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Daily Report Monday, 13 May 2019

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 13 May 2019 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:30 P.M., 13 May 2019). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 7

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 7

British Coal Staff

Superannuation Scheme and

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme 7

Business: Artificial Intelligence 7

Civil Nuclear Constabulary:

Pensions 8

Fiskars Group 8

Fiskars Group: Regional

Growth Fund 8

Fracking: Earthquakes 9

Fuel Poverty: Disability 10

Furniture and Furnishings

(Fire) (Safety) Regulations

1988 10

Horizon 2020 10

Parental Leave 11

Post Office 11

Regional Growth Fund: Grants 12

Service Industries: Migrant

Workers 12

Trading Standards: Finance 13

Whirlpool Corporation: Tumble

Dryers 13

Wind Power: Neighbourhood

Development Plans 14

Wind Power: Seas and

Oceans 14

CABINET OFFICE 14

Business: ICT 14

Cabinet Office: Emerdata 15

Conflict, Stability and Security

Fund 15

Counter-terrorism: Pakistan 16

Elections: Proof of Identity 21

Electoral Register: Young

People 21

Electronic Government: Proof

of Identity 22

European Parliament:

Elections 22

Grenfell Tower: Fires 23

Pakistan: Rule of Law 24

Public Sector: Procurement 25

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS 25

Christianity: Africa 25

Overseas Aid: Sri Lanka 25

DEFENCE 26

Armed Forces: Recruitment 26

Army 26

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Army: Deployment 26

Army: Military Bases 26

Astute Class Submarines and

Trident Submarines 27

Australia: Military Alliances 27

Brunei: Joint Exercises 27

Defence and National

Rehabilitation Centre:

Veterans 28

Defence Nuclear Safety

Regulator: Accountability 28

Defence: Procurement 29

Devonport Dockyard: Trident

Submarines 29

DMRC Headley Court:

Veterans 29

EU Defence Policy 30

Heavy Equipment

Transporters: Location 30

Iceland: Military Aid 31

International Military Services:

Debts 31

Iran: International Military

Services 31

Ministry of Defence: Emerdata 32

Navy: Persian Gulf 32

Nuclear Weapons: Finance 32

Nuclear Weapons: Transport 33

Submarines: Cost

Effectiveness 33

Submarines: Nuclear Reactors 33

Trident Submarines: Design 33

Trident Submarines: Repairs

and Maintenance 34

Trident: Finance 34

Type 31 Frigates:

Procurement 34

USA: Middle East 35

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 35

Business: ICT 35

Culture: Finance 36

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport:

Secondment 36

Internet: Security 37

Sports: Environment

Protection 37

St George's Day 38

EDUCATION 38

Apprentices: Wolverhampton

North East 38

Children: Day Care 39

Educational Exchanges 39

Erasmus+ Programme 40

Fossil Fuels: Universities 40

Free School Meals 41

Free School Meals: Barnsley 41

Institutes of Technology 42

Marriage Guidance: Finance 42

Pupil Exclusions 42

Schools: Local Government

Services 45

Social Services:

Northamptonshire 45

Speech and Language

Disorders: Training 45

Students: Loans 46

Teachers: Training 46

Tiffin-Brown, Dylan 47

Universities 47

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 47

Agriculture: Diversification 47

Birds: Pest Control 48

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs:

Secondment 48

Diesel Engines: Urban Areas 49

Electronic Training Aids 49

Food: Packaging 49

Grouse Moors 50

Hares Preservation Act 1892 50

Hedges and Ditches 50

Pheasants: Imports 50

Solid Fuels: Prices 51

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 52

Afghanistan: Sikhs 52

Arctic: China and Russia 52

Cameroon: Human Rights 53

Civil Servants: Training 54

Colombia: Human Rights 54

Hamed bin Haydara 54

Iran: Foreign Relations 55

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe 55

North Korea: Christianity 55

Religious Freedom 56

St Helena: Fisheries 56

St Helena: Fishing Vessels 57

Yemen: Capital Punishment 57

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 58

Asthma: Air Pollution 58

Asthma: Medical Treatments 58

Autism: Diagnosis 59

Blood: Contamination 59

Blood: Viral Diseases 60

Cannabis: Medical Treatments 60

Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease: Death 61

Eating Disorders 62

Food: Labelling 62

General Practitioners:

Students 62

Health Services: Artificial

Intelligence 63

Hepatitis: Disease Control 63

Hepatitis: Primary Health Care 64

Hospitals: Discharges 65

Medical Records: Databases 67

Mental Capacity 68

Mental Health Inter-ministerial

Group 68

Mental Health Services: Wirral 68

NHS and Social Services:

Migrant Workers 69

NHS: Drugs 69

NHS: Fees and Charges 70

NHS: Migrant Workers 71

NHS: Vacancies 72

Nurses: Pay 72

Obesity: Children 73

Ophthalmic Services: ICT 74

Ovarian Cancer 74

Pregnancy: Screening 75

Psychiatry 75

Public Health: Finance 75

HOME OFFICE 77

101 Calls: Fees and Charges 77

Animal Experiments 78

Animal Experiments: Primates 78

Asylum: Applications 79

Asylum: Religion 79

Biometrics: Edinburgh 80

Domestic Abuse 80

Educational Testing Service 81

Educational Testing Service:

Prosecutions 81

Entry Clearances: Biometrics 81

Firearms: Licensing 82

Free Movement of People:

Arts and Musicians 82

Home Office: Emerdata 83

Home Office: Secondment 83

Immigrants: Employment 84

Immigration: EU Nationals 84

Overseas Students: English

Language 85

Police: Pensions 85

Theft: Wales 86

UK Visas and Immigration:

Conditions of Employment 86

Undocumented Migrants:

Detainees 87

Visas: Ministers of Religion 87

Visas: Sponsorship 88

Windrush Generation:

Compensation 89

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 89

Buildings: Insulation 89

Community Land Trusts 90

Domestic Abuse: Victim

Support Schemes 91

Housing 91

Housing: Construction 92

Housing: Disability 92

Housing: Older People 92

Marriage Guidance: Finance 93

Mobile Homes: Council Tax 93

Rough Sleeping: Barnsley 93

Social Rented Housing:

Disability 94

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 94

CDC 94

CDC: Staff 95

Department for International

Development: Bullying 95

Developing Countries: Climate

Change 96

East Africa: Storms 96

Gambia: Overseas Aid 96

South Asia: Disaster Relief 97

Yemen: Cholera 97

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid 98

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 98

Department for International

Trade: Advertising 98

Free Trade: Thailand 99

World Trade Organisation 99

JUSTICE 99

Age of Criminal Responsibility 99

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions 100

Animal Welfare: Romford 100

Courts: Telephone Services 100

Debt Collection 101

Judiciary: Females 101

Ministry of Justice:

Consultants 102

Police Cautions 103

Prison Officers: Riot Control

Weapons 103

Prison Sentences 104

Prison Sentences: EU

Countries 104

Prisoners' Release: Housing 105

Prisons: Contracts 105

Probation: Standards 106

Wales Office: Contracts 106

Women's Centres: Wales 107

Young Offenders: Criminal

Proceedings 108

NORTHERN IRELAND 108

Northern Ireland Office:

Bullying 108

PRIME MINISTER 108

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Departmental

Responsibilities 108

TRANSPORT 109

Abellio Group and Arriva 109

Aviation: Global Positioning

System 109

Aviation: Safety 110

Aviation: Training 110

Bramley Station: CCTV 110

East Coast Railway Line 111

East Midlands Rail Franchise 111

East Midlands Trains:

Pensions 112

East-West Rail Link 112

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust

Emissions 112

Northern: Standards 113

Public Transport: Disability 113

Rail Delivery Group: Finance 113

Railway Signals: Repairs and

Maintenance 114

Railways: Compensation 114

Railways: Franchises 114

Railways: Greater London 115

Railways: Stoke on Trent 116

Roads: Safety 116

Thameslink, Southern and

Great Northern Rail Franchise 116

West Coast Partnership Rail

Franchise: Pensions 117

TREASURY 117

101 Calls: Fees and Charges 117

Cash Dispensing: Fees and

Charges 117

Child Benefit: British Nationals

Abroad 118

Community Land Trusts:

Capital Gains Tax 119

Credit Unions 120

Employment Agencies: Tax

Avoidance 121

Fuels: Excise Duties 121

Income Tax 122

Mortgages 122

Public Sector: Tax Avoidance 123

Shops: Payment Methods 123

Social Security Benefits 124

UK Asset Resolution 124

WALES 126

Wales Office: Bullying 126

WORK AND PENSIONS 126

Children: Maintenance 126

Department for Work and

Pensions: Secondment 126

Food Banks: Ogmore 127

Health 127

Housing Benefit: Domestic

Abuse 128

Members: Correspondence 129

Personal Independence

Payment: Appeals 129

Social Security Benefits:

Coventry 130

Social Security Benefits: EU

Nationals 130

Unemployment 131

Universal Credit 131

Universal Credit: Appeals 133

Universal Credit: Disability 133

Universal Credit: Private

Rented Housing 134

Universal Credit: Wales 134

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 136

JUSTICE 136

Publication of the response to

the ‘Fit for the future:

transforming the court and

tribunal estate’ consultation

and the Court & Tribunal

Design Guide 136

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

British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: [252054]

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

estimate he has made of the total value of the (a) Mineworkers Pension Scheme and (b)

British Coal Staff Superannuation scheme.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme valuation conducted by the Government Actuary

concluded last year. The market value of the scheme’s assets on 30 September 2017

was £12,241 million.

A similar valuation for the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme concluded

recently. The market value of the Scheme’s assets on 31 March 2018 was £9,367

million.

Business: Artificial Intelligence

Sir Nicholas Soames: [251189]

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

guidance his Department has issued to businesses on preparing their workforce for the

effect of the introduction of Artificial Intelligence.

Chris Skidmore:

The Industrial Strategy sets out the Government’s vision to make the UK a global

centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data innovation. We have committed to

improving the UK's system for training in digital skills and lifelong learning, to ensure

that working people have the support they need to benefit from the opportunities

offered by automation towards a higher-wage future. Government is in regular

discussion with business and business representative organisations, including issues

affecting the workforce.

The AI Sector Deal brings together commitments from Government, Industry and

Academia in a £0.95bn package of support to promote the adoption and use of AI,

supported by up to £110 million government investment, which includes:

• 16 New Centres for Doctoral Training at universities across the country, delivering

1,000 new PhDs over the next 5 years;

• New prestigious AI fellowships to attract and retain the top AI talent, underpinned

by up to £50m of funding agreed at Autumn Budget; and

• Industry-funding for new AI Masters places.

Government is investing £406 million in maths, digital and technical education, and in

the 2018 Autumn Budget, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-05-08/252054


announced an initial £100 million to start the roll out of the National Retraining

Scheme, an ambitious, far-reaching programme to drive adult learning and retraining.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Pensions

Martin Whitfield: [251427]

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

assessment he has made of the suitability of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary joining the

Alpha Pensions scheme as directed by the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.

Andrew Stephenson:

As is the case with other Public Sector employees, the Civil Nuclear Police

Authority’s employees will move into the Alpha Pensions scheme. A decision to

modify the statutory scheme ultimately rests with HM Treasury and the Cabinet

Office. BEIS officials are engaging with all interested parties to provide certainty for

CNPA and its staff.

Fiskars Group

Ruth Smeeth: [252037]


discussions he has had with Wedgwood Waterford Royal Doulton on (a) their restructure

and (b) the effect of that restructure on (i) the UK ceramics manufacturing sector and (ii)

their Regional Growth Fund grant award.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Regional Growth Fund team have been in discussions with WWRD UK Ltd

regarding the restructure and the effect of the restructure in relation to the Regional

Growth Fund grant award.

Whilst the Global restructuring of WWRD UK Ltd and the associated job losses at the

Barlaston facility is disappointing, with a consequential impact on individual

employees and the local economy, I understand high end products, design, product

development and global marketing of products will continue to be based in the UK.

Fiskars Group: Regional Growth Fund


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

assessed that Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton was compliant with the terms of its

£5.1million grant from the Regional Growth Fund.

Kelly Tolhurst:

As the project remains in monitoring until 2022, the Regional Growth Fund team

continue to monitor and discuss project developments with WWRD UK Ltd, as they

do with all Regional Growth Fund awards.





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

to the provisions in the Regional Growth Fund grant to Waterford Wedgwood Royal

Doulton (WWRD) to maintain manufacturing jobs on site and the recent announcement of

103 job losses at WWRD, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that

grant award to WWRD.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Regional Growth Fund award to WWRD UK Ltd is monitored for a ten year

period until 31 March 2022, as such the Regional Growth Fund team continue to

discuss project developments with the Company, as they do with all Regional Growth

Fund awards.

Fracking: Earthquakes

Sammy Wilson: [250015]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on how many

occasions the Government guidelines on earth tremors have been breached by fracking

operations in each of the last three years.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Traffic Light System for monitoring induced seismicity was introduced after

consideration of advice from three scientists, following operations at Cuadrilla’s

Preese Hall site in 2011. The level of magnitude 0.5 at which operators must pause

operations, was set in consultation with industry as an appropriate precautionary

measure. These regulations have been working as intended and there are no plans

to review the traffic light system.

Three seismic events, equal or greater than magnitude 0.5, were recorded during

pumping operations at Preston New Road between October and December 2018.

Following these red traffic light events the operator temporarily paused operations,

reduced pressure and monitored for any further seismic events.


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

the Government has to review the guidelines on earth tremors caused by fracking

operations.

Kelly Tolhurst:

I refer the hon. Member the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewisham East on 1

May 2019 to Question 247160.



representations his Department has received from (a) fracking companies, (b)

environmental groups and (c) the shale gas commissioner on the appropriateness of

current guidelines on tremors caused by fracking.





Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department routinely receives correspondence from a wide range of

stakeholders in relation to the regulatory regime for shale gas extraction, including

the traffic light system.

The Traffic Light System for monitoring induced seismicity was introduced after

consideration of advice from scientists, following operations at Cuadrilla’s Preese Hall

site in 2011. The level of magnitude 0.5 at which operators must pause operations,

was set in consultation with industry as an appropriate precautionary measure. These

regulations have been working as intended and there are no plans to review the

traffic light system.

Fuel Poverty: Disability

Stephen Morgan: [250516]

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

to Scope’s report Disability Price Tag 2019, what assessment he has made of the effect

of the extra costs faced by disabled people on levels of fuel poverty in the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst:

As noted by Scope in their report, we have taken steps to make support accessible to

disabled people. This includes expanding the eligibility criteria for the Energy

Company Obligation to include those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and

Personal Independence Payment.

Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [251261]

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

the Answer of 8 April 2019 to Question 239920, when his Department plans to publish its

response to the consultation on proposed changes to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)

(Safety) Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department will publish its response to the 2016 consultation in due course.

This is a complex issue and it is absolutely vital that the Government gets this right:

we are committed to reviewing these regulations to ensure that the highest levels of

fire safety are maintained while minimising risks to health and the environment.

Horizon 2020

Chi Onwurah: [249282]


discussions the Government has had with the EU Commission on facilitating the UK’s

future association with the Horizon Europe programme.




Chris Skidmore:

In May 2018, the UK met with the EU Commission to discuss the future UK-EU

relationship on science, research and innovation. During this discussion, and

throughout our ongoing engagement since that initial meeting, we have made clear

that we would like the option to fully associate to the Horizon Europe Programme.

The Minister attended Competitiveness Council in February 2019, and hopes to

attend the next Competitiveness Council in May 2019 for further constructive

discussions about research and innovation with his EU counterparts.

Although the UK cannot associate to the future Programme until it has been

negotiated and adopted, and only after we have exited the EU, during this period as

an EU Member State we are actively engaging in the development of the Horizon

Europe proposal at all levels, including through the EU Institutions, in line with UK

interests.

Parental Leave

David Simpson: [251985]

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

Department is taking to support shared parental leave.

Kelly Tolhurst:

In 2018 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Government

Equalities Office funded a £1.5m campaign to raise awareness of the Shared

Parental Leave and Pay scheme amongst parents. This was followed by further

communications activity, aimed at employers, in 2019. Both campaigns were

underpinned by improved tools and guidance for parents which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/shared-parental-leave-and-pay-guidance-and-tools-for-

parents.

Post Office

Mr Kevan Jones: [247612]

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

times Ministers in his Department met the Senior Independent Director of Post Office

Limited in the last 12 months.

Kelly Tolhurst:

As the Special Shareholder of Post Office Limited, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of

State appoints a Non-Executive Representative to the Post Office board to provide

shareholder oversight of the company. In their independent role, it would not be

appropriate for Ministers to regularly meet with the Senior Independent Director of

Post Office Limited. Generally, ministers have engaged with Post Office Limited, but

they have not met the Senior Independent Director of Post Office Limited in the last

12 months.



Regional Growth Fund: Grants


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

has reclaimed grant funds from a successful applicant to the Regional Growth Fund that

has been found not to comply with the terms of the grant.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Regional Growth Fund awards are monitored to ensure the agreed outcomes of the

project are delivered.

Any project being undertaken using investment from the Regional Growth Fund must

be delivered in full. If a project fails to deliver on what was first proposed, we would

recover the appropriate level of grant payment.

I can confirm that this has happened on some successful Regional Growth Fund

awards.

Service Industries: Migrant Workers

Paul Farrelly: [250794]

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

is taking to ensure that non-EU migrants working in the (a) cleaning and (b) hospitality

industry receive the statutory rights they are entitled to under UK law.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Non-EU migrants working legally in the UK are entitled to the same workplace

statutory protections as any other worker. Fair and effective enforcement is central to

the Good Work Plan, which sets out the biggest upgrade of employment rights in a

generation. Building on existing minimum wage and agency worker enforcement, we

are expanding state enforcement to cover holiday payments for the most vulnerable

workers and intermediary companies that operate in the agency worker market.

Government has taken concrete measures to increase the number of labour market

inspectors and extend their coverage.

• Government has increased funding for HMRC’s enforcement of the National

Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) to a record high of £26.3 million for 2018/19.

• Funding for the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has also risen in

the last two years to reflect the expansion of its remit to tackle labour exploitation.

The GLAA now receives over £7m per year in funding, up from £4.5m in 2016/17.

• The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has seen its funding increase

from £0.5m in 2016/17 to £0.725m in 2018/19.

These three enforcement bodies continue to ensure workers receive the protections

they are entitled to. As well as responding to every complaint they receive, all three

undertake proactive, intelligence-led enforcement, targeting employers and sectors

where the risks of non-compliance are highest, including in the cleaning and

hospitality sectors.



Government is also exploring options for a single labour market enforcement body –

we will publish proposals on this for consultation shortly. More recently we announced

that this consultation will consider extending the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse

Authority’s licensing scheme to further sectors and that we will ensure trade unions

and businesses are consulted on the strategic direction of labour market

enforcement.

Trading Standards: Finance



assessment his Department has made of the effect of recent trends in the level of local

authority funding on the ability of trading standards bodies to enforce product safety

measures.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Government identified the need for national leadership and co-ordination of the

product safety system and established the Office for Product Safety and Standards in

January 2018 to fulfil this role. The Office has built capability to lead on scientific and

technical issues, including commissioning a research programme; set up

arrangements to deal with national product safety incidents; and formed a trading

standards co-ordination unit to support the work that Local Authorities carry out on

product safety in their local areas.

We value the important role that Local Authority Trading Standards carry out in

enforcing product safety measures, protecting consumers and providing advice to

businesses at a local level. Local Authorities are independent from central

government and are responsible for their own finances and funding decisions,

accountable to their local electorates. As part of its support for Local Authority

Trading Standards, OPSS has made available £500,000 per annum to Local

Authorities for product safety testing, trained over 650 trading standards staff from

211 Local Authorities and provided scientific and technical support in responding to

incidents to increase their capability on product safety regulation.

Whirlpool Corporation: Tumble Dryers


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

Department has plans to undertake a further investigation into the safety of Whirlpool

tumble dryers.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards met senior

Whirlpool officials in Birmingham on 2nd May to discuss their response to the

requirements placed upon them by OPSS following the review of Whirlpool’s tumble

dryer modification programme. He advised them on steps necessary to fulfil their



obligations. The investigation remains on-going as Whirlpool address these

requirements.

Wind Power: Neighbourhood Development Plans

Clive Lewis: [251417]

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

areas in the UK have been designated as suitable for onshore wind in (a) local and (b)

neighbourhood plans in England since the Written Statement of 18 June 2015, Official

Report 9WS on Local Planning.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Sites identified as suitable for onshore wind development can be located in local

authorities’ local or neighbourhood plans, all of which are available for the public to

view.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans



guidance is available to wind farm developers and operatives to help minimise impact on

marine life of off shore wind farms.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) set

out how the developers of offshore wind farms should consider their impacts on

marine life in any applications for development consent for them. Issue specific

guidance on minimising the potential impacts of offshore wind farms on marine life is

available from the relevant statutory nature conservation bodies [Natural England,

Natural Resources Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee] throughout

the planning and development cycles of an offshore wind farm. The potential impacts

of proposed projects on marine life and on other relevant issues will be considered in

a public examination of any development consent application that is made.

CABINET OFFICE

Business: ICT


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to ensure

that the public sector has the required IT infrastructure in place to enable a paperless

society.

Oliver Dowden:

The Government Digital Service works with departments across central government

to build digital capability, develop and implement common tools and standards, and




ensure government remains focused on the needs of end users when designing

digital services.

The Local Digital Declaration is a set of principles and commitments by which central

and local government will work together to share tools and best practice in order to

help get more public services online.

Over 16 million customers now access their Personal Tax Account online; over 90%

of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Association’s (DVLA) transactions (over 1 billion

in 2017/18) are now completed online; and over 5.7 million people have used the

voter registration digital service.

Cabinet Office: Emerdata

Deidre Brock: [250041]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) his Department, (b) his

Department's agencies and (c) his Department's associated public bodies have entered

into contracts with Emerdata Limited in the last year.

Oliver Dowden:

Records of contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000 in the wider

public sector are published on Contracts Finder:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Emily Thornberry: [249954]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the findings of the

independent Overseas Security and Justice Assistance audit into the Conflict Stability

and Security Fund commissioned by the Joint Funds Unit.

Mr David Lidington:

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) takes its responsibility to do no harm

very seriously. All CSSF programmes comply with the UK’s domestic and

international human rights obligations and have robust measures in place to protect

the human rights of beneficiaries.

In order for programme teams to be able to assess the risks of UK activity that could

affect human rights, all security and justice assistance is subject to Overseas Security

and Justice Assistance (OSJAs). The OSJA is a risk management system used

across Government to assess risk and consider what mitigation might be appropriate.

The OSJA Guidance specifies at what point Ministerial approval is required.

In order to determine the effectiveness of project activity, all CSSF programmes are

subject to Annual Reviews, which score how effectively programmes have delivered

their outputs and outcomes. In making an assessment the Annual Review considers

how programme teams manage commercial partnerships, risk and budgets, adapt to

changing contexts, , as well as assessing value for money. The Joint Funds Unit



(JFU) plans to publish the Rule of Law 2017/18 Annual Review summary before the

end of this Parliamentary session.

Minister Field, the FCO Minister responsible for South Asia, receives regular updates

on the risks associated with the Rule of Law programme’s activities. In addition, I

reviewed all the relevant programme documentation ahead of it being shared with the

Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, who have taken an interest in this

programme and requested further, sensitive documents on it.

The OSJA covering the Counter-Terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms

Initiative was fully reviewed in December 2018. Completed OSJA checklists are

sensitive internal documents providing an assessment of the human rights situation in

a country at a given time and are regularly updated. These are not published. The

Information Commissioner has previously reviewed and agreed with a Government

decision not to disclose an OSJA on Pakistan.

Last year the JFU commissioned an independent OSJA audit, in order to get a better

understanding of how they are used across the CSSF. The audit itself contains a

number of sensitive in-depth samples of OSJAs and therefore there are no plans to

publish the audit.

Counter-terrorism: Pakistan


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of

the Government’s Counter-Terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative in

Pakistan on the number of people who have been sentenced to death in those courts.

Mr David Lidington:




















reviewed all the relevant programme documentation, ahead of it being shared with

the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, who have taken an interest in this











publish the audit.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it her policy to commission a

review of the effectiveness of UK’s Counter-Terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms

Initiative in Pakistan.

