Harpenden & Berkhamsted / data
Victoria Collins · Liberal Democrats · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
659days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
359
of 504 possible
Attendance
71%
145 absent / paired
Whip alignment
99%
vs party majority
Speeches
121
86 debates
Written Qs
720
703 answered
Committees
0
memberships
Expenses
£204k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 166 claims
Interests
8
5 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 80 | |
| Economy | 68 | |
| Employment | 39 | |
| Education | 33 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 27 | |
| Crime & Policing | 24 | |
| Pensions | 21 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 20 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Jobs | 40 | 19,731 |
| Technology | 25 | 12,114 |
| Culture Community | 19 | 10,768 |
| Local Government | 22 | 7,220 |
| Education | 9 | 5,522 |
| Other | 7 | 4,998 |
| Transport | 8 | 4,658 |
| Defence | 10 | 4,474 |
B · Notable divisions
Free votes, rebellions and high-salience whipped votes — the moments that distinguish this MP from the party machine. The full division-by-division record will follow once the per-MP archive is wired.
| Date | Division | Whip | MP voted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2025 | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 2Vote on New Clause 2 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, debated alongside related amendments including provisions on guidance,… | Free vote | Aye |
| 13 Jun 2025 | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 1Vote on New Clause 1 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a private member's bill on assisted dying. Based on available debate c… | Free vote | Aye |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2026 | Young Adult Carers: Education and TrainingIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. I thank the hon. Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) for securing this important debate. Like many, I think this debate s… EducationSocial CareLabour Market | 857 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Business of the HouseAfter years of Conservative failures to do so, Liberal Democrat councils across Harpenden and Berkhamsted are working hard to secure a local plan for housing. However, the Governme… Local GovernmentEconomy JobsEnergy | 129 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Gambling AdvertisingIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. I thank the hon. Members for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) and for Worthing West (Dr Cooper) for securing this debate, a… HealthCulture CommunityEconomy Jobs | 761 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsOver the Easter weekend, a 6-acre site in the Chilterns national landscape saw a massive unauthorised development. Despite swift action from Dacorum borough council to issue a temp… DefenceTechnologyEconomy Jobs | 68 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | UK Biobank DataI, too, thank the Minister for advance sight of his statement, and I join the Government in thanking the volunteers who have given researchers access to deeply personal medical rec… HealthTechnology | 409 |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Cost of Heating OilI have a case from Berkhamsted. Louise’s entire estate relies on heating oil, and the price for filling her tank went from £1,080 to £2,500—a more than £1,000 increase—over a weeke… EnergyCost Of LivingUtilities | 46 |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Government Review of the National Planning Policy FrameworkThe people of Redbourn have spoken loud and clear. This petition, which has been signed by 1,427 residents, rejects the top-down, developer-led planning approach by this Government… HousingLocal GovernmentEnvironment | 277 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | UK Research and InnovationUK Research and Innovation funding will continue to be undermined if the Government’s own procurement strategy sees billions going to companies outside the UK, such as Palantir in … TechnologyDefenceEconomy Jobs | 95 |
| 12 Mar 2026 | CarnivalsIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris, and it has been a real pleasure to hear about the different carnivals today; I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Gl… Culture CommunityEconomy JobsLocal Government | 1,112 |
| 11 Mar 2026 | UK-based Tech CompaniesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Betts. I commend the hon. Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill (Peter Fortune) on securing this essential debate. Entrepreneursh… TechnologyEconomy Jobs | 1,352 |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Technology SovereigntyIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz. I massively thank the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West (Dame Chi Onwurah), the Chair of the Science, Inn… DefenceEconomy JobsOther | 961 |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Digital ID: Public ConsultationI welcome the Government’s announcement that they have listened to the concerns of the Liberal Democrats and the public about the mandatory system, but the loss of trust resulting … Economy JobsOther | 106 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Online Harm: Child ProtectionApologies. Does she think that the fact that the Leader of the Opposition tried to water down that Bill and said that we do not legislate for feelings has anything to do with the c… Culture CommunityHealthEducation | 48 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Local Transport: Planning DevelopmentsI beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of planning developments on local transport. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. Let me start b… HousingTransportLocal Government | 1,238 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Online Harm: Child ProtectionApologies. The hon. Member talks about the Online Safety Act and what happened under the Conservatives. Do you think— Culture CommunityHealthEducation | 19 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 166 | 23.1% |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 77 | 10.7% |
| Department for Education | 75 | 10.4% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 58 | 8.1% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 57 | 7.9% |
| Treasury | 55 | 7.6% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 51 | 7.1% |
| Department for Transport | 50 | 6.9% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase public participation in the bowel cancer screening programme in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Women and Equalities | To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what workplace support the Menopause Action Plan will deliver for constituents in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how far the proposed SEND reforms will address the postcode lottery in access to specialist education support. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support disabled people into work in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of children’s happiness at school. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reform access to work in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make it easier for parents to get support for children with SEND in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of then number of school places for children with SEND in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve levels of confidence in the police amongst minority communities. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Statutory Instrument required to enable civil enforcement against unnecessary pavement obstruction has been drafted; and when he plans to lay that instrument before Parliament. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle hate crimes in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes on 1950s-born women living in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of children’s physical safety in schools. | Pending |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the trends in the length of time it takes parents who suspect their child has SEND to get an assessment in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. | Pending |
E · Committees
No committee memberships recorded for this MP.
F · Expenses
Every business-cost claim reimbursed by IPSA in the current financial year, grouped by category. “Aggregated” rows are IPSA’s own year-end totals for cost types like payroll and rent that aren’t itemised claim-by-claim.
