Andrew Selous
MP for South West Bedfordshire
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
The 60% increase in funding for special educational needs and disabilities is extremely welcome, but challenges around the recruitment of community paediatricians mean that some children in Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and Houghton Regis are waiting too long for an assessment. What can the NHS do to attract more of the 39,000 additional doctors recruited under this Government into community paediatrics, as a specialty that is incredibly rewarding and important?
Context
The MP highlighted challenges in attracting community paediatricians, noting a 60% increase in funding for special educational needs and disabilities.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend is right, and he joins me in welcoming the significant action that we have already taken to improve children's health, whether that is reducing sugar in children's food, or the £600 million we have invested to improve the quality of sport and physical activity in schools. The NHS has established a special group to ensure that the recovery of paediatric services keeps pace with that of adult elective care, and he will be pleased that the NHS long-term workforce plan, which we have fully backed, doubles the number of medical school places in England and increases specialty training places. That will increase the size of the pool from which community paediatricians can be drawn in the future.
Assessment
The PM did not specify actions to attract doctors into community paediatrics now.
Nhs Has Established A Special Group
Doubles Medical School Places
Session: PMQs
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My integrated care board tells me that only £2 million of the £120 million of capital that it receives annually is for primary care, which seems an unfairly small amount for our amazing family doctors and practice nurses who are, after all, the front door of the NHS. Can our local general practitioners have a greater share?
Context
An integrated care board receives only £2 million out of its annual £120 million capital budget for primary care.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent and continued campaigning on health provision for his constituents. On his specific point, integrated care boards have the power to increase their primary care annual capital management budget, so long as they keep within the overall budget. I understand that he met a Health Minister earlier this week to discuss this further, and I will make sure that his proposals are very carefully considered.
Session: PMQs
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GP surgeries promised in planning applications take far too long to be built. Can we clear away the obstacles and make it easier for our amazing family doctors to use additional consulting rooms that they are happy with elsewhere in the community, so that GPs, and the many extra prescribing nurses they are now employing, can see more patients now while they wait for bespoke premises to be built?
Context
GP surgeries promised through planning applications are taking too long to be built, affecting patient care.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend, who speaks from a point of authority. He knows that we have high standards to ensure that GPs provide services from premises that meet all the required criteria, but I understand it is possible for those services to be provided at alternative locations that meet the contract requirements. I will happily ensure that the Health and Social Care Secretary looks into his suggestions about more flexibility. He will also welcome our recent plans to expand the range of services available at pharmacies, saving many people time and hassle to get treatment for seven common ailments at their local pharmacist, easing the pressure on our GPs and speeding up the care that people deserve.
Assessment
Did not commit to any specific action or timeline to ease regulations
Under Review
Working With Partners
Session: PMQs
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During COP28, will you recognise South West Bedfordshire's contribution to energy security with these installations? Can we ensure my constituents get cheaper energy bills for hosting such infrastructure?
Context
South West Bedfordshire has the tallest wind turbine in England, largest battery in Europe, and most powerful wind turbine. Question asks about cheaper energy bills for locals.
Rishi Sunak
We are examining how local communities can benefit when new energy infrastructure is nearby, as part of our plan to increase energy security. I commend South West Bedfordshire's contribution to the UK's clean energy transition and decarbonisation efforts.
Assessment
Ensuring constituents get cheaper energy bills
We Are Looking At How Local Communities Can Benefit
Session: PMQs
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Bedfordshire businesses now have apprentices on the factory floor, earning £48,000 a year on qualification, easily beating cost of living pressures. What more can we do to get schools to promote apprenticeships to pupils and parents, as our colleges and institutes of technology are great poverty-busting institutions?
Context
Bedfordshire businesses have apprentices earning £48,000 annually, outpacing inflation. There's a need to promote these opportunities in schools.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. One of the practical steps we are taking is to put all apprenticeships on to the UCAS system this autumn, which will make sure that they have parity of esteem in the classroom and increased information for parents and teachers.
Assessment
Did not address promoting apprenticeships beyond UCAS inclusion
Session: PMQs
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The primary care access plan, published this month, is a welcome and substantive one, and my constituents want to see rapid delivery of it. So how quickly will the Government start providing the £645 million to pharmacists and how quickly will the SAS—specialty and specialist—doctors come to GP surgeries to make prompt access to primary care a reality for my constituents?
Context
The primary care access plan is intended to reduce NHS waiting lists.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for his contributions to our primary care plan. He and I know that pharmacies already work to help many people with their health needs, and to help deliver on our priority to cut NHS waiting lists they will be put at the front and centre of our primary care recovery, with £645 million of additional funding.
