daily report friday, 22 march 2019 contents

Daily Report Friday, 22 March 2019

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 22 March 2019 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (03:31 P.M., 22 March 2019). For the latest

information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,

please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 5

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 5

Babies: Day Care 5

Hydrogen: North of England 5

Job Creation: Yorkshire and

the Humber 5

Parental Leave 6

Public Houses: Codes of

Practice 6

Trading Standards: Finance 7

Wind Power: Continental Shelf 7

Wind Power: Seas and

Oceans 8

CABINET OFFICE 8

Chronic Illnesses 8

Civil Service: Stress 9

DEFENCE 9

Armed Forces: Housing 9

France: Military Decorations 10

HMS Forth: Construction 10

Ministry of Defence:

Consultants 10

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid 11

Warrior Armoured Vehicle:

Testing 12

Welbeck College: Cost

Effectiveness 12

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 13

BBC Northern Ireland 13

Charity Commission: Finance 13

Commercial Broadcasting:

Radio 13

Internet: Proof of Identity 14

Office for Civil Society 14

Radio: Staff 15

Third Sector 15

EDUCATION 16

Children in Care 16

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

Education 16

Department for Education:

Consultants 16

Early Language, Literacy and

Communication Apps Expert

Panel 17

Erasmus+ Programme 17

European University Institute 18

Priority School Building

Programme 19

Pupils: Sanitary Protection 19

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Sanitary Protection:

Secondary Education 19

Schools: Opening Hours 19

Schools: Standards 20

Social Services: Warrington 20

Special Educational Needs 21

Teachers: English Language 21

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 22

Animal Welfare: Sentencing 22

Animals and Animal Products:

Imports 22

Food: Exports 22

High Speed 2 Railway Line 23

Plastics: Waste 24

Wildlife: Licensing 24

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 24

Chechnya: Human Rights 24

Chevening 25

Colombia: Administration of

Justice 25

Guyana: Politics and

Government 26

Iran: Baha'i Faith 27

Iran: BBC Persian Service 27

Philippines: Terrorism 27

Press Freedom 28

Rugby: World Cup 28

Sayed Alwadaei 28

Treaties 29

Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud 29

United Arab Emirates: British

Nationals Abroad 30

Yemen: Peace Negotiations 30

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 30

Breast Cancer: Health

Education 30

Cervical Cancer: Screening 31

Health Services: British

Nationals Abroad 32

Health Services: Reciprocal

Arrangements 32

HIV Infection 33

Medical Laboratory Scientific

Officers: Resignations 33

Methadone 34

NHS 111: Ambulance Services 34

Prescriptions: Universal Credit 35

Tomography: Oxfordshire 36

HOME OFFICE 37

Home Office: Consultants 37

Immigration: EU Nationals 37

Radicalism: West Midlands 38

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 38

Families: Disadvantaged 38

High Rise Flats: Insulation 39

Leasehold 40

Private Rented Housing:

Evictions 40

Public Lavatories: Disability 41

Rough Sleeping and

Homelessness Reduction

Taskforce 41

Temporary Accommodation:

Children 41

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 43

Developing Countries: Climate

Change 43

Developing Countries:

Malnutrition 43

South Sudan: Peace

Negotiations 44

UNRWA: Finance 44

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 45

Arms Trade: Export Controls 45

Borders: Northern Ireland 45

Exports 45

Exports: Saudi Arabia 46

Hawk Aircraft: Exports 46

Hydrogen: Technology 47

Trade Remedies (Dumping

and Subsidisation) (EU Exit)

Regulations 2019 47

JUSTICE 48

Dangerous Driving:

Sentencing 48

Offenders: Foreign Nationals 48

Prison Officers: Recruitment 49

Prisoners' Release: Housing 50

Prisons: Standards 50

NORTHERN IRELAND 52

City Deals: Northern Ireland 52

Teachers: Pay 52

PRIME MINISTER 52

UK Relations with EU 52

TRANSPORT 53

Eurotunnel 53

Forests: Conservation 54

Northern Rail Franchise 54

Transport: Hydrogen 55

TREASURY 55

Borders: Northern Ireland 55

Brexit 56

London Capital and Finance 56

Married People: Tax

Allowances 57

NHS: Drugs 57

Revenue and Customs: Staff 58

Roadchef: Employee Benefit

Trusts 58

Sugar: Taxation 58

Treasury: Consultants 58

WORK AND PENSIONS 59

Department for Work and

Pensions: Written Questions 59

Employment and Support

Allowance 59

Food Insecurity Bill 60

Housing Benefit: Wales 61

Universal Credit 64

Universal Credit: Disability 65

Universal Credit: EEA

Nationals and EU Nationals 65

Universal Credit: Mental

Health 66

Universal Credit: Mental

Illness 66

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 68

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 68

Business Update 68

CABINET OFFICE 69

Public Bodies 2018-19 69

DEFENCE 69

Defence Procurement 69

HOME OFFICE 70

Offensive Weapons Bill 70

Notes:

Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared.

Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Babies: Day Care

Chris Elmore: [230896]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent

discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on childcare support for

parents of ill or premature babies.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for

parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple

births.

Preliminary work on this has now completed and my officials have identified potential

areas for further work and options for taking this forward, including opportunities to

work with other Government Departments.

I expect to be in a position to say more about this in due course.

Hydrogen: North of England

Anna Turley: [234196]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference

to the H21 North of England report by H21 et al. published in November 2018, what

assessment he has made of the potential merits of the proposals in that report to convert

the gas networks across the North of England to hydrogen.

Claire Perry:

I welcome the contribution this study makes to the evidence base on the potential

approaches to decarbonising how we heat our homes, businesses and industry.

There is no clear consensus on how best to decarbonise heat at scale. Using the gas

grid to transport hydrogen is one of several potential approaches, which include heat

networks, heat pumps and biogas. The government's review of the evidence base on

approaches to decarbonising heat is set out in our report ‘Clean Growth:

Transforming Heating’.

Job Creation: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr David Davis: [231364]


steps his Department has taken to help businesses create more highly skilled jobs in

Yorkshire and the Humber.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-03-11/230896



Kelly Tolhurst:

The Industrial Strategy is our long-term plan to boost productivity by backing

businesses to create high-quality, well paid jobs throughout the United Kingdom, with

investment in skills, industries and infrastructure. The Government has to date

awarded over £50m to support businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber through the

Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), which brings together world-class UK

research with business investment to develop the technologies that will transform

existing industries and create entirely new ones. For example, we are investing in

ITM Power (Trading) Ltd in Sheffield to demonstrate the feasibility of a hydrogen

economy in remote areas.

Also, since its launch in 2012, the Start-Up Loans programme, part of the British

Business Bank, has delivered more than 5,200 loans, totalling £42.690m in Yorkshire

and the Humber.

The Government is also investing over £1.3 billion through Yorkshire and Humber

Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deals and has established Enterprise Zones

across the region, which are both supporting the creation of higher skilled jobs such

as Siemens’ offshore wind blade factory in Hull and at the Humber Enterprise Park in

Brough.

Parental Leave

Jim Shannon: [232569]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what

discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on additional

paid leave for (a) parents of premature babies and (b) multiple birth parents.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for

parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple

births.

Preliminary work on this has now completed and my officials have identified potential

areas for further work and options for taking this forward, including opportunities to

work with other Government Departments.

I expect to be in a position to say more about this in due course.

Public Houses: Codes of Practice

Chris Green: [230840]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take

steps to ensure that the upcoming Pubs Code review includes a full public consultation.

Chris Green: [230841]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether

consumers will have the opportunity to share their views as part of the review into the

Pubs Code.




Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government is currently considering the format of the statutory review of the

Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator and will ensure all those with an interest

have an opportunity to contribute to the review.

Yasmin Qureshi: [232543]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he

plans to begin a review of the Pubs Code.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government is currently considering the format of the statutory review of the

Pubs Code which will cover the operation of the Code from when it came into force to

31 March 2019.

Trading Standards: Finance

Ruth Cadbury: [233636]


assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the enforcement of trading

standards.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Trading Standards services are provided by local authorities, who operate

independently from central government and are responsible for their own funding

decisions. BEIS funds National Trading Standards (NTS) and Trading Standards

Scotland (TSS) to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer

enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. The Government is

considering options to ensure that our system of consumer protection provides a

robust response to both local and national threats following the Modernising

Consumer Markets Green Paper in 2018.

Wind Power: Continental Shelf

Ian Mearns: [R] [231987]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he

is taking to ensure that UK employment law applies to shipping companies contracted to

(a) transport, (b) install, (c) construct and (d) maintain offshore wind farms on the UK

Continental Shelf.

Kelly Tolhurst:

[Holding answer 18 March 2019]: Workers on offshore windfarms are entitled to the

same protections as UK workers, including National Minimum Wage for all their work

on the installation, construction and maintenance of the windfarms regardless of

nationality or where they ordinarily work.

Workers on UK registered ships are entitled to National Minimum Wage for all their

work on the ship wherever it is located, unless they work entirely outside the UK or

are not ordinarily resident in the UK. BEIS and the DfT are working together to




increase the scope of National Minimum Wage entitlement from those seafarers in

internal waters to those working in the territorial sea, an area that extends up to 12

nautical miles from the mean low-water line.

This Government takes minimum wage enforcement seriously and is committed to

ensuring all employers pay their workers correctly. We continue to invest heavily in

minimum wage enforcement, increasing the budget to over £26 million for 2018/19,

up from £13 million in 2015/16. In addition to following up on every worker complaint

received, HMRC undertake proactive investigations and conduct awareness raising

activities amongst both employers and workers. Last year, HMRC identified record

arrears of £15.6 million, for over 200,000 workers.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Ian Mearns: [R] [232557]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make

an assessment of the effect of pre-construction agreements between offshore wind farm

owners and contractors on employment (a) conditions, (b) practices and (c) levels.

Kelly Tolhurst:

[Holding answer 19 March 2019]: Terms and conditions of employment are for

negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their

representatives). Once agreed they form a legally binding contract of employment.

While it is always open to either party to seek to renegotiate the terms of the contract,

if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the

employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.

Importantly, workers on offshore windfarms are entitled to the same protections as

UK workers, including National Minimum Wage for all their work on the installation,

construction and maintenance of the windfarms regardless of nationality or where

they ordinarily work.

CABINET OFFICE

Chronic Illnesses

Chris Ruane: [234102]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the proportion of

the population living with a limiting long term illness in (a) Denbighshire, (b) Wales and (c)

the UK.

Chloe Smith:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.

I have asked the Authority to reply.

Attachments:

1. UKSA Response [PQ234102 holding response (1).pdf]



Civil Service: Stress

Chris Ruane: [234099]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2019 to

Question 231901, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of

mindfulness-based interventions in the reduction of work-based stress.

Oliver Dowden:

The Civil Service does not collect data on the practice of mindfulness on the

reduction of work-based stress and positive influence on well-being.

We are aware that mindfulness training can have a positive impact on wellbeing.

Mindfulness interventions, including face-to-face sessions and digital wellbeing apps,

are used across the Civil Service.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Housing

Mr Kevan Jones: [234125]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has paid out in

compensation to service personnel and their families living in Service Family

Accommodation due to poor housing conditions in each of the past five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

No compensation has been paid to Service personnel due to poor housing

conditions. The Ministry of Defence only allocates properties that meet the Decent

Homes Standard as a minimum condition. In April 2017, a compensation scheme

was introduced to provide recompense to Service families in two key areas – missed

maintenance appointments and significant defects encountered at Move-In to a new

property. Details of these payments are given below.

2017-18 2018-19

Value No of Claims Value No of Claims

Missed

Maintenance

appointments

£102,920 3,058 £99,570 2,926

Significant

Defects at Move-

In

£18,480 232 £9,300 121



France: Military Decorations

Emily Thornberry: [234103]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many surviving British veterans who

fought for the liberation of France during the second world war are waiting (a) to have

their applications to receive the French Legion d'Honneur processed by his Department

and (b) to receive the award of the Legion d'Honneur for which they have been certified

as eligible by his Department.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence currently has seven applications for the Legion d'Honneur

that will be sent to the French authorities shortly. There are 14 Legion d'Honneur

cases for which we are seeking clarification from the applicants. There are currently

68 cases for the award being processed by the French authorities.

HMS Forth: Construction

Douglas Chapman: [232594]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Royal Navy officially accepted HMS

Forth; when her sea trials commenced; and what the date is when sea trails are expected

to be completed.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence accepted HMS Forth at Vessel Acceptance Date on 24

January 2018 and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy (RN) on 13 April 2018.

