Stephen Metcalfe
MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
I am bringing forward a ten-minute rule Bill to provide for automated external defibrillators in all new housing developments of 10 dwellings or more. Will my right hon. Friend support that provision, and engage relevant Cabinet colleagues to ensure life-saving equipment is commonplace?
Context
The questioner plans to introduce a Bill requiring the provision of automated external defibrillators in new housing developments.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend highlights the importance of these lifesaving devices. The national planning policy framework already expects planning policies and decisions to promote public safety, but recently a million-pound fund was launched placing around 1,000 new defibrillators in communities across England.
Assessment
The specific ask for support on the proposed legislation was not directly addressed.
National Planning Policy Framework
Session: PMQs
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I met a group of residents who have raised a petition to keep the last bank in Corringham town open. The viability of our town centres often depends on the presence of a small number of anchor businesses such as a post office or a bank. Can my right hon. Friend tell the House what action the Government can take to ensure that at least one of those organisations maintains a high street presence to support businesses and residents alike, particularly when they have received significant Government support?
Context
Residents in Corringham have petitioned to keep the last bank open, highlighting its importance for local businesses and residents.
Oliver Dowden
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. Banks are a cornerstone of our high streets. Of course, it is ultimately a commercial decision for banks, but I think it is right that they take into account the views of local communities. I am sure the bank in question will have heard his remarks to the House and I trust that it will take appropriate action.
Assessment
Specific actions not detailed beyond commercial decisions
Session: PMQs
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It is wonderful to see you in your place, Madam Deputy Speaker. As my right hon. Friend will be aware, the Thames freeport was recently given the final go-ahead to become fully operational, creating thousands of jobs and attracting millions in inward investment. Will he join me in congratulating the team behind the bid, and encourage businesses and investors from across the south-east—indeed, across the world—to take a closer look at the fantastic opportunities in Thurrock? Will he work with local education providers to ensure that my constituents have the skills needed to take up these fantastic opportunities?
Context
The Thames freeport was recently given the final go-ahead and is expected to create thousands of jobs and attract millions in inward investment.
Dominic Raab
I thank my hon. Friend. I certainly do support and pay tribute to all those who have made the new Thames freeport possible, with its potential to deliver over 12,000 new jobs. I look forward to seeing the local community, and wider communities, benefit from the tax benefits and custom zones. We will see how these plans progress.
Session: PMQs
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Will my right hon. Friend urgently speak to the Secretary of State for Transport and encourage him to use his powers to reverse this decision?
Context
The Mayor of London has decided to expand the ultra-low emission zone across all London boroughs despite objections.
Rishi Sunak
My hon. Friend will know that transport in London is devolved to the Labour Mayor of London. It is disappointing that the Mayor, backed by the Leader of the Opposition, is choosing not to listen to the public. The zone is being expanded against the overwhelming views of residents and businesses.
Assessment
No commitment on intervention was given
Acknowledges Issue But Does Not Commit
Session: PMQs
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I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. What landowners and the public want is for this to stop. I realise that we have doubled the fines—we have massively increased them again—but may I suggest that all cases should be prosecuted and that prosecutions should be publicised widely, both to reassure victims and to deter perpetrators?
Context
There is a need for stricter enforcement and wider publicity to combat fly-tipping.
Robbie Moore
I could not agree more; promoting the convictions absolutely reassures victims that the Government and local authorities are taking tough action. DEFRA is funding the national rural crime unit to explore the police's role in tackling fly-tipping, working with local authorities to deal with this crime.
Session: Fly-tipping
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I welcome the UK's £5 million commitment towards the deployment of the multinational security support mission in Haiti. Will my hon. Friend tell the House a little more about how that mission is being deployed, and can he expand on the discussions that he has had with our friends in the Dominican Republic about their security on the border with Haiti?
Context
The UK has committed £5 million towards the deployment of the MSS.
David Rutley
I thank my hon. Friend for his important question about the Dominican Republic. I was there at the end of March and met President Abinader. We talked about the situation and the importance of the MSS. Clearly, the Kenyans will need to decide how they move forward, but as has been said, the putting in place of the transitional presidential council was an important moment.
Session: British Embassy Port-au-Prince
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Will my hon. Friend join me in recognising the work of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and is that model being rolled out across the country?