Assessment
Timeline for SAS doctor availability was not specified
General Principle
Session: PMQs
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My constituents are upset about their bookings being cancelled when the Home Office took over a much-loved hotel. Will he redouble his efforts to put an end to this practice?
Context
The Home Office has taken over a hotel that was booked for weddings and other special events.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend's constituents can be proud of the welcome given to people from Ukraine over the last year. We are committed to reducing the number of asylum seekers living in hotels at vast cost to taxpayers, and we will make a formal update on progress in the coming weeks.
Assessment
Specific ask about redoubling efforts was not addressed.
Session: PMQs
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The recruitment of 20,000 police officers is a fantastic commitment to law and order by this Government. Bedfordshire, in common with many other police forces, has lost out on about 95 officers as a result of the imposition of damping in 2004. So that we do not have to rely on one-off special grants to stay solvent, will the Prime Minister recommit to the reformation of the police funding formula in this Parliament?
Context
Bedfordshire police force has lost officers due to the imposition of damping in 2004. The question asks for a commitment to reforming the police funding formula.
Boris Johnson
My right hon. Friend the policing Minister has assured me that we will be introducing a new funding formula before the end of the Parliament, but I am pleased that Bedfordshire police have already recruited 100 additional officers as part of our uplift programme. That is part of the 11,000 more officers that this Government have put on the streets.
Assessment
The Prime Minister did not provide a specific timeline or commitment to reforming the funding formula but acknowledged recruitment increases and future intentions.
Referencing Existing Commitments
Session: PMQs
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Can we remedy the current flawed budgetary process whereby it is possible to build 14,000 new homes in my constituency without any commensurate increase in general practice capacity? As we house the next generation, we must make sure that the infrastructure goes in at the same time.
Context
There is a need for commensurate GP infrastructure when building new homes, but the current process does not ensure this.
Boris Johnson
Yes. I thank my hon. Friend, and he is completely right: we cannot build new homes without putting in the infrastructure to go with it. That is why we have a colossal programme of infrastructure investment—the biggest for a century. That is why we are not only investing in more GPs but investing another £250 million into more GP practices.
Assessment
The Prime Minister did not commit specifically to ensuring commensurate GP capacity increases with housing developments, although he referenced investments without concrete details on timing or specific commitments.
Session: PMQs
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On Armistice Day, as we remember those who gave their lives for our country and those who still serve, will the Prime Minister give a positive response to the “Living in our shoes: understanding the needs of UK Armed Forces families” report on making life better for our armed forces families? These wonderful people put up with more separation, moving of family homes and worry about the safety of their loved ones than anyone else, and looking after them should be a national priority.
Context
There was a report on making life better for UK Armed Forces families, focusing on improving their quality of life and addressing challenges like separation and employment.
Boris Johnson
Our armed services simply could not function without the support of their families, and I thank my hon. Friend for what he is doing to raise this issue and for the comprehensive piece of research that he refers to. We are making good progress on increasing childcare provision for armed services families and on our support for employment of partners of members of the armed services.
Assessment
Positive response to report
Shifted Focus To Progress On Childcare And Employment Support
Session: PMQs
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With the Executive restored and enjoying a financial package of more than £3 billion, does the Minister agree that Northern Ireland businesses are now in position for an era of transformational success?
Context
The question follows a financial package of more than £3 billion provided to the restored Executive in Northern Ireland. The context highlights the potential for transformational success but seeks affirmation and details on implementation.
Steven Baker
Absolutely, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for highlighting that, but funding is, of course, only one part of the solution. The transformation of public services is vital, but achieving that will require innovative strategic thinking as well as some revenue raising.
Session: Gross Domestic Product Northern Ireland
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What steps he is taking to help increase GDP in Northern Ireland?
Context
Northern Ireland's economy faces challenges, but there is a financial package of over £3 billion provided to the Executive. The questioner seeks specific actions being taken by the UK Government.
Steven Baker
The UK Government are committed to the long-term economic growth of Northern Ireland and have delivered the Northern Ireland investment summit; spent £617 million on four city and growth deals; implemented key deliverables in the “Safeguarding the Union” Command Paper, and continue to promote unique institutional arrangements.
Session: Gross Domestic Product Northern Ireland
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Can I convey the extreme irritation of two parishes in my constituency that have had five locations for a mobile phone mast turned down? Given that mobile connectivity is now an essential requirement, is it not time that local authorities advised on which technically feasible locations they would be prepared to grant planning permission? Local people could then say where they were happiest for such projects to go, and we would end this stupid cat-and-mouse game that wastes time and means people do not get the connectivity they need.