Mr David Lidington:
































publish the audit.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of

the Counter-Terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative in Pakistan on

conviction rates in the Pakistani anti-terror courts in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Mr David Lidington:



















reviewed all the relevant programme documentation, ahead of it being shared with

the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, who have taken an interest in this












publish the audit.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the human rights risk

assessments undertaken for the Government’s Counter-Terrorism Associated

Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative in Pakistan in relation to the Government’s policy on

Overseas Security and Justice Assistance.

Mr David Lidington:
































publish the audit.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates Ministerial approval was (a)

sought and (b) given for human rights risk assessments carried out for the UK’s Counter-

Terrorism Associated Prosecutorial Reforms Initiative in Pakistan under the OSJA policy.

Mr David Lidington:































publish the audit.


Elections: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: [252044]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was to the public purse of the

2019 voter ID pilot schemes; and how much funding was allocated to each local authority

that participated.

Kevin Foster:

Voter ID is part of a body of work this Government is delivering to strengthen the

integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are

secure and fit for the 21st century.

As was the case for the 2018 pilots, the 2019 pilot costs will be confirmed when they

are known, which will be after the pilot authorities have completed their work. Funding

for the additional cost of piloting voter ID will be provided to each local authority by

the Cabinet Office.

Electoral Register: Young People

Mr Jim Cunningham: [251213]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whats steps the Government is taking to

encourage young people to register to vote.

Kevin Foster:

The Government is committed to respecting, protecting and promoting our

democracy. We want to build upon recent record levels of individuals registering to

vote and participating in elections. Our Register to Vote website is widely used by

young people: over 7.83 million online applications have been submitted by 16-24

year olds since the service was introduced in 2014. Ahead of the General Election in

June 2017 young people aged under 25 were particularly engaged, submitting over 1

million applications - more than 35% of all applications received in the pre-election

period.

Since then we have taken further steps to promote democratic engagement amongst

young people. Making use of the Suffrage Fund, we have delivered three projects to

promote youth engagement: a scheme to recruit and train 1000 youth Democracy

Ambassadors; the development and publication of a toolkit for parliamentarians to

engage young people; and a new history and citizenship resource for secondary

schools ( www.suffrageresources.org.uk ).

The Government’s recent report, Democratic Engagement: Respecting, Protecting

and Promoting Our Democracy, sets out how we work with partners to encourage

democratic participation. This includes National Democracy Week, which convenes

youth focused organisations such as the British Youth Council, UK Youth, Elevation

Networks and Patchwork Foundation to deliver targeted democratic engagement

activity. The report also highlights steps to help Higher Education providers work with

local authorities to promote electoral registration amongst their student populations.



http://www.suffrageresources.org.uk/

http://www.suffrageresources.org.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/democratic-engagement-respecting-protecting-and-promoting-our-democracy



DCMS provides funding for the UK Youth Parliament, Youth Select Committee and

Make Your Mark ballot which support young people to raise issues on local and

national levels.

Make Your Mark is a ballot of youth views which gives the UK Youth Parliament its

mandate and gets young people, aged 11-18, involved in democracy, with over 1

million young people voting in 2018. (

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark/ )

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity

Jo Platt: [250495]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2019 to

Question 248768, whether his Department has any plans to allow Document Checking

Service access to non-GOV.UK Verify identity providers.

Oliver Dowden:

At this stage, the Document Checking Service is only available to GOV.UK Verify

identity providers. However, we are aware there is demand to open up access to

government data and are exploring opportunities in this area.

European Parliament: Elections

Catherine West: [251330]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the process is for the suspension of the

use of EC6/UC1 in certain circumstances.

Kevin Foster:

The European Parliamentary Elections (Franchise of Relevant Citizens of the Union)

Regulations 2001 require EU citizens to provide a declaration before they can vote.

These Regulations were made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act

1972 and implement Council Directive 93/109/EC which lays down the arrangements

for EU citizens to vote and stand as candidates in another Member State. This is a

requirement under EU law which is intended to prevent double voting across the EU.

Tom Brake: [251885]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential

merits of enabling EU citizens to present European Parliament Voter registration forms at

polling stations on 23 May 2019 to ensure that they are not disfranchised following the

time taken to announce the holding of European elections.

Kevin Foster:

The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a European Parliament Voter

Registration Form to register as an elector in the European Parliament elections is 12

working days before the date of the election. The 12 working day deadline is based

on two provisions relating to the application process and the publication of, and

alterations to, the register before the election. The provisions are contained in section

13B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and regulation 29 of the

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark/

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark/




Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001; and the

equivalent provisions in the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations

2001 and Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008 as

applied by Schedule 001 of the European Parliamentary Elections (Franchise of

Relevant Citizens of the Union) Regulations 2001. Council Directive 93/109/EC

requires all Member States to send the details of any EU citizens’ declarations to their

Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice, both here and in another EU

country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to be done “sufficiently in

advance of polling day”

Tom Brake: [251886]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of EU nationals

living in the UK registered to vote in European Parliament elections in (a) 2014 and (b)

2019.

Kevin Foster:

The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the numbers of eligible electors nor

information on the number of European nationals resident in the UK who register to

vote in European Parliamentary elections.

Estimates of the number of eligible people on the registers for electoral events are

published by the Electoral Commission following each poll, but do not include a

breakdown of the numbers of EU citizens eligible to vote. The report on the 2014

European Parliamentary elections was produced by the Electoral Commission in July

2014 and is available online at: www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Each Electoral Registration Officer maintains a register for their own local area. Some

headline registration statistics by area are collated and published annually by the

Office for National Statistics, however, this does not include a breakdown of the

numbers of EU citizens registered to vote.

The latest bulletin is available at:

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Emma Dent Coad: [252127]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the

implications for the Government's policies of the report entitled, Family reflections on

Grenfell: No voice left unheard, published on 8 May 2019 by Inquest; and if she will make

a statement.

Mr David Lidington:

The Government set up the independent Grenfell Tower Inquiry to get to the truth of

what happened, deliver justice for victims, survivors, bereaved families and the wider

community, and to ensure that such a terrible tragedy could never happen again. The

timing and handling of the Inquiry is a matter for the independent Inquiry and the

Government hopes that the report for phase 1 will be published soon.


http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration


Pakistan: Rule of Law


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the most recent Annual

Review which was conducted for the Rule of Law Programme in Pakistan.

Mr David Lidington:































publish the audit.


Public Sector: Procurement

Jo Platt: [250503]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2019 to

Question 245992, Public Sector: Procurement, whether his Department routinely monitor

the proportion of public sector buyers that utilise the Digital Marketplace.

Oliver Dowden:

All information concerning buyers that have used the Digital Marketplace is in the

public domain. This can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/digital-marketplace-sales

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Christianity: Africa

Jim Shannon: [252642]

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what

steps the Church of England is taking to tackle the persecution of Christians in African

countries; and what steps the Church of England is taking with the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office to highlight the persecution of Christians in those countries.

Dame Caroline Spelman:

The Church of England mission agencies are supporting partner churches and

communities in Africa to help them address the challenges of inter-religious living.

The submission by the Church of England and the Catholic Bishops Conference of

England and Wales to the Foreign Secretary’s independent review into persecuted

Christians sets out recommendations as to the steps that the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office can take to support Christian communities and other religious

whose right to freedom of religion or belief is being impinged.

The submission from the Church of England can be read here:

https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/latest-news/anglicans-and-catholics-

make-joint-submission-foreign-office-review-persecuted

Overseas Aid: Sri Lanka


To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what

discussions the Church of England has had with the Department for International

Development on ensuring aid reaches people in Sri Lanka who need it most.

Dame Caroline Spelman:

The Church of England has had no discussions with the Department for International

Development on aid to Sri Lanka, but the Diocese of Leeds which has had a

companion link with Sri Lanka for nearly 40 years, is in regular contact with the

Anglican church of Sri Lanka, as to how best the Church can contribute to human

flourishing in Sri Lanka.



https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.archbishopofcanterbury.org%2Fnews%2Flatest-news%2Fanglicans-and-catholics-make-joint-submission-foreign-office-review-persecuted&data=02%7C01%7Csimon.stanley%40churchofengland.org%7Cc99ba4c953fc4ca29a1708d6d7b3ab1b%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C636933563999961576&sdata=lkYPUg7yohrUb1SDkrGiN6VIxDlSumjLs1CdRxzmz2I%3D&reserved=0




DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Recruitment

John Lamont: [251335]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase

recruitment to the armed forces from rural areas.

Mark Lancaster:

The Armed Forces recruit nationally. The geographic footprint of Armed Forces

Career Offices across the UK is complemented by dedicated call centres and online

recruiting operations, ensuring that members of rural or isolated communities have

the same opportunity to join the Armed Forces as anyone else. In addition, the

Services conduct outreach engagement programmes across the whole of the UK,

delivering events such as career fairs, tactical campaigns and roadshows, supported

by web-based information services and social media campaigns.

Army


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Heavy Armoured Brigades her

Department plans to have in the British Army Future Force Structure.

Mark Lancaster:

The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out the Government's intent for

the Army to deliver, as part of Joint Force 2025, a warfighting division drawn from two

armoured infantry brigades and two new strike brigades.

Army: Deployment


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimate he has made of the

deployment period for the Heavy Forces.

Mark Lancaster:

For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not disclose

detailed information regarding the readiness of formations and units. That readiness

will be constructed from many components, including training, the preparedness of

personnel, and logistic enablers. The speed of deployment would also be dependent

on the nature of the threat, capabilities required and geography of deployment.

Army: Military Bases


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans she has to forward base the UK's

Heavy Forces.






To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the

deployability of the Main Battle Tank throughout Europe.

Mark Lancaster:

The British Army maintains the ability to deploy its Challenger 2 main battle tanks

throughout Europe, with a number currently deployed in Estonia as part of NATO's

enhanced Forward Presence. This is assisted by the Government's announcement

last year that a residual Army presence in Germany will be maintained as a

foundation on which to enhance readiness on mainland Europe; a number of main

battle tanks are already forward based there. Defence is continuing to examine how

we might forward deploy Army capability in the future but no conclusions have been

reached.

Astute Class Submarines and Trident Submarines

Jonathan Edwards: [250772]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the effect

of delays to the Astute submarine programme on the delivery of the Dreadnought

programme.

Stuart Andrew:

The Dreadnought submarine programme remains within budget and on track to

deliver the first boat in the early 2030s.

Australia: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: [249868]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for defence co-

operation with Australia in the next 12 months.

Mark Lancaster:

Australia is one of our very closest defence partners. We work bilaterally and in multi-

lateral fora such as the Five Eyes grouping and the Five Powers Defence

Arrangements. We are cooperating on operations, notably in Afghanistan,

collaborating on key defence capabilities, including the Type 26 Global Combat Ship

and maintain regular exchanges of personnel. This is underpinned by regular

meetings between Ministers and senior officers and officials, and the annual AUKMIN

discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence, the Foreign Secretary and

their Australian counterparts.

Brunei: Joint Exercises

Nia Griffith: [251252]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2019 to

Question 248622 on Brunei: Joint Exercises, how many military personnel from (a) the

UK and (b) Brunei will take part in Exercise Grypus Trail 19/1.





Mark Lancaster:

Approximately 100 UK military personnel and around 25 Brunei military personnel will

participate in Exercise Gryphus Trail.

Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre: Veterans

Nicky Morgan: [251259]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to grant

veterans access to Stanford Hall for rehabilitation purposes.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) mission is to provide sick and

injured Service personnel the rehabilitation they require to be able to return to duty or

transition back into civilian life, at which point the NHS becomes responsible for their

care.

The access policy at the new DMRC Stanford Hall remains unchanged from that

previously in place at DMRC Headley Court, in that there is no provision generally for

veterans to access the facility. We have, however, in collaboration with the NHS,

established a specialist clinic whereby NHS Limb Fitting Centres can refer selected

veterans (who are ex-DMRC patients) back to the DMRC for assistance with the

management of amputation-related complications.

This Complex Prosthetics Assessment Clinic (CPAC) has also been used to identify

suitable candidates (serving and veterans) for the LIBOR-funded MOD/NHS

osseointegration surgical pilot. After surgery all these patients (including veterans)

are rehabilitated at the DMRC. We are also currently exploring options for a limited

expansion of the CPAC eligibility criteria to include those non-amputee patients that

have been fitted with medical devices such as offload braces.

Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator: Accountability

Douglas Chapman: [250491]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department changed its

policy towards the publication of Annual Reports from the Defence Nuclear Safety

Regulator since its last publication in 2014-15.


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

adequacy of transparency in the regulation of nuclear safety.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase the

transparency of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator.

Stuart Andrew:

We have taken the step to not publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's

Annual Assurance Reports as it has been assessed to do so would impact national





security. This step has not prevented the effective management and independent

assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme being reported to Ministers, nor has

it prevented its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any

compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.

The Government recognises that there is legitimate interest in nuclear safety, but we

would not publish information that could be exploited by potential adversaries,

compromising our national security. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme

achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. The safety of the

public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the

environment remain the Department's priority.

Defence: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2019 to

Question 241023 on Defence: Procurement, if his Department will identify UK domestic

manufacturers of specialised military cabling that meet the standards required.

Stuart Andrew:

Most of our cabling requirements are likely to be sourced by our prime contractors

and there is therefore no need for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to hold a list of

potential suppliers. When a requirement for cabling is identified the MOD will procure,

wherever possible, through open competition, assessing the tenders to ensure they

meet the standards required before awarding any contract.

We remain satisfied that our supplier base can continue to manufacture the cables

needed for our current defence programmes.

Devonport Dockyard: Trident Submarines


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate her Department has made of

the cost to the public purse of upgrading docks at Devonport as part of the UK nuclear

programme.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence continues to undertake work to define the future

infrastructure requirements at Devonport to deliver the submarine programme safely

and securely. We are currently conducting negotiations with industry partners.

DMRC Headley Court: Veterans


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans have been granted access

to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre through the Veterans Prosthetic Panel in

the last 12 months.




Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Twelve veteran patients have been seen at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation

Centre in the last calendar year.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans were granted access to

Headley Court in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Lancaster:

Since 2016, veterans with amputation-related complications can be referred by the

NHS to the Complex Prosthetics Assessment Clinic (CPAC) at the Defence Medical

Rehabilitation Centre, which relocated from Headley Court to the Stanford Hall

Rehabilitation Estate in 2018. To date, 41 patients have been seen at the CPAC

since it began. A breakdown of patients by year is not available.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans requested but were

refused access to Headley Court in each of the last ten years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Veteran referrals and requests for DMRC treatment can be received in many different

ways, for which there is no central record. Consequently, an answer to this question

cannot be provided.

EU Defence Policy


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what her Department's policy is on the

integration of European armed forces plan; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster:

The Government is not aware of an integration of European armed forces plan. The

UK supports increased cooperation and interoperability between armed forces,

including at European level, for example through joint exercises and development of

defence capabilities. Such cooperation must be complementary with NATO, the

cornerstone of our defence.

Heavy Equipment Transporters: Location


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current location of the Heavy

Equipment Transporters.

Mark Lancaster:

The Army has a fleet of 91 Heavy Equipment Transporters. They are operated by

military personnel of 19 Tank Transporter Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps, with our

commercial partners and are based in Bulford.





The fleet is currently operating in the UK and Europe in support of UK and allied

operations and exercises. We do not routinely comment on specific locations for

individual capabilities as to do so would compromise operational security or would be

likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces

Iceland: Military Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to provide military support

to Iceland in the next 12 months.

Mark Lancaster:

The UK will contribute four Typhoon aircraft to NATO Air Policing in Iceland for the

first time in late 2019. In addition, the UK regularly takes part in exercises hosted by

Iceland and we plan to participate in Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 19 (NATO Anti-

Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise) and Exercise Northern Challenge 19 (NATO

Bomb Disposal exercise).

International Military Services: Debts

Tulip Siddiq: [252014]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has not

published the value of IMS Ltd.'s contingent liabilities as required by the statutory

authorities conferred by the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill 1984.

Stuart Andrew:

The Department set out its Statutory liability for International Military Sales on page

139 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to lay a statutory instrument

before Parliament to seek approval for any payment that results from the contingent

liabilities for IMS Ltd.

Stuart Andrew:

The Department will always comply with any statutory procedures.

Iran: International Military Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2019 to

Question 245905 on Iran: International Military Services, what the exact date in May 2019

is for the scheduled enforcement hearing for the court case between IMS Ltd and the

Iranian Government on outstanding IMS debt.

Stuart Andrew:

The hearing is private and confidential and I am not at liberty to disclose the date.





Ministry of Defence: Emerdata


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) his Department, (b) his

Department's agencies and (c) his Department's associated public bodies have entered

into contracts with Emerdata Limited in the last year.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence has never entered into a contract with Emerdata Limited.

Records of Government contracts above £10,000 in central government and £25,000

in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Navy: Persian Gulf


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Royal Navy assets are currently

deployed in the Persian Gulf.



deployed in the Arctic.



deployed in the (a) Indian Ocean and (b) South China Seas.

Mark Lancaster:

The Royal Navy currently has six surface ships deployed in the Gulf. These are HMS

BROCKLESBY, HMS LEDBURY, HMS BLYTH, HMS SHOREHAM, HMS

MONTROSE and RFA CARDIGAN BAY.

There are currently no surface ships deployed in the Arctic, Indian Ocean and South

China Sea.

The Ministry of Defence does not release details of future deployments, nor comment

on submarine operations, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the

capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Nuclear Weapons: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether anticipated reductions in spending on

the UK nuclear weapons programme from 2026 onwards are included in her

Department’s budgetary costings.

Stuart Andrew:

Yes. Forecast costs for the Defence nuclear enterprise are included in the

Department's forecast cost estimates, as published in the Equipment Plan.






Nuclear Weapons: Transport


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many safety-related incidents that have

occurred during the transportation of nuclear weapons have resulted in the convoy

transporting those weapons temporarily halting; and what assessment she has made of

the potential environmental effect of those incidents.

Stuart Andrew:

The transportation of Defence Nuclear Material, which includes nuclear weapons, is

carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations.

Any potential issue with a convoy vehicle, no matter how minor, is treated seriously

and may result in a short unscheduled stop to carry out vehicle checks to ensure that

safety is maintained.

Since 2000 there have been 57 unscheduled stops of this nature. None posed any

risk to the public, environment, or to any material being transported.

Submarines: Cost Effectiveness


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent changes her Department has

made to the estimated savings to be accrued from the Submarine Enterprise

Performance Programme.

Stuart Andrew:

The estimated savings to be delivered under the Submarine Enterprise Performance

Programme are included in the annual Defence Equipment Plan. The 2018 plan was

published on 18 March 2019, and can be found here:

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

ent_data/file/788481/20190318-EP18_v3.pdf

Submarines: Nuclear Reactors


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her Department has identified the fuel

element breach problems in the PWR2 submarine reactor design.

Stuart Andrew:

The safety of all the United Kingdom's nuclear submarines is not in doubt and

remains our highest priority.

Trident Submarines: Design


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the

public purse of potential late changes to the Dreadnought submarine design.






To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the effect

of delays to Dreadnought submarines on the out of service date for Vanguard

submarines.

Stuart Andrew:

The design and build of the Dreadnought class submarines continues. The

programme remains on track to enter service in the early 2030s, it remains within its

budget. The build phase for the entire class will take approximately 20 years. The

Dreadnought programme will ensure the United Kingdom has a credible, independent

and capable nuclear deterrent out to the 2060s.

Trident Submarines: Repairs and Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department in taking to tackle

delays to the Vanguard submarine maintenance schedule.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate she has made of the cost to the

public purse of delays to the Vanguard submarine maintenance schedule.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence is committed to working closely with Babcock to safely

deliver submarine support work, including our major planned maintenance projects.

With Babcock, we are employing robust programme management techniques to

deliver the HMS VANGUARD planned period of deep maintenance and refuel work. I

am withholding the estimated cost as its disclosure would prejudice commercial

interests.

Trident: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will publish the full-life costings of all

elements of the UK nuclear programme.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence does not, and has no plans to, routinely publish whole life

costs for projects, nuclear or otherwise, beyond what is already published in reports

such as the Defence Equipment Plan, Ministry of Defence Annual Report and

Accounts, and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority's Annual Report on Major

Projects.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement

Frank Field: [251904]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timescale is for the bidding process

for the Type 31e frigates.






Stuart Andrew:

It remains our intention to award a single Design and Build contract for five Type 31e

Frigates by the end of 2019.

USA: Middle East

Nia Griffith: [251991]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions she has had with her US

counterpart on the reported deployment of B-52 bombers to the Middle East.

Mark Lancaster:

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has spoken with Acting US

Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan as part of her introductory calls with her

international counterparts. They discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Business: ICT


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

Department has taken to ensure that businesses have the required IT infrastructure in

place to enable a paperless society.

Margot James:

The Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), published in July 2018, sets out

the Government’s strategy for ensuring that 15 million premises are able to connect

to full fibre by 2025, with a nationwide network established by 2033. Since the

publication of the FITR, full fibre coverage is now available to 7% of UK premises, up

from 4% around 12 months ago.

The Better Broadband Voucher Scheme, open for applications until 31st December

2019, is available to those who are unable to obtain a connection speed above

2Mbps. The Scheme can support access to satellite broadband, or fixed 4G or

wireless connections in some locations. The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme,

launched in March 2018 as part of Local Full Fibre Networks programme, enables

small to medium sized businesses to claim a voucher worth up to £2,500, and

residents to claim a voucher worth up to £500 as part of a group project.

DCMS has convened the Digital Enterprise Delivery Group, part of the Digital Skills

Partnership, to bring together a range of industry stakeholders to improve the digital

capabilities of SMEs and charities.

BEIS’s £9 million Business Basics programme, announced as part of the UK’s

Industrial Strategy, is testing innovative ways of encouraging SMEs to take up

technology (such as accountancy or CRM software), as well as business practices

that can boost productivity. Be the Business, supported by up to £18.6m Government

funding, is a business-led independent charity that is identifying practical steps to



enable the adoption of technology and enable best-practice leadership and

management techniques.

Culture: Finance


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

Government is taking to (a) protect and (b) increase funding for arts and culture outside

London.

Michael Ellis:

We are committed to promoting the Arts and culture outside London, and continue to

work closely with the Arts Council to ensure that the whole of the country has access

to funding for arts and cultural programmes.

Last year 70% of Arts Council's total funding was awarded outside London. Between

2018 and 2022 an additional £170 million of National Portfolio Organisation funding

will be invested outside London.

In addition, the recent Cultural Development Fund has seen £20 million of funding

shared between five towns and cities outside of the capital, while programmes such

as Creative People and Places and the City of Culture programme continue to focus

outside of the capital.

DCMS has also recently announced an additional £4 million of funding for the

DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. In 2019/20, 35 museums

and galleries will benefit from this funding which aims to improve audience

experience. Over 80% of regional museums outside London will receive money from

this Fund.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Secondment

Chris Ruane: [249903]

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

servants in his Department have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the

European Union and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three

years.

Margot James:

In the Civil Service, a ‘secondment’ is a transfer to an external organisation, whereas

the movement of staff to another Government department is usually referred to as a

loan. We do not hold information centrally on the host departments of all

secondees/loans from our department. However, we do hold a record of some

employees on loan for whom we had to retrieve salary costs over the last 3 years:



YEAR

DEPARTMENT FOR EXITING THE

EUROPEAN UNION

DEPARTMENT FOR

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

2017 2 0

2018 0 2

2019 (to present) 0 3

Internet: Security



Department is taking to ensure the security of age-verification check databases.

Margot James:

All providers of age verification (AV) services must comply with data protection laws.

In addition, ahead of the introduction of mandatory age verification on online

pornography sites, the regulator, the British Board for Film Classifcation, has created

a voluntary certification scheme, the Age-verification Certificate (AVC), which will

assess the data security standards of AV providers. Age verification solutions which

offer these robust data protection conditions will be certified following an independent

assessment and will carry the BBFC's new green 'AV' symbol. Details will also be

published on the BBFC’s age-verification website, ageverificationregulator.com.

Sports: Environment Protection



Department is taking to reduce the environmental footprint of large sporting events.

Mims Davies:

The government, along with major event partners, is committed to embedding

sustainability as a key pillar of the planning and delivery of major sporting events. We

also welcome the innovation that the sector is driving such as the degradable

seaweed pouches used at this year’s London Marathon instead of plastic water

bottles.

