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  • Elliot Colburn – 2023 Speech on Pride Month

    Elliot Colburn – 2023 Speech on Pride Month

    The speech made by Elliot Colburn, the Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wellington, in the House of Commons on 15 June 2023.

    I beg to move,

    That this House has considered Pride Month.

    Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I associate myself with the comments you have just made.

    As one of the co-chairs of the all-party parliamentary group on global lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) rights, very ably co-chaired by the hon. Member for Wallasey (Dame Angela Eagle), I wish everyone a very happy Pride Month indeed. I have looked over some of the Hansard records of Pride debates we have had in this place over the course of the past few years, and I think it is always right and positive to start with the good news and the progress that we have made—not only in the UK but globally—towards further equality for LGBT+ people around the world. Last year and the year so far have been no exceptions, with new conversion therapy bans brought in around the world and more countries achieving decriminalisation.

    However, sadly, we meet here against the backdrop of a very worrying and concerning backwards step in many parts of the world, where we are seeing attacks against LGBT+ people—not just where we might expect them, but here in the UK as well. I will touch on some of those attacks throughout the course of my speech. Having looked at Hansard records of Pride debates since the start of this Parliament—they have become an annual tradition—I note that a lot of the concerns that were raised in those debates are, sadly, still very much relevant today. We have not yet seen enough action on some of the points we have raised, and indeed, some points I want to raise today are new.

    I will start with the global perspective. I reiterate the good news that we have seen new conversion therapy bans and decriminalisation. That is to be welcomed, but it has to considered alongside the extremely serious and worrying backwards steps and the anti-human- rights agenda that we are seeing in many parts of the world. The best example we can give of that is the Anti- Homosexuality Bill that Uganda has shamefully just passed. I know full well that that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has expressed its deep concern and is having conversations, and I appreciate its efforts. Again, to touch on a positive, I have seen examples of British missions around the world doing incredible work, liaising with activists on the ground, sometimes in extremely difficult circumstances. Our ambassadors and the mission staff around the world are to be congratulated. However, I urge the Government to go further by ensuring that this is a foreign policy objective and an aid objective; that they are using every tool at their disposal to influence change and support activists in very difficult circumstances, and indeed to support those who will inevitably try to flee such discrimination.

    The Bill in Uganda carries the death penalty. We know full well that people will be scared for their lives, and we need to make sure that we are there for them, not just in Uganda but in the many other places where we are seeing backward steps on LGBT+ rights. I hope the Minister can give us some assurance that he is having conversations with the FCDO and that decriminalisation, stopping legislation of that kind, and tackling discrimination against LGBT+ people around the world remain foreign policy objectives for this Government. I commend the good work that I have seen missions do.

    To bring the debate back to home, I want to repeat a lot of what has been said in previous Pride debates—we have to say it again, sadly, because we have not seen progress. The obvious thing to start with is conversion practices and conversion therapy. We have been raising this issue for years now and a Bill has been promised several times, but we are still waiting for the draft Bill to be published. The Government have cross-party support to get the Bill through the House, and to get it through quickly.

    I remind the House and those watching that every single day in the UK, right now, people are being subjected to dehumanising torture—that is essentially what conversion practices amount to—but they are without recourse to justice because those practices are perfectly legal at the moment. It is urgent that we act with speed to bring forward that legislation as soon as possible, so I hope the Minister can give us an update. I know that we spoke about this during business questions, but I hope he will be able to tell us a little more about the timetable for the conversion practices Bill. I can guarantee him massive cross-party support to get it through this House.

    Another issue that we have raised before but again needs focus is the increase in LGBT+ hate crime across the United Kingdom, and particularly the level of hate crime towards transgender people—I will touch on the toxicity around trans issues a bit later.

    Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab)

    I thank the hon. Member for giving way and for making such a significant opening speech. Over 24% of young people experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+. Does he agree that the Government need to do more to address this issue, and that one of the ways of doing so would be to improve the monitoring of gender identity and sexuality in housing and homelessness services?