Context
Two parishes in Andrew Selous' constituency have had five locations for a mobile phone mast turned down, causing frustration and hindering essential connectivity.
Lee Rowley
My hon. Friend is right that connectivity is vital in all our communities. It is incumbent upon local councils, including his council in Bedfordshire, to ensure that they are providing the greatest clarity possible for that connectivity and that it is put in place.
Session: Planning System
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What steps he is taking to help improve the efficiency of the planning system. In relation to large infrastructure projects, the government is implementing the nationally significant infrastructure projects action plan and the “Getting Great Britain building again” policy paper. For TCPA, they are offering greater clarity through the republication of the national planning policy framework, greater consistency by instructing local councils to discharge their responsibilities, and additional support for local councils.
Context
The planning system's inefficiencies are impacting large infrastructure projects and local development.
Lee Rowley
We are taking significant steps to speed up the planning system. In large infrastructure projects, that is through the nationally significant infrastructure projects action plan and the “Getting Great Britain building again” policy paper. In relation to the TCPA, we are offering greater clarity through the republication of the national planning policy framework, greater consistency through instructing local councils to ensure that they discharge their responsibilities, and greater capacity through additional support for local councils.
Session: Planning System
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Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and many other parts of my constituency are blessed with an abundance of artists, painters, sculptors and others, but they have very few places where they can create their work—they need more studio space and more workspaces—and even fewer places in which to exhibit. Providing such spaces should be essential—it aids economic activity, increases footfall and increases wellbeing—so how can we ensure that it is essential, as the Minister said, and not an afterthought? It really does matter.
Context
MP highlighted the creative community in his constituency lacking sufficient studio space and exhibition venues, emphasizing the importance for economic activity and community wellbeing.
Julia Lopez
I thank my hon. Friend for raising his concerns about the creative community in Leighton Buzzard—it sounds like a buzzing creative community. As I say, we support creative industries primarily through Arts Council England, which has initiatives that look at workspaces.
Session: Artistic Spaces
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If she will take steps with relevant stakeholders to help provide spaces for artists to create and display their work. Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and many other parts of my constituency are blessed with an abundance of artists, painters, sculptors and others, but they have very few places where they can create their work—they need more studio space and more workspaces—and even fewer places in which to exhibit.
Context
MP noted the abundance of artists in his constituency who lack adequate spaces for creation and display, impacting economic activity and community wellbeing.
Julia Lopez
High-quality affordable workspaces are essential to ensuring that we can retain our finest creative talent. The Government are committed to encouraging local authorities and property owners to make spaces available for cultural activities. Arts Council England is already supporting artists' spaces through funding and brokering partnerships.
Session: Artistic Spaces
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that Qatar's support for Hamas weakens our adversaries?
Context
Hamas's senior leaders are hosted in Qatar, and concerns arise about diplomatic pressure from Qatar.
James Heappey
I am not entirely sure that I do agree. We have an increasingly helpful partnership with Qatar across a whole load of things over the past few years, and it has great potential.
Session: Topical Questions
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Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard tells every student about apprenticeships and has an excellent apprenticeships ambassador. As the Minister will know, sadly not every school does this. Most teachers have been to university and they may not know about apprenticeships, so what can we do to ensure that every school tells every student about apprenticeships, as Vandyke Upper School does, because they can be life-transforming for the right students?
Context
The MP references a visit to Vandyke Upper School, which effectively promotes apprenticeships. However, not all schools follow this practice, highlighting the need for uniform information dissemination.
Robert Halfon
My hon Friend speaks a lot of wisdom. I congratulate Vandyke Upper School on its work. I have been to apprenticeship fairs and careers days at the Oasis Academy in Brislington. Huge amounts of work are going on with the Careers & Enterprise Company and the apprenticeship ambassador network, to ensure that there is a network member engaged at every secondary school and college.
Session: Apprenticeship Opportunities Schools
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What steps she is taking to ensure school pupils are informed about apprenticeship opportunities. The MP notes that not all schools provide adequate information on apprenticeships despite their importance and potential impact on students' lives.
Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of information provided to students regarding apprenticeship opportunities, which are crucial for their future career paths.
Robert Halfon
My hon Friend is a champion of FE and skills—he has asked a lot of questions about the subject over the past months. We want apprenticeships to be part of the careers conversations in every school. We have strengthened the law so that schools must offer pupils at least six education and training provider encounters. We have invested £3.2 million in the apprenticeship skills and knowledge network, which reached over 2,300 schools and colleges in 2022-23.
Session: Apprenticeship Opportunities Schools
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What evaluation has been made of the General Practice Estates and Technology Transformation Fund, and will it be continued?