UK Sport is working alongside several events, providing support as they look into

environmentally friendly delivery options. The upcoming Netball World Cup is

currently undergoing an environmental review across all workstreams, with findings

not only being used to make changes to the event, but also will be fed back into the

newly formed sector working group, which alongside staff from UK Sport, consists of

athletes, venues and NGB representatives.



UK Sport is also conducting work to place a range of ethical policies at the heart of all

events delivered with government support, with environmental policies and

considerations sitting as a core element of that work.

St George's Day


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

made of the contribution of St. George's Day to England's economy.



made of the contribution of St. Patrick's Day to the economy of Northern Ireland.



made of the contribution of St. Andrew's Day to Scotland's economy.



made of the contribution of St. David's Day to the Welsh economy.

Michael Ellis:

The Department has made no specific estimate of the economic contributions of the

National days.

EDUCATION

Apprentices: Wolverhampton North East

Emma Reynolds: [252118]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education,how many apprenticeships have been

created in each month since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in Wolverhampton

North East constituency.

Anne Milton:

The attached table provides figures for apprenticeship starts for each month since

May 2017, when significant structural changes to the apprenticeship funding system

were implemented following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and

apprenticeship service.

The profile of apprenticeship starts changed significantly both in the run-up to the

introduction of the levy and subsequently. Care should be taken when comparing

individual months between academic years as they are unlikely to provide a

meaningful year-on-year trend. Numbers of reported starts are likely to change as the






reforms to apprenticeship funding continue to bed in and employers engage with the

new system.

Attachments:

1. 252118_table [252118_table.doc]

Children: Day Care


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

level of public awareness of the 30 hours free childcare programme in each income

decile in England.

Nadhim Zahawi:

This government is committed to helping working families with accessible, affordable

childcare and offers a broad range of childcare support.

The department measures awareness via the annual Childcare and Early Years

Survey of Parents, the most recent data published as Official Statistics in December

2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-

parents-2018.

This data will be collected in 2019 via the same survey and published as Official

Statistics in December 2019.

Table 3.1, attached, summarises awareness of the 30 hours policy among families

with children aged 0-4 years in England, broken down by various family

characteristics such as family income.

Attachments:

1. 251920 Table 3.1 [251920_Table_3.1_Awareness_of_the_30_hours_offer.docx]

Educational Exchanges


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Minister in his Department has

responsibility for promoting international exchange in British schools and at national,

regional and local level.

Nick Gibb:

The Department works closely with the British Council, who play an important role in

promoting exchange opportunities to schools and helping them to find partners.

In January, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a

new £2.5 million programme to provide more opportunities for young people,

particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to take part in an international

school exchange. More information about the programme is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-to-boost-international-exchanges-for-

schools.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018




https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-to-boost-international-exchanges-for-schools



Erasmus+ Programme

Helen Hayes: [252019]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he will be able to confirm whether the

UK is going to seek association to the next Erasmus+ programme that will run from 2021;

and what recent assessment he has made of the benefits to widening participation for

outward student mobility of that programme.

Chris Skidmore:

The government firmly believes that the UK and European countries should continue

to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world-

leading universities following our exit from the European Union.

The next generation of EU programmes is currently being discussed in the EU. This

includes the proposed regulation for the 2021-27 Erasmus+ programme, which has

reached a partial general approach in the Council of the European Union.

Improving social mobility is a priority for this government and we want everyone to

have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or where they grew

up. For this reason, the government welcomes the aim of the Commission’s proposal

to make the next programme more accessible to participants, particularly those from

disadvantaged backgrounds.

We will continue to participate in discussions on the draft regulation while we remain

an EU Member State and are considering options for future participation in the next

Erasmus+ programme. Of course, the text of the regulation has not been finalised,

including important aspects such as the terms of third-country participation, and we

will need to consider the regulation as a whole.

Ultimately, any decisions about our participation in the Erasmus+ programme will

also be a matter for wider negotiations about our future relationship with the EU.

Fossil Fuels: Universities


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

encourage universities to divest from global coal, oil and gas companies.

Chris Skidmore:

Universities are autonomous from the government, so we do not specifically

encourage them to divest from global coal, oil and gas companies.

The government is committed to supporting the effective management of climate-

related financial risks, and we have endorsed the recommendations of the Task

Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.



Free School Meals


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the

potential merits of rolling over any unspent funds on the cards of children entitled to free

school meals, at the end of each week, so that they can be used the following week.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Free school meals (FSM) are intended as a benefit in kind, rather than a cash benefit,

and our primary interest is that schools meet their legal duties to provide nutritious

free lunches to eligible children.

We trust school leaders to make the best decisions in the interests of their pupils and

it is right that they have flexibility around how they deliver FSM.

We are, of course, very keen to ensure that all eligible children receive their full

entitlement to FSM. We are also interested to hear about new and creative steps

schools are taking to support eligible children. It is important that children are

claiming their free lunch each day and that schools and colleges operating this

system to avoid any risk of children building up significant cash reserves on their

accounts or regularly spending their allowances at other times of the day without

receiving a healthy lunch.

We would not wish to instruct schools to do any specific approach nationally.

However, we will consider how we can share the very best practice around FSM.

Tracy Brabin: [252120]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of disadvantaged children

will not benefit from the funding for free school meals and activities during the summer

break announced on 8 May 2019.

Nadhim Zahawi:

We do not know the number of children that will not benefit from the funding for free

school meals (FSM) and activities during the 2019 summer holidays. This would

depend on how many children in the funded areas choose to take up the offer of free

holiday provision.

Our 2019 programme will take place in 11 local authority areas. It will enable us to

test the effectiveness of a model of local coordination of free holiday club provision.

We are carrying out an independent evaluation of this programme and will publish the

results of this, including information on attendance.

Free School Meals: Barnsley

Stephanie Peacock: [252033]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the funding announced to

provide free meals and activities over the 2019 summer holidays will be provided to

Barnsley.




Nadhim Zahawi:

As there were no applications for funding from any organisations to deliver the

programme in Barnsley this summer, Barnsley will not receive any funding from the

2019 Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Institutes of Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there will be a competition for

further Institutes of Technology as part of his Department's plan to review Institute of

Technology cold spots.

Anne Milton:

We have always acknowledged that there might be some parts of the country where

there were no proposals that met our quality standard in this competition. We will

review the extent of geographical ‘cold spots’ in provision for Institutes of Technology

to determine whether a future competition should be considered.

Marriage Guidance: Finance

Fiona Bruce: [251264]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding for grants for purposes

set out in section 22 of the Family Law Act 1996 has been allocated in each financial year

since 2010.

Nick Gibb:

The information requested is not held centrally. The Department for Work and

Pensions is responsible for relationship support.

Pupil Exclusions

Angela Rayner: [251434]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Statement of 7 May

2019 on the Timpson review of school exclusions, if it is his policy to make schools

accountable for pupils who leave their rolls only through permanent exclusions.



2019 on the Timpson review of school exclusions, whether his consultation on making

schools accountable for the outcomes of pupils that they exclude will include

accountability for pupils who leave school rolls other than by permanent exclusion.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Ofsted’s report entitled

Safeguarding children and young people in education from knife crime published in

March 2019, if he will extend the requirement for schools to collect data on permanent

and fixed-term exclusions to require schools to collect data on managed moves.








2019 on the Timpson review of school exclusions, what sanctions (a) are currently in

place and (b) will be put in place where schools or multi-academy trusts are found to

have off-rolled pupils.



2019 on the Timpson review of school exclusions, whether his commitment to

establishing a practice programme to drive better partnership will include requiring multi-

academy trusts to work with local authorities.

Nick Gibb:

As noted in the Government response to Edward Timpson’s review of school

exclusion, the Government will make schools accountable for the outcomes of

permanently excluded children. Over the summer, the Department will work with

education leaders to design a consultation, to be launched in the autumn, on how to

deliver these reforms in practice. Among other things, the Department will seek views

on how to mitigate the potential unintended consequences Edward Timpson has

identified in his review, including how to tackle the practice of ‘off-rolling’.

Ofsted already considers records of children taken off roll and has recently consulted

on proposals that will see a strengthened focus on this issue, and has proposed that

where inspectors find off-rolling, this will always be addressed in the inspection

report, and where appropriate will lead to a school’s leadership being judged

inadequate. Ofsted will publish the outcome of its consultation soon.

As in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) regulations 2006 as amended,

state schools must notify the local authority when a pupil’s name is to be deleted from

the admission register as soon as the ground for deletion under regulation 8 in

relation to that pupil is established. The Department will provide guidance on the use

of ‘managed moves’, as recommended by Edward Timpson.

The Government will also establish a practice programme that embeds effective

partnership working between local authorities, schools, alternative provision and

other partners to better equip schools to intervene early for children at risk of

exclusion and to ensure that the most effective provision is put in place for those who

are excluded. As a large proportion of schools are academies, the programme will

support partnership working between local authorities and academies.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what date he plans to conclude the

consultation on how to make schools accountable for the outcomes of permanently

excluded children.

Nick Gibb:

The Government is committed to making schools accountable for pupils who are

permanently excluded. As stated in the review of school exclusion led by Edward




Timpson, this will require careful design. The Department will work with education

leaders over the summer to design a consultation on how to deliver this in practice,

including seeking views on how to mitigate the potential unintended consequences

that are identified in that review. The consultation will be launched in the autumn and

will comply with the Government’s published consultation principles.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he Is taking to minimise waiting

times for permanently excluded pupils to be found a new school place.

Nick Gibb:

The Government’s response to Edward Timpson’s review of school exclusion sets

out our commitment to ensure that pupils who have been excluded from school

continue to benefit from high-quality education.

There are already duties in place to ensure children who are excluded from school

are in education from the sixth day of their exclusion. The education provided must

be full-time, or as close to full-time, if full-time would not be in a child’s best interests

because of his or her health needs.

Statutory guidance is also clear that schools should help to minimise the disruption

that exclusion can cause to an excluded pupil’s education including considering

starting alternative provision as soon as possible after the exclusion. In the case of a

looked after child, the school and the local authority should work together to arrange

alternative provision from the first day following the exclusion. Where it is not

possible, or not appropriate, to arrange alternative provision during the first five

school days of an exclusion, the school should take reasonable steps to set and mark

work for the pupil.

Fair access protocols exist to ensure that, outside the normal admissions round,

unplaced children, especially the hardest to place and most vulnerable, are offered a

place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. However, the Department is aware

there can be delays in the in-year admission of such children. As such, the

Department is currently considering improvements to the in-year admission process,

including Fair Access Protocols, to ensure that all children, especially the most

vulnerable, can access a new school place as quickly as possible.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral statement of 7 May

2019 on the Timpson Review of school exclusions, Official Report column 479, what

steps he plans to take to reduce off-rolling before the start of the next school year.

Nick Gibb:

The Department is clear that off-rolling is unacceptable, and while it believes this

practice is relatively rare, the Government is committed to continue to work with

Ofsted to define and tackle the practice of off-rolling.

Ofsted already considers records of children taken off roll and has recently consulted

on proposals that will see a strengthened focus on this issue. It has proposed that



where inspectors find off-rolling, this will always be addressed in the inspection

report, and where appropriate will lead to a school’s leadership being judged

inadequate. Ofsted will publish the outcome of its consultation soon.

In response to Edward Timpson’s review of school exclusion, the Department has

committed to working with education leaders over the summer to design a

consultation on making schools accountable for the outcomes for permanently

excluded children, to be launched in the autumn. Among other things, the

Department will seek views on how to mitigate the potential unintended

consequences Edward Timpson has identified in his review, including how to tackle

the practice of off-rolling.

Schools: Local Government Services


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

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on improving schools' access to local authority

support for pupils and families that need it.

Nadhim Zahawi:

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education meets regularly with

Cabinet colleagues to discuss the Department for Education agenda.

Social Services: Northamptonshire

Lucy Powell: [252080]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what reports he has received from the

children's services commissioner on progress in improving children's services in

Northamptonshire in the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Malcolm Newsam CBE was appointed as Commissioner for Children’s Services in

Northamptonshire on 30 November 2018. He has submitted one report to date. This

will be published shortly.

Speech and Language Disorders: Training

Geraint Davies: [250422]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that staff

working in an education setting are trained in awareness of speech, language and

communication needs.

Nick Gibb:

The Department is investing £50 million to develop more high quality school-based

nursery provision for disadvantaged children, £26 million to set up a network of

English hubs, and £20 million to provide school-led professional development for

early years practitioners.




The Department is reviewing the current special educational needs and disability

(SEND) content in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision and building on our existing

SEND specialist qualifications to develop a continuum of career development from

ITT, through teachers’ early careers and into specialist and leadership roles.

Since the introduction of the 2014 SEND reforms, the Department has provided

funding to a range of condition-specific organisations to develop resources and

training to deliver high quality teaching across all types of SEND. This includes

specialist resources in relation to speech, language and communication skills.

The Department currently funding nasen and University College London, on behalf of

the Whole School SEND consortium, to deliver a programme of work that will equip

the workforce to deliver high quality teaching across all types of special educational

needs. New SEND regional leads will bring together practitioners and networks in

their local area to build a Community of Practice, including local speech, language

and communications champions.

Students: Loans

Paul Blomfield: [251396]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress his Department has made on

the introduction of sharia-compliant student loans.

Chris Skidmore:

The government remains committed to introducing an Alternative Student Finance

product. Details on implementation will follow the Review of Post-18 Education and

Funding which will conclude this year.

Teachers: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a training budget is available to

teachers.

Nick Gibb:

The Department knows that continuing professional development (CPD) is integral to

improving the quality of teaching. Effective, evidence-based CPD strengthens

practice, builds confidence and, crucially, improves outcomes for pupils.

For CPD to be effective, however, it must be tailored to the needs of the individual.

That is why decisions relating to CPD, including budgets, rightly rest with schools,

headteachers and teachers.

The Department recognises that more can be done to improve the take-up of high

quality evidence-based CPD in schools. That is why the CPD Expert Group has re-

convened to develop recommendations that ensure that all teachers have access to

high quality, meaningful support and CPD, drawing on the Standard for Teachers’

Professional Development (published in July 2016) and the accompanying

implementation guide.



Tiffin-Brown, Dylan


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the report of the Serious Case Review

into the death of Dylan Tiffin-Brown is due to be published.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that in compiling its report

the Serious Case Review Panel reviewing the death of Dylan Tiffin Brown in Northampton

will interview family and community members as set out in the guidance for serious case

reviews.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Publication and timings of serious case reviews rest with the relevant local

safeguarding children board. The department cannot comment on specific serious

case reviews until after publication.

The statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2015’ sets out the

purpose of serious case reviews and the process to be followed. Decisions on the

scope and methodology rest with the relevant local safeguarding children board

(LSCB) and I expect Northamptonshire’s LSCB, like all others, to reflect our guidance

in any review.

Universities


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many university courses have a

mandatory international semester.

Chris Skidmore:

The information requested is not held centrally.

Universities are autonomous institutions and responsible for deciding their own

course structures and content, including whether periods of international study are

required.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Diversification


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

Government is taking to support farmers to create a sustainable diversified farming

system.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Agriculture Bill will help farmers in England to grow strong and diversified

businesses producing high quality food in a more sustainable way, enhancing the

environment for future generations. We will create an ambitious new system based





on paying “public money for public goods”, which will include improving air and water

quality, biodiversity and habitats for wildlife. Financial support for innovations like

precision farming can also help farmers become more productive, reduce the use of

expensive chemicals and protect the environment.

Birds: Pest Control


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

his Department has put in place for the issue of new general licences for avian pest

control.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to

issue General Licences for avian pest control.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

The Secretary of State has taken over ultimate decision making powers for general

licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences. The

Secretary of State will consider the present situation with intensity and urgency; his

priority is getting this right. The Government has issued a call for evidence

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defra-launches-call-for-evidence-on-decision-

to-revoke-general-licences to help our consideration of the issues of new general

licences.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment


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

servants in his Department have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the

European Union and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three

years.

David Rutley:

Between June 2016 and March 2018 a total of 11 civil servants have been loaned to

the Department for Exiting the European Union and the Department for International

Trade. These staff were loaned on two year contracts, some of which have already

come to an end. All the outstanding DExEU loans are due to end in 2018/19, with the

DIT loans due to end in 2020/21.

Civil servants are loaned between other Government departments rather than

seconded.

Both departments were only formed in July 2016, therefore there is no data prior to

this date.




Diesel Engines: Urban Areas


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans

to limit the use of diesel generators in town centres.


The Government currently regulates the use of generators with a thermal input of

over 1 megawatt in order to minimise the negative impact on air quality, in particular

nitrogen oxide emissions.

The Clean Air Strategy, published earlier this year, recognises the scope for

potentially tighter controls in the future, both in terms of size of generator and level of

emissions. It also commits to exploring the use of environmental permitting for

significant non-road mobile machinery sources where appropriate, including

generators.

Electronic Training Aids

Nic Dakin: [249947]

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

Department plans to bring forward legislation to ban the use of electronic shock collars.

David Rutley:

The Government will introduce the necessary legislation in due course.

Food: Packaging

Ian Murray: [251953]

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

Department is taking to encourage major supermarket chains to stop using plastic

packaging for fruit and vegetables.


The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations already require all retailers to

ensure that all their packaging does not exceed what is needed to make sure the

products are safe, hygienic and acceptable for both the packed product and for the

consumer. As part of the Resources and Waste Strategy, we have committed to

review the effectiveness of these regulations by the end of next year.

We are also consulting on reforms to the way we manage packaging waste. We have

set out in our consultation options for how we want to enhance the incentive for

producers to make better packaging design choices.

Plastic packaging for some fruit and vegetables can extend their shelf life, which can

help to reduce food waste.




Grouse Moors


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

the public purse is of subsidies for grouse moor management; and what assessment he

has made of the effect of those subsidies on the economy.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Government does not make subsidies available specifically for grouse moor

management, although such land may qualify for Basic Payment Scheme payments

and environmental schemes.

Hares Preservation Act 1892

George Eustice: [251294]

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

maximum penalty is for a breach of the Hares Preservation Act 1892.


The current maximum penalty for a breach of the Hares Preservation Act 1892 is

level 1 on the standard scale, i.e. £200.

Hedges and Ditches

Mr Laurence Robertson: [251892]

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

taking to protect hedgerows as habitats for wildlife; and if he will make a statement.


I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood

Green, Catherine West, on 15 April 2019 to PQ 242911.

Pheasants: Imports

Kerry McCarthy: [251253]

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

pheasant (a) eggs for hatching and (b) live birds were imported into England from each

(a) EU and (b) third country in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Kerry McCarthy: [251254]

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

partridge (a) eggs for hatching and (b) live birds were imported into England from each

(a) EU country and (b) third country in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Rutley:

The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into England from the

EU between 1 May 2018 and 30 April 2019 was:






SPECIES COMMODITY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TOTAL

Partridge Live Birds France 1,722,269

Spain 465,168

Partridge Total 2,187,437

Pheasant Hatching Eggs France 17,627,250

Poland 1,241,460

Portugal 142,630

Spain 767,260

Live Birds Belgium 12,000

France 5,382,706

Ireland 1,000

Pheasant Total 25,174,306

The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into the UK from third

countries between 1 May 2018 and 30 April 2019 was:

Hatching eggs – 54,600

Live birds – 5,250

All imports were from the USA.

There are no recorded figures for partridge hatching eggs imported from the EU. In

addition, there were no imports of partridge live birds or hatching eggs from third

countries.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is not able to determine how many of the above

imports from third countries were imported into England.

Solid Fuels: Prices


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

he has had with retailers on all solid fuel prices across England as part of his

Department’s consultation on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood; and if he

will make a statement.


During the consultation period various respondents sent in their own price analyses.

These note that there are price differentials associated with volumes purchased and


seasonality as well as between differing locations across England. We are taking this

information into account as we develop our analysis.


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

his Department has undertaken with the Competition and Markets Authority regarding

competition in the solid fuel market in England as part of his Department’s consultation on

cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood; and if he will make a statement.


Defra has not held discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority as part of

its consultation on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Afghanistan: Sikhs

John Spellar: [251206]

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

his Department has made of the level of threat to the Sikh community in Afghanistan.

Mark Field:

Security remains an ongoing challenge in Afghanistan. The Afghan National Defence

and Security Forces are committed to tackling this threat. As part of NATO's Resolute

Support Mission, the UK supports the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces

in its efforts to improve security for all communities.

Ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, including the Christian, Sikh and Hindu

communities, continue to face challenges. We regularly raise human rights issues

with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all

ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution. The UK condemns in the

strongest possible terms the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. Last

year, I publicly condemned the 1 July attack on a group of Sikhs and Hindus in

Jalalabad as "a despicable attack on Afghanistan's historic Sikh and Hindu

community".

Arctic: China and Russia


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

discussions he has had with his (a) Russian and (b) Chinese counterparts on the Arctic.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Officials from our Embassy Moscow discussed the importance of continued

international cooperation in the Arctic with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on

6 May. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official also attended the Fifth

International Arctic Forum in St Petersburg on 9 April. The Head of Polar Regions

Department, in the FCO, attended the recent Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in




Rovaniemi, Finland and spoke with the Head of the Chinese Delegation on the

margins. Officials from the British Consulate-General in Shanghai will attend the

Arctic Circle Forum on 10-11 May in Shanghai to further understand China's interest

in the region.

Cameroon: Human Rights

Hilary Benn: [251239]


assessment he has made of the political and human rights situation in Cameroon; and if

he will make a statement.



assessment he has made of the political and humanitarian situation in Cameroon; and if


Harriett Baldwin:

The UK continues to be deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in

the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon and the reports

of human rights violations and abuses committed by both security forces and

separatists. Violence is driving people from their homes, and impacting on the lives of

ordinary civilians, particularly women and children. The UK is providing lifesaving

assistance to 10,000 people in the Anglophone regions following a £2.5m contribution

to UNICEF in December.

The British Government regularly raises concerns about the political, human rights,

and humanitarian situation with the Government of Cameroon. Further to a phone call

in March with Cameroon Prime Minister, Joseph Ngute, on 30 April, I met with the

Cameroon High Commissioner to London to reiterate UK concerns. We discussed

the plight of the 530,000 people who have been internally displaced within the

Anglophone regions, the 32,000 refugees in Nigeria who have fled from the crisis,

and the arrest and detention of Opposition Leader, Maurice Kamto and other political

actors. I urged the Government of Cameroon to urgently take steps to establish a

credible dialogue to tackle the root causes of the crisis in the Anglophone regions,

and ensure fair and timely trial, or release, of detainees. The UK continues to call for

unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations, and investigations into all

reports of human rights violations and abuses. The UK and Austria delivered a joint

statement with support from 37 countries on the deteriorating situation in Cameroon

at the UN Human Rights Council in March, demonstrating the increasing concerns of

the wider international community.



Civil Servants: Training

Lyn Brown: [251281]

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

he has made of the potential merits of increased religious literacy across the Civil

Service.

Mark Field:

The Government has long held the view that religion plays an important role in the

political and social life in many countries throughout the world. The FCO provides a

wide range of resources, including though the Diplomatic Academy, to ensure that

staff, including those across Whitehall working in our overseas posts, understand the

influence that faith can have on foreign policy, and on their specific jobs.

Colombia: Human Rights

Jo Stevens: [252050]


assessment his Department has made of the risks to human rights defenders in

Colombia.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The situation facing human rights defenders in Colombia is concerning: over the past

year they have faced increasing levels of threats, intimidation and killings. We

regularly express our concern over this issue to the Colombian government. On 9

May the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad of

Wimbledon met with Colombian High Counsellor for Stabilisation, Emilio Archila, and

directly raised the issue. Our Embassy in Bogotá funds human rights programmes

that help human rights defenders, and we work closely with civil society groups to

bring individual cases to the Colombian government’s attention.

Hamed bin Haydara

Dr David Drew: [251900]

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

representations at the appeal hearing in the case of Hamed bin Haydara, a Yemeni

member of the Baha’i faith sentenced to death by a Houthi court in Sana’a in January

2018, scheduled for 16 June; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

We strongly condemn Mr bin Haydara's death sentence and the continued

persecution of Baha'is in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We continue to follow the

treatment of the Baha’is in Yemen closely, including through meeting their

representatives in the UK and lobbying the relevant authorities. We continue to call

on the parties to the conflict to respect the human rights of all Yemenis.




