my constituents on bus services. I got a great response, but one response stayed with me. My constituent said that the No. 11 bus—the only route to the crematorium—does not run on Sundays, meaning that they cannot visit loved ones on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, the days that hurt most. Reading that put a real lump in my throat. No one should be stopped from remembering those they have lost because of a bus not running, so I have written to the operator, but will the Minister join me in arguing that this is the sort of practical, kind change we need to make across the country?
Context
A constituent survey revealed that the No. 11 bus, the only route to the crematorium, does not run on Sundays.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)
It is vital that local bus services work for local communities, and that is at the heart of the Government’s bus reforms. I encourage the local operators to consider the feedback that my hon. Friend has mentioned, recognising the role that bus services play in supporting people to meet their families and friends and make important visits, such as to the crematorium.
Session: Bus Services York Outer 2025-11-20
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Does the Minister agree that we should stand ready to expand that package to stop Russian financial institutions financing Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine?
Stephen Doughty
We are absolutely committed to choking off Russia’s war machine and bringing Putin to the table. Our sanctions alongside others have denied Russia access to at least £450 billion since February 2022, which would have funded two more years of this illegal and barbarous war.
Session: Topical Questions 2025-10-28
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Having spent my career before entering this place tackling fraud, I recognise the scale of the challenge, so I commend the Secretary of State for her leadership, with the biggest ever crackdown on benefit fraud. Given the success of whistleblower reward schemes in tax and financial crime, does my hon. Friend agree with me that there is merit in exploring similar schemes to uncover organised fraud in the benefits system, so that more funds can be recovered to support those who genuinely need support: our constituents?
Context
Recognising the complexity and scale of welfare fraud perpetrated by organised criminal gangs, Mr Charters highlights the need for effective measures to address this issue. He references his career experience in tackling such challenges.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. We take all allegations of fraud seriously. People who suspect fraud against the Department for Work and Pensions can use existing channels to report it, including the national benefit fraud hotline. This Government are not complacent. As I mentioned in my substantive reply, we are taking action with the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which will provide a range of new powers to address fraud and error in the social security system, after the Conservative party failed to substantively update our powers to tackle ever-more complex fraud during 14 long years in office. However, I will watch with interest whether there is learning from the schemes my hon. Friend mentioned that could be applied to cases of benefit fraud.
Session: Welfare Fraud Organised Crime 2025-06-23
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I have met outstanding UK SMEs, such as Supacat, 4GD and many others, which contribute to the sovereign industrial base that our security depends on. However, under the last Government, the percentage of Ministry of Defence direct expenditure going to SMEs fell, from 5% to 4%. Will my right hon. Friend confirm when this Government expect to surpass that record and therefore back the innovation we need to equip our forces and support our allies?
Context
The MP highlighted that under the previous government, the percentage of Ministry of Defence direct expenditure going to SMEs fell from 5% to 4%. He sought clarity on when this Government expect to surpass that record.
The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)
I congratulate and thank my hon. Friend, as well as my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Alex Baker), for the work that they are doing on innovative finance, which will help SMEs in future. I can confirm that SME involvement in the defence supply chain will be boosted by new spending targets that I will set in June to produce exactly the sort of result that my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters) is looking for.
Session: Defence Procurement SMEs 2025-05-19
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Last week, Labour councillors in York delivered the first local plan—are you ready for this, Mr Speaker?—since 1954, for which they should be commended, but local authorities need planning officers if they are to ensure that applications can be processed quickly. Will the Minister update the House on plans to increase the number of planning officers?
Context
Local authorities need planning officers to ensure applications are processed quickly, and York delivered its first local plan since 1954.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Alex Norris)
I fondly remember—at least, I think I do—our consideration of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith) remembers it, too. At every sitting of the Public Bill Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) said that York had never produced a plan, so I was overjoyed when I heard from the leader of York council this morning that it had had that success. Of course, making these things real involves really good planners, which is why we are pleased to have made a further £46 million available for planning capacity.
Session: Fire Safety Local Authority Planning 2025-03-03
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer mentioned growth over 40 times in her superb Mansion House speech. York, Leeds and beyond will benefit from that. How will my hon. Friend ensure that the industrial strategy delivers for financial services so that we can achieve the growth this country desperately needs?
