Derek Thomas
MP for St Ives
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
Community pharmacists play an essential role in reducing urgent care service pressures. Pharmacy First is a good example of Government commitment. However, community pharmacies are under extreme financial pressure and some have closed, including in St Ives. Will the PM do everything to ensure funds directed toward supporting community pharmacies?
Context
Community pharmacies face financial pressure leading to closures, with 177 pharmacies closing this year.
Rishi Sunak
About 80% of people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy. We are backing them with Pharmacy First, providing £645 million in extra funding to help deliver NHS services closer to home and reduce waiting lists.
Assessment
No additional funds specifically for financial pressures were mentioned
We Are Backing Them With Pharmacy First
£645M Extra Funding
Session: PMQs
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Robotic surgery allows laparoscopic surgery to be performed with increased precision, flexibility and control. This can result in reduced patient complication rates, reduced lengths of stay in hospital and reduced hospital readmission. However, there is currently no robotic surgery provision in Cornwall. As a result, residents of Cornwall must travel to Devon for robotic procedures, a journey of more than 80 miles for those from west Cornwall and 120 miles for those from the Isles of Scilly. Will the Prime Minister commit to ringfence capital funding for Cornwall to establish a robotic surgery service, and address the health inequalities our constituents have lived with for far too long?
Context
Residents of Cornwall must travel long distances for robotic surgery procedures due to lack of local facilities, causing health inequalities.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the potential of this innovative technology for patient care. I am delighted that more generally Cornwall is benefiting from our new hospital programme, providing a new women and children's hospital at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, in the centre of Cornwall, which he and I discussed when I was last with him. NHS England is actively exploring opportunities to expand robotic-assisted surgery. Any decisions on funding new allocations will factor in health inequalities, such as areas with less access to robots to date. I will ensure that the current access to robotic surgery in my hon. Friend's local community is appropriately considered by the relevant health Minister.
Assessment
The PM did not commit to ringfencing specific capital funding for Cornwall but acknowledged ongoing exploration and consideration of inequalities.
Nhs England Is Actively Exploring Opportunities To Expand Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Session: PMQs
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Five years ago, £40 million of public funds were set aside for brain tumour research, but recent Government figures suggest that as little as a quarter of that money has been deployed to researchers. The mechanism to distribute research funding effectively is broken. As a result, the brain tumour community has not seen the breakthroughs in treatment and survival rates that many of us believe they should have. Does my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agree that a unique and complex disease needs a unique response, and, in Brain Tumour Awareness Month, will he make brain cancer a critical research priority across all cancers?
Context
Only a quarter of the £40 million public funds set aside for brain tumour research have been deployed to researchers.
Rishi Sunak
I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughtful and powerful question. He is absolutely right about the importance of expediting medical research so that we can deliver better care for the people affected. I will make sure that he gets a meeting with the relevant Minister so we can ensure that that funding gets out to the people who need it and we can bring relief to them as quickly as we can.
Session: PMQs
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First, may I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on her successful campaign to become our party leader and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? It is right and proper that the Government focus their attention on rising energy costs for households across the country, but businesses big and small are exposed to horrific energy price increases with no restraint provided by the domestic energy price cap and no support so far from Government. For the sake of businesses in west Cornwall and on Scilly, the jobs that they provide and the economy as a whole, what can my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister do to ease the energy costs that our businesses face?
Context
Concerns about energy prices affecting businesses in west Cornwall and Scilly.
Elizabeth Truss
My hon. Friend is right: we do need to address the issues that businesses face. The package that we will announce tomorrow will do just that.
Assessment
Did not provide specific details about the package announced tomorrow
Session: PMQs
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I am joined by all of Cornwall's MPs in pressing the Home Secretary to renew the seasonal agricultural workers scheme for next year—that is 30,000 people—and also to allow them to pick daffodils. Will the Deputy Prime Minister speak to the Home Secretary about this urgency?
Context
Cornwall MPs are pressing for the renewal of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.
