Pat McFadden
MP for Wolverhampton South East
Lab
5 May 2005 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Prime Minister's Questions
No PMQs questions found for this MP.
One other cyber-threat that modern states are facing is prepositioning: the planting of destructive software in critical infrastructure that can then be activated at a later date. Have the Government looked for or found Volt-Typhoon-type infiltration of any parts of our critical national IT infrastructure, and if so what action is being taken to remove it?
Context
The question relates to the threat of prepositioning software in critical infrastructure and potential infiltration.
Oliver Dowden
He will appreciate that there are limits to what I can say from the Dispatch Box given that some of this relates to high-side intelligence, but I assure him that we are working with our Five Eyes allies, in particular the United States, since the US and the UK have exceptional capability in these areas, to ensure that we both have adequate knowledge and understanding of such prepositioning, and take effective steps in respect of it.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Government recently awarded a contract for a supercomputer to Lenovo, a China-headquartered firm that has been the subject of enforcement action by the United States on security grounds. This supercomputer will be used by critical Government bodies such as the UK Atomic Energy Authority. How will Ministers safeguard the public against any possible misuse of sensitive Government data as a result of the awarding of the contract?
Context
The question concerns a supercomputer contract awarded to a China-headquartered firm, highlighting security risks related to sensitive Government data.
Oliver Dowden
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I know that he has also written to me regarding that topic. We will be working with the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Security Secretariat to ensure that full checks and measures are put in place to prevent such abuse from occurring.
Session: Topical Questions
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Baroness Mone and her husband made a £60 million profit on a £200 million contract for personal protective equipment, much of which the NHS deemed unusable. The couple reportedly have £75 million of assets frozen, but they also have a horse running in Britain's favourite horserace, the grand national. That is not racing's fault, but would it not be a grand national disgrace if the owners were able to walk away with winnings while taxpayers are still waiting to get their money back from being sold a mountain of unusable PPE?
Context
The MP is raising concerns about a PPE contract and its misuse.
Oliver Dowden
The Government continue to take robust action to recover any misused funds. As the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, both criminal and civil proceedings are ongoing, so there are limited things I can say in respect of the allegations that he has made.
Session: Topical Questions
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As the Minister has seen, many questions have been asked today on the infected blood scandal. Will he confirm that it is no part of the Government's decision-making process on the timescale of granting compensation payments to create the fiscal headroom needed for the much anticipated pre-election tax cuts in next week's Budget?
Context
The MP is concerned about the timing of compensation payments affecting fiscal decisions.
John Glen
I can confirm that is not the case.
Session: Topical Questions
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This week, the head of the National Audit Office highlighted potential savings from modernising IT systems. Why is it that time after time, the Government reaches for tax rises instead of implementing these cost-saving measures?
Context
The National Audit Office head, Gareth Davies, said that Ministers could save up to £20 billion a year by modernising IT systems and better managing major projects.
Oliver Dowden
That is precisely why we have created i.AI—the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence—under my leadership to make sure that we apply artificial intelligence to drive down the cost of public services and to improve outputs. I say gently to the right hon. Gentleman that it is a bit rich to be taking lectures from the Labour party, which wasted over £26 billion when it was in government on failed IT projects—failed IT projects in the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and DEFRA.
Session: Topical Questions
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Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee said that over 200,000 properties in England were vulnerable to flooding and the budget for flood protection is now expected to cover 40% fewer properties than originally stated. Can the Secretary of State explain why the plan is so far behind schedule?
Context
The Public Accounts Committee stated that over 200,000 properties in England are vulnerable to flooding due to a reduction in the Government's flood protection budget.
Oliver Dowden
As the right hon. Gentleman highlights, the Cabinet Office has responsibility for resilience under a lead Government Department model, but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for individual flood defences. We have put record sums into flood defences and we have provided record flood defence building. Clearly, there is more to do to allocate those resources, but we have made considerable progress.
Session: Topical Questions
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I want to ask about an angle of the matter mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh). The Foreign Secretary received fulsome praise from the China Harbour Engineering Company for his role in promoting the Port City Colombo project in Sri Lanka. Can the Minister tell the House who the ultimate client was when the Foreign Secretary received payment from KPMG Sri Lanka for his role in promoting that project? Was it the Sri Lankan Government or the China Harbour Engineering Company, which is owned by the Chinese state?
