Bim Afolami
MP for Hitchin and Harpenden
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
As the party of aspiration, we know the importance of home ownership. According to a recent estimate by Barclays, it now takes eight years for the average first-time buyer to save for a deposit, and in parts of London and the south-east it can take longer. What are the Deputy Prime Minister and the Government doing to improve the prospects for younger people who want to own their own home?
Context
According to a recent estimate by Barclays, it now takes eight years for the average first-time buyer to save for a deposit, and in parts of London and the south-east it can take longer.
Oliver Dowden
I know my hon. Friend is passionate in championing this issue. Almost 850,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since 2010. In 2021, the number of people getting on to the property ladder for the first time was at a 20-year high, thanks to initiatives such as First Homes and the Help to Buy scheme. Of course, that stands in contrast to the Labour party, which oversaw the lowest level of house building since the 1920s.
Session: PMQs
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I thank the Prime Minister for supporting our launch. Will he commit to working with us on two specific areas: first, improving regulator accountability; secondly, enhancing economic potential in critical sectors like finance, AI, and manufacturing?
Context
The new regulatory reform group aims to improve accountability and economic potential in key areas such as financial services, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
Rishi Sunak
My right hon. Friend is correct about the importance of getting our regulatory framework right for growth. The Chancellor has set out an extensive review in five key areas, including life sciences, green industries, and digital tech.
Assessment
Improving accountability and economic potential directly
Extensive Review Of Retained Eu Law
Session: PMQs
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I am launching a campaign to extend the Chilterns AONB across thousands of acres in my constituency. Will you support this initiative and celebrate areas protected by AONB status?
Context
There is a campaign to extend the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to include more areas in rural Hertfordshire.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for his campaign. I understand that Natural England is considering an extension of the Chilterns AONB.
Assessment
The specific ask was not directly committed to, only acknowledged consideration.
Acknowledging Without Commitment
Session: PMQs
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I know that the Prime Minister is aware of the fatal and serious road accidents that have taken place on St Albans Road and Redbourn Road in my constituency. Will he advise the House on what more the Government are doing to improve road safety, not just in the case of fatal accidents but where there are serious accidents or near misses?
Context
Fatal and serious road accidents on St Albans Road and Redbourn Road have raised concerns among constituents.
Boris Johnson
My hon. Friend is right to raise this. Although the number of those who have been killed or seriously injured on the roads has been coming down over a long period, it is vital that we invest in this area. We have put another £100 million through the safer roads fund to invest in 50 of the most dangerous stretches on A roads. I also draw his attention to the THINK! campaign.
Assessment
The answer did not address improvements beyond fatal accidents specifically.
Hedging
Session: PMQs
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Would the Prime Minister agree to work with me and consider my ideas, such as a recovery fund for small and medium-sized businesses across the UK to help reduce their debt burden and provide equity?
Context
Afolami published a report titled 'Unlocking Britain', proposing various reforms to aid economic recovery post-crisis.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson
I have studied my hon. Friend's proposals with interest. He is an expert in what he speaks of and we will certainly look at all kinds of imaginative ways in which we can stimulate a strong rebound, a strong economic recovery. He should stand by for what the Chancellor is going to be announcing in the next few weeks.
Session: PMQs
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May I ask a question about auto-enrolment and pensions? What can the Secretary of State do to build on our good record by extending and increasing the total amount that young people—those who retire on defined-contribution pensions—are likely to be able to save in their retirement?
Context
None provided.
Guy Opperman
There are two key points here. Consolidation will make a massive difference, but more important is the transformation of workplace savings through auto-enrolment for young people. The figure has risen from below 40% to well over 80%, and it will get bigger as time moves on.
Session: Topical Questions
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Just to bring down the temperature a little bit, the Minister referenced the Government's consultation later this year on how the Government, with Ofgem, will drive forward investment in the grid. Is the Government's vision for more investment in a system similar to what we have now? To what extent do they want to move towards a more decentralised system for renewable investment in the grid, so that local communities can invest their own efforts and resources in developing their own renewable energy?
Context
Discussion on future investment plans and vision for improving grid connections for renewable energy.
Andrew Bowie
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. In March, we launched consultations on community benefits for transmission network infrastructure and on supporting the consenting process to revise energy national policy statements. We are also supporting a private Member's Bill on alternative dispute resolution for compensation disputes over land.
Session: Renewable Energy Projects Connection to the Grid
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There are people in my constituency and across the country who need a lot of advice on how to retrofit older homes in an affordable way. The issue is not just the cost of retrofitting, but good advice on how to do that. I declare an interest: I happen to live in an older home where such advice may be needed. How will the Government help many people in my constituency, and indeed across the country, get that sort of advice on retrofitting older homes?