Iran: Foreign Relations



assessment he has made of UK relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The UK’s relationship with Iran is complex and based on a long history. Maintaining a

bilateral relationship with Iran provides an opportunity to hold discussions on a range

of issues, including our consular cases, human rights and Iran’s role in the region.

We do not agree on everything, and there are many areas in which we have real

concerns, but through dialogue we seek to influence Iran’s views on the subject that

matter to the UK. I have no plans to make a statement at this time.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe


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

plans to take following the decision for Iranian judges to reopen the second court case

against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

We have never seen the charges against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and are deeply

concerned about reports that she faces a further charge. We continue to raise all our

dual nationals detained in Iran with the Iranian Government at every opportunity, and

make decisions in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their

cases. However, we will not be providing a continuous commentary. We judge this

will not be helpful, or in the best interest of each case.


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

Department is taking to ensure that its recent granting of diplomatic protection for

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is effective.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

Diplomatic protection does not automatically dictate any particular course of action.

We continue to make further diplomatic representations to the Iranian authorities

privately and are continually reviewing what further steps are available to us to help

secure the Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release. We will continue to make decisions in line

with what we believe is in her best interests.

North Korea: Christianity

Lyn Brown: [251291]


assessment he has made of trends in the level of repression of Christians in North Korea.





Mark Field:

The UK continues to have grave concerns over the repression of Christians in North

Korea. The Bishop of Truro’s interim report as part of his independent review into

Christian persecution cites a number of reports on the different forms of persecution

faced by North Koreans who seek to practise Christianity outside of state-controlled

organisations. There is nothing to indicate the situation is getting better. We raised

the lack of freedom of religious belief with the North Korean authorities during their

Universal Periodic Review on 9 May. We will continue working with our international

partners in the Human Rights Council and elsewhere to hold the North Korean

government to account. We continue to urge North Korea to engage positively with

the international community on this issue, including through our Embassy in

Pyongyang.

Religious Freedom

Lyn Brown: [251282]

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

assessment of the merits of extending the remit of the review of religious persecution led

by the Bishop of Truro to (a) the Department for International Development, (b) the

Department for International Trade, (c) the Home Office, (d) the Cabinet Office and (e)

the National Security Office.

Mark Field:

The Review was commissioned by the Foreign Secretary into the work of the Foreign

and Commonwealth Office, so it would be inappropriate for it to review, or make

recommendations for, other departments. However, other government departments

may wish to take note of the Review report and its findings.

St Helena: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: [251369]

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

price for which the Saint Helena Government sold commercial fishing licences to the

Argos Fishing Company in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The sale of commercial fishing licenses is the responsibility of the St Helena

Government.



(a) permitted geographic catch locations and (b) permitted species and catch volumes

under licenses sold by the Saint Helena Government to the Argos Fishing Company in (i)

2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The sale of commercial fishing licenses is the responsibility of the St Helena

Government.






level of subsidy paid to the Saint Helena Fisheries Corporation from the UK public purse

in the years (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Any financial support to the St Helena Fishery Corporation is determined by the St

Helena Government.


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

conditions are under which fishing licenses are sold by the Saint Helena Government;

how conditions on those licences are enforced by the Saint Helena Government; and if


Sir Alan Duncan:

The St Helena Government are responsible for selling and administering commercial

fishing licences.

St Helena: Fishing Vessels



income from fishing vessel registration fees paid to the Saint Helena Government by the

Argos Fishing Company in the years (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Any commercial agreements between Argos Fishing company and the St Helena

Government are a matter for the St Helena Government.

Yemen: Capital Punishment


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

representations he has made to the Houthi regime in Yemen on the use of the death

penalty; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every

country, including Yemen. We regularly raise human rights concerns at the highest

levels with the Houthi regime.





HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Asthma: Air Pollution


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

of the recent trends in air quality on the well being of people with a diagnosis of asthma

across the UK.

Seema Kennedy:

Short-term peaks of air pollution are associated with a range of adverse health effects

including exacerbation of asthma.

Public Health England (PHE) has not made any specific assessment of the impact of

air pollution on the well-being of people with asthma diagnosis, across the United

Kingdom.

PHE is continuously developing and reviewing the evidence on the health effects of

air pollution, to help reduce the health burden attributable to air pollution in England,

for the general population and vulnerable groups, including those suffering from

asthma. Examples of this can be seen at the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-

matters-air-pollution

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/committee-on-the-medical-effects-of-air-

pollutants-comeap

PHE will start a project in September 2019 to examine any associations in seasonal

variation of fungal spores with asthma incidence that may also consider pollution

levels.

Asthma: Medical Treatments


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

taking to ensure that people with a diagnosis of asthma have access to the medication

required to deal with that condition.

Seema Kennedy:

As set out in the Long Term Plan, pharmacists in primary care networks will

undertake a range of medicine reviews for asthma patients, including – patient

education on inhaler use; encouraging uptake of dry powder inhalers where clinically

appropriate; and the uptake of new smart inhalers and other treatments as clinically

indicated.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution



https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/committee-on-the-medical-effects-of-air-pollutants-comeap




Autism: Diagnosis

Dr Paul Williams: [252022]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral

contribution of the Minister for Care of 8 May 2019, Official Report, column 432, when the

data on autism diagnosis waiting times will be published.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Department is determined to drive up performance on autism diagnosis

nationally. To support this NHS Digital began formally collecting autism diagnosis

waiting time data from mental health provider trusts for the first time through the

Mental Health Services Data set in April 2018. Data is submitted on behalf of autism

diagnostic services, in line with issued guidance. We expect to publish a report after a

year’s data has been collected and analysed, this autumn. As this is the first time this

data is being submitted some work to improve its quality may be necessary.

Blood: Contamination


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what new medical checks his

Department has put in place to ensure that no NHS blood supplies are contaminated.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The National Health Service blood supply chain has rigorous safety standards

making the United Kingdom blood supply one of the safest in the world. Every donor

completes an extensive donor health check questionnaire before each donation. This

is designed to identify donors who have a recognisable risk of infection who can then

be excluded or subject to further testing. Those considered at risk are asked to defer

donation until it is safe for them to do so.

All blood donations are routinely tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, HIV,

syphilis and for first time donors, human T-lymphotropic virus, before they are sent to

hospitals and released into the supply chain. If any blood donation tests positive for

infection it is not released into the blood supply chain.

NHS Blood and Transplant and the other UK blood services are subject to regular

inspections by independent regulators and NHS Blood and Transplant safety policy is

formulated by two independent advisory committees; the Joint United Kingdom Blood

Transfusion Services Professional Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee

on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs. NHS Blood and Transplant, along with

the other UK Blood Services, established a UK blood supply surveillance scheme

where all hospitals in the UK report, as a condition of their registration, any

recognised or unexpected reactions to blood products. This allows constant vigilance

to any possible threat to the safety of the blood supply.



Blood: Viral Diseases

Sir Peter Bottomley: [249818]

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

Department has made of the potential merits of trialling opt-out testing for (a) hepatitis C,

(b) HIV and (c) other blood-borne viruses in emergency care settings.

Seema Kennedy:

NHS England specialised commissioning does not run a national programme of opt-

out screening within emergency care settings. NHS England is aware of some

hospital trusts that have implemented an opt-out screening protocol within emergency

care settings, but this is not routine practice in all hospitals. Where opt-out is

implemented there are posters on display advising patients, attending the emergency

department, that they will be tested unless they tell their attending clinician that they

want to opt-out and do not wish to be tested.

Opportunistic testing for blood-borne diseases may also occur in non-traditional

healthcare settings frequently used by people who inject drugs (or used to), such as

doctors’ surgeries, community pharmacies, prisons and sexual health centres.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24

April 2019 to Question 244142 on Cannabis: Medical Treatments, whether his

Department defines Naboline as a cannabis imitating rather than cannabis derived

product.



April 2019 to Question 244142 on Cannabis: Medical Treatments, when (a) Naboline and

(b) Savitex were first made available to prescribe on the NHS.

Seema Kennedy:

The Department recognises both Nabilone and Sativex as licensed cannabis-based

medicines. Neither, however, falls within the scope of the definition of a ‘cannabis-

based product for medicinal use’ under the recent change to the law.

Nabilone is a synthetic non-natural cannabinoid that mimics delta-9-

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It was issued a marketing authorisation by the

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), for nausea and

vomiting caused by chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately

to conventional antiemetic treatments, on 14 February 1995. There are no restrictions

on its prescribing in the National Health Service.

Sativex (nabiximols) is an oromucosal spray that contains THC and cannabidiol

(CBD). It was issued a marketing authorisation by the MHRA, for treatment of

spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis who have failed to respond adequately to

other anti-spasticity medications, on 16 June 2010. In October 2014, the National




Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended that Sativex is not offered for

use on the NHS because it is not a cost-effective treatment. Sativex therefore is not

routinely prescribed on the NHS, and can only be prescribed for an individual patient,

where local governance and funding arrangements allow for this.



April 2019 to Question 244142 on Cannabis: Medical Treatments, whether his

Department is aware of any instances of (a) CBD and (b) THC being prescribed by the

NHS since 1 January 2019.

Seema Kennedy:

The published data shows that the following number of items of Nabilone (a synthetic

product which mimics tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) and Sativex (a product containing

natural THC and cannabidiol (CBD)) were dispensed in January and February 2019.

NUMBER OF PRESCRIPTION ITEMS

January 2019 February 2019

Nabilone 44 36

Sativex 167 159

Data, from the NHS Business Services Authority for January and February 2019,

suggest that three National Health Service prescriptions were dispensed for

unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use in primary care in England

during this time. Additionally, the NHS Business Services Authority data report that

10 private prescriptions were dispensed for unlicensed cannabis-based products for

medicinal use in January and February 2019.

Unlike NHS primary care where all dispensed prescriptions are processed centrally,

this is not the case for secondary care. This information is collected by a third party

and not routinely published.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Death

Andy Slaughter: [251937]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many deaths were caused

by Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in affected areas in England during the air

pollution episode in April 2019; and what comparative assessment he has made of the

figures for that period with (a) expected average and (b) average over the last five years.

Seema Kennedy:

According to the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) there were ‘moderate’ to ‘very high’

levels of air pollution in some areas of the United Kingdom between 7 and 8 April and

between 15 to 25 April 2019. The figures for deaths caused by chronic obstructive



pulmonary disease in this period are not available in the requested format and a

comparative assessment has not been made.

In January 2019 the Government launched the Clean Air Strategy, which sets out

plans for dealing with all sources of air pollution to save lives, protect nature and

boost the economy.

Eating Disorders


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to enforce

NICE guidance on Eating disorders: recognition and treatment, to ensure that people with

a healthy BMI are not denied treatment for an eating disorder.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on ‘Eating

disorders: recognition and treatment’ makes it clear that a person’s Body Mass Index

is just one of the factors that should be taken into account to determine whether to

offer treatment for an eating disorder, but that it should not be used on its own.

Clinical commissioning groups and providers of healthcare are expected to have

regard to national guidance and are responsible for developing their own local

approaches to its implementation taking into account local priorities and needs.

Food: Labelling

Paula Sherriff: [252038]

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

is making on introducing comprehensive calorie labelling for food and drink served out of

the home; and when his Department plans to publish the results of the consultation on

that matter, which closed on 25 October 2018.

Seema Kennedy:

The consultation on calorie labelling for food and drink served outside of the home

took place between 14 September and 7 December 2018. We will publish the results

and set out the timetable for further action later this year.

General Practitioners: Students



taking to ensure that university students have access to a GP outside of term time.

Seema Kennedy:

In the event that students cannot access their usual university general practitioner

(GP) outside of term time then they can receive care by registering as a temporary

resident elsewhere.




Guidance has recently been issued by NHS England for GP practices on registering

temporary residents. This is part of the 2019/20 guidance and audit requirements for

the General Medical Services contract, and can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/investment/gp-contract/

Health Services: Artificial Intelligence


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

has issued to businesses in the healthcare sector on preparing their workforce for the

effect of the introduction of Artificial Intelligence.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department is leading on the Prime Minister’s Mission to ‘Use data, Artificial

Intelligence and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment

of chronic diseases by 2030.’ We hope that as we work towards this overall goal, we

can ensure that patients experience better care, clinicians deliver better care,

commissioners are better able to commission data-driven technologies and the

United Kingdom is a great place to do business in artificial intelligence for health and

care.

We are working in partnership with organisations across the National Health Service,

the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Office for Life Sciences,

Office for Artificial Intelligence and Better Regulation Executive to engage with

businesses in the sector so that we benefit from the potential for artificial intelligence

to improve care, deliver better outcomes, contribute to efficiency in the health and

care system and contribute to the wider economy. In September 2018, we published

the Code of Conduct for Data-Driven Health and Care Technology, which clearly sets

out the behaviours we expect from those developing artificial intelligence and related

technologies. The Code was updated in February 2019 based on feedback, including

from industry partners, and we are working with them to develop case studies

showing good practice in complying with the Code. We are also developing tools to

help businesses comply the Code of Conduct.

We are also working closely with Health Education England as they follow through on

the recommendations made by the Topol Review ‘Preparing the healthcare workforce

to deliver the digital future.’

In March 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published its

Evidence Standards Framework for Digital Health Technologies, outlining the

evidence required by businesses to demonstrate the effectiveness and economic

impact of digital health technologies.

Hepatitis: Disease Control


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

Department has made of the potential merits of producing a hepatitis C elimination





strategy to support the recently announced NHS England deal to help eliminate hepatitis

C.

Seema Kennedy:

The Government is committed to meeting the World Health Organization (WHO)

target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030 but there are no plans at this time to publish

a strategy to eliminate hepatitis C. A variety of initiatives are underway in England to

improve awareness and case finding, re-engagement and linkage to care, especially

in drug services, primary care, prisons and accident and emergency centres. In

addition, NHS England is funding access to new hepatitis C treatments in accordance

with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

A summary of progress towards achieving the elimination goal was published in 2017

in Public Health England’s report, ‘Hepatitis C in the UK’ at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632465

/HCV_in_the_uk_report_2017.pdf

This showed that the United Kingdom is on target to meet the WHO interim goal of

reducing hepatitis C mortality by 10% by 2020. Better access to improved treatment

has led to the first fall in deaths from severe hepatitis C related liver disease in a

decade.

Hepatitis: Primary Health Care



taking to improve awareness of hepatitis C among primary care professionals.

Seema Kennedy:

A variety of initiatives are underway in England to improve hepatitis C awareness and

case finding, re-engagement and linkage to care, especially in drug services, primary

care, prisons and accident and emergency centres. In addition, NHS England is

funding access to new hepatitis C treatments in accordance with guidance from the

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Public Health England has developed and shared materials with a range of

stakeholders, including the voluntary sector, to help raise awareness of hepatitis C

infection and highlight the need for those at risk to seek testing and treatment. The

resources and materials available comprise of posters, a quiz, social media videos

and social banners in a variety of different languages; all of these resources are

available online to download or order by healthcare professionals as well as the

public themselves.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632465/HCV_in_the_uk_report_2017.pdf




Hospitals: Discharges

Barbara Keeley: [251993]

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

discharged or transferred under the Transforming Care programme were readmitted to in-

patient facilities within (i) one month, (ii) three months and (iii) one year of their discharge.

Caroline Dinenage:

Figures for inpatient admissions within the month by admissions status are attached.

Admission status is calculated for all admissions within the period and looking to see

if the patient had previously been receiving inpatient care. It provides information for

readmissions in the last 30 days, 90 days and within the last year.

The Assuring Transformation collection covers England, but includes patients whose

care is commissioned in England and provided elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Data is submitted monthly so coverage varies month-on-month. Therefore, caution

should be taken when interpreting the data.

Attachments:

1. PQ251993 [Copy of PQ 251993 (002) v2.xlsx]


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

the Transforming Care programme were delayed due to inadequate funding for an

alternative placement in each 12-month period between March 2015 and March 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) number and (b)

value of payments made by NHS bodies to local authorities under the Transforming Care

programme to support patients discharged in each 12-month period was between March

2015 and March 2019.

Caroline Dinenage:

The information on delayed discharges is not held in the format requested. NHS

Digital routinely publishes the number of delayed discharges in relation to the

Transforming Care programme in their monthly Assuring Transformation (AT)

publication which can be found at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disability-

services-statistics

The most recent AT data indicates that in March 2019, there were 105 delayed

discharges.

The AT data includes the reason for discharge. In March 2019 the reason for a

delayed discharge was as follows:




https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disability-services-statistics



REASON FOR DELAYED DISCHARGE NUMBER OF INPATIENTS*

Lack of agreed health care funding 10

Lack of agreed social care funding 15

Awaiting non-acute NHS care 5

Awaiting residential home 30

Awaiting nursing home 0

Awaiting care package in own home 10

Awaiting community equipment 0

Patient or family choice 10

Lack of local health provision 10

Lack of social care support 20

Lack of suitable housing provision 40

Other reason for delay 50

Total delayed discharges 105

Note:

* The reasons do not sum to the total number of delays as there may be multiple

reasons assigned.

NHS England does not hold information on the number and value of payments made

by NHS bodies to local authorities under the Transforming Care programme to

support patients discharged in each 12-month period between March 2015 and

March 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, under the Transforming Care

programme how many patients have died prior to discharge in each 12-month period

between March 2015 and March 2019.

Caroline Dinenage:

The following patient deaths were recorded in the Assuring Transformation dataset

between March 2015 and March 2019:

YEAR NUMBER OF PATIENT DEATHS*

1 March 2015 - 31 March 2016 15

1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017 15


YEAR NUMBER OF PATIENT DEATHS*

1 April 2017 – 31 March 2018 10

1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019 10

Total number of deaths** 45

Notes:

* These figures are rounded and so the total does not equal the sum of the individual

years.

** There are an additional four patients known to NHS England but not recorded in

Assuring Transformation data. NHS England does not have a date of death for these

cases.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, under the Transforming Care

programme how many patients have had discharge dates set which have now passed

without the patient being discharged.

Caroline Dinenage:

NHS Digital routinely publishes the number of delayed discharges in relation to the

Transforming Care programme in their monthly Assuring Transformation (AT)

publication which can be found at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/learning-disability-

services-statistics

The most recent AT data indicates that in March 2019, there were 105 delayed

discharges.

Medical Records: Databases

Tom Brake: [251878]


May 2019 to Question 247544, if the Government will conduct a review of its policy of

charging commercial, public sector and charitable organisations to access patient data.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

As stated in response to Question 247544, organisations may seek to recover the

costs of processing and providing data. This position remains under review.






Mental Capacity

Julian Sturdy: [250452]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to

ensure that the framework for mental capacity and deprivation of liberty measures are

kept under continuous review.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill introduces a new Liberty Protection

Safeguards model, which will replace the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The new model will be set out in a statutory Code of Practice, which will provide

guidance to practitioners and individuals. This will include where a deprivation of

liberty does and does not apply. The Government has committed to initially reviewing

the Code within three years of the new system coming into force and then within five

years of any previous review. These reviews will help inform whether the system is

working as intended.

Mental Health Inter-ministerial Group

Luciana Berger: [252089]


February 2019 to Question 214539 on Mental Health Inter-ministerial Group, on what

date the inter-ministerial group for mental health last met; and what items were on the

agenda.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The inter-ministerial group for mental health met on 29 April 2019. The agenda

included discussion on the progress of the Government’s existing mental health

commitments and new challenges going forward.

Mental Health Services: Wirral


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

made of the adequacy of access to mental health services for (a) adults, (b) children and

(c) young people in Wirral.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department has made no such assessment. Clinical commissioning groups are

responsible for ensuring adequate provision and access to mental health services for

their local populations. Following a detailed procurement exercise, Wirral Health and

Care Commissioning appointed a new provider for its Improving Access to

Psychological Therapies service which commenced in April 2019. The service is

available for those over 18 experiencing common mental health problems.

Wirral Health and Care Commissioning is also working with local providers to look at

areas of transformation needed to reduce the waits and improve patient experience




and access in secondary care, for children and young people and adults. This will

include crisis care and physical health in serious mental illness.

In its Long Term Plan, the National Health Service has committed to test and roll out

comprehensive waiting time standards for adults and children over the next decade.

This builds on existing waiting times targets for psychological therapies, and for

treatment for first episode psychosis and children and young people with eating

disorders, which are all being met or on track for delivery by 2020/21 in line with

previous commitments.

NHS and Social Services: Migrant Workers


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has

had with the Home Secretary on ensuring that the recruitment of overseas staff into the

(a) NHS and (b) social care sector is not adversely affected by the new immigration

framework.

Stephen Hammond:

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular

discussions with the Home Secretary on a range of subjects including the future

immigration system and its impact on the health and social care sectors.

NHS: Drugs

Anne Marie Morris: [252063]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Health

Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018, how many

times his Department has sought information relating to bespoke medicines from small

producers with an annual NHS turnover of less than £5 million; and whether he plans to

make an assessment on the potential merits of requiring all small producers to

automatically supply quarterly information on those medicines.



Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018, what

criteria his Department uses to decide on which small producers to seek information from.

Seema Kennedy:

The Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations

2018 (the Regulations) prescribe when manufacturers, importers and wholesalers of

special medicinal products are required to provide information. Since the Regulations

entered into force, quarterly information has been received in November 2018 and

February 2019 and information is again due at the end of May 2019. The requirement

to provide quarterly sales, purchase and volume information about special medicinal

products already applies to all manufacturers, importers and wholesalers regardless

of their size. Therefore, there is no need for an assessment on the potential merits of

requiring all small producers to automatically supply quarterly information.






Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018, what steps

he is taking to ensure that (a) wholesalers and (b) importers are providing his Department

with information on medicines.

Seema Kennedy:

The Department is undertaking an exercise to ensure that all companies that are

required to provide quarterly information under the Health Service Products

(Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) are

doing so. Where they are not, the Department will consider taking the appropriate

action provided for in the Regulations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to use the

powers set out in the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information)

Regulations 2018 to seek information on the special health service medicine selected yy

medical professional bodies.

Seema Kennedy:

The Department selects medicines to be included in the quarterly collection of

information on special medicinal products based on the level of prescribing. If medical

professional bodies have selected special medicinal products that they believe should

be included with a reimbursement price in Part VIIIB of the Drug Tariff then the

Department will consider including those products in the quarterly collection, but only

if those products are prescribed in primary care. If products are not prescribed in

primary care then there is no sales, purchase and volume information for special

medicinal products supplied to primary care that can be provided by suppliers in the

quarterly information collection.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Sir Desmond Swayne: [251187]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to

ensure that patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment are charged the relevant

fee; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond:

Under the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amended)

Regulations 2017, providers of National Health Service secondary funded care are

required by law to make and recover costs from patient who are not ordinarily

resident in the United Kingdom where no category of exemption applies. In cases

where treatment is non-urgent, providers are required to recover costs in advance of

treatment.

In order to assist providers in doing this, the Department has issued guidance to

providers of NHS funded secondary care ‘Guidance on implementing the overseas




visitors charging regulations’ which set out the rules and best practices processes to

follow to recover costs for treatment, including identifying those who may be

chargeable and ensuring they are charged the relevant fee. This includes identifying

those patients whose treatment costs may be subject to reciprocal healthcare

arrangements, including the European Health Insurance Card. The national guidance

sets out that those patients who are identified as chargeable must be charged using

either the national tariff or a locally agreed tariff if there is no national tariff for the

treatment provided.

NHS: Migrant Workers

Layla Moran: [251433]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an

estimate of the number of EU nationals who have left their jobs at (a) NHS England and

(b) Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the last (i) year, (ii) two years

and (iii) three years.

Stephen Hammond:

The following table shows the number of EU27 leavers from NHS England as at

September each year since 2015 and to January 2019, headcount.

LEAVERS FROM NHS ENGLAND

September 2015 - September 2016 19



September 2018 - January 2019 30

Source: Electronic Staff Record

NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce

statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning

groups, but not staff working in in general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or

other providers.

The following table shows the number of EU27 leavers from Oxford University

Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as at September each year since 2015 and to

January 2019 (the latest data), headcount.

TIME PERIOD

LEAVERS FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

NHS FOUNDATION TRUST




TIME PERIOD

LEAVERS FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

NHS FOUNDATION TRUST


September 2018 - January 2019 138

Source: National Health Service HCHS monthly workforce statistics, NHS Digital

Notes:

The total number of EU27 nationals leaving each organisation is smaller than the

total number of EU27 nationals who joined between September 2015 and September

2018.