    Elliot Colburn

    I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that intervention, and I do think she is right. Perhaps the Minister could update us on the conversations he is having with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the issue, because it is a fact that around a quarter of all young homeless people identify as LGBT+. We know full well what the reasons are: they are fleeing unsupportive households, but many do not know where to go for support, do not have the capacity to access support, or—for whatever reason—do not get that help and support. It is a massive cohort of people, so I hope the Minister can tell us a little more about the conversations that the Government Equalities Office and DLUHC are having to tackle that specific issue. I thank the hon. Lady for raising it.

    I want to touch on something that has appeared on the horizon since our last Pride Month debate: the Government’s recent announcement on their review into relationship and sex education in schools. I do have concerns, which I know are shared by many in the education sector and further afield—this also relates to the Department for Education’s new trans guidance for schools—that the RSE review will lead to a backwards step and will, potentially, bring back section 28 by the back door, which we do not want. Section 28 is something that our party had to apologise for, and we have come so far since that moment. We do not want to see it brought back. Many might say, “That could never happen,” but I ask colleagues to look to the United States, where several states have introduced section 28-style legislation. We cannot allow that to happen here in the United Kingdom.

    I therefore urge the Minister to give us some assurance that the RSE review will not break our pledge to ensure that RSE is mandatory, because it is not just about LGBT+ people; it also teaches about consent, it teaches women and girls about healthy relationships and to avoid sexual violence where possible, and it teaches boys not to avoid dangerous behaviour. RSE is a great achievement that we should be proud of. We should not be shy about the fact that this Government introduced it. The House should send a strong message that we will not accept a watering down of those protections.

    James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)

    Last weekend, I popped into Bracknell for the inaugural Pride event. As a proud LGBTQ+ champion, it was great to see so many people there. What struck me, aside from the fantastic organisation from Luke, Brad, Bracknell Forest Council and many others, was that it was an excellent party. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should be celebrating inclusion and diversity?

    Elliot Colburn

    I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. [Interruption.] I heard from a sedentary position that gay parties are the best parties, and I absolutely have to agree. Pride is a celebration. We describe it in many different ways, but we come together and we celebrate, and we are proud of who we are, so I am grateful to him for attending that event in Bracknell and I completely agree.

    I also hope that the Government will not be tempted by the calls from some to out trans kids to their parents. I benefited, as I know did so many people who went to school at the same time as me, or before or after, from the safe environment that schools provided to talk about these things without fear of it getting back to a household that may not necessarily be supportive. I was lucky; I was naive at the time when I came out, and I should have known that my parents would be absolutely supportive, which they were, but school provided that safe and non-judgmental environment for me to be able to talk about things, and I know that has been valued by so many others. I understand the need to make decisions about a child’s welfare in correspondence with parents— I do not think anyone objects to that—but the idea of outing trans people to their parents is dangerous, because many families will not be understanding and supportive, sadly. We need to ensure that schools remain a safe place for LGBT+ pupils.

    I will touch on the current toxicity around the trans debate—it would be churlish not to talk about it in some detail. Sadly, that toxicity is something that we have had to speak about in Pride debates, and I know that many other colleagues will want to talk about it today. I fear that we as a Parliament, and the institutions we represent, have completely lost control of the conversation, which is being imported from other parts of the world and which often has completely nonsensical and irrelevant arguments brought into it. At its heart is a very vulnerable group of people who are already marginalised and who are now being further demonised and pulled into a national discussion that they did not ask for.

    Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)

    The hon. Member makes an important point. Specifically on that toxic and damaging debate that we have seen in this country, particularly over the past year, does he agree that we have to somehow persuade everyone involved to dial down the rhetoric, to be more reasonable and to listen to one another? I have absolutely no problem personally with gender recognition reform or the legislation that was passed by the Scottish Parliament, but I also understand that there are people with genuine concerns. By not listening to them, we have inadvertently dialled up the toxicity, and the people suffering are the trans community.

    Elliot Colburn

    The hon. Lady is absolutely right. If we do not dial down the rhetoric, calm that debate down and listen to each other, we will only ever hear those with the loudest voices and those who scream the loudest. The Women and Equalities Committee, of which I am proud to be a member, ran an inquiry on this space not that long ago. One of our conclusions, funnily enough, was that there was a huge amount of agreement, so we were perplexed, when drawing up our conclusions, as to why there should be such anger. It did not seem impossible to us that a way forward could be found, so I hope the Government can update us on what they plan to do to try to dial down the rhetoric in this space.

