Clive Lewis
MP for Norwich South
Lab
7 May 2015 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will know that after 14 years of Tory ideological hostility and cuts, our universities are in financial meltdown. The University of East Anglia, in my constituency, is having to make redundancies, as are many others. Our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has started to address the problem, but we need a long-term solution that does not simply saddle our young people with more debt. Can my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister say how we can move to fix the foundations of higher education as we go forward?
Context
Universities are facing severe financial challenges after 14 years of ideological hostility and cuts, leading to redundancies at institutions like the University of East Anglia.
Keir Starmer
My hon. Friend is right to raise higher education. We inherited a sector facing severe financial challenges. Universities have suffered a real-terms decline in their income and the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers is the highest on record. We have had to take tough decisions to put that on a secure footing, but we are also taking the step of easing living pressures by increasing maintenance loans, which is worth an extra £414 per year.
Assessment
The Prime Minister did not address long-term structural solutions or avoiding increased student debt.
Session: PMQs 2024-11-06
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In Norwich there is a saying: there is a church for every Sunday and a pub for every day of the week. After 14 years of austerity, the numbers are a lot lower. After this Budget, many pub landlords—small and medium-sized businesses—tell me that we are not going far enough, and that many of them will go under. They need more support, and they need it soon. If the changes go through, I fear that Norwich will not have that saying at all; we will have hardly any pubs. Can we not put more of the burden on the pub companies and big corporations, which should be paying their fair share, rather than on the small and medium-sized businesses and small pub landlords, who cannot pay what is coming at them?
Dan Tomlinson (The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury)
One of the things we announced at the Budget is a rebalancing in the system away from properties that have large rateable values and towards the small businesses on our high streets. That shift from the large to the smaller properties is worth almost £1 billion and supports them in the business rates system, as part of our work to reform business rates and support our high streets.
Session: Hospitality Sector and SMEs 2025-12-09
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Given evidence that financial sector growth beyond a certain size harms the productive economy and costs billions, how will the Chancellor ensure this does not affect the Government's wider missions?
Context
The financial sector's overgrowth has been shown to negatively impact the real economy, costing it £4.5 trillion over a decade.
Tulip Siddiq
The debate on financial vs real economy growth is ongoing and there's no consensus. The UK's financial services sector is seen as a key part of future success, mobilised towards achieving broader goals.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-12-03
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I put on record my gratitude to the Home Secretary and her team for releasing the Home Office commissioned report, “The Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal”, which concluded that 30 years of racist immigration legislation caused the Windrush scandal. Those now on the Opposition Benches spent three years trying to suppress that report. Will the Home Secretary meet me, other MPs and civil society representatives to discuss its recommendations?
Context
The MP is calling for a meeting to discuss the Home Office commissioned Windrush scandal report's recommendations.
Seema Malhotra
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. It was a shocking report, and one that the previous Government refused to publish. I would be very happy to meet him and other hon. Members to discuss it.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-10-21
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I thank the Foreign Secretary and his team for the £500,000 committed to the Caribbean after the devastation on Grenada and Carriacou as a result of Hurricane Beryl, but can I press him and the team on the fact that the Caribbean is at the sharp end of the climate crisis? Will he tell the House what plans he has to advocate at COP29 for a replacement of the $100 billion climate finance deal?
Context
The Caribbean is at the sharp end of the climate crisis with recent devastation from Hurricane Beryl.
David Lammy
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for taking up such issues from the Back Benches. He will know that I was dealing with these matters on day one in office, and we want to take up those issues as we head to COP.
Session: Topical Questions 2024-07-30
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Living Standards: East of England
03 September 2025
Responding: Emma Reynolds
Main Concerns
['In Norwich, wages remain below the national average. One in five workers earns less than the real living wage, and one in six is trapped in insecure work such as zero hours or agency jobs. Rents have risen by more than 20% since 2021. A quarter of private renters are handing over half or more of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.']
Specific Asks
['Council homes, built sustainably, will solve the housing crisis in this country. Developers, not climate, nature or local democracy, are the block to building more houses here.']
Healthcare Provision: East of England
03 September 2024
Responding: Karin Smyth
Main Concerns
['The hon. Member is concerned about the systemic crisis in healthcare provision in the eastern region, including long ambulance waiting times, high rates of mental health referrals and poor dental care. He highlights that areas like Norwich have one dentist per 2,600 people and are experiencing a significant backlog in social care assessments. The MP also points out that climate change exacerbates health issues due to flooding and its aftermath.']
Specific Asks
['The hon. Member asks the Minister how healthcare outcomes will be improved while implementing previous Government cuts. He also queries whether there is news on the implementation of a cap on care costs and what plans exist for prevention-focused healthcare provision. Lastly, he inquires about simplifying NHS structures and establishing an undergraduate dental school to address dentist shortages.']
Ministry of Defence: Palantir Contracts
10 February 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill 2026-02-03
03 February 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Water White Paper 2026-01-21
21 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Independent Water Commission 2025-07-21
21 July 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Financial Services Reform 2025-07-16
16 July 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Government's financial services growth and competitiveness strategy is a 10-year plan to make the UK the global centre of choice for financial services investment by 2035. The sector, worth 9% of ...
Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism 2025-07-02
02 July 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill 2025-07-01
01 July 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Middle East 2025-06-23
23 June 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Windrush Day 2025 2025-06-16
16 June 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Acknowledges the 77th anniversary of Windrush, highlighting the contributions of Caribbean migrants to Britain's post-war reconstruction. Emphasises the challenges faced by Windrush pioneers, includin...
Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025-06-09
09 June 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Attendance
59.1%
13 of 22 votes
Aye Votes
6
27.3% of votes
No Votes
7
31.8% of votes
Abstentions
9
40.9% 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
DID NOT VOTE
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
DID NOT VOTE
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Thir...
Ayes: 316
Noes: 194
Passed
21 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
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
DID NOT VOTE
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
DID NOT VOTE
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 25
Ayes: 187
Noes: 351
Failed
13 Jan 2026
DID NOT VOTE
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
4
Ministerial Questions Asked
17
House of Commons Debates Involved
2
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
-50% below average
This MP:
4
Average:
7.9
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+30% above average
This MP:
2
Average:
1.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+619% above average
This MP:
17
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 (%)
-22% below average
This MP:
59.1
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 Clive Lewis's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.