Context
The Foreign Secretary received payment from KPMG Sri Lanka for his role in promoting the Port City Colombo project, raising questions about the ultimate client and potential conflict of interest.
John Glen
That is a matter not for me but for the processes that I have set out, which have been complied with. I believe that Lord Cameron has made some comments with respect to those matters.
Session: Foreign Secretary Declarations of Interest
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I welcome my old friend and sparring partner, the right hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen), to his post. Questions have been raised about whether all benefits in kind received by the Foreign Secretary while he acted as a lobbyist for Greensill Capital have been properly declared. Will the Minister confirm whether his tax affairs were examined and considered by the House of Lords Appointments Commission before approving his appointment? If not, will the Government now investigate to see if all such matters, including any use of offshore trusts, were properly declared and taken into account before the appointment was made?
Context
Questions have been raised about whether all benefits in kind received by the Foreign Secretary while acting as a lobbyist for Greensill Capital were properly declared, and if his tax affairs were examined.
John Glen
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind words—it is indeed good to follow him to the Cabinet Office brief. I will not comment on media speculation, but I acknowledge and thank him for his letter of yesterday. Lord Cameron's appointment followed all the established processes for both peerages and ministerial appointments. The ennoblement was approved by the House of Lords Appointments Commission in the usual way, and that included a check with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Session: Foreign Secretary Declarations of Interest
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Can the Secretary outline how procedures will be reviewed after Mr Khalife's escape and inform on the timeline for updating public and Parliament?
Context
Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van, raising questions about current security measures.
Oliver Dowden
The Lord Chancellor is overseeing an examination into the exact circumstances of the escape. If individuals escaped in those circumstances, clearly should not have happened. My right hon. and learned Friend takes it seriously indeed.
Session: Topical Questions
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Can the Secretary of State update on the search for Mr Khalife and provide insight into why a terror suspect was held at a lower security category prison?
Context
There is a major breach of security involving the escape of Daniel Abed Khalife from Wandsworth prison.
Oliver Dowden
The Lord Chancellor has asked for an urgent investigation working with the Prison Service to find out exact circumstances of the escape. Clearly, the initial law enforcement response will be led by the Home Office.
Session: Topical Questions
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Back to 2023. This is a real crisis, affecting real people as a result of the real decisions of the Minister's Government. Figures out today show that the average UK tenant is spending more than 28% of their income on rent, and rents have gone up by more than 10% in the past year. Rents are being forced up because the landlords who people rent from are seeing their mortgages go up, too, and sometimes even faster than mortgages in general. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister were supposed to be the team that would come in and sort everything out. Can the Minister tell us what went wrong?
Context
Average UK tenants spend more than 28% of their income on rent, with rents increasing by over 10% in the past year. Landlords' mortgages are also rising faster than general mortgage rates.
Andrew Griffith
What went right is the fact that we on the Government Benches not only always focus on the stability of the nation's finances to get inflation and interest rates falling further and faster than the Opposition would, but even within that envelope, we found £3,300 on average to support households over last winter and the upcoming winter. That will have a significant impact on the difficulties that mortgage holders and renters are facing because of the higher interest rates that are a feature across the western world.
Session: Growth Plan of 23 September 2022 and Cost of Mortgages
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The only thing that grew as a result of what the Government did last September was people's mortgage payments. Two-year fixed rates are now more than 6%, and payments for householders are up £2,900 over the next year. Have the Government learned the lesson from the previous Prime Minister's decision—I stress that word; it is nothing to do with international events—to use the country as a giant economic experiment that hurt homeowners, pushed up interest rates and shook international confidence in the United Kingdom? If they have, will the Minister now apologise to the householders who are paying the price for that mistake?
Context
Two-year fixed mortgage rates have risen above 6%, increasing household payments by £2,900 over the next year.
Andrew Griffith
As ever, I listened carefully to the right hon. Gentleman's rhetoric. I ask him whether he has learned the lesson from what we saw with the last Labour Government, who spent their way through the nation's finances and whose most lasting contribution to the economy was a note that we inherited from the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury saying there was no money left.
