Bob Seely
MP for Isle of Wight
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
The Island has been getting a better deal in recent years. I thank the Prime Minister for that, because before he was the Prime Minister, he worked with me in different roles when he was in government to make that happen, and I am grateful. However, the Island remains the only sizeable island in the UK without a fixed link and separated from the mainland by sea that does not receive a funding uplift to support local government services. This injustice has been ongoing now for 50 years. All the evidence shows that it costs more to provide local services on an island than on the mainland. Will the Prime Minister work with me and his Ministers to overcome this injustice this year?
Context
The Isle of Wight has not received a funding uplift for local government services despite evidence showing it costs more to provide such services there.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for his continued campaigning on behalf of his constituents. It was a pleasure to spend many happy childhood holidays on the Island, and I enjoyed visiting him more recently there as well. Isle of Wight Council will benefit from a 10% increase in its funding in cash terms for the next financial year and has been awarded an additional £1 million in recognition of the unique circumstances of the Island, but I will ensure that he gets a meeting with the Minister for local government—the Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Derbyshire (Lee Rowley)—to carry on the good work that he and I started, and to make sure that his local constituents get the support that they need.
Assessment
Did not directly address 50-year injustice of funding without uplift
Acknowledged Past Efforts
Offered Meeting
Session: PMQs
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Would Ministers agree that the Jimmy Lai case highlights the nature of the Chinese communist regime? Could we be doing more to defend British citizens facing political trials in authoritarian or fascist states?
Context
Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, faces prosecution in Hong Kong. Vladimir Kara-Murza is another case of political show trials in Russia.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Mr Lai has faced multiple charges to silence him, targeting his rights to freedom of expression and association. My hon. Friend raises an important question about dual nationals; we will continue to champion them. We have consular teams at Jimmy Lai's trial almost every day.
Session: Jimmy Lai
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What steps are being taken by the Department to support Jimmy Lai during his trial in Hong Kong? The Foreign Secretary raised this case with the Chinese Foreign Minister in February. I am concerned about Mr Lai's situation and want to know what actions are being taken to ensure his safety and fair treatment.
Context
Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, is facing prosecution in Hong Kong.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
We have called for an end to British citizen Jimmy Lai's prosecution in Hong Kong and for his release. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with the Chinese Foreign Minister in February, and I raised it during my visits to Beijing and Hong Kong last week.
Session: Jimmy Lai
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Since Alexei Navalny's death, do the Government recognise the increased urgency of Vladimir Kara-Murza's case? He is now the most high-profile living political prisoner in Russia. What more are the Government considering doing?
Context
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a prominent political prisoner in Russia facing politically motivated charges. His case has gained urgency following the death of Alexei Navalny.
Leo Docherty
Our ambassador raised Mr Kara-Murza's case in person with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister on 19 January, repeating our request for consular access. The Foreign Secretary met Mrs Kara-Murza and her mother on 1 March.
Session: Vladimir Kara-Murza
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What diplomatic steps are being taken to help secure the safety and release of Vladimir Kara-Murza? Since Alexei Navalny's death, the Government recognises the increased urgency of Kara-Murza's case as he is now a high-profile political prisoner. What additional actions are under consideration?
Context
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a prominent political prisoner in Russia facing politically motivated charges. His case has gained urgency following the death of Alexei Navalny.
Leo Docherty
The UK has consistently condemned Vladimir Kara-Murza's politically motivated conviction and called for his release. We sanctioned 11 individuals in response to his sentencing, as well as two individuals involved in his earlier poisoning. Our ambassador raised Mr Kara-Murza's case with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister on 19 January, repeating our request for consular access. The Foreign Secretary met Mrs Kara-Murza and her mother on 1 March.
Session: Vladimir Kara-Murza
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The hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr Sharma) and the Minister are both right to stress the importance of maths, but what is vital to all good teaching is proper school place planning. On the Isle of Wight, councillors are proving unwilling to deliver, or incapable of delivering, a school place plan despite their legal duty. Will the Minister work with me to ensure that the Isle of Wight Council acts to fulfil its legal duties soon—
Context
The MP is concerned about the legal duty of councillors to deliver a school place plan and their failure to do so.