Dominic Raab
My hon. Friend is a powerful champion for his constituency and region. I will pass on his suggestion and advice to the Home Secretary. We are mindful of the impact on seasonal workers and will get the right balance.
Assessment
Did not commit to renewing the scheme but acknowledged urgency
Under Review
Session: PMQs
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March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Over 100,000 people have signed a petition for matching brain tumour research funding with that for other devastating cancers. Will my friend the Prime Minister meet me when it is safe to do so?
Context
Over 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Government to match brain tumour research funding with that for other cancers.
Boris Johnson
I am happy to meet and take forward the matter. We have put another £40 million into brain tumour research and will certainly put more.
Assessment
Specific meeting to receive petition on brain tumour research funding
Session: PMQs
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The announcement by my right hon. Friend that the G7 summit is to take place in Carbis Bay in June presents a tremendous opportunity for my constituency and, of course, the Duchy of Cornwall. I thank the Prime Minister for this. Does he share my belief that the G7 summit offers the perfect opportunity to secure a global commitment to embrace and accelerate our ambitious low-carbon industrial revolution?
Context
The G7 summit is scheduled to take place in Carbis Bay, offering an opportunity for the Duchy of Cornwall and other regions.
Boris Johnson
I do indeed. I believe that the G7 summit in Carbis Bay will be an opportunity to not only bring the world together to tackle covid, to build back better, to champion global free trade and to combat climate change but also to showcase that wonderful part of the United Kingdom and all the incredible technological developments happening there.
Assessment
null
Session: PMQs
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Half of the adult population in Cornwall, and 40% of children, have not seen an NHS dentist in the past year. Will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who is a friend of Penzance and Cornwall, meet me to see how we can resolve that inequality?
Context
Half of the adult population and 40% of children in Cornwall have not seen an NHS dentist in a year.
Boris Johnson
I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend any time.
Session: PMQs
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Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is an alternative to ripping out existing heating systems in rural homes. We have heard today about the costs involved in this transition and its impact on reducing harmful emissions. Will the Government support HVO in rural communities, giving householders a chance to contribute to emission reductions?
Context
There is concern about the cost of transitioning to alternative heating systems for rural homes. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is seen as a potential solution.
Justin Tomlinson
My hon. Friend has always championed his local constituents to ensure that they get value for money. We must explore all potential options, local or national, to find the best way to deliver energy security and lower bills in future.
Session: Climate Change
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Across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, most jobs are supplied by very small businesses, many of which fall below the VAT threshold. Given the economic inequalities around the region, the increase of the VAT threshold to £90,000 is very welcome, but the threshold being that low and the cliff-edge effect of going from zero to 20% have a chilling impact on growing small businesses and providing all-year-round jobs. Will the Minister consider introducing some sort of taper for that £90,000 threshold, and increasing the VAT threshold further—maybe in the region of £120,000?
Context
The MP raises concerns about the impact of VAT thresholds on very small businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Gareth Davies
My hon. Friend is right: we increased the VAT threshold for small businesses, which will benefit 28,000 businesses across the country. We feel that the £90,000 threshold strikes the right balance between managing public finances sustainably and supporting businesses, but as my hon. Friend knows, we keep these things under review.
Session: Regional Economic Inequalities
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Can she set out what the Government and her Department are doing to reduce energy waste from people's homes?
Context
The MP highlights energy security and reducing fuel poverty as interlinked issues, questioning the Government's approach to securing supply and cutting waste.
Amanda Solloway
The Minister acknowledges hard work for constituents. Efforts focus on making sure we get energy efficiency not only in production but also in the way energy is used.
Session: Fuel Poverty
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ICBs have received guidance, and Cornwall has committed to ringfencing funds for dentistry next year, yet £4.5 million was returned to NHS England before the commitment. What can be done to ensure Cornwall gets its intended funding?
Context
Cornwall ICB committed to ringfencing money for dentistry next year but returned £4.5 million due to unmet units of dental activity.
Victoria Atkins
The ministerial team and I are looking at underspend in dental work. Guidance emphasised that the funding should be ringfenced.
