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Daily Report Wednesday, 5 September 2018

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 5 September 2018 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:34 P.M., 05 September 2018). For the

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 4

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 4

Conditions of Employment 4

Energy: Hydrogen 4

Industry 4

Industry: Sheffield City Region 5

Innovation and Research 5

Redundancy: Mental Health 5

Retail Trade: Coventry 6

CABINET OFFICE 6

Cabinet Office EU Unit: Staff 6

Civil Servants: Pay 7

National Democracy Week 7

DEFENCE 8

Armed Forces: Pay 8

Armed Forces: Training 9

Defence: Procurement 14

Royal Fleet Auxiliary 15

Type 26 Frigates 16

Type 31 Frigates 16

Weapons 17

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 17

Broadband 17

Broadcasting 18

Business: Cybercrime 18

Football Association 19

Football: Females 19

Gambling: Advertising 20

Olympic Games 2012 20

Sports: Finance 21

Voluntary Work 22

EDUCATION 22

Department for Education:

Apprentices 22

Pupil Exclusions: Coventry 23

Teachers: Pay 23

T-levels 24

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 24

British Overseas Territories:

Environment Protection 24

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit 25

Environment Protection 25

European Environment

Agency 25

European Union (Withdrawal)

Act 2018 26

Exhaust Emissions: Motor

Vehicles 27

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Fires: Climate Change 27

Food 28

Food: Safety 28

Landfill: Medway 29

Livestock: Northern Ireland 29

Microplastics 30

National Parks: Seas and

Oceans 31

Tolls: Pollution Control 31

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 31

Department for Exiting the

European Union: Economic

Analysis 31

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 32

Abortion Act 1967 32

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices 32

First Aid and Mental Health:

Training 33

General Practitioners: ICT 33

Health Services and Social

Services: East Midlands 33

Hearing Aids 34

Locums: Tax Avoidance 34

Mental Health Services: Acute

Beds 35

Mental Health Services:

Children and Young People 36

Mental Illness: Young People 37

NHS: Drugs 37

NHS: Mental Health Services 38

NHS: Research 38

NHS: Staff 38

Pharmaceutical Price

Regulation Scheme 39

Respite Care 39

HOME OFFICE 40

Abortion: Northern Ireland 40

British Nationality 40

Deportation: Windrush

Generation 40

Fraud 41

Home Office: Written

Questions 41

Immigrants: Caribbean 41

Immigration: EU Nationals 42

Immigration: Windrush

Generation 43

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 44

Environment Protection:

Northern Ireland 44

EU Grants and Loans 44

Service Charges 45

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 45

Overseas Aid 45

JUSTICE 46

Child Contact Centres: Data

Protection 46

Family Courts: Domestic

Violence 47

NORTHERN IRELAND 47

Borders: Northern Ireland 47

Terrorism: Northern Ireland 48

Veterans: Northern Ireland 48

TRANSPORT 49

Aviation: Compensation 49

Bridges: English Channel 49

Rolling Stock 49

Taxis: Electric Vehicles 50

Taxis: Licensing 50

TREASURY 50

Non-domestic Rates: Solar

Power 50

Robert McCoy 51

Tax Avoidance 51

UK Trade with EU 51

UK Trade with EU: Customs 52

WORK AND PENSIONS 53

Electronic Government 53

First Aid: Training 53

Pensions: Plumbing 54

Universal Credit 54

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 55

HOME OFFICE 55

Independent Review of the

Modern Slavery Act 2015 55

Prevent Duty Toolkit for Local

Authorities and Partner

Agencies: Supplementary

Information to the Prevent

Duty Guidance for England

and Wales 56

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 56

Rough Sleeping 56

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

Conditions of Employment

Sir Vince Cable: [167871]

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

forward legislative proposals to amend the definition of worker in employment law to

clarify and strengthen the rights of off-payroll workers, dependent contractors and

participants in the gig economy.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government is committed to providing clarity for businesses and individuals on

employment status. As Matthew Taylor identified in his review, this is a complex issue

and is one of the major challenges for public policy.

We therefore need to take time to consider how best to achieve change that works for

all. We received over 160 detailed responses to the Employment Status Consultation.

We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.

Energy: Hydrogen

Anna Turley: [166496]

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

assessment he has made of the potential for large-scale hydrogen conversion projects to

support the UK to meet its de-carbonisation targets.

Claire Perry:

The Government recognises the significant potential of hydrogen in meeting our long-

term decarbonisation targets.

We are currently undertaking work to strengthen and assess the evidence on the

range of potential approaches to decarbonising heat, including the possibility of large

scale conversion of the gas network to hydrogen, and will set out further detail on this

work later this year.

In support of this work we are investing in hydrogen innovation, with up to £65 million

supporting projects addressing the fundamental challenges of large-scale hydrogen

conversion, such as establishing the safety case and reducing production costs.

Industry

Dan Jarvis: [R] [167959]

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

his Department used to decide which areas would be chosen to work with the

Government to develop their local industrial strategies.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-24/167871



Kelly Tolhurst:

We have committed to work with all Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral

Combined Authorities across England to develop Local Industrial Strategies.