Context
The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has created a pioneering centre for urgent mental health care.
Helen Whately
My hon. Friend rightly flags excellent work going on to improve access to mental health services; last year, around 3.6 million people got support, an increase of around 30% in just three years.
Session: Topical Questions
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The development consent order process for the proposed lower Thames crossing was completed on December 20th. As of yesterday, the Planning Inspectorate should have made its recommendation. Can my hon. Friend update us on this and what the next steps are?
Context
The proposed lower Thames crossing aims to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing but faces criticism from local MPs. The Planning Inspectorate has three months to recommend a decision.
Guy Opperman
A decision will be made within months, certainly by summer. I am happy to sit down and discuss further.
Session: Topical Questions
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Can the Minister ensure that the Department for Education encourages people to think about STEM careers at the earliest possible level, particularly in primary schools?
Context
Improving diversity in STEM is important for future success, bringing new ways of thinking and a better understanding.
Andrew Griffith
My hon. Friend makes an important point about diversity in STEM starting at the earliest possible age. I will of course talk to my colleagues in the Department for Education about doing precisely that.
Session: Women in STEM Jobs
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Can my right hon. and learned Friend tell us what more she can do to ensure that we remain one of the world's leading production venues, given that matters of tax are ultimately for the Chancellor?
Context
The MP seeks further support for the creative industries beyond existing tax reliefs, focusing on areas like children's television, video games, production, galleries, orchestras, theatres and museums.
Lucy Frazer
Independent film making has been supported with more than £60 million of Government and national lottery funding. However, matters of tax are ultimately a decision for the Chancellor. Discussions have taken place to provide further support.
Session: Creative Industries Tax Relief
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Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of tax relief on the growth of the creative industries. The creative industries are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the economy due to these measures.
Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of tax relief on the growth of the creative industries. He notes that since 2012, Conservative governments have introduced tax reliefs for these sectors.
Lucy Frazer
Since 2012, Conservative Governments have introduced tax reliefs that support children's television, video games, production, galleries, orchestras, theatres and museums. The Labour party opposed these measures and offers no substantive action beyond warm words.
Session: Creative Industries Tax Relief
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I thank the Minister for her answer and welcome her back to the Front Bench. Basildon jobcentre recently hosted two health and social care recruitment events, which resulted in the filling of 20 vacancies, helping to reduce local unemployment. Does the Minister agree that work is the best route out of poverty and that it is this Government who are helping more people into work and aligning vacancies with employees?
Context
The MP references specific jobcentre activities in Basildon, including health and social care recruitment events that filled 20 vacancies. The question seeks to affirm the government's role in reducing unemployment through such initiatives.
Jo Churchill
First, I thank Basildon jobcentre for their work. Targeted recruitment fairs are a great way to address shortages in sectors such as health and social care, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality. My hon. Friend is right that getting more people into work is a top priority. Employment improves wellbeing both personally and financially, with those in work being on average £6,000 better off per year.
Session: Work Incentives
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What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people are financially incentivised to work. The question seeks specific actions by the department to encourage employment through financial incentives.
Context
The question addresses the need to financially incentivize people to work, focusing on measures that make employment more attractive and beneficial.
Jo Churchill
Universal credit is designed to make work pay, with strong financial incentives such as a 55% earnings taper and work allowances. Working families receive support for up to 85% of childcare costs. The maximum amounts have been increased by 47%, reaching £950 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children. Additionally, the national living wage increase means that 2.7 million workers will be approximately £1,800 better off annually.
Session: Work Incentives
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What discussions has he or his Department had about raising public awareness of AI's societal impact?
Context
There is a need to raise public understanding about the implications and authenticity of AI content.
Saqib Bhatti
The Government held an AI safety summit with 28 countries plus the EU, focusing on frontier risks. The approach is pragmatic and contextual to use AI for benefit while wary of risks.
Session: AI-generated Content Social Media
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Will my right hon. Friend tell the House what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the use of AI in fraud protection? How will his Department ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place?
Context
Assessment requested about the merits of AI in fraud protection and safety measures.
Mel Stride
Let me take the second of my hon. Friend's points first. As I have outlined, there is always human intervention when it is appropriate. None the less, he is quite right to raise the issue of fraud and error. We have seen a reduction in the Department over the past year of some 10% across the benefit system, and much of that has been driven by machine learning and data analytics.