Nationality is self-reported.

Leavers data from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust may include

staff that have left to join other NHS trusts.

Leavers data includes people leaving active service temporarily, this would include

those going on maternity leave or career break.

NHS: Vacancies

Sir Greg Knight: [251914]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS positions were

vacant as of 30 April 2019 (a) in Yorkshire and (b) at Bridlington hospital.

Stephen Hammond:

The data is not available in the format requested.

NHS Improvement produces statistics on the number of vacancies for each trust in

England. The vacancy statistics are published at the regional level of North, Midlands

and East, London and South. The published data is not available at the county level

of Yorkshire or Bridlington hospital.

The latest NHS Improvement report can be found in the following link:

https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/4942/Performance_of_the_NHS_provider_se

ctor_for_the_quarter_ended_31_Dec_2018.pdf

Nurses: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken

to ensure the adequate remuneration of nurses at all pay bands.

Stephen Hammond:

In June 2018 we agreed the Agenda for Change three year pay and contract reform

deal which will see nearly one million National Health Service workers benefit over

three years.


https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/4942/Performance_of_the_NHS_provider_sector_for_the_quarter_ended_31_Dec_2018.pdf




The deal gave all staff, including nurses in all pay bands, a pay rise of at least 3% for

2018/19. Over the course of the three years, nurses at the top of their pay band will

receive a total pay increase of 6.5% and those below the top of their pay band, due to

reforms to the pay structure (higher starting pay and fewer pay points), will see pay

rises of between 9% and 29%.

The basic pay for a newly qualified nurse will rise from £22,128 to £24,907 over the

three years.

In addition to basic pay, nurses are paid for working unsocial hours and an additional

allowance if they work in and around London. The average earnings of a qualified

nurse as at December 2018 was £32,280.

The deal was negotiated and agreed with the NHS trade unions and supported by the

independent NHS Pay Review Body.

Obesity: Children



May 2019 to Question 249880, which local authorities have received funding to deliver

the trailblazer programme.

Seema Kennedy:

The local authorities that have gone through to the discovery phase of the Trailblazer

Programme and received funding are:

- Bath and North East Somerset Council;

- Birmingham City Council;

- Blackburn with Darwen Council;

- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council;

- London Borough of Havering;

- London Borough of Lewisham;

- Middlesbrough Council;

- North Tyneside Council;

- North Yorkshire County Council;

- Nottinghamshire County Council;

- Peterborough City Council;

- Rochdale Borough Council; and

- Walsall Council.

The next phase of the Trailblazer Programme begins early this summer when five

authorities will be selected from this list to take forward their plans to address

childhood obesity at local level over the next three years.


Ophthalmic Services: ICT

Alistair Burt: [R] [249879]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has

to allocate funding to IT connectivity for primary care optical practices to ensure safe and

efficient referrals to hospital eye departments.

Seema Kennedy:

The Department has no plans to allocate funding to enable IT connectivity between

primary care optical practices and hospital eye departments. NHS England is

continuing to work with the eye care sector and other key stakeholders on this area of

work and will be considering priorities for IT investment later this year.

Ovarian Cancer


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Seema Kennedy:

Prevention is a key focus of the NHS Long Term Plan, which sets out plans to tackle

risk factors for cancer such as obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking. This will

have a significant impact on improving health, including for those who are at risk of

developing ovarian cancer. Over the next 10 years the National Health Service will

extend the use of molecular diagnostic testing and routine offering genomic testing to

all patients with cancer for whom it would be of clinical benefit.

From 2019 we will start the roll-out of new Rapid Diagnostic Centres across the

country to upgrade and bring together the latest diagnostic equipment and expertise,

building on 10 models piloted with Cancer Research UK, which have focused on

diagnosing cancers where patients often present with non-specific symptoms, often

the case with ovarian cancer, and may go to their general practitioner many times

before being sent for tests, such as blood and stomach cancers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

improve the treatment of ovarian cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Seema Kennedy:

The NHS Cancer Programme is committed through the NHS Long Term Plan to

improve access to treatments for all cancer patients and reduce health inequalities.

Cancer Alliances are working with local sustainability and transformation partnerships

and integrated care systems to reduce variation on patient outcomes and experience.




Pregnancy: Screening

Jo Swinson: [251992]

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

of the potential benefits to maternal and neonatal outcomes of offering 36 week

ultrasound scans to identify breech babies.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard

relating the best antenatal care (QS22) states that women with a suspected breech

presentation at 36 weeks or later should be referred for confirmatory ultrasound

assessment. Quality Standard 22 was published in September 2012 and was most

recently updated in April 2016.

Quality Standards are important in setting out to patients, the public, commissioners

and providers what a high-quality service should look like in a particular area of care.

Whilst providers and commissioners must have regard to NICE QSs in planning and

delivering services, they do not provide a comprehensive service specification and

are not mandatory.

Psychiatry



taking to tackle the imbalance between London and the rest of England in the number of

psychiatrists per head of population.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The allocation of training places/posts in psychiatry is determined centrally by Health

Education England’s (HEE’s) workforce planning team. Training allocations are

normally based on historical allocations, adjusted by weighted capitation and other

factors such as deprivation and health inequalities.

As part of the workforce strategy ‘Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future’, HEE is

looking at incentives to retain the workforce outside of London. For example, some

areas offer Fellowships for Specialist and Associate Specialist doctors or Foundation

doctors that include support for schooling and housing together with a package of

education support and guaranteed employment for two to three years.

In the NHS Long Term Plan, HEE and its partners have committed to developing

further incentives to ensure that the specialty choices of trainees meet the needs of

patients by matching specialty and geographical needs, especially in primary care,

community care and mental health services.

Public Health: Finance

Sir Alan Campbell: [249888]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Spending Review

will include targeted investment in public health to improve regional health outcomes.




Seema Kennedy:

Local authorities will receive over £3.1 billion in 2019/20 for use on public health.

Future funding priorities will be determined through the Spending Review process. In

its Long Term Plan, the National Health Service has already committed to strengthen

action on prevention and health inequalities. All local health systems will be expected

to set out in 2019 how they will reduce health inequalities by 2023/24 and 2028/29.

Vicky Foxcroft: [250010]

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

Department has made of the effect of changes in the level of public health budgets on

patients’ health.

Seema Kennedy:

Local authorities will receive over £3.1 billion in 2019/20 for use on public health. It is

for local authorities themselves to determine how best to use these resources based

on their assessment of local need and with regard to their statutory duties. This

funding is in addition to what the National Health Service spends on preventative

interventions such as immunisation and screening, including over £1.2 billion on

national public health functions in 2018/19.

Public Health England monitors and publishes data on trends for the wide range of

indicators of public health set out in the Public Health Outcomes Framework. Most

are stable or improving. The framework can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-health-outcomes-framework


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the

Consensus Statement, published by Cancer Research UK on 7 May 2019, what

assessment he has made of the implications of that statement for his Department's policy

on ensuring that there is a sustainable funding solution for public health services provided

by local authorities.

Seema Kennedy:

Local authorities will receive over £3.1 billion in 2019/20 for use on public health. It is

for local authorities themselves to determine how best to use these resources based

on their assessment of local need and with regard to their statutory duties. This

funding is in addition to what the National Health Service spends on public health,

which included over £1.2 billion in 2018/19 on national public health programmes

such as immunisations and screening. Future funding arrangements for local

authorities’ health duties will be considered carefully in the next spending review, in

the light of all the available evidence.





HOME OFFICE

101 Calls: Fees and Charges


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total amount of charges

to people for calls made to the 101 line was in each year since that line has been in

operation.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make calls to the police

on the non-emergency 101 number free of charge or require that all funds raised from

those call charges be allocated towards frontline policing.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion

of calls made to the police on the non-emergency 101 number are terminated by the

caller while they are waiting for a person to answer that call.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Office does not hold information on total amount of charges for calls to

101.

The Home Office is reviewing charges for the 101 non-emergency telephone number.

While it may not be an option for everyone, the public can also report non-emergency

crimes online via forces’ websites, free of charge. The Home Office is supporting the

digital transformation of policing through programmes such as the Digital Policing

Portfolio (DPP), led by the NPCC. Within the DPP, the Digital Public Contact

programme aims to provide appropriate digital channels for the public to report and

track crime online, facilitating greater public-police interaction in real time.

The Home Office does not hold data on calls to 101 terminated by the caller.


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

of the potential merits of abolishing the charge for phone calls to the 101 non emergency

number.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans

to abolish the 15 pence charge for 101 calls to the emergency services.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Office is reviewing charges for the 101 non-emergency telephone number.

While it may not be an option for everyone, the public can also report non-emergency

crimes online via forces’ websites, free of charge. The Home Office is supporting the

digital transformation of policing through programmes such as the Digital Policing

Portfolio (DPP), led by the NPCC. Within the DPP, the Digital Public Contact






programme aims to provide appropriate digital channels for the public to report and

track crime online, facilitating greater public-police interaction in real time.

Animal Experiments


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which animals have been

licensed for animal experimentation in the UK for any of the last three years figures which

are available.

Mr Ben Wallace:

All animal species that were used in regulated procedures in Great Britain can be

found in Table 1 of the data tables published within the ‘Statistics of Scientific

Procedures on Living Animals’ statistical

reports.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-

on-living-animals

There is a further breakdown, for the 2017 year only, of those included within the

‘other’ species categories. This can be found within Table 12 of the data tables

published in the 2017 statistical report.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-

animals-great-britain-2017

In 2017, the majority of experimental procedures used mice, fish and rats. Together

these three species accounted for 87% of experimental procedures in Great Britain

For Northern Ireland, the Department of Health separately collects and publishes

information on regulated procedures under devolved arrangements

The animal species used in regulated procedures in Northern Ireland can also be

found in Table 1 of the data tables published within the ‘Statistics of Scientific

Procedures on Living Animals in Northern Ireland’ reports. https://www.health-

ni.gov.uk/publications/statistics-scientific-procedures-living-animals-northern-ireland

Animal Experiments: Primates


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what primates were used in

animal experimentation; and from which countries in each of the last three years figures

are available.

Mr Ben Wallace:

Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain are

published on an annual basis. The reports for the last three years are available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-

living-animals.

The number of non-human primates used for the first time in procedures in that year

is given in Table 1a of the data tables published in each of the last three statistical

reports.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2017



https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/statistics-scientific-procedures-living-animals-northern-ireland




The place of birth of non-human primates used for the first time in experimental

procedures by species in that year is given in Table 2.2 of the data tables published

in each of the last three statistical reports. Place of birth is presented by whether the

animals were born in the UK, EU, Asia, America, Africa or elsewhere. Data are not

collected on the specific country of birth.

Asylum: Applications


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of

the average time taken by his Department to make a decision on an asylum application in

each of the last ten years.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office does not publish data on the average time taken to make a decision

on an asylum application in each of the last ten years, nor is that information

available in a retrievable format. However, the Home Office do publish data on the

number of pending applications that have been awaiting an initial decision for more or

less than 6 months. This data can be found at Volume 1, as_01 of the Immigration

Statistics December 2018:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-

december-2018/list-of-tables#asylum

Asylum: Religion

Afzal Khan: [251363]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26

March 2019 to Question 235381 on Asylum: Religion, what progress his Department has

made on investigating reports that asylum refusals have included quotations from

religious texts; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

After reports indicated that an asylum decision included quotations from religious

texts and was not drafted in accordance with Home Office policy guidance, Asylum

Operations conducted an investigation into this matter. A small number of religious

conversion cases were sampled, and no further cases were identified during this

sampling exercise.

All such decisions are currently subject to further scrutiny, pending the roll out of

additional specialist training, which has been developed in collaboration with the All-

Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The Asylum Learning and Development Team started to deliver the specialist training

package on religious claims on Monday 8 April, which will be mandatory for all

asylum decision-makers.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2018/list-of-tables#asylum




Biometrics: Edinburgh

Ian Murray: [251272]

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

of the effect of the requirement for people from Edinburgh to travel to Glasgow for

biometric enrolment facilities on (a) disabled applicants, (b) applications for family visas

and (c) people of limited means; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UK VCAS) centres are run by Sopra

Steria Ltd (SSL) on behalf of UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI). Sopra Steria, undertook

market research to identify initial service locations; their research included the impact

on customer travel time, cost and accessibility. There are currently six core sites

across the UK at which application submission services are offered free of charge

and beyond that, SSL offer a range of enhanced services in a further 50 locations.

These services enable customers to submit their biometric information (photo and

fingerprints) and supporting evidence in one location. 62% of customers will, on

average, have to travel less than 25 miles to visit a core service centre, with 78%

travelling less than 50 miles. Appointments may be offered for individual customers

and/or family groups to enrol their biometrics together.

SSL continue to assess customer demand, working closely with UKVI, and are

planning to open a further 6 enhanced service locations throughout May and June,

one of which will be offered in Edinburgh.

SSL are required to provide locations that comply with the Equality Act 2010

(including full compliance with the disability discrimination provisions) and biometric

capture solutions are suitable for different customer groups, including customers with

disabilities.

For customers who are eligible to apply using the Service and Support Centres

(SSCs), it is estimated that 62% of customers will be within 30 miles of their nearest

service centre and customers who meet certain criteria, which may include people of

limited means; will be able to apply for travel assistance.

Domestic Abuse

Peter Aldous: [249933]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to

begin its review of the effectiveness of the controlling or coercive behaviour offence; and

if he will consult specialist violence against women and girls organisations as part of that

review.

Victoria Atkins:

On 21 January we published our landmark draft Domestic Abuse Bill and consultation

response which will transform the cross-Government response to this devastating

crime. In our consultation response we committed to review the effectiveness of the



coercive or controlling behaviour offence to ensure it is fit for purpose and that it

adequately protects victims from abuse.

We are in the early stages of establishing the terms of reference for the review, and

will be consulting with relevant Government and external stakeholders accordingly.

Educational Testing Service

Keith Vaz: [249832]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions (a) he

and (b) officials of his Department have met with representatives from ETS in each year

since 2016.

Caroline Nokes:

Details of meetings with ETS representatives is not held centrally. Home Office

Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as

well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the

process of policy development and delivery. Details of Ministerial meetings are

passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on

the Gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/home-office-ministers-hospitality-

data#history

I can, however, confirm that officials met with representatives from ETS Global BV in

2017 to discuss settlement of the legal action the Department had brought against

the company. More recently discussions with ETS have focused on the ongoing

criminal trials of those believed to have helped organise and facilitate fraudulent

activity.

Educational Testing Service: Prosecutions

Keith Vaz: [249830]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employees of ETS

have been prosecuted over cases involving TOEIC English Language tests.

Caroline Nokes:

No individuals employed directly by ETS Global BV have been prosecuted. A number

of individuals who were involved in the running of test centres have been prosecuted.

So far 25 people have been convicted for their role in helping to organise the fraud

with convictions of over 70 years handed down to date.

Entry Clearances: Biometrics

Sir Greg Knight: [251913]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his

Department has made of the (a) accuracy, and (b) ability of facial recognition technology

used at airports.to distinguish between identical twins and other siblings of similar

appearance.


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/home-office-ministers-hospitality-data#history





Caroline Nokes:

Facial recognition technology employed by Border Force at airports is regularly

assessed to ensure that it is operating within operational parameters agreed by

ministers. The technology employs a matching algorithm to distinguish between

individuals to confirm identity. There has been no specific research undertaken by

Border Force or Home Office Biometrics into the ability of facial recognition

algorithms to distinguish between identical twins or sib-lings who look very alike.

Firearms: Licensing


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

had with police forces on potential changes to the firearms licensing policy to require a

medical declaration; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Following the introduction of new medical arrangements for firearms licensing in 2016

we have been in discussions with the police, the relevant medical bodies and

representatives of shooting organisations about improving the arrangements, and

how greater consistency can be achieved across England and Wales.

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State

to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions, and this

guidance will include the relevant medical arrangements. Before issuing the statutory

guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chiefs Council and

the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult

publicly on the guidance before it is finalised. The Government intends to launch the

consultation on the statutory guidance before the summer recess.

Free Movement of People: Arts and Musicians


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure

the maintenance of freedom of movement for touring (a) musicians and (a) artists; and if

he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a two-year multi-entry visa for those

people.

Caroline Nokes:

While the government is clear that free movement will end when we leave the EU, we

are aware that continued access to international talent and the ability for UK talent to

tour are key concerns for the cultural and creative sectors.

Non-EEA musicians and artists can currently enter the UK through a range of routes.

Standard visitors can be paid for their participation at Permit Free Festivals for up to

six months, Permitted Paid Engagement visitors can undertake various engagements

for up to one month and the Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) route permits artists,

performers and their entourage to work in the UK. Tier 5 visas are granted for up to

12 months and can be extended for up to a maximum of 2 years in the UK.



The Home Office has launched a year-long engagement programme on the

proposals in the White Paper on our future skills-based immigration system. The

Home Office is working with DCMS and creative and cultural industries throughout

this process so that Government approaches policy well informed by those working in

the sector.

Home Office: Emerdata


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) his Department, (b)

his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's associated public bodies have

entered into contracts with Emerdata Limited in the last year.

Victoria Atkins:

Our records show that neither; (a) the Home Department, (b) the Department’s

agencies, or (c) the Department’s associated public bodies have entered into any

contracts with Emerdata Limited in the last year.

Home Office are committed to the HMT Transparency Agenda and EU Competition

regulations and therefore all contract requirements and awards that exceed the EU

procurement directives' financial thresholds are advertised in the Supplement to the

Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) via contract notices. Furthermore, all

requirements and contract awards over £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder at

this link: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder .

Home Office: Secondment


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil servants in his

Department have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the European Union

and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three years.

Victoria Atkins:

Please see the table below for the current numbers of civil servants that have

temporarily moved out of the department to take up posts at DIT or DExEU in each of

the last 3 years. The information provided is a list of current/active transfers that

commenced in each of the three years. It is not possible to provide total numbers

across the time period as the data on those that transferred out of the department but

have since returned is not available.

YEAR


EUROPEAN UNION

DEPARTMENT FOR

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

2018/19 9 6

2017/18 4 5


http://ted.publications.eu.int/official/



https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder


YEAR


EUROPEAN UNION

DEPARTMENT FOR

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

2016/17 1 1

Total 14 12

Immigrants: Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers have used

the digital checking service for right to work checks since its launch.

Caroline Nokes:

Statistics on use of the online right to work service will be published as part of the

Home Office’s Transparency Data by the end of the year.

Immigration: EU Nationals


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

Department received during the private beta testing phase of the EU Settlement Scheme;

and what the subject of these complaints was.

Caroline Nokes:

The EU Settlement Scheme makes it simple and straight forward for EU citizens and

their family members who want to stay in the UK to get the immigration status they

need.

Over 31,000 people applied during the two private beta testing phases. Just one

complaint was received through the formal complaints process during this time. The

complaint was in response to a technical issue and was resolved satisfactorily.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to feedback on

the private beta two phase of the EU Settlement Scheme, what feedback was provided

by people who neither spoke highly nor gave a neutral response.

Caroline Nokes:

As part of our commitment to improving the application process for customers,

feedback during both the private beta 1 and 2 phases and the public beta phase was

sought via a voluntary online survey. In total, 1,330 applicants completed the survey

during private beta 2. Of these 61% of customers said they would speak highly of the

application process, 19% said they would be neutral, 19% would be critical and 1%

said they did not know.

Changes were made to the system as a result of this feedback, ahead of the public

beta test phase. In the public beta test phase, 75% of applicants completing the




survey said they would speak highly of the application process, 15% said they would

be neutral and 11% would be critical. With regards to completing the application form,

in the public beta phase 81% said completing the form was either easy of fairly easy

with a further 8% finding it neither difficult or easy.

Overseas Students: English Language

Keith Vaz: [249831]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department has

spent on (a) internal investigations, (b) court fees and (c) deportation in cases involving

TOEIC students since 2016.

Caroline Nokes:

The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office.

Keith Vaz: [249833]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students have taken

the TOEIC English language test since 2016.

Caroline Nokes:

ETS were removed from the list of approved test providers for immigration purposes

on 1 July 2014. A current list of tests and test centres approved by UK Visas and

Immigration to show that applicants have the required level of English for their visa is

available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-

for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests

Police: Pensions

Tim Farron: [250001]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the treatment

of survivor pensions for police widows and widowers is different from that of such

pensions for the widows and widowers of armed forces personnel.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Government believes that there is a specific justification for allowing all surviving

partners of Armed Forces Pension Scheme members to retain their survivor’s

pension for life. The combination of risk to life in the execution of duty and disruption

to family life is unique to Armed Forces personnel.

The Government has accepted that the arguments were compelling in respect of

police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty. Changes to the Police

Pension Scheme were made with effect from April 2015 to allow surviving spouses or

civil partners of those police officers to receive survivor benefits for life.

Ruth George: [250024]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the treatment

of survivor pensions for police widows and widowers is different from that of such

pensions for the widows and widowers of armed forces personnel.





Mr Nick Hurd:

The Government believes that there is a specific justification for allowing all surviving

partners of Armed Forces Pension Scheme members to retain their survivor’s

pension for life. The combination of risk to life in the execution of duty and disruption

to family life is unique to Armed Forces personnel.

The Government has accepted that the arguments were compelling in respect of

police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty. Chang-es to the Police

Pension Scheme were made with effect from April 2015 to allow surviving spouses or

civil partners of those police officers to receive survivor benefits for life.

Theft: Wales



Department has made of trends in the level of reported incidents of (a) burglary and (b)

petty theft in Wales in the last five years.

Victoria Atkins:

We are committed to tackling all forms of acquisitive crime, including burglary. The

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service chaired the first meeting of a new Burglary

Taskforce which brings together the police, industry, charities and others to look at

what more can be done to tackle this crime.

The Office for National Statistics publishes on a quarterly basis the numbers of

crimes reported to and recorded to the four police forces in Wales. Data can be found

in the police force area tables:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/poli

ceforceareadatatables

This includes breakdowns of burglary and other types of theft. There is no specific

classification of ‘petty theft’ and such incidents will be included across a range of theft

types.

UK Visas and Immigration: Conditions of Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum decision

makers are employed in asylum operations offices in (a) Bootle, (b) Croydon, (c) Leeds,

(d) Liverpool, (e) Newcastle and (f) Solihull.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) how many and (b) what

proportion of Asylum Decision Makers are employed on permanent contracts.


https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables






To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Asylum Decision

Makers have had their six-month probation contracts as advertised extended in (a) 2018

and (b) 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum decision

maker posts are currently vacant.

Caroline Nokes:

As of week ending 10 May 2019, the number of asylum decision makers that are

currently employed in asylum operations offices in (a) Bootle, (b) Croydon, (c) Leeds,

(d) Liverpool, (e) Newcastle and (f) Solihull are:

Bootle 113.76 FTE Croydon 69.40 FTE Leeds 54.37 FTE Liverpool 57.66 FTE

Newcastle 32.64 FTE Solihull 34.16 FTE Total 362.00 FTE

Additionally, the Home Office currently employs 171.40 FTE decision makers in other

locations; a total of 533.40 FTE. Of the 533.40 FTE are employed, 532.40 FTE are on

permanent contracts and 1.00 FTE is employed on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA)

contract. The Home Office is currently recruiting and working towards 632.00 FTE

asylum decision makers.

The Home Office is unable to report how many asylum decision makers have had

their six-month probation contracts as advertised extended in (a) 2018 and (b) 2019,

as to obtain this information would require a manual trawl and could only be obtained

at disproportionate costs.

Undocumented Migrants: Detainees


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is

taking to implement a statutory limit for the length of time suspected illegal immigrants

can be detained.

Caroline Nokes:

As Stephen Shaw noted in his follow up review of the welfare of vulnerable people in

immigration detention, the debate on a time limit for immigration de-tention rests

mainly on slogans rather than evidence. My rt. hon. Friend the Home Secretary has

commissioned an internal review of how time limits work in other countries and how

these relate to any other protections within the de-tention systems in those countries.

Visas: Ministers of Religion

Patrick Grady: [251347]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a response to

Early Day Motion (a) 2358 on Changes to visa requirements for religious workers and (b)

2362 on Tier 5 visas for ministers of religion.





Caroline Nokes:

The Government very much values the importance of religious and cultural

expression to our communities in the UK and we continue to welcome Ministers of

Religion from all faiths who wish to come to the UK in accordance with our

Immigration Rules.

There are two routes for Religious Workers in the current immigration system.