Her contractor sea trials were conducted in two parts, in October 2017 and January

2018. The RN sea trials were conducted in January 2018.

HMS Forth will undertake further RN sea trials in the coming months with the

expectation these will be completed in the summer.

Ministry of Defence: Consultants

Peter Dowd: [234208]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many consultants his Department has

hired in each year since 2016; and what the cost of that process has been to the public

purse.

Stuart Andrew:

Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure on consultancy staff is published and can be

found in Table 9 of the relevant Excel tables relating to the finance and economics

annual statistical bulletins for Departmental Resources on the gov.uk website at the

link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/defence-departmental-resources-index

Information on the number of off-payroll engagements (including consultants) for

periods of six months or more is available in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts

at the links below:




2015-16 and 2017-18

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-annual-reports

2016-17

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-

accounts-2016-to-2017

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2019 to

Question 232090 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, how many RAF personnel are currently

employed on secondment to BAE Systems providing routine engineering and generic

training support for UK-supplied aircraft and aircrews assigned to operational squadrons

of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

Mark Lancaster:

There are six RAF personnel on secondment to BAE Systems providing routine

engineering and generic training support for UK-supplied aircraft and aircrews

assigned to operational squadrons under long-standing Government-to-Government

arrangements.

These personnel do not provide direct support for Royal Saudi Air Force operational

squadrons when engaged in the war in Yemen. They do not prepare aircraft for

operations, this includes a prohibition on the loading of weapons, and they are not

involved in the planning of operational sorties."



Question 232090 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, what records his Department holds on

breaches of the prohibitions on RAF personnel (a) loading weapons and (b) planning

operational sorties.

Mark Lancaster:

None.



Question 232090, on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, whether employees of BAE Systems are

subject to the same restrictions as seconded members of RAF personnel on (a) loading

weapons and (b) planning operational sorties.

Mark Lancaster:

Yes.




Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [234248]


Question 229818, whether there are any RAF personnel or workers under contract to the

UK Government that are trained as targeteers and operating in Saudi Arabia.

Mark Lancaster:

No RAF personnel or workers under contract to the UK Government, even if trained

as targeteers, are using their targeting skills or training in their roles in Saudi Arabia.

Warrior Armoured Vehicle: Testing

Nia Griffith: [234163]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeframe is for the completion of the

Warrior 2 (a) manned firing trials and (b) other trials.

Stuart Andrew:

For the first two variants delivered under the Warrior Capability Sustainment

Programme, manned firing is scheduled to be completed in late 2020 and all trials are

due to be completed in early 2021. Dates for further trialling for other variants and

capabilities are still to be confirmed.

Welbeck College: Cost Effectiveness

Liz Saville Roberts: [233022]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value for money criteria were used to

make the decision to close Welbeck College; whether that criteria will be used to assess

the sustainability of the Army Foundation College Harrogate; and if he will make a

statement.

Mark Lancaster:

A review of the Defence Technical Officer and Engineering Entry Scheme (DTOEES),

which includes Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College and the Defence Technical

Undergraduate Scheme, has determined that the current scheme is no longer

delivering sufficient numbers to meet the Defence requirement for technical and

engineer officers, nor does it demonstrate value for money, or the flexibility to meet

any changes in the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s future requirements.

The National Audit Office value for money criteria were applied robustly as part of the

DTOEES review:

Economy: minimising the cost of resources used or required (inputs)

Efficiency: the relationship between the output of the service and the resources

required to produce them

Effectiveness: the relationship between the intended and actual results of public

spending (outcomes)

In place of the current scheme Defence will establish a new Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduate Inflow Scheme designed to increase




the inflow of STEM undergraduates using a range of targeted financial incentives

which may include scholarships, maintenance bursaries and/or payment of tuition

fees. It will also recruit from universities across the UK instead of the current limited

number and allow for a wider range of degree subjects to be studied, including cyber

and computer-based studies.

There are no issues with the sustainability of the Army Foundation College Harrogate

and there are no plans to consider its closure.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: [234101]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to

speak to BBC NI on its commissioning process and independent accountability during his

visit to Northern Ireland this month.

Margot James:

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will meet with key

stakeholders from the creative industries in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State

will not meet BBC Northern Ireland during this visit.

Charity Commission: Finance

Mr Steve Reed: [234213]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the

Answer 14 March 2019 to Question 229162 on Charity Commission: Finance, how many

years the additional Government funding of £5 million per year agreed for the Charity

Commission will continue.

Mims Davies:

The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities in England and Wales. In

January 2018, the government awarded the Commission an additional £5m per year

from April 2018 to help respond to increasing demand on its core regulatory

functions. This funding was awarded as an interim solution, while the Commission

considers longer term, more sustainable funding models, including consulting on

charging the largest charities. The future funding for the Charity Commission will be

considered as part of the upcoming spending review.

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio

Tom Watson: [234117]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his

Department undertook an impact assessment of the effect of changes to localness

guidelines for commercial radio on jobs in local commercial radio stations.




Margot James:

The changes to the localness guidance were made by Ofcom, the independent

regulator, in line with its requirements under section 314 of the Communications Act

2003 to ensure effective and appropriate localness guidance is in place (as required

under the 2003 Act).

Ofcom's consultation in 2018 on its proposed changes to the localness guidance and

impact assessment covered the potential impacts on radio listeners and the industry.

Internet: Proof of Identity

Eddie Hughes: [232638]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his

Department has to develop a strong market for age and identity verification products to

(a) protect young people against internet harms and (b) to reduce online fraud.

Margot James:

The government is supporting the development of a standards based digital identity

market in the UK. The Minister for Implementation made a written statement on the

future of Gov.uk Verify programme on 9 October 2018 setting out next steps.

Discussions continue within government and with industry as we develop our

proposals, which we will set out further in due course.

Office for Civil Society


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the

Answer of 20 February 2019 to Question 218152 on Department for Digital, Culture,

Media and Sport: Brexit, how many of those staff who have been seconded from their

primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal worked in the

Office for Civil Society.

Mims Davies:

I refer the hon member to the secretary of state’s answer of 20 February 2019 to

Question 218152.


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials in

his Department are working for the Office for Civil Society.

Mims Davies:

As of 01/03/2019, 106 officials in the Department are working for the Office for Civil

Society.




Radio: Staff


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has

made of the number of people employed in the radio industry in each of the nations and

regions of the UK in each of the last five years.

Margot James:

The number of employees in the radio sector by nation and regions is shown in the

table.

REGION 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

East 500 700 75 500 400

East Midlands 350 450 400 600 600

London 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 8,000

North East 75 150 175 150 175

North West 350 700 500 600 1,000

Scotland 450 450 350 1,750 500

South East 350 600 800 800 800

South West 250 300 225 1,000 500

Wales 300 175 250 300 225

West Midlands 225 600 450 500 350

Yorkshire and

The Humber

500 400 400 500 500

Total 11,000 12,000 11,000 14,000 13,000

Third Sector


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings

the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society has had with (a)

social enterprises, (b) charities and (c) voluntary sector umbrella bodies since her

appointment in November 2018.

Mims Davies:

I meet regularly with representatives from social enterprises, charities and the

voluntary sector. A full list of meetings is published quarterly on:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications





EDUCATION

Children in Care

Helen Jones: [234121]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children there were in

(a) Warrington, (b) the North West and (c) England in each of the last five years for which

figures are available.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The latest information on the number of looked after children at 31 March 2018 for

the last five years by local authority, region and for England can be found in table

LAA1 in the statistical release ‘Children Looked After in England: Including Adoption:

2017 to 2018’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-

england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Education

Ruth Cadbury: [232584]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he's taken to support access to

schooling for children with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nadhim Zahawi:

We are clear that all pupils with medical conditions are properly supported in school

so that they can play a full and active role in school life, remain healthy, achieve their

academic potential and have the same opportunities as any other child.

In September 2014, we introduced the duty to require governing bodies to make

arrangements to support their pupils with medical conditions and provided statutory

guidance that outlines schools’ responsibilities in this area, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-

medical-conditions--3.

Schools also have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable

adjustments and not to discriminate against disabled children, including those with

long-term health conditions, in relation to their access to education and associated

services. Schools must make reasonable adjustments to their practices, procedures

and policies to ensure that they are not putting those with long-term health problems

at a substantial disadvantage.

Department for Education: Consultants


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many consultants his Department has

hired in each year since 2016; and at what cost to the public purse.



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3




Anne Milton:

Information regarding the number of consultants that the department has hired in

each year since 2016 is not held centrally. This is because it is a decentralised

process and numbers are not collected.

Early Language, Literacy and Communication Apps Expert Panel

Angela Rayner: [233010]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings are scheduled of his

Department's advisory panel on early years, language, literacy and communication apps.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The independently appointed advisory panel met for the first time on 27 February.

The panel is due to meet again on 16 April when they intend to finalise the

assessment criteria they will use to award quality marks; subsequent meetings have

not yet been confirmed.

Erasmus+ Programme

Gordon Marsden: [234127]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with (a)

university groups and (b) UUK on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a

deal on UK students participating in the Erasmus+ programme in Europe from September

2019.

Gordon Marsden: [234128]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to

create an alternative to the Erasmus+ programme for UK students in the event that the

UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Chris Skidmore:

The government values international exchange and collaboration in education and

training as part of its vision for a global Britain and therefore, irrespective of the

outcome of Article 50 negotiations with the EU, the government wants UK and

European countries to continue to give young people and students the chance to

benefit from each other’s world leading universities post-exit.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, my officials and I meet with

representatives of universities and sector associations regularly, including

Universities UK, to discuss the Department for Education agenda, and that has

included the question of participation in the Erasmus+ programme. In our

preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU, the department has regularly

engaged with a wide number of sector stakeholders on the Erasmus+ programme.

It is the duty of a responsible government to prepare for a range of potential

outcomes and the Department of Education is preparing for every eventuality. For

this reason, the government has committed to cover the payment of awards to UK

organisations for all successful (those that are approved directly by the European




Commission or by the National Agency and ratified by the European Commission)

Erasmus+ bids in the event of ‘no deal’.

There are many opportunities for student exchange outside of Erasmus+ and our

world-leading higher education providers have a strong track-record of partnering

with overseas institutions. UUK evidence suggests around half of mobilities already

take place outside Erasmus+.

It is not appropriate at this stage to set out any assessment in detail for a domestic

alternative due to the ongoing negotiations with the EU. We will always want to

ensure value for money for the taxpayer.

European University Institute

Clive Lewis: [229722]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019

to Question 224488, what the evidential basis is the statement in that answer that the

UK’s EU membership is inextricably linked to its current membership of the European

University Institute Convention and that the UK’s membership of the EUIC will

automatically cease on 29 March 2019.

Chris Skidmore:

[Holding answer 14 March 2019]: The terms of the European University Institute

Convention (EUIC) expressly refer to the contracting states of the Convention being

EU Member States and limit future accession to the Convention to EU Member

States. It is therefore not possible for a non-Member State to become a signatory to

the Convention and participate in that capacity. Accordingly, when the UK ceases to

be a Member State of the EU, it will also cease to be a party to the Convention.

However the UK will continue to be covered by the EUIC for the duration of the

Implementation Period if the Withdrawal Agreement is passed.

Angela Rayner: [231491]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of 11 March

2019, Official Report, column 20, by the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and

Innovation on the European University Institute (EUI), what the evidential basis is for the

Minister's statement that the UK cannot be a member of the EUI if it is not an EU member

state.

Chris Skidmore:

[Holding answer 15 March 2019]: The terms of the European University Institute

Convention (EUIC) expressly refer to the contracting states of the Convention being

EU Member States and limit future accession to the Convention to EU Member

States. It is therefore not possible for a non-Member State to become a signatory to

the Convention and participate in that capacity. Accordingly, when the UK ceases to

be a Member State of the EU, it will also cease to be a party to the Convention.

However, the UK will continue to be covered by the EUIC for the duration of the

Implementation Period if the Withdrawal Agreement is passed.



Priority School Building Programme

Stephanie Peacock: [231541]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many new school buildings have been

built in phase one of the Priority Schools Building Programme.

Nick Gibb:

[Holding answer 15 March 2019]: 253 of the 260 schools in phase one of the Priority

School Building Programme are open in new or refurbished buildings. The remaining

7 schools have site specific issues causing the building projects to take longer.

Pupils: Sanitary Protection

Layla Moran: [234252]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to

provide free sanitary products to girls in primary schools.