Context
There is a need for affordable advice on how to retrofit older homes.
Grant Shapps
My hon. Friend, who is in a neighbouring constituency to mine, will be delighted to hear that the ECO+ scheme—another £1 billion—is specifically aimed at trying to get to homes in the private and commercial sector that are sometimes harder to decarbonise. It is one scheme that he will want to consider, but, without wishing to give too much away, he should watch this space.
Session: Household Energy Efficiency Measures
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Does the Minister agree it is time to take dangers of sunbeds seriously? Does he support Melanoma UK's campaign to ban sunbed use, or if not, why not?
Context
Exposure to sunlight and sunbed usage pose significant risks for skin cancer. Constituents are at high risk from using sunbeds year-round.
James Morris
Given current weather conditions, issues related to melanoma are high priority. I am happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss concerns about sunbed usage.
Session: Cancer Outcomes
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What is the Treasury's approach to working with other countries and companies to bring down international energy prices?
Context
A significant part of inflation is due to global energy costs, leading to financial pressures.
Rishi Sunak
The Prime Minister's energy security strategy sets out a plan to increase the supply of energy. Between now and then, we have support in place to help people manage costs.
Session: Cost of Living
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I welcome increased investment in infrastructure, but for it to be useful we need practical improvements. What are the Government doing to improve the efficacy of this money?
Context
The MP is asking about improving the deliverability of infrastructure projects.
Helen Whately
That is an excellent question from my hon. Friend. We are not only investing in infrastructure but making sure that taxpayers' money gets put to good use. One way we are doing that is by working with the Infrastructure and Products Authority and with Project SPEED, which specifically scrutinises the most important infrastructure projects in this country to ensure that we are doing a better job of making taxpayers' money go further and doing it cleaner and greener as we go.
Session: Investment in UK Infrastructure
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Will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory on all construction sites in England by the end of 2023?
Context
The MP supports the Government's introduction of biodiversity net gain and wants it to become mandatory on all construction sites in England.
George Eustice
My hon. Friend is right about the importance of biodiversity net gain. We have committed to a two-year transitional period to ensure that it is introduced in that timeframe.
Session: Topical Questions
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If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities regarding the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on international commodity markets, particularly concerning fertiliser costs and labour availability in agriculture.
Context
The MP noted concerns about the impact of the Russian invasion on international commodity markets and its effect on fertiliser costs and labour availability.
George Eustice
The Russian invasion has caused shocks to international commodity markets. The UK issued a joint statement with the US on keeping markets open for essential commodities like wheat. I met political leaders and the US farming industry in the United States to discuss challenges, particularly rising fertiliser costs and labour availability.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Minister will be aware of the positive contribution that financial services can make to levelling up all over the country. With that in mind, and with the work of my all-party group on financial markets and services on levelling up, will she commit that the Treasury will work with the industry to spread opportunity within the financial services sector, to help that sector spread opportunity through all regions of this country?
Context
N/A
Helen Whately
My hon. Friend makes an important point, and I know he is knowledgeable about this sector. It is important to remember that financial services are to the benefit of the whole country, with two thirds of jobs in financial services being outside London and the south-east. Financial services are absolutely an important part of our ambitions for levelling up.
Session: Regional Growth
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I have a constituent in my constituency who has been severely affected by the lack of progress on building safety fund funding. He is an example of the complexity and the “invidious vice” that the Secretary of State mentions from the Dispatch Box. Will he agree to meet me to discuss the particular complexities of this situation?
Context
A constituent in Bim Afolami's constituency has been severely affected by delays in receiving building safety fund funding.
Michael Gove
My hon. Friend has been campaigning incredibly assiduously behind the scenes on behalf of those who have been caught in this vice. It is the case that 700 or so disbursements have been made from the building safety fund so far, but we realise that we need to take a number of measures to address this situation. He is right that we need to do so with a sense of urgency, but we also need to ensure that those measures are appropriately co-ordinated to have the beneficial impact we would all like to see.
Session: Fire Safety Remediation Protection for Leaseholders
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The Minister will be aware of the policy on biodiversity net gain, which is due to come in in the next couple of years. I and many other Members have been pressing to accelerate the introduction of this wonderful policy. Can the Minister give any update on the Department's thoughts on whether we can bring forward implementation of biodiversity net gain?
Context
There is a policy on biodiversity net gain due to come into effect in the next couple of years, and there has been pressure from Members to accelerate its implementation.