    Dame Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab)

    The hon. Gentleman has been opening the debate with his usual common sense and insight, but has he thought that the toxicity of this debate is deliberately created by those who wish to cause fear and then use that to cause division? Then they can victimise already vulnerable people in a way that is designed to increase the toxicity and fear, rather than dial it down.

    Elliot Colburn

    I am grateful to the hon. Lady, who co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group, for that intervention. She is absolutely right. We see this issue being purposefully used, sadly.

    That brings me to one of my final remarks in the debate. This issue is not just about trans people or the LGBT+ community more widely; there is a clear and concerted anti-human-rights agenda, and it will not stop at trans people alone. It will move on, as we have seen in the United States, to attacks on women’s reproductive rights, and it will go on to the rest of the LGBT+ community and then other parts of the equality space as well. The idea that this is just a discussion on trans rights is nonsense; it already permeates a lot further and it will continue to do so. We need to be able to call that out for what it is.

    That is not to say, however, that there are not, as the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) has just said, genuine concerns that people are absolutely right to express. It is our job as parliamentarians to help navigate those conversations and to come up with good legislation and good ways forward, but we need to be setting the standard in this place, and we must not allow Parliament to further that agenda. I can see by looking around the room that we will not have that today, which is reassuring, but I hope that colleagues who are not in this debate will take note and recognise that we need to be responsible for what we say, for dialling down the rhetoric and for making sure we can find a way forward, because the current status quo is just going to crumble; it cannot sustain. It is just driving up hatred and anger, and the longer that continues, the more dangerous things can become.

    Having said that, we have seen good progress being made not just in the past year, but in the decades that preceded it. I feel very lucky and grateful to be able to be an openly gay man serving in Parliament and living in the United Kingdom. I hope that we do not get tempted by some of those siren voices and slip backwards. I look forward to hearing other colleagues’ contributions and an update from the Minister on the Government’s work to ensure that Britain remains one of the best places in the world to be openly LGBT+.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Bradwell [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Bradwell [June 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 June 2023.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Venerable Adam Atkinson, Archdeacon of Charing Cross in the Diocese of London, for appointment to the Suffragan See of Bradwell, in the Diocese of Chelmsford, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, following his appointment as Bishop of Liverpool.

    Background

    Adam was educated at Birmingham University, after which he worked in media before training for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St Paul Shadwell, in the Diocese of London, and was ordained Priest in 2008. In 2010 Adam was appointed Priest in Charge of St Peter & St Thomas Bethnal Green in the Stepney Episcopal Area of the Diocese of London.

    In 2011 Adam was appointed Vicar of St Peter Bethnal Green. He additionally served as Network Chaplain, Church Revitalisation Trust from 2018 and from 2019 served as Director of Mission Development in the Two Cities Episcopal Area. In 2020 Adam was appointed Archdeacon of Charing Cross.

  • PRESS RELEASE : World’s first astronaut with a disability hopes to inspire others as he begins training [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : World’s first astronaut with a disability hopes to inspire others as he begins training [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 June 2023.

    The world’s first astronaut with a disability, former UK Paralympian John McFall, has arrived in Germany to begin feasibility studies at the European Astronaut Centre.

    John, a former NHS surgeon in Hampshire, joined the latest European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut cohort last year following a rigorous selection process and record UK Space Agency investment into ESA.

    He will spend the next two years working with experts to identify how traditional equipment and facilities for astronaut life could be made more accessible and allow for a wider range of people to qualify for human spaceflight.

    As part of the Fly! Feasibility Study, the 42-year-old father-of-three will undergo elements of astronaut training, such as sea survival and testing in hyperbaric (low atmospheric pressure) environments. This will help ESA to assess the impact that being an amputee and wearing a prosthesis will have on the requirements for living and working in space, and test possible solutions to any problems.

    John McFall said:

    I’m a naturally curious person and I’m excited about the learning ahead, the science that will come out of it, and the fact that this is the small first step of a much bigger journey.

    While the feasibility study is bespoke to my own disability, this programme delivers a powerful message, which I hope will both broaden people’s appreciation of what people with disabilities can do, as well as inspire people with a range of disabilities about the opportunities available to them.

