Will Quince
MP for Colchester
Con
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
The NHS needs to be innovative. I welcome the recent announcement on AI for radiotherapy delivery. Will PM commit to going further and faster with AI and medtech across the NHS, benefiting patients and clinicians?
Context
NHS needs to be at the cutting edge of innovation and transformation.
Rishi Sunak
We will roll out game-changing AI for radiotherapy departments. We recognise the potential and announced a productivity plan in the spring Budget.
Assessment
Did not commit to going further and faster with AI
Session: PMQs
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Could my right hon. Friend update the House on commercial clinical trial patient recruitment?
Context
The UK's life sciences sector is important, and there are concerns about the progress of commercial clinical trials.
Andrew Stephenson
Thanks to the sterling work of my hon. Friend, monthly average patient recruitment is almost five times higher now than in June 2023.
Session: Topical Questions
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Welcoming Government investment, does she agree that helping people off the streets is more important than risking their criminalisation through proposed legislation?
Context
The question arises from concerns about proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill that could criminalise rough sleepers.
Felicity Buchan
Welcoming Government investment, no one will be criminalised simply for sleeping rough. The focus is on helping the most vulnerable in society through a cross-government effort involving multiple Departments such as Education and Health and Social Care.
Session: Rough Sleeping
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What steps his Department is taking to end rough sleeping. The Government are committed to ending rough sleeping but have yet to achieve it, with levels remaining high and increasing pressures on homeless individuals.
Context
The question arises from the need to address the ongoing issue of rough sleeping in the UK, despite previous efforts.
Felicity Buchan
The Government are committed to ending rough sleeping, having published a cross-government strategy in September 2022 and investing £2.4 billion over three years. Rough sleeping levels were 18% lower in 9/23 than at the peak in 2017 and 9% lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Session: Rough Sleeping
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Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that we will work with our partners globally to get more aid into the hands of civilians in Gaza, and will assist the Israelis to deliver on that pledge as soon as possible?
Context
The Israeli Government aims to flood Gaza with aid, and the UK is involved in facilitating this.
Grant Shapps
I inform my hon. Friend that we have already delivered 74 tonnes of humanitarian aid via the RAF, and 87 tonnes through the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In addition, we are pursuing land, air and maritime routes.
Session: Gaza Humanitarian Aid
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The proposed changes to wine duty will add huge costs and complexity to business. Further to my Westminster Hall debate, will my hon. Friend meet me and representatives of wine businesses to hear their concerns, and make permanent the easement that is due to end on 1 February next year?
Context
Concerns about costs and complexity of proposed changes to wine duty were raised in a Westminster Hall debate.
Gareth Davies
My hon. Friend is talking about the largest and most significant reform of our alcohol duty system in 140 years. We are making it more simple by saying: the stronger the alcohol by volume, the more duty paid. We introduced the wine easement to give the wine industry two years to prepare for the changes.
Session: Topical Questions
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No doctor wants to be on strike, so I welcome the new deal with the consultant unions. It shows that by being reasonable, pragmatic and acting in good faith, unions can deliver for their members. Does my right hon. Friend agree?
Context
No doctor wants to be on strike, so the new deal shows that being reasonable and pragmatic can deliver for members.
Victoria Atkins
My hon. Friend knows only too well the importance of industrial action and the impact it can have on patients and on the NHS as a whole. I am pleased that the BMA has announced today, following the previous settlement that was narrowly rejected in its ballot, that it has been able to get back around the table with my officials and me. We have been able to find a fair and reasonable settlement that the BMA will advocate for and recommend to its members. We hope that that shows those who are choosing to strike that constructive negotiations, and trying to sort out some of the concerns that we know clinicians have, can be dealt with in a reasonable manner, which is of benefit not just to staff, but to patients.
Session: Topical Questions
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To create a truly inclusive school environment, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that initial teacher training gives teachers the necessary support and training for special educational needs and disabilities?
Context
Ensuring all teachers have the knowledge, skills, and training to support children with SEND.
Gillian Keegan
There is a golden thread of high-quality teacher training reforms, including revised framework working with providers. The additional 7,000 SENCOs will be trained in the coming years.
Session: Support for Children with SEND
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What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that more hospitals roll out technology for better patient flow?
Context
Delayed discharges remain a significant issue in hospitals, impacting patient care and hospital operations.
Helen Whately
My hon. Friend's work on urgent and emergency care services contributed to our urgent and emergency care recovery plan published almost a year ago, including investment in bed management systems to improve hospital flow. This plan is working as seen by reductions in delayed discharges.
Session: Hospital Discharge Social Care
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Colchester is home to 16 Air Assault Brigade. What steps are being taken to promote recruitment into the parachute regiment? There is currently an internal transfer bounty scheme offering £7,500 to infantry private soldiers on successful transfer to the parachute regiment.
Context
The question focuses on the recruitment efforts for the parachute regiment based at Merville barracks in Colchester, emphasizing financial incentives and local community support.
Andrew Murrison
There is an internal transfer bounty scheme offering a Haythornthwaite-compliant £7,500 to infantry private soldiers on successful transfer to the parachute regiment. This supports moving towards the future soldier structure and assists with recruitment.
