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Mr David Laws

Mr David Laws

Last served Yeovil (2001-06-07 – 2015-03-30)
59.7
Leaning conservative
22 coded votes
1,732
Total votes
865
Ayes
867
Noes
0
Other

Parliamentary History

7 Jun 2001 – 30 Mar 2015 (13 yrs 9 mo)

Ideology spectrum

59.7
ProgressiveCentreConservative

Leaning conservative — based on 22 coded votes across 3 axes (1% coverage).

Policy axis scores

0 = progressive, 50 = centre, 100 = conservative. Based on coded division votes.

Economic policy 40
Low confidence 5 votes
Civil liberties 100
Low confidence 1 votes
Climate / energy 63
Medium confidence 16 votes

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

June 2014 16 votes
Division Date Vote
Will the Minister give way? No, I have already given way. The hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck) — [ Interruption. ] I am trying to respond to the debate. The hon. Lady asked about a constituent who had had to travel a long distance for a PIP assessment. Clearly, it is unacceptable that someone should have to travel that far. The guidance is that people should not have to travel ... 30 Jun 2014 NO
The head of the OBR also made it clear that there were risks involved, and that those advocating this step would find it would be better not to rush into it, but to do it after the next election, and that is the position we take. This issue should be looked at again after the next election. The reality is that Labour does not have economic credibility. It borrowed too much in the good times when i... 25 Jun 2014 NO
Local authorities have a critical role in the sector, and we expect them to use the powers that are available to them to tackle the bad practice that sadly exists. Last Will the Minister give way? I will take only one intervention, as I am up against the buffers. The Minister talks about rogue landlords. Can he tell us what specific legislation exists to deal with rogue landlords who manage housin... 25 Jun 2014 NO
“particular taxes as devolved taxes”— (Mr David Jones.) This amendment clarifies that Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 4A of GOWA 2006 deal with devolved taxes. This distinguishes devolved taxes from the local taxes (such as council tax and non-domestic rates) over which the Assembly already has legislative competence under paragraph 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 7 to that Act. Amendment made: 2, page 18, line... 24 Jun 2014 NO
It is no wonder that the public see us politicians as a bit devious and above and beyond the basic rules, because we always apply rules that suit us. That is what the public see this as, purely and simply: politicians having a second bite of the cherry when they do not. I ask the Secretary of State to reconsider the amendment and to consider our proposals seriously. With your permission, Madam Dep... 24 Jun 2014 NO
() in subsection (1) (fees for grant or maintenance of recognition of professional body), in paragraph (b) (power to refuse recognition, or revoke order of recognition, where fee not paid), after “391(1)” insert “or (2)”;”.— (The Solicitor-General.) This amendment allows the Secretary of State to revoke or refuse recognition of a professional body recognised for the purpose of authorising partiall... 23 Jun 2014 NO
Note: for circumstances where requirements of this Act do not apply to a specified substance or mixture, see regulations made under section 9B.” (The Solicitor-General.) See the explanatory statement for new clause NC24. 23 Jun 2014 NO
(5) In paragraph 16 (annual examination of Commission by Comptroller and Auditor General), in sub-paragraph (1)— (a) after “paragraphs 14 and 15” insert “in respect of any year when both an estimate under paragraph 14 and a five-year plan under paragraph 15 are submitted to them,”; (b) for “in each year” substitute “before the Committee consider the estimate and plan”. (6) In the cross-heading pre... 23 Jun 2014 NO
It being later than three hours before the moment of interruption, the proceedings were interrupted (Programme Order, 14 May ). The Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time ( Standing Order No. 83E ). Amendment made: 13, page 25, line 32, at end insert— “(aa) the duration of driving licences to be granted to drivers with rel... 23 Jun 2014 NO
This is all about individuals’ rights to walk on private property, just as I walked over the Duke of Northumberland’s land yesterday. I do not want to belittle or trivialise cases in which property owners experience significant stress, but there are already powers that permit landowners and land managers to apply to a local authority to make an order to divert or close a public path that crosses t... 23 Jun 2014 NO
I have another general point on my hon. Friend’s suggestions on how such decisions could be made more quickly. I hope that he welcomes this Government’s introduction of neighbourhood planning, which for the first time gives people who are not professional planners or elected local councillors the ability to draw up a plan for their neighbourhood. The key point about a neighbourhood plan is that it... 18 Jun 2014 AYE
My hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat) made a thoughtful and well informed contribution, like his previous contributions. Sadly, we have to conclude, like him, that Labour has nothing serious to say. My hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris) comprehensively demolished the Opposition policy. He is absolutely right to point out that price controls stifle inve... 18 Jun 2014 NO
I am not alone in wanting this change. The Joint Committee on Human Rights said in its report of October 2011: “We also support the amendment of the Public Order Act to remove all reference to offences based on insulting words and behaviour. This would enhance human rights and remove the possible incompatibility with the right to freedom of expression.” Peter Tatchell—an unlikely ally of mine, Mad... 17 Jun 2014 NO
Division 5 16 Jun 2014 NO