Nadhim Zahawi:

No one should be held back from reaching their potential because of their gender or

background. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer

announced in his Spring Statement on 13 March 2019 that the Department for

Education will lead a scheme to provide access to free sanitary products in all

secondary schools and colleges in England. As we develop the plans, we will

consider options for supporting primary school children.

Sanitary Protection: Secondary Education

Caroline Lucas: [232544]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Spring Statement 2019, if

he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing every secondary school

age female with a reusable menstrual cup.

Nadhim Zahawi:

No one should be held back from reaching their potential because of their gender or

background. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer

announced in his Spring Statement on 13 March 2019 that the Department for

Education will lead a scheme to provide access to free sanitary products in all

secondary schools and colleges in England. We are committed to encouraging the

use of sustainable products where possible and will work with stakeholders to explore

whether this can be integrated into the scheme.

Schools: Opening Hours

Paul Farrelly: [234119]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has he made of the number of

schools closing early as a result of a lack of resources.

Nick Gibb:

Information on when schools finish their school day is not held centrally.





All maintained schools are required to educate pupils for at least 380 sessions each

school year. They cannot reduce the length of the school week if this would take the

total number of sessions below that.

All schools have the autonomy to decide the structure and duration of their school

day, which includes the flexibility to decide when their school day should start and

finish. Where schools use this flexibility, they should take into account local

circumstances and the needs of their students and staff.

In the event that a school decides to make changes to its school day the Department

would encourage them to do this in consultation with parents. It is the Department’s

expectation that the school should act reasonably when making such decisions;

giving parents notice and considering the impacts on those affected.

Schools: Standards

James Cartlidge: [232611]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the degree

to which standards are adequately and continuously assessed by OFSTED at schools

where the most recent inspection was outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb:

I wrote to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, on 3 December setting

out the Department’s position regarding the inspection of outstanding schools. A copy

of this letter is attached.

Outstanding schools are exempt from routine Ofsted inspection but continue to be

risk assessed annually. Ofsted has the power to inspect any school at any time if

there are concerns about the quality of provision or safety of pupils.

Attachments:

1. 232611_Nick_Gibb_to_Amanda_Spielman_3_Dec

[232611_Nick_Gibb_to_Amanda_Spielman_3_Dec.pdf]

Mr Jim Cunningham: [234078]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will take steps to ensure

that the proportion of students at a school receiving private tuition is taken into account

when evaluating a school's performance.

Nick Gibb:

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked

her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries

of both Houses.

Social Services: Warrington


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the

financial sustainability of children's services in Warrington.




Nadhim Zahawi:

Funding for children’s services is made available through the Local Government

Finance Settlement. We are in the final year of a multi-year settlement deal – worth

over £200 billion in the 5 years to 2020.

At the Autumn Budget 2018, the government made £410 million available to local

authorities, in 2019/20, for adult and children social care. The government also

announced £84 million in targeted, evidence-based interventions which will transform

services to reduce demand, saving money for local authorities but most importantly,

improving the quality of services for our most vulnerable children.

The government will continue to work closely with the sector to consider long-term

children’s services funding as part of the Spending Review.

Special Educational Needs

Bridget Phillipson: [234159]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussion he has had with the

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Governments on the

establishment of a cross-Government plan for supporting children with speech, learning,

and communication needs.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The department is committed to supporting children and young people with speech,

language and communication needs, as set out in our response to the ‘Bercow: Ten

Years On’ review on 23 October 2018. A downloadable copy of the government

response can be found here: https://www.bercow10yearson.com/. The department

continues to engage with a range of government departments to reinforce this

commitment.

Teachers: English Language


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of

people teaching English in secondary schools who do not have a degree in that subject.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of

people teaching (a) French, (b) German and (c) Spanish in secondary schools who do

not have a degree in that language.

Nick Gibb:

The information requested is published in table 12 of the publication ‘School

Workforce in England, November 2017’ available at the following web link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-

2017.




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2017



ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

David T. C. Davies: [232542]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what assessment

he has made of the potential merits of a maximum five-year sentence for animal cruelty

as a deterrent to animal cruelty offenders who use such acts of cruelty to manipulate

human victims.

David Rutley:

The Government is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, and we

have announced that we will increase the maximum custodial penalty for animal

cruelty from six months to five years to allow the courts to impose appropriate

penalties in extreme cases, whatever the motivation for the offence.

Animals and Animal Products: Imports

Tom Brake: [234073]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his

Department has to ensure that all animals and animal products from outside the EU enter

Northern Ireland through a border inspection post in the event that the UK leaves the EU

without a deal.

David Rutley:

In the event we leave the EU without a deal, live animals and products of animal

origin originating from non-EU countries will be checked at UK Border Inspection

Posts (BIPs), including those with a final import destination in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, Belfast Port is the approved BIP for frozen meat and fish

products pre-packed for human consumption. Belfast International Airport is the

approved BIP for animal by-products that are not for human consumption.

Food: Exports


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what guidance he

has provided to agri-food exporters on food labelling in the event of the UK leaving the

EU without a deal; and what assessment he has made of the capacity of those exporters

to put in place that labelling by the end of March 2019.

David Rutley:

The Government is working closely with food retailers and suppliers to help them

prepare for leaving the EU, which includes providing information on food labelling

changes that must be made to UK products sold in the UK and EU after 29 March

2019. Specific guidance for the food and drink sector is now available at

www.gov.uk//defra/brexit-food-drink-sector. This includes advice on food labelling.




The Government is aiming wherever possible within the UK to allow a transition

period of at least 21 months for food labelling changes in relation to goods produced

in the UK, or imported and placed on the UK market, after exit day.

The UK has no control over how food labelling changes will be enforced outside the

UK. EU and other non-EU countries may require that food labelling changes are in

place on exports to their markets from exit day. Businesses have been advised to

seek guidance from importing contacts on labelling requirements applicable in the

importing country.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jon Trickett: [232522]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his

Department is taking to ensure that High Speed Two will not affect the protection of

woodlands.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his

Department is taking to prevent loss of ancient woodland as a result of High Speed Two.

David Rutley:

The Government has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our

ancient woodlands, and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised

in our 25 Year Environment Plan. Defra and its statutory bodies are working closely

with HS2 Ltd. and the Department for Transport to make sure that environmental

impacts resulting from HS2, including protection of woodland and loss of ancient

woodland, are considered and minimised.

Natural England and the Environment Agency have service level agreements with

HS2 Ltd. to advise on the development of HS2, including on avoiding, as far as

practicable, loss to ancient woodlands. Natural England has also provided

information to help inform HS2 Ltd.’s Ancient Woodland Strategies.

The HS2 Woodland Fund has been established for Phase 1 to support the restoration

of existing plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) and the creation of new

native woodland.

Natural England is also working with HS2 Ltd to identify ancient woodland within

HS2’s route corridor which is not on the Ancient Woodland Inventory. Natural

England and HS2 work together to minimise impacts on ancient woodland and to

maximise opportunities for compensatory measures during detailed design, where

unavoidable loss occurs.



Plastics: Waste

Paul Farrelly: [234113]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment

he has made of the potential merits of being party to a legally binding international treaty

on plastics with clear targets and standards.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

The Government has taken on board existing relevant international agreements and

commitments, which include the Basel Agreement, the Oceans Plastic Charter, and

G7 and G20 Action Plans on Marine Litter.

Our focus is on immediate action to tackle the pressing problem of plastic pollution

and plastic waste. Our recently published Resources and Waste Strategy includes an

ambitious set of policies to support elimination of avoidable plastic waste. This

includes a commitment to meet the ambition of the EU’s Single-use Plastics

Directive.

We have also committed to work with other countries to magnify the impact of our

domestic action. Accordingly we have signed up to the Ellen MacArthur New Plastics

Economy Global Commitment, and we are spearheading efforts to support

developing countries address plastic waste including through the Commonwealth

Clean Oceans Alliance and the Global Plastics Action Partnership.

Wildlife: Licensing

Sue Hayman: [234233]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many wildlife

licensing enforcement actions have been undertaken by Natural England in each year

since 2010.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

Natural England has published data on the number of enforcement actions it has

undertaken for the period 2010-2015 which is publicly available and published on

Gov.uk:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm

ent_data/file/527912/enforcement-annual-report-2014-2015.pdf

Since 2015 Natural England has not proactively collated this data.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Chechnya: Human Rights


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent

discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on human rights in Chechnya; and if

he will make a statement.



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/527912/enforcement-annual-report-2014-2015.pdf




Sir Alan Duncan:

We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Chechnya, and have

raised this in several public statements, as well as bilaterally with Russia. The UK,

joined by 31 other countries, delivered a statement to the UN Human Rights Council

on the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya on 18 March. I also raised this issue

directly with my Russian counterpart, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, in

the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February. On 19 March, the

Foreign Secretary publicly called for the release of Chechen human rights activist

Oyub Titiev, following his sentencing to four years in prison. In November 2018, the

UK was one of 16 countries to invoke the Organization for Security and Co-operation

in Europe Moscow Mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in

Chechnya. We will continue to urge Russia to follow the recommendations outlined in

the report of the Moscow Mechanism.

Chevening

Tulip Siddiq: [234263]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times he

has used Chevening House for (a) Departmental and (b) personal uses since he took

office; and what the duration was of each of those occasions.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Chevening House is not funded by the Government and is the responsibility of its

trustees. The Prime Minister decides who occupies the building. It is currently shared

by the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and

the Secretary of State for International Trade.

Since taking office, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has used Chevening

House for departmental use once. The Secretary of State is a protected person,

therefore for security reasons we do not disclose his whereabouts during his personal

time.

Colombia: Administration of Justice

Clive Efford: [233436]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to

make representations to his counterpart in Colombia on approving the statutory law that

will give the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in that country the provisions it needs to

guarantee truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition in accordance with the 2016 peace

agreement between the Government of Colombia and the revolutionary armed forces of

Colombia - people's army; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to function under currently existing legal

provisions despite the recent objections of President Duque to certain articles of the

law. However, we remain concerned that a delay in finalising the legal underpinning



of the transitional justice system risks undermining its authority and reducing

cooperation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Our Ambassador in Bogota informed President Duque of Colombia of the UK position

on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace on 11 March during a briefing for the

international community. He emphasised the importance of finalising the legal

underpinning for the transitional justice system as quickly as possible to mitigate the

risk of undermining its authority and reducing cooperation with the FARC. The UK

permanent representative to the UN met Colombian Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo

on 15 March to reiterate the importance of a speedy process the positive signal that

accelerating the implementation of the Peace Agreement would send.

Clive Efford: [233437]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if we will make

representations to the Government of Colombia on ensuring that the Special Jurisdiction

for Peace is consolidated in law in that country in accordance with the terms of the 2016

peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the revolutionary armed

forces of Colombia - people's army; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace continues to function under currently existing legal

provisions despite the recent objections of President Duque to certain articles of the

law. However, we remain concerned that a delay in finalising the legal underpinning

of the transitional justice system risks undermining its authority and reducing

cooperation of theRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Our Ambassador in Bogota informed President Duque of Colombia of the UK position

on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace on 11 March during a briefing for the

international community. He emphasised the importance of finalising the legal

underpinning for the transitional justice system as quickly as possible to mitigate the

risk of undermining its authority and reducing cooperation with the FARC. The UK

permanent representative to the UN met Colombian Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo

on 15 March to reiterate the importance of a speedy process and the positive signal

that accelerating the implementation of the Peace Agreement would send.

Guyana: Politics and Government

Helen Goodman: [234126]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what

representations he has made to the Government of Guyana on the need to call elections

within the constitutional time limit following the loss of a no confidence vote in December

2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Guyana's Court of Appeal is expected to rule on this matter shortly. The UK

Government continues to encourage both parties to work together to reach a

resolution which meets Guyana's constitutional provisions. The British High

Commissioner to Guyana has on several occasions stressed the importance of



respecting the Constitution, most recently during a speech at the Georgetown

Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 18 March.

Iran: Baha'i Faith


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his

Department has made representations to the UN's Special Rapporteur on the human

rights of the Baha'i in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Alistair Burt:

We are particularly concerned by the continuing systematic discrimination,

harassment and targeting of the Baha'i community in Iran. At the Human Rights

Council in March 2019, the UK strongly supported the renewal of the mandate of the

UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran and supports the UN

Special Rapporteur's assessment that discrimination against the Baha'i community in

Iran is legally sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of

other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We have called on Iran to allow him

access to the country so that he can carry out his mandate, and we encourage Iran to

use this opportunity to engage with the international community.