Session: Growth Plan of 23 September 2022 and Cost of Mortgages
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Can the Minister tell us why the Government are picking this of all moments to add these new costs and price rises to UK consumers who are already struggling?
Context
The MP discusses high inflation and criticizes the Government for imposing a new system for checks on EU goods estimated to add £400 million annually.
Victoria Atkins
Just to clarify, I was being respectful of not just this House, but the right of the other House to scrutinise legislation. I hope the right hon. Member would agree with that, as the fine parliamentarian that I know he is. On business certainty, through this legislation, and also importantly through the measures we are setting out through the Windsor framework and the arrangements at borders, we are seeking to give businesses exactly the certainty they need after Brexit.
Session: Withdrawal from the EU Economic Impact
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Can the Minister confirm whether, after marching their troops up to the top of the hill and getting the Back Benchers very excited, the Government are keeping the sunset clause to have all this done by the end of the year?
Context
The MP inquires about the status and timeline for implementing a sunset clause to remove laws built up during UK's time in the EU.
Victoria Atkins
I do not know whether I can speak on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, who is the portfolio holder for that piece of legislation. What I do know is that the Bill is currently before the House of Lords, and will no doubt be scrutinised very carefully by their lordships. I can also reassure the House that we are taking a careful and considered approach to the benefits—the regulations, the laws—that Brexit presents to us, and we know from our discussions with businesses that business certainty is something that we all want to strive for and achieve.
Session: Withdrawal from the EU Economic Impact
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One of the first things that the Prime Minister did when he took office was to give in to his Back Benchers on house building targets. The Home Builders Federation says that the supply of new housing is likely to fall to its lowest level since the second world war—less than half the Government's target. How will fewer homes help young people who dream of owning their own home and getting on the property ladder?
Context
The Prime Minister reduced the house building target shortly after taking office, leading to a Home Builders Federation prediction that new housing supply will fall below half the Government's original target.
Andrew Griffith
The best way to help young people own their own home is to have a vibrant, growing economy. We are on track to restore economic growth and take actions that will do so.
Session: Mortgage Rates
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The Conservative party wants to pretend that last September's mini-Budget and its impact on mortgages was all a bad dream. The average two-year fixed rate deal is now around £2,000 a year more than it cost in August last year. What is the Government's estimate of the total cost of September's mini-Budget to UK homeowners?
Context
4 million households face increased mortgage costs due to September's mini-Budget, with average two-year fixed rate deals now around £2,000 more expensive than in August 2022.
Andrew Griffith
Interest rates in the UK are now lower than the equivalent in the US and are lower than they were last autumn. The Government have a range of measures to help hard-pressed mortgage payers, but above all else, our strong stewardship of the economy is bringing down interest rates and means that we are on track to halve inflation this year.
Session: Mortgage Rates
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Does the Chief Secretary agree that the Inflation Reduction Act is dangerous? Or does he think that the UK needs a response that makes sure that we do not lose out on the green transition and that we, too, need a Government who want to see investment and jobs from the green transition in every part of the UK?
Context
The MP highlighted job opportunities and investments in the US due to the Inflation Reduction Act, contrasted with the UK's policy stance.
John Glen
The Government are totally committed to meeting our net zero obligations. In the comings weeks, as we prepare for the Budget, the Chancellor will be considering these matters in the decisions he brings to the House.
Session: Levelling-up Fund Projects Impact of Inflation
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Following the recent levelling-up round 2 announcements, in which all five bids from Birmingham were refused, as were both bids from the great city of Wolverhampton, but, miraculously, the one from the Prime Minister's constituency was approved, what is the Chief Secretary's response to the Conservative Mayor's comments?
Context
The MP referenced the rejection of all five bids from Birmingham and both bids from Wolverhampton under round two of the levelling-up fund, while a bid from the Prime Minister's constituency was approved.
John Glen
My response is to explain that there is a rigorous process of scoring and evaluating all bids very carefully, as there has been over both rounds. In rounds 1 and 2, 45% was given to constituencies held by Opposition parties and 66% was targeted at category 1 constituencies.
Session: Levelling-up Fund Projects Impact of Inflation
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Why do the Government not show more respect for public money by pursuing every penny of these losses before raising taxes?