Tier 2 Ministers of Religion is for those playing a leading role as faith leaders in our

religious institutions. This category requires those coming to have a strong command

of the English language in order to ensure Ministers of Religion can lead their

congregations effectively and can interact with the wider communities they serve.

The second route, Tier 5 Religious Workers, is for those undertaking non-pastoral

roles supporting the activities of these institutions. In line with our other temporary

work categories, Tier 5 Religious Workers are not required to demonstrate their

English language skills when applying for a visa.

We have taken steps to prevent our temporary work categories being used as a

means to live in the UK for longer periods. Tier 5 is designed to facilitate short

periods of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange and yet we have identified

evidence of migrants using our Tier 5 Religious Worker and Charity Worker routes to

facilitate near continuous residence in the UK.

We made changes to the Immigration Rules in October 2018 to preclude the use of

Tier 5 by minister of Religion and to introduce a ‘cooling off period’, preventing Tier 5

Religious worker and Tier 5 Charity Worker visa holders from returning to the UK, via

these immigration routes, for 12 months after their visa expires. This approach

underpins the Government’s intention that these are temporary routes.

Bona fide Ministers of Religion are still welcome to come to the UK and that there

remains a route for them in the immigration system through Tier 2.

The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail and

explaining the rationale for the changes. Officials remain in regular contact with

stakeholders and we are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in

connection with the future immigration system.

Visas: Sponsorship



Department has made of trends in the number of companies in the (a) digital, (b) arts and

(c) sports sectors registered to sponsor immigration visas of any tier with a view to

ensuring preparedness in the sector for the new immigration system after the UK leaves

the EU.


Caroline Nokes:

In December 2018, the Government set out its proposals in “The UK’s future Skills-

based Immigration System” White Paper, which is due to come into force from

January 2021.

We are determined to ensure that the future immigration system is efficient and able

to respond to users’ needs, and as proposed in the White Paper, we will reform

existing sponsorship arrangements – streamlining, simplifying and minimising

bureaucracy.

The Government values the positive contribution made to the UK by the digital, arts

and sporting sectors and we want this to continue. We will ensure that the new

system continues to support the UK’s thriving cultural and sporting life and will also

explore options to support start-up companies in our new, expanding digital

technology sector.

The White Paper is the start of a conversation and we hav launched a year-long

engagement programme to take the views of a range of stakeholders across the UK,

including the digital, arts and sporting sectors.

Windrush Generation: Compensation


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to

ensure that Windrush compensation scheme payments will not be taken into account in

eligibility assessments for means-tested benefits.

Caroline Nokes:

The Government Response to the Windrush Consultation states at paragraph 4.50

on page 39 that we will exempt Windrush compensation payments from the

calculation for income related benefits. The Home Office has been working with

colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions to action this.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Buildings: Insulation

John Healey: [249212]

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

reference to the remediation of ACM cladding on privately-owned residential buildings,

how many owners of such buildings (a) the Government has contacted directly to

communicate the Government's expectation that leaseholders will be financially protected

from the costs of such remediation, (b) have replied to that correspondence and (c) have

said that they will financially protect leaseholders from the cost of such remediation.

James Brokenshire:

I have written to all private sector building owners who are currently committed to

passing on costs to leaseholders to make clear my strong expectation that



leaseholders should be protected from costs. However, too many building owners

have failed to take responsibility for ensuring these buildings are permanently

remediated swiftly, and at no cost to leaseholders. I have therefore concluded that it

is imperative for the Government to act. On 9 May we announced a fund for the

remediation of unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding on all high-rise (over

18 metres) residential private sector buildings in England. It will allow remediation to

happen quickly, it will restore peace of mind and it will allow residents living in these

blocks to get on with their lives.

John Healey: [249215]

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

publish the names of the (a) owners and (b) developers who (i) have and (ii) have not

committed to ensuring that leaseholders do not pay for the remediation of ACM cladding

materials used on their homes.

James Brokenshire:

I have written to all relevant building owners setting out my strong expectation that

leaseholders should be protected from costs. We are not publishing details which

could identify buildings because of the risk to public safety. On 9 May we announced

a fund for the remediation of unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding on all

high-rise (over 18 metres) residential private sector buildings in England. A number of

owners and developers, including Taylor Wimpey, Legal and General, Mace Group,

Lendlease, Barratt Developments and Aberdeen Standard Investments have agreed

to maintain their commitments to fund remediation. I commend them for the

responsible and moral position they have taken.

Community Land Trusts

Bill Wiggin: [249886]

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

plans he has to support Community Land Trusts in making homes more affordable.

Kit Malthouse:

The Government supports the community-led housebuilding sector – of which

community land trusts are an important part – through the annual £60 million

Community Housing Fund. The Fund is delivered outside London by Homes England

and within London by the Greater London Authority. Capital and revenue grants are

available to community-based groups wishing to take forward schemes to build

locally affordable housing. Through the Fund, the Government is also supporting a

consortium of the major stakeholder groups (including the National Community Land

Trust Network) to develop a network of technical advisors to support community-

based groups though the process of developing their housebuilding schemes.

The Community Housing Fund is currently scheduled to close in March 2020.

Decisions on funding for 2020-21 onwards are a matter for the Spending Review,

which will take place this year.



Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes


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

Department plans to publish the public consultation on the future funding of domestic

abuse services.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

I am pleased to announce that, having carried out a review of how domestic abuse

services are locally commissioned across England, we have today launched a

consultation on Future Delivery of Support to Victims and their Children in

Accommodation-Based Domestic Abuse Services. The consultation can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/support-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse-

in-safe-accommodation.

We are proposing a duty which requires a partnership approach to supporting victims

and their children based on a robust understanding of local need for support. This will

be accompanied by Statutory Guidance that will clarify Government expectations in

this regard.

We believe our proposals will promote sustainable, consistent, support for all victims,

informed by understanding the needs across local areas and taking account of the

needs of diverse victim groups, such as those with protected characteristics and

victims with complex needs.

Through this consultation, we would like to hear from victims and survivors, service

providers, local authorities and other public agencies, as well as other professionals

who support victims and their children every day.

Housing

Alistair Burt: [249856]


assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to the calculation of housing

need on local authorities that are awaiting the adoption of their local plan.

Alistair Burt: [249857]

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

many local authorities are without a five year housing land supply as a result of the

decision to apply the new method of calculating housing need while awaiting the adoption

of local plans.

Kit Malthouse:

We are committed to a plan-led system that delivers the homes this country needs,

while protecting our precious environment. Up-to-date plans provide a sound basis

for assessing land supply, and it is only where plans have become out-of-date that

our standard method for assessing housing need is used instead. What this means in

practice will depend on the amount of land with permission in each area, the

protections that apply and the stage an emerging plan has reached, and so there is




no national estimate of the impact. The National Planning Policy Framework protects

emerging plans in certain circumstances, even in the absence of a five-year land

supply, where a development would significantly undermine the plan.

Housing: Construction

Dr Lisa Cameron: [250004]


steps the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities monitor the number of new

build homes that comply with optional accessibility standards set out in building

regulations.

Kit Malthouse:

We have strengthened the policy for securing accessible housing, by expecting local

planning authorities to use the Government’s optional technical standards for

accessible and adaptable housing when preparing their plans, where this would

address an identified need for such properties. Our planning guidance sets out the

role of local planning authorities in monitoring the implementation of plans. Authorities

can include the provision of accessible housing when preparing their Authority

Monitoring Reports, but this is not mandatory.

Housing: Disability



steps his Department is taking under the Public Sector Equality Duty to ensure that

disabled people are not negatively affected by the Government's housing policies.

Kit Malthouse:

Ensuring that our policies take into account the different needs of the population and

ensure equality of experience, access and opportunity is not just the law, but it helps

ensure that our interventions are effective and therefore worthwhile.

The department, like the rest of Government, takes the Public Sector Equality Duty

very seriously, ensuring policy development and implementation appropriately takes

into account the needs of people with disabilities.

Housing: Older People



many local authorities have detailed planning guidance in place for the provision of

specialist housing for older people.

Kit Malthouse:

In the revised National Planning Policy Framework, we strengthened policy to create

a clear expectation that all local authorities have policies in place for addressing the

housing needs of older people. All plans submitted to the Planning Inspectorate after




24 January 2019 will need to comply with the revised Framework. We will publish

new planning guidance shortly that will provide advice to authorities about

implementing this policy. The number of authorities with their own detailed planning

guidance on the provision of specialist housing for older people is not recorded.

Marriage Guidance: Finance



much and what proportion of funding for relationships support provided through the

troubled families programme has been ring-fenced for marriage support.

Rishi Sunak:

The Troubled Families Programme is designed to support families with complex

problems, including promoting family stability and reducing parental conflict. Funding

for the programme is not ring-fenced and we do not collect information about

spending on specific services such as marriage support. This funding flexibility allows

upper tier local authorities and their partners to decide how best to deliver the

programme in their own area, according to local need and priorities. Up to £920

million has been made available for the programme from 2015-2020. In addition, my

department has worked closely with DWP to make sure delivery of the programme is

coordinated with the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme, for which up to £39

million has been made available.

Mobile Homes: Council Tax


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

bring forward legislative proposals to lower the level of council tax paid by residents of

park homes; and if he will make a statement.

Rishi Sunak:

The level of council tax which is payable is set by the local authorities in an area and

reflects the council tax band a home is in. Responsibility for setting the council tax

bands of homes in England, including park homes, rests with the Valuation Office

Agency who carry out their work independently of Ministers.

Rough Sleeping: Barnsley



proportion of the £25 million of funding recently announced by his Department to tackle

rough sleeping will be allocated to Barnsley.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

Barnsley did not bid for our Rapid Rehousing Pathway fund and has therefore not

been allocated any funding through this process.




However Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham have been jointly funded and

provisionally allocated £328,038 though our Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) for

2019/20. This funding will provide essential local services such as enhanced

outreach provision, additional prevention workers, mental health practitioners and a

rough sleeping co-coordinator.

The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one

should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-

government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million

package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures

that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed

over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review

period.

As part of this, in its first year, our Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new

bed spaces and 500 staff. This year we have expanded the RSI with investment of

£46 million for 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 2,600 bed spaces and

750 staff. We are determined to work with all local authorities who are driven to

reducing the number of those sleeping rough.

Social Rented Housing: Disability



steps the Government is taking to help ensure that wheelchair-users do not have to wait

longer than non-wheelchair users for social homes.

Kit Malthouse:

The statutory ‘reasonable preference’ criteria already ensure that social housing is

prioritised for those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds, including

grounds relating to a disability. This will include wheel-chair users.

In the Social Housing Green Paper we set out our intention to undertake an evidence

collection exercise to help us understand how the allocations system is working and

whether it is striking the right balance between fairness, support and aspiration. We

are considering responses to the Green Paper and will respond in due course.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CDC

Preet Kaur Gill: [252021]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the joint

response from the CDC group and DFID to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s

recommendations on CDC’s investments in low-income and fragile states of March 2019,

if he will publish the independent review of progress achieved against CDC’s strategic

objectives before the end of its current strategy cycle.



Harriett Baldwin:

DFID will commission an external assessment in 2020 to evaluate results and learn

lessons across all aspects of CDC’s current strategy (2017-2021). The review’s

findings will be published.

CDC: Staff

Preet Kaur Gill: [252025]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the joint

response from the CDC Group and the Department for International Development to the

Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s recommendations on CDC’s investments in

low-income and fragile states, published in March 2019, how many full-time staff CDC

plan to have by the end of 2019 in each of its offices outside of the UK.

Harriett Baldwin:

CDC plans to have a total of 50 staff members based outside the UK by the end of

2019. A breakdown by country is given below.

BANGLADESH: 2

Ethiopia: 1

Egypt: 1

India: 27

Kenya: 5

Myanmar: 1

Nepal: 1

Nigeria: 3

Pakistan: 2

S Africa: 6

Zimbabwe: 1

Department for International Development: Bullying

Dr Matthew Offord: [251300]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made

of the number of cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against

managers in his Department in each of the last five years.



Harriett Baldwin:

The number of cases of bullying that have been recorded against managers in DFID

was less than 5 in each of the last 5 years. No cases of harassment were recorded

against DFID managers in 2014 to 2016. Less than 5 cases were recorded for both

2017 and 2018.

Developing Countries: Climate Change


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

has made of the potential effect of climate change on his Department's aid (a) strategy

and (b) funding.

Harriett Baldwin:

Tackling climate change is a priority for the UK Government and for the Department

for International Development (DFID), and we are already providing significant

assistance to developing countries to help them deal with climate change. It is clear

however that the world is not on track to avoid dangerous climate change and

environmental damage. The Secretary of State wants to see what more we can do

with the UK’s aid budget and how we can encourage others to take more action. The

UN Climate Action Summit in September is a critical moment to increase global

ambition and I am pleased that the UK playing a leading role in shaping the agenda

on how to build resilience to cope with climate change already locked in.

East Africa: Storms

Stephen Twigg: [251884]

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

is taking to support the recovery of (a) Mozambique, (b) Comoros and (c) Tanzania

following the effects of Cyclone Kenneth in those countries.

Harriett Baldwin:

The Government recognises the devastating impact of Cyclone Kenneth and has

moved quickly to respond. In Mozambique, which has suffered the worst effects, we

have supported the provision of emergency shelter, health and sanitation to the

worst-affected populations with an emergency grant of £3m; we are now assessing

options for further assistance. In Comoros the UK does not have a permanent

presence and we are therefore deferring to partners. The main platform for relief has

been the UN CERF Facility, to which the UK is the largest donor. In Tanzania the

cyclone had limited impact and we are not planning specific additional assistance.

Gambia: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what country-specific direct

support is his Department providing to The Gambia to (a) support economic development

and (b) strengthen democratic institutions in that country.




Harriett Baldwin:

The UK’s bilateral country programme in The Gambia closed in 2012 and since then

we have supported the country through our funding to regional and thematic

programmes and multilateral partners. Our support for the economic development

agenda includes part-funding the IMF’s technical assistance to The Gambia on

revenue mobilisation, public financial management, monetary policy, financial sector

regulation and national statistics, as well as our core contributions to the World Bank

and African Development Bank’s work. On strengthening democratic institutions,

Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Commonwealth Parliamentary

Association UK are delivering a programme of training and mentorship to the

Gambian National Assembly from UK funding.

South Asia: Disaster Relief

Joan Ryan: [251201]

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

had with his counterparts in (a) India and (b) Bangladesh on support for regions affected

by Cyclone Fani.

Harriett Baldwin:

The UK closely monitored Cyclone Fani as it advanced towards and hit both India

and Bangladesh. Using existing crisis mechanisms, both countries’ governments

have led on the preparedness and response. The UK has not received any formal

requests for support from either Government.

No discussions have been held between the International Development Secretary

and the Government of Bangladesh in response to this situation. The DFID

Bangladesh team was, however, in close contact with the Government during and

immediately following Cyclone Fani. Given the Government response and the limited

impact of the cyclone in Bangladesh, the Government did not seek funding or other

help from DFID.

Yemen: Cholera


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his

Department is providing to help victims of Yemen’s cholera epidemic.

Harriett Baldwin:

The UK is deeply concerned about the rise in cholera in Yemen this year, with a

suspected 280,000 cases recorded between January and April 2019. In response,

the UK has disbursed £18 million last month to help UN agencies meet their most

urgent needs such as chlorination of water supply systems, distributing hygiene kits

and deploying expert teams to areas most at risk.

To help prepare for outbreaks of cholera, the UK led a joint Met Office, NASA and US

scientist team to accurately predict where the disease will spread to in Yemen. We

contributed 25% towards the cost of cholera vaccination campaigns which have



vaccinated over 2 million people in both Houthi and Government of Yemen controlled

areas to date.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid


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

is taking to ensure that international humanitarian funds pledged to Yemen reach their

intended recipients.

Harriett Baldwin:

We are acutely aware of the difficult operating environment humanitarian

organisations face delivering life-saving assistance in Yemen. As a result we only

channel support through organisations with a strong record of delivering and

monitoring assistance, such as UN agencies and international NGOs.

To identify the most vulnerable, UN agencies use a range of tools such as household

level assessments. Some, like the World Food Programme, use technology such as

biometric verification to confirm that those most in need are being reached.

Through UK diplomatic channels we press authorities to facilitate aid delivery. This

can include getting visas issued or travel permission granted for certain areas.

Earlier this year the UK brought together heads of UN agencies and lead donors to

determine how to better coordinate on the ground to deliver the right interventions at

the right time to the most vulnerable. The Humanitarian Coordinator is holding UN

agencies to account to deliver this.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Department for International Trade: Advertising

David Simpson: [248634]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much his Department has

spent on advertising in each of the last two years.

George Hollingbery:

The total advertising expenditure by the department for each of the last two years is:

2018/19: £0

2017/18: £93,000

These figures exclude campaigns run as part of the Government’s GREAT

programme, recruitment advertising costs (not held centrally), and advertising costs

by UK Export Finance which is a separate legal entity to the Department for

International Trade.



Free Trade: Thailand


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps he has taken to

enable free trade with Thailand after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery:

The UK Government is working with the Government of Thailand to address existing

trade barriers between the two countries, and to consider options for strengthening

our bilateral trading relationship in the future.

The Secretary of State for International Trade visited Thailand from 4-6 April 2018. Dr

Fox discussed the UK’s future trading relationship with Thailand, emphasising the

importance of an open economy and transparent and predictable regulatory

environment.

Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Thailand was £6.3bn to the

end of 2018, an increase of 6.1% from 2017.

World Trade Organisation


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what (a) staff and (b) funding the

Government provides to the World Trade Organisation.

George Hollingbery:

The UK’s assessed contribution to the WTO for 2019 is 7,446,595 Swiss francs. The

UK also supports and funds several projects, such as those run by the International

Trade Centre (a joint agency of the WTO and UNCTAD), the WTO Trade Facilitation

Agreement Facility, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (a multi-donor trust fund)

and the WTO Standards and Trade Development Facility which all focus on helping

developing countries engage and participate in global trade. The UK funding for these

projects is £55.25 million between 2016 and 2023.

In addition, the United Kingdom is represented at the World Trade Organization by

Julian Braithwaite, our Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva. The

Ambassador and his team play an active role in the work of the WTO, which is a

member-led organisation. Since July 2016 the Government has increased its

resourcing for the UK Mission to the UN and Other International Organisations in

Geneva.

JUSTICE

Age of Criminal Responsibility


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report by the Equality and

Human Rights Commission of 7 May 2019, Torture in the UK: update report, whether he




has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to raise the age of criminal responsibility

in England and Wales.

Edward Argar:

We have no current plans to change the age of criminal responsibility. We believe

that setting the age at 10 provides flexibility in dealing with young offenders and

allows for early intervention in a child’s life with the aim of preventing subsequent

offending. That is why there are a range of options available to the police to resolve

offences and put in place interventions to prevent further offending. Furthermore, the

particular needs of a child will be identified through assessment by the local multi-

agency youth offending team who can refer them on to other services for further

investigation and support.

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many animal cruelty offences against

circus animals led to a prosecution in 2018.

Edward Argar:

Information as to whether or not an animal cruelty offence involved a circus animal

may be held on court record but to be able to identify these specific cases, which are

not held centrally, we would have to access individual court records which would be

of disproportionate cost.

Animal Welfare: Romford


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many animal cruelty (a) offences and (b)

convictions there were in Romford constituency in each year since 2012.

Robert Buckland:

The number of defendants prosecuted and offenders found guilty of offences under

Sections 4 to 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, in the Metropolitan Police Force area

and the North East London local justice area, from 2012 to 2017, can be viewed in

the table. Information specifically related to Romford is not available so the North

East London Local Justice Area (which includes Romford) has been provided.

Court proceedings and cautions data for 2018 is planned for publication on 16 May

2019.

Attachments:

1. Table [Copy of PQ 249875 table.xlsx]

Courts: Telephone Services

Yasmin Qureshi: [249923]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March 2019 to

Question 235313 on Courts: Telephone Services, which helplines were included in that




figure for the number of calls received in February 2019; and how many calls were

directed to each helpline.

Edward Argar:

The helplines included were Social Security and Child Support, Divorce, Probate and

Single Justice Service. Calls answered on each line in February 2019 are as follows:

SOCIAL SECURITY AND CHILD SUPPORT 33,411

Divorce 14,454

Probate 1,538

Single Justice Service 3,848

Debt Collection


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many bailiffs have been removed from the

certificated bailiff register in each of the last seven years.

Edward Argar:

Since the introduction of the Certification of Enforcement Agent Regulations in April

2014, the following numbers of enforcement agents have been removed from the

Register of Certificated Enforcement Agents:

2014 - 31

2015 - 91

2016 - 104

2017 - 74

2018 – 37

2019 (January -April) - 26

Reasons for cancelling a certificate include an agent leaving his or her employer,

ceasing to work as an enforcement agent or by a judicial order following a judgment

that they are not a fit and proper person to hold a certificate.

Judiciary: Females

Grant Shapps: [251972]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to increase the number

of women members of the judiciary.

Edward Argar:

The proportion of female court judges has increased by 5 percentage points since

2014, to 29% as at 1 April 2018, and for tribunal judges it has increased by 3

percentage points to 46%, over the same period.



We recognise that more progress is required and the Ministry of Justice has jointly

developed and is funding the pre-application judicial education programme (PAJE),

which launched on 24 April 2019. This will support and encourage lawyers interested

in a judicial career and targets underrepresented groups including women, to help

them prepare for a judicial career.

The MoJ continues to work closely with the Lord Chief Justice, Chair of the Judicial

Appointments Commission and other members of the Judicial Diversity Forum,

including the three legal professions, to implement its multi stranded plan to increase

judicial diversity.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many members of the judicial bench in the

family division are women.

Edward Argar:

As of 1 April 2018, 58 judges appointed to the family division were women. This

amounts to 48% of the total number of judges in the family division.

Attachments:

1. Table [Copy of PQ251974 Data table 1.xlsx]

Ministry of Justice: Consultants


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent from the

public purse on consultancies in each financial year between 2008 and 2011.







Edward Argar:

Consultancy spend data for the Ministry of Justice for the periods 2010-11 to 2016-17

is available on gov.uk and can be accessed using the following links.

2010-11 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-

report-and-accounts-2010-11






report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014





https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-11









https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014









The data for the periods 2008-09 and 2009-10 is not centrally held.

Police Cautions


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to police forces on

the procedure for administering cautions to ensure that the person involved understands

the legal consequences of accepting that caution.

Robert Buckland:

Out of Court Disposals (OOCDs) are measures which allow police to deal quickly and

proportionately with low-level offending without recourse to the courts. Simple and

Conditional Cautions exist currently for adult offenders.

Ministry of Justice published guidance on Simple Cautions for Adult Offenders, which

can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/simple-cautions-

guidance-for-police-and-prosecutors

Section 3 of the guidance states police officers must ensure the offender understands

the implications of accepting a simple caution, and consents to receiving the disposal

before it can be administered. The implications which must be explained are set out

in paragraphs 62-76 of the guidance. This includes the significance of the admission

of guilt and the retention and disclosure of criminal record information for future legal

proceedings or criminal record checks. Guidance also states police officers should

ensure offenders are given the opportunity to receive free and independent legal

advice before accepting a simple caution.

Similar points are made in the Ministry of Justice Guidance for Conditional Cautions

for Adult Offenders (also in Section 3 of the guidance) which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-adult-conditional-

cautions

Prison Officers: Riot Control Weapons

Imran Hussain: [249318]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff in each prison have been

trained to use PAVA spray.

Robert Buckland:

Comprehensive training has been provided to those staff permitted to carry PAVA,

which was piloted in four HMPPS prisons.












To date only staff in the pilot sites have been trained, the numbers of eligible staff

trained at each prison is available in the table below.

PRISON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STAFF TRAINED

Risley 245

Wealstun 163

Preston 229

Hull 314

Prison Sentences

Mr Kevan Jones: [250789]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a sentence of six

months or less, have previously served (a) 19 short sentences of six months or less, (b)

20 short sentences of six months or less, (c) 50 short sentences of six months or less and

(d) 100 short sentences of 6 months or less between 31 October 2017 and 1 September

2018.

Robert Buckland:

For those offenders sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence of six months or

less between 31st October 2017 and 1st September 2018:

a) 246 had 19 previous immediate custodial sentences of six months or less,

b) 223 had 20 previous immediate custodial sentences of six months or less,

c) 12 had 50 previous immediate custodial sentences of six months or less, and

d) 0 had 100 previous immediate custodial sentences of six months or less.