Session: Dental Services
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Will the Minister arrange a meeting with the energy efficiency unit and the laundry sector to explore ways of reducing energy demand and securing better deals from suppliers?
Context
The laundry sector, crucial to hospitality businesses, is experiencing significant financial strain due to high fixed-term energy contracts.
Amanda Solloway
I am delighted to organize meetings with the energy efficiency unit and the laundry sector to explore ways of reducing energy demand and securing better deals from suppliers.
Session: Fixed-term Energy Contracts Hospitality Industry
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Cornwall residents struggle to get dental care without going private. What can the Secretary of State do to increase accessibility of NHS dentistry in deprived areas?
Context
In Cornwall, many people are unable to access NHS dental care due to financial constraints and geographic factors.
Steve Barclay
We have started reforming the dental contract, introduced a minimum value for units of dental activity and are seeing more patients nationally. Further reforms are underway.
Session: Health Inequalities
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I had the great privilege of meeting A Band of Brothers, which is a voluntary organisation based around the UK, including in Cornwall. It works with and alongside men in the community who are in trouble with the law or at risk of getting in trouble with the law. Over 12 weeks, it helps those young men to get their lives back in order. The problem is that it works completely voluntarily. It has done great work to support the criminal justice system and safety in our communities. What more can be done to help it to grow and flourish and to upskill the great work it does?
Victoria Atkins
Is that not a sign of a community as a whole taking action, not just to reduce crime but to try to ensure that the young men my hon. Friend describes get on the straight and narrow and start to build healthy and happy lives for themselves? I would be delighted to discuss that further with him. I know for a fact that he has a superb police and crime commissioner, who I am sure will be supporting A Band of Brothers helpfully and meaningfully.
Session: Topical Questions
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Wars rage in Africa, the middle east and now Ukraine. There is a growing climate crisis, food prices are surging and 300,000 children face death by starvation in Somalia. Britain's reputation is in tatters after two years of callous aid cuts, having shut down the world-renowned Department for International Development. It is clear that Britain needs a strategy for long-term development to stop lurching from crisis to crisis. Can the Secretary of State confirm today exactly when the new strategy will be published? Will it be backed with the funding, focus, ambition and expertise needed to make a lasting difference in the world?
Context
There are wars, a climate crisis, food price surges and 300,000 children face death by starvation in Somalia. The UK's reputation is tarnished after aid cuts and closing the DFID.
Elizabeth Truss (Foreign Secretary)
We will be publishing our new development strategy this spring. There are some key elements to the strategy: first, we will restore the budget for women and girls and restore the budget for humanitarian aid. In the face of the appalling crisis in Ukraine, we have already committed £220 million of development funding, and we are one of the largest donors.
Session: Topical Questions
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I represent an area in Cornwall where a large number of people are on the state pension. I know, from conversations that I have had with the Chancellor, that he is particularly concerned about that demographic. Given the critical rise in the cost of living, I wonder whether one of the easier routes to address it would be to reinstate the triple lock for next year.
Context
The question concerns the reintroduction of the triple lock for pensioners facing a critical rise in living costs.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend is right to highlight pensioners and to support them in the way that he does. He will know that we made a decision temporarily to move to a double lock this year because of the anomaly in the reported earnings, which would have meant a very large rise statistically that would not have been justified or fair in the circumstances. That said, I am pleased to say that pensions are now at their highest level relative to earnings in over three decades because of the Government's policy on the triple lock, and we continue to be the party that will support those who need our help.
Session: Cost of Living Increase Impact on Households
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I have met a number of pensioners in my constituency who are on the state pension, but who also worked hard and saved for a private pension; not a huge pension, but a pension that they believed would help them meet the cost of living. Unfortunately, years of low interest rates and now the rising cost of energy, food and other things have made them begin to worry and they are very concerned about the year ahead. Can the Chancellor provide more information on how he will monitor the situation, and support the families and pensioners whom we encouraged to get private pensions but now find that they cannot meet the cost of living?
