Damian Green
MP for Ashford
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
Will my right hon. Friend welcome another 145 police officers on the streets of Kent and the reduction of 17,000 in crime numbers this year?
Context
The police have been essential during the pandemic. Matthew Scott, the Kent PCC, has announced additional police officers.
Boris Johnson
I thank my right hon. Friend for his long-standing campaign for law and order and congratulate Matthew Scott on recruiting more police officers. We are putting another 20,000 officers on the streets.
Session: PMQs
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A levy on tickets from large shows would help small venues to produce the superstars of tomorrow. Will the Minister take a positive attitude towards a levy?
Context
The MP draws attention to the closure of small music venues despite a booming live music industry, making an analogy with football where revenues trickle down to grassroots.
Julia Lopez
We agree about the importance of grassroots music, which is why we have given another £5 million to the supporting grassroots music fund. We are also in close touch with the Music Venue Trust and Arts Council England.
Session: Grassroots Music Support
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If she will take steps to require arenas, stadiums and major festivals to charge a ticket levy to help fund grassroots live music. In 2023, across the country, not just in Edinburgh, live music boomed, with some 22 million people attending gigs, yet 76 small venues closed—more than one a week.
Context
The MP is concerned about the closure of small music venues despite a booming live music industry.
Julia Lopez
Grassroots live music venues are the talent pipeline of our music industry. We are supporting them with funds and rate relief. We have no plans for a Government-mandated ticket levy, but we encourage industry discussion.
Session: Grassroots Music Support
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Will the media Bill include measures to protect essential BBC local radio services?
Context
The Minister mentioned that the House will be considering a media Bill in coming months.
Julia Lopez
I thank my right hon. Friend for his contribution. We are not going to protect specific parts of the BBC by primary legislation, but we have a number of important measures on radio services that we feel strongly about including in that legislation, and that includes measures on smart speakers.
Session: BBC Local Radio Proposed Cuts
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I know from a previous answer that Ministers share my concern that high energy costs have led to the closure or reduction in hours in around 350 public swimming pools. Will Ministers join me in urging their Cabinet colleagues to give public pools the support that is available to other sectors to enable them to continue playing their essential role in keeping people healthy?
Context
High energy costs have led to the closure or reduction in hours of around 350 public swimming pools.
Stuart Andrew
I thank the Chair of the Select Committee. I repeat that I am completely aware of the situation faced by many pools and leisure centres. The multiple questions that I have had on that today certainly help my case in my discussions with colleagues across Government.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Secretary of State is aware of the exemption proposed for AI in text and data mining. Creative industries are concerned this could destroy their copyright protections. Are Ministers carefully examining these concerns?
Context
Creative sectors, including music and cinema, are worried that proposed exemptions for artificial intelligence from copyright protections could undermine the rights of creators.
Paul Scully
We are looking carefully at the proposals, have launched a period of stakeholder engagement to consider evidence received, and aim to develop a proportionate response.
Session: Topical Questions
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In 2020, the Home Office secured 12 monthly convictions for people smuggling into the UK, but that fell to eight in 2021 and three in the first half of 2022. The smuggler gangs have proliferated and dangerous boat crossings are up twentyfold. Why has the Home Secretary failed to take action against criminal gangs?
Context
The number of convictions for people smuggling fell from 12 per month in 2020 to just three a month by early 2022. The Home Secretary is questioned on her failure to act against criminal gangs.
Suella Braverman
The shadow Home Secretary and Labour have no plan on illegal migration. They voted against new offences for prosecuting smugglers, tougher sentences for foreign criminals, and scrapping the Rwanda scheme.
Session: Asylum System
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Is the promised investment of £300 million still available despite fiscal statement?
Context
The Government committed £300 million to supported housing for people with long-term health conditions, which is expected to increase by 125,000 this decade.
Felicity Buchan
Departments are reviewing specific spending plans following fiscal statement, details will be announced in due course.
Session: Topical Questions
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Does the Home Secretary recognise that we need an asylum system that can process applications quickly? If the figures remain at 1.5 decisions per week per decision maker, as they are now, or at four a week, as in the Government's latest pilot, we will never see an end to the backlogs and delays.
Context
The Government and French Government signed an agreement to deal with the asylum crisis. Current figures indicate only 1.5 decisions per week per decision maker.
Robert Jenrick
We want to increase the productivity of our Home Office staff so that cases are not being decided to the tune of one per person per week, but at four, five or six per person per week. We had a positive pilot in Leeds and intend to roll it out across the country.
Session: Topical Questions
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More than 13,000 people who are in hospital today would be out of hospital if the care system had the necessary capacity, and most of them could go back to their own homes if we had enough domiciliary care workers. Can the Secretary of State assure me, and the House, that he will produce a proper workforce plan for the care sector as a matter of urgency?