    My three children are really stoked to be moving to Germany and about the fact that their dad could one day go into space. It’s helping to engage them, especially my two daughters, with STEM learning, which is hugely important to me.

    John was selected alongside Career Astronaut Rosemary Coogan and Meganne Christian who became a member of the ESA Astronaut Reserve, in 2022. They were among the first astronauts to be unveiled by ESA since 2009.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Chloe Smith said:

    John was inspirational as a British Paralympian, and I wish him all the success on his journey as he becomes the world’s first Paralympic astronaut – showing there is space for everyone in the industry.

    The UK is reaching for the stars in the realm of space innovation, with three brilliant British candidates handpicked for the Agency’s prestigious astronaut cohort for the first time in over a decade – it is undeniable proof of our stellar global reputation in space leadership.

    Chief Executive at the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, said:

    We are thrilled to be supporting John’s journey as he takes on training and feasibility studies with ESA colleagues.

    John’s selection as the first ever astronaut with a physical disability is a landmark moment for the global space sector. It will help us discover new and more inclusive ways of working, demonstrating first-hand that space offer opportunities for everyone.

    We wish him all the best over the next two years and look forward to working closely with him.

    John was announced as ESA’s first ever astronaut with a physical disability during the ESA Council of Ministers in November 2022.

    The government committed £1.84 billion during the meeting, which included £217 million towards the global exploration programme, supporting robotic missions to Mars and contributing to the Artemis Moon programme, including the Argonaut (European Large Logistics Lander), Gateway space station and commercial lunar communications systems.

    More about John McFall

    John grew up in Hampshire and, as a teenager, always wanted to join the army.

    At the age of 19, John had a motorcycle accident that resulted in an above-knee amputation. Having always been a keen athlete, sport became an important vehicle for his rehabilitation – both physically and emotionally.

    In his early 20s John gained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sports and Exercise Science, and taught himself to run again.

    Capitalising on his passion for running and love of athletics, John went on to compete at the highest level in Paralympic sport, winning European, World and Paralympic medals. Following his career in elite sport, John reignited his passion and curiosity for science and, at the age of 28, returned to university to study medicine.

    Here, he quickly discovered that orthopaedics was the specialty for him, and, in 2018, John became a trauma and orthopaedic specialist registrar in the Wessex Deanery.

    He has sat on UK Athletics’ Athlete Council, been a mentor for Paralympics GB’s Paralympic Inspiration programme, and worked with the International Paralympic Committee during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

    You can learn more about John McFall’s career and achievements on the ESA website.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Elisabeth Davies appointed as the National Chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Elisabeth Davies appointed as the National Chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 June 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Justice has announced the appointment of Elisabeth Davies as National Chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards for 3 years from 1 July 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon. Alex Chalk KC MP has announced the appointment of Elisabeth Davies as the National Chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) for an initial term of 3 years. Her appointment will commence on 1 July 2023 and run until 30 June 2026.

    IMBs provide statutory, independent oversight, monitoring the treatment and care of prisoners and detainees. They operate in prisons, young offender institutions, immigration removal centres, some short-term holding facilities and on flights for those being removed from the UK.

    This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Elisabeth Davies has extensive experience of working across both charitable and public sectors, where she has specialised in the areas of dispute resolution and consumer protection.

    In April 2020, she was appointed Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), which oversees the work of the Legal Ombudsman.

    Elisabeth holds a number of professional roles across organisations. She is the Chair of the Assurance and Appointments Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council and a member of the Civil Justice Council. Alongside this she has been the Chair of the Prisoners’ Education Trust since the end of 2018. She is also the former Deputy Chair of Support Through Court, which assists people going through the court process without legal representation.

    Previously, Elisabeth was the Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Quality Committee at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. She also served as a former Chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel, where she ensured regulators were able to consider and act on the user perspective.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK-Singapore Cyber Dialogue [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK-Singapore Cyber Dialogue [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 June 2023.

    The UK-Singapore Cyber Dialogue was held in London on 13 June 2023 to discuss cyber priorities and deliverables for both countries.

    The dialogue was co-chaired by David Koh, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency, and Will Middleton, Cyber Director in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Lindy Cameron, CEO, National Cyber Security Centre and senior officials from the Cabinet Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Home Office and the Department for Business and Trade participated in the dialogue, alongside senior officials from Singapore, including those from the Cyber Security Agency and the High Commission in London.