Nick Gibb
My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. We are aware that the Isle of Wight is experiencing a decline in the number of primary school children, which is creating surplus places. The Department is monitoring the situation closely, and the south east regional director will be meeting the local authority next month to discuss this and other concerns that we have about the Isle of Wight.
Session: Maths Standards Primary Education
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The recent Islands Forum showed the link between education, jobs, and skills agenda. Given this context, will the Minister pledge to establish a centre of excellence for phonics teaching on the Isle of Wight?
Context
Acknowledging the new special educational needs school for Isle of Wight, Bob Seely seeks a commitment to establish a phonics teaching centre on the Island. He highlights the connection between education and job opportunities in his constituency.
Nick Gibb
The Springhill English hub is supporting primary schools on the Island to improve their phonics teaching, working with 11 primary schools including five that receive intensive support. The goal is to find a school on the Isle of Wight capable of spreading best practices within the Island.
Session: Phonics Teaching Isle of Wight
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What assessment has her Department made of the effectiveness of phonics teaching in Isle of Wight constituency?
Context
The question arises from the need to assess the current methods used in teaching early reading, particularly in Bob Seely's constituency of Isle of Wight.
Nick Gibb
There is overwhelming evidence that systematic phonics is the most effective method for teaching early reading. The English hubs programme involves 34 high-performing primary schools, with expertise spreading to over 1,600 primary schools; specifically supporting 11 primary schools in Isle of Wight.
Session: Phonics Teaching Isle of Wight
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Some microbusinesses and small businesses are incredibly reliant on post offices and sub-post offices. My sub-postmasters—Andy Smith in Ventnor were the last I spoke to—are increasingly concerned about the payments regime for sub-post officers. Banks are increasingly shutting down, passing responsibilities for cash takes on to sub-postmasters who do not get adequate remuneration. Will the Government look at the payments system specifically?
Context
The MP is raising concerns about the relationship between banks and sub-post offices, noting that banks are increasingly shutting down and passing responsibilities onto sub-postmasters who do not receive adequate remuneration.
Kevin Hollinrake
That is an interesting point. That relationship between banks and post offices is important for post offices and the banks, so we urge fair terms to be struck. We have concerns about recent banking deposit limits introduced to cover money laundering issues. I am looking into that in great detail and at pace to resolve those issues because they limit remuneration for postmasters.
Session: Rural Microbusinesses
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What steps her Department is taking to support the growth of micro- businesses in rural and isolated communities. I am concerned that these small entities face specific challenges that require tailored assistance.
Context
The MP is concerned about the growth of micro-businesses in rural and isolated communities, emphasizing their unique challenges.
Kevin Hollinrake
As somebody from a business background who also represents a rural area, I fully understand the importance of provision of a range of support to help small and microbusinesses to grow, including those in rural areas. Such businesses can find support through the free business support helpline, the 38 growth hubs across England, and the newly launched “Help to Grow” website, as well as through start-up loans. I note that 240 businesses on the Isle of Wight have benefited from start-up loans.
Session: Rural Microbusinesses
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Do Ministers agree that one way the Government can drive economic growth is through quicker decision making? As the Minister has admitted, we have waited nearly a decade for an answer on Camp Hill. Do Ministers understand, and have they taken on board, that our preferred option on the Isle of Wight is for the Camp Hill site to be sold to the council at a price it can afford—we have done that with the Columbine building in East Cowes—so that we can use that land for jobs, housing and development, taking pressure off greenfield sites and creating wealth on the Island, rather than having this valuable site stand empty for such a long time?
Context
The questioner seeks to drive economic growth by selling the Camp Hill site to the council at an affordable price for jobs, housing, and development.