Rebecca Pow
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and his work on this, because it is going to be a very important part of how we increase our protections and protect more nature. We have the target to protect and halt the decline of species abundance by 2030. Local authorities will play a key part in delivering that through their planning services and it is important that we work with them to give them the time to get this under way.
Session: UK Environmental Protections COP26
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Many students have suffered as a result of inadequate teaching and pastoral care at their universities, in addition to unfair costs for accommodation that they are not even allowed to stay in. What action will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that the Government are a voice for students, that they stand up for students and that they allow them to be compensated in some way by their universities when those universities fail them and let them down?
Context
Students are facing inadequate teaching, pastoral care issues, and unfair accommodation costs. There is a need for governmental support to ensure students' rights are upheld and they receive appropriate compensation.
Gavin Williamson
There can be no excuses when universities are not offering the type of remote teaching and educational support that is expected. That is why it is so critical that, where that remote teaching and support is not happening, students' rights are upheld. We saw at the tail end of last year that students' rights were upheld and universities had to redress that. That is the right approach. We recognise how important it is to support students, which is why we will continue to look at how best we can support them through programmes such as the hardship fund.
Session: Topical Questions
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As the Minister knows, I am very keen on increasing the number of electric vehicles in my constituency. Will she agree to meet me and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to consider the possibility of allowing the rapid charging fund to be utilised in towns such as Hitchin in my constituency as well as on the strategic road network?
Context
The MP is keen on increasing the number of electric vehicles in his constituency, aiming to utilise the rapid charging fund for strategic road networks as well.
Rachel Maclean
The Government are providing £500 million through the rapid charging fund over the next five years to support the roll-out of the infrastructure for electric vehicles. It would be a huge pleasure to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further.
Session: Topical Questions
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Could she and the Department help me to understand why several universities are not giving face-to-face teaching at all, even in an appropriate socially distanced way; are being extremely draconian in the way that certain students are being treated in terms of their social contact, which is a critical part of being at university; and, in some cases, are even charging £18 a day for food parcels? Could the Minister put appropriate pressure on universities—not all of them but those that are not performing—to sort this out?
Context
Several constituents reported dissatisfaction with their universities' handling of face-to-face teaching, social contact restrictions, and food parcel charges.
Michelle Donelan
Universities are offering blended learning unless they have moved to a higher covid tier, in conjunction with their local Public Health England team. But let me be clear: no university should seek to profit from students self-isolating, and reported charges of £18 a day for food parcels are quite simply outrageous. Students self-isolating in catered halls should receive free food, while other students should receive food that is either free—as many universities, including Sheffield Hallam and Edge Hill, are doing—or at a price that can be afforded within a student's budget. I have spoken to many universities on this, and I am also writing to them to make the point.
Session: University Teaching and Student Services Covid-19
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What recent steps has the Minister taken to help ensure that universities can deliver safe (a) teaching and (b) student services during the covid-19 outbreak?
Context
The MP seeks information on recent steps taken to ensure universities can deliver safe teaching and student services amid the ongoing pandemic.
Michelle Donelan
We announced a package of measures in May to support the sector. We have also issued guidance on reopening, reflecting advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, and we have worked with universities to ensure that they have outbreak plans that are shared with their local Public Health England teams. We will shortly provide additional guidance on winter planning and end-of-term preparations.
Session: University Teaching and Student Services Covid-19
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Will he and the Treasury consider reviewing the rules of the furlough scheme to deal with cases where some small businesses missed out on that scheme through administrative error? Will he discuss that with me separately to see whether we could review the rules to deal with that sort of administrative mistake?
Context
The MP raises concerns about businesses missing out on the furlough scheme due to administrative errors, affecting small businesses particularly.
John Glen
Obviously, the scheme has helped 1.2 million employers, and that involves 9.6 million jobs. I am happy to engage with my hon. Friend on the specific example he raises. No appeal process is available for those who have made administrative errors, but if a mistake has been made by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, a complaints procedure can be followed. I will follow up on this with him personally.
Session: Covid-19 Business Support
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Will he join me in championing the use of modern technology to combat tool theft such as the ToolWatch app? This technology makes each tool traceable and can help police fight this crime. Will he take this opportunity to champion ToolWatch and help to spread its use in police forces throughout the country?
Context
Bim Afolami asks to champion the use of modern technology such as ToolWatch app designed by Harpenden residents.
Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)
My hon. Friend is one of the most original thinkers in the House and therefore it is no surprise that he champions innovation in all things, including crime fighting. Yes, he is absolutely right, there is lots more we can do in harnessing technology to fight crime, and I would be very interested, when we get back to normal, to visit his constituents and see ToolWatch for myself so that we can take it and promote it to the industry more generally.