    The dialogue is a welcome opportunity to further strengthen our countries’ already close ties in cyber cooperation, as reaffirmed by the UK-Singapore Cybersecurity Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), an outcome of the ambitious UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement.

    The dialogue included exchanges on the cyber threat landscape, deterrence strategies against cyber threats, international cyber capacity building, international cyber policy issues including in the UN, and the role of public-private partnerships in cybersecurity.

    Both sides explored opportunities to deepen cooperation and further align approaches towards Internet of Things (IoT) security, app security and cyber skills development. We agreed on the importance of security for apps and app stores, and agreed to further explore the potential for an international standard for the security of apps and app stores. We also reaffirmed the importance of recognised international standards and norms for IoT and agreed to continue work on mutual recognition of our schemes for IoT and to explore the potential to work more closely together on other areas of IoT. We also agreed to work together on mapping the skills and competencies of cybersecurity professionals in Singapore and the UK.

    Both countries reaffirmed our continued joint commitment to supporting international cyber governance and capacity building, including in South East Asia through the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE).

    We also discussed the latest trends in cyber threats and opportunities to deepen cooperation to counter malicious cyber activity that undermines the rules-based multilateral order.

    On 15th June, CSA’s Chief Executive David Koh also met with the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins on cybersecurity of critical national infrastructure, and Director General for Homeland Security Chloe Squires on the UK and Singapore’s co-chairing of the Counter Ransomware Initiative’s Policy Pillar.

    Both sides committed to continuing to meet under the framework of the MoU as a priority for our international cyber cooperation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : CPS to have new obligation to meet adult rape victims ahead of trial [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : CPS to have new obligation to meet adult rape victims ahead of trial [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 June 2023.

    Rape victims will be given the opportunity to meet the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) staff involved in their case ahead of a trial in the latest move to guide them through the criminal justice system.

    • prosecuting teams will offer to meet victims face-to-face following a not-guilty plea
    • this will help victims better understand the process and support available
    • Victims and Prisoners Bill begins next stage of passage through Parliament today (19 June 2023)

    This will give victims the chance to discuss what they can expect in court, better understand the process and be talked through the support measures available to them such as appearing via video link. It will also provide victims the opportunity to have their voice heard and discuss any concerns ahead of trial.

    This obligation will be cemented into an updated Victims’ Code, the principles of which will be put on a statutory footing through the Victims and Prisoners Bill. The bill begins its next stage through Parliament today.

    Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, said:

    Going to court as a victim can be daunting and confusing so meetings with the prosecution team will ensure they can have their questions answered and worries eased.

    Helping rape victims to give their best evidence will ensure we put more of these vile attackers behind bars.

    Figures show that rape trials have significantly higher not guilty plea levels compared to other crimes – meaning a greater proportion of victims are put through the stress of giving evidence in court. Fewer than one in five adult rape trials arriving at Crown Court receives a guilty plea, compared to 60% of all crime.

    Victim groups say that many rape survivors find the idea of giving evidence in court daunting, which can lead to them dropping their support for the case. By providing greater support ahead of trial, the prosecution team will be able to address any specific concerns or questions victims may have, reducing the risk of them withdrawing from the process.

    This measure, alongside the roll out of pre-recorded evidence and more Independent Sexual Violence Advisers, will help victims feel supported within the justice system and reduce the number of cases that never reach trial.

    Max Hill KC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said

    Victims deserve, and rightly expect, to be supported, informed and treated fairly. They are central to our cases and our ability to bring successful prosecutions.

    This new offer for a meeting between adult victims of rape and other serious sexual offences and a member of the prosecution team complements the service we are developing for all victims through our Victim Transformation Programme.

    We hope it will help give victims confidence in attending court and highlight the support available to them when giving evidence.

    Today’s announcement will form part of a full consultation the Victims’ Code which will take place after the Victims and Prisoners Bill receives Royal Assent taking on board views raised during its passage through Parliament.

    Justice Minister, Edward Argar, said:

    We want to ensure that rape victims are supported throughout the criminal justice system and know what they can expect when their case goes to court, so this announcement is an important step forward.