Government will take a phased approach - in July we announced the next wave of six

areas with which Government is working closely with on their Local Industrial

Strategies. These were chosen to give us experience of working with a variety of

areas.

Industry: Sheffield City Region

Dan Jarvis: [R] [167962]

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

reason his Department did not choose to work with the Sheffield City Region on a local

industrial strategy.

Kelly Tolhurst:

We have committed to work with all Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral

Combined Authorities, including the Sheffield City Region, to develop Local Industrial

Strategies.

Innovation and Research

Rebecca Long Bailey: [167296]

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

to page 89 of the Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has launched the new

international research and innovation strategy.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

[Holding answer 4 September 2018]: Further to my response on 14 June 2018 to

Question UIN 151204, we intend to publish the International Research and Innovation

Strategy in autumn this year.

Redundancy: Mental Health

Mr Jim Cunningham: [167852]

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

has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the effect

of job loss on mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst:

BEIS Ministers and officials meet regularly with counterparts in DWP and DHSC to

discuss issues around disability, work and health – including mental health – to

pursue a joined up approach across Government. On 30 November 2017 the

Government published ‘Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability’,

which set out the actions that we are taking across the three key settings: the welfare

system, workplace and health services. This report also provided the Government




response to “Thriving at work: The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and

employers”.

Retail Trade: Coventry


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

is taking to support the retail sector in Coventry.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The West Midlands Combined Authority has recently approved a grant of £98.8m

towards the City Centre South scheme. This will be a major retail, leisure and

residential development in Coventry City Centre.

This builds on financial support offered by the British Business Bank, the Small

Business Commissioner ensuring fair payment practices, and Local Growth Hubs

offering advice and information, with Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub acting as

the local contact to business.

In addition, Government recently established a panel of experts, chaired by Sir John

Timpson, to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently

affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach. The panel, in

conjunction with the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Growth, will launch a

call for evidence later this year looking at the future of our high streets.

Government has also launched the 2018 Great British High Street Awards, which

champion the hard work of local businesses and communities around the country

who are determined to ensure that their high streets thrive.

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Office EU Unit: Staff

Mr Steve Baker: [167256]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff of each grade work in the

Cabinet Office Europe Unit.

Oliver Dowden:

The table below sets out the number of staff working at each grade in the Cabinet

Office Europe Unit at 25th July 2018:

GRADE HEADCOUNT

Permanent Secretary 1

SCS2 (Director level) 2

SCS1 (Deputy Director level) 6



GRADE HEADCOUNT

Band A (CS Grade 7) 12

Band B2 (CS Grade Higher Executive

Officer/Senior Executive Officer)

5

Band B1 (CS Grade Executive Officer) 6

Total 32

As announced in the written statement 'Machinery of Government Change’ (24 July

2018), a limited number of staff will be transferring from the Department for Exiting

the European Union to the Cabinet Office Europe Unit.

Civil Servants: Pay

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [167216]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to launch a public

consultation on civil service pay guidance.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [167217]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with

trades unions on the civil service pay guidance.

Oliver Dowden:

The Cabinet Office does not have any plans to hold a public consultation on any

elements of the civil service pay remit guidance.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I met with the General Secretaries of

the FDA, Prospect and PCS trade unions on 27 June to discuss the Civil Service pay

guidance, which was published on 25 June.

In my capacity as the Minister with responsibility for Civil Service HR, including trade

unions, I previously met with the General Secretaries of the FDA and Prospect on the

22 February 2018, and with the PCS General Secretary, on the 27th February 2018.

Cabinet office officials regularly meet with trade union representatives to discuss a

range of workforce issues, including pay.

National Democracy Week

Wes Streeting: [168177]

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

public purse of the Government's hosting of national democracy week; how many events

the Government held; and how many people attended each such event.




Chloe Smith:

The Government's contribution to the success of National Democracy Week was

resourced from existing democratic engagement budgets. To date, Cabinet Office

expenditure has been less than £60k and is not expected to change significantly.

The Government established the National Democracy Week Council to develop and

deliver events during the Week. Members from civil society and local government

sectors delivered more than 40 events between 2-8 July, starting with the National

Democracy Week Awards and including activities from a diverse range of member

organisations, such as Mencap, Faiths Forums for London and the British Youth

Council. Details are available on the National Democracy Week website:

www.gov.uk/nationaldemocracyweek

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Pay

Nia Griffith: [167982]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Written Statement of 24 July

2018 on Ministry of Defence -Update, HCWS909, when the 0.9 per cent non-consolidated

one-off payment will be implemented.

Gavin Williamson:

The Ministry of Defence is working with its pay administration providers to agree

when the non-consolidated payment will be implemented and will update Service

personnel as soon as possible.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department first received a copy of

the Armed Forces Pay Review Body’s 2018 report.

Gavin Williamson:

The Ministry of Defence responded to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's 2018

report on 24 July 2018.

