Mick Whitley
MP for Birkenhead
Lab
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
In the run-up to the last election, the Prime Minister said it was wrong that hundreds of thousands rely on food banks. Research now shows one in six fear needing a food bank due to the £20 cut to universal credit, affecting over 500 families and 1,000 children in Birkenhead alone. Will he concede this cut is wrong and change course?
Context
Research by the Trussell Trust shows that one in six people fear needing to use a food bank due to the £20 cut to universal credit, affecting 500 families and over 1,000 children in Birkenhead.
Boris Johnson
Of course I am very grateful to everybody who helps with food banks, and they do a fantastic job. What this Government have done throughout the pandemic is to put the most protection for those who need it most across society, and I am proud of what we have done by uplifting the living wage.
Assessment
The Prime Minister did not acknowledge that cutting the £20 uplift was wrong or commit to reversing the decision.
Grateful For Food Banks
Proud Of Lifting Living Wage
Session: PMQs
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Last week, the Chancellor made the political choice to write off 1 million jobs as unviable. There are more than 1,000 jobs at risk in my constituency of Birkenhead, and 141,000 jobs at risk in the north-east. This would be unemployment on a scale even worse than under Thatcher. Why do the Prime Minister and the Chancellor think that that is a price worth paying?
Context
The Chancellor's decision to write off a million jobs as unviable has raised concerns about the impact on constituencies such as Birkenhead.
Boris Johnson
That is completely to misrepresent what the Chancellor is trying to do. As I have just told the House, we have already put £190 billion into supporting livelihoods, people and families. We are going to continue to put our arms around the people of this country. The most important thing is to get the economy moving and get people into work, and, at the same time, to keep kids in school, but the only way we can do that is if we suppress the virus in the way that the Government have set out, with the local lockdown measures that we have announced and the national measures that, I hope, are the subject of cross-party support.
Assessment
The PM did not directly address why job losses were considered acceptable or necessary.
Session: PMQs
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The public have the right to access just 8% of land in England, including thousands of access islands that can only be reached by trespassing. With polling now showing that 62% of the public support the extension of the right to roam through England, are the Government now prepared to commit to overhauling our outdated system of access rights and to follow Scotland in enshrining the right to roam in law?
Context
Public support for extending the right to roam across England is growing, with polls showing over 62% public approval.
Steve Barclay
The hon. Gentleman's question merely highlights a fundamental difference between the Front Benchers of the two parties: I want to work with farmers, which is why through SFI—the sustainable farming incentive—we are looking at permissive access, where we pay incentives to farmers to provide access to their land; but Labour would impose a top-down requirement with the right to roam, rather than work constructively with our farmers and landowners, which is the approach that the Conservatives are taking.
Session: Topical Questions
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Do the Government agree that water companies should bear costs for sewage management rather than consumers? Water companies have committed £96 billion investment, but recent announcements suggest an additional £180 million fast-track investment over a year to prevent sewage spills.
Context
Concerns were raised about water bills potentially rising by nearly 40% in the north-west due to infrastructure upgrades.
Robbie Moore
The Government are clear that no one should pay extra for water companies cleaning up rivers. We have seen commitments for £96 billion investment over five years and announced a fast-track £180 million investment to prevent sewage spills.
Session: Waterway Cleanliness
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How does the Secretary of State expect the civil service to function effectively for the public if the Government go ahead with headcount cuts of up to 70,000, which aim to return civil service numbers to pre-pandemic and pre-Brexit levels, and which will mean a huge loss of expertise and knowledge? What discussions has he had with trade unions about these proposals?
Context
The Government plans to cut civil service numbers by up to 70,000, aiming for pre-pandemic levels, which could lead to a loss of expertise and knowledge. The questioner inquires about discussions with trade unions.
John Glen
I met several union leaders a few weeks ago. On 2 October, the Chancellor announced that the civil service would be capped at the levels that were current at that time, which would save up to £1 billion against the trajectory that was then in place. As of September 2023, there were 496,150 civil servants. It is an important Government responsibility to ensure that we have the right number of civil servants performing effectively and efficiently in public service, and we will continue to work on that.