Session: Theft of Tools from Trades People
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What steps is her Department taking to help reduce the level of theft of tools from trades people?
Context
There is an issue with the theft of tools which impacts tradespeople's livelihoods and causes inconvenience.
Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)
Stealing someone's tools is a particularly rotten kind of crime. Not only does it deprive them of their belongings, which is bad enough, but it also often deprives them of their livelihood, notwithstanding the inconvenience that it causes to them and their employers. We are determined to do something about this, which is why I recently convened a group of people from the industry and from policing to look at what more we can do to help. We are spending £25 million on our safer streets fund to drive down exactly this kind of acquisitive crime.
Session: Theft of Tools from Trades People
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Can he give some further information to me and the House, and indeed to them, on how they can more easily access the fund that has been agreed, because some of them are saying that the next few weeks and months are looking very difficult?
Context
Local charities such as Garden House Hospice and Tilehouse Counselling face difficulties accessing the £750 million package.
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden
My hon Friend is right to raise that issue. Charities such as Garden House and Tilehouse play a vital role in our country, and it is exactly those sorts of local charities on the frontline that we want to help. As part of the £360 million that is being distributed through Government Departments, up to £200 million will go to hospices. In addition, a further £310 million will be distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Session: Covid-19 Civil Society and Charities
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I have been working with Hertfordshire County Council on plans to improve accessibility to Hitchin station in my constituency. Will the Minister advise me on how best to work with Network Rail and the Department to progress this? We think it will cost £3 million to £4 million.
Context
The MP seeks advice on how to progress plans for improving accessibility to Hitchin station in his constituency.
Chris Heaton-Harris
My hon. Friend is probably one of the busiest correspondents with my Department. I will happily meet him—again—to talk about this matter, because it is of vital importance.
Session: Topical Questions
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Future of the UK Constitution and Devolution — [Yvonne Fovargue in the Chair]
08 March 2023
Responding: Alex Burghart
Main Concerns
["The MP is concerned about the strain on the UK's constitutional arrangements, particularly in England where local government structures vary widely. This leads to confusion among residents about who is responsible for what services and hinders economic growth by complicating investment decisions. The inconsistency of local governance systems also affects democratic accountability and regional balance."]
Specific Asks
['The MP asks the Government to regularise local government structures in England, establish clear relationships between local leaders and central Government, and consider reforms to the House of Lords that would allow more local leaders to participate ex officio. He also suggests raising more revenue locally for better accountability and economic performance.']
The Economy
22 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
UK Economy
19 February 2024
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Cost of Living Support: Carshalton and Wallington
11 January 2024
Adjournment Debate
Contributed to this debate
Elliot Colburn thanked the Government for addressing cost of living issues, acknowledging measures such as inflation reduction, mortgage interest rate decreases, energy bill support, and council tax r...
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill - Lords amendment 6, Lords amendments 1, 15, 16, and other related amendments
24 May 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Mr. Michael Tomlinson moves that the House disagrees with Lords amendment 6, which seeks to reinstate the principle of non-regression in environmental and food standards. He emphasises the need for re...
Environmental Protection (England) Bill - Schedule 4 - Regulations: Procedure
24 May 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Mr. Jones argues that the bill does not undermine democratic oversight, contrary to misinformation circulated during the debate. He explains that the European Statutory Instruments Committee scrutinis...
Digital Markets Bill - Second Reading (Entire Bill)
17 May 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Digital Markets Bill aims to update the UK's competition framework for digital markets, ensuring fair play for all businesses in these rapidly evolving sectors. The Bill seeks to tackle excessive ...
Energy Security and Net Zero Bill - Clause on Energy Independence and Resilience
09 May 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities moved to initiate the Second Reading of the Energy Security and Net Zero Bill. He emphasised that Britain's energy security has been sh...
Silicon Valley Bank
13 March 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Electric Vehicle Battery Production
18 January 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Payment Systems Regulator Bill - Schedule 7
07 December 2022
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
I propose the amendment to Schedule 7 of the Payment Systems Regulator Bill, which aims to enhance accountability by ensuring transparency in the operations of the regulator. This is critical as it wi...
5
PMQs Asked
20
Ministerial Questions Asked
53
House of Commons Debates Involved
1
Westminster Hall Debates Led
4
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
+37% above average
This MP:
5
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+49% above average
This MP:
20
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-60% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+987% above average
This MP:
53
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
-58% below average
This MP:
4
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 Bim Afolami's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.