Session: Welfare System Impact of AI
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What assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on the functioning of the welfare system.
Context
Assessment requested about the impact of artificial intelligence on welfare system functioning.
Mel Stride
We have a number of projects that use artificial intelligence within the Department to drive performance, efficiency and the service we provide to our customers. One important point to bear in mind is that we never replace a human when it comes to judgments relating to a claim or an appeal.
Session: Welfare System Impact of AI
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Will the Secretary of State remember that even in apparently affluent areas, there are pockets benefiting significantly from levelling-up investment? What plans does he have to include those areas in the next round?
Context
The MP raised concerns about pockets of deprivation even in seemingly affluent areas, such as Basildon and Thurrock.
Michael Gove
My hon. Friend makes an important point about Thurrock's community. Plans extend Docklands eastward inspired by my hon. Friend's work, aiming to make the Thames estuary a powerhouse for economic growth.
Session: Levelling Up across the UK
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Does she agree that it is vital that we invest in building the skills throughout the country, recognising that many of the growth sectors within the industry are outside London?
Context
The question follows up on the creative industries sector vision, focusing on geographical distribution of growth sectors outside London.
Lucy Frazer
That is right. We know that creative businesses flourish in geographic clusters, from games in Leamington Spa to fashion in Leeds, and we have already announced that we will invest a further £50 million in at least six new clusters.
Session: Creative Industries Skills and Training
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What steps she is taking to support skills and training in the creative industries?
Context
The question arises from the need to support skills and training within the creative industry sector.
Lucy Frazer
The creative industries sector vision sets out how we will support individuals to get the skills they need to work in the industry. From schools to T-levels, and from apprenticeships to returners, our ambition is to support 1 million more jobs in the creative industries by 2030.
Session: Creative Industries Skills and Training
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Will my hon. Friend confirm when my constituents will be able to access the tap-in and tap-out service from the stations in my constituency at Laindon, Basildon, East Tilbury, Pitsea and Stanford-le-Hope?
Context
The MP seeks confirmation on the timeline for extending tap-in and tap-out services to his constituency's stations.
Huw Merriman
Yes, I can. I thank my hon. Friend for the work he has done in ensuring that part of the roll-out of the 53 includes four of his stations. I can confirm that we are on track to get those delivered by the end of the year. Across the rail network, that will take us to more than 400 stations with pay-as-you-go.
Session: Railway Ticketing
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What else are the Government doing to get people off out-of-work benefits?
Context
The staff at Basildon Jobcentre Plus have significantly reduced the local inactivity rate, which is 12.6% below the UK average.
Mel Stride
The 12.6% figure for economic inactivity is extremely low and a tribute to the work done locally. The Government is providing job interventions for over-50s who have retired early, childcare provision for parents with duties, and efforts to facilitate getting the long-term sick and disabled back into the labour market.
Session: Economic Inactivity
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Further to the question from the hon. Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore), 18% of all female criminal prosecutions in 2021 were for the non-possession of a television licence, which seems completely unreasonable. Will my right hon. and learned Friend meet me and my constituent Josiane to discuss that further and receive a 250,000-signature petition asking for decriminalisation?
Context
18% of all female criminal prosecutions in 2021 were for non-possession of a television licence.
Lucy Frazer
Like my hon. Friend, I am concerned that criminal sanction for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern public service broadcasting system. Our review of the BBC funding model will consider whether a mandatory licence fee with criminal penalties is still appropriate. As the Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries mentioned, the BBC has recently published the findings of its gender disparity review and set out a 10-point plan of action, which we will be monitoring.
Session: Topical Questions
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Can my hon. Friend comment on the Department's 10-point science and technology framework which will help provide the long-term funding needed to turn the start-ups he has mentioned into sustainable, successful, globally leading businesses?
Context
The Department's 10-point science and technology framework aims to provide long-term funding needed for start-ups to become sustainable, successful businesses.
George Freeman
In the new Department's science and technology framework we have set out a long-term view of serious reforms needed to procurement, regulation and skills across Government to drive our science superpower agenda. Converting health of start-up ecosystem into scale-ups is fundamental, hence Treasury leading on re-regulation of pension funds to unlock pension trillions for supporting companies growth here.