Iran: BBC Persian Service

Catherine West: [233577]


representations he has made in the last three months to (a) the Iranian Ambassador in

London and (b) the Government of Iran on the reported ongoing targeting and

harassment of BBC Persian Service journalists and their families.

Alistair Burt:

We continue to raise the issue of BBC Persian at all levels with the Iranian

Government. Most recently, this was through the UK’s statement at the Interactive

Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, on 11 March.

Philippines: Terrorism


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make

representations to his counterpart in the Philippines on apprehending those responsible

for bombing a church in that country in January 2019.

Mark Field:

The British Government condemned the appalling bomb attacks on the Catholic

Cathedral on the island of Jolo in Sulu province on Sunday 27 January. Our prayers

are with all the victims and their loved ones. The Foreign Secretary, British

Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce and I expressed the UK's condemnation

of the attack in public messages.




The UK stands with the Philippines against terror. My officials continue to work with

and discuss counter terrorism priorities with the Philippines authorities, including

events surrounding the Jolo bomb attack.

Press Freedom


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is

taking to ensure that journalists' trade unions internationally are (a) consulted on the UK's

media freedom campaign, and (b) invited to participate in his Department's London

conference on media freedom in July 2019.

Mark Field:

We are commited to and are in the process of consulting very widely with all relevant

civil society bodies, including journalists' trade unions, on the design of our media

freedom campaign and the July conference. We encourage all interested parties to

get in touch with us.

Rugby: World Cup


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the

Government is taking to (a) update and (b) promote travel vaccination advice in advance

of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Mark Field:

We are all looking forward to the Rugby World Cup in Japan in September 2019 and

advise all British nationals wishing to travel to obtain adequate travel and medical

insurance for the trip in good time. Advice on all aspects of travel to Japan, including

vaccinations, can be found on our FCO travel advice pages which are regularly

updated and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan also see

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rugby-world-cup-2019.

Sayed Alwadaei

Dawn Butler: [232533]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to the

Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question HL13127, whether his Department relies on the

assurances provided by the Bahraini Government in assessing the case of Sayed Ahmed

Alwadaei’s family members; and what assessment the Government has made of

information provided by independent bodies such as the UN, Amnesty International and

Human Rights Watch on this matter.

Alistair Burt:

The British Government takes note of a number of sources of information on these

issues; including publications by the UN and other Non Governmental Organisations.




We continue to encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to raise

them with the appropriate Bahraini human rights oversight body. We encourage the

oversight bodies in Bahrain to carry out thorough and swift investigations into any

such claims.


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether officials

from his Department attended the proceedings in Bahrain on 25 February 2019 in which

the three-year prison sentences against family members of Sayed Alwadaei were upheld.

Alistair Burt:

Officials from our Embassy in Manama attended the court session for the individuals

in question. We continue to monitor the cases of these individuals.



discussions he has had with his counterpart in Bahrain on the case of the family

members Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei.

Alistair Burt:

We continue to raise the cases of Bahraini nationals Hajer Mansoor Hassan, Sayed

Nazar Al Wadaei and Mahmood Marzooq Mansoor at senior levels with the Bahraini

Government.

Treaties

Neil O'Brien: [234199]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the

treaties from which the UK has unilaterally withdrawn since 1 January 1988.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The UK has unilaterally withdrawn from 52 treaties since 1 January 1988. All of these

have been multilateral treaties.

Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud

Chris Law: [234249]


representations he has made to his Saudi counterpart on the imprisonment of Prince

Turki bin Abdullah.

Alistair Burt:

We continue to monitor the cases of those detained under Saudi Arabia's anti-

corruption drive, including Prince Turki bin Abdullah. The Saudi Arabian authorities

have announced that some individuals are facing legal proceedings.





United Arab Emirates: British Nationals Abroad

Tom Brake: [234069]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment

his Department has made of the potential merits of revising its advice to UK citizens

travelling to the United Arab Emirates as a result of the arrest of Matthew Hedges and Ali

Issa Ahmad.

Alistair Burt:

We keep all Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice, including for the United

Arab Emirates, under constant review to ensure it reflects our assessment of risk to

British nationals and includes information and advice on the most relevant issues for

British nationals travelling or living abroad.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations



assessment he has made of the viability of the ceasefire agreement in Yemen, and if he

will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

Since it came into effect in Hodeidah on 18 December, the fragile ceasefire has

continued to hold and there has been a general de-escalation by both sides around

the city. We are aware of reports of frontline incidents and skirmishing but these

remain low. We urge all parties to support and facilitate the UN's efforts and to

implement the agreements reached during the Stockholm talks.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Breast Cancer: Health Education

Rosie Cooper: [232984]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to promote

awareness of Asda’s Tickled Pink campaign in order to encourage people to check their

breasts.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to (a)

promote Asda’s Tickled Pink campaign and (b) encourage women to be their breast

friend to increase early diagnosis rates.

Steve Brine:

The Department welcomes the Asda ‘Tickled Pink’ campaign which they are running

with two cancer charities. The Department encourages all women to be breast aware,

and urges anyone with any concerns to also discuss these with their general

practitioner.





Public Health England has run its ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaigns in partnership with

Cancer Research UK since 2011 and are supported by a number of charities, for

example Breast Cancer Now, Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK, and

other public and private sector partners.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Helen Hayes: [234242]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the current average time

is for cervical screening results in each laboratory linked to each NHS Trust and

Foundation Trust in London; and what the average waiting time for those results is in

England.

Steve Brine:

The latest published data for 2017/18 indicated that 58.6% of women received the

results of their test within 14 days; 23% of women were waiting over three weeks.

The 2017/18 data indicates that 69.6% of women across London received their

cervical screening results within 14 days. The following table shows the average

waiting time for cervical screening results in laboratories linked to each National

Health Service trust and foundation trust in London:

CYTOLOGY LAB AVERAGE WAITING TIME (DAYS)

Northwick Park (London North West University

Healthcare NHS Trust)

22

Viapath (Guy’s and St Thomas’) 28

Barts 42

Imperial 15

Queen’s (Barking, Havering and Redbridge

University Hospitals NHS Trust)

35

Princess Royal University Hospital 28

St George’s 30

Health Services Laboratory (North Central

London)

22

St Helier No Response


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his

Department has made of the effect on (a) staffing levels and (b) waiting times of the

centralisation of cervical screening laboratories.



Steve Brine:

Prior to the agreement on the optimum number of centralised laboratories to deliver

the new human papilloma virus (HPV) primary screening to replace cytology,

consideration was given to how this would impact on the existing workforce. A survey

of the existing workforce was undertaken by the British Association of

Cytopathologists in 2017 and the outcomes of this arising was included amongst

further consideration when confirming the maximum number of laboratories required

to deliver the service across the country.

The planned introduction of HPV primary screening and reconfiguration of

laboratories has impacted on cytology workforce retention and recruitment rates,

which led to an increase in the waiting time for cervical screening results in 2016-17

and 2017-18.

Unpublished management data has also shown an improvement in turnaround times

in the last quarter of 2018/19. As HPV testing takes over from cytology testing during

2019, it is expected that waiting times will reduce significantly.

Nevertheless, the 14-day turnaround time for test results to be provided remains a

vital target for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

The roll-out of HPV primary screening into the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening

Programme in England is due to be rolled out in December 2019. This could prevent

around 600 cancers a year.

Health Services: British Nationals Abroad

Stephen Morgan: [234258]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the 20-day minimum threshold charge for UK citizens and British passport holders who

have used the NHS but now live overseas on their (a) finances and (b) mental wellbeing.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the 20-day minimum threshold charge for those British Citizens who live overseas and

use the emergency services when in the UK on their willingness to use such services and

consequent effect on their health and mental wellbeing.

Stephen Hammond:

The Department is not aware of the 20-day minimum threshold charge in relation to

United Kingdom citizens and British passport holders who have used the National

Health Service but now live overseas and therefore has made no assessment of its

impact.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many European Health

Insurance Cards in circulation have been issued to people with a registered disability.





To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many European Health

Insurance Cards in circulation have been issued to people with a registered disability in

each of the nations of the UK.

Stephen Hammond:

The Department does not hold the data on the number of people with a registered

disability. This is not part of the eligibility criteria that is requested during the

application process.

HIV Infection

Chuka Umunna: [232566]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to ensure the ending of new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

Steve Brine:

The Government is committed to ending new transmissions of HIV in England by

2030. Work is underway with partners to discuss how this work will be taken forward.

Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers: Resignations


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many biomedical scientists

left hospital screening laboratories in (a) 2018 and (b) 2019; and what steps his

Department is taking to ensure laboratories retain highly skilled staff.

Steve Brine:

No figures are available specifically for biomedical scientists within screening

laboratories, however, the available figures state that there were 1,505 leavers from

the selected Healthcare Scientist Care Setting group in National Health Service trusts

and clinical commissioning groups over the period 30 September 2017 to 30

September 2018. This staff group includes healthcare scientists within a care setting

of blood sciences, cellular sciences, genetics and infection sciences.

The NHS Long Term Plan sets out specific workforce actions developed by NHS

Improvement and others to have positive impact for workforces, including the

screening and diagnostic workforce. NHS Improvement and the Department will

discuss these actions when the education and training budget for Health Education

England is set in 2019. This includes a proposal to recruit an additional 1,500 clinical

and diagnostic staff across seven priority specialisms between 2018 and 2021.

Professor Sir Mike Richards is leading a major review of national cancer screening

programme pathways as part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s renewed drive to improve

care and save lives. Professor Richards’ review is due later this year.

Specifically, in relation to cervical cancer screening, to maintain the service and

accommodate current staffing levels, a majority of existing pilot sites carrying out the

new human papilloma virus (HPV) testing and some non-pilot sites have already




converted more of their cervical screening activity to HPV primary screening, freeing

up cytology capacity.

Methadone

Alison Thewliss: [234198]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to ensure the continuation of supply of methadone in the event of the UK leaving

the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond:

Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority.

However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome

including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the

health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This

is available on GOV.UK.

The Government has been working closely with industry to ensure the supply of

medicines, including methadone, can continue uninterrupted in the event of a ‘no

deal’ EU exit. Plans include building stockpiles, providing additional warehousing

space and buying freight capacity on alternative ferry routes.

The Department, together with industry and the National Health Service, has

analysed the supply chains of 12,300 medicines and we are grateful for excellent

engagement from all parties, which means our plans are well advanced.

In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply

prescription-only and pharmacy medicines, to the United Kingdom that come from or

via, the EU/European Economic Area, asking them to ensure a minimum of six

weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer

stocks, by 29 March 2019 in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.

The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply

disruption. We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply

of medicines and medical products will be uninterrupted.

NHS 111: Ambulance Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of calls to the

(a) NHS 111 service and (b) NHS 111 BSL service resulted in the dispatch of an

ambulance in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Hammond:

NHS England publishes monthly performance data for the NHS 111 service at the

following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-111-minimum-data-

set/statistical-work-areas-nhs-111-minimum-data-set-nhs-111-minimum-data-set-

2018-19/



https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-111-minimum-data-set/statistical-work-areas-nhs-111-minimum-data-set-nhs-111-minimum-data-set-2018-19/




The following table provides data for ambulance dispositions from NHS 111, including

the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) service.

TOTAL CALLS

TO NHS 111

CALLS TO THE

NHS 111 BSL

SERVICE

(INCLUDING IN

TOTAL CALLS)

NUMBER OF

CALLS TRIAGED

1

AMBULANCE

DISPATCHES 2

AMBULANCE

DISPATCHES (%

OF CALLS

TRIAGED)

2017-18 total 15,964,080 458 12,655,745 1,611,447 12.7%

2018-19 to

date

15,335,633 411 11,965,173 1,587,584 13.3%

2018 total 16,777,850 427 13,061,937 1,705,942 13.1%

12 months to

Feb 2019

16,899,869 454 13,143,866 1,731,701 13.2%

Source: NHS England

Notes:

1 A triaged call is one where the clinical assessment tool has been opened and used.

2 Final NHS Pathways disposition was a referral to the Ambulance Service. Further

clinical assessment within the Integrated Urgent Care (NHS 111) or 999 service

areas may have indicated that an ambulance response and/or conveyance was not

required. The actual percentage resulting in an ambulance being dispatched may

therefore be lower.

Prescriptions: Universal Credit

Ian Austin: [234107]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many penalty notices were

issued by the NHSBSA in Dudley prior to the rollout of universal credit in each year for

which information is available.

Ian Austin: [234108]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many penalty notices have

been issued by the NHSBSA in Dudley since the rollout of universal credit.