Context
The questioner questions the government's handling of Bulb energy company and its cost implications.
John Glen
The Government agree on chasing down all waste. Continued funding is provided for Bulb's special administration regime while pursuing customer sale to Octopus.
Session: Public Spending Value for Money
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How often has the star chamber met? How much of the estimated £6.7 billion lost to covid fraud has been recovered?
Context
The questioner asks about the star chamber's meetings and progress on recovering £6.7 billion lost to covid fraud.
John Glen
A range of interventions have been instituted, including HMRC's fraud prevention measures. I will reflect on further actions as suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.
Session: Public Spending Value for Money
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The end of the year is a moment for reflection, so let us look at the Government's report card: a Tory mini-Budget that crashed the economy, waiting lists and times at record highs, trains delayed and cancelled all over the place, billions wasted on dodgy contracts, and a reshuffle policy that means everyone in the Conservative party gets to be famous for 15 minutes. Why is it that when nothing is working under the Tories, even at this time of seasonal gift giving, they still insist on making everyone else pay the price for their Government's failures?
Context
The MP criticises the government's handling of the economy, healthcare, transport, procurement, and policy-making.
Jeremy Hunt
First of all, may I wish the shadow Chancellor, the right hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves), a merry Christmas in her absence and a speedy recovery from the lurgy that I gather she has? I look back on the last 12 years of this Conservative Government with a great deal of pride. What the right hon. Gentleman never likes to mention in his comparisons is that Labour had a golden economic inheritance from the Conservatives in 1997 and left us with an economy that had run out of money. What have we done? We are the third highest-growing economy in the G7.
Session: Topical Questions
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High deposit demands, increased unaffordability due to price rises and, now, rising mortgage rates all mean it is increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder, so will the Government consider Labour's proposal for a mortgage guarantee scheme, as operates in countries such as Canada, to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder and to protect them from negative equity in times of market turbulence?
Context
The MP suggests the government consider Labour's proposal for a mortgage guarantee scheme, which operates in other countries to help first-time buyers.
Andrew Griffith
Not only is that a good idea, it is a Conservative idea that we have already introduced. I am glad the right hon. Gentleman has belatedly latched on to it.
Session: Affordability of Housing First-time Buyers
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Mortgage rates are still well above what they were before the mini-Budget. I have a constituent who is a first-time buyer, and he is facing a £200-a-month increase on his mortgage quote compared with before the mini-Budget. Why should my constituent, and thousands like him, pay the price in their mortgage payments for the economic damage caused by the Government's recklessness?
Context
The MP criticises the economic instability caused by recent government policies, citing a constituent who faces higher monthly mortgage payments due to rising rates.
Andrew Griffith
The right hon. Gentleman does this House and his constituents a great disservice with that characterisation, which did not mention once the tragedy of the events caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the fact that we are coming off the back of an extraordinary intervention to protect this country, jobs and businesses from covid. In the future, when he characterises the economy, he owes it to all of us to be more proportionate.
Session: Affordability of Housing First-time Buyers
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What is the Minister and his Treasury team doing to tackle the absolute chaos they have created?
Context
The International Monetary Fund observed that the Chancellor's unfunded tax cuts have complicated the fight against inflation, leading to higher interest rates and potential mortgage defaults.
Andrew Griffith
The Government is tackling supply-side issues, strikes that hinder the economy, and building energy supplies. The nationalist party talks down the country but we take action.
Session: Mortgage Rates and the Bank of England
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How much more will Government borrowing cost next year as a result of the rising gilt yields since the Chancellor's statement on 23 September?
Context
The Bank of England warned about a material risk to UK financial stability due to the Chancellor's mini-Budget, which has increased gilt yields significantly.
Andrew Griffith
We are seeing interest rates rise in every major western economy. The Government is protecting consumers and households through difficult winter months, cutting taxes.
Session: Mortgage Rates and the Bank of England
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Does he accept that weak pound and continuing trade frictions post-Brexit contribute significantly to our constituents' inflation? Are there plans to address this situation?
Context
The UK's high inflation is linked to weakened currency value, increased import prices, and ongoing trade issues from the Brexit deal.