Session: Commercialisation of Research
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Building on that answer and on the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Peter Aldous), will my right hon. Friend tell the House what her ambitions are for lifelong loan entitlements and when they might come into force, so that older potential learners in Basildon and Thurrock can start to reskill for the 21st century?
Context
The MP builds on previous answers and asks about the ambitions for lifelong loan entitlements, specifically when they might come into force.
Gillian Keegan
The lifelong loan entitlement will focus on higher technical qualifications, addressing skills gaps. The LLE will be introduced from academic year 2025-26 to help learners access courses through providers registered with the Office for Students.
Session: Lifelong Learning
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What steps her Department is taking to promote lifelong learning?
Context
The MP is concerned about the steps being taken to promote lifelong learning opportunities.
Gillian Keegan
The lifelong loan entitlement will ensure everyone has access to opportunities to upskill and reskill to progress in their careers. We have led a huge raft of reforms to the skills system since 2016, building on reviews by Professor Alison Wolf, Lord Sainsbury, Sir Philip Augar, and others. Over this time, we have worked with over 5,000 employers to deliver apprenticeships backed by a £2.7 billion apprenticeship levy. We are investing £3.8 billion over this Parliament in apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, T-levels, free courses for jobs, and new returnerships.
Session: Lifelong Learning
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I thank my hon. and learned Friend for his answer. Building on that, can he tell the House what steps he is taking to encourage people from a more diverse background to consider the law as a career? The CPS has extended its postgraduate qualification requirements to include new solicitors qualification examinations, which opens up the career to a more diverse audience.
Context
This question builds on the previous one, focusing on increasing diversity among legal trainees within the Crown Prosecution Service.
Michael Tomlinson
I am very grateful indeed to my hon. Friend for raising this important issue. The CPS has extended its postgraduate qualification requirements to include new solicitors qualification examinations, which opens up the career to a more diverse audience. Madam Deputy Speaker, you will be pleased to know that for the last three years the CPS was ranked No. 1 in the Universum rankings as a highly attractive employer to law students.
Session: Crown Prosecution Service Legal Trainees
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What steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to increase its number of legal trainees. The CPS has run a highly competitive and award-winning training scheme since 2012, but there is a call for more trainees.
Context
The question stems from the need for an increase in legal trainees within the Crown Prosecution Service.
Michael Tomlinson
The CPS runs an award-winning and highly competitive legal training scheme, which has seen hundreds of trainees undertake a training contract and/or pupillage across England and Wales with the CPS since 2012.
Session: Crown Prosecution Service Legal Trainees
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Assuming all goes well, when does he expect my Private Member's Bill to receive Royal Assent?
Context
The private Member's Bill passed through this House two weeks ago and is now in the other place.
Mike Freer
Once the Bill passes through the other House, we would expect it to complete its passage here before the end of the Session.
Session: Topical Questions
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Getting prisoners with substance abuse issues into meaningful skills training first requires getting them off drugs. Can my right hon. Friend tell the House what he is doing to help prisoners and to tackle drugs in prisons?
Context
The MP points out that substance abuse is a barrier to skills training for prisoners.
Damian Hinds
My hon. Friend is quite right; that is a crucial part of the jigsaw, together with maintaining family ties. In a major new initiative, we are creating up to 18 new drug recovery wings so that prisoners can focus on achieving abstinence not only from illicit drugs, but from prescribed substitutes.
Session: Prisoners Skills Development
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What steps he is taking to help prisoners develop new skills?
Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of skills training for prisoners which could prevent them from successfully reintegrating into society.
Damian Hinds
Among other things, we are renewing the prisoner education service, establishing an employability innovation fund, and ensuring that skills acquired match business need through close work with employers.
Session: Prisoners Skills Development
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The cost to leaseholders does not just end with funding safety measures; many are paying extortionate insurance premiums. What discussions have been had with the Treasury about reducing these costs and making them more affordable?
Context
Leaseholders are paying high insurance premiums due to building safety concerns, beyond the funding required for remediation measures.
Lee Rowley
The Department is working closely with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to find industry solutions for reducing insurance costs as remediation progresses. The Secretary spoke with the ABI last week and will continue regular meetings to address this issue.
Session: Building Safety Costs Support for Leaseholders
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As my hon. Friend will know, the creative industries have grown at twice the rate of the wider economy since 2010. Does she agree that, by harnessing the power of science and technology, the sector can continue to prosper and grow? Will she meet me to discuss what more we can do to ensure that this is the place in which to create digital content?