This pay award affects approximately 190,000 UK Regular and Reserve Forces

personnel, who will receive an above inflation increase of 2.9%. Supported by strong

evidence on recruitment and retention issues, the award takes into account the need

to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified personnel.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 29, paragraph 3.23, of

the Armed Forces Pay Body Review Report 2018, for what reason the Review Body’s

recommendation of an across-the-board increase of 2.9 per cent in base pay for 2018-19

was not accepted.

http://www.gov.uk/nationaldemocracyweek

http://www.gov.uk/nationaldemocracyweek




Gavin Williamson:

For the 2018-19 award, the Government gave the Armed Forces a 2% consolidated

uplift, and 0.9% as a bonus. The payment of a bonus element will ensure that total

annual income will be increased by 2.9%, therefore meeting the spirit of the AFPRB

recommendation.

This is the largest pay increase for the Armed Forces since 2010.

The Government values the advice of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB)

and works closely with them to ensure that they have all the evidence necessary to

complete their work.

Armed Forces: Training

Jo Stevens: [168121]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which foreign armed forces the UK armed

forces has trained in the last 12 months.

Mark Lancaster:

The list below sets out the foreign states that were provided training and/or education

by the UK Armed Forces for the period 25 July 2017 – 25 July 2018.

AFGHANISTAN

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas, The

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus


AFGHANISTAN

Belgium

Belize

Bermuda

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Cote D'Ivoire

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

East Timor

Egypt

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

AFGHANISTAN

Finland

France

Gambia, The

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Guatemala

Guyana

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

AFGHANISTAN

Lebanon

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Mali

Malta

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mexico

Moldova

Mongolia

Montenegro

Montserrat

Morocco

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Niger

Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

AFGHANISTAN

Palestinian Autonomous Areas

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Somalia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

St. Lucia

Sudan

Sweden

AFGHANISTAN

Switzerland

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

Uruguay

United States

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: [167181]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which units within the (a) Royal Navy and (b)

Army are the primary agencies within those respective bodies for identifying and

investigating innovative solutions to future combat requirements.

Stuart Andrew:

There is a dedicated innovation cell in Navy Command's Maritime Capability Division

that has responsibility for identifying the future combat capability requirements for the

Royal Navy and for developing potential capability solutions as cost-effectively as

possible.


For the Army, the Future Force Development Branch of the Army Headquarters'

Capability Directorate leads on considering how the Army will fight in the future and

identifying related combat capability requirements. In addition, the Land Warfare

Centre leads on innovating solutions to the shorter term future, and 1st Armoured

Infantry Brigade is leading on 'Strike Experimentation' in support of the Joint Force

2025.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Chris Stephens: [167314]

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

fleet support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to restrict the competition

of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships being procured to UK-only bidders; and if he will

make a statement.

Stuart Andrew:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the then

Minister for Defence Procurement (Guto Bebb) on 9 July 2018 to Question 906314

and on 19 June 2018 to Question 152792 from the hon. Member for Dunfermline and

West Fife (Douglas Chapman).

Attachments:

1. Royal Fleet Auxiliary [Hansard Extracts.docx]

Mr Stephen Hepburn: [167908]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has

made on procuring (a) Type 31e frigates and (b) fleet support ships for the Royal Fleet

Auxiliary; and if they will be built at UK shipyards.

Stuart Andrew:

For the position on the Type 31e frigate programme, I refer the hon. Member to the

answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 5 September

2018 to Questions 167940, 167941, 167942 and 167945 and to the hon. Member for

Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens) to Question 167315.

For the position on the Fleet Solid Support ships, I refer the hon. Member to the

answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister for Defence Procurement (Guto

Bebb) on 9 July 2018 to Question 906314 from the hon. Member for Glasgow South

West (Chris Stephens).

Attachments:

1. RFA Fleet Support Ships [906314_Royal_Fleet_Auxiliary_Fleet_Support_Ships.docx]




Type 26 Frigates

Luke Pollard: [168109]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the basing decisions

for the Type 26 frigate.

Stuart Andrew:

The decision on the baseporting for the Type 26 frigate will be announced in due

course.

Type 31 Frigates


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has

made on procuring Type 31e frigates; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the Type 31e frigate

acquisition process has been halted; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the new Type 31e

frigate procurement competition.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's new procurement

competition for the Type 31e frigate will maintain the policy of capping the price of each

vessel at £250 million.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether DE&S plans to issue a new pre-

qualification questionnaire to industry for the Type 31e frigate competition.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence took the decision to stop the procurement of the Type 31e

Frigate because we had not received sufficient compliant bids for the Competitive

Design Phase. The market was formally notified on 20 July 2018.

We communicated our plans for the first stage of the new procurement on 13 August

2018 by issuing a Prior Information Notice (PIN). This PIN invited potential suppliers

to a short period of early market engagement to allow us to share with industry key

elements of the new procurement, including technical and commercial information.

The outcome of this market engagement will inform the next steps of the new

procurement process.

There has been no change in our plan to procure a first batch of five new Type 31e

Frigates for £1.25 billion.








To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target in-service date for the first

Type 31 frigates is; and what assessment he has made of the implications of operating

Type 23 frigates beyond the dates on they were due to be replaced by Type 31 frigates.

Stuart Andrew:

There has been no change to our plans for the first Type 31e Frigate to enter service

by the end of 2023, with all five ships delivered by the end of 2028.