Context
The MP mentions appreciation for projects supported by the General Practice Estates and Technology Transformation Fund in his constituency.
Andrea Leadsom
ICBs have the freedom to increase capital for primary care in their region. I am happy to meet again to talk about measures to support his constituents.
Session: Topical Questions
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The managers of the wonderful care home I visited in Dunstable on Friday were annoyed by the number of job applicants for care places who were making the interview stage and then not arriving on the day. Can the Minister have a word with ministerial colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that job coaches are certain that jobseekers are not wasting the time of care homes? It is not fair, and those who work in care homes are busy people with a lot to do.
Context
Concern over applicants making it to the interview stage but not showing up on the day.
Helen Whately
I work closely with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on the recruitment of people looking for jobs in social care, and I will raise that point with my colleague in the Department.
Session: Adult Social Care Workforce
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When will we see cheaper electricity from renewables, and when will people in areas with a lot of renewable production benefit from lower prices due to hosting that infrastructure?
Context
Residents in areas with significant renewable production are asking about the benefits of hosting such infrastructure.
Graham Stuart
The Government are moving on from our inheritance of less than 7% renewables, now up to over 40%. Every day we add to that displaces gas and lowers bills for people. We already have solar, onshore wind developers providing benefits to consumers.
Session: Electricity Market Review
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When does the government plan to publish the second consultation on the review of electricity market arrangements?
Context
There is an ongoing review of the GB electricity market arrangements.
Graham Stuart
The Government plan to publish the second consultation imminently. It will set out a clear direction on how the GB electricity market arrangements will evolve to keep electricity bills as low as possible for consumers of all types.
Session: Electricity Market Review
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Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and Houghton Regis are the third, fourth and fifth largest towns in Bedfordshire, yet they have a fraction of the police officers that are based in Luton and Bedford. Will the Minister speak to the chief constable to ensure that we get a fairer allocation of the record number of police officers we have in Bedfordshire, spread across the county and with a 24/7 first responder presence?
Context
Bedfordshire towns such as Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and Houghton Regis have fewer police officers compared to larger cities within the same county.
Chris Philp
My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for his part of Bedfordshire. He is quite right to say that Bedfordshire, in common with many other parts of the country—and indeed with England and Wales as a whole —has a record number of police officers. In the case of Bedfordshire, the number is 1,456, and across England and Wales as a whole we now have over 149,000 officers: that is more than we have ever had before, and over 3,000 more than we had under the last Labour Government. I speak regularly to Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst and the excellent police and crime commissioner in Bedfordshire, Festus Akinbusoye.
Session: Local Policing
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What recent discussions he has had with chief constables on delivering policing at a local level. He referenced regular meetings and sought specific instances of dialogue.
Context
There have been recent concerns about the effectiveness of local policing strategies and communication between government officials and chief constables.
Chris Philp
We have very regular discussions with chief constables across the country about local policing—in fact, just this morning I had a discussion with the chief constable of Staffordshire Police about some local policing issues in that county. It is a dialogue that happens on a regular and ongoing basis.
Session: Local Policing
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Can we recognise pickleball as a national sport, and will the sport Minister come to the Dunstable Hunters pickleball club, where he will see men, women, grandparents and grandchildren having a wonderful time?
Context
MP Andrew Selous asks for pickleball to be recognised as a national sport and invites the sports Minister to visit his local club.
Stuart Andrew
How can I possibly resist such an invitation? People are laughing, but this is becoming a more and more popular sport. For me, anything that gets people active and enjoying sport can only be positive, so I am happy to come to see it in action.
Session: Topical Questions
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The families of armed forces personnel have to put up with more separation, relocation and danger to their loved ones than the families of any other public servants, and they often feel slightly disenfranchised. They might not know their Member of Parliament, and they might fear to approach them because of the impact it might have on their spouse or partner's career. Does my right hon Friend agree it is incredibly important that the public can see the follow-through on the 86 recommendations that the Ministry of Defence accepted in full and on the 20 recommendations that it accepted in part?
Context
Armed forces families face unique challenges such as separation, relocation, and danger to their loved ones. They may feel disenfranchised and reluctant to approach their Member of Parliament due to potential impacts on their spouse's career.
Grant Shapps
My hon Friend will be interested to hear that I have a slightly different number. My number is that 106 of his report's 110 recommendations have been accepted. Regardless of the exact figure, I entirely agree on the importance of making sure that armed forces families live in decent accommodation. When we ask armed forces personnel to fight abroad, they should live in good accommodation when they come home. My hon Friend is familiar with the steering group, which includes families, federations and the authors of his excellent report, and he will be pleased to hear that it meets again on 28 February.