Steve Brine:

The number of prescription and dental penalty charge notices issued prior to

universal credit (UC) rollout in Dudley by calendar year is provided in the following

table:



PRIOR TO THE ROLLOUT OF UC

IN DUDLEY BY CALENDAR YEAR

PRESCRIPTION PENALTY

CHARGE NOTICE ISSUED

DENTAL PENALTY CHARGE

NOTICE ISSUED

2012 Not held 51

2013 Not held 720

2014 1,018 2,570

2015 4,340 2,937

2016 7,914 4,190

2017 - until June 1,939 until June 2,234 until June

The number of prescription and dental penalty charge notices issued since the rollout

of UC in Dudley by calendar year is provided in the following table:

AFTER THE ROLLOUT OF UC IN

DUDLEY BY CALENDAR YEAR

PRESCRIPTION PENALTY

CHARGE NOTICE ISSUED

DENTAL PENALTY CHARGE

NOTICE ISSUED

2017 – from July 6,653 * from July 2,517 * from July

2018 4,467 4,667

Notes:

- The following postcodes were used to collate data for the Dudley area: B62, B63,

B64, B65, DY1, DY2, DY3, DY4, DY5, DY6, DY7, DY8, DY9, WV1, WV4

- UC commenced roll out in the Dudley area from July 2017 so this date has been

used in the data collation. The data represents Penalty Charge Notices sent out

against all exemption types ticked by the patient where an exemption could not be

verified.

Tomography: Oxfordshire

Anneliese Dodds: [234237]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15

March 2019 to Question 231557 on Tomography: Procurement, what additional

engagement was undertaken by the NHS on the effect of the proposed privatisation of

the PET-CT scan service in Oxford on the location of those services outside Oxford.

Steve Brine:

No additional engagement has been undertaken by NHS England to that outlined in

the previous response.


Layla Moran: [234264]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6

March 2019 to Question 227413 on Tomography: Inhealthcare, what meetings he held

with representatives from (a) Oxford University Hospitals Trust, (b) InHealth and (c)

Oxfordshire CCG prior to awarding the PET-CT scanning contract to InHealth.

Steve Brine:

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not met with

any representatives of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, InHealth

Group or Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

HOME OFFICE

Home Office: Consultants


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many consultants his

Department has hired in each year since 2016; and what the cost of that process has

been to the public purse.

Victoria Atkins:

The Home Department does not procure external consultancy services on an

individual consultant basis but as discrete packages of work from consultancy

providers therefore it is not possible to provide costs or numbers of individual

consultants engaged.

The Departments spend on external consultancy services is published in the

Departments Annual Report and Accounts, which are available here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts

Spend for the Financial Year 2016/17 was £13.348M (page 60)

Spend for the Financial Year 2017/18 was £12.728M (page 72)

Spend for the current Financial Year is being assessed at will be published in the

2018/19 Annual Report and Accounts later in the year.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Stuart C. McDonald: [234245]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what effect any extension to

Article 50 would have on the (a) EU Settled Status Scheme for EEA nationals and (b) the

full opening of that scheme on 30 March 2019.

Caroline Nokes:

Until the UK leaves the EU, EEA and Swiss citizens currently living in the UK, as well

as UK nationals living in other EU Member States, continue to have the same rights

and status, and are subject to the same residence requirements under EU law, as






was the case before Article 50 was triggered. The EU Settlement Scheme will launch

fully on 30 March regardless of whether Article 50 is extended.

Radicalism: West Midlands


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has

made of trends in the level of right-wing extremism in the West Midlands.

Victoria Atkins:

The Government takes the threat from Right Wing extremism from all parts of the UK

seriously. We continually develop our understanding of the threat from Right Wing

extremism so that we can respond to it appropriately.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Families: Disadvantaged

Lucy Powell: [234231]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how

much funding has been allocated to the Troubled Families programme (a) nationally, (b)

regionally and (c) in each local authority area in each year since that programme has

been in operation.

Rishi Sunak:

The Department allocated £920 million to the expanded Troubled Families

programme which runs between 2015 and 2020.

The Troubled Families Programme is a payment by results programme and funding

allocations are made on a multi-year rather than an annual basis so local authorities

can claim payment when their work with families results in significant and sustained

progress.

Funding has been allocated to top tier local authorities based on the level of need as

indicated by local data taken from the census (population, demographics), levels of

deprivation, employment, unemployment and crime statistics.

Full breakdown at Annex A and B.

Attachments:

1. Funding allocation [Lucy Powell PQ .docx]



many children have been supported through the Troubled Families programme in each

year since that programme has been in operation; and what the ages of those children so

supported were.




Rishi Sunak:

Since the start of expanded Troubled Families Programme, over 529,000 children

between 0-17 years have been supported by the Troubled Families programme.

We do not report this per year as families are not limited to how long they can spend

on the programme and as a result, children may be on the programme in more than

one year.

AGE GROUP NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS

0-4yrs 142,000

5-9yrs 165,000

10-14yrs 156,000

15-17yrs 66,000

0-17yrs 529,000

Total number of individuals on TF programme: 864,205

Figures correct up to 2017.

Time-lags in the national evaluation data mean that the programme’s impact cannot

be assessed in real time.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: [234291]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with

reference to the latest Building Safety Programme: Monthly Data Release, whether the

163 private residential buildings which are yet to be remediated represent the (a) total

number of private residential blocks affected by ACM cladding or (b) wider developments

in which they sit.


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with

reference to the latest Building Safety Programme: Monthly Data Release, how many

developments contain the 163 private residential buildings still with ACM cladding

systems.

Kit Malthouse:

MHCLG have been informed by local authorities and building owners of 163 high-rise

residential buildings with Aluminium Composite Material cladding systems unlikely to

meet Building Regulations, which are yet to be remediated (at 28 February 2019). Of

these, 102 buildings are parts of 31 distinct developments. In total, the 163 buildings

span 92 separate developments.




To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether

he has made an assessment of the fire safety risk to residents in developments

containing one or more of the 163 private residential blocks still covered in ACM cladding

where their block is not covered in cladding but may be affected by a fire in one that is.

Kit Malthouse:

The Government’s priority is to ensure that residents of high-rise (above 18 metres)

buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) are safe in their homes.

It is in everyone’s interests, including those who live in neighbouring buildings, for

unsafe buildings to be remediated as quickly as possible.

We have set up a comprehensive programme to oversee ACM remediation and have

pushed owners and local authorities hard to identify and remediate unsafe buildings.

We have also worked closely with local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services to

ensure that interim safety measures are in place where needed, to ensure that

buildings are safe until the cladding is replaced.

Leasehold


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what

estimate he has made of the average cost of leasehold enfranchisement for (a) leasehold

houses, (b) leasehold flats and (c) all leasehold properties in each year since 2010.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

The Government does not collect this data and has made no estimate of the cost.

There is no single method for the valuation of enfranchisement of leasehold houses

or flats and the Government is aware of unfair practices, which have led to

leaseholders paying substantial sums on the premium and costs associated with

enfranchising.

This is why the Government has asked the Law Commission to review the

enfranchisement process to make it simpler, easier, quicker and more cost effective.

Its consultation, which included proposals for a unified valuation methodology, closed

on 7 January 2019. The Law Commission will publish its final report later this year.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions



plans his Department has to ensure private rented tenants are secure from Section 21

evictions following a complaint.


Tenants in the private rented sector are protected from retaliatory eviction through the

Deregulation Act 2015. This prevents landlords from carrying out a Section 21




eviction for 6 months if the local authority has served either an improvement notice,

or a notice of emergency remedial action, which has not been addressed.

The government is committed to protecting the rights of tenants and giving them

more security. We recently consulted on ways to overcome the barriers to landlords

offering longer, more secure tenancies in the private rented sector. The consultation

sought views on the effectiveness of the existing protections in the Deregulation Act.

We are considering responses to the consultation and will be bringing forward

proposals that make the system work better for both tenants and landlords.

Public Lavatories: Disability

Dr Lisa Cameron: [233595]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he

plans to publish his consultation on Changing Places; how long that consultation will run;

and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of collaborating with the

Scottish Government on its consultation on that policy.

Rishi Sunak:

The Government plans to publish the consultation on Changing Places toilets this

spring. We have yet to set the time-frame for the consultation, but we want to ensure

that everyone has the opportunity to respond. We have already held a roundtable

with Changing Places toilet users and those that care for users to learn from their

experience and officials from the Department are engaging with officials from the

Scottish Government to exchange experience and learning about Changing Places

toilets.

Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce

Neil Coyle: [232582]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant

to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 229223 on Rough Sleeping and

Homelessness Reduction Taskforce, how many meetings the Taskforce has had; and

what the date was of its most recent meeting.


I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on the 13 March to question UIN

229223.

Temporary Accommodation: Children

Frank Field: [234105]


many children in each local authority area within the Liverpool City Region have resided

in temporary accommodation in each of the most recent five years for which data are

available.





Figures are shown below on the number of children/expected children in each local

authority area within the Liverpool City Region in accommodation arranged by the

local authority at the end of the financial year for the last five years.

ONS CODE

LOCAL

AUTHORITY REGION

at 31

March

2018

at 31

March

2017

at 31

March

2016

at 31

March

2015

at 31

March

2014

E06000006 Halton NW - .. 6 11 6

E08000011 Knowsley NW 15 10 16 20 -

E08000012 Liverpool NW 83 92 67 41 29

E08000014 Sefton NW 21 8 12 - 9

E08000013 St. Helens NW 16 32 19 21 22

E08000015 Wirral NW 21 10 - 20 -

- figure

suppressed

due to

being less

than 5 or to

prevent

calculation

.. no data

received

from the

local

authority



estimate he has made of the number of families with children of (a) pre school age, (b)

primary age and (c) secondary age or older in temporary accommodation in each of the

last four years.


Figures are shown below on the number of households with dependent children

and/or pregnant woman with no other dependents in accommodation arranged by the


local authority at the end of the quarter for the last four years. Information on the age

of the children is not available.

.

AT 31 MARCH

2018

AT 31 MARCH

2017

AT 31 MARCH

2016

AT 31 MARCH

2015

England 61610 60,980 56,420 51,210

London 44060 44,580 42,730 40,030

Rest of

England

17550 16,400 13,700 11,190

England, London and Rest of England totals are rounded to the nearest 10 and include

inputted data

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Patrick Grady: [234200]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department

is taking to mitigate the effects of climate change on the ability of developing countries to

provide adequate nutrition for their populations.

Alistair Burt:

DFID is mitigating the impact of climate change on nutrition both by enabling

countries to adapt to the changing climate and to prepare systems to better manage

the effects of climate shocks. For example, DFID is investing in strengthening

nutrition services in countries like Kenya, and across the Sahel, so they are better

able to scale-up to deal with increases in malnutrition that can arise due to climate-

related shocks.

Developing Countries: Malnutrition

Patrick Grady: [234201]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what bilateral discussions

she has had with other donor Governments on support for nutrition programmes following

the publication of the Global Nutrition Report 2018.

Alistair Burt:

As a Human Capital Champion, the Secretary of State for International Development

is advocating for greater investment in improved human capital outcomes, which

include reduced childhood stunting.



DFID officials also continue to play a leading role in global discussions on addressing

malnutrition, for example through our work with Japan to prepare for the Global

Nutrition Summit in 2020.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Bridget Phillipson: [234142]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on

maintaining levels of funding for conflict reduction projects in South Sudan.

Alistair Burt:

The UK remains committed to reducing conflict in South Sudan. We support the

ongoing peace process, including by providing funding through the Conflict Stability

and Security Fund to region led monitoring bodies – the Revitalised Joint Monitoring

and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security

Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM). We also provide

support to civil society to help hold the parties accountable to the peace deal, and to

the South Sudan Council of Churches for their dialogue and reconciliation work. In

the coming months we will launch a Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund to foster

innovative and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives, primarily at the local level.

UNRWA: Finance

Bill Wiggin: [233476]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she

has made of the long-term viability of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian

refugees.

Alistair Burt:

Following US cuts in 2018, the international community was able to step up and meet

the shortfall to UNRWA’s budget, allowing it to continue to provide essential basic

services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

However, we recognise that these refugee populations need UNRWA to be on a

more secure financial footing. To that end, the UK is working with UNRWA and other

donors to help ensure its sustainability. This includes finding further cost savings

reforms, diversifying donor income, and encouraging multi-year funding

commitments. The UK is a leading donor to UNRWA and we plan to provide up to

£80m to UNRWA overall over the next two years. However, a long-term solution

requires a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for Palestinian refugees. Until that

happens the UK remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA and Palestinian

refugees.



INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Arms Trade: Export Controls


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department

has made of the merits of removing members of the Saudi-led coalition from the white list

of countries to which UK companies can ship Category C military goods under Open

General Trade Control licences.

Graham Stuart:

Countries covered by Open General licences are reviewed in circumstances where

the assessment of the licensing position under the Consolidated EU and National

Arms Export Licensing Criteria changes. Where we assess that the inclusion of a

country on an Open General licence would no longer be consistent with the

Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, we would remove it. In

the case of the Saudi-led coalition, the licensing position is kept under careful and

continual review.

Our export licensing system allows us to quickly respond to changing facts on the

ground and we have powers to revoke, suspend or amend licences if our assessment

of the licensing position changes.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: [234070]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department

has made of the effect on compliance with WTO rules of the UK applying no controls on

the Northern Ireland border in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Hollingbery:

We are confident the policy is in line with our WTO obligations, taking into account

the unique set of social, political and economic circumstances of Northern Ireland. In

developing our policy, alongside WTO rules, we have also had to take into

consideration a broader set out of international obligations, including those under the

Good Friday Agreement. Furthermore, as we have set out, these arrangements are

strictly temporary.

Exports


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will outline the support services

available for export businesses seeking to expand in global markets.

Graham Stuart:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 January 2019 to Question

205926.




UK exports have continued to increase, with the latest figures showing that nominal

exports rose 2.7% (£17.0bn) to £636.6bn in the 12 months ending January 2019.

[ONS UK Trade: January 2019]

Exports: Saudi Arabia


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will clarify the divergence

between his Answer of 11 March 2019 to Question 229204 which stated that two

Standard Individual Export Licences for exports to Saudi Arabia were referred to

Ministers in 2016 and the FCO's Freedom of Information response ref. 0706-17 which

stated that between 1 July 2016 and 30 September 2016, six export licence applications

were referred to Ministers.

Graham Stuart:

The Freedom of Information response concerned cases referred by FCO to FCO

Ministers, whereas the response to Question 229204 referred to cases referred by

DIT to DIT Ministers.

Hawk Aircraft: Exports


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to promote

the export of Hawk training aircraft to allies.

Graham Stuart:

The Department for International Trade continues to work closely with other

Government Departments and BAE Systems to promote the world leading Hawk

Advanced Jet Training aircraft. Working through an Integrated Campaign Team

approach, we continue to pursue the interest of a number of international partners in

the platform.

As an example of export success, last year Hawk was a key component of the

package in support of the successful export of Typhoon to Qatar. We are seeking to

build on that success.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he has taken to identify

potential export opportunities for Hawk training aircraft in (a) Qatar, (b) Kuwait, (c)

Bahrain, (d) Austria, (e) Saudi Arabia, (f) India, (g) Malaysia, (h) Slovakia, (i) Spain, (j)

Turkey and (k) Japan.

Graham Stuart:

The Department for International Trade continues to work closely with other

Government Departments and BAE Systems to promote the world leading Hawk

Advanced Jet Training aircraft. Working through an Integrated Campaign Team

approach, we continue to pursue the interest of a number of international partners in

the platform.




As an example of export success, last year Hawk was a key component of the

package in support of the successful export of Typhoon to Qatar. We are seeking to

build on that success.

Hydrogen: Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the answer to the

Answer of 29 November 2018 to Question 195615 on Hydrogen: Technology, if he will

publish his Department’s assessment of how it can support UK-based hydrogen

companies.

Graham Stuart:

The Department’s assessment of hydrogen technologies is ongoing, working with the

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. There are no plans for a

formal publication, however information on how the Department supports UK

exporters can be found at www.great.gov.uk.

Trade Remedies (Dumping and Subsidisation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Bill Esterson: [234186]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he had with

Cabinet colleagues on the timetable for parliamentary scrutiny of the Trade Remedies

(Dumping and Subsidization) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

George Hollingbery:

The Government has brought forward legislation under the Taxation (Cross-border

Trade) Act 2018 to establish the UK’s trade remedies system in the event that we

leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

To give business the necessary confidence they will continue to receive protection

against injury from unfair trade or unforeseen surges in imports, the provisions were

commenced the day after they were laid. However, Parliamentary scrutiny

procedures still apply. Cabinet clearance applied to this legislation in the usual way.

Bill Esterson: [234187]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he had with

Cabinet colleagues on the timetable for parliamentary scrutiny of the Trade Remedies

(Increase in Imports Causing Serious Injury to UK Producers) (EU Exit) Regulations

2019.

George Hollingbery:

The Government has brought forward legislation under the Taxation (Cross-border

Trade) Act 2018 to establish the UK’s trade remedies system in the event that we

leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

To give business the necessary confidence they will continue to receive protection

against injury from unfair trade or unforeseen surges in imports, the provisions were




commenced the day after they were laid. However, Parliamentary scrutiny

procedures still apply. Cabinet clearance applied to this legislation in the usual way.

JUSTICE

Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

Liz McInnes: [234277]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted for causing

death by dangerous driving in 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted of causing

death by dangerous driving in 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of causing death by

dangerous driving received a suspended sentence in 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average prison sentence was for

causing death by dangerous driving in 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of causing death by

dangerous driving in 2018 received the maximum 14 year jail sentence.

Rory Stewart:

The Ministry of Justice will publish data relating to the number of people prosecuted,

convicted and given suspended sentences or immediate custodial sentences in 2018

for ‘causing death by dangerous driving’ on 16 May 2019.

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Mr Andrew Mitchell: [230649]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure

that the UK is not seen as a safe haven for people suspected of committing international

crimes.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the

adequacy of the resources of the (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) CPS to (i) investigate

and (ii) prosecute people residing in the UK who are suspected of committing

international crimes; and if he will ensure that the investigation and prosecution of such

individuals is prioritised.









To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the High Court decision not to

extradite to Rwanda persons suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide against the

Tutsis, what steps the (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) CPS have taken to comply with the

Government's obligations under national and international law to investigate and

prosecute acts of genocide.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to strengthen UK co-

operation with international partners to ensure the (a) prosecution and (b) extradition of

people who commit international crimes.

Edward Argar:

The Ministry of Justice does not hold the information requested, nor does it hold

policy responsibility for these matters. Questions regarding these matters should be

directed to the relevant departments.

The following departments are responsible for these matters:

• the Home Office Police is responsible for the police operations and extradition

policy;

• the Attorney General’s Office is responsible for the operation of prosecutors;

• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for International policy and

the International Criminal Court.

Prison Officers: Recruitment


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what lessons have been learned from recent

prison officer recruitment campaigns.

Edward Argar:

As part of the Prison Safety and Reform White Paper, published in November 2016,

the Government announced an intention to increase prison officer numbers by 2,500

by the end of 2018. The target was achieved ahead of schedule in March 2018.

The recruitment campaign facilitated a number of improvements and lessons learned

have been applied across the department. Key to the success of the prison officer

campaign was the:

• Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary team

• Data led strategic approach that drove efficiencies

• HMRC reference checks that reduced time in security vetting checks

• Use of Civil Service Success Profiles which provided a better understanding of the

role with a clearer definition of what success looks like




We continue to work on increasing the diversity of new recruits and ensure that the

right people with the right skills are attracted to the careers available across the

department.

Prisoners' Release: Housing


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many tents were given to prisoners on

discharge from jails in England and Wales in each of the last 12 months.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many tents were issued to people under

the supervision of Community Rehabilitation Companies in England and Wales in each of

the last 12 months.

Edward Argar:

It is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere stable and secure to live.

Having somewhere stable to live acts as a platform for ex-offenders to be able to

access the services and support needed to turn their back on crime for good.

We do not hold the data requested since it not our policy to issue tents to service

users.

The Ministry of Justice works very closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities

and Local Government to improve the accommodation opportunities for those with a

history of offending. This includes supporting the delivery of the Rough Sleeping

Strategy, which was published in August 2018. As part of this Strategy, the

Government is investing £6.4M in a joint pilot to support individuals who have served

12 months or less in custody, and who are at risk of being released as homeless, to

secure and maintain accommodation. The two departments are also working together

through their membership of the cross-government Reducing Reoffending Board and

the cross-government Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Taskforce.

Since 1 October 2018, Prisons and Probation providers have been subject to a legal

‘Duty to Refer’ anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to the Local

Authority. This change means that offenders will receive meaningful housing

assistance at an earlier stage, irrespective of their priority need.

Furthermore, with the introduction of the enhanced Through the Gate specification to

come into effect from 1st April 2019, CRC’s will have the responsibility of ensuring

that accommodation needs are addressed for cohorts under their supervision.

Prisons: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what additional resources he has provided to

prison governors in the last 12 months to help them foster a good working environment

for their staff.




Edward Argar:

For prisons to be effective, we must get the basics right. This means prisons that are

decent, with clean wings and humane living conditions. Last summer, we announced

we would be investing £30 million in prisons to enhance safety, security and decency

across the estate. As announced in the 2018 Budget, an additional £30 million is also

being spent on prisons this financial year on top of the £30 million announced in July.

This is going towards further improvements to safety, security and decency on top of

those already announced.

Prison officer numbers are at their highest in five years, which is vital to ensuring

prisons are safe, secure and decent. We have recruited over 4,700 new prison

officers across the country since October 2016 to improve safety and help turn

offenders’ lives around. The recruitment drive will continue until we reach required

levels across the prison estate, ensuring prisons can fulfil their purpose - protecting

the public, reducing reoffending and crucially, rehabilitating offenders.

As part of the Offender Management in Custody model (OMiC), Key Worker roles are

being introduced to support the rehabilitative culture and relationship between Prison

Officers and prisoners.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken in the last 12 months

to improve physical conditions in prisons.

Edward Argar:

We are getting the basics right through our commitment to deliver up to 10,000

uncrowded decent prison places providing the physical conditions for governors to

achieve better educational, training and rehabilitative outcomes. Alongside this, the

current estate is being reconfigured so that prisoners will be held in the right place at

the right time in their custodial journey to support their rehabilitation.

We are undertaking a rolling programme of capital investment to improve the physical

condition of prisons. This includes projects at HMP Isle of Wight to improve the

heating and upgrade the night sanitation; at HMP Bristol to deliver a new education

block; and replacement of windows and cell doors at HMP Liverpool.

In addition, last summer we announced an investment of £30 million in prisons to

enhance safety, security and decency across the estate. This included a £16m

investment in improving the fabric of prisons, targeting those with the most pressing

maintenance issues so that we begin to bring them back up to acceptable standards.

With this funding we have delivered refurbishments of cells, showers and serveries at

a number of prisons including HMPs Liverpool, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs.


NORTHERN IRELAND

City Deals: Northern Ireland


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timetable is for finalising the

(a) Londonderry Strabane City Deal and (b) other Northern Ireland City Deals.

John Penrose:

As the Chancellor set out at the 2019 Spring Statement on 13 March, early stage

negotiations for a Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Region Deal are progressing

well. The Government hopes to make an announcement in due course.

Building on the Chancellor’s commitment to £350m towards the Belfast City Regions

Deal in October, the Government is working closely with local partners and the

Northern Ireland Civil Service to move to the next phase of the Deal and hopes to be

in a position to agree Heads of Terms in due course.

Teachers: Pay

Maria Caulfield: [233575]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if in the absence of the Northern

Ireland Assembly she will make a decision on a teachers pay award for Northern Ireland.

Karen Bradley:

The Northern Ireland Department of Finance Permanent Secretary determined 2018-

19 pay policy on 22 November 2018.

In keeping with HMT policy, for 2018-19, the 1% pay award limit has been removed.

Any decision on an increase above 1% is for the Permanent Secretary of the

Department for Education in Northern Ireland.

PRIME MINISTER

UK Relations with EU

Daniel Kawczynski: [234183]

To ask the Prime Minister, how many official meetings she has had with each of her EU

counterparts since June 2016.

Mrs Theresa May:

Details of my Official meetings are in the public domain and can be found on the

gov.uk website.




TRANSPORT

Eurotunnel

Alan Brown: [234284]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role his Department has in the selection

and prioritisation of projects listed under paragraph 1 (a) to (f) of the Eurotunnel

obligations under the Government settlement agreement.

Chris Grayling:

The principal role of the Government has been to agree the specific areas of

expenditure, ensuring that they have wider security and infrastructure resilience

benefits. It is for Eurotunnel, not Government, to determine the selection and

prioritisation of projects. Government will, consistent with the Settlement Agreement,

consider how the expenditure is committed or expended. If there are concerns about

whether it is being used for a permitted purpose it would fully exercise its rights under

the dispute resolution process.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the process is for parties to agree

additional or alternate projects as set out in paragraph 1, sub section (f) of the Eurotunnel

obligations under government settlement agreement.