Session: Topical Questions
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Last week, concerns were raised about the Carnival group planning to fire and rehire hundreds of staff working on P&O Cruises and Cunard Line. The hon. Member asked if banning fire and rehire tactics once and for all is necessary to provide workers with security.
Context
Concerns were raised that the Carnival group was making provision to fire and rehire hundreds of staff working on P&O Cruises and Cunard Line. This revived memories of last year when P&O Ferries sacked over 800 employees.
Kevin Hollinrake
Does not think completely banning fire and rehire is the right thing to do because companies may need to restructure quickly. Thinks employees' proper consultation rights should be observed, and employment tribunals can impose a significant uplift on redundancy payments if an employer does not follow the statutory code of practice.
Session: Fire and Rehire
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What steps she is taking to prevent the use of fire and rehire practices. She asked about measures being taken to stop these practices.
Context
The concern over employers using fire and rehire tactics to change contractual terms of employment.
Kevin Hollinrake
The Government consulted on a draft statutory code of practice on fire and rehire earlier this year. The final version will be published in spring next year, setting out employers' responsibilities when changing employment terms and ensuring dismissal and re-engagement is used only as the last resort.
Session: Fire and Rehire
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The Home Secretary will be familiar with the invasive surveillance systems that authoritarian states such as Russia and China impose on their citizens. Is he comfortable with the Policing Minister's push for similar live facial recognition systems to be used on innocent Brits, at a time when our colleagues in the European Parliament are legislating to abandon this technology?
Context
There is concern about the use of live facial recognition systems by police forces, drawing comparisons with authoritarian states.
Chris Philp
We should be clear that retrospective facial recognition puts hundreds, if not thousands, of criminals in prison. For example, it was used to catch a murderer who had killed somebody in a Coventry nightclub who was then identified using an image taken on a mobile phone. That is a murderer who would not be in prison but for the use of retrospective facial recognition. Live facial recognition has been used extensively by two police forces and experimentally by two others, including by South Wales, which has an excellent Labour police and crime commissioner, Alun Michael, who has led the way in this area in a way that is safe and that respects privacy.
Session: Topical Questions
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In the first five months of 2023, the United Nations recorded 475 instances of settler-related violence. What plans has the Minister got to request that Israeli Authorities take action?
Context
The MP noted that the UN recorded 475 instances of settler-related violence resulting in casualties or property damage.
David Rutley
We welcome the joint statement from the heads of the Israel Defence Force, the Israeli Security Agency and Israeli police as well as statements by other Israeli leaders that condemn these criminal acts. We call on the authorities to ensure accountability for all perpetrators of violence.
Session: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
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Last month, the UK hosted the Ukrainian recovery conference in London. Ukrainian trade unions have an important role to play in laying the foundations for the reconstruction of their country, but the general secretary of the Ukraine's construction workers' union had his application to attend the conference denied and was subsequently unable to secure a visa to travel to the UK in time. Does the Secretary of State regret that Ukrainian construction workers were denied a voice in a conference dedicated to the reconstruction of Ukraine, and can he assure the House that this was not the result of a proactive policy of excluding representatives in the trade union movement?
Context
The UK hosted the Ukrainian recovery conference in London last month. A general secretary of a construction workers' union had his application to attend denied.
Leo Docherty
I am grateful to the hon. Friend for raising that matter. I will investigate and provide an update.
Session: Topical Questions
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The number of homes helped under the energy company obligation has fallen by half since 2021. Instead of complacent nonsense, will the Minister explain why this is happening and what he will do about it?
Context
The Climate Change Committee criticized the government's failure in energy efficiency measures.
Graham Stuart
The hon. Gentleman is right to be frustrated about progress. But as the Secretary of State said, when the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband), who is chuntering on the Front Bench, was in power, just 14% of homes were decently insulated; by the end of the year, it will be more than 50%. We have set up the energy efficiency taskforce because we want to go further and faster. We are determined to do more. We are spending £12.6 billion over this Parliament and the next, and—
Session: Topical Questions
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Household incomes are falling at the fastest rate since records began. Food inflation is now at 19%. Does he agree this is a cost of greed crisis? When will the Government tackle profiteering?