Context
The MP pointed out the Chancellor's emphasis on growth, specifically in relation to financial services and how it can benefit the region of York, Leeds and beyond.
Sarah Jones
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the UK's world-leading financial services sector. Through the Treasury, we are developing a 10-year financial services strategy and, of course, financial services is one of the pillars of our industry strategy, which we will publish in the spring. We cannot take the UK's status as a global financial centre for granted. In a highly competitive world, we need to earn that status and work to keep it, and that is what we intend to do.
Session: Chancellor’s Mansion House Speech Funding Plans 2024-12-12
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What steps his Department is taking to support the delivery of the funding plans outlined in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Mansion House speech?
Context
The MP inquired about the steps being taken to support the delivery of funding announced by the Chancellor.
Sarah Jones
Growth is the Government's No. 1 mission and, in her Mansion House speech, the Chancellor announced a package of reforms to drive growth and investment across the UK. I have lost count of the number of times I have had conversations with businesses where they talked about how our appetite for risk is not in the right place, and we are looking to reform that. Here in DBT, we are driving change through our new industrial strategy working across Departments, which we will publish in the spring.
Session: Chancellor’s Mansion House Speech Funding Plans 2024-12-12
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I recently heard from a constituent with three young children who has applied for over 80 properties, but is still waiting for social housing. What steps will my right hon. Friend take to speed up the planning process specifically for social housing?
Context
A constituent has been waiting for social housing after applying for over 80 properties.
Angela Rayner
My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the need for more social housing. We have committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation, and I have proposed changes to the national planning policy framework to support that. We have also announced additional funding for the affordable homes programme.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-12-02
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Does my hon. Friend agree that, from lager to lambing, businesses will play a critical role in delivering the five missions, so business engagement is key?
Context
The question references highly innovative businesses such as Brew York and Piglets Adventure Farm in the constituency.
Ellie Reeves
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the work that Brew York and Piglets Adventure Farm do in his constituency. I absolutely agree that engagement and working with business will be key to delivering on all five of our missions.
Session: Government’s Five Missions 2024-10-24
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Unknown
10 February 2026
Main Concerns
['I have always said that I am a dad first and an MP second. My son Robin, who is three years old, loves to play outside. Even on weekends, my phone usage was four or five hours daily despite the importance of family time when children are young. When kids are young, we never get that time back, and every hour counts.']
Specific Asks
['Present fatherhood starts with all of us putting the phone down.']
Young Children’s Screen Time
10 February 2026
Responding: Georgia Gould
Main Concerns
['The speaker is concerned about the impact of excessive screen time on young children. He cites research indicating that nearly 98% of children under two engage with screens daily, averaging about two hours a day. Another study estimates nearly 800,000 under-fives are using social media unsupervised, leading to fears over exposure to inappropriate content and the negative impact on attention, behaviour, sleep, and emotional regulation.']
Specific Asks
['The speaker asks for government support in providing guidance to parents about what constitutes excessive screen time. He also advocates for transparent policies regarding screen use in schools and encourages a balanced approach that includes positive alternatives such as outdoor activities and reading.']
Defence Sector Financing
07 May 2025
Responding: Emma Reynolds
Main Concerns
['The UK defence sector faces significant hurdles in accessing finance, bank accounts and insurance. British SMEs struggle with cash flow constraints due to delayed payments from prime contractors, leading some companies to consider moving abroad.']
Specific Asks
["Calls for the establishment of a multilateral defence development bank to fortify Britain's collective security and bolster its sovereign defence industries by fixing financing issues at home."]
Regulation of the Bailiff Sector
11 February 2025
Responding: Alex Davies-Jones
Main Concerns
['A vulnerable disabled person experienced a bailiff forcefully entering their home and seizing equipment supplied by the local authority. The Enforcement Conduct Board regulates about 95% of the bailiff sector, but problems persist with one in three people experiencing rule-breaking behaviour from regulated bailiffs. Debt collection can lead to mental health issues, including suicide attempts and anxiety-induced late-term abortions.']
Specific Asks
['Calls for the Government to legislate to introduce an independent regulator for the enforcement sector, put the Enforcement Conduct Board on a statutory footing, and set out a timetable to consult on legislation to introduce statutory regulation of the sector.']