Rishi Sunak
Celebrates people being employed despite figures showing challenges. Refutes Labour's Brexit stance, highlighting growing faction within Labour wanting to rejoin single market without specifics on addressing current issues.
Session: Inflation
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Why does the Chancellor think that despite similar global pressures, the UK's inflation rates are higher and economic growth forecasts worse compared to other nations?
Context
The UK has the highest inflation rate in the G7, while its economic growth forecast is lower than all but one country in the G20.
Rishi Sunak
UK faces energy shocks like Europe but also tight labour market as in US. Low unemployment is celebrated, contributing to inflation. Smaller technical factors such as price cap timing and degree of upstream/downstream interventions affect inflation here. On growth performance, the UK was second highest in G7 post-pandemic according to OECD data.
Session: Inflation
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The Conservatives have been in office for 12 years; they were not elected last week. This is the self-declared central mission of the Government. Tackling regional inequality is a good aim. Communities like the one I represent can make the next industrial revolution if given a platform, but with warnings of rises in food prices and energy bills, what will the Government do to reverse failures outlined in the damning report?
Context
With the Bank of England Governor warning of apocalyptic rises in food prices and a likely steep rise in energy bills, the questioner asks about reversing failures outlined in a damning report last week.
Simon Clarke
The levelling-up White Paper is a comprehensive package of measures designed to ensure we can deliver on our aims. The Queen's Speech demonstrates our commitment, including through the establishment in law of the UK infrastructure bank. We have a plan which I am confident will deliver meaningful change.
Session: Levelling Up Across the UK
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The Bloomberg report shows that most parts of the country are either falling further behind London and the south-east or have made no progress on 12 measures of levelling up since the Prime Minister took office. Why is levelling up failing to deliver?
Context
A Bloomberg report showed that most parts of the country are either falling further behind London and the south-east or have made no progress on 12 measures of levelling up since the Prime Minister took office. This includes salaries, home affordability, inward investment, transport spending, and levels of crime.
Simon Clarke
Levelling up is a decades-long project for reversing geographical inequalities. The levelling-up White Paper puts in place a framework for working directly with people and places to address disparities. We will be held accountable with an annual report monitoring our progress.
Session: Levelling Up Across the UK
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Of course, there are global factors driving up energy prices and inflation in many countries, but what singles out the UK is this Government's decision to impose a tax rise on working people right when the impact of rising energy bills is hitting people the hardest. Why are the Government so determined to make the cost of living crisis worse now with these tax rises, particularly when the Treasury is briefing anyone—including the Government's own Back Benchers—who will listen that the Tory party is planning pre-election tax cuts?
Context
The question highlights the Government's decision to impose a tax rise during rising energy bills, questioning why this is happening and whether pre-election tax cuts are planned.
Rishi Sunak
The right hon. Gentleman talks about exceptionalism with regard to policy. Part of the reason we are in this situation with energy prices is the decisions made by the previous Labour Government, in particular on nuclear energy, which we are now rapidly having to make up for. We are also committed to tackling the unprecedented backlogs in the NHS, getting the waiting lists down, and recovering from covid. Every single penny of the health and social care levy will go to the people's No. 1 priority and, although things are difficult, I know that is what people want to happen.
Session: Cost of Living Increase Impact on Households
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The package on energy announced by the Chancellor last month has already been rendered obsolete by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Some estimates of average annual household energy bills suggest that there will be rises to £3,000 or even more from October. That is a ruinous figure for many of our constituents. Will the Chancellor revisit this support package in next week's spring statement, and will he reconsider his refusal to fund help for hard-pressed households through a windfall tax on the enormous profits that oil and gas companies are making?
Context
The question relates to the need for revisiting the energy support package due to rising household energy bills and suggests a windfall tax on oil and gas companies' profits.
Rishi Sunak
It is worth bearing it in mind that, because of the price cap, households will be protected all the way through the autumn. We do not know what the price cap will be at that point. If the right hon. Gentleman knows, he is probably in the wrong line of business, and it would be good if he could tell the rest of us. Regarding a windfall tax, Conservative Members believe in getting more investment into the North sea and exploiting our domestic resources. The roundtable that my right hon. Friends the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Prime Minister and the Business Secretary hosted yesterday showed that there is enormous appetite to invest more in the UK. A windfall tax would put off that investment.