Damian Hinds
First, I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of making timely decisions on all such matters. I also hear what he says; transferring that site to Isle of Wight Council is one of the options being looked at, among others. I know that MOJ officials have been speaking to the council, and I commit to my hon. Friend that they will continue to do so.
Session: Isle of Wight Constituency Camp Hill Site
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What plans he has for the Camp Hill site in Isle of Wight constituency.
Context
HM Prison Camp Hill was closed in 2013, and the questioner seeks plans for the decommissioned prison site.
Damian Hinds
As my hon. Friend knows, HM Prison Camp Hill in his constituency was closed in 2013. We are currently exploring options for a number of decommissioned prison sites, including Camp Hill.
Session: Isle of Wight Constituency Camp Hill Site
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I congratulate all the Ministers on their new roles and thank the Minister for that information. Regarding the cost of living, what reassurances can the ministerial team give me that pensioners on the Isle of Wight, and indeed throughout Britain, will be looked after this winter, considering that they are on fixed incomes?
Context
The question follows a congratulatory statement to Ministers on their new roles and acknowledges the previous information given.
Tom Pursglove
My hon. Friend is always a passionate advocate for people on the Isle of Wight, raising the issues and concerns that are relevant to them. We have a Prime Minister who has consistently demonstrated that he is on the side of vulnerable people and hard-working people across the country. That will continue to be the case. We have put in place a £37 billion package of support to help with these cost of living pressures, and of course we always keep the appropriateness of that under review.
Session: Cost of Living Payments Isle of Wight
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What recent estimate he has made of the number of Isle of Wight residents who will receive the second cost of living payment.
Context
N/A - Specific data request without background context.
Tom Pursglove
We published an impact analysis for the Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill, which estimated that, in the Isle of Wight constituency, 18,300 families are eligible for the means-tested benefit cost of living payment and 17,300 individuals are eligible for the disability cost of living payment.
Session: Cost of Living Payments Isle of Wight
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The Island has made good progress in improving its education in recent years, which I am delighted about. I am very keen to get as much out of the education investment area as we possibly can, in order to drive up standards further. That ambition was evident in my recent visit, only a few days ago, to Christ the King College, where I talked to students and pupils. The Education Minister has had many invitations today, so will the Secretary of State please come to the Isle of Wight so that he can see the excellent work being done at the Isle of Wight College and at our schools?
Context
The Island has made progress in education and the MP seeks further improvements through a visit by the Education Minister.
Nadhim Zahawi
That invitation is far too tempting to turn down, so I shall make time to visit the Isle of Wight with my hon. Friend. Of course, I will be saying more about the work we are doing in the schools White Paper.
Session: Education Investment Area Isle of Wight
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What assessment has been made of the potential impact on education outcomes of an education investment area on the Isle of Wight?
Context
The question arises from an initiative to enhance education outcomes in a specific region.
Nadhim Zahawi
I was delighted to announce that the Isle of Wight will be an education investment area, which will receive a range of support to improve schools. We aim to boost the rate of children meeting reading, writing and maths standards by 2030.
Session: Education Investment Area Isle of Wight
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On responding to the changing global context, would it be accurate to say that this morning deterrence has failed? Do the Government also agree that perhaps if we had a national strategy council that looked forward a decade to the trends shaping our world, our policy might be less ad hoc, less reactive and less last-minute, and our ability to deter wars, which are currently breaking out in Europe, might be stronger?
Context
The MP is concerned about the UK's ability to deter conflicts, citing the current situation in Europe as an example of a need for forward-looking strategy.
Steve Barclay
I know that my hon. Friend takes a close interest in these issues, so he will know better than most that the whole purpose of the integrated review was to look at the period up to 2030, and it clearly identified China as a systemic competitor. I also know from my time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury that at the spending review 2020 we put in place the biggest investment in the Ministry of Defence—in defence—for about 30 years. That shows this Government's willingness to look longer-term at what the right strategic approach is.
Session: UK Global Strategy
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If he will make an assessment with the Foreign Secretary of the potential merits of introducing a national strategy council to develop and support a long-term global strategy for the UK.