Context
The creative industries have grown at twice the rate of the wider economy since 2010.
Julia Lopez
I thank my hon. Friend for championing this role and for all the work that he does on science, technology, engineering and maths, which has such an important overlap with what is going on in the creative industries. We have a creative sector vision coming up, and I am also pleased to highlight that his council, Basildon, has put forward a fantastic bid for a creative centre for screen and immersive tech, and we will be announcing soon whether that has been successful.
Session: Topical Questions
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Does the Lord Chancellor give a clear commitment today that his Department will fix this issue by retaining relevant regulations?
Context
The Justice Secretary needs to act or thousands of part-time judges will face massive pension rights losses.
Dominic Raab
As retained EU law Bill goes through, we will consider significant issues. Important for UK laws tailored to circumstances of UK. Hon. Gentleman should support that.
Session: Topical Questions
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is quite extraordinary that Members of this House complain about the number of asylum seekers, but oppose all measures that the Government bring forward to tackle them coming here illegally? Will she therefore join me in encouraging all Members to back our plans to stop small boats, which is what my constituents and the British public so manifestly want to happen, so that we can save lives and break the model used by illegal people traffickers?
Context
Members of the House are concerned about measures to address illegal immigration.
Suella Braverman
My hon. Friend puts it incredibly well. The tragedy is that Labour Members have opposed every measure that we have proposed. They voted against our Bill, which would have provided tougher penalties for people smugglers. They voted against our measures to improve the situation. We delivered the ground-breaking partnership with Rwanda and they would scrap it. Labour's plan is to invest more money in the National Crime Agency. Let me tell Members that we are already doing that. The reality is that Labour has no plan. It has no idea, and, frankly, it is not on the side of the British people, because all it wants is open borders.
Session: Topical Questions
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Will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that our new partnership with Japan and Italy will involve collaborating in areas such as weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, and not just on fighter jets?
Context
The MP asks about international partnerships and the areas of collaboration.
Alex Chalk
The ambition of this truly international programme is principally to deliver a cutting-edge fighter aircraft, providing a credible deterrent to future threats. This is a system of systems, and it may include uncrewed aircraft, new sensors, weapons, advanced data systems and secure networks. Those wider capabilities may be developed together with our wider partners or with our existing partners in that endeavour.
Session: Defence Technology
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What steps his Department is taking to develop innovative defence technology?
Context
The MP inquires about the development of innovative technologies within the Ministry of Defence.
Alex Chalk
The Ministry of Defence works closely with British industry and academia, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to identify and invest in innovative technologies that address our most pressing capability challenges. We are already testing and deploying these technologies.
Session: Defence Technology
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As my hon. Friend will know, National Highways has now submitted a DCO on the construction of the lower Thames crossing. Who will assess the accuracy of its benefit-cost ratio across Government? Will this still represent value for money?
Context
National Highways has submitted a DCO for the £10 billion lower Thames crossing project, with concerns about the accuracy of its benefit-cost ratio.
Richard Holden
My hon. Friend will understand that I cannot comment further while the DCO process is ongoing. The LTC is a major transport infrastructure project and I am happy to meet with him and other interested hon. Members, as is the Secretary of State; it is a major piece of investment and we need to get it right.
Session: Topical Questions
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People who have off-street parking can easily meet the majority of their EV charging needs at home, but people who do not are rightly concerned about access to charging. How will the Government address that issue to ensure that people in Basildon and Thurrock have equitable access?
Context
The MP asked about access issues for people without off-street parking.
Jesse Norman
Essex County Council has been able to use ORCS—the on-street residential charge point scheme—and there is support in the area for workplace charging and the home charge scheme. A £10 million LEVI—local electric vehicle infrastructure—pilot will deliver more than 1,000 charge points.
Session: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
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Will the Minister update the House on his discussions with developers about replacing unsafe cladding? What process is in place to resolve disagreements between residents and developers when a dispute arises about the level of remediation needed, as has happened at Morello Quarter in Basildon?
Context
Developers are discussing with the government about replacing unsafe cladding, and disputes have arisen between residents and developers in Basildon.
