Gary Streeter
MP for South West Devon
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
My right hon. Friend will be aware that the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset have come together to form the great south-west to generate regional growth. With support from all local authorities, LEPs, and business community, can my right hon. Friend please look into this matter and give us the green light?
Context
The counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset have formed the great south-west to generate regional growth. However, they have been waiting for recognition from Government for over three years.
Boris Johnson
I am a passionate supporter of the great south-west and the prospects that it brings. I understand that my hon. Friend has met the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government to discuss these proposals, and I look forward to hearing their outcome.
Assessment
The questioner asked specifically about a green light from the government. The PM did not provide this directly.
Under Review
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
The south-west has an ambitious programme to build back better in both the green and blue sectors, investing in both clean growth and marine high-tech clusters, but to do so, we will need continued investment in our infrastructure. Will my right hon. Friend assure us that levelling up does not just involve the north but every region of the United Kingdom, including the south-west?
Context
The south-west aims to build back better in green and blue sectors through investment in clean growth and marine high-tech clusters.
Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)
The potential of the greater south-west is enormous, particularly in the areas of blue and green technology. My hon. Friend can be assured that we will be giving massive investment in infrastructure to support the green industrial revolution in the south-west as well as in all parts of the UK.
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
I know the whole House will want to associate itself with the Prime Minister's remarks about our dear Brian Binley. One of the groups hit hardest by the pandemic is young people in full-time education, especially those facing exams last year and this, with all of the mental health challenges that come from such uncertainty. Does my right hon. Friend agree that those for whom exams have been scrapped this year would now benefit from the utmost clarity about how exactly they will be assessed? A clear plan announced early, without last-minute changes, would help teachers and students prepare for an even more challenging experience.
Context
Young people in full-time education have faced significant mental health challenges and uncertainty due to the pandemic, particularly those facing exams last year and this year with scrapped exams.
Boris Johnson
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is clearly a problem of differential learning that has grown over the last few months and risks being exacerbated now by the current lockdown. We will do everything we can to ensure that exams are fair and that the ways of testing are set out in a timely way, and the Department for Education is launching a consultation with Ofqual to ensure that we get the right arrangements for this year.
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
May I strongly support the aspiration of the Prime Minister, set out last week, to deliver floating offshore wind capacity of 1 GW by 2030? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very substantial scheme being worked up in the Celtic sea that would meet a third of that target, as well as create many jobs in south Wales, Devon and Cornwall? Will he please use his best endeavours to ensure that the Crown Estate looks favourably on that project to help our country to deliver its important climate change commitments?
Context
The Prime Minister has an aspiration to deliver floating offshore wind capacity of 1 GW by 2030, and there is a substantial scheme being worked up in the Celtic sea that would meet a third of this target.
Boris Johnson
I am aware of the incredible prospect in the Celtic sea and I am confident that the Crown Estate, as the landlord of the seabed, will respond positively.
Assessment
Ensuring a positive view from the Crown Estate
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
What is an estimate of the number of young doctors finishing their training this year who are likely to want to become GPs?
Context
The MP asked about the challenges GP practices face with recruiting new doctors.
Steve Barclay
My hon. Friend raises two important themes. The first relates to how many are in training, and I think it is around 4,000. We have boosted the number of GP training places and we have looked at medical schools as a specific issue. Also, he will have seen some of the changes being made around pensions in order to better retain staff, mindful of those clinicians who are leaving the profession, and further discussions are taking place with Treasury colleagues in that regard.
Session: NHS Workforce Retention and Recruitment
View All Questions -->
Waiting times to access mental health specialists in my area are unacceptably high, and I am constantly told there is simply an inability to recruit mental health specialists. I know the Minister works very hard on this subject and she just mentioned what we are doing over the next couple of years. What practical steps can the Government take to ensure that, this year, 2022, there are more mental health specialists available to serve my constituents in Plymouth and south-west Devon?
Context
The MP cited high waiting times to access mental health specialists and noted difficulties in recruiting such professionals. He sought practical steps the Government could take to ensure better specialist availability this year.
Maria Caulfield
My hon. Friend makes a good point. We have introduced standards to measure waiting times because the situation is very diverse across the country. NHS England is consulting on introducing five new standards so we can keep track of where the gaps are. Patients can also refer themselves to talking and psychological therapies: over 1 million people have self-referred through the NHS website without having to go and see their GP, so they can get direct access and support when they need it.
Session: Mental Health Treatment Waiting Times
View All Questions -->
I thank my right hon. Friend for all the efforts he is making to iron out the wrinkles in the export of fish products from the UK. However, if these problems persist, why do we not serve notice on our friends in the EU that with immediate effect we intend to treat the import of fish products from EU countries in precisely the same way that our fish exports to EU countries, especially France, are currently being treated—regulatory equivalence? Would that not help to bring people to the table to resolve the current disruption being suffered by our fishing industry?
Context
Continued issue of regulatory equivalence for imported fish products from EU countries, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address persistent problems.
George Eustice
As I said to the Chair of the Select Committee earlier, when we start to introduce those checks they will indeed be equivalent and similar to the types of checks that the European Union is currently requiring on our own fish exports. At that point, I hope there will be an opportunity for some discussion about how we can each ensure that we have the right safeguards for our respective markets in a way that is more user-friendly and more pragmatic. There are countries in the world that have better and more developed systems for doing this documentation than the European Union.
Session: Fish Products Standards
View All Questions -->
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that fish products imported from the EU are subject to the same standards and requirements as fish products exported to the EU?
Context
The issue of ensuring imported fish products meet similar standards to those exported, particularly in light of ongoing discussions and previous concerns.