Context
Concerned about food inflation reaching 19% while household incomes are falling, questioning excessive profits by retailers.
David Davies
The Government are serious about dealing with inflation, aiming to halve it over the next year. Pensions and benefits have risen in line with inflation.
Session: Cost of Living
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What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the cost of living in Wales. Household incomes are falling at a record rate and energy costs remain high.
Context
Inquires about discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the cost of living in Wales, following recent reports.
David Davies
I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of topics. The Government provide total support of more than £94 billion across the UK to help households, at an average of over £3,300 per household.
Session: Cost of Living
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While the EU and the US are investing billions in accelerating their transition to net zero, including through the Inflation Reduction Act, the lack of a robust green industrial strategy in Britain is leaving us stranded at the back of the pack. Does the Minister share my frustration that the Chancellor's Budget did so little to set out a convincing strategy for green growth? Do the Government intend to make the public wait for Labour to win the next general election before a world-leading green industrial strategy that drives private investment in green industries and establishes the UK as a clean energy superpower is brought before this House?
Context
The EU and US are investing billions in accelerating their transition to net zero, but Britain lacks a robust green industrial strategy.
Nusrat Ghani
I am sorry to dampen the hon. Gentleman's ambitions about winning the next general election, but we do indeed have a strategy to deal with decarbonising our economy. We are supporting research and development to help decrease our reliance on gas and electricity and deal with long-term energy security: we have £380 million for the offshore wind sector, £385 million for nuclear R&D, and £120 million for future nuclear enabling. We have a green industrial strategy and we are keen to ensure that we deliver it right across the country, for all of our communities.
Session: Industrial Strategy
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If she will take steps to publish a new industrial strategy. The Prime Minister has made it clear that growing the economy and creating better-paid jobs is one of our top priorities, and I am concerned about the absence of a published industrial strategy since 2017.
Context
The MP inquired about the lack of a recent industrial strategy document and its potential impact on economic growth and job creation.
Nusrat Ghani
The Prime Minister has made it clear that growing the economy and creating better-paid jobs is one of our top priorities, and the Government are working with industry across the UK to achieve that. We have set out clear plans for prioritising technology sectors, advanced manufacturing, financial services and creative industries, and this includes our investor road maps. In particular, the Chancellor has announced 12 investment zones across the UK, which could benefit from £80 million of interventions over the next five years.
Session: Industrial Strategy
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Disabled people are more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse and sexual violence as non-disabled people. The national disability strategy set out a roadmap to improve the protection and support available to disabled people in their homes, but last year that was found to be unlawful by the High Court for not having given the disabled community an adequate opportunity to shape the strategy. Will the Minister confirm that tackling the scourge of violence against disabled people will be a central priority of the new disability action plan, and will she guarantee that that new plan will be shaped by disabled people?
Context
The question addresses the High Court ruling on the national disability strategy, prompting a commitment to tackling violence against disabled individuals.
Sarah Dines (Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work)
Violence against disabled people, in their home or anywhere, is just as important an issue as violence against anybody else, and we are putting unprecedented moneys towards stopping that sort of violence. It is all about education. The National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing are working hard on that, and we are making progress.
Session: Topical Questions
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Some 2.5 million people are economically inactive as a result of long-term illness, and half a million have left the labour market due to ill health since 739. Does the Secretary of State accept that tackling health inequalities and improving health outcomes in deprived communities such as Birkenhead is essential to achieving equitable economic growth? Can he inform the House what conversations he has had with colleagues across the Cabinet about the need for a holistic economic strategy that recognises that health and wealth are inextricably linked?
Context
The MP raised concerns about health inequalities affecting economic inactivity, referencing specific statistics on long-term illness and leaving the labour market due to ill health.