    Alongside the Victims and Prisoners Bill our broader reforms will help ensure victims get the support they need and the confidence they need to stay the course throughout the criminal justice process and help bring their attacker to justice.

    Victoria Prentis KC, Attorney General, said:

    Survivors of these crimes have been through enough trauma before the justice process even begins.

    Having the chance to connect with the prosecution team and ask questions about the court process can make a world of difference to what can be a very daunting experience. That is why I welcome this new initiative and hope it means many more victims can claim the justice they deserve.

    The Victims and Prisoners Bill builds on the wider government work to improve support to them.

    Alongside this the government is transforming how rape investigations are handled to avoid disproportionate scrutiny of victims and their accounts. Operation Soteria sees academics working with police forces and the CPS to look at their handling of rape cases and develop new operating models to be rolled out nationwide.

    The government will also more than quadruple funding for victim support services by 2025, compared to 2010 and boost the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisors by more than 40% over the next 3 years taking the total to over 1,000.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government announces tax top-up payments for postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government announces tax top-up payments for postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 June 2023.

    There will be top-up payments to postmasters under the Historic Shortfall Scheme (HSS).

    • Postmasters in the Historic Shortfall Scheme (HSS) will receive top-ups to their compensation, to ensure that the amount they receive is not unduly reduced by tax.
    • HSS claimants will also be able to claim up to £300 for advice on filing their tax returns.
    • Government has introduced the top-ups to ensure that postmasters receive full and fair compensation.

    All postmasters in the Historic Shortfall Scheme will be given a top-up payment in addition to their compensation award as soon as the Post Office has calculated all the individual payments.

    The tax treatment of awards in the Historical Shortfall Scheme has, in some cases, had the effect of unfairly reducing the compensation received by postmasters, which these top-up payments will address.

    Claimants will also be able to claim £300 of further support for tax advice, to help them when filing their tax returns.

    The Government is determined that postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal receive the compensation they deserve, and today’s announcement marks another step in ensuring compensation is fair and consistent.

    Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

    We are committed to ensuring that postmasters and their families receive the full and fair compensation they deserve for the pain and suffering caused by the Horizon scandal.

    With these top-ups, we’re making sure that every penny stays in postmaster’s pockets where it belongs.

    The HSS was set up in line with tax legislation and other commercial compensation schemes, with offers made on a gross basis and compensation then taxable. This allowed claims to be processed more efficiently without the need for postmasters to provide tax information.

    However, this approach did not account for the tax on compensation when paid as a lump sum, which means that postmasters are not necessarily restored to the position they would otherwise have been in. Top-up payments are the quickest and most efficient way to address this issue, and will be exempt from tax.

    In total, an additional £26 million is expected to be delivered to claimants through these top-ups which will be tax exempt.

    Background

    • Claimants can claim for up to £300 costs incurred for tax advice to be reimbursed by the Post Office.
    • The top-up payments are exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and national insurance contributions.
    • Starting in the late 1990s, the Post Office began installing Horizon accounting software, but faults in the software led to shortfalls in branches’ accounts. The Post Office demanded sub-postmasters cover the shortfalls, and in many cases wrongfully prosecuted them between 1999 and 2015 for false accounting or theft.
    • The issue of taxation does not apply to the Group Litigation Order Scheme or the Overturned Convictions where there is a tax exemption in place.
  • Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    The speech made by Martin Docherty-Hughes, the SNP defence spokesperson, in the House of Commons on 15 June 2023.

    Let me associate myself with the comments about the former Member for Hampstead and Kilburn—a great actor, but, I have to say to Labour colleagues, a great socialist, who will be deeply missed. I express my condolences to Labour group Members—a great loss to socialism.

    I have sat on the Defence Select Committee for almost five years. I have sat through enough evidence sessions and seen enough gloss poured over the evident shortcomings of this programme by Ministers and officials alike to treat today’s statement with much scepticism. Despite the fact that we are seeing various cheaper competitor platforms to Ajax tested in the theatre in Ukraine before our very eyes, we continue with what I think is an absolute classic 24-carat bespoke option straight out of Main Building’s fevered imagination. Today’s news is telling us that Ajax will not be ready until the end of the decade—the Minister may correct me if I am wrong—meaning that a full 20 years will have passed between concept and deployment. That is, frankly, unforgivable.