Session: “Living in our Shoes” Report
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If he will continue to issue online updates on the implementation of accepted recommendations from the “Living in our Shoes” report, published on 30 June 2020.
Context
The question arises from concerns about the implementation of accepted recommendations from the 'Living in our Shoes' report, which was published on 30 June 2020. The report focuses on improving conditions and support for families of armed forces personnel.
Grant Shapps
Families are an integral part of the armed forces community. Our commitment to them remains strong and is reinforced by the Haythornthwaite review, the defence Command Paper refresh, the families strategy, which was published in January 2022, and my hon Friend's excellent “Living in our Shoes” framework for delivering more family-sympathetic policies.
Session: “Living in our Shoes” Report
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It is welcome that funding for all schools has risen, but does the Minister accept that there is deprivation in market towns and villages where transport costs are higher, and that the difference between the sums for the highest funded local authorities and those for the lowest funded, such as Central Bedfordshire, is thousands of pounds per child? What can he do to close the gap more quickly?
Context
The question arises from the concern that funding disparities exist between different local education authorities, particularly affecting those in market towns and villages where transport costs are higher.
Damian Hinds
My hon. Friend is right about the importance of deprivation factors and, indeed, transport costs. We are increasing the amount under the formula that relates to deprivation, and there is also the sparsity factor. Of course, all schools are benefiting from increases in funding, which will total £59.6 billion in 2024-25.
Session: f40 Local Authorities Funding
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What steps she is taking to increase the funding allocated to the f40 local education authorities. It is welcome that funding for all schools has risen, but does the Minister accept that there is deprivation in market towns and villages where transport costs are higher, and that the difference between the sums for the highest funded local authorities and those for the lowest funded, such as Central Bedfordshire, is thousands of pounds per child? What can he do to close the gap more quickly?
Context
The question arises from the concern that funding disparities exist between different local education authorities, particularly affecting those in market towns and villages where transport costs are higher.
Damian Hinds
We are committed to funding all schools fairly and equitably, wherever they are. The national funding formula replaces an unjust system whereby schools received different levels of funding for no reason. My hon. Friend is right about the importance of deprivation factors and, indeed, transport costs. We are increasing the amount under the formula that relates to deprivation, and there is also the sparsity factor. Of course, all schools are benefiting from increases in funding, which will total £59.6 billion in 2024-25.
Session: f40 Local Authorities Funding
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Road safety is put at risk by roads that are not adopted, because speed limits cannot be enforced and often they do not get gritted. There are serious worries that people will get injured. What more can the Department do to ensure that key service roads on big, new housing estates get adopted more quickly?
Context
There are concerns about road safety on unadopted roads in new housing estates, where speed limits cannot be enforced and services such as gritting may not be provided.
Michael Gove
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to ensure that developers live up to their responsibilities to provide appropriate infrastructure. It has been the case that a number of fleecehold—for want of a better word—developments have unadopted roads, where children are at risk.
Session: Topical Questions
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Only one-third of the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been spent, leaving £2.9 billion unutilised. Given the National Audit Office's concerns about the fund's successful delivery, what is going to happen to this remaining £2.9 billion?
Context
A freedom of information request revealed that only a third of the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been spent, leaving £2.9 billion unspent and with the National Audit Office stating delivery seems unachievable.
Lee Rowley
The Minister states that the Housing Infrastructure Fund is transforming challenging areas across the country, despite some issues highlighted by the National Audit Office. He expects it to continue delivering significant benefits in the future.
Session: Housing Developers Information on Associated Infrastructure
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What assessment has been made of the reliability of information on associated infrastructure provided to buyers by housing developers? In particular, major house builders like Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey have committed to building health infrastructure that often does not materialise. Can we ensure that purchasers are not misled and that essential services like doctors' surgeries are built first?
Context
Developers often commit to building health infrastructure in promotional materials, but these commitments are not always fulfilled.
Lee Rowley
The Minister acknowledges the importance of accurate information for home buyers. He appreciates the hon. Friend's efforts in highlighting issues with developer commitments and agrees to continue working on closing gaps where necessary.
Session: Housing Developers Information on Associated Infrastructure
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The community sports area on Tithe Farm Road in Houghton Regis is about to get an amazing new all-weather facility funded by developer money, town council money, Central Bedfordshire Council money and Government money. Will the Minister come to open the facility? It is much needed and should be celebrated.
Context
A new all-weather facility on Tithe Farm Road in Houghton Regis is being funded by various sources and is much needed.
Stuart Andrew
How could I possibly resist such an invitation? It is always a great honour to open facilities in this role, and I am delighted that we are so busy that we are opening thousands of them.