Context
Pensioners who have both state and private pensions are facing challenges due to low interest rates and rising costs, leading to worries about their ability to meet living expenses.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight pensioners and their needs. As I said, I am proud of the Government's track record in supporting them.
Session: Cost of Living
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Vast numbers of children and adults right across Cornwall cannot get access to an NHS dentist. That is not about funding, covid or even a lack of dentists; it is just that the contract under which they work is no longer fit for purpose. Next year, the responsibility for dentistry comes to Cornwall. Could we perhaps have a statement from the Minister about how we can reform that contract, which no longer works and keeps dentistry away from people who need it?
Context
There is a significant issue with access to NHS dental services in Cornwall due to an outdated contract.
Maria Caulfield
My hon. Friend gets to the nub of the problem. The 2006 contract, which was introduced under the last Labour Government and is dependent on UDAs—units of dental activity—creates perverse disincentives for dentists to take on NHS work.
Session: Topical Questions
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Can the Chancellor look at this issue urgently to ensure 2,500 people's transport infrastructure system is sustained?
Context
The Isles of Scilly, unique in relying on private companies for travel and supplies, face a collapse of tourist trade.
Rishi Sunak
Happy to talk further about his constituency issue. We have committed to providing local authorities with funding required to support public services including local transport infrastructure in their communities.
Session: Covid-19 Support for Businesses
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The Treasury team will know how difficult it is to get a funding formula to operate for places like the Isles of Scilly, which are remote and sparsely populated. Good work is being done to bring health and social care together under one roof. Can the Minister shed more light on how difficult areas such as this can be funded in the future?
Context
The Isles of Scilly face unique challenges due to their remoteness and sparsity. Funding for health and social care integration is a concern.
Rishi Sunak
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor met my hon. Friend and his local authority recently to discuss this issue, and I have taken representations from them in the past. My hon. Friend is right that rurality and the particular geographic challenges posed by his constituency should be taken into account in the new formula. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will do that when he looks at all the representations in the spring.
Session: Local Authority Funding
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Elderly and Vulnerable People: Loneliness and Isolation — [Mr Virendra Sharma in the Chair]
06 December 2023
Responding: Stuart Andrew
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the impact of modern society on vulnerable people, particularly elderly individuals who are left behind due to a lack of access to digital services. Over 1 million elderly people feel lonely over the festive season according to Age UK, and loneliness contributes significantly to early death, similar to obesity and smoking. The British Red Cross has called for a dedicated Minister for Loneliness and a national strategy overseen by the Prime Minister to address this issue across all ages.']
Specific Asks
['I ask the Government to ensure that all public services remain accessible offline, especially for those who cannot navigate digital platforms easily. I urge the Department for Transport to protect DVLA services at post offices after the current contract expires in March next year and support a proactive approach to ensuring no community is left without essential banking services.']
Nature and Climate Declaration — [JAMES GRAY in the Chair]
09 November 2022
Responding: Trudy Harrison
Main Concerns
['Mr Derek Thomas expressed concerns about the need for clearer articulation of environmental protection and decarbonisation goals to resonate with constituents. He mentioned the failure to meet the deadline for publishing legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021, highlighting inconsistencies across Government Departments as a risk to achieving these goals.']
Specific Asks
['Mr Thomas asked the Minister to indicate when the missed targets required by the Environment Act 2021 will be published and to outline joint departmental work taking place between BEIS and DEFRA on intertwined issues such as offshore wind, geothermal energy, and emerging renewable technologies. He also requested a meeting with the Zero Hour team and other interested colleagues.']
NHS Dentistry in England — [Graham Stringer in the Chair]
22 June 2022
Responding: Maria Caulfield
Main Concerns
['Derek Thomas expressed deep concern about the state of NHS dentistry, highlighting that nearly half of respondents to his survey had been waiting more than three years for an appointment. He cited examples of patients resorting to DIY solutions and giving up entirely due to unaffordable private care. In Cornwall specifically, only 24% of dental activity was delivered in 2020-21, which increased slightly but remained at 59% in 2021-22. He also noted that the current system does not incentivise prevention and proper use of dental professionals.']