Context
The MP inquires about the potential establishment of a national strategy council to develop a long-term global strategy for the UK, prompted by concerns over the effectiveness of current deterrence measures.
Steve Barclay
The Government's approach to national security was set out in the integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy. The National Security Council provides strategic direction to ensure that the review is implemented, and provides the necessary flexibility and agility to respond to the changing global context.
Session: UK Global Strategy
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Will my hon. Friend reassure me that all MOD contracts are fairly given out and fairly tendered to all contractors in the country, including smaller contractors such as Wight Shipyard?
Context
Wight Shipyard Co. raised concerns about niche criteria and short timeframes for the MOD's special purpose ship contract.
Jeremy Quin
My hon. Friend is an assiduous advocate for the Island and he was right to raise this issue with me before Christmas. I looked into it and have written to him on the subject. The requirement is for an existing vessel that can enter service very quickly. It has attracted a significant degree of interest from a wide range of suppliers, and they will have to compete along the lines outlined.
Session: Awarding of Defence Contracts
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What steps he is taking to ensure that contracts awarded by his Department are subject to open competition and accessible to domestic contractors. Wight Shipyard Co. in my constituency recently raised with me its concern about the niche criteria and very short timeframes for the Ministry of Defence's special purpose ship contract.
Context
The MP is concerned about the transparency and accessibility of MOD contracts for domestic contractors.
Jeremy Quin
The defence and security industrial strategy provides a more flexible approach to determine the right acquisition strategy for any given capability. Where tenders are used, they are designed to be fair, open and accessible to domestic contractors. My hon. Friend is an assiduous advocate for the Island and he was right to raise this issue with me before Christmas. I looked into it and have written to him on the subject. The requirement is for an existing vessel that can enter service very quickly. It has attracted a significant degree of interest from a wide range of suppliers.
Session: Awarding of Defence Contracts
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May I confirm that the Secretary of State and his team are aware of the Isle of Wight's achievement of UNESCO biosphere reserve status and of our desire to work with the Government on new landscape designations?
Context
The Isle of Wight has achieved UNESCO biosphere reserve status and seeks new landscape designations.
Rebecca Pow
My hon. Friend is such a great champion for the Isle of Wight. He never ceases to collar me in the corridor to talk about it. He is right that it is an amazing biosphere. He will know that Natural England has started to develop an England-wide assessment to identify further landscape conservation enhancement needs, looking at potential areas of outstanding natural beauty and so on. I urge him to keep that dialogue open.
Session: Topical Questions
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First, I thank all the service personnel involved in Operation Pitting and pay tribute to the as-ever impressive leadership of Brigadier James Martin. Radar is vital to our nation's defence, and the Royal Navy's radar is made in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Do the Government have a plan for the development of next-generation radar?
Context
The MP seeks information on the government's plans to develop future radar systems, specifically highlighting the contribution made by local companies.
Jeremy Quin
We absolutely do. My hon. Friend is an assiduous proponent of the Island's defence sector. In the summer, I visited GKN Aerospace in Cowes, which is one of a number of great companies on the Island. On radar, my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that we are working closely with BAE Systems on the potential spiral development of the existing maritime radar.
Session: Defence Sector Jobs
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The Secretary of State knows that I hold him and his ministerial team in high regard. However, is it right that we have in the Isle of Wight ferry services a public service without any sense of public service obligation, and can the Minister tell me of a single example elsewhere in the United Kingdom where we have a true lifeline public service with no lifeline obligation attached to those services?
Context
The Isle of Wight's ferry services are critical but lack a public service obligation, raising concerns about the quality and reliability of these essential services.
Robert Courts
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He is a long-standing advocate of improving the service for his constituents, and he and I have spoken about it on many occasions. He will of course know that service provision to the Island is a matter for the local council, working with service operators. None the less, the Government will continue to monitor the service on this route, and if there is anything he would like to discuss with me at any time he need only ask.
Session: Transport Services to Isle of Wight
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What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of imposing a public service obligation on vehicle and passenger services between the Isle of Wight and UK mainland?