    Yet so many of us across the Chamber would tell us today that it does not have to be like this. To give just one allied example, Norway has recently terminated its contract for the NH90 helicopters after problems were found, and will return all those helicopters while demanding a full refund. What is stopping the MOD from doing the same with Ajax and General Dynamics?

    As we have talked about Ukraine, if we eventually ever see any of these vehicles deployed in the field, would the Minister be happy for the UK to supply them to a country fighting for its survival against a technically advanced adversary?

    James Cartlidge

    I did not have the pleasure of appearing before the hon. Gentleman in the Select Committee. Obviously, we bring forward this capability to ensure that it can add huge capability on the frontline when it really matters—that is what it is being tested for. That is why it is really good news that the Army is now training on that vehicle at Salisbury Plain. Of course, that has happened much later than we wanted. That is why we are here and have the Sheldon report. Ultimately, we want to improve our acquisitions system, but procurement can be complex, even for simple things such as ferries, as the Scottish Government have themselves discovered.

  • Tobias Ellwood – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    Tobias Ellwood – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    The speech made by Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, in the House of Commons on 15 June 2023.

    May I immediately associate myself with your kind words about Glenda Jackson, Madam Deputy Speaker?

    We now have in the Chamber not one, but three current or former procurement Ministers who bear the scars of this project. I am pleased that we are able to discuss the matter so openly and I commend the recent work that the MOD has done to get on top of the issue.

    Ajax is now a case study that the MOD and DNS should use on how not to do procurement. This is all about the British Army’s recce vehicle. The current one being used, the Scimitar, was introduced in 1971. It is good to hear that the soldiers the Minister met said that the replacement is better than the last—that is brilliant, because it was built in 1971. Ajax’s journey has been miserable. It started in 2010 and the delivery date was 2017, yet it is not expected to enter service until 2030. Something very serious has gone wrong.

    I absolutely welcome Clive Sheldon’s report. The Committee will look into that in more detail and, rather fortuitously, a Sub-Committee study on procurement, by my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), is currently under way. I am sure that he will have more words on how we will digest the report in more detail.

    The Minister covered some of the issues. Concerns include the relationships between different entities within, or associated with, the MOD. The senior responsible officer has been criticised for not being a single point of contact or owning the actual project itself but having to have a number of projects going concurrently. Concerns got stuck because of people taking a rigid view of their remits. It is not just with Ajax that there is a problem; there is also with the land warfare capability. We have similar problems with the main battle tank and the armoured fighting vehicle. I hope that those problems will be addressed when the defence Command Paper comes out.

    James Cartlidge

    I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Select Committee. Of course, we are absolutely committed to engaging with his Committee and, indeed, with the Sub-Committee, before which I will appear next week. I was born in 1974. He makes a striking point about the existing vehicle being from 1971—it is the same age as my elder brother. I take his point that one might therefore expect servicemen to say that it is night and day.

    I put great store by meeting those on the frontline, and I will always continue to do that. It was a great privilege to go to Bovington. One of the soldiers I sat next to in the Ares version had been in a Challenger 2 when it was hit by an IED—I think it was in Iraq or Afghanistan; he did not say. He felt confidence in the protection. It is so important that we interact with the soldiers on the frontline. Ultimately, that is the point: we want to deliver a better acquisitions system for them and I look forward to working with my right hon. Friend’s Committee to that end.

  • Chris Evans – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    Chris Evans – 2023 Speech on the Armoured Cavalry Programme – Sheldon Review

    The speech made by Chris Evans, the Shadow Defence Minister, in the House of Commons on 15 June 2023.

    Before I start, if you will allow me, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Glenda Jackson, our former colleague, given the sad news that she recently passed away. She was a doughty champion for social justice and was the greatest actor of this or any other generation. I am sure further tributes will be paid in the coming days.

    What the Sheldon review has shown without a shadow of a doubt is that Ajax is the biggest procurement failure for a decade. The review is beyond damning. For a report to state,

    “Reporting was at times lacking, or unclear, or overly optimistic. That led to senior personnel and Ministers being surprised to discover in late 2020 and early 2021 that the programme was at much greater risk than they had appreciated”,

    is frankly embarrassing.