Specific Asks
['Thomas urged the Government to commit to serious reform of the dental contract, focusing on prevention and access, rather than just tweaks to the existing flawed system. He asked for a firm date to end units of dental activity (UDA) and implement a new contract that addresses these issues.']
Affordable Housing: Planning Reform — [Dr Rupa Huq in the Chair]
07 December 2021
Responding: Christopher Pincher
Main Concerns
['Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly face a severe housing situation that requires urgent intervention. The MP highlighted the difficulties faced by residents in acquiring affordable homes due to issues like second home ownership, holiday lets, and soaring rents. He noted that searches for homes to buy in Cornwall topped 15 million in the first quarter of 2021, while searches for rentals reached 1.1 million despite a total population of half a million. Rental prices are extremely high—ranging from £100 per week for a shared one-bedroom house to over £400 per week for a three-bedroom house—with an average wage in the constituency being £25,000 a year. The MP also mentioned that 19 units have planning permission but remain unbuilt and stressed the importance of bringing long-term empty homes back into use.']
Specific Asks
['The Government should introduce measures to speed up housing delivery, such as paying social landlords and developers based on results rather than lengthy processes. Additionally, consider offering local authorities the opportunity to restrict new building to primary residence only, re-emphasise commitment to home ownership, incentivize landlords to sell properties to tenants with tax benefits, and introduce a licensing scheme for holiday lets.']
Bovine TB: Compensation
29 January 2020
Responding: George Eustice
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the current compensation scheme for bovine tuberculosis, which does not provide financial support to farmers when a carcass is condemned due to visible lesions suggesting TB presence. This issue affects local abattoirs and farmers who lose valuable assets without adequate compensation. In my constituency, Vivian Olds, a traditional family butcher with a small abattoir, faced significant financial loss after a cow was condemned based on the presence of lesions. The current scheme requires the farmer to pay for this loss, leading to unfair outcomes.']
Specific Asks
['I am asking the Government to amend the compensation rules in the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2019 to include cases where an animal is removed from the food chain due to evidence of bovine TB. This change would ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their losses.']
Relationships, Sex and Health Education: Statutory Guidance
16 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Post-16 Education: Isles of Scilly
29 April 2024
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
Mr Speaker granted this debate to address the issue raised by several constituents from the Isles of Scilly regarding the cost of post-16 education. The unique challenges faced by students on these is...
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Designation)
13 March 2024
General Debate
Led by this MP
Suggests a Bill to transfer the authority for designating sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) from Natural England to the Secretary of State. Emphasises the historical and current importance o...
Ways and Means
12 March 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate focused on improving productivity, a theme close to the heart of Laura Trott. She highlighted that under the current government, private sector productivity increased by an average of 0.7% ...
Public Services in Cornwall: Funding
15 January 2024
Adjournment Debate
Contributed to this debate
Cornwall's unique geography, low-income economy, high house prices, and challenges in delivering public services are discussed. Steve Double emphasises the need for funding to be based on service dema...
NHS Dentistry
09 January 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The NHS dentistry in England is at its most perilous point, with eight in 10 dentists no longer taking on new patients. Five million patients failed to get an appointment in the past two years. Tooth ...
Horizon: Compensation and Convictions
08 January 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
COP28
29 November 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Local Government Bill - Lords amendment 117 and related amendments
17 October 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Member moved an amendment to Lords amendment 117, proposing several adjustments including the waiving of Commons financial privilege. She outlined that this would involve considering multiple amen...
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
18 September 2023
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
Mr Speaker acknowledged the importance of SSSIs, emphasising their role in achieving biodiversity goals set by the UK Government. Derek Thomas expressed concern over how Natural England managed the SS...
8
PMQs Asked
13
Ministerial Questions Asked
57
House of Commons Debates Involved
5
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
+119% above average
This MP:
8
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-3% below average
This MP:
13
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+99% above average
This MP:
5
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1073% above average
This MP:
57
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 Derek Thomas's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.