Context
There is a shortage of domiciliary care workers, impacting hospital discharges. This issue has led to more than 13,000 people being unnecessarily in hospitals.
Steve Barclay
With our colleagues in NHS England, we launched a “delayed discharge” taskforce with a “100-day challenge” over the summer; we have also set up an international recruitment taskforce within the Department to prioritise the establishment of a “clearing house for care”. This is a key area of focus.
Session: Topical Questions
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Ministers should offer reassurance to mothers-to-be in east Kent that giving birth in those hospitals will be safe. Is there any update on the situation?
Context
CQC expressed concern about maternity services at William Harvey Hospital in Kent, which is part of a trust facing challenges.
Maria Caulfield
NHS England provided £1.6 million to fund an additional 38 midwives, with 26 already in post.
Session: Topical Questions
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Acknowledging recent announcements, how will we ensure proper long-term planning for social care? This includes addressing immediate workforce challenges and supporting people to live independently longer. The £86,000 cap on care costs is insufficient and may not provide financial relief before someone's death.
Context
In a follow-up, concern is raised about the effectiveness of health and social care integration without addressing workforce pressures and current needs.
Gillian Keegan
The Government acknowledges the importance of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. They have allocated £34 billion to NHS this year and will continue investing in social care with a £5.4 billion commitment over three years. The cap on care costs aims to provide peace of mind for families, though deferred payment agreements exist.
Session: Social Care
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What steps are being taken to provide a long-term solution to social care issues? This includes addressing workforce issues, technology use, and home living provisions for older adults. Existing integration efforts may not be sufficient without a comprehensive plan.
Context
The question follows the government's recent announcement on social care investment, seeking long-term solutions beyond immediate financial support.
Gillian Keegan
An upcoming White Paper will outline our vision for social care reform, addressing issues such as housing innovation, information access, and workforce funding. The Minister welcomes the opportunity to meet with the all-party parliamentary group on adult social care to incorporate their insights.
Session: Social Care
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
New Dementia Treatments
11 January 2024
Responding: Helen Whately
Main Concerns
["The cold statistics and human cost of dementia are stark: nearly 1 million people in the UK live with dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2050. There are currently no treatments that can slow, stop or cure dementia, which affects over 1,600 residents in his constituency alone. The disease has a profound impact on individuals, families, and carers. New diagnostic methods like blood tests for Alzheimer's show promise, but there is a lack of timely diagnosis, with over a third of the over-65s estimated to have dementia without a recorded diagnosis."]
Specific Asks
['The Government should ensure that NHS bodies and industry develop a joint plan to make new treatments available at reasonable prices. NICE should consider both NHS and social care costs when assessing drug affordability, particularly focusing on unpaid carers who bear the bulk of the cost burden. There is an urgent need for better diagnostic capacity, including increasing access to lumbar puncture procedures.']
Social Care — [Rushanara Ali in the Chair]
24 November 2022
Responding: Helen Whately
Main Concerns
['The MP is concerned about the underfunding and workforce shortages in social care. He cited statistics such as a shortage of over 165,000 vacant posts, with average vacancy rates nearly 11%, twice the national average. Additionally, he mentioned that rising energy costs could significantly reduce the number of services available, leading to more demand for professional social care services and potential quality reductions due to inflation.']
Specific Asks
["The MP asks the government to take wider action on social care, including conducting a full review of the system beyond just funding. He also calls for measures such as raising the minimum wage for social care workers, mirroring NHS 'Agenda for Change' pay scales, and promoting social care as a fulfilling career."]
BBC Mid-term Charter Review
09 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Proposes the debate on the BBC's mid-term charter review, criticising the lack of a formal debate in Parliament and questioning whether the current system satisfies concerns about impartiality. Emphas...
Immigration Update
01 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Checks on Goods Entering UK
29 April 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Football (Amendment) Bill - Clause 1
23 April 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Ways and Means
11 March 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Since 2010, the economy under Conservative Government has seen significant growth despite challenging times. The Chancellor's Budget supports sectors such as the creative industries, which have grown ...
Agriculture Bill - New clause 3
30 January 2024
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
To be filled in based on the content of George Eustice's speech.
Legal Migration
04 December 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
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...
Violence Reduction, Policing and Criminal Justice
15 November 2023
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Illegal Immigration
15 November 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
1
PMQs Asked
12
Ministerial Questions Asked
87
House of Commons Debates Involved
2
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 1370 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-73% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-12% below average
This MP:
12
Average:
13.7
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-21% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1697% above average
This MP:
87
Average:
4.8
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.4
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 Damian Green's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.