Financial Fraud and Economic Crime
11 September 2024
Main Concerns
['The hon. Member is concerned about the increasing sophistication of financial fraud techniques, including AI avatars, shell companies, spearfishing, parasitic targeting of legitimate firms, and advanced cloning methods. He notes that these crimes have a significant emotional impact on victims, particularly those with low incomes or lower tech proficiency. The current situation in the UK is alarming, as fraud accounts for over 40% of crime but receives only 1% of police resources. Additionally, the cost of payments fraud to the economy is £1.2 billion annually, and individual losses can reach five-figure sums. Local police forces often deprioritise fraud reports due to geographical complexities.']
Specific Asks
["The hon. Member asks the Government to set an ambitious anti-fraud target that surpasses current levels and includes businesses in its scope. He recommends creating a new national anti-fraud centre, supporting data sharing between sectors, enabling banks to share payment data, imposing shared responsibility on social media companies for fraud origination, and expanding FCA powers over the Post Office's everyday banking service."]
Standards in Public Life
09 February 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Business Rates 2026-01-27
27 January 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Government is taking steps to protect high street businesses from upward-only rent review clauses, introducing a strong new community right to buy to safeguard valued community assets. They are al...
Northern Powerhouse Rail 2026-01-14
14 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) 2026-01-07
07 January 2026
General Debate
Led by this MP
The current student finance system is outdated and inflexible, leading to financial strain for students. The system does not align with the realities of monthly rent and bills payments, causing many s...
Ajax Armoured Vehicle 2025-12-08
08 December 2025
Urgent Question
Contributed to this debate
Will the Minister confirm the latest developments concerning Ajax and other Army vehicles, particularly in light of the reported noise and vibration symptoms experienced by soldiers during Exercise Ti...
Budget Resolutions 2025-12-01
01 December 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Remembrance Day Armed Forces 2025-11-11
11 November 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Manchester Terrorism Attack 2025-10-13
13 October 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Baby Loss 2025-10-13
13 October 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate discusses the challenges faced by families who have experienced baby loss, highlighting that 13 babies die daily in various circumstances. It emphasises disparities in outcomes based on eth...
Defence Industrial Strategy 2025-09-08
08 September 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence announced the publication of the defence industrial strategy. He emphasised £773 million investment to strengthen UK security and grow its economy, focusing ...
Attendance
86.4%
19 of 22 votes
Aye Votes
8
36.4% of votes
No Votes
11
50.0% of votes
Abstentions
3
13.6% of votes
03 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 458
Noes: 104
Passed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Opposition Day: British Indian Ocean Territory
Ayes: 103
Noes: 284
Failed
28 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Opposition Day: Youth unemployment
Ayes: 91
Noes: 287
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 9
Ayes: 91
Noes: 378
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 1
Ayes: 88
Noes: 310
Failed
27 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 2
Ayes: 61
Noes: 311
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 195
Noes: 317
Failed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial...
Ayes: 373
Noes: 106
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Thir...
Ayes: 316
Noes: 194
Passed
21 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill Commi...
Ayes: 191
Noes: 326
Failed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 184
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Sentencing Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 7
Ayes: 319
Noes: 127
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 344
Noes: 182
Passed
20 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill: motion to...
Ayes: 347
Noes: 185
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED AYE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 63 Stand part
Ayes: 348
Noes: 167
Passed
13 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 26
Ayes: 172
Noes: 334
Failed
13 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 9
Ayes: 181
Noes: 335
Failed
13 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Clause 86 stand part
Ayes: 344
Noes: 173
Passed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 25
Ayes: 187
Noes: 351
Failed
13 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 24
Ayes: 184
Noes: 331
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 7
Ayes: 188
Noes: 341
Failed
12 Jan 2026
VOTED NO
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 185
Noes: 344
Failed
1
PMQs Asked
13
Ministerial Questions Asked
51
House of Commons Debates Involved
5
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
22
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 649 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-48% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
1.9
Ministerial Questions
+64% above average
This MP:
13
Average:
7.9
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+225% above average
This MP:
5
Average:
1.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+2057% above average
This MP:
51
Average:
2.4
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
5.1
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.2
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
+14% above average
This MP:
86.4
Average:
75.6
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Luke Charters's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.