Weapons


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to investigate the

potential uses of directed energy on future UK armed forces platforms.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is making a significant investment in the development

of Directed Energy Weapons technology and continues to do so as part of its science

and technology portfolio; this includes the development of Dragonfire, the UKs first

Laser Directed Energy Weapon technology demonstrator.

The MOD recognises that directed energy technologies and systems are now

reaching maturity. It has appointed a Senior Responsible Owner and established a

Novel Weapons team to specifically investigate the military utility of Directed Energy

Weapons. The team is addressing key enablers such as logistics, doctrine,

interoperability and is also focused on understanding safety, legal and ethical aspects

of deploying them as part of future military capability. It is undertaking this work with

the front line commands and consulting with the UK supplier base; acting as a focal

point for a cross defence effort.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: [167947]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to

prevent broadband services using copper which is sold as fibre.

Margot James:

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the UK's independent regulator of

advertising. It recently reviewed the use of the term ‘fibre’ to describe part-fibre and

full-fibre broadband and concluded in November 2017 that the term 'fibre' is unlikely

to mislead consumers as currently used in the advertising of part-fibre broadband

services. Permission for judicial review of this ASA's decision has been granted by

the Administrative Court.

On 23 May 2018, the ASA has also implemented a new guidance on broadband

speeds advertisement stating that speed claims should now be based on the




download speeds available to at least 50% of customers at peak time, and no more

on 'up to' speeds available to at least 10% of customers. Ofcom has also updated its

Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds recently.

Broadcasting

Stephen Timms: [167849]

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

the future relationship between the EU and the UK broadcasting industry.

Margot James:

The UK is committed to seek the best possible arrangement for broadcasting that will

work for UK businesses and audiences.

As set out in the Brexit White Paper, we cannot be part of the Audiovisual Media

Services Directive (AVMSD) if we are not part of the EU. As a result, the Country of

Origin principle, which allows audiovisual services to obtain a broadcasting licence in

one Member State for all their channels and services across the EU, will no longer

apply. However, the UK will continue benefiting from the European works status,

which will enable us to co-produce with EU Member States and count towards

quotas.

The details of the future relationship between the EU and the UK on broadcasting

depends on the exit negotiations, and our negotiating teams continue to work at pace

to ensure that these are finalised by October.

Business: Cybercrime


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

Department is taking to encourage good practice in cyber security for businesses.

Margot James:

As part of the 2016-2021 National Cyber Security Strategy the Government created

the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to be the authority on the UK’s cyber

security environment, sharing knowledge, addressing systemic vulnerabilities and

providing leadership on key national cyber security issues.

The NCSC’s work includes publishing practical security guidance, such as 10 steps

to Cyber Security, which provides a sound basis for any business to take informed

cyber security decisions and actions that are right for their organisation. For smaller

businesses, NCSC’s Small Business Guide sets out easy, low-cost steps to help

protect data, assets and reputation. Businesses may also join the Cyber information

Sharing Partnership (CiSP), a joint industry and government initiative to exchange

cyber threat information. The NCSC also manages the Cyber Essentials certification

scheme, which helps any business demonstrate to their customers that they have

taken basic steps to protect their business from a whole range of the most common

cyber attacks.



In addition, the Government recently introduced the following legislation to encourage

good practice in cyber security for businesses:

Data Protection Act 2018 — requires organisations to have appropriate technical and

organisational cyber security measures in place to protect personal data

Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 (known as the “NIS Directive”)

— places legal obligations on the a) providers of essentials services and b) digital

service providers to to improve their cyber-security

Football Association

Grahame Morris: [167994]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding

from the public purse the Football Association has received in each of the last five years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding

from the public purse the Football Association has received in each of the last five years

to facilitate women's football.

Tracey Crouch:

The FA has received £43,118, 824 of National Lottery and Exchequer funding from

Sport England over the past five years for the grassroots programmes it delivers:

£10,287,050 (13/14), £9,175,259 (14/15), £9,345,964 (15/16), £10,033,667 (16/17),

£4,276,884 (17/18)

The investment the FA receives is used on projects, which benefit men’s, women’s

and disability football; for example, investment in an artificial pitch or mixed coaching

programme will benefit all groups within that community.

Between 2017-21, Sport England will be investing £2.6million for the development of

talented women and girls.

Football: Females


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will bring forward

legislative proposals to establish an alternative governance body than the Football

Association to administer women's football in England.

Tracey Crouch:

We are not considering a legislative change in the way football is run in this country.

With almost 2.5 million registered players, football is now the top participation sport

for women and girls in England with the FA setting out their ambition to double female

participation over the next five years.

Together with Sport England, Government is working closely with the FA to maximise

the returns in terms of increased participation and improving the talent pathway for




women’s and girl’s football, including supporting their bid to host the 2021 European

Championships.


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

has had with the Football Association on promoting women's football in the North East.

Tracey Crouch:

I have regular discussions with the FA and wholeheartedly support their ambition to

double female participation across the whole country over the next five years.

Gambling: Advertising

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [168157]

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

Department is taking to limit children’s exposure to gambling adverts during live sporting

events.