Mel Stride
It is important that we take into account the issues of poverty and regional variations to which the hon. Gentleman refers. They lie right at the heart of all the decisions we have taken. We have come forward in recent times with significant cost of living support measures. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies) will be taking through the remaining stages of the Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill this very afternoon to address the people to whom the hon. Gentleman refers.
Session: Economic Inactivity Towns and Cities
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What estimate he has made of levels of economic inactivity in towns and cities?
Context
The MP asked about estimates of economic inactivity in towns and cities.
Mel Stride
The Office for National Statistics regularly publishes statistics relating to estimates of local inactivity. I have been leading work across Government with a further piece on participation, and the Chancellor and I will shortly be setting out more details of our plans.
Session: Economic Inactivity Towns and Cities
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Justice delayed is justice denied. What does the Attorney General have to say to victims whose lives are on hold due to delays in bringing their cases to court?
Context
As of September 2022, over 17,300 Crown court cases had been outstanding for a year or more.
Michael Tomlinson
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point, and the Attorney General and I are working closely with the Ministry of Justice. There has been good progress in terms of the CPS and the time it takes for cases to be heard. The most recent figures show that on average it is 171 days.
Session: Access to Justice
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What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in ensuring access to justice for victims of crime?
Context
The MP is assessing the effectiveness of the CPS in ensuring access to justice for crime victims.
Michael Tomlinson
All victims of crime deserve the right support, and the CPS has published the findings of independent research and is implementing changes based on that to deliver what victims need. There is new and innovative victim communication for half of CPS areas.
Session: Access to Justice
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The Prime Minister has been issued with a fixed penalty notice, his second in 12 months. Unlike many constituents hit by punitive benefits sanctions who struggle financially, the Prime Minister is unlikely to face these difficulties. Will the Secretary of State concede that sanctioning claimants for even minor breaches of rules is too severe?
Context
Concerns over the Government's policy of imposing sanctions on benefits claimants, even for minor breaches.
Mel Stride
Sanctions play a role in the work of jobcentres, as they involve a contract between the jobcentre and those receiving benefits. However, it is right to apply these sanctions with due care.
Session: Topical Questions
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The commitment in the Williams-Shapps plan to reform the structure of rail fares has particular resonance for commuters in Swindon, who have historically endured disproportionately high rail fares for journeys to London compared with those in Didcot, Bath and Bristol. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, in any forthcoming legislation, those plans will be brought to fruition? Is the Treasury supportive of them?
Context
Commitment in the Williams-Shapps plan to reform rail fares, particularly relevant for commuters in Swindon who endure disproportionately high rail fares.
Mark Harper
I am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for his question, particularly his reference to our important plan for rail and the necessary reform.
Session: Topical Questions
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This Government fought and won the last election with a commitment to ensuring that post-Brexit funding will, at a minimum, match European Union subsidies, but the shared prosperity fund allocated to the Liverpool city region is £10 million a year less than we previously received from the EU. Will the Secretary of State concede that this is the latest in a long line of broken Tory promises? And will he commit to reforming an out-of-date, inadequate and wholly arbitrary funding formula that has seen some of the most deprived communities in the country lose out on vital sources of funding?
Context
The questioner points out a disparity between pre- and post-Brexit EU subsidies, challenging the Government's commitment to match EU support.
Michael Gove
I respectfully disagree with the hon. Gentleman. If we look at not just the UK shared prosperity fund but the other investment in the Liverpool city region, we will see that this Government are absolutely committed not just to matching but to exceeding the support that was given under the European Union.
Session: UK Shared Prosperity Fund
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It is now three months since the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State visited the Cammell Laird shipyard in my constituency for the launch of the national shipbuilding strategy refresh, but for all the lofty promises that were made on that day, the Government continue to sell out British shipbuilding by refusing to guarantee work for UK shipyards. Let me give just one example. British yards are ready and able to deliver the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's new fleet solid support ships, but Ministers continue to refuse to rule out offshoring the lion's share of the work on that critical project. Can the Secretary of State tell me when this Government will at last put British manufacturers first and adopt my party's policy of building in Britain by default?