Session: Armed Forces Recruitment
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What steps his Department is taking to recruit armed forces personnel. The Haythornthwaite review has a key part to play, with teams established across the Ministry of Defence to implement recommendations aimed at attracting and retaining skills in the armed forces.
Context
The question concerns measures being taken to support recruitment and retention in the armed forces, focusing on financial incentives, flexible service options, and improved accommodation.
Andrew Murrison
We continue to apply an array of measures to support recruitment and retention, including financial incentives, flexible service options, and improved accommodation. The Haythornthwaite review is key, with teams established across the Ministry of Defence to implement all 67 recommendations.
Session: Armed Forces Recruitment
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Will the Minister update the House on the delivery of our manifesto commitment for an additional 50,000 nurses?
Context
The NHS workforce is crucial and needs additional support to meet the demand, especially with winter approaching.
Helen Whately
We have achieved the manifesto commitment to deliver an additional 50,000 nurses for the NHS.
Session: Winter Pressure on NHS Services
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Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Antimicrobial Resistance
17 April 2024
Responding: Maria Caulfield
Main Concerns
['The MP is concerned about the lack of public awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), despite it being a top global health threat according to the World Health Organisation. He mentioned that AMR results in an estimated 12,000 deaths annually in the UK and costs the NHS around £180 million per year. The MP highlighted that one in five infections is now resistant to antibiotics, with potential for this rate to double by 2035, making it harder to treat common infections and putting modern medical procedures at risk.']
Specific Asks
["The MP asks the Government to push for greater awareness campaigns on AMR globally and domestically. He also requests that more urgent action is taken to promote appropriate global surveillance, international agreements based on common evidence-based goals, and effective use of the UK's overseas aid budget to help reduce infection incidence."]
Wine Duty
05 March 2024
Responding: Gareth Davies
Main Concerns
["The UK's wine and spirits industry supports over 390,000 jobs and contributes £69 billion to the economy. However, new alcohol excise rules introduced last year have imposed significant challenges on businesses such as Majestic Wine, particularly due to duty increases and a change in how wine duty is calculated. These changes reinforce existing market distortions by taxing wine more heavily than other alcoholic drinks and create an administrative burden for retailers dealing with over 100,000 different wines on the UK market. The temporary easement mechanism set to expire in February 2025 will affect major retailers and thousands of independent merchants, imposing millions of pounds in additional costs."]
Specific Asks
['I ask the Minister to commit to visiting Majestic Wine headquarters before the Easter recess to understand the full implications for businesses. I hope the Government can make a decision soon to continue or permanently extend the easement mechanism that protects wine duty rates.']
Middlewick Ranges — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]
12 December 2023
Responding: James Cartlidge
Main Concerns
['I am concerned about the proposed sale and development of Middlewick Ranges in Colchester. The site, designated for disposal since April 2017, is now earmarked for housing despite considerable opposition from residents and ecological concerns. Over 1,400 invertebrate species rely on the site, including 167 with conservation status. Developing the land would destroy rare acid grassland that has been developed over centuries due to its use as a training area. Ecologists warn that recreating this habitat is practically impossible.']
Specific Asks
['The Minister should retain the land as an MOD training area or mothball it for future use, explore biodiversity credits, and consider partnerships with local authorities to create a country park. Building on Middlewick Ranges would be eco-vandalism and my constituents and I will hold developers accountable if planning permission is granted.']
Local Government Finance 2025-02-05
05 February 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Valedictory Debate
24 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
In her concluding remarks, Harriet Harman reflected on her 42-year tenure in the House of Commons, thanking her constituents for their support and expressing pride in being a Labour MP. She emphasised...
War Graves Week
14 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission does extraordinary work keeping alive the memories of over 1.7 million men and women who gave their life in both world wars, tending to graves, memorials and sit...
International Health Regulations
14 May 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Health and Disability Reform
29 April 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Hospice Funding
22 April 2024
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Calls on integrated care boards to urgently address the funding for hospice-provided palliative care. Emphasises the importance of end-of-life care as a legal right, highlights financial pressures fac...
Israel and Palestine
08 January 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
NHS Winter Update
08 January 2024
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
07 September 2023
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
FOP is a genetic condition affecting approximately 70 people in the UK, with about 30 being children and young adults. It causes traumas such as bruises to turn into bone, severely impacting mobility....
Neuroblastoma Treatment
15 June 2023
Adjournment Debate
Contributed to this debate
MP Peter Gibson secured the debate to raise awareness of neuroblastoma, focusing on his constituent Mark Bell's son Luke who passed away from this cancer. He shared Luke’s story and how it led to the ...
1
PMQs Asked
11
Ministerial Questions Asked
38
House of Commons Debates Involved
3
Westminster Hall Debates Led
13
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
-73% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-19% below average
This MP:
11
Average:
13.7
Westminster Hall Debates Led
+19% above average
This MP:
3
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+685% above average
This MP:
38
Average:
4.8
Statements / Bills Proposed
+37% above average
This MP:
13
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 Will Quince's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.