Tracey Crouch:

There are strict controls on the content of all gambling advertisements, including

broadcast adverts. Gambling operators who advertise in the UK must comply with the

advertising codes, which aim to ensure gambling advertising does not appeal

particularly to children or young people or exploit vulnerable people. TV adverts must

be pre-cleared by Clearcast and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) acts on

complaints and proactively checks the media to take action against misleading,

harmful or offensive advertisements. The Gambling Industry Code for Socially

Responsible Advertising requires all TV and print adverts to carry an 18+ or ‘no under

18s’ message.

As with advertising, sponsorship arrangements must be socially responsible and

must never be targeted at children. Operators’ logos must not appear on any

commercial merchandising which is designed for children, including replica football

shirts in children’s sizes.

We considered advertising as part of our Review of Gaming Machines and Social

Responsibility and published our response in May. The Review looked at the existing

protections around gambling advertising and set out a package of initiatives to

strengthen them further. These include tougher guidance from the Committees of

Advertising Practice (CAP) on protecting vulnerable people, with further guidance on

children and young people due later this year, and tougher sanctions for operators

who breach advertising codes.

Olympic Games 2012

Mr Steve Reed: [168018]

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

Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109351 on Olympic Games 2012, if he will

provide an update on what proportion of the assets at the Olympic Park have been sold;




what revenue those sales have yielded; and what further such sales of assets are

planned.

Tracey Crouch:

The London Legacy Development Corporation, the body responsible for the

regeneration of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding area following the

London 2012 Games, owns the assets on the Park and is responsible for their

disposal.

To date the Legacy Corporation has entered into agreements for the development of

three housing neighbourhoods on the Park – Chobham Manor, East Wick and

Sweetwater – for which it has so far received £49 million in deposits and land

receipts.

In addition the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the Legacy Corporation's

predecessor, sold land at Sugar House Lane near to the Park for £19.5m in 2011.

Total revenue to date is, therefore, £68.5 million.

Future receipts will be generated as the housing sites under construction are built out

and agreements are entered into for the development of additional housing sites at

Stratford Waterfront, Pudding Mill and Rick Roberts Way.

The Legacy Corporation granted a long-term lease in 2014 for the site of the former

Press and Broadcast Centre, Here East, and long-term leases will be let to the

institutions involved in the planned culture and education district (East Bank) located

on the south of the Park.

Sports: Finance

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [168156]

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

Department has had with UK Sport on the future sustainability of sports which do not

currently receive any funding.

Tracey Crouch:

I discuss the financial sustainability of sport regularly with UK Sport and other

stakeholders: Sport in this country is supported through a mix of exchequer, lottery,

commercial, membership-driven and other funding.

UK Sport is committed to ensuring that the impact of its decisions on athletes, staff

and sports are carefully and sensitively managed, and will work closely with all sports

who, following recent investment decisions, will no longer be in receipt of investment

on an appropriate transition plan for athletes and staff. Most recently for the Beijing

2022 investment decisions, UK Sport have made a transition fund of circa £1.5 million

available and plans for each sport to access this will be developed in partnership with

the relevant home country sports institute.

UK Sport reviews its in-cycle funding decisions every year, as part of its annual

reporting requirements. This means that the door remains open to sports where they

can demonstrate increased medal potential. UK Sport's Medal Support Plan invests


in athletes in otherwise unfunded sports who have had significant and consistent

world level success. UK Sport's consultation on their future investment principles

post-Tokyo 2020 will engage with stakeholders and the wider public. Sport England

lottery and exchequer investment to support grassroots sport and talent remains

unaffected by funding decisions made by UK Sport.

Voluntary Work

Catherine McKinnell: [167979]

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

for the publication of his Department’s civil society strategy; and what the scope of that

strategy will be.

Tracey Crouch:

The Civil Society Strategy sets out a vision for how the government will support and

strengthen civil society in the years to come, without compromising its independence.

It is based on a 12 week long engagement exercise and complementary policy work.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published the Strategy on 9th

August 2018.

EDUCATION

Department for Education: Apprentices

Angela Rayner: [168011]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of the staff

employed in each group of his Department are apprentices.

Anne Milton:

The information requested is contained in the table below.

DIRECTORATE WORKFORCE

NUMBER OF

APPRENTICES PROPORTION

Education and Skills Funding Agency 1648 57 3.5%

Education Standards (including Agencies) 977 26 2.7%

Higher and Further Education 595 10 1.7%

Infrastructure and Funding 1015 25 2.5%

Legal Adviser's Office 14 * *

Operations 1159 58 5.0%

Social Care, Mobility and Equalities 707 18 2.5%

Total 6115 194** 3.2%



Notes:

* Redacted due to small number.

** Total does not include Legal Adviser’s Office.

Information correct as at 30 June 2018.

Pupil Exclusions: Coventry


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has

made of trends in the number of suspensions in primary and secondary schools in

Coventry; and what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on

support for schools with high numbers of suspensions.

Nick Gibb:

The National Statistics release ‘Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England

2016 to 2017’ includes information on the number and rate of permanent and fixed

period exclusions. The full release is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-

england-2016-to-2017.