Context
The Prime Minister and Secretary of State visited Cammell Laird shipyard to launch the national shipbuilding strategy refresh, but there are concerns about guarantees for UK shipyards.
Ben Wallace
I think the hon. Gentleman could have written that 20 years ago, when his party was not delivering a national shipbuilding strategy or anything like one, did not have a shipbuilding pipeline as large as ours, did not invest in the shipyards in the way in which we are going to, and did not do anything other than spout this same old claptrap. The simple reality is that we will be building more ships in Britain with British supply chains, whether that is for the Navy or for other Government Departments. As ever, the hon. Gentleman is playing to the crowd.
Session: Topical Questions
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There is a desperate shortage of social housing; more than 1 million households are waiting for social homes. Ministers have threatened to jettison their manifesto commitment to build 300,000 affordable homes yearly, refuse to commit to building council housing, and consider extending the right to buy scheme to housing association properties. Will extending this scheme worsen the housing shortage, cause continued misery for millions, and deal a grievous blow to thousands of constituents' hopes?
Context
The question addresses the government's approach to tackling the severe shortage of social housing in the UK, with over 1 million households waiting for social homes. The questioner challenges the feasibility and morality of extending the right-to-buy scheme to housing association properties.
Stuart Andrew
I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is completely wrong. We have a very ambitious affordable homes programme with over £11 billion being spent on various options, and we are introducing an infrastructure levy contributing to affordable housing delivery. I do not understand why the hon. Gentleman has a problem with giving people in social housing the opportunity to become homeowners.
Session: Housing Associations Right to Buy
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What steps he plans to take to extend right-to-buy schemes to housing associations. The midlands pilots for the voluntary right to buy were completed in 2021, and an independent evaluation was published; however, no further details have been announced yet.
Context
The question arises from a review of the right-to-buy scheme's impact on housing associations.
Stuart Andrew
The Government remain committed to the right to buy and spreading home ownership. The midlands pilots for the voluntary right to buy were completed in 2021, with an independent evaluation published. We are reviewing the findings and will announce further details in due course.
Session: Housing Associations Right to Buy
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Cutting universal credit will cause misery for millions of people, including my constituent in Birkenhead, Jess. The extra £20 a week means she no longer has to choose between a hot meal and a hot shower. On Wednesday, Unite the Union and Community members who rely on the uplift will be visiting Parliament. Will the Secretary of State commit to meet them so she can hear for herself why the Government must cancel the cut?
Context
The supplementary question highlights the personal impact on individuals such as Jess in Birkenhead, who relies on the £20 weekly increase to cover basic needs like food and hygiene.
Will Quince
There is no financial saving from the measure and as a result, the temporary uplift will continue as planned. The Government has not indicated any intention to cut this benefit.
Session: Universal Credit Removal of Uplift 2021-09-13 (2)
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What assessment has been made of the impact on levels of poverty of ending the £20 uplift to the standard allowance of universal credit?
Context
The question arises in the context of ongoing debates about the economic and social impact of reducing benefits. The specific concern is how eliminating an additional £20 per week affects individuals' ability to meet basic needs.
Will Quince
It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of removing the £20 uplift on poverty. That is particularly the case at the moment, given the uncertainty around the speed of the economic recovery and how it will be distributed across the population.
Session: Universal Credit Removal of Uplift 2021-09-13 (2)
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What steps are being taken to build the social housing that people up and down the country desperately need?
Context
The question addresses the failure of the social housing White Paper to deliver on promises made in 2017 and the impact of planning reforms. The MP is asking for concrete steps to address the urgent need for new, sustainable social housing.
Eddie Hughes
First, and perhaps most importantly, it might be helpful if Labour-run councils such as Croydon were providing high-quality social housing—that would be incredibly helpful. We do not need Government legislation for them to be able to do that. We do not need to wait for Government legislation; I have already convened a meeting of the social housing White Paper challenge panel, with representatives from across the sector and, more importantly, tenants' representatives, to hear what they need. As we have heard earlier, this Government are also investing £11.5 billion in building new affordable homes.