Context
The Isle of Wight relies heavily on its ferry services, which are essential for the island's connectivity and economic activities.
Robert Courts
We recognise the importance of this route. We will always keep route assessments under review, including if there is any evidence of market failure that requires intervention.
Session: Transport Services to Isle of Wight
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I congratulate the Home Secretary and her Ministers on the excellent work with Hong Kong BNOs, and long may it continue. On the wider point of asylum, may I thank the Secretary of State and her excellent ministerial team for the much-needed reforms to the asylum system that they are introducing, which will make the asylum system significantly fairer to the British people? These changes cannot come soon enough.
Context
The question builds on the previous one about the BNO immigration route, extending to acknowledge the Home Office's work on asylum reform. This is a broader policy area involving migration, citizenship, and social welfare.
Kevin Foster
We appreciate my hon. Friend's warm endorsement of the work done to create this route, which will give many millions the opportunity to make their home here in our United Kingdom, if they decide that that is the right choice for them and their family.
Session: Immigration Hong Kong
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What progress her Department has made on implementing the immigration route for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders to settle in the UK.
Context
The question pertains to the progress made on implementing an immigration pathway for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders. This is a specific policy area concerning migration and citizenship.
Kevin Foster
On 31 January, we launched a bespoke immigration route for British national overseas status-holders and their households, allowing them to come to the UK to live, work and study on a pathway to British citizenship. On 23 February, we also launched a fully digital application process.
Session: Immigration Hong Kong
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Thanking Ministers, education officers, and especially teachers on the Isle of Wight for keeping education ongoing during challenging times, can the Secretary of State explain what further support is being planned for disadvantaged children there and how we ensure sufficient virtual learning?
Context
The MP appreciates the work done by teachers and acknowledges their efforts to keep education going. He seeks further information about additional support planned for children in need on the Isle of Wight and measures to ensure adequate virtual learning across all schools.
Gavin Williamson
Joining my hon. Friend in thanking teachers and staff, we have increased device procurement from 200,000 to 1.3 million devices and set out expectations for remote education provision during these unprecedented times.
Session: Remote Learning Laptops and Other Devices
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What assessment has the Department made of the roll-out of laptops and other devices to disadvantaged pupils for remote learning during the COVID-19 outbreak?
Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of limited remote learning resources on disadvantaged students due to the pandemic. He references specific funding initiatives aimed at providing laptops and tablets but seeks an evaluation of their effectiveness.
Gavin Williamson
We are investing over £400 million to support access to remote education, including by providing 1.3 million laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children. We are partnering with leading mobile operators to provide free data and deliver 4G wireless routers for pupils without a home connection.
Session: Remote Learning Laptops and Other Devices
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Regarding vaccine hub readiness and supply issues on the Isle of Wight, despite high infection rates and unique demographics, there is worry about prioritisation. What can be done to improve the situation and what reassurance can be provided?
Context
Concerns over vaccine delivery timing, potential delays in sign-off and availability, and rising infections on the island prompt this question. The demographic profile and isolation of the island are factors.
Matthew Hancock
Vaccines will be delivered on the Isle of Wight before 15 July, and we are committed to offering vaccines to all in priority cohorts, including over-70s. There will be vaccination centres within 10 miles of where everyone lives, and vaccinations are currently happening on the island.
Session: Covid-19 Scientific Evidence Base for Government Response
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What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the scientific evidence base underpinning the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak?
Context
The question arises from concerns about the adequacy of scientific guidance informing government decisions during the pandemic.
Matthew Hancock
The Government's response to the pandemic has been informed by a considerable range of expert scientific and medical advice, with an increasing understanding of coronavirus globally. The UK has produced new scientific evidence throughout the pandemic. When we take decisions, they are based on and guided by the best possible science.