Chris Grayling:

The Government fully expects the initial commitment of expenditure to be on the

projects identified in paragraphs 1 (a) to (e). It expects to discuss and agree any

other projects under 1 (f) as part of its ongoing engagement with Eurotunnel.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken to ensure that

projects that will be undertaken by Eurotunnel under the terms of the Government

settlement agreement are new projects and not projects or measures that Eurotunnel

would otherwise have committed to using separate funding streams.

Chris Grayling:

The Settlement Agreement does not limit the expenditure to specifically new projects.

However, the settlement, by requiring expenditure on security and infrastructure

resilience, secures specific commitments by Eurotunnel to spending on these areas –

securing the benefits that such improvements provide. The money cannot be spent

on routine maintenance or operational costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds are recoverable to the

Department from the Government settlement agreement if Eurotunnel do not spend the

£33 million within a 45-month period as set out in paragraph (3) of the agreement.





Chris Grayling:

If Eurotunnel do not commit to spend the full £33 million within the agreed timeframe

then they will be in breach of the conditions in the Settlement Agreement. The

Government would then be able to take appropriate action, including action through

the Courts.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what happens to any sum of money not

spent in equal parts within 21 months of receipt of each instalment as set out in

paragraph (3) of the Government settlement agreement with Eurotunnel.

Chris Grayling:

If Eurotunnel do not commit to spend an instalment payment within the agreed

timeframe then they will be in breach of the conditions in the Settlement Agreement.

The Government would then be able to take appropriate action, including action

through the Courts.

Forests: Conservation


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to adopt the finding of

Natural England on the planting ratio of 30:1 to ensure conservation of the ancient

woodlands that will potentially be damaged by High Speed Two.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

Where losses of ancient woodland are expected to occur, a range of compensatory

measures may be proposed by High Speed Two Ltd;

• translocation of ancient woodland soils;

• translocation of coppice stools;

• new woodland creation; and

• enhancement to existing woodlands (ancient and non-ancient).

The selection of these compensatory measures will be bespoke to each ancient

woodland site affected and HS2 Ltd has not adopted a ratio approach during their

development. Measures are outlined in the Environmental Statement Volume 2

Community Forum Area/Community Area reports for the Phase One and Phase 2a

Schemes respectively, and will be outlined in the forthcoming formal Environmental

Statement for the Phase 2b Scheme in 2020.

Northern Rail Franchise

Faisal Rashid: [232653]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Government subsidy the Northern

railway franchise will receive in the next financial year.




Andrew Jones:

The originally contracted annual subsidy amount payable to Arriva Rail North for

2019/20 was £221m in 2015/16 prices.

However, these amounts will be subject to a number of changes in line with the

provisions of the contract, many of which are not currently quantified and won’t be

finalised until the after the financial year has ended.

Transport: Hydrogen


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of (a) the

trials led by HyDeploy to convert the UK’s domestic gas grid to hydrogen and (b) how

those trials can be used to support the development and implementation of the use of

hydrogen in transport.

Jesse Norman:

HyDeploy is funded under Ofgem’s Gas Network Innovation Competition and is being

delivered by the HyDeploy consortium, led by Cadent and Northern Gas Networks.

Officials are following the progress of the project closely and will review the project

when it finishes in 2020. More broadly, the Government is exploring hydrogen’s

potential to deliver against its clean growth goals across the energy system and the

wider economy. Specifically, in the case of transport, the approach has been to

support the market in its early stages, by funding the deployment of Fuel Cell Electric

Vehicles with the appropriate hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

TREASURY

Borders: Northern Ireland

Tom Brake: [234071]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to (a) stop

goods subject to tariffs flowing freely from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and

(b) stop those goods being smuggled into the rest of the UK in the event that the UK

leaves the EU without a deal.

Mel Stride:

The UK Government’s priority in relation to Northern Ireland is meeting its

commitment to avoid a hard border and ensure no new physical infrastructure or

related checks and controls. Therefore, under the temporary approach to the NI

border announced by the Government in the event of no deal, consignments from

Ireland will not be subject to a tariff when entering Northern Ireland. This approach

reflects the unique circumstances of the land border and the Government’s

commitment to preserving the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in full.

HMRC will support businesses who are moving goods across the border legitimately,

including businesses that continue to use the routes they use today. For goods



entering Northern Ireland from Ireland, including where the ultimate destination is

Great Britain, provided traders choose routes for commercial reasons not connected

with an avoidance purpose, tariffs will not be due and tariff rate quotas will not apply.

However, if traders divert goods through Ireland and Northern Ireland with the main

purpose of avoiding customs duty HMRC will have the power to require them to pay

the UK’s tariff, wherever the goods are from. HMRC will continue to enforce

compliance on an intelligence-led basis to ensure trade is consistent with the

requirements set out in legislation.

HMRC remains committed to promoting compliance and tackling avoidance and

evasion and would take steps to ensure that this temporary arrangement is not

abused.

Brexit

Tom Brake: [234072]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions the Government has held with

the EU on the steps the EU will need to take to (a) protect the integrity of the Single

Market, (b) protect revenue collection in the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU

and (c) avoid breaking EU law in a no deal scenario when the UK applies zero tariffs to

certain goods being imported into the UK.

Mel Stride:

It is for the EU to decide what steps it needs to take in a no deal scenario, including in

relation to the operation of tariffs and revenue collection in the Republic of Ireland.

London Capital and Finance

Chi Onwurah: [234192]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to

compensate people who invested in London Capital of Finance.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the collapse of London Capital

of Finance, what steps he is taking to prevent investment schemes which engage in mis-

selling from trading.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the collapse of London Capital

Finance, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the financial

regulatory framework and (b) effectiveness of that framework in relation to inexperienced

investors.

John Glen:

The Government takes the failure of London Capital and Finance (‘LCF’) very

seriously and is closely monitoring current developments. The Serious Fraud Office,

working in conjunction with the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’), has opened an





investigation into individuals associated with LCF and it would be inappropriate for

the Government to comment further while this investigation is ongoing.

HM Treasury keeps the regulatory framework for financial services under constant

review, and updates it as necessary. We are committed to maintaining high

standards of investor protection within our regulatory framework for financial services.

However, this needs to be balanced with a need to regulate only where there is a

clear case for doing so.

The marketing and promotion of minibonds, such as those sold by LCF, are already

subject to financial promotion restrictions set out in the Financial Services and

Markets Act 2000. In the UK, responsibility for regulating the promotion and

marketing of minibonds lies with the FCA, and firms that fail to meet any of the

relevant requirements may be subject to enforcement action.

Turning to the matter of compensation for those affected by this issue, the Financial

Services Compensation Scheme’s (‘FSCS’) current assessment is that LCF’s

activities are not FSCS-protected, which means LCF’s investors will not be eligible to

claim for compensation from the FSCS.

However, the FSCS is working closely with the administrators to understand more

about LCF’s activities. If there are circumstances that give rise to potentially valid

claims, the FSCS will begin to accept claims against LCF and communicate this on

their website.

Married People: Tax Allowances


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data his Department holds on the ages of

people who claim married couple's allowance.

Mel Stride:

The Married Couple’s Allowance (MCA) is available for couples where at least one of

the partners was born before 6th April 1935. For the current tax year, at least one of

the partners would have to have been at least 83 years old as of 6th April 2018.

For 2018-19, the average age of claimants of MCA is around 87 years old.

This estimate is based on the 2015-16 Survey of Personal Incomes projected using

economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s October 2018 Economic and Fiscal

Outlook.

NHS: Drugs


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to equalize

VAT between privately-owned companies and the NHS in relation to pharmaceutical

procurement.



Mel Stride:

VAT is charged on the sale of pharmaceutical products, regardless of whether the

purchaser is a privately-owned company or the NHS. The central funding the NHS

receives from the Treasury is intended to cover the costs NHS bodies incur in

providing free healthcare, including VAT costs.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Anneliese Dodds: [234212]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff are employed by HMRC; and

how many additional staff have been employed by HMRC as a result of preparations for

the UK leaving the EU.

Mel Stride:

HMRC currently employs 58,058 full-time equivalent staff (at end of February).

HMRC has used a variety of methods to resource work on issues relating to the UK’s

withdrawal from the EU including, but not exclusively, employing additional staff.

Information is not segmented to show how many additional staff have been

employed, as opposed to any other method of resourcing, to work on EU Exit.

Roadchef: Employee Benefit Trusts

Neil Gray: [232577]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons money wrongly paid to HMRC

in January 2000 was not returned to the Roadchef Employee Benefits Trust until

September 2018.

Mel Stride:

The administration of the tax system is a matter for HMRC. It would not be

appropriate for Treasury Ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax

system in specific cases.

Sugar: Taxation

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [233504]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to extend financial levies on

sugar in food and drink to more food and drink categories.

Robert Jenrick:

There are no current plans to extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to other food or

drink categories. As set out in Phase 2 of the Childhood Obesity Strategy, HMT will

review the Soft Drinks Industry Levy exemption for milk-based drinks in 2020.

Treasury: Consultants


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many consultants his Department has hired

in each year since 2016; and what the cost of that process has been to the public purse.





Robert Jenrick:

The information is not held centrally.

Details of HM Treasury’s spending on consultancy for each financial year is published

in the Annual Report and Accounts which can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications

WORK AND PENSIONS

Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions

Nic Dakin: [234143]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28

January 2019 to Question 211712 on Universal Credit, when her Department plans to

provide a substantive answer to that Question; and for what reason that answer has not

yet been provided.

Alok Sharma:

The response to Question 211712 was published on 19th March 2019.

Employment and Support Allowance

Debbie Abrahams: [234145]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Ministers authorised a

change to the ESA65B letter to GPs telling them there is no longer a need for them to

supply fit notes to their patients who had been found fit for work through a Work

Capability Assessment.

Justin Tomlinson:

I refer the Honourable Member to the response given on 6 June 2018 to

Parliamentary Question 146986.

The original internal recommendation to change the ESA65B letter was in summer

2016.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sick and disabled

people have lost social security support payments whilst they appealed their work

capability assessment as a result of GPs receiving the amended ESA65B letter; and what

savings to the public purse have accrued as a result of stopped social security support

arising from that change.

Justin Tomlinson:

Claimants should not experience a loss of benefit in this situation.

Claimants can be paid Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) whilst appealing a

decision, the rate of which is equivalent to that of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). In

order for someone to be paid ESA pending an appeal they need to provide the

Department with fit notes in order to be treated as having Limited Capability for Work






until the appeal is determined. However, this doesn’t apply where the claimant fails a

second Work Capability Assessment. Where this is the case then ESA will not be

paid pending the appeal and the claimant would need to claim new style Jobseeker’s

Allowance (NSJSA) or Universal Credit (UC).

If a claimant’s GP does not provide them with a fit note during the appeal period they

cannot be paid ESA but are able to claim UC or NSJSA where eligible.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effect of the changes to her Department's ESA65B letter to GPs on employment and

support allowance claimants.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Department is committed to ensuring all of its communications are clear,

accurate and understandable and we continuously improve our letters. We do not

routinely evaluate changes to external communications, however we do engage

regularly with the welfare benefits advice sector and disability charities and take into

account all of the feedback we receive.

We have received comments from a number of sources including MPs, stakeholder

organisations and GPs on the current version of the ESA65B letter and will take all of

their feedback into account when revising it.

Food Insecurity Bill

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [234246]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral

contribution of 4 March 2019 by the hon. Member for South Shields, Official Report,

column 749, what plans the Government has to respond to the Food Insecurity Bill; and if

she will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Honourable Member’s Bill is scheduled for Second Reading on Friday 22 March.

It is not usual practice for the Government to make a statement on a Private

Member’s Bill.

The Department for Work and Pensions has been working with a number of food

security experts, the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government to

introduce, from April 2019, a new set of food security questions in the Family

Resources Survey. This means that, from Spring 2021, the Government will be able

to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity at a national level

and for specific groups, so that it can better understand household food needs. The

survey questionnaire is regularly updated so that it provides the best possible

evidence base to support policy-making and it isn’t normal practice to announce any

survey changes that are made as a result.



Housing Benefit: Wales

Jessica Morden: [234158]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in each

Welsh (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority had their housing benefit

payments reduced as a result of the benefit cap in (i) 2017 and (ii) 2018.