Session: Social Housing
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What steps are being taken to expedite the proposed Mersey Dee Alliance fiscal stimulus package?
Context
The Mersey Dee Alliance proposes a fiscal stimulus for north-east Wales and the Wirral.
Simon Hart
I hope I can give the hon. Gentleman some encouragement. We are enthusiastic about the Mersey Dee Alliance and everything it stands for. We are keen to continue to work with it, looking at ways of recognising that the economic area stretches way beyond the geographical borders of Wales and England—we absolutely recognise that point. We are determined to make sure we get further progress and deliver on some of the commitments we made on manufacturing and other industries in Deeside that he referred to.
Session: Manufacturing Industry
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What steps the Government is taking to support the manufacturing industry in Wales.
Context
N/A
Simon Hart
The House only needs to look at the £16 million recently given to Meritor in Cwmbran, or the £30 million given to Celsa at the beginning of the pandemic, to see our commitment to Welsh manufacturing. The Government have provided over £11.35 billion in direct and indirect support for businesses in Wales to tackle the pandemic.
Session: Manufacturing Industry
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Will the Government back Labour's call for investments in at least three battery gigafactories by 2025, and can they commit to building one of those factories on Merseyside?
Context
The government's Brexit deal means that electric vehicles will face tariffs if less than 55% of vehicle parts are locally sourced by the end of 2026. Labour has called for investments in at least three battery gigafactories by 2025.
Rachel Maclean
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to say that a gigafactory will play a critical role in decarbonising our transport sector. We have a world-beating automotive industry in this country, and at the election the Government committed £1 billion to back investment in a gigafactory in this country. Can I remind him that leaving the European Union has provided us with a lot of opportunities to set our own pathways to decarbonise transport? We will be setting out those plans in detail in the transport decarbonisation plan.
Session: Transport Decarbonisation Plan
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Macmillan Cancer Support estimates more than 40,000 people are missing a cancer diagnosis across England, including around 60 in my constituency of Birkenhead. Can the Minister tell me what additional funding will be made available to ensure that missed cancer diagnoses are caught as soon as possible?
Context
The MP noted that Macmillan Cancer Support estimates more than 40,000 people are missing a cancer diagnosis across England. He requested additional funding to catch these cases.
Jo Churchill (Minister)
The latest official data for December suggests two-week wait GP urgent referrals were 7% higher than the same month last year, and urgent referrals for cancer were 151% higher in April. The NHS is straining every sinew to ensure that cancer services not only recover but go on and deliver more care.
Session: Covid-19 Cancer Care and Treatment
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What recent assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on cancer care and treatment?
Context
The MP asked about the recent assessment of the impact of the pandemic on cancer services, noting that it is crucial for patients' timely access to treatment.
Jo Churchill (Minister)
The tremendous efforts of our NHS cancer workforce are helping to ensure that those who need treatment can continue to access it without delay. The NHS has established covid-secure cancer hubs, consolidated surgery, centralised triage to prioritise patients based on clinical need, and utilised the independent sector for capacity.
Session: Covid-19 Cancer Care and Treatment
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Neil Basu warned of growing numbers of young people being drawn towards right-wing terrorism due to social media. What steps will the Minister take to prevent this?
Context
The Home Affairs Committee heard a warning about growing numbers of young people being drawn towards right-wing terrorism.
James Brokenshire
The hon. Gentleman highlights an important point about the exploitation of the online world to attract the unwary and what that can lead to, which is why we are working with the companies concerned to see that content is removed. I highlight the online harms work, which will lead to a new regime to put new responsibilities on those companies to provide support in respect of the challenge of extremism and content that might not be illegal but profoundly is harmful.
Session: Online Hate Speech and Extremism
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Even before the pandemic, young people often endured terrible conditions on the prison estate, and things have grown much worse since the pandemic began. Many young people have found themselves locked up in their cells for 22 hours a day and face-to-face learning has ended. Education and training play an essential role in reducing reoffending and improving the wellbeing of prisoners. Will the Ministry of Justice consider introducing virtual rehabilitation and education classes while prisoners remain under tight restrictions due to covid?