Session: Covid-19 Scientific Evidence Base for Government Response
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I welcome the increase to Hampshire—and Isle of Wight—constabulary. Does the Minister agree that the increase will enable police in both Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as in other areas of the UK, to follow up lower level crime? It causes great concern to all our constituents, but in recent years the police have been under pressure not to investigate it, due to police numbers.
Context
Discussion on how increased funding will be used by the police to address lower-level crimes.
Kit Malthouse, Minister
It is obviously an operational matter for chief constables to address where and how they allocate their resources, but I would certainly hope that an increase in the number of police officers will allow them to spend more time on the sort of crimes that assail both my hon. Friend's community and mine in the county. They perhaps do not attract the attention of the headlines, but nevertheless cause consternation in the communities we represent.
Session: Hampshire Constabulary Police Numbers
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What estimate does she have made of the number of additional police officers joining Hampshire constabulary during the 2019 Parliament?
Context
Discussion about the number of additional police officers joining Hampshire constabulary during the 2019 Parliament.
Kit Malthouse, Minister
The Government's pledge to put an additional 20,000 officers on our streets sends a clear message that we are committed to giving police the resources they need to tackle the scourge of crime. Hampshire will receive up to £366.5 million of funding next year, an increase of up to £26.1 million on the previous year. In this year alone, the county will benefit from 156 more police officers.
Session: Hampshire Constabulary Police Numbers
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I welcome the fresh new approach of this Front-Bench team. Given the importance of sustainable transport and sustainable housing, do Ministers agree that building low-density housing on greenfield sites is bad for sustainable transport, bad for sustainable housing and bad for our environment, because it is so car-dependent, which is why so many of our constituents object?
Context
The MP raises concerns about the negative impacts of building low-density housing on greenfield sites.
George Freeman
I commend my hon. Friend on that point and his “Island Manifesto”, in which he makes that point. We are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that we move the dial on much better integration of cycling, walking and public transport in new housing.
Session: Topical Questions
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
[Christina Rees in the Chair]
15 May 2024
Responding: Andrew Mitchell
Main Concerns
["Bob Seely is concerned about the Chinese Communist Party's aggressive policies and their impact on global security, including cyber threats, trade dumping, intellectual property theft, and espionage. He highlights specific incidents such as GCHQ warnings about China's cyber threat, arrests of spies in the UK, and Huawei's dominance in 5G technology. Seely also mentions the CCP's view of democracy and freedom as false ideological trends, which poses a challenge to western values. Additionally, he expresses worry over DNA biotech research and cellular modules controlled by Chinese companies, potentially compromising national security."]
Specific Asks
["Seely urges the Government to develop a coherent strategy against China's authoritarianism, including diversifying supply chains, mandating DNA testing for cotton from Xinjiang, treating China as a developed economy at the WTO, and increasing military spending. He also calls on the Government to address issues like Confucius Institutes spying and the large-scale illicit supply of fentanyl."]
Cross-Solent Ferries
26 March 2024
Responding: Huw Merriman
Main Concerns
["The relationship between the ferry firms and the people of the Isle of Wight is breaking down. The ferries are a genuine lifeline, but they have no public service obligation. Services from Wightlink and Red Funnel have worsened due to private equity-style ownership, leading to issues such as unreliable timetables, high debt levels, and inflated valuations. For example, in 2023, Wightlink had tangible assets of £85 million with an operating profit of £15 million, while Red Funnel's valuation rose from £200 million in 2007 to £370 million in later years."]
Specific Asks
["The Minister should consider supporting a Bill for a UK ferries regulator, demand the rights to sign off on firms' timetables as they do for rail services, and explore options such as central Government funding for healthcare-related visits and beefed-up powers for the transport infrastructure board."]
Isle of Wight: Island Designation Status and Landscape Protection
06 June 2023
Responding: Trudy Harrison
Main Concerns
['The Isle of Wight, a microcosm of the whole of England with diverse habitats, wildlife, and geology, has been underappreciated in terms of landscape protection. The island lacks a comprehensive legal designation that recognises its unique natural assets. It includes rare animals like red squirrels and dormice, 28 species of rare plants and insects, and is home to the sole British location for the Glanville fritillary butterfly. Despite having UNESCO biosphere status, it faces development pressures affecting protected sites such as Chine Farm. The island has lost some species over the past five decades due to urban development.']