Session: Playing Fields Community Access
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What specific help can Jobcentre Plus give Lidl and other employers to ensure they are able to fill a large number of vacancies?
Context
Lidl is creating 1,500 jobs in Houghton Regis with its new warehouse. The MP seeks specific help from Jobcentre Plus to fill these vacancies.
Jo Churchill
Jobcentres work closely with large employers, offering bespoke schemes such as neurodiversity pilots. The barriers restricting neurodiverse individuals are often related to confidence and Jobcentres can assist in bringing people into the job market.
Session: Topical Questions
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As I understand it, a third of all food is wasted, which contributes around 9% of greenhouse emissions and costs our economy about £20 billion a year. Will the Secretary of State consider introducing policies that reduce food waste across the supply chain, such as improved food waste reporting from industry?
Context
The question builds on the initial query about food waste, focusing specifically on industry reporting and supply chain improvements.
Steve Barclay
My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. Some 60% of food waste is wasted in the home, but the Courtauld commitment includes a groundbreaking voluntary agreement with industry that has doubled the amount of food redistributed in the last two years.
Session: Food Waste
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What steps his Department is taking to help reduce food waste. The UK wastes around 30% of all food produced, contributing to 9% of greenhouse gas emissions and costing the economy £20 billion per year.
Context
The question addresses the issue of food waste and its environmental and economic impacts, referencing a significant percentage of food being wasted annually.
Steve Barclay
The UK is an international leader in tackling food waste, which has fallen by 17% since 2007 or the equivalent of 26 kg per person. This year, over £2 million will go to our food waste prevention programme and we have a groundbreaking industry initiative that helps redistribute more food than ever before.
Session: Food Waste
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In my constituency I have companies such as EyeOL, Lindal Valve, Peli Biothermal, Friction Marketing, Signature Flatbreads and 198 smaller businesses, all of which export globally. The smaller businesses export through Amazon. That is fantastic, as there is evidence that businesses that export can pay their staff more, but what is the best way to get businesses that have not yet realised that the world is their marketplace exporting not just to Europe but around the whole world?
Context
The MP highlights several companies and smaller businesses in his constituency that export globally. He questions the best way to encourage more businesses, especially those not yet aware of global market opportunities, to start exporting.
Greg Hands
I commend my hon. Friend for being a long-standing champion of his constituency exporters. The Government's export strategy is clear and includes a programme to assist small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly first-time exporters. Services can be accessed via great.gov.uk and there is a network of international trade advisers locally in Bedfordshire.
Session: Business Exports
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What steps she is taking to help increase the number of businesses that export. The Government's published export strategy focuses on addressing the challenges that UK businesses face when exporting, with support through a network of international trade advisers, sector specialists, and an export support service accessible on great.gov.uk.
Context
The MP is concerned about the number of businesses exporting and seeks to understand what steps are being taken to increase this.
Greg Hands
The Government's published export strategy focuses on addressing challenges for UK businesses when exporting. The Government continues to promote exporting and supports companies through a network of international trade advisers, sector specialists, and an export support service. All services can be accessed via great.gov.uk.
Session: Business Exports
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Could he tell the House how many of them are now registered with the UK internal market scheme?
Context
The question is based on a previous commitment to businesses in Northern Ireland and seeks specific numbers regarding the UK internal market scheme.
Chris Heaton-Harris
I am happy to confirm that more than 7,000 businesses have now registered with the UK internal market scheme, of which over 3,000 are businesses that did not benefit from the previous schemes. All of those businesses can now move their goods free from any costly issues and tariffs.
Session: Windsor Framework
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Primary care capital allocation has pulled the short straw for decades. May I encourage Treasury Ministers to look across Government and with developers —retrospectively if necessary—to ensure that when we build huge new housing estates, the primary care promised in the planning permissions is actually provided?
Jeremy Hunt
I will take this question as well because my hon. Friend has lobbied me personally on this issue. Literally no one in this House has worked harder on it than he has. I have an example of the very problem he is talking about in my own constituency. He is right that it takes too long for housing development capital to reach NHS primary care projects. We will look into the issue carefully.
Session: Topical Questions
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Would it be possible to get the CPS together with business owners who were disappointed by their response?
Context
A series of distressing break-ins in Leighton Buzzard High Street where the CPS's response was disappointing.
Victoria Prentis
Of course, either the Solicitor General or I would be delighted to meet our hon. Friend to discuss this further.
Session: Crown Prosecution Service Access to Justice
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Will the Minister commend this action and encourage other organisations to plant more trees in combating climate change?
Context
Dunstable downs rotary club is paying for the planting of 4,000 trees at Chute wood to combat climate change.