Prison Sentences: EU Countries


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what comparative assessment he has made of

the levels of incarceration in the UK and other European countries; and what steps his

Department is taking to prevent unnecessary incarcerations.

Robert Buckland:

The Ministry of Justice does not publish information on rates of imprisonment in

England and Wales as part of its statistical releases.

However, the Department is a contributor to the Council of Europe’s “SPACE I”

annual report, which provides an overview of the use of custodial sanctions and

measures in the Member States of the Council of Europe, including rates of

imprisonment for each Member State. The latest report “ SPACE I – 2018 ” can be

found at: http://wp.unil.ch/space/space-i/annual-reports/



http://wp.unil.ch/space/space-i/annual-reports/

http://wp.unil.ch/space/space-i/annual-reports/

By law, courts in England and Wales are required to be satisfied that the offence

committed is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. In the event a

custodial sentence is imposed, the law also requires that it should be for the shortest

time possible, commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.

We are exploring options to restrict the use of short custodial sentences, but have not

at this stage reached any conclusions. There is persuasive evidence showing that

they do not work in terms of rehabilitation and helping some offenders turn their

backs on crime, and that community sentences, in certain circumstances, are actually

more effective in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial

sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’

published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of

people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without

supervision on release than other similar people given community orders.

Prisoners' Release: Housing


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what number and proportion of prisoners

released did not have accommodation to go to in each year since 2010.

Robert Buckland:

The information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. While the exact

information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost, some of the data is

available in part, which is detailed below. It is vital that everyone leaving prison has

somewhere safe 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. Published statistics for 2017/18 showing the

accommodation status for all offenders can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-mi-

update-to-march-2018

As part of the Government initiative to reduce and ultimately eliminate rough sleeping

across England, we are investing up to £6.4 million over two years in a pilot scheme

to help ex-offenders into accommodation from three prisons, namely Bristol,

Pentonville and Leeds. The pilots will focus on male prisoners who have served

shorter sentences, who have been identified as having a risk of homelessness.

Following a mobilisation period, we expect services to commence in Summer of this

year. This is a concrete step in our commitment to tackling rough sleeping.

Prisons: Contracts

Richard Burgon: [251408]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2019 to

Question 243531 on Prisons: Contracts, and with reference to House Commons Library

Deposited Paper, DEP2019-0487, Model for Operational Delivery: New Resettlement


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-mi-update-to-march-2018




Prisons, Version 1.8, April 2019, if he will publish all previous versions of that document

which have been made available to potential private prison contractors.

Robert Buckland:

The document placed in the house library pursuant to question 243531 is the most

recent and up to date version of the Model for Operational Delivery. It can be used by

bidders to develop their bids as part of the mini competition for Wellingborough. We

do not consider it useful to publish all previous versions of this document and do not

intend to do so.

Probation: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of

the overall performance of probation services since the part-privatisation of those

services in 2014.

Robert Buckland:

All probation providers are now assessed on an annual basis by HM Inspectorate of

Probation. In addition, HM Prison and Probation Service runs regular, targeted

operational audits to assess performance. We take action on any performance

concerns highlighted. Quarterly performance statistics are also available, at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-

statistics#community-performance-statistics

We have been clear that probation services need to improve. While the National

Probation Service is performing well, the performance of CRCs has too often been

disappointing, for a variety of reasons.

Last year, we announced our decision to end current Community Rehabilitation

Company (CRC) contracts early. Following this, we launched a consultation,

Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence, and engaged with stakeholders and

the market on the future of the probation system.

We will set out detailed plans for the future of probation services shortly.

Wales Office: Contracts


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to

Question 249229 on Wales Office: Contracts, how many contracts awarded by his

Department on behalf of the Wales Office were awarded to companies based in (a)

Wales, (b) the UK, (c) the EU and (d) the rest of the world in each of the last three years.

Edward Argar:

The information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.



Women's Centres: Wales

Chris Elmore: [249968]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Welsh

Government on expanding the provision of women's centres in Wales.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department plans to use to

decide the locations of additional women's centres.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timescale is for opening additional

women's centres in the UK.


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

Local Government Association and (b) local authorities in Wales on establishing a

women's centre in their authority area.

Edward Argar:

As part of the Female Offender Strategy, we are committed to working with local and

national partners to develop a ‘Residential Women’s Centre’ pilot in at least five sites

across England and Wales. We have recently concluded our first phase of

consultation with stakeholders, partners and providers. This has included close

working with colleagues across Welsh government on any Wales-specific

implications and requirements, as well as engagement with providers of women’s

services in Wales. The Welsh Government also has representation on our Advisory

Board for Female Offenders, which scrutinises the work of the Female Offender

programme and the implementation of the Female Offender Strategy.

Whilst no decisions regarding the locations of the Residential Women’s Centre pilot

have been made, we appreciate the need to ensure adequate provision of women’s

support services in Wales. I have discussed this issue with Jane Hutt AM, Deputy

Minister and Chief Whip, and look forward to continuing discussions with our Welsh

partners on how best to achieve this.

HMPPS in Wales have also been working with colleagues in Welsh Government to

develop a draft blueprint for justice services for women that reflects the landscape in

Wales. This will outline a vision to enable devolved and non-devolved services to

work together to deliver efficient and effective services that will deliver positive

outcomes for individuals and the community and considers alternatives to custody for

women in Wales, including women’s centres.

The blueprint development work has been discussed with the All Wales Criminal

Justice Board, which includes Welsh Local Government Association representation.





Young Offenders: Criminal Proceedings


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time between a

young offender being charged and their (a) trial if they have pleaded not guilty and (b)

sentencing hearing where they have pleaded guilty has been in each year since 2010.

Edward Argar:

Data available does not allow the question to be answered with two simple measures

as offences can be sentenced at either the Youth court (magistrates’) or Crown court.

The attached tables provide figures on the average (both mean and median) number

of days from:

• Charge to start of trial at Youth (magistrate’s) court, for youths pleading not guilty

(Table A)

• Charge to main hearing at Crown Court, for youths pleading not guilty (Table B)

• Charge to completion for Youth (magistrates’) court cases for youths pleading

guilty (Table C)

• Charge to main hearing at Crown Court, for youths pleading guilty (Table D)

Attachments:

1. Table [Copy of Copy of PQ 252115 v1 (005) (004).xlsx]

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Office: Bullying


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the

number of cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against managers

in her Department in each of the last five years.

John Penrose:

Due to there being fewer than five cases of bullying and harassment recorded against

managers in my Department in the last five years, figures cannot be provided in order

to protect the privacy and identity of individuals concerned.

PRIME MINISTER

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Departmental Responsibilities


To ask the Prime Minister, when she plans to appoint a new Minister of State for the

Middle East and North Africa.




Mrs Theresa May:

My Honourable Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Andrew Murrison

MP) has been appointed as a Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth

Office and the Department for International Development.

TRANSPORT

Abellio Group and Arriva

Andy McDonald: [250026]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2019 to

Question 243472 on Abellio Group, what assurances his Department has received from

owning groups (a) Abellio and (b) Arriva that any sale of their UK government rail

contracts will ensure future owners have the capacity to honour all commitments

including parent company guarantees and performance bonds.

Andrew Jones:

The ‘Change of Control’ provisions in the Franchise Agreement give the Secretary of

State unlimited right to reject any sale of a franchise such as those owned by Abellio

and Arriva. In deciding whether to approve such a sale, the Secretary of State would

consider the arrangements in place for securing the same or improved parent

company guarantees and performance bond arrangements as currently exist. This

consideration would include the financial standing of the new owning group and other

elements of their capacity to honour existing commitments.

Aviation: Global Positioning System


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to

aerodromes on the implementation of GPS approaches.

Jesse Norman:

Global Navigation Satellite System approaches need to be approved by the Civil

Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA will provide guidance to aerodromes that are

considering the implementation of such approaches. In particular the CAA has

produced a framework for the safety cases which need to be produced as part of the

approval process.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Civil

Aviation Authority on the roll-out of GPS technology at aerodromes.

Jesse Norman:

The Government has regular discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority concerning

the progress of airspace modernisation, and these have included updates on

airspace change proposals designed to implement Global Satellite Navigation

System approaches at aerodromes.




Aviation: Safety

Mr Clive Betts: [249826]


Question 245611 on Aircraft: Accidents, when (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues

last had discussions with the football sector on safety and compliance issues in respect of

commercial aircraft flights.

Jesse Norman:

The Secretary of State and his ministerial colleagues have not had discussions with

representatives of the football industry on safety and compliance issues in respect of

commercial air flights.

Aviation: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to ensure that

pilot training is being adapted to incorporate (a) GPS approaches and (b) other new

technologies.

Jesse Norman:

Global Navigation Satellite System approaches are one element of performance

based navigation (PBN). An amendment to EU Regulation 1178/2011 (the Aircrew

Regulation), which came into force in 2018, provides that pilots may only fly in

accordance with PBN procedures if they hold an instrument rating with PBN

privileges. The Aircrew Regulation establishes the training required to obtain PBN

privileges. From 25 August 2020, all applicants for an instrument rating will be

required to have undertaken PBN training.

Training requirements will be reviewed as and when the carriage and use of other

new technologies are mandated. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority is continuing

to engage with the European Aviation Safety Agency to expand training on the use of

satellite based technology to help reduce airspace infringements.

Bramley Station: CCTV

Rachel Reeves: [252020]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Northern

Rail to install CCTV equipment at Bramley Station in Leeds in response to reports of

increased criminal activity around that station.

Andrew Jones:

There is a CCTV camera already installed at Bramley station which now covers the

cycle storage, the approach and the car park.




East Coast Railway Line


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will set out the (a) revenue, (b) growth

and (c) investment on the East Coast mainline by successive operators of the route in (i)

2015, (ii) 2016, (iii) 2017 and (iv) 2018.

Andrew Jones:

The information requested for Virgin Trains East Coast can be found in the annual

reports published on the Stagecoach website. I attach the link for reference:

https://www.stagecoach.com/investors/financial-analysis/reports/2018.aspx

The part year VTEC accounts for the period 1 April 2018 to 24 June 2018 are due to

be published later this year.

The audited annual accounts for LNER from 24 June 2018 to 31 March 2019 will also

be published later this year.

East Midlands Rail Franchise


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all three bids for the East Midlands

franchise were non-compliant.

Andrew Jones:

It was a fair, open competition and Abellio provided the best bid for passengers, in

which it demonstrated that it will not only meet but exceed the Department’s

specifications

In complex procurement processes such as this, it is a matter of course that there

may be small technical non-compliances. These include, for example, incorrect font

sizes or submitting bids in the wrong format. This does not constitute a material non-

compliance which would affect the compliance of the bid as a whole.

Chris Williamson: [250454]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the East Midlands franchise

was awarded to Abellio until 2027 before the conclusion of the Williams review.

Andrew Jones:

The government will publish a White Paper setting out how we will implement the

Review’s recommendations in the autumn. Reform will start as early as 2020. This

does not prevent us taking every opportunity in the short term to improve passengers’

experience.

We considered on a case-by-case basis whether to continue with the current

franchise competitions and concluded that awarding the East Midlands franchise now

would be in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers and would allow planned

passenger benefits, such as new trains, to be delivered at the earliest opportunity.






East Midlands Trains: Pensions


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 10 April 2019 to

Question 243470, what estimate has he made of the amount of pension risk and liability

the Government will be required to share on the East Midlands Trains as a result of the

next actuarial valuation of the Railway Pension Scheme taking place December 2019.

Andrew Jones:

The 2019 actuarial valuation of the East Midlands section of the Railways Pension

Scheme will be performed by the Scheme Actuary, and the outcome will depend on

the assumptions used. The Department has taken advice from the Government

Actuary’s Department on the potential range of future valuation outcomes.

East-West Rail Link

Layla Moran: [251432]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the choice of preferred route for the

Oxford-Cambridge Expressway should follow the ecological mitigation hierarchy used (a)

by local authorities in preparing local plans and (b) in deciding planning applications in

line with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Jesse Norman:

The Government take the potential environmental impacts of the Oxford Cambridge

Expressway seriously. The National Planning Policy Framework is designed for the

local authority-led Town and Country Planning system, which usually deals with much

smaller developments. As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the Oxford

Cambridge Expressway must comply with the (more extensive) requirements of the

National Networks National Policy Statement, which are specifically designed to

ensure that the impacts of major infrastructure are properly considered and mitigated.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [252124]

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

encourage more people to use low emission vehicles.

Jesse Norman:

The Government’s mission is to put the UK at the forefront of the design and

manufacturing of zero emission vehicles, and for all new cars and vans to be

effectively zero emission by 2040. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has

a range of grant-funded schemes to assist with the cost of purchasing ultra low and

zero emission vehicles and the installation of charging infrastructure in motorists’

homes, on residential streets, at work places, car parks and the wider public estate.

Motorists of zero and ultra low emission vehicle also benefit from a tax regime that

rewards the cleanest vehicles. The Government is investing nearly £1.5bn between

April 2015 and March 2021, with grants available for plug in vehicles and schemes to




support chargepoint infrastructure. The Road to Zero Strategy, published in July last

year, sets out a clear pathway to zero emissions, to give clarity and certainty to both

industry and motorists.

Northern: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans respond to the

recommendations of Richard George on the resilience of the northern rail network; and

what plans he has to implement those recommendations.

Andrew Jones:

I recently met with Richard George to discuss his report and recommendations.

Decisions on the next steps will be taken in partnership with Transport for the North

and the industry.

Public Transport: Disability


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

ensure that public transportation meets the needs of disabled people in towns and cities.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The Government is committed to ensuring disabled people, including those with less

visible disabilities such as autism, have the same access to transport and

opportunities to travel as everyone else.

In July 2018 the Department published the Inclusive Transport Strategy. Its ambition

is to create a transport system that provides equal access for disabled people by

2030. It is ambitious and comprehensive, and sets a clear direction of travel, helping

to create a society that works for all and will enable disabled people in our towns and

cities to travel confidently, easily and without extra cost. The Department is making

good progress delivering the many commitments set out in the Strategy, and will be

reporting to Parliament on this in the summer.

Rail Delivery Group: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the financial

contribution of Network Rail to the Rail Delivery Group in each year for which figures are

available.

Andrew Jones:

Network Rail’s contributions to the Rail Delivery Group is presented in the table

below:

RDG 18/19 £ 17/18 £ 16/17 £ 15/16 £ 14/15 £

3,978,375 3,760,000 5,481,932 2,443,500 2,039,000




Railway Signals: Repairs and Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of

the amount of signalling which needs to be renewed across the rail network in (a) Control

Period 7, (b) Control Period 8 and (c) Control Period 9; and what estimate he has made

of the cost of those renewals.

Andrew Jones:

In the first instance it is for Network Rail to consider what signalling renewals are

required across the rail network and provide advice to Government and the Office of

Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR will scrutinise Network Rail’s proposals and provide

assurance on their cost and deliverability as part of its statutory five-yearly periodic

reviews of Network Rail’s outputs and funding.

Railways: Compensation


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans on requiring all

train operators to introduce automatic compensation for rail delays.

Andrew Jones:

The Department requires operators of new franchises to provide automated Delay

Repay compensation processes that make claiming swift and simple and is working

with the rail industry and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to deliver more

automated claims processes across all DfT-let franchises. Since announcing ‘one-

click’ compensation in October 2018, the Government has introduced a requirement

for new franchises to introduce simple one-click automated claims systems, available

via smartphones and smartcard registration, to make it easier for passengers to claim

compensation when they have suffered delays. Automated claims processing

benefits a broad spectrum of rail passengers whereas automatic compensation

schemes only benefit passengers with specific ticket types.

Railways: Franchises


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions the Department for

Transport's Operator of the last Resort has had with existing rail franchise operators on

potential changes of ownership of those franchises.

Andrew Jones:

The Department monitors all Train Operating Companies closely to ensure delivery of

services for passengers, and is in regular discussions with all Train Operators as part

of its normal business.






Question 243471 on Abellio Group, what weighting his Department gives to competition

considerations and the wider impact on competition across the rail and wider transport

industry in the (a) development, (b) design and (c) award of rail franchises.

Andrew Jones:

Issues relating to market competition arising from franchise awards are a matter for

the winning bidder and the Competition and Markets Authority. As a result, the

Department does not weight competition considerations in the development, design

or award of rail franchises – the Department focuses on initiatives which will deliver

real benefits to passengers, such as additional services, greater capacity and

improvements in the customer experience.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons his Department (a)

disqualified Stagecoach from the East Midlands, South Eastern and West Coast

Partnership rail franchise competitions on 1 April 2019 and (b) did not inform that

company of that decision until 9 April 2019.

Andrew Jones:

Entities in which Stagecoach were participating were disqualified from the East

Midlands, West Coast Partnership and South Eastern competitions because they

chose to submit bids which were not compliant with the requirements of the

Instructions To Tender for each competition. Stagecoach were informed of the

disqualification as soon as possible after the decision was confirmed.

Railways: Greater London


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer 9 April 2019 to

Question 241018 on Durham Coast Railway Line, what assessment he has made of the

implications of the reorganisation of Network Rail on those parts of the rail network under

the control of the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Andrew Jones:

The Department for Transport welcomes Network Rail’s Putting Passengers First

programme and Andrew Haines’ commitment to ensuring that rail works for

passengers and freight customers.

The Department is continuing to engage with Network Rail as they implement the

programme. Network Rail is responsible for engaging all relevant stakeholders in the

implementation phase.




Railways: Stoke on Trent



Question 246956 on Transport: Stoke-on-Trent, if he will make an assessment of the

adequacy of the frequency of daily train services between Stoke-on-Trent and London.

Andrew Jones:

The West Coast Partnership is due to be awarded shortly and as per the ITT, the

current Inter City West Coast service between London Euston and Stoke on Trent

has been protected as a minimum requirement.

The incoming franchisee will also be responsible for the implementation of a

timetable recast associated with the introduction of HS2 services, which will involve

consultation with relevant stakeholders for the provision of future services.

There is no change to the overall number of direct LNR trains between Stoke-on-

Trent and London Euston in the forthcoming timetable change from 20 May 2019.

Roads: Safety


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to reintroduce

national road safety targets.

Jesse Norman:

The Department has no current plans to reintroduce national road safety targets.

There is no robust academic evidence to indicate that the setting of any targets in the

UK would contribute to progress in road casualty reduction. In fact there has been a

stalling of progress in road casualty reductions across many economically advanced

countries, including in countries with targets (e.g. Sweden and the Netherlands).

The 2015 Road Safety statement sets out the Department for Transport’s overall

principles and priorities in relation to British road safety. Local authorities, the police

and other bodies are free to set their own road safety targets if they wish.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Rail Franchise

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [249926]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department monitors the number

of trains services without an on-board supervisor on the Southern Rail franchise.

Andrew Jones:

The Department does not monitor these figures as a matter of course. We do,

however, hold recent figures for the proportion of Southern services that have run

without an on-board supervisor since the role was introduced in January 2017. These

figures demonstrate that the percentage of services running without an on-board

supervisor is very low and is decreasing over time.




Southern are only able to run services without an on-board supervisor in exceptional

circumstances. This reduces the disruption to passengers, as if a conductor was due

to work on these services, but is then unavailable, then they would have had to be

cancelled.

West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise: Pensions


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether First Group has met his

Department's criteria on railway pensions as a shortlisted bidder for the West Coast

Partnership rail franchise.

Andrew Jones:

The Department does not comment on a live competition. All bids received for any

franchise competition are evaluated against the requirements and instructions set out

in the relevant Invitation To Tender.

TREASURY

101 Calls: Fees and Charges

Steve McCabe: [251216]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department receives any money

from the 15 pence service charge on calls to the non-emergency police hotline 101.

Mel Stride:

VAT is applied at the standard rate of 20% to all telephone service call charges.

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges

Catherine West: [250016]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure the continued

provision of free cash withdrawals at ATMs.

John Glen:

The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely

monitoring developments in ATM provision. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme

which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account

over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM

network.

The PSR has set out requirements of LINK, including that any cuts to interchange

fees (the fees which fund free-to-use ATMs) must be incremental, with action taken

by LINK where the impact is not as expected. Having implemented two of the four

planned incremental reductions to the interchange fee, LINK has cancelled the third

reduction and put on hold the fourth. The PSR welcomed these adjustments, having

stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect

changing market conditions. These adjustments gave the PSR further assurances




that LINK is committed to making sure communities do not lose their free-to-use

ATMs.

LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1

kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its

Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most

deprived areas of the UK and undertaken new financial support for ATMs in remote

and deprived areas.

Child Benefit: British Nationals Abroad


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the

public purse of child benefit paid for children who do not reside in the UK; how many such

children there were; and in which countries those children resided in the most recent

financial year for which data are available.

Mel Stride:

Total Child Benefit payments in 2018-19 amounted to £11.6 billion. It is estimated

that approximately £15 million was paid for children resident in another EEA country

or Switzerland. The number of children these payments relate to, broken down by the

country they reside in, is provided in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Estimated number of children for whom Child Benefit is received where

European Community regulations apply, as at February 2019

Country Number of children

Austria 10

Belgium 40

Bulgaria 415

Croatia 45

Cyprus 40

Czech Republic 165

Denmark 20

Estonia 35

Finland 25

France 605

Germany 165


Greece 55

Hungary 150

Iceland 5

Italy 170

Latvia 700

Liechtenstein -

Lithuania 790

Luxembourg 10

Malta 25

Norway 40

Poland 10,975

Portugal 230

Republic of Ireland 1,945

Romania 1,000

Slovakia 575

Slovenia -

Spain 625

Sweden 30

Switzerland 20

The Netherlands 215

Total 19,120

Footnote: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Figures under 5 have been

suppressed and shown as ‘-’.

Community Land Trusts: Capital Gains Tax

Bill Wiggin: [249884]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to grant full Capital Gains Tax

relief for land sales to a Community Land Trust for affordable homes.


Mel Stride:

The Government is committed to improving the supply of affordable homes. Since

2010, we have increased housing supply by over 1.3 million homes, including

407,000 affordable homes.

We do not currently have plans to grant full Capital Gains Tax relief for land sales to a

Community Land Trust. The Government considers that the extent to which a Capital

Gains Tax relief for land sales to a Community Land Trust would incentivise such

behaviour is uncertain. Tax reliefs have an Exchequer cost, and in contemplating

such a relief the Government must consider the potential deadweight cost of any

benefit going to people who would have sold the land to a Community Land Trust

anyway.

Credit Unions


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to support the (a)

development and (b) governance of credit unions.

John Glen:

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital

services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the

UK’s financial services sector.

At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a two-year pilot of a new prize-

linked savings scheme offered through credit unions. This will support the credit

union sector through increased membership, awareness and deposits, as well as

encouraging participants to build up savings to help them cope with financial shocks.

At Autumn Budget 2018 the Chancellor also announced a new £2 million challenge

fund to promote innovative solutions from the UK’s Fintech sector to address

challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions.

This Government believes improving governance in the sector is best led by the

sector itself, and supports the work of industry bodies in this regard.

Chris Stephens: [251439]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 29 April 2019

Questions 246542, 246543 and 246544 on Credit Unions, what discussions he has had

with the Prudential Regulation Authority on changing capital requirements for credit

unions.

Chris Stephens: [251440]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 29 April 2019

Questions 246542, 246543 and 246544 on Credit Unions, whether it is his Department's

policy to support the Prudential Regulation Authority on decisions to change the capital

requirements for credit unions.




John Glen:

Capital requirements for credit unions are set by the Prudential Regulation Authority

(PRA), in line with their mandate to promote the safety and soundness of firms. The

PRA is independent from government and is responsible for ensuring the credit union

sector is effectively regulated and financially stable.

I have regular meetings with the PRA to discuss a range of ongoing policy issues,

including in relation to credit unions.

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital

services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the

UK’s financial services sector. Credit union membership and assets continue to grow,

with membership passing 2 million for the first time in 2018 and total assets growing

to over £3.3 billion.

Employment Agencies: Tax Avoidance

Anneliese Dodds: [252056]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of

the level of involvement of recruitment agencies in disguised remuneration loans.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many recruitment agencies have been

implicated in loan charge cases.