Context
The question addresses specific issues faced by young prisoners due to strict measures imposed because of the COVID-19 outbreak, including extended periods in cells and halted face-to-face learning.
Alex Chalk
I was expecting a question about victims, but the hon. Gentleman rightly raises an important issue about prisons. The answer to the point he raises is: yes, we are doing it.
Session: Criminal Justice System Covid-19
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What assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on service users and victims in the criminal justice system?
Context
The question arises from the broader context of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors, specifically focusing on its effects on the criminal justice system.
Alex Chalk
The Government are determined that victims should receive the help and support they need to cope and recover during the pandemic. In addition to existing funding, the Government have provided £76 million to support victims of modern slavery, domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as vulnerable children and young people. We have set up the victims and witnesses silver command, which consists of the Victims' Commissioner, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and others, to identify needs fast and deliver support to the frontline.
Session: Criminal Justice System Covid-19
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Despite the urgency of the coronavirus situation at the moment, we could see local councils planning to cut numbers of nurses, even though they would be very much needed, simply because the councils do not know what their public health budgets are. Does the Minister think that is acceptable?
Context
Councils are facing uncertainty due to delays in publishing public health budgets, which could lead to cuts in nursing staff.
Matthew Hancock
No, and that is why I have just announced that every local authority will see a real-terms increase in their grant allocation so that that does not have to happen.
Session: Public Health Grant
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Tidal Range Energy Generation
10 January 2024
Responding: Andrew Bowie
Main Concerns
["The UK has ten percent of the world's tidal resources and is uniquely positioned to harness the power of its tides. However, the Government's ambition in supporting tidal range projects has been lacking, with tidal range technology excluded from the Energy Act 2023 and the commitment to 'aggressively explore' tidal power not delivered on. The decision not to provide support for the Swansea bay project was met with incredulity by industry figures, as it came only 18 months after Charles Hendry's independent review found that tidal lagoons could play a cost-effective role in the UK's energy mix."]
Specific Asks
['The Government needs to adopt a whole-systems approach when assessing cost-effectiveness and establish a sustainable financial mechanism for new tidal range projects. The Minister should look seriously at employing a regulated asset-based model for funding tidal range, similar to what was done with nuclear power last year.']
Artificial Intelligence and the Labour Market — [Dame Maria Miller in the Chair]
26 April 2023
Responding: Kevin Hollinrake
Main Concerns
["Mr Mick Whitley is concerned about the rapid advance of artificial intelligence technology, which poses a severe threat to the labour market and workers' rights. He warns that AI could displace jobs, lead to economic inequality, and erode workers' rights such as privacy, autonomy, and fair pay. The implementation of AI in the workplace could also result in increased exploitation, discrimination, and a toxic work environment. Mr Whitley cites research by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggesting that 7% of all UK jobs could be automated within five years and up to 30% within two decades."]
Specific Asks
['Mr Whitley urges the Government to take immediate action, build in regulatory rights and protections, strengthen social security nets, and seriously consider a universal basic income. He calls for investment in skills and lifelong learning to ensure workers have opportunities for well-paid and rewarding work when employment is lost to AI.']
Public Procurement Processes
25 January 2023
Responding: Alex Burghart
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the lack of social value calculation in public procurement processes, which prevents local economies and communities from benefiting. The current system has led to a situation where £166 million worth of PPE was not used due to contracts being awarded without proper scrutiny. Additionally, 1 in 6 procurement contracts over five years have been given to companies linked to tax havens, undermining public trust. I also worry about the impact on local businesses such as Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, where work for Mersey ferries was outsourced to Romania despite being a deprived area.']
Specific Asks
['I urge the government to include social value calculation as a mandatory component of all bids and to ensure that bad employers are prevented from winning contracts. Furthermore, I ask them to address cronyism by closing VIP lanes in contract awarding processes.']