(10) Sums received by a local authority under regulations under this section may be used by the authority for the purposes of any of its functions. (11) A local authority on whom functions are conferred by regulations under this section must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State about— (a) compliance by letting agents with the duty in section (Duty of letting agents to publi... 16 Jun 2014 NO
“I’m not going to sign a blank piece of paper on your show”. Later the same day, my shadow also backtracked, saying that Labour supported the reforms, but that they did not go far enough. The Opposition have been in complete chaos and confusion about these landmark pension reforms—some of the most important that will ever be introduced. The reason why they have been in chaos is that they really do... 11 Jun 2014 NO
May 2014 13 votes
Division Date Vote
Will the Solicitor-General give way? I have one or two more points to make, and then I shall see if I can give way again. [Interruption.] All right, I will give way. The hon. Member for Chesterfield talked about looking at the polling, but he should look at the polling, because the people of this country are starting to turn to the Conservative party and to recognise the achievements of the Conser... 14 May 2014 NO
(b) not greater than two weeks rent for the accommodation in question. (9) Costs incurred by persons seeking accommodation for the undertaking of credit checks shall be reimbursed upon the signing of a tenancy agreement. (10) In this section, any reference to the grant or renewal of a tenancy shall include the grant or renewal or continuance of a lease or licence of, or other right or permission t... 13 May 2014 NO
(6) Where a ticket is sold through a secondary ticketing platform, guidance issued under section (1) shall set out how the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 apply to tickets as unique goods, including— (a) how sellers must provide all relevant information about the ticket including but not limited to the face value of the ticket and a designated... 13 May 2014 NO
Will the hon. Lady give way? No; as I said, I am not going to give way. Order. The House must listen to the hon. Lady. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will not detain the House for long. I want to talk to new clause 13. I was hoping that my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) would not divide the House on it, but it has highlighted yet again the extremely important issue of food ... 13 May 2014 NO
I reassure the Minister that, as of September, that will be in the national curriculum, so all is under control. I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for highlighting that. To complete the set, may I use this opportunity to mention the important work done by credit unions that operate junior savers clubs in schools in the constituencies of many hon. Members? It would be great to have them in m... 13 May 2014 NO
The hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West raised the issue of guarantees being sold with products. Consumer protection regulations already prohibit traders from presenting statutory rights as a distinctive feature of their offer, so a guarantee that offered no more than a consumer’s statutory rights would already be prohibited. We have now made it easier for consumers to get their money bac... 13 May 2014 NO
The duties of custody officers include maintaining good order and discipline, but the provisions in the Bill will not by themselves allow them to use force for that purpose. That will not be possible unless specific provision is made in the secure college rules, in which the boundaries on the use of force should be set out. I repeat that we intend to consult on our approach to secure college rules... 12 May 2014 NO
New clauses 37 to 42 deal with the use of open prisons and release on temporary licence. My hon. Friend mentioned the case of Michael Wheatley. It is an extremely concerning case, and, as my hon. Friend and other Members would expect, we are looking very carefully at what occurred. When we have completed our investigations, we will consider what further action needs to be taken. One of the challen... 12 May 2014 NO
We are seeing other changes that are making driving safer, such as the introduction of 20 mph speed limits. That is happening very successfully in my constituency in Cambridge, where we are seeing some driver behaviour changes, but it is still early days. The changes will start to get across the idea that driving or travelling in any form of transport carries a risk of doing incredibly serious har... 12 May 2014 NO
“That is the intention, so the new clause has been drafted to have that effect.”—[ Official Report , 11 March 2014; Vol. 577, c. 244 .] The new clause proposed in March—we had a full debate and discussion about it—suggested that if the commissioners were content with the proposals put forward by a TSA, full public and patient consultation would kick in, whereas if the commissioners were not conten... 12 May 2014 NO
Let us be clear. The custom-build sector already makes an important contribution to our housing supply with around one in every 10 homes being built or commissioned by individuals. That is much more than many volume builders are already building. It is important to say that custom-build and self-build are already facilitating a turnover of around £4 billion per year. As has been mentioned, there i... 7 May 2014 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Lords amendment 16 disagreed to. 7 May 2014 AYE
If an unaccompanied, vulnerable child turns up at a police station, the police do not put them in a cell, but get in touch with social services. Why can we not do the same for unaccompanied children who come here as migrants or to apply for asylum? Why do we need to detain them? Surely our duty is to protect them. There is plenty of legislation that allows us to do that, and I have not heard an ex... 7 May 2014 AYE
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