Chloe Smith
MP for Norwich North
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Prime Minister's Questions
No PMQs questions found for this MP.
As he is reforming the national planning policy framework and introducing a new infrastructure levy, how will my right hon. Friend ensure that our constituents get the doctors and dentists capacity that must go with new homes?
Context
The MP is questioning the government's reform of the national planning policy framework and introduction of a new infrastructure levy.
Michael Gove
The infrastructure levy we are bringing forward will ensure, through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, that the money is there to provide services when new development takes place. We will work with the NHS to ensure that GP and dental provision is part of that. We have a plan for an infrastructure levy; Labour has no plan.
Session: Topical Questions
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I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, and for the measures he set out in the Budget. I support the fiscal measures he has taken regarding the pensions lifetime allowance, which doctors in Norwich tell me will enable them to deliver more appointments and more operations. Can I go on to ask him, though, what he expects to see in the forthcoming state pension age review?
Context
The question arises from the need to understand the upcoming state pension age review and its implications.
Jeremy Hunt
I thank my right hon. Friend for asking that question, and for all the work she has done in the Department for Work and Pensions on economic inactivity. As she knows, there is an ongoing statutory Government review of the state pension age, and that review will need to carefully balance important factors, including fiscal sustainability, the economic context, the latest life expectancy data, and fairness to both pensioners and taxpayers.
Session: Economic Inactivity
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What fiscal steps are being taken to help reduce economic inactivity?
Context
The question stems from the need to address high levels of economic inactivity, which is affecting employment rates and filling job vacancies.
Jeremy Hunt
If we had the same economic inactivity rate as Holland, there would be 2.7 million more people in work, filling every vacancy in the economy nearly three times over. That is why we focused on the issue in the Budget.
Session: Economic Inactivity
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Does the Minister agree that walk-in centres, such as those in Norwich city centre, are helpful, popular, and necessary?
Context
The question relates to the use of walk-in centres as part of a broader strategy for primary care access during GP and A&E service pressures.
Neil O'Brien
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right; walk-in centres are a key part of primary care. We are looking at how they can do more, and I pay tribute to all the work they are already doing.
Session: Access to Primary Care
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Echoing concern for Access to Work, can you update us on the disability action plan's progress and ensure effective work across Government?
Context
Concern about the progress of Access to Work programme and the implementation of the disability action plan.
Tom Pursglove
We are assembling ministerial disability champions, consulting disabled people, then delivering the plan over 18 months to two years for quick wins.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Chancellor was right to argue last autumn that the NHS needs to help people into work. Will he bring forward more thinking on this as part of his inactivity review or in the Budget?
Context
The Chancellor discussed the need for the NHS to help people into work as part of his inactivity review.
Jeremy Hunt
I discussed this issue with my right hon. Friend when she was the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. I would be delighted to engage with her further ahead of the Budget to tap into any sensible ideas she has in this important area.
Session: Topical Questions
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Does the Minister agree that support for disability and poor health must be improved to help people start, stay, and succeed at work? Will he ensure that spending on Access to Work keeps pace, and will he look at a disability employment endowment fund?
Context
The Government is reviewing the issue of economic inactivity, which affects people with disabilities or poor health.
John Glen
Absolutely, I will look at that. The Government have already committed £1.3 billion of funding to help those with health conditions or disabilities to get into work and to thrive. This is a complex area with a number of interlocking factors, at which we are looking very carefully at this moment.
Session: Payroll Employees: Economic Growth
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If he will make an assessment of the potential contribution of payroll employees to supporting economic growth, given that unemployment is at a record low and there are labour shortages due to rising inactivity among working-age individuals.
Context
Unemployment is at a record low of 3.7%, but there are labour shortages due to rising inactivity among working-age individuals.
John Glen
Unemployment is at a record low of 3.7%, although we recognise that there are labour shortages due, in part, to a rise in working-age inactivity. Tackling that inactivity and supporting growth remains a priority for the Government, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is working on a thorough review, which will conclude very shortly.
Session: Payroll Employees: Economic Growth
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Will the advisory board be on track ahead of the first statutory reporting date? When will the statutory guidance be commenced? Furthermore, will my hon. Friend commit to the Government's major public broadcasts being fully accessible?
Context
The question follows an update on the progress of implementing the BSL Act, focusing on upcoming meetings and statutory guidance.
Mims Davies
My right hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the first meeting of the Departments driving the Act is due to take place in mid-February. It is vital that the 20 Departments listed in the schedule deliver the commitments. The advisory board will form the vital guidance on the Act, and it will look at BSL for major public broadcasts.
Session: British Sign Language
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What recent progress has been made in implementing the British Sign Language Act 2022?
Context
The question follows the passage of the British Sign Language Act 2022, focusing on its implementation and progress.
Mims Davies
I thank my right hon. Friend for her important work in delivering the Act. Work continues across Government to ensure that the Departments named in the schedule to the Act are aware of their reporting duty. They will report on their use of BSL in public communications at the end of the first reporting period on 28 June.
Session: British Sign Language
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I welcome that update, and the tone and, as always, the calm confidence with which the Minister provides it. Does she agree with me and with the Chancellor that the NHS has to help people back into work?
Context
The Minister provided an update on the women's health strategy, focusing on its role in supporting women's health needs in the workplace.
Maria Caulfield
I thank my right hon. Friend for her kind words. I absolutely agree on that, which is why helping women back into work and dealing with their health issues in the workplace is one of the first eight priorities of the women's health strategy. We are working with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on that.
Session: Women’s Health Strategy for England
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Does the current review agree that health and disability benefits can create a financial disincentive against trying work, and should we look at providing better support?
Context
Current health and disability benefits can pose financial disincentives for people with long-term conditions to try work.