Information for local authorities by academic year is available in the Underlying data

section of the release, in the file “national_region_la_school_data_exc1617.csv”. The

data can be filtered by the columns “year, “level” and “la_name”.

In March, the Government announced an externally led review of exclusions practice,

led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review will consider how schools use exclusion

and share best practice.

Teachers: Pay

Mike Kane: [168036]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Written Statement of 24 July

2018 on Teachers Update, WS912, when he plans to publish the funding sources for the

teachers pay grant for (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20.

Mike Kane: [168037]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his Written Statement of 24 July

on Teachers Update, WS912, how will the savings from his Department’s budget to fund

the teachers pay grant be made.

Nick Gibb:

We are fully funding the teachers’ pay award, by providing a Teachers’ Pay Grant

worth £187 million in 2018-19 and £321 million in 2019-20. This grant will be

additional and separate to the funding schools receive through the national funding

formula. It funds the difference between the 1% award schools would have been

anticipating, under the previous public sector pay cap, and the proposed award for

next year.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017





There will be no cuts to existing programmes to fund this grant. In setting the core

schools budget, worth £42.4 billion this year and £43.5 billion next year, the

Department has to make estimates around a range of factors, such as pupil numbers.

The Department has now worked hard to scrutinise these forecasts and assumptions

in-year, and that has allowed it to free up the funding required for the pay grant – less

than 0.6% of the overall budget, over two years.

T-levels


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made

contingency plans for the implementation of the first three T Levels in the event that the

planned timetable is not met.

Anne Milton:

The delivery timetable for T Levels is challenging, which is why we have put in place

robust programme management procedures, and are keeping the programme under

regular review. Alongside our apprenticeship reforms, T Levels are central to

reforming technical and vocational education and training, to improve workforce skills

and drive productivity growth, which is why it is important we keep up momentum.

The delivery of T Levels in 2020 is purposely focused on three T Levels with a small

number of selected providers. We are in the process of collecting key data to ensure

that these providers have the support they need to meet the timetable, and we will

continue to monitor progress, working closely with the 2020 providers, employers and

other delivery partners to ensure that we remain on track for delivery in 2020.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: [167884]

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

Department is taking to ensure that UK Overseas Territories can continue to access

environmental funding after the UK leaves the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

We are considering how environmental funding for the UK Overseas Territories can

best be provided after we leave the EU.

The Overseas Territories will be able to continue to apply to the Government’s

Darwin Plus programme, run by Defra, which supports biodiversity in the Overseas

Territories. In 2018-19 we are providing £2.5 million funding through Darwin Plus.

We have also set aside £4.77 million of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, over

four years, to address environmental security issues in the Overseas Territories.



Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit

Sue Hayman: [167964]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will place in

the Library a copy of his Department's risk register listing the key risks identified in the

event of the UK leaving the EU in 2019 without agreement.

George Eustice:

Defra has taken a number of steps to ensure it has strong risk and programme

management foundations in place and will continue to assess and manage these as

appropriate.

It is not government policy to publish departmental risk registers given the inherent

risks involved.

More information about our risk management approach can be found in Chapter 4 of

Defra’s annual report and accounts 2017 to 2018, which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-

2017-to-2018. The risk section is specifically on pages 32-36.

Environment Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to

respond to the consultation on the environmental principles and governance bill.


We launched a consultation on Environmental Principles and Governance after EU

Exit on 10 May. The consultation closes on 2 August. Responses will need to be

considered and we expect to publish our response to the consultation in the autumn.

European Environment Agency


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has

plans to maintain the responsibilities and functions in the UK of the (a) EU Environment

Agency and (b) European Environment Information and Observation Network (i) after the

UK leaves the EU and (ii) in the event of the UK leaving the EU in 2019 without an

agreement.


Once the implementation period ends, the European Environment Agency (EEA)

Agreement will no longer apply to the UK. The nature of our relationship with the EEA

during the implementation period and beyond are a matter for negotiations.

Plans for the European Environment Information and Observation Network are

directly linked to the EEA and will therefore be determined by the outcome of these

negotiations.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defras-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018





We do not want or expect a no deal outcome. We have however always been clear

that the Government would prepare for every outcome, including the unlikely event of

a no deal.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has

plans for Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 to form part of the common rule book envisaged

in the White Paper entitled The Future Relationship Between the United Kingdom and the

European Union, published in July 2018, Cm 9593.


Once the implementation period ends, the European Environment Agency (EEA)

Agreement will no longer apply to the UK. The nature of our relationship with the EEA

during the implementation period and beyond is a matter for negotiations.

Whether Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 will form part of the common rule book will be

subject to these negotiations.

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will place in

the Library a list of all the (a) affirmative and (b) negative statutory instruments exercising

powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 which he plans to lay before

Parliament in (i) 2018-19 and (ii) 2019-20.

George Eustice:

Defra is currently preparing 91 statutory instruments (SIs) relating to the UK’s

departure from the EU, in order to ensure continued operability of around 850 pieces

of domestic or directly applicable EU legislation after our departure. Planning for

these SIs is based on the assumption that they may all need to come into force from

29 March 2019 in a no deal scenario.

We are currently not in a position to publish a list of these SIs as it is still subject to

change. We are still making a detailed assessment of the corrections required to

make the law function appropriately on the day we leave the EU. The content of

individual SIs is therefore still dependant on factors such as ongoing policy

discussions with the devolved administrations, other Government departments’

legislation or policy decisions, statutory requirements to consult or business as usual

legislation being in force first.