Specific Asks
['I ask for a new designation in UK landscape protection for the Isle of Wight, similar to an AONB but covering the entire island and including marine areas. This would protect against harmful developments like those at Chine Farm and support farmers through initiatives like Farming in Protected Landscapes funding.']
Planning
26 January 2023
Responding: Lucy Frazer
Main Concerns
['The planning system has been top-down and developer-led, often disregarding the needs and wishes of local communities. There are over 1 million outstanding planning permissions, including more than 400,000 on brownfield sites that remain undeveloped due to land banking by large developers. Infrastructure spending is skewed towards London and the south-east, exacerbating population decline in northern cities.']
Specific Asks
['The Government should provide compulsory purchase powers to local councils, expedite decision-making processes for projects like Camp Hill prison site, and recognise exceptional circumstances for islands when setting housing targets. These measures would help address unscrupulous development practices and enable more community-led regeneration efforts.']
War in Ukraine: Illicit Finance
17 November 2022
Responding: Leo Docherty
Main Concerns
['The UK and its offshore territories have for too long turned a blind eye to the transfer and concealment of illicit or semi-illicit wealth, granting political and judicial protections to high-risk individuals undeserving of such protections. The flow of illicit wealth from the former Soviet Union via corrupt German and Scandinavian banks, through UK shell companies, to tax havens is estimated at between £500 billion and £1 trillion. This includes property purchases in Great Britain worth nearly £5.5 billion via offshore shell companies, exacerbating housing shortages and contributing to inflated property prices. The National Crime Agency estimates that money laundering costs the UK £100 billion annually, with serious or organised crime costing £37 billion.']
Specific Asks
["Close the loopholes in Companies House, better resource economic crime enforcement bodies, better supervise professional enablers so they cannot operate outside of money laundering regulations, and expand UK regulations to British overseas territories. The Government should also consider a draft law for taking frozen assets from sanctioned individuals and using them for Ukraine's reconstruction."]
Unavoidably Small Hospitals
06 September 2022
Responding: Maria Caulfield
Main Concerns
["I am concerned about the challenges faced by unavoidably small hospitals, specifically highlighting issues with funding, staffing, and patient travel costs for St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. The hospital is estimated to need an additional £9 million annually to meet national standards, but it has only received around half that amount since 2019. Staffing difficulties due to remote location and high levels of social isolation exacerbate these challenges."]
Specific Asks
['I ask the Minister to provide more transparent information about funding processes for unavoidably small hospitals and clarify how the additional costs are calculated and distributed by the new integrated care boards. I also request an explanation for why patient travel is funded differently on the Isle of Wight compared to other remote areas like the Scilly Isles.']
Foreign Lobbying
25 May 2022
Responding: Heather Wheeler
Main Concerns
['The hon. Member for Isle of Wight expressed concern about the current lobbying laws being outdated and not fit for purpose. He highlighted issues with foreign lobbying, especially from countries like Russia, China, Iran, and their proxies such as oligarchs and major corporations. He cited examples of covert influence campaigns by these states and emphasised the need to differentiate between ethical and unethical lobbying practices.']
Specific Asks
['The hon. Member asked for a substantive and broad foreign agent registration process in the National Security Bill, which should include not just those who work within a narrow definition of lobbying but also lawyers, public relations people, strategists, and enablers connected to foreign states. He suggested five major reforms including creating laws to compel individuals and entities that lobby on behalf of hostile states or proxies to record their activities.']
Covid-19: Forecasting and Modelling
18 January 2022
Responding: Maggie Throup
Main Concerns
['Bob Seely is concerned about the influence of questionable modelling on public health policy during the Covid pandemic. He cites instances where models have been poorly presented, misrepresented, and used to drive lockdown measures and create a climate of fear. Seely references peer-reviewed studies that question the validity and ethical implications of such modelling, especially regarding the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 2001 and more recent predictions by Imperial College London.']