Mel Stride:

DR schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary

remuneration, usually through an offshore trust, with the sole purpose of avoiding

income tax and National Insurance contributions. The loans are provided on terms

that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income

and are, and always have been, taxable.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will always seek payment of the loan charge

from employers in the first instance. It is only where HMRC cannot reasonably collect

from the employer, for example where the employer is no longer in existence or is

based offshore, that the individual will be liable to pay the tax due. Around 75% of

overall yield from the measure is expected to come from employers.

Only an employer, or umbrella company established for the purpose, can originate a

DR scheme. Recruitment agencies match individuals with engagers who require their

labour. In most cases recruitment agencies do not employ the individual in question.

Where a recruitment agency used a DR scheme to reward their employees they will

be liable to pay the loan charge in the first instance.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Daniel Zeichner: [251386]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the

environmental impact of freezing fuel duty since 2010.




Robert Jenrick:

The consumption of fuel is highly price inelastic. Therefore, fuel duty freezes only

have a marginal impact on the amount of fuel purchased, and therefore limited impact

on emissions.

Households spend a significant amount of their total spending on transport fuels, and

fuel costs are a major factor in helping the competitiveness of British businesses.

Duty on fuel remains at 57.95ppl. The government is also taking action to reduce

emissions and improve air quality through Vehicle Excise Duty and the Company Car

Tax system.

Income Tax


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual cost of recognising family

responsibility in the income tax system has been in each financial year since 2010.

Mel Stride:

The Government supports families in a number of ways, including through the tax

and welfare systems.

The income tax system does this through various allowances including the married

couples allowance and marriage allowance, and by providing tax reliefs for childcare.

The Government also supports families through increasing tax thresholds including

increasing the Personal Allowance to £12,500 for 2019 to 2020.

The annual costs of most of these types of support in each financial year since 2010

have been set out in various HMRC publications.

Mortgages

Jonathan Reynolds: [249972]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government has taken to

improve access to the mortgage market for underserved groups.

Jonathan Reynolds: [249973]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to improve

access to the mortgage market for (a) small business owners, (b) self-employed people

and (c) people working in the gig economy.

John Glen:

The Government is committed to maintaining an accessible mortgage market. The

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is responsible for regulating the market and

protecting consumers, found in their Mortgage Market Study, published March 2019,

that the market is working well and that consumers have access to mortgages that

are suitable and affordable.




The FCA recognises that lenders should have flexibility to decide what type of

evidence of income they can accept from customers, including those who are self-

employed or have alternative sources of income.

Many lenders also offer custom mortgage products designed for contractors or the

self-employed. These commonly include features designed to account for income

volatility, such as the ability to make capital repayments at any time, or income

assessments using averaged figures to smooth out monthly variations.

Beyond the FCA’s regulations, decisions around the type and availability of mortgage

products are commercial decisions for lenders, and the Government does not seek to

intervene in these decisions.

Public Sector: Tax Avoidance


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department is undertaking a review

of internal (a) advice and (b) procedures on public sector organisations engaging in tax

avoidance schemes.

Mel Stride:

HMRC is committed to tackling tax avoidance and evasion at all levels to ensure that

everyone, no matter who they are, pays the right amount of tax at the right time. It

keeps its policies under constant review, including those affecting public sector

bodies. HMRC works closely with public bodies to support them with their tax affairs

and ensure they pay the right amount.

Shops: Payment Methods


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of

the effect of cashless shops on (a) low-income people and (b) poorer communities.

John Glen:

The Treasury has not made a specific assessment of the effect of cashless shops on

(a) low-income people and (b) poorer communities.

However, last year the Government initiated a discussion on payment methods

through a Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. This

sought to gather evidence on how changing preferences for cash and digital

payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics. A wide range of

evidence was collected, including on the changing levels of cash usage, and a formal

summary of responses was published in May 2019.

The response set out the Government’s commitment to supporting digital payments,

whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. The Government is

engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this

important topic.



Social Security Benefits


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual cost of recognising family

responsibility in the welfare system has been in each financial year since 2010.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Government supports families in a number of ways, including through the welfare

system.

For instance, every year the Government spends more than £11bn on Child Benefit

in recognition of the costs to families of raising children. In addition to this, at the last

Budget, the Chancellor put an additional £1.7bn per year into the Universal Credit

Work Allowances for families with children and those where someone has a disability.

UK Asset Resolution

Gordon Marsden: [251931]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy

of the safeguards and mechanisms put in place by his Department and the Financial

Conduct Authority between 2012 and 2018 in respect of the sale of UKAR loans to

ensure that loan holders were able to transfer or get better terms from other regulated

lenders instead of those companies to whom AKAR had sold their loans.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the

Financial Conduct Authority have made of the legal responsibility of TSB and other banks

whose organisation or subsidiary have bought loans from UKAR to allow people who had

such loans but are not their customers to transfer or switch to another mortgage loan

provider.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2019 to

Question 243349, if he will publish the details of the proportion of Northern Rock

mortgage holders' loans that were sold to (a) inactive and (b) unregulated lenders

between 2011 and 2018.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers of his

Department have had with the Financial Conduct Authority on whether Cerberus Capital

Management is a fit and proper organisation to purchase mortgage loans from UK banks

and his Department via UKAR.

John Glen:

Customers have always been protected in UKAR asset sales. The government and

UKAR consider the fair treatment of customers a priority for all asset sales and have

always included customer protections in line with or that exceeded industry best

practice for transactions of this nature.






Bidders were required to agree to customer protections, which were non-negotiable,

before the bids were assessed on price. These protections included: adherence to

the Financial Conduct Authority’s principle of Treating Customers Fairly; where

customers were on Standard Variable Rate mortgages, purchasers were restricted in

the changes they could make to the Standard Variable Rate for 12 months; and,

mortgage books that were sold had to be administered by Financial Conduct

Authority regulated companies, and no changes could be made to the terms and

conditions of any of the loans that had been sold.

In addition to requiring bidders to agree to the protections outlined above, UKAR

undertake due diligence on bidders, their proposed servicers and legal title holders of

the loans to ensure that they have the necessary policies, procedures and

governance in place to treat customers fairly.

The details of all NRAM mortgage sales can be found on gov.uk. Both active and

non-active lenders are invited to participate in UKAR sales to ensure a competitive

process. In relation to the latest asset sale, UKAR’s advisors proactively invited the

top 25 active lenders to participate. Notwithstanding this, UKAR have not received a

bid from an active lender that covered the full portfolio of assets being sold.

Whether to offer customers new mortgage products is a commercial decision for

lenders and government does not intervene in individual cases.

That said, the government welcomes the voluntary agreement entered into last year

by UK Finance working with the FCA. Under this agreement, 59 authorised lenders

representing 93 per cent of the UK’s residential mortgage market have agreed

common standards to help existing borrowers on reversion rates who are up-to-date

with repayments but, because of stricter affordability criteria, are currently ineligible,

to move to an alternative product provided by their lender, where said lender is able

to offer alternative products.

HM Treasury has also worked closely with the FCA on their Mortgages Market Study

and their planned changes to affordability assessments. These changes remove the

regulatory barriers which previously might have prevented borrowers from accessing

new mortgage deals, regardless of whether they are with active or inactive lenders.

HM Treasury will continue to work closely with the FCA once the changes to their

rules are implemented, to monitor the impact this will have on the market.

WALES

Wales Office: Bullying


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

cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against managers in his

Department in each of the last five years.

Kevin Foster:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales (OSSW) has recorded no cases of

bullying or harassment in the last five years.

The Office is committed to ensuring staff are treated with dignity and respect, and

that any concerns raised by staff are listened to and dealt with appropriately. We

have a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April

2019 to Question 246453, on Children: Maintenance, how many times each of the

powers listed in the Answer have been used.

Will Quince:

We do not keep information on the number of times Financial Investigation Unit (FIU)

request information from financial institutions to check the accuracy of information.

Regarding the number of times Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) will seek to

prosecute or forward to HMRC for fraud action. I can confirm there has been one

prosecution in 2019 with 3 other cases are being investigated by Crown Prosecution

Service. The arrangements with HMRC to provide them with information regarding

Child Maintenance Group investigations has been finalised and the first transfer of

data will occur in mid May.

Department for Work and Pensions: Secondment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many civil servants in her

Department have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the European Union

and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three years.

Will Quince:

This information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Department for Work and Pension has worked closely with the Department for

Exiting the European Union and other Government Departments as part of the UK’s




preparations to exit the EU. The Department has prepared for all eventualities

including no deal. Preparations have been undertaken by staff as part of their regular

duties.

Food Banks: Ogmore


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department collects

on the use of food banks in Ogmore.

Will Quince:

The Government does not collect official data on the use of food banks. We have

worked with the Scottish Government, food insecurity experts, and the Office for

National Statistics to introduce a new set of food security questions in the Family

Resources Survey starting from April 2019. This means that we will in future be able

to able to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity across the

UK and for specific groups, to better understand the drivers of food insecurity and

identify which groups are most at risk.

Health


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Office for

National Statistics' personal and economic well-being in the UK data series, what

estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) people that are long-term sick and (b)

disabled people that suffer from low personal wellbeing.

Justin Tomlinson:

The proportions of individuals aged 16-64 in the UK who reported low personal

wellbeing, in January-December 2018, by long-term health and disability status, are

given in the table below.

LONG-TERM HEALTH

CONDITION DISABLED ALL AGED 16-64

Life satisfaction 9.7% 13.8% 4.5%

Feel activities

worthwhile

7.8% 11.4% 3.7%

Happiness 14.4% 19.2% 8.4%

Anxiety 29.5% 35.7% 20.3%

Notes:

1. Estimates are based on the same data source (Annual Population Survey), time

period (January-December 2018) and geographical coverage (UK) as the Office for

National Statistics (ONS) publication referenced in the question: Personal and



economic well-being in the UK: April 2019 (

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/persona

landeconomicwellbeingintheuk/april2019#while-average-anxiety-levels-reached-a-

three-year-low-in-2018-about-103-million-people-continued-to-report-high-anxiety-

scores ).

2. While overall wellbeing estimates published by the ONS cover all adults aged 16

years and over, the breakdowns presented here are limited to those aged 16-64,

because most people aged 65 and over are not asked the disability and health

questions in this Survey.

3. Following ONS methodology, personal wellbeing is defined not as a single

measure, but the four separate measures of life satisfaction, feeling that the things

done in life are worthwhile, happiness and anxiety. These scores are self-reported

by survey respondents on an 11-point scale, from 0 to 10. “Low” personal wellbeing

is defined as those who report a score of 0-4 on life satisfaction, feeling that the

things done in life are worthwhile, or happiness, or a score of 6-10 on anxiety.

4. Personal well-being scores are reported by respondents at the time of interview,

including how happy or anxious they were “yesterday”, so the respondents

identified in this analysis do not necessarily “suffer from” low personal well-being

over an extended period.

5. Differences in proportions do not necessarily imply a direct causal relationship.

6. People with long-term health conditions are defined as those who report any

physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expecting to last 12

months or more.

7. Disabled people are defined as those who report a long-term health condition that

reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. This is the Government

Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonised Principle, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Housing Benefit: Domestic Abuse


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the

discretionary housing payment funding allocated to claimants affected by domestic abuse

in each of the last three years.

Will Quince:

Information on claimants affected by domestic abuse is not available to make an

estimate of Discretionary Housing Payment funding allocated to domestic abuse

victims due to data sensitivity.

DHP guidance highlights the use of the fund in supporting victims of domestic abuse

to move to a place of safety.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/personalandeconomicwellbeingintheuk/april2019#while-average-anxiety-levels-reached-a-three-year-low-in-2018-about-103-million-people-continued-to-report-high-anxiety-scores






Members: Correspondence


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to

respond to the letter of 4 February 2019 to the Minister of State for Employment from the

hon. Member for Slough on the case of a constituent, reference MC2019/06124.

Justin Tomlinson:

I replied to the hon. Member on 8 May 2019.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the

proportion of rejected claims for personal independence payments that were overturned

at tribunal stage in each year since 2014.

Justin Tomlinson:

The requested information is shown in the table below:

Volume of initial decisions where PIP was disallowed, and the number &

proportion of these decisions that were Overturned at the appeal Stage, by year

of initial decision.

FINANCIAL YEAR OF

INITIAL DECISION

VOLUME OF PIP CLAIMS

DISALLOWED

DECISIONS

OVERTURNED AT

APPEAL

PERCENTAGE OF INITIAL

DECISIONS

OVERTURNED AT

APPEAL

2014/15 275,090 12,730 5%

2015/16 324,850 22,320 7%

2016/17 390,210 36,220 9%

2017/18 392,280 29,420 8%

2018/19 (Apr- Dec18) 282,280 3,410 1%

Source: PIP Computer System

Since PIP was introduced 3.9m decisions have been made up to December 2018, of

these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.

Data has been rounded to the nearest 10, and the nearest percent respectively.

This data is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to

future revision.

Disallowances include those both pre-referral and post-referral to an Assessment

Provider.



An appeal can only be made against a decision which has gone through the

Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) process. The figures above will include decisions

which have been changed at MR to award PIP, and where the claimant continues to

appeal for a higher PIP award, and are then changed again at tribunal appeal.

Decisions overturned at appeal may include a number of appeals that have been

lapsed (which is where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but

before it was heard at Tribunal).

Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had

time to complete the claimant journey and progress to appeal.

Social Security Benefits: Coventry


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the

number of people affected by administrative errors made by her Department which led to

the overpayment of benefits in Coventry.

Will Quince:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is focused on paying people their

correct entitlement.

Administrative errors are referred to as ‘official errors’ which have arisen from

processing errors or delays by DWP or a Local Authority.

A quality checking regime is in place and this is helping address official error.

National Statistics Fraud and Error 2018/19 published 9 May 2019, indicate that

estimated losses from official error account for 0.4% of total benefit expenditure.

Internal Management Information shows that 48k claimants with a CV postcode had

an actual ‘official error’ overpayment in 2018/19.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effect of the (a) Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England)

(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, (b) Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit

(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and (c) Social Security (Income-related

Benefits) (Updating and Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on the right of people

with pre-settled status to access public funds.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she had with

stakeholder groups representing EEA citizens on the (a) Allocation of Housing and

Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, (b) Child

Benefit and Child Tax Credit (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and (c) Social




Security (Income-related Benefits) (Updating and Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations

2019.

Alok Sharma:

The Government has always been clear that EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their

family members granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme will be able to

continue their lives in the UK much as before, with the same entitlements as now to

access benefits, social housing and homelessness assistance services. Those

granted pre-settled status under the scheme will not have any change in their

entitlement to access benefits and services.

A consultation has not been carried out as these regulations do not reflect a change

in the existing rules or government policy and therefore will not have any adverse

effects. These regulations provide legal clarity to claimants, applicants, decision

makers and local authorities, delivering continuity and ensuring that the existing rules

are applied fairly.

Unemployment

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [910855]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate her

Department has made of the number of children in workless households.

Will Quince:

There are an estimated 1.2 million children living in workless households in the UK,

down 67,000 on the year and down 665,000 since 2010. There are now a third less

children living in workless households than in 2010.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: [251193]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has

made of the difficulties faced by universal credit claimants applying for a mortgage; and if

she will make a statement.

Will Quince:

The Financial Conduct Authority Handbook sets out rules and guidance for lenders.

This provides that, prior to entering into a mortgage, a lender must assess whether

the customer will be able to pay the sums due and must not enter into the transaction

unless it can demonstrate that the mortgage is affordable for the customer (and any

guarantor).

It is up to individual lenders to determine how to ensure adherence to this

requirement. Each lender is required to publish a written statement setting out the

factors it will take into account in assessing a customer's ability to pay. This must,

inter alia, address how income and expenditure is to be assessed, including details of

the types of income which are acceptable.





the (a) accuracy and (b) clarity of the universal credit payment statements provided to

claimants.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the

(a) accuracy and (b) clarity of the universal credit payment statements provided to

claimants.

Alok Sharma:

Universal Credit (UC) has been designed with accessibility and accuracy in mind and

we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Most people

claiming UC will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain

their UC account.

The Department delivers UC in a way which responds to the needs of those who are

supported by it. UC payment statements have been designed to give claimants a

relevant breakdown of their award, including details of any outstanding debt and the

reason for deductions. Every UC award is calculated based on the circumstances of

individuals during each assessment period, taking into account savings, assets and

income.

Further enhancements will be introduced in the future to make UC payment

statements even easier to understand, with a particular focus on making it clearer

when amounts are deducted and whether people are being paid as a single person or

as part of a couple. Claimants will be able to access a ‘blank’ statement, available

through their online account as soon as their claim is received, allowing them to view

expected entitlements based on what information has been submitted.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to give staff

who advise universal credit claimants access to benefit calculations to enable them to

provide better support.

Alok Sharma:

Claimants and Jobcentre staff can access benefit calculators via the gov.uk website.

This includes links to three independent calculators and advice on the type of

information required to complete a calculation.

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

The independent benefits calculators we endorse are intended to provide useful

estimations of what people can get in certain circumstances, based on what

information is entered on the calculators themselves. This is to allow people to safely

explore what help they may receive from Universal Credit before they apply, or based

on potential changes of circumstances.







To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has

taken to ensure provision of out of working hours appointments to universal credit

claimants who work during working hours.

Alok Sharma:

Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants

to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them.

Via their account claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify

us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established

claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to

the person or team who are dealing with the case.

We are aware that some claimants who are working may find it difficult to access our

Jobcentre Plus Service due to their work commitments, however, not all Universal

Credit claimants are required to attend interviews at their local Jobcentre. This will

depend on their individual personal circumstances. For claimants whose earnings are

above the individual or household Conditionality Earnings Threshold or the

Administrative Earnings Threshold there is no conditionality requirement to attend

interviews with a Work Coach.

Where a voluntary interview is necessary to verify evidence, claimants are able to

arrange the most convenient date and time with their Work Coach or Case Manager.

Universal Credit: Appeals



whether the information provided to universal credit claimants, who request reasons for a

decision, meets the statutory requirements that it should (a) be adequate to allow a

challenge to the decision, if appropriate and (b) inform claimants of their right to challenge

the decision.

Alok Sharma:

The decision notice sent to the claimant explains not only their dispute rights but also

that they can request a statement of reasons for the decision made. That will not only

be a comprehensive explanation for the decision, as required in law, but it will also

remind the claimant of their dispute rights, including the time limit for making any

dispute.

Universal Credit: Disability


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provisions are being made for

severe disability premium (SDP) claimants who were moved on to universal credit before

the transitional SDP amount came into force.





To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timescale is for her

Department (a) to identify all claimants who are eligible for a transitional severe disability

premium and (b) when that payment will be awarded to eligible claimants.

Justin Tomlinson:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 249942.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing



to Question 243333, on Universal credit: private rented housing, what percentage of new

claimants contact the Money and Pensions Service within three months of signing on to

universal credit.



to Question 243333 on Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing, if he will make an

assessment of trends in the level of claimants making contact since February 2019 as a

result of those changes.

Alok Sharma:

The requested information is not centrally collected by the Department.

The Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has replaced the three existing providers of

government-sponsored financial guidance – the Money Advice Service, the Pensions

Advisory Service and Pension Wise – which has brought together the provision of

debt advice, money guidance and pension guidance for the first time, streamlining the

services offered and reducing confusion for members of the public on who they

should contact.

The new body delivers free and impartial financial guidance and a more streamlined

service to members of the public providing easier access to the information and

guidance.

From January to March 2019 around 9,300 individuals visited the Money Manager

tool for Universal Credit claimants, hosted on the Money Advice Service website.

Additionally, over the same period, The Money and Pension Service money guidance

contact centre was contacted around 1,100 times regarding Universal Credit.

Universal Credit: Wales


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has

made of whether universal credit adequately covers the cost of living in Wales.




https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/money-manager




Alok Sharma:

Successive Governments have made decisions about the rates of benefits taking

account of the competing demands on public expenditure, mindful of the need to

balance poverty alleviation whilst not damaging incentives to work, as all

Governments since 1948 have striven to do.

Benefits provide a safety net for people to spend on their individual needs.

Government does not prescribe these, but provides support depending on

circumstances such as ability to work and need for childcare.

The applicable amount for Universal Credit is based upon a personal allowance paid

according to age and family status, which can be supplemented by flat-rate premiums

for groups recognised as having additional needs, such as disabled people and

carers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants received an

underpayment of universal credit (a) as their first payment and (b) in further payments in

(a) Ogmore and (b) Wales in 2018.

Alok Sharma:

The information requested is not held by the Department.

Our latest published data shows that consistently around 85% of new claimants are

being paid in full and on time. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics.


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

JUSTICE

Publication of the response to the ‘Fit for the future: transforming the court and

tribunal estate’ consultation and the Court & Tribunal Design Guide

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Gauke):

[HCWS1554]

On the 10 th May I published the response to the ‘Fit for the future: transforming the court

and tribunal estate ’ consultation. It sets out how decisions regarding the future of the

estate should be made and makes clear that people will continue to be able to access

court and tribunals while providing value for money for the taxpayer and ensuring long-

term efficiency.

The consultation published in January 2018, has been developed to complement

HMCTS’ £1bn Reform Programme, which is bringing new technology and modern ways

of working to the justice system, making it more accessible for everyone. It received 249

responses and as a result, the response published today, strengthens and updates the

principles underpinning future decisions relating to changes to our estate. It ensures that:

• When visits to courts are necessary, travel times and ease of transport will

continue to be prioritised – with added support for vulnerable users

• Court and tribunal buildings will be fit for purpose and can be maintained at a

reasonable cost to the taxpayer

• Specialist front-of-house staff will be at courts to support the public and legal

professionals, and will be trained in new technologies

• The estate is aligned with the Reform Programme

The provision for hearings in physical court rooms will remain essential for the fair, just

and proportionate delivery of justice. Yet we anticipate that fewer interactions with the

court and tribunals system will happen in this way. Any future changes to the court estate

which result in the relocation of a service from a local area will be consulted on publicly

before a decision is made, using the criteria set out in the Fit for the Future principles.

We expect the modernisation being delivered by the Reform Programme to provide

additional routes to justice and as a result lead to a reduction in the use of our court and

tribunal buildings. These modern channels will be additional to, rather than substitutions

for, existing routes. We make a commitment that we will not act on assumptions by

proposing to close courts unless we have sound evidence that the reforms are actually

reducing the use of those buildings.

Naturally, with an estate of this size there may be changes in demand for reasons other

than uptake of digital services, and in those circumstances, it may be sensible to close or

merge courts. Furthermore, this consultation has no effect on previously announced

closures which will go ahead as planned.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-05-13/HCWS1554/

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-05-13/HCWS1554/

Our response to the consultation addresses several concerns which we have committed

to improving. One is that journeys to and from court should be reasonable and, for the

overwhelming majority of users, this would be one that allowed them to leave home no

earlier than 7.30am, attend their hearing and return home by 7.30pm the same day by

public transport. We also set out how we will measure this commitment and what other

factors we will consider – for example the circumstances of users including those that are

vulnerable.

The consultation was broadly positive about proposals regarding the design of our court

and tribunal buildings and reinforced the need for the security of those who use and work

in our courts and tribunals to be paramount and for ensuring suitable facilities for

vulnerable users. This is reflected in the new Court and Tribunal Design Guide published

today.

Our revised principles will strengthen and guide our analysis and assessment when we

consider future changes. It will better align the management of our estate to the wider

modernisation of our services and will make sure the court and tribunal estate remains fit

for the 21 st century.

Court and Tribunal Design Guide

Alongside Fit for the Future, HMCTS has also published a new Court and Tribunal

Design Guide. This has been developed after engaging with user groups, to make sure

the guide improves the experience for court and tribunal users, while providing value for

the taxpayer.

It provides the standards for refurbishment and redevelopment of existing and future

court and tribunal buildings. It aims to enable optimum use of facilities and improve user

experience and, along with the key elements of safety and security, sets out five

principles that must be incorporated into any building design. These principles define that

court and tribunal buildings must be appropriate, effective, accessible, flexible and

sustainable.

The guide was developed through extensive engagement with court and tribunal users to

ensure standards and designs meet their needs. The ‘Fit for the Future’ consultation

sought views on the proposed principles and approach to improving the design of court

and tribunal buildings and a total of 181 responses were received.

The guide will be used by HMCTS to help inform current and future building and

refurbishment work undertaken across the court and tribunal estate. As lessons are

learned and HMCTS reform initiatives develop, the Design Guide will be updated.

A copy of the consultation response has been placed in the libraries of both Houses.

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