Session: Cost of Living Increase Impact on Households
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The Prime Minister and Chancellor have committed to implementing the national insurance rise despite its negative impact on families. The real reason behind this decision is believed to be the planning for tax cuts before the next election, rather than addressing the cost of living crisis. Why should the cost of living worsen just to fit with the Tory party's electoral plans?
Context
The Chancellor's commitment to the national insurance rise has been questioned as being driven by political strategy rather than addressing the cost of living crisis.
Rishi Sunak
The Government has put measures in place, including the increase in the national living wage by £1,000 a year, the cut to the universal credit taper rate, and the freezing of fuel duty. The NHS funding is sustained sustainably and responsibly without shirking from difficult decisions.
Session: Cost of Living
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Voters are being hit by rising energy bills, tax rises, and falling real wages. With the energy price cap set to increase by up to £600 next week, Labour has proposed a windfall levy on oil and gas companies. Where is the Government's plan for these costs? What distractions have prevented them from producing one?
Context
The questioner highlights the triple whammy effect on voters due to soaring energy bills, tax rises, and falling real wages. The upcoming £600 rise in energy price cap is cited as a pressing issue.
Rishi Sunak
The right hon. Gentleman has talked about funding the NHS, but I would disagree with his idea that Labour's plans are fully costed. The Government is committed to tackling backlogs and reforming social care sustainably and responsibly.
Session: Cost of Living
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Families are heading into the winter facing a cost of living crisis with rising prices and the Chancellor's tax rises on the way. Last week, the Bank of England produced even lower growth forecasts than the Office for Budget Responsibility did at the time of the Budget, and now the Bank is forecasting that inflation will rise above 5% next year. Why does the Chancellor think that the Conservatives have produced such low levels of economic growth over the past 10 years? Has this lost decade of low growth not led directly to the cost-of-living crisis, the high taxes and the inequality that people are facing today?
Context
McFadden questioned the economic forecasts, linking low levels of economic growth to the current cost-of-living crisis.
Rishi Sunak
Forgive me, Mr Speaker; I should have welcomed the right hon. Gentleman to his new position. I look forward to working with him in his new role.
Session: Economic Inequality
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. It takes some doing to come up with an inheritance tax aimed at people in the lowest-value properties, but that is exactly what the Chancellor and the Conservatives have done in the way they have designed the social care cap. Even the original author of the policy, Sir Andrew Dilnot, has said that the changes that the Government have made mean that 'the less well off will not gain any benefit from the cap'. When it comes to tax, we should look at what the Government do, not what they say or the newspapers they brief. Why is the Chancellor imposing a tax rise on almost everyone to pay for a policy that will hurt those with the lowest-value properties in the country?
Context
McFadden criticised the social care cap design, citing Sir Andrew Dilnot's concerns about negative impacts on low-value properties.
Rishi Sunak
Our social care reforms will benefit millions of people up and down the country, because they will remove the anxiety that the entirety of their assets will be swamped by ever-escalating social care costs.
Session: Economic Inequality
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I wish the Chancellor and my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr Sharma) a very happy Diwali. As well as all the tax rises on income and business that the Chancellor has announced in the past six months, buried in the Budget Red Book is a plan for a stealth tax on the self-employed of £1.7 billion over the next few years. After the past 18 months, in which many self-employed people have had no help at all, and when they are already being hit with the other tax rises he has announced, why are the self-employed now being hit with this extra tax rise?
Context
Recent announcements have led to concerns about additional taxes for the self-employed, especially after the support provided during the pandemic.
Rishi Sunak (Chancellor of the Exchequer)
There were no extra taxes for the self-employed in last week's Budget; the right hon. Gentleman may be referring to a timing difference that was reflected in the Budget scorecard of previously announced policies.
Session: Support for Business
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Financial services were ignored during the Brexit negotiations and now equivalence is nowhere near settled, with £1 trillion-worth of assets moved out. Exports are down due to red tape in agreements made by this Government. Is the trade deal lap of honour equivalent to losing a pound and finding a penny? When will help be given to industries affected?