George Eustice
I regularly have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on this issue, in particular through the Cabinet Sub-Committee dealing with EU exit. Import controls on fish products are being introduced in stages. Imports of most fish products have required illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing documentation since January. That includes a catch certificate. We plan to introduce documentary checks for export health on imported fish from April and some physical checks from July.
Session: Fish Products Standards
View All Questions -->
Can he assure me today that the next phase of work at Dawlish, to secure the cliff face from crumbling on to the track, will not be delayed or compromised, in order to ensure that essential rail services can continue along this iconic part of the journey?
Context
The region has suffered significant disruption in the past due to issues with the rail link from Plymouth to Paddington, and there is concern about delays or compromises in the next phase of work.
Chris Heaton-Harris
I thank my hon. Friend; I am sure that the ticker tape and dried rose petals are still being cleared. I am happy to assure him that we remain committed to improving the resilience of this vital transport artery. Network Rail is continuing to develop proposals for further phases of the resilience programme, using £17.2 million of Government funding that has already been given.
Session: Railway Resilience Work Dawlish
View All Questions -->
What recent progress Network Rail has made on railway resilience work at Dawlish.
Context
No specific background context provided in the exchange.
Chris Heaton-Harris
Work is under way on the second phase of the new sea wall following the opening of the first phase, which I was happy to open in person in September—one of the few visits that I have been able to make in the last year.
Session: Railway Resilience Work Dawlish
View All Questions -->
What plans does he have to dual the A303 from Stonehenge to Taunton? I thank the Minister for her reply. She will know how important the A303 is to us here in the far south-west—it is one of just two arterial roads into this region. Can she confirm that work on delivering the dualling of the A303 from Stonehenge to Taunton will begin on the ground shortly? The people of the far south-west would like to see some action.
Context
The question addresses the importance of the A303 as one of two arterial roads into the far south-west, highlighting historical promises and the need for action. Previous governments have made commitments without delivering tangible progress.
Rachel Maclean
Let me assure my hon. Friend that the Government absolutely recognise the critical importance of the A303 for journeys across his part of the south of England for the people who live there and for the economy of the region. Our second road investment strategy provides the funding for removing the bottleneck at Stonehenge and underlines our commitment to find solutions to the remaining issues along the A303, with the next phases of construction likely to take place after the Stonehenge tunnel is completed.
Session: A303 Dualling
View All Questions -->
Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Dementia Services in Ukraine
10 January 2024
Responding: Andrew Mitchell
Main Concerns
["Mr Gary Streeter is concerned about the impact of Russia's invasion on dementia sufferers and their families in Ukraine. He cites a statement from Nezabutni, indicating that over 4,000 houses were destroyed during the war's first month, with more than 6.5 million Ukrainians displaced. The situation for people with dementia has worsened due to constant airstrikes and the need to hide in bomb shelters, making it extremely difficult or impossible for them to cope."]
Specific Asks
['Mr Streeter requests that the Foreign Office fund phase one of the proposed project, estimated at £150,000, to enable a UK team to visit Ukraine to establish groundwork and engage with stakeholders. He believes this small cost could yield significant benefits compared to military support costs.']
Violence against Women and Girls: Plymouth
25 January 2023
Responding: Sarah Dines
Main Concerns
["In August 2021, a young man killed five people in Keyham, including two women and a little girl. In November, an 18-year-old woman was abducted from a bus stop and found murdered days later. These incidents compounded the sense of fear among female residents of Plymouth after Sarah Everard's murder in London earlier that year. The city faced challenges addressing violence against women and girls, leading to the creation of a cross-party report with recommendations for cultural change, better support access, safe spaces, and community involvement."]
Specific Asks
['The MP requests additional central funding for frontline interventions to aid small local VAWG organisations in Devon and Cornwall. He also asks for more focus on prevention and systemic cultural change impacting all generations through education and institutional voices.']
South West Water: Brixham Contamination
20 May 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
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.
Plymouth Shootings
21 February 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
The Economic Crime Bill - Clause 2
13 December 2022
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. This amendment aims to strengthen our measures against economic crime by introducing robust checks and balances on financial transactions to preve...
Tributes to Her Late Majesty The Queen
09 September 2022
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
In the hours since last night’s shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of Her late Majesty the Queen. Crowds have gathered. Flags have been lowered to half...
COP26
15 June 2022
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
John McNaly questioned the Government's commitment to their COP26 climate promises, noting that investment in new fossil fuel production was considered 'moral and economic madness' by the UN Secretary...
Captain David Mockett
24 November 2021
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
The MP expressed deep sadness over the recent tragic killings in Plymouth and thanked the Government for their support of the people affected by these incidents. He introduced a case of injustice suff...
Affordable and Safe Housing for All
18 May 2021
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Labour party criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to address the cladding scandal and calls on the government to set a deadline of June 2022 to make all homes safe. The speech highlights ineq...
Covid-19 Update
23 June 2020
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Provided an update on the UK's progress in controlling the virus, highlighting a significant reduction in new infections and deaths. Announced easing of social distancing measures from 4 July, allowin...
Covid-19 Response
22 April 2020
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care provided an update on the UK's response to coronavirus, emphasising the resilience of the NHS, increased capacity in critical care beds and Nightingal...
4
PMQs Asked
7
Ministerial Questions Asked
10
House of Commons Debates Involved
2
Westminster Hall Debates Led
11
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
+9% above average
This MP:
4
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-49% below average
This MP:
7
Average:
13.7
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-21% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+107% above average
This MP:
10
Average:
4.8
Statements / Bills Proposed
+16% above average
This MP:
11
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 Gary Streeter's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.