Category breakdown
| Category | Claims | Paid (£) | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Costs | 120 | 20,342 | 10.0% |
| Accommodation | 36 | 12,293 | 6.0% |
| Staffing | 1 | 169,643 | 83.1% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 685 | 0.3% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 1,145 | 0.6% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 35 | 12,139 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 67 | 4,596 |
| Postage & couriers | Office Costs | 6 | 3,150 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 1 | 2,762 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 2,450 |
| Pooled staffing services | Office Costs | 1 | 2,450 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 13 | 2,415 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 13 | 2,331 |
| Bought-in services | Office Costs | 2 | 2,274 |
| Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Office Costs | 7 | 183 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 1 | 155 |
| Hospitality | Office Costs | 2 | 71 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | [***] [***] [***] Claim line 60281874 is a duplicate of 60286394 | 0 | Repaid |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - installation & equipment purchase | Not Applicable | 25 | Paid |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Black cartridge toner [200011803-453] | 81 | Paid |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | Data Dongal [200011802-11] | 0 | Paid |
| 10 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Bought-in services | Professional & consultancy | 1,774 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 139 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 57 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 22 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Wireless microphone [200011802-10] | 22 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Computer, laptop, PC, tablet & accessories | 19 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 10 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 280 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Sundries | 278 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 68 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 40 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 35 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Label maker [200011803-454] | 35 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Second label maker [200011803-455] | 35 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 30 | Paid |
| 30 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 28 | Paid |
G · Register of interests
Every financial interest declared by the MP, grouped under the Register’s official categories. Retracted entries are hidden but counted above.
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation3 entries
20 Jan 2026
Name of donor: Bridget Fox
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Paid for fundraising dinner for Harpenden & Berkhamsted Liberal Democrat local party, value £1,773.60
Donor status: individual
(Registered 12 January 2026)
20 Jan 2026
Name of donor: Allison Wren
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 support via Harpenden & Berkhamsted local party, funding for local election campaigns.
Donor status: individual
(Registered 12 January 2026)
29 Apr 2025
Name of donor: John Cooper
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £10,000
Donor status: individual
(Registered 24 April 2025)
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources2 entries
20 Jan 2026
Name of donor: National Liberal Club
Address of donor: 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HE
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Honorary membership of the National Liberal Club as recently elected MP, value £1,140
Date received: 23 December 2025 to 31 December 2026
Date accepted: 23 December 2025
Donor status: company, registration 1355034
(Registered 7 January 2026)
05 Aug 2025
Name of donor: PRS for Music
Address of donor: Goldings House, 2 Hays Lane, London SE1 2HB
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Glastonbury event tickets, accommodation, food and transport for two people sponsored by PRS for Music, value £2,872
Date received: 26 June 2025 to 28 June 2025
Date accepted: 26 June 2025
Donor status: company, registration 3444246
(Registered 23 July 2025)
6. Land and property portfolio with a value over £100,000 and where indicated, the portfolio provides a rental income of over £10,000 a year1 entry
16 Aug 2024
Type of land/property: Residential property (Studio Flat)
Number of properties: 1
Location: Ile-de-France, France
(Registered 3 August 2024)
7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital1 entry
16 Aug 2024
Name of company or organisation: Home Grown Life Ltd
Nature of business: Online gardening products, promoting urban gardening.
(Registered 3 August 2024)
8. Miscellaneous1 entry
16 Aug 2024
Unpaid directorship of Home Grown Life Ltd.
(Registered 3 August 2024)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 12 wards, 18 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldbury Wigginton | Paul David Reynolds | Liberal Democrats | 471 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ashridge | Terry Douris | Conservative and Unionist Party | 643 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted Castle | Ian Bristow | Liberal Democrats | 1,287 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted Castle | Rick Freedman | Liberal Democrats | 1,205 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted East | Garrick Stevens | Liberal Democrats | 1,300 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted East | Nigel Taylor | Liberal Democrats | 1,065 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted West | Robert Stewart | Liberal Democrats | 987 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berkhamsted West | Sally Symington | Liberal Democrats | 1,155 | 04 May 2023 |
| Harpenden North Rural | Beth Lucy Fisher | Liberal Democrats | 1,161 | 02 May 2024 |
| Northchurch | Lara Pringle | Liberal Democrats | 707 | 04 May 2023 |
| Sandridge Wheathampstead | Owain Alistair McKenzie | Liberal Democrats | 1,003 | 02 May 2024 |
| Sandridge Wheathampstead | Simon Richard Johns | Liberal Democrats | 990 | 02 May 2024 |
| Tring Central | Carole Anne Weston | Liberal Democrats | 780 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tring Central | Sheron Wilkie | Liberal Democrats | 902 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tring East | Michela Capozzi | Liberal Democrats | 580 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tring West Rural | Caroline A Smith-Wright | Liberal Democrats | 899 | 15 Feb 2024 |
| Watling | Edward Michael John Barradell | Conservative and Unionist Party | 608 | 04 May 2023 |
| Watling | Jane Timmis | Conservative and Unionist Party | 686 | 04 May 2023 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 97,188 | Electorate 72,242 (2024) |
| Median age | 44 | years |
| Degree-educated | 51.8% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 91.4% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 75.6% | households |
| Private-rented | 13.0% | households |
| Social-rented | 11.3% | households |
| Employment rate | 60.9% | 16-64 in work |
J · Public spending
HMT publishes headline spending identifiable by region in PESA. Constituency-level capital allocations (Levelling-Up Fund, Towns Fund, UKSPF, transport capital, BEIS R&D) are published as separate departmental datasets. We are evaluating the cleanest reconciliation for a per-constituency view.