We have, however, already laid three SIs relating to the UK’s departure from the EU

before the Sifting Committee on 24 July, which are as follows:

The Seal Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

The Animal Welfare (Amendment) (England) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

The Timber, Timber Products and FLEGT (EU Exit) Regulations 2018



We are committed to delivering all of our SIs relating to the UK’s departure from the

EU and ensuring a functioning statute book upon departure.

Exhaust Emissions: Motor Vehicles

Royston Smith: [168126]

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

Department has commissioned research on the costs to local authorities of administering

(a) congestion charges and (b) ultra-low emission zone charges for (i) commercial and (ii)

domestic vehicles.


The Government assessed the costs of implementing road user charging schemes

based on vehicle emissions standards in the May 2016 Clean Air Zone impact

assessment.

The Government has committed £255 million to support implementation costs

incurred by those local authorities directed to develop local plans to achieve

compliance with statutory air pollution limits within the shortest possible time. In the

case of local plans involving road user charging schemes, implementation costs

would exclude those costs offset via revenues from charges collected. Local

authorities are currently assessing the detailed costs of delivery of their local plans as

part of their feasibility studies.

Fires: Climate Change


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

his Department has made of the effect of climate change on the prevalence of wildfires in

the UK.


Under the 2008 Climate Change Act, the Government is required to publish every five

years a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA). The likely effect of climate

change on the prevalence of wildfires in the UK is considered in the evidence report

underpinning the 2017 CCRA, which was published in June 2016.

Since the publication of the CCRA, this July we published the National Adaptation

Programme which sets out actions that the Forestry Commission will carry out over

the next five years to ensure that woodlands are more resilient to natural hazards,

including wildfires.

In terms of moorland wildfires, Defra is currently conducting a targeted policy review

that will look at the relationship between land management and wildfire.



Food


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

assessment he has made of the effect on the (a) viability of the food industry and (b) cost

of food to consumers of the UK leaving the EU in 2019 without an agreement.

George Eustice:

Defra is preparing for all scenarios, and there is ongoing engagement with industry

and across Government to understand the implications of leaving the EU for the food

industry, including a no deal scenario.

Over the coming months, the UK Government will be providing further information on

our plans in order to guide businesses on how they can best prepare for the UK’s

departure from the EU. Across Government we will publish around 70 specific

technical notices to help businesses, including the food industry, to prepare for March

2019 in the event of a no deal scenario.

The key drivers of change in the cost of food are commodity prices, exchange rates

and oil prices. These will continue to apply when we leave the EU. The UK

Government does not directly control these factors, however we work closely with

industry to promote transparency for consumers and internationally to promote open

global markets.

Defra has conducted a range of analysis based on different EU departure scenarios.

Such information is an important part of our evidence base informing the UK’s

negotiating position. Even in the unlikely scenario of the UK leaving the EU without a

deal, there would be a number of tools available to mitigate any price impacts on

consumers. These include tariff rate suspensions, lowering the applied tariff on

certain goods and opening up autonomous tariff rate quotas.

Ben Lake: [169746]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is

taking steps with the devolved administrations to ensure a UK-wide approach to food and

trade after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice:

We are working with devolved administrations to identify where UK-wide common

frameworks will be necessary in respect of powers returning from the EU, which

includes areas such as food standards and safety. Frameworks will be established

where they are needed, whether this is to maintain a functioning UK internal market,

ensure the UK can negotiate and enter into new trade deals, or to provide the

certainty needed to agree and meet international obligations.

Food: Safety


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is the

Government's policy that future trade deals on food and feed will provide for public and




animal health protection equivalent to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed after the

UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice:

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is already working hard to ensure that our world

class capacity to manage food incidents is maintained when the UK leaves the EU.

From day one, the FSA are committed to having in place a robust system for

detecting and responding to problems in the food chain. To ensure this, the FSA is

working to foster strong relationships with competent food safety authorities in

Europe, and worldwide, and to develop new risk communication systems. It is of

mutual interest for the UK and other countries to work closely in this respect.

Maintaining safety and public confidence in the food we all eat is a high priority for the

Government, and any future trade deal must work for UK farmers, businesses, and

consumers.

Landfill: Medway

Rehman Chishti: [168032]

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

his Department holds on the proportion of waste from Medway which ended up in landfill

in each of the last five years.


The table below shows the proportion of waste from Medway Borough Council which

was sent to landfill in each of the last five years.

YEAR 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Proportion of

waste sent to

landfill

16.2% 16.5% 13.8% 11.3% 10.5%

The statistics are published annually by Defra and are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-collected-waste-

management-annual-results.

They will be updated with figures for 2017/18 before the end of the year.

Livestock: Northern Ireland

Kerry McCarthy: [167935]

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

procedures are in place to monitor the effect of industrial pig and poultry production on

the trans-boundary environment and health of Northern Ireland and Ireland.