    There is no place to hide any longer. The failure to manage this contract was on this Conservative Government’s watch. It was they who allowed the relationship with General Dynamics to break down to such an extent that every time Ajax was mentioned, here or in the press, there was fevered speculation that the contract was about to be cancelled. That has caused anxiety for the Army and above all for the workers in General Dynamics in both Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale in my own Islwyn constituency. Even the threat of losing 400 jobs would be devastating for the south Wales economy.

    This programme has cost £5.5 billion and has been running for 13 years, but has yet to deliver one deployable vehicle. If this was the private sector, heads would roll, so I ask the Minister this: has any action been taken against anyone responsible for this mess? What new procedures have already been put in place on other major programmes to stop similar mistakes happening? Ministers must ensure that our NATO obligations are met in full, but, whether it is Ajax, delays to Wedgetail or a modern war-fighting division, NATO must have concerns. Have any been raised with the Government about Ajax?

    I well remember the sense of excitement from workers at Oakdale when this contract was signed in 2010, just after I was elected. The Ajax contract was then labelled a game changer, not only for south Wales, but for the Army. It is truly sad that we have arrived at a point where Ajax has become a byword for waste and incompetence.

    Workers at General Dynamics should have been listened to, but they were not. There was a

    “lack of appreciation of diverse and contrary voices, especially from those working on the ‘shopfloor’. These voices were not fully included, and were too easily dismissed.”

    Those are not my words, but the words of the report. Perhaps if workers had been listened to, we would not be standing here now.

    As the Minister knows, Ajax is not an isolated case: 37 out of 39 defence equipment contracts being run by the Ministry of Defence are marked red or amber by the National Audit Office. That includes Morpheus, which is extremely important to our armed forces. Have the problems with that programme’s communications system been fixed, or are they unfixable? What contingency plans are being made for Morpheus?

    For a contract as important as Ajax, with so much speculation around it, it is amazing that we have not had an oral statement on Ajax since December 2021. For too long, the Government have avoided scrutiny on this issue. On this and other future contracts, will the Minister commit to giving regular updates to the House? We are, after all, ensuring soldiers’ safety—the most important thing about the contract—and spending taxpayers’ money. I find myself in agreement with the Minister when he says that change has to come. It is not a moment too soon.

    James Cartlidge

    I begin by agreeing with the hon. Gentleman on Glenda Jackson; I do not think she was in the House when I was here, but she was an amazing actress and I join in his sentiments and echo them entirely.

    I recognise that the hon. Gentleman is not just the shadow spokesman but has a clear constituency interest, and I respect that. He talks about fevered speculation and the impact on the workforce, and I totally understand that. We do not want to see that. He talks about coming to the House: I am here today to be absolutely clear with everyone about the latest position. In fact, my colleague the Paymaster General regularly updated the House on the position around Ajax when he was the Minister. My predecessor, now the Lord Chancellor, also issued a written statement earlier this year that was very detailed about the programme, so I think we have been consistent in updating the House.

    On some of the hon. Gentleman’s specific questions, he asked about action on individuals. What we said when commissioning this review was that disciplinary action would be taken only if there was evidence of gross misconduct, and Mr Sheldon found no evidence of misconduct, let alone gross misconduct. That is the clear reason why individual action has not been taken.

    In terms of action across programmes, I point the hon. Gentleman to the very significant investment by the Army of £70 million over the next 10 years in Army procurement programmes, including in the past two years a doubling in the number of SROs and a doubling of the amount of time that SROs spend on their responsible major projects. Those are significant investments.

    I also point out to the hon. Gentleman some of the improvements we have seen. I accept that we need to go further but, if I may draw a contrast, this is not the first review of acquisition. Bernard Gray issued an independent “Review of Acquisition for the Secretary of State for Defence” in 2009, which described a poorly performing procurement system. That review found that

    “the average programme overruns by 80% or c.5 years from the time specified at initial approval through to in service dates”,

    and that was under a previous Government.

    These problems have been around for some time and it is disappointing. I have pointed to the improvements we have seen, but let me be absolutely clear: the ultimate reason we have this report is to learn lessons and the way we respond to it is to deliver a fundamentally better acquisition system. I totally agree with the hon. Gentleman on that and I hope we can all work together to that end.