Context
Financial services were not prioritised in the Brexit agreement. Equivalence arrangements are still pending, £1 trillion-worth of assets have been moved abroad, food and drink exports to EU fell by 47%, and GDP growth is expected to be minimal.
John Glen
I do not accept this characterisation. The Government have deep dialogue across jurisdictions, including Brazil, India and China, and are promoting financial services' relationships globally to deepen opportunities that Brexit has given us.
Session: Financial Services Sector
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When Lex Greensill was given his No. 10 business card, he had no contract and no job description, and there have now been reports that during the pandemic, the financial empire that he built may have lent Government-backed money based on invoices to companies that had never done business with his client, GFG, some of which say they had no intention of doing so. Will the Minister look into the issue of how this financing was structured and ensure that hard-working British steelworkers do not pay the price for Greensill's collapse?
Context
The MP inquired about the government's examination of the financing provided by Greensill Capital during the pandemic.
John Glen
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I can assure him that this Government are fully committed to examining all those matters through the review process and complying with all requests for information in order to get to the bottom of this matter.
Session: Covid-19 Support for Businesses
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Why is the Chancellor insisting that banks pursue £27 billion-worth of loans made under coronavirus loan schemes as conventional business debt, when the circumstances are not conventional? Would lifting the debt burden on businesses and turning it into a contingent tax liability help the economy?
Context
The MP questioned the approach to handling non-repayment of coronavirus loans and suggested a tax relief proposal.
Rishi Sunak
What we have done is provide a scheme called Pay as You Grow to give businesses incredible flexibility and generosity in how they repay bounce back loans. Those loans at an instant can be turned automatically into 10-year loans, which reduces the monthly cash payment by almost 50%. Beyond that, there are opportunities for interest-only periods and payment holidays, all of which will support the cash flow of businesses. We also have to get a balance with the taxpayer in all of this, which is why we have taken the approach we have.
Session: Covid-19 Support for Business
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Can the Minister confirm that it is in fact a Government negotiating aim to secure equivalence recognition for UK financial services in the memorandum of understanding being discussed between now and the end of March?
Context
The Brexit deal's impact on access to European markets for the UK's financial sector, and uncertainty around equivalence recognition.
John Glen
The equivalence granting process is an autonomous, separate process from the MOU discussion. The MOU is about a framework to evaluate the future direction of financial services across the EU and UK. I remain very ambitious for the financial services sector. The Chancellor and I are continuing to have a dialogue—with roundtables with representatives of the sector this week and next week, as well as one-to-one meetings—to ensure that we listen to the sector.
Session: Financial Services Equivalence Recognition
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Sickle Cell Treatment — [Mrs Maria Miller in the Chair]
08 December 2021
Responding: Maria Caulfield
Main Concerns
["I am concerned about the tragic and avoidable death of Evan Nathan Smith, highlighting a lack of understanding of sickle cell disease among medical staff. The report 'No one's listening' found unacceptable variability in treatment across different parts of the healthcare system, with patients often having to battle for pain relief and protocols being ignored or not implemented. There is also a dangerous lack of communication between general and specialist parts of the NHS, contributing to mistakes and near misses. Patients face a lack of awareness and understanding among some staff about how to respond to sickle cell crises, leading to a loss of trust in the healthcare system."]
Specific Asks
['I urge the Government to address these long-standing failures by improving training for all staff, ensuring compliance with clinical guidelines, reviewing sickle cell treatment in secondary care, and promoting better communication between different parts of the NHS. I also ask for increased research and innovation in treatments and a commitment to equality in healthcare regardless of race.']
Debate on the Address
14 May 2026
General Debate
Led by this MP
The UK labour market is performing well with high employment rates, low unemployment compared to OECD countries, and rising real wages. The government's economic management has put the country in a be...
Youth Unemployment
17 March 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Women’s State Pension Age Communication PHSO Report 2026-01-29
29 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Pensions 2025-11-11
11 November 2025
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Government Resilience Action Plan 2025-07-08
08 July 2025
General Debate
Led by this MP
The Chancellor outlined the Government’s resilience action plan, emphasising the importance of resilience in a world marked by international upheaval and conflicts. He highlighted both 'deep strength'...