Specific Asks
["Seely asks the Government to explain why they relied heavily on doomsday scenarios provided by modellers like Imperial College London. He also questions the BBC's role in presenting these forecasts without sufficient challenge, and calls for an end to the normalisation of worst-case scenarios that have led to a loss of trust in government institutions."]
Housing Supply And Planning Reform
15 July 2021
Main Concerns
["Nine in ten planning applications are approved, but only 60% of permissions are built, leaving over one million unbuilt permissions. The building cartels restrict supply to prevent prices from falling. The standard method undermines the levelling-up agenda as it directs investment away from poorer parts of the country. The north has 23% of the nation's population but receives only 16% of housing need allocations and 18% of public expenditure on housing. The Housing Infrastructure Fund spends £4 per head in Yorkshire compared to £115 per head in the east of England."]
Specific Asks
['Enshrine the ability to object to individual planning applications, give greater weight to reforming neighbourhood plans, outlaw gazumping, redirect infrastructure funding and house building jobs to levelling-up areas, end lazy greenfield development, introduce a brownfield zero-rate, encourage small-scale brownfield development with financial incentives, close loopholes in compulsory purchase laws for derelict properties, screen out dodgy developers through a character test, require change of use applications for Airbnb or holiday homes, provide stamp duty exemption for last-time sellers over 65 to free up the market, and introduce a use-it-or-lose-it rule for permissions.']
Planning
15 July 2021
Responding: Christopher Pincher
Main Concerns
["Nine in ten planning applications are approved, but only sixty percent of permissions are built leading to over one million unbuilt permissions within a decade. The standard method systematically disadvantages poorer parts of the country, especially in the North and Midlands. For example, the north has 23% of the nation's population but its housing need is estimated at not even sixteen percent of the total with public expenditure on housing being only eighteen percent of the total."]
Specific Asks
['The lead MP suggests enshrining the ability to object to individual planning applications, giving greater weight to reforming neighbourhood plans, outlawing gazumping, fundamentally reforming the standard model and redirecting infrastructure funding and house building jobs to levelling-up areas as deliberate acts of policy. He also proposes a greenfield tax, zero-rating brownfield development, encouraging small-scale brownfield in small towns and communities with financial incentives.']
Building Safety and Resilience
11 September 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
I rise to open this debate on the critical issue of building safety and resilience, following last week’s publication of the Grenfell inquiry’s final report. Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s findings on an ent...
Immigration and Asylum
22 May 2024
General Debate
Led by this MP
The Bill proposes annual parliamentary approval for migration limits, focusing responsibility on MPs to explain their actions to constituents. It encourages transparency in decision-making and aims to...
Passport e-Gates Network Outage
08 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Defence
07 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Government have committed to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, resulting in a £75 billion cash boost over six years from a flat cash baseline. The current commitment involves sound...
Defence Personnel Data Breach
07 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Conviction Quashing Bill - Clause 1 Amendment (25)
29 April 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Amendment 25 seeks to clarify that clause 1(1) will apply only to convictions made before the Act's coming into force. This ensures that the legislation does not retroactively affect cases outside its...
Hospice Funding
22 April 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Calls on integrated care boards to urgently address the funding for hospice-provided palliative care. Emphasises the importance of end-of-life care as a legal right, highlights financial pressures fac...
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - Clause 1 - Introduction, Lords amendment 3J
22 April 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Moves to disagree with Lords amendment 3J. States that the amendment is almost identical to previously rejected amendments. Reiterates government position on ratifying treaty and implementation progre...
Cyber-security and UK Democracy
25 March 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Women’s State Pension Age
25 March 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
1
PMQs Asked
32
Ministerial Questions Asked
139
House of Commons Debates Involved
12
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
-73% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+139% above average
This MP:
32
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+377% above average
This MP:
12
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+2760% above average
This MP:
139
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 Bob Seely's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.