Trudy Harrison
That was worth the wait! I will absolutely commend Dunstable downs rotary club, and the work that this Government are undertaking, because trees are essential. They are the larder and the shelter for our wildlife. They are vital for our ecosystem. They protect us from flooding, prevent us from overheating and are at the forefront of this Government's plan for the environment. That is why we are rolling out local nature recovery strategies to support more good volunteering in our local authorities.
Session: Topical Questions
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Dangerous motorcyclists are out of control in my area with six year olds riding pillion and people doing wheelies without helmets, resulting in fatalities. The local police require urgent guidance on safeguarding officers when apprehending these riders and a review of section 59 of the Police Reform Act.
Context
Motorcycle-related incidents and fatalities in Andrew Selous's constituency, including deaths and injuries. Local police require urgent guidance on apprehending dangerous riders.
Chris Philp
I would be happy to look into those specific issues. The police have powers to pursue, even where the rider is not wearing a helmet. Previously in London with mopeds, crime increased when the police did not pursue them, but it decreased once they started doing so. I urge Bedfordshire police to use their existing powers and will review section 59.
Session: Illegal Motorcyclists
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What recent guidance has the government issued to the police on apprehending illegal motorcyclists? Dangerous motorcyclists are out of control in my area with six year olds riding pillion and people doing wheelies without helmets, resulting in fatalities. The local police require urgent guidance on safeguarding officers when apprehending these riders and a review of section 59 of the Police Reform Act.
Context
Motorcycle-related incidents and fatalities in Andrew Selous's constituency, including deaths and injuries. Local police require urgent guidance on apprehending dangerous riders.
Chris Philp
I would be happy to look into those specific issues. The police have powers to pursue, even where the rider is not wearing a helmet. Previously in London with mopeds, crime increased when the police did not pursue them, but it decreased once they started doing so. I urge Bedfordshire police to use their existing powers and will review section 59.
Session: Illegal Motorcyclists
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May we have an update on our proposals for a carbon border adjustment mechanism?
Context
There is interest in updating the public on proposals for a carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Kevin Hollinrake
The Treasury published a consultation in March on a range of measures to mitigate carbon leakage. Potential policies include a carbon adjustment mechanism on managing product standards.
Session: Topical Questions
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In my constituency, companies such as EyeOL, Lindal Valve, Peli BioThermal, Friction and Signature Flatbreads all export globally, along with 198 smaller businesses that export through Amazon. What more can we do to get businesses to export not just to Europe but globally? Businesses that export pay higher wages.
Context
The question is prompted by high export rates and wages for exporting businesses, suggesting the need to increase such numbers as part of a levelling-up initiative.
Nusrat Ghani
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his businesses and helping them to export. Free trade agreements and memorandums of understanding are opening up new markets, but we want everyone to make the most of these opportunities. We ensure UK exporters have skills through our innovative export academy; information through the FTA utilisation strategy; advice through the export support service; financial backing through UK Export Finance.
Session: Business Exports
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Dealing with the challenges that armed forces families face is vital for strong defence. I made a promise to many of the families I was privileged to meet during the “Living in our shoes” review that the recommendations would not gather dust. How can I find out where we are on recommendations 36, 48, 68 and 96, for example?
Context
MP is following up on recommendations made during a family strategy report.
Andrew Murrison
My hon. Friend will forgive me if I do not know off the top of my head what those recommendations relate to. I can say to him that Defence is very fortunate in having him and his colleagues as co-authors of the report on the armed forces family strategy steering group, acting as critical friends and holding Defence to account against the strategy action plan.
Session: Topical Questions
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Will the Cabinet Office convene an inter-ministerial committee to address the legacy issue of insufficient health facility funding following house construction?
Context
A problem exists where houses have been built but section 106 money has not been allocated for adequate health facilities.
Oliver Dowden
That is an interesting proposal. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill seeks to ensure infrastructure is in place, but I am cautious about setting up more inter-ministerial groups.
Session: Topical Questions
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What are we doing in Government to take the expertise that we have acquired within Government to protect Government Departments and to spread it across the economy to protect the private sector as well?
Context
The question arises from the increasing frequency and severity of cyber-attacks, affecting both government departments and major businesses with significant repercussions.
Oliver Dowden
The external risk landscape has increased due to conflicts like Russia-Ukraine, making the UK one of the most cyber-attacked nations. A whole-of-Government approach includes creating the National Cyber Security Centre to work with GCHQ and the Cabinet Office on robust standards for Government while collaborating with businesses to improve their security.