Energy Security Strategy — [Geraint Davies in the Chair]
05 July 2022
Responding: Greg Hands
Main Concerns
["The issue of energy security has never been more critical, with soaring energy bills pushing up to 12 million households into fuel poverty. The lead MP is concerned about the Government's failure to match their ambition for offshore wind power with other renewables like onshore wind and tidal energy. The strategy ignores the potential of left-behind communities through onshore wind projects and does not adequately address climate change, despite the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports stating that decarbonisation must happen at an unprecedented pace."]
Specific Asks
['The lead MP asks for the Government to support new onshore wind developments, accelerate the development of already granted planning permission solar and wind farms, and commit to tripling onshore wind capacity by 2035. He also urges the Minister to reach out to the shadow Secretary of State for climate change and net zero to implement proposals for insulating 19 million homes over the next decade.']
Transport Connectivity: Merseyside
12 January 2022
Main Concerns
['Mr. Whitley is concerned about the state of public transport in Merseyside, including slow trains and high fares. He cites specific issues such as the cancellation of a viable bus route due to lack of profitability, making it difficult for people without cars to travel to work or hospital. He also highlights the negative impact on economic connectivity and air pollution from increased car use resulting from the decision against building a new rail line between Liverpool and Manchester.']
Specific Asks
['Mr. Whitley calls for the Government to invest in Northern Rail, improve bus services, empower local leaders to make changes, review the Bus Services Act 2017, and allow combined authorities in England equivalent powers as those in Wales and Scotland to bring rail back into public ownership.']
Green Energy in the North-west
23 June 2021
Responding: Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Main Concerns
["I am concerned that the Government's decarbonisation strategy lacks ambition and vision, delivering only 80% of required carbon emission cuts. The sequential approach to creating low-carbon clusters risks leaving the north-west behind. Offshore wind has been a success but other forms of renewable energy are missing out on investment, especially wave and tidal power which could meet up to a fifth of UK electricity demand."]
Specific Asks
['I ask the Government to be more ambitious in their vision for green energy, encouraging hydrogen as a domestic heating source by phasing out natural gas boilers. I also call for additional funding for projects like HyNet North West and for serious consideration of tidal power investments.']
Defence Procurement and Supply Chains
01 December 2020
Responding: Jeremy Quin
Main Concerns
['Mr. Mick Whitley is concerned about the economic impact of job losses in defence manufacturing, particularly noting thousands of jobs at companies like Bentley, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce are under threat. He highlights a stark example from Barnoldswick, where operations have been offshored and workers locked out of their plant. Additionally, he mentions 5,000 lost jobs in the aerospace sector, disproportionately affecting local economies with high levels of deprivation.']
Specific Asks
['Mr. Whitley asks the government to ensure that additional funding goes towards projects sustaining high-skilled employment and providing quality training opportunities for young people. He specifically calls on the Minister to provide a cast-iron guarantee that new fleet solid support ships will be built in British shipyards.']
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 ...
Defending the UK and Allies
15 January 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Water Companies: Executive Bonuses
05 December 2023
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The debate is concerned with the detrimental impact of Conservative Governments on the UK’s water industry, particularly highlighting the sewage crisis affecting rivers, lakes, and seas. The speaker e...
Net Migration Figures
28 November 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Offshore Wind Contracts
12 September 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004
05 September 2023
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
Established the context for the debate, setting rules for contributions and time management.
Higher Education Reform
17 July 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Water Industry: Financial Resilience
28 June 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Illegal Migration Bill: Economic Impact Assessment
27 June 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Asylum Seeker Accommodation Off Wirral Peninsula
25 May 2023
Adjournment Debate
Led by this MP
The MP raised significant concerns about the Government's proposal to house up to 1,500 vulnerable asylum seekers on a vessel in Birkenhead. He highlighted that Wirral Council has been informed of the...
2
PMQs Asked
36
Ministerial Questions Asked
93
House of Commons Debates Involved
7
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
-45% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+169% above average
This MP:
36
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+178% above average
This MP:
7
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1814% above average
This MP:
93
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 Mick Whitley's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.