Justin Tomlinson:

The tables below show the number of households capped under Housing Benefit in

the requested geographical areas for the year 2017 and January to November 2018

(the latest published data). The figures do not show the total number of households

capped in these areas as the benefit cap can also be applied to Universal Credit

awards. Please note that figures have been rounded to protect data confidentiality.

TABLE 1: NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAD THEIR HOUSING BENEFIT CAPPED IN WALES BY

LOCAL AUTHORITY

Local Authority name January to December 2017 January to November 2018

Isle of Anglesey / Ynys Môn 110 100

Gwynedd / Gwynedd 150 160

Conwy / Conwy 190 160

Denbighshire / Sir Ddinbych 210 150

Flintshire / Sir y Fflint 180 150

Wrexham / Wrecsam 220 210

Powys / Powys 100 90

Ceredigion / Ceredigion 70 60

Pembrokeshire / Sir Benfro 190 160

Carmarthenshire / Sir

Gaerfyrddin

250 210

Swansea / Abertawe 410 360

Neath Port Talbot / Castell-

nedd Port Talbot

220 200

Bridgend / Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr 270 230

Vale of Glamorgan / Bro

Morgannwg

180 160

Cardiff / Caerdydd 1200 900



LOCAL AUTHORITY

Rhondda Cynon Taf /

Rhondda Cynon Taf

390 290

Merthyr Tydfil / Merthyr Tudful 90 80

Caerphilly / Caerffili 320 280

Blaenau Gwent / Blaenau

Gwent

110 80

Torfaen / Tor-faen 200 170

Monmouthshire / Sir Fynwy 80 60

Newport / Casnewydd 410 330

Data Source: DWP 100% Single Housing Benefit Extract.


PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY

Parliamentary Constituency

name

January to December 2017 January to November 2018

Ynys Môn 100 90

Delyn 80 60

Alyn and Deeside 90 70

Wrexham 110 100

Llanelli 150 110

Gower 70 50

Swansea West 140 90

Swansea East 190 170

Aberavon 140 110

Cardiff Central 230 160

Cardiff North 160 90



Rhondda 120 100

Torfaen 190 150

Monmouth 50 40

Newport East 240 160

Newport West 190 170

Arfon 80 80

Aberconwy 80 60

Clwyd West 120 80

Vale of Clwyd 160 120

Dwyfor Meirionnydd 60 50

Clwyd South 110 100

Montgomeryshire 40 40

Ceredigion 60 50

Preseli Pembrokeshire 100 90

Carmarthen West and South

Pembrokeshire

100 80

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 70 50

Brecon and Radnorshire 60 40

Neath 80 70

Cynon Valley 180 100

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 130 100

Blaenau Gwent 110 70

Bridgend 120 90

Ogmore 140 130

Pontypridd 80 60

Caerphilly 160 140



Islwyn 130 80

Vale of Glamorgan 160 130

Cardiff West 350 280

Cardiff South and Penarth 440 340

Unknown 160 420

Data Source: DWP 100% Single Housing Benefit Extract.

For cases where we were not able to match to a specific Parliamentary Constituency,

we have classified these as ‘unknown’.

Universal Credit

Danielle Rowley: [234214]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons funding for the

Community Partner Programme will be withdrawn from March 2019; and what

assessment she has made of the potential effect on the provision of disability

employment support for people with mental health problems of the withdrawal of that

programme.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Community Partner roles were time limited and funded for a two-year period,

which comes to an end in March 2019.

The Community Partners have made a valuable contribution including helping us

understand good provision better, helping build disability awareness and working with

local employers to inform them of advice available and good practice in employing

disabled people.

A review of existing roles identified that there was some overlap in the support

provided. In order to remove the overlap and focus on key areas, two new job roles

will be introduced from April 2019:

• A revised Disability Employment Adviser role, bringing together the current role and

incorporating elements of the Community Partner and Small Employer Adviser

roles.

• A new Disability Employment Adviser Leader role, to manage a team of Disability

Employment Advisers and incorporate the external facing elements of the

Community Partner and Small Employer Adviser roles.

These new roles will be instrumental in driving the government’s commitment to

providing high quality support to disabled people and those with health conditions.


The new roles are initially funded for two years and will be fully embedded in the

Jobcentre network. They will be fully evaluated to inform future discussions about

how the support they deliver may be continued.

There will be no reduction in resources and we anticipate that these changes will

improve the support offered to disabled people, including those with mental health

conditions.

Universal Credit: Disability


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether data collected by her

Department on universal credit claimants is disaggregated to take account of disabilities.

Justin Tomlinson:

The self-reported health condition or disability of individual Universal Credit claimants

are recorded on our system and can be viewed by work coaches. However, it is not

centrally collated in a way that allows aggregated analysis to be undertaken.

Universal Credit provides enhanced personalised support for all claimants, including

those with a disability. All claimants receive continuous tailored support managed

through personal work coaches, who know each person. Our work coaches receive

extensive training to ensure they can offer effective support to different claimant

groups.

We continue to develop our approach to capturing accurate, aggregate data on

claimants, including care leavers and claimants with vulnerabilities. This work is

ongoing and has been prioritised for the current Universal Credit development phase.

Universal Credit: EEA Nationals and EU Nationals

Neil Gray: [234209]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department’s policy on

eligibility for universal credit for EU and EEA nationals has changed in the last six

months.

Alok Sharma:

The Department’s policy has not changed in the last six months. The Universal Credit

regulations regarding EEA nationals’ entitlement to Universal Credit were last

amended on 10 June 2015.

Neil Gray: [234210]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library her

Department’s guidance to job centres on EU and EEA nationals claiming universal credit.

Alok Sharma:

The Department already places copies of Universal Credit guidance in the House of

Commons library, which is updated periodically.




The requested information can be accessed via the following link, clicking on

DEP2018-0759 and then “show all files”. For information on the Habitual Residence

Test please select HRT_V5.pdf.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-

papers/commons/deposited-papers/?fd=2018-04-02&td=2018-08-

23&search_term=Department+for+Work+and+Pensions&itemId=119004#toggle-759

Universal Credit: Mental Health


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mental health training is

provided to work coaches supporting claimants of universal credit; and what assessment

has been made of the adequacy of that training.

Justin Tomlinson:

DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants,

including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and

improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and

responsive to their needs.

Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them

with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all

claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different

vulnerable groups and those with complex needs including claimants with mental

health conditions.

We are providing all Work Coaches with an additional two day workshop, designed

by experts in mental health and psychologists, and delivered where possible

alongside external mental health partners. The training began in November 2017 and

will be completed by end of March 2019. Next month we will start delivering this

training to staff across the entire organisation who are employed in a claimant facing

role, whether this is engaging with claimants by telephone, face to face or digitally.

In June and July 2018, activity was undertaken in a number of operational sites

where the Mental Health training had been delivered in order to evaluate the learning

provided to work coaches and ensure it was delivering the requisite skills and

behaviours originally envisaged.

The outputs of that activity were used to refine the training products, where required,

and supported decisions on the delivery approach for the training that will commence

in April 2019.

Universal Credit: Mental Illness


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to undertake

an evaluation of (a) the Community Partner Programme and (b) that programme’s effect

on claimants with mental health problems.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/?fd=2018-04-02&td=2018-08-23&search_term=Department+for+Work+and+Pensions&itemId=119004#toggle-759






Justin Tomlinson:

We currently have no plans to conduct an external evaluation of the work of the

Community Partners and the contribution that they have made, but an internal review

of the Community Partner role and other disability employment enabling roles

identified that there was some overlap in the support provided to claimants. In order

to remove the overlap and focus on key areas we are introducing new disability

employment roles from April 2019.

We are committed to continually improving the employment support we offer disabled

people, including those with mental health conditions, and will ensure valuable

learning from the Community Partners is built into the ongoing support we provide

through our Jobcentres. We will not be reducing the amount of resource devoted to

supporting disabled people into work.

We are investing up to £115 million of programme funding to support the work and

health agenda to enable investment in new models and to build the evidence of what

works. This includes mental health trials - more than doubling the number of

Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

services - and the £3.9 million Challenge Fund, which was launched in November

2018.

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Business Update

Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth (Claire Perry): [HCWS1440]

On 11 March, the Government published legislation which changed the compliance

deadline to surrender allowances for the 2018 reporting year under the EU Emissions

Trading System (ETS) from 15 March to 26 March.

Today, the Government is publishing further legislation in relation to the EU ETS

compliance deadline. This legislation will amend the compliance deadline from 26 March

2019, to 22:59 on 29 March 2019. It will also allow further changes to the compliance

deadline to either the revised EU Exit date, or 30 April 2019 if such a date is 1 May 2019

or later.

Extending the compliance deadline will allow all UK operators additional time to meet

their EU ETS compliance requirements, and if extended to 30 April, enable them to

comply at the same time as operators in other EU member states. UK operators would

still be able to surrender allowances to meet their 2018 compliance obligations on any

date before the compliance deadline.

The Government remains committed to meeting its target to reduce its greenhouse gas

emissions by at least 80 per cent by the year 2050, relative to 1990 levels. The UK also

remains strongly committed to achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. This

includes our commitment to carbon pricing as an emissions reduction tool, supporting a

level playing field across the EU, whilst ensuring energy and trade intensive businesses

appropriately protected from any detrimental impacts on competitiveness.

Our participation in the EU ETS has shown the benefits of carbon pricing, which gives

emitters a choice to reduce their emissions where it is economic to do so, achieving our

environmental goals in the least-cost way to society. The EU ETS covers around 1,000

installations and approximately 140 aircraft operators in the UK. Across the EU ETS, the

scheme covers around 45% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions.

EU ETS participants are required to monitor their emissions during each calendar year

and, at the end of each reporting year, surrender one emissions allowance for every

tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) they have emitted, to meet their EU ETS

obligations. This extension does not change the requirement for all UK operators to fully

comply with all their obligations under the EU ETS.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-03-22/HCWS1440/

CABINET OFFICE

Public Bodies 2018-19

Minister for the Constitution (Chloe Smith): [HCWS1438]

I am pleased to announce the publication of Public Bodies 2018-19 and will today be

placing a copy in the library of both Houses.

Public Bodies play a vital role in the delivery of public services for all our citizens,

covering wide-ranging functions. Well-governed, effective and efficient public bodies

enable government to deliver its priorities.

Public Bodies 2018-19 is an annual directory that provides a single transparent source of

top-level financial and non-financial data on all executive agencies, non-departmental

public bodies and non-ministerial departments across government.

DEFENCE

Defence Procurement

Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Stuart Andrew): [HCWS1437]

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Stuart Andrew): I

am pleased to inform the House today that a $1.98 billion contract to deliver five E-7

Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft has been signed with Boeing Defence UK.

The E-7 will replace the current E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control aircraft fleet,

providing UK Armed Forces with a highly-effective, world-leading capability that has

already been proven on operations with the Royal Australian Air Force. A thorough

investment approvals process has taken place, with the contract concluded after a period

of intensive negotiation with Boeing. The E-7 not only represents value for money for the

UK taxpayer, it also provides the optimum surveillance solution to allow UK Armed

Forces to monitor and manage airspace on deployments and provide early warning of

threats. The E-7 is in operation with one of our key allies and this UK procurement will

increase opportunities for interoperability and collaboration. It is also a vital element of the

UK’s continued 25% airborne early warning and control contribution to NATO, which will

benefit from a greatly enhanced UK capability.

The E-7 contract will also bring significant prosperity benefits to this country, building on

Boeing’s current commitment to maximising investment in the UK. Modification work to

transform the base Boeing-737 aircraft into the E-7 will be carried out in the UK,

sustaining several hundred highly skilled jobs at Marshall Aerospace and Defence in

Cambridge. In addition, there are also expected to be significant future opportunities for

the UK supply chain in through-life support and training for these UK aircraft and their

crews.

Boeing will begin work immediately, with the first of our aircraft expected in 2023.

As part of the plan for a managed transition to E-7, it has been decided to reduce the

existing E-3D fleet from six to four aircraft by removing the two long-term unserviceable



assets from the active fleet. Doing this now will enable the Sentry Force to focus

resources on providing better availability from the remaining four aircraft, to better assure

the future Sentry Fleet output, including our commitments to the NATO Airborne Early

Warning and Control Force and the provision of NATO Assurance Measures missions.

HOME OFFICE

Offensive Weapons Bill

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability

(Victoria Atkins): [HCWS1439]

I am today placing in the Library of both Houses the Home Office’s analysis on the

application of Standing Order 83O of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons

relating to public business in respect of the Lords amendments to the Offensive Weapons

Bill.


daily report friday, 22 march 2019 contents

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