National Security Strategy 2025-06-24
24 June 2025
General Debate
Led by this MP
The Prime Minister will attend the NATO summit where a new commitment to grow spending on national security to 5% of GDP by 2035 is expected. The UK's strategy focuses on protecting security at home, ...
Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill 2025-03-04
04 March 2025
General Debate
Led by this MP
The Bill aims to remove a legal barrier preventing Catholics from holding the office of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This historic restriction applies only...
Storm Éowyn 2025-01-27
27 January 2025
General Debate
Led by this MP
The Government issued emergency mobile phone alerts to approximately 4.5 million people in Northern Ireland and Scotland, facilitating a coordinated response to Storm Éowyn's severe impacts, including...
Covid-19 Inquiry 2025-01-16
16 January 2025
General Debate
Led by this MP
In his statement, Pat McFadden acknowledged Baroness Hallett's report on the UK's preparedness for the pandemic and committed to implementing improvements based on her findings. He highlighted the Gov...
Plan for Change: Milestones for Mission-led Government
05 December 2024
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Attendance
41.8%
41 of 98 votes
Aye Votes
21
21.4% of votes
No Votes
20
20.4% of votes
Abstentions
57
58.2% of votes
11 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Closure motion
Ayes: 293
Noes: 218
Passed
11 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 270
Noes: 286
Failed
10 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Social Housing Bill [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
Ayes: 77
Noes: 292
Failed
09 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Plant Health, Seeds, Seed Potatoes and Plant Propagating Material (Ame...
Ayes: 371
Noes: 100
Passed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 140
Ayes: 79
Noes: 300
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 142
Ayes: 108
Noes: 357
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 143
Ayes: 106
Noes: 302
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: Amendment 1
Ayes: 162
Noes: 297
Failed
07 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 6
Ayes: 77
Noes: 317
Failed
07 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 145
Ayes: 170
Noes: 316
Failed
04 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Motion to sit in private
Ayes: 1
Noes: 79
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 65
Ayes: 166
Noes: 346
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 67
Ayes: 105
Noes: 410
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 88
Ayes: 85
Noes: 427
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 411
Noes: 102
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and...
Ayes: 322
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) (Amendment...
Ayes: 318
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 80
Noes: 281
Failed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4
Ayes: 173
Noes: 282
Failed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5
Ayes: 177
Noes: 308
Failed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026
Ayes: 323
Noes: 160
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026
Ayes: 332
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipp...
Ayes: 329
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026
Ayes: 330
Noes: 93
Passed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness
Ayes: 108
Noes: 307
Failed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amen...
Ayes: 294
Noes: 110
Passed
23 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Opposition Day: Puberty blockers
Ayes: 112
Noes: 283
Failed
22 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 4
Ayes: 164
Noes: 311
Failed
22 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
Ayes: 104
Noes: 391
Failed
22 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 22
Ayes: 74
Noes: 323
Failed
22 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11
Ayes: 171
Noes: 322
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill: Allocation of Time motion
Ayes: 233
Noes: 94
Passed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 85
Noes: 317
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 8
Ayes: 143
Noes: 249
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 13
Ayes: 135
Noes: 258
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 144
Noes: 244
Failed
16 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 77
Noes: 255
Failed
16 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 151
Noes: 258
Failed
16 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 162
Noes: 246
Failed
16 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulatio...
Ayes: 262
Noes: 86
Passed
24 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Protections for children from online harms
Ayes: 69
Noes: 279
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: Amendment 1
Ayes: 161
Noes: 272
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 156
Noes: 273
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 77
Noes: 280
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 73
Noes: 256
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 361
Noes: 84
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Marit...
Ayes: 362
Noes: 107
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
Ayes: 277
Noes: 143
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2...
Ayes: 279
Noes: 90
Passed
04 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Ayes: 392
Noes: 116
Passed
0
PMQs Asked
44
Ministerial Questions Asked
66
House of Commons Debates Involved
1
Westminster Hall Debates Led
19
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
98
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
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+228% above average
This MP:
44
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-60% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1258% above average
This MP:
66
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
+101% above average
This MP:
19
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-40% below average
This MP:
41.8
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 Pat McFadden's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.