Mel Stride
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that the review acknowledges financial disincentives created by current health and disability benefits, and focuses on what disabled people can do rather than what they cannot do. This will be a key aspect of the White Paper.
Session: Incentivising Return to the Labour Market
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What steps is the Department taking to incentivise people to return to the labour market given that 9 million people are economically inactive?
Context
9 million people are economically inactive, prompting a review of economic inactivity measures.
Mel Stride
I am currently reviewing economic inactivity and will come back to the House with various measures. The current number of 9 million people who are economically inactive is not satisfactory.
Session: Incentivising Return to the Labour Market
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I welcome the Secretary of State's brief update on the SEND Green Paper. The 9,000 young people in Norfolk with education, health and care plans will see what progress they can expect in 2023?
Context
The Green Paper on special educational needs and disabilities aims to provide early support to families and young people.
Claire Coutinho
Not only have we increased overall SEND funding by about 50% since 2019 but the number of specialist school places is also increasing. In reforms, we will set out national standards to improve their educational experience.
Session: Topical Questions
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Could the Minister and Secretary of State throw their support behind the bid in Mile Cross?
Context
Communities are awaiting investment from the levelling-up fund, particularly in Mile Cross.
Dehenna Davison
At this stage, I cannot comment on the merits of individual bids, but she is a great, passionate advocate for her constituency and we will be announcing the results in due course.
Session: Levelling-up Fund
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Will the Minister support the trust to reduce waiting times for my constituents for tests, results and treatment?
Context
There are significant challenges with cancer waiting times in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Will Quince
I thank my right hon. Friend for her question and I look forward to visiting Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as soon as possible. She rightly raises cancer referrals. Cancer referrals from GPs are now at 127% of pre-pandemic levels. Cancer treatment levels are at over 107% of pre-pandemic levels, with nine out of 10 people starting treatment within a month. However, as she rightly points out, there is variance across the country and, where trusts have more challenging statistics, we need to address them.
Session: Nursing Workforce: Recruitment and Retention
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Does he agree that a lack of staff is one of the greatest obstacles for businesses? What is his plan to unlock the talents of those who have not recently looked for work?
Context
The economy is facing labour shortages, with more vacancies than people unemployed.
Mel Stride
My right hon. Friend's analysis is entirely right. We have an overheated labour market and a high number of vacancies, and the key issue that businesses up and down the country constantly raise is a lack of staff to be taken on. Broadly speaking, economic inactivity breaks down into several sectors, although I will not go through all of them; we have already touched on the 2.5 million long-term sick.
Session: Economically Inactive People
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
British Sign Language — [Esther McVey in the Chair]
17 October 2023
Responding: Tom Pursglove
Main Concerns
["The Government's BSL Act is necessary to address decades of exclusion faced by deaf people in the UK. The inaugural report revealed concerning gaps, such as zero usage of BSL in public announcements and policy changes. There are also issues with access to family sign language support being a postcode lottery, inadequate digital BSL services leading to financial difficulties for some individuals, and limited signing provision in hospitals."]
Specific Asks
["The Minister must ensure that the Act's guidance improves public service communications and accessibility, sets targets for Departments, and responds to feedback from deaf communities. Additionally, he should update on progress with the advisory board, improving Access to Work services for deaf users, and how tandem legislation will enable legal redress."]
Updating Electoral Laws For Modern Democracy
08 July 2021
Main Concerns
["The Government's electoral system needs updating due to its outdated legislation. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and the Representation of the People Act 1983 are in need of modernization to keep up with current democratic practices. Additionally, there is a concern about maintaining transparency and fairness while preventing foreign interference."]
Specific Asks
['The Government should update electoral laws to reflect current needs, enhance digital imprint rules for online political advertising, and introduce measures to safeguard against foreign funding and spending in elections.']
Valedictory Debate
24 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
In her concluding remarks, Harriet Harman reflected on her 42-year tenure in the House of Commons, thanking her constituents for their support and expressing pride in being a Labour MP. She emphasised...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
21 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Health and Disability Reform
29 April 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Disability Action Plan
05 February 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums
31 January 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The strategy and policy statement does not undermine or challenge the independence of the Electoral Commission. The Government sees its role as a pro tem custodian of democracy, supporting the robustn...
The Media Bill
21 November 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Lucy Frazer moves the Second Reading of the Media Bill, arguing that it is essential to support British media in a rapidly changing digital landscape. She highlights the need for regulations fit for t...
Ways and Means
16 March 2023
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The reality of yesterday’s Budget is clear: long-term growth downgraded, household incomes falling, public services on their knees. Families are facing the biggest hit to living standards since record...
Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, as amended by the Social Security and Childcare (Scotland) Act 2023 - Amendment to extend end-of-life benefits eligibility criteria from six months to twelve months for certain benefits under primary legislation
08 September 2022
Bill Debate
Led by this MP
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions proposes to amend the current six-month rule to a 12-month end-of-life approach, allowing individuals expected to live up to 12 months to claim ...
British Sign Language (BSL) Recognition Bill - Third Reading of the entire bill
18 March 2022
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Bill aims to officially recognise British Sign Language as an official language, improving services and education for deaf people. Rosie Cooper emphasises that this recognition is long overdue and...
Electoral Reform Bill - Clause 2, Amendment 2, New clause 1-5
13 September 2021
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The amendments and new clauses proposed by Eleanor Laing aim to reform the electoral process in several ways: first, they seek to shorten the period between general elections from five years plus an a...
0
PMQs Asked
17
Ministerial Questions Asked
22
House of Commons Debates Involved
2
Westminster Hall Debates Led
19
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
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+27% above average
This MP:
17
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-20% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+350% above average
This MP:
22
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
+101% above average
This MP:
19
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 Chloe Smith's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.