Session: Cyber-security
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders
22 May 2024
Responding: Andrew Stephenson
Main Concerns
['There are between 135,000 to up to 300,000 people in the UK with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, though many cases remain undiagnosed. The condition can lead to a range of debilitating symptoms affecting multiple body systems and is often not recognized or understood by healthcare professionals. Some patients wait for decades before receiving a diagnosis, leading to significant physical disability and reduced quality of life. There is also evidence that people with EDS use hospital services twice as much and incur additional costs.']
Specific Asks
['The Government should establish an NHS pathway for diagnosis and care for hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders, develop NICE guidelines, implement a multidisciplinary approach to care, and provide training for healthcare professionals. These measures are necessary to address the widespread neglect of EDS.']
Bladder and Bowel Continence Care
29 June 2023
Responding: Will Quince
Main Concerns
['There are 14 million people with bladder problems and 6.5 million with bowel issues in England. These conditions can cause significant social isolation, depression, and impact quality of life. The last full audit was conducted by the Royal College of Physicians in 2010. There is an urgent need for an up-to-date audit to assess service provision, identify regional gaps, and benchmark improvements. Many people wait five years or more before seeking medical advice due to embarrassment.']
Specific Asks
['The Minister should commit to conducting a comprehensive updated audit of continence care services. Additionally, the NHS should increase the number of specialist continence nurses and provide more education courses for both stoma and urology continence nurses. The APPG requests basic training in bladder and bowel continence for nurses and midwives and mandates it in medical, nursing, and physiotherapy curriculums.']
General Practice: Large Housing Developments
29 March 2022
Responding: Stuart Andrew
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the strain on GP services due to large-scale housing developments. Despite a third more GP appointments being delivered between September and November 2021 compared to the same period in 2019, many constituents still struggle to get timely appointments at their local surgeries. My constituency has fewer GPs, practice nurses, and direct patient care staff per 10,000 patients than the averages for England and the east of England. The projected increases in primary care staff will not be enough to bring my constituency up to average levels, and no figures for future GP recruitment are available from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). I have received complaints that access to healthcare is inadequate despite massive expansion in Leighton Buzzard over the past 20 years. In Norwich North, wave 4b CCG funding will provide an extension for one local surgery but not enough to accommodate the population increase.']
Specific Asks
['I propose guaranteed primary care health funding for each 1,000 new homes allocated at the time planning permission is granted and delivered as the new residents arrive. I urge the Government to convene a Cabinet Sub-Committee involving the Treasury, Department of Health and Social Care, and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to address this issue once and for all.']
Jet Zero Council — [Mrs Maria Miller in the Chair]
14 October 2020
Responding: Robert Courts
Main Concerns
['The UK has the third biggest global aviation network and contributes more than £52 billion a year to GDP. Due to the pandemic, there has been a significant reduction in flights but passenger numbers are expected to recover by 2023-24 or earlier. The challenge is reconciling the projected increase in demand with the legally binding net zero target for 2050. Sustainable aviation fuels and electric/hydrogen technologies have potential solutions but require investment.']
Specific Asks
['The government should consider an airline scrappage scheme to encourage airlines to buy less polluting jets when available and take more polluting models out of service.']
Church Commissioners
23 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Desmond Swayne inquired about the steps taken by the Church of England to increase the number of academy schools it sponsors and asked specifically what can be done for special education needs in his ...
Backbench Business
16 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate urges the UK Government to deliver prompt compensation to women born in the 1950s who had their state pension age raised. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report highlights th...
Church Commissioners
18 April 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Edward Leigh raised concerns about the recent unlawful eviction by Israeli police within the premises of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem. He emphasised that the Christian population in the old ...
Israel and Gaza
27 February 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Church Commissioners
22 February 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Asked what steps the Church is taking to support Anglican churches in countries listed in the World Watch List 2024 and emphasised the need for strategic thinking, structural change, and additional re...
Police Grant Report
07 February 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The funding settlement for policing is being increased by £843 million compared to last year, bringing the total funding envelope to £18.4 billion. This includes an extra £922 million available to pol...
Church Commissioners
11 January 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Inquired about recent guidance from Commissioners to secure church buildings against theft, highlighting specific incidents at St John’s Church, Christ Church, and St Andrew’s Church in Harrow East.
Backbench Business
11 January 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Gaza: Humanitarian Situation
04 December 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Israel and Hamas: Humanitarian Pause
27 November 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
10
PMQs Asked
120
Ministerial Questions Asked
96
House of Commons Debates Involved
4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
0
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1457 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
+173% above average
This MP:
10
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+795% above average
This MP:
120
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+59% above average
This MP:
4
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1875% above average
This MP:
96
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-100% below average
This MP:
0.0
Average:
69.2
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 Andrew Selous's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.