Lee Rowley
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is working to bring forward the developer contract; it has been discussed and debated for several months and we hope to have progress on it shortly. We are very clear that building owners ultimately have the responsibility to remediate these properties and make sure that leaseholders can continue to live their lives as they should be able to.
Session: Topical Questions
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What is the long-term plan to reduce our dependence on gas so that taxpayers do not have to subsidise energy bills?
Context
Putin's illegal war in Ukraine has driven up energy prices across the world.
Jeremy Hunt
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point to the challenge of the past two years. Nationally, we are spending £140 billion more on energy. That is almost like supporting an entire second NHS. We have to have a long-term solution that is about energy independence and energy efficiency.
Session: Topical Questions
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As I hope the House knows, I am a passionate supporter of the power and creativity of engineering and its ability to address the most serious challenges that we face globally. Will my hon. Friend agree to look at the curriculum for opportunities to improve the teaching and understanding of engineering?
Context
The importance of engineering and its ability to address global challenges is highlighted, seeking opportunities to improve teaching and understanding.
Jonathan Gullis
My hon. Friend will know that in March 2022 the Department introduced the “engineers teach physics” programme to help recruit high-quality engineers into our workforce. Because of the pilot's success, the programme has been extended across the country for the 2023-24 recruitment cycle. I am more than happy to see how much more we can do to ensure that science, technology, engineering and maths are driven through the heart of the curriculum, alongside EBacc, which is vital to helping to educate everyone.
Session: Topical Questions
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Funding is available for the scheme so that constituents can have confidence in their safety. Can he assure me of this funding?
Context
The Justice Secretary announced plans to monitor more criminals through GPS tagging.
Brandon Lewis
Yes, the scheme is funded and will roll out with up to 8,000 new tags. It adds extra protection and confidence to communities by knowing what tagged individuals are doing and where they are.
Session: Topical Questions
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I welcome my right hon. Friend's commitment to building links with employers to ensure that prison leavers go into sustainable employment. Will he assure me and the House that his Department will support that ambition with appropriate funding?
Context
N/A
Brandon Lewis (Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims)
Yes. My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are investing in new roles, such as prison employment leads and a head of education, skills and work, to give our prisoners the support that they need to get into jobs. We are also funding new infrastructure such as employment hubs. This investment will cut crime and help prisoners to get work-ready, which will mean a better, safer society and a healthier community.
Session: Offenders Employment after Release from Prison
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I welcome my right hon. Friend's answer, but can he confirm that levelling up is about need and not about geography, because while Essex as a whole may be seen as prosperous, there are pockets of deprivation that would greatly benefit from levelling-up funding?
Context
The MP wants to confirm that levelling up is based on need rather than geography.
Simon Clarke
Levelling up is all about pockets of need wherever they occur in this country. It is vital to get the message out across the House that levelling up is a Union-wide concept with benefits for every corner of the country.
Session: Levelling-up Fund
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Transport
09 September 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The draft Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) Order 2024 aims to decarbonise flights by introducing sustainable aviation fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 7...
Covid-19: Response and Excess Deaths
18 April 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The motion calls for the covid-19 inquiry to investigate vaccines and therapeutics, citing concerns over untested medical treatments, hidden data, and excess deaths. Andrew Bridgen argues that these v...
Automated External Defibrillators (Housing Developments)
06 September 2023
General Debate
Led by this MP
Stephen Metcalfe introduced a Bill to require the provision of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all new housing developments with ten or more dwellings, along with funding for maintenance f...
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in Education Settings
04 September 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Mental Health In-patient Services: Improving Safety
28 June 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Machetes: Consultation
18 April 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Lasting Powers of Attorney (Modernisation) Bill
17 March 2023
Bill Debate
Led by this MP
The MP proposes the passage of his bill, which aims to make it easier for people to create a lasting power of attorney with better protections. He highlights that the Bill passed Committee stage uname...
Illegal Migration Bill
07 March 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Science and Technology Framework
07 March 2023
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Small Boats Incident in the Channel
14 December 2022
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
4
PMQs Asked
87
Ministerial Questions Asked
72
House of Commons Debates Involved
0
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
0
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1370 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
+9% above average
This MP:
4
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+537% above average
This MP:
87
Average:
13.7
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+1387% above average
This MP:
72
Average:
4.8
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.4
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Stephen Metcalfe's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.