George Eustice:

Throughout the UK, monitoring stations for emissions of key pollutants are sited in

accordance with criteria set out in the EU Air Quality Directive to ensure results are


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-collected-waste-management-annual-results




representative and also comparable across all member states. Monitoring data are

available at https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk.

The UK has long recognised the importance of international coordinated action to

reduce the environmental damage caused by air pollution. In June this year, the UK

(and other EU Member States) began reporting on our monitoring of the impacts of

air pollution on ecosystems. This brings together monitoring and modelling data so

that we may chart progress in reducing the environmental harm caused by excessive

ammonia emissions from agriculture. Policy to address air pollution is devolved.

Policy on the control of air pollutants in Northern Ireland is led by the Department of

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The DAERA operational policy for the regulation of PPC intensive pig and poultry

farms in Northern Ireland includes a screening assessment of the potential impacts of

trans-boundary emissions on designated habitats in Ireland. DAERA apply the same

screening thresholds with regard to potential impacts on habitats in Ireland as for

designated habitats in Northern Ireland. The screening procedures include a

precautionary distance criteria, habitat sensitivity based on critical loads and an in-

combination assessment. Ammonia concentrations are monitored at three sites

across Northern Ireland as part of the National Ammonia Monitoring Network.

In relation to trans-boundary consultations on planning consultations, DAERA

recommend that the Planning Authority consults with the Ireland (National Parks and

Wildlife Service) if it is considered necessary.

In relation to Environmental Protection Agency permitted facilities in Ireland, DAERA

is consulted as the statutory Nature Conservation Body for advice where there is the

potential for effects on protected habitats in Northern Ireland.

DAERA is also currently reviewing its approach to ammonia emissions and their

impacts, including emissions from pig and poultry production, through its Project on

Ammonia Reduction. DAERA is currently working with stakeholders with the aim of

developing an Ammonia Action Plan.

Microplastics

Laura Smith: [169789]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an

assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the use

of microplastics in products.


Earlier this year we introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in

rinse-off personal care products. This legislation will prevent these tiny pieces of

plastic from ending up in the marine environment.

Later this year we will publish a new Resources and Waste Strategy. It will set out

how we will eliminate all avoidable plastic waste as well as make the UK a world

leader in resource efficiency.


National Parks: Seas and Oceans


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will include

proposals to create national marine parks in his review of National Parks.


The review of designated landscapes is being led by Julian Glover, supported by an

experienced advisory group. One objective for the review is to consider the case for

the extension or creation of new designated areas. There will be an opportunity for all

stakeholders, including those advocating the creation of national marine parks, to

submit their views through a call for evidence later in the review process.


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

his Department has had with the Foreign Office on (a) the experience of creating marine

protected areas around British Overseas Territories and (b) lessons that could be used in

creating UK national marine parks.


My Department has regular contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

concerning the establishment of marine protected areas under the United Kingdom’s

Overseas Territories Blue Belt Programme, including the interaction with the Marine

Conservation Zones around the UK itself.

Tolls: Pollution Control


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an

assessment of the effectiveness of congestion zone areas in reducing pollution to legally

permissible limits.


The Government assessed the effectiveness of road user charging schemes based

on vehicle emissions standards in reducing pollution to legally permissible limits in

technical reports accompanying the consultation draft and final UK plans for tackling

roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations.

EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Department for Exiting the European Union: Economic Analysis

Mr Steve Baker: [168188]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will publish

documentation for the computable general equilibrium model used by the Planning and

Analysis Directorate.





Mr Robin Walker:

The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our

EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis supports our negotiation of our

future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will

affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. Ministers have a specific

responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would

reveal our negotiating position and so the Government will not provide an ongoing

commentary on internal analytical work.

The Government has confirmed that when we bring forward the vote on the final deal,

we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an

informed decision. This will be the right time for the Government to present its work.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Abortion Act 1967

Alex Sobel: [167388]

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

made of the adequacy of the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Under the Abortion Act 1967, women have early access to safe, legal, high quality

abortion services. There were 194,668 abortions performed under the provisions of

the Abortion Act in England and Wales in 2017, with 98% of abortions being funded

by the National Health Service.

Abortion is an issue on which the Government adopts a neutral stance. Proposals for

legislative change are a matter for backbenchers to bring forward and decisions are

made on the basis of free votes.

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Public Health

England review of minimum unit pricing for alcohol is planned to be published; and what

assessment he has made of the effect on public health of the time taken to implement a

minimum unit pricing alcohol policy in England.

Steve Brine:

The United Kingdom Government is commissioning Public Health England to carry

out a scientific review into the impact of minimum unit pricing (MUP) following its

recent introduction in Scotland. The timing of outputs from the review is still under

consideration. The previous Government’s consultation in 2013 found that the

evidence as it stood at that time did not conclusively demonstrate that MUP would

reduce problem drinking without also penalising responsible drinkers. That remains

the case, and that is why the Government intends to keep this policy under review.



First Aid and Mental Health: Training

Luciana Berger: [168055]

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

the number members of the public who have been trained in basic mental health

awareness and first aid by the Government since June 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The information is not available. In October 2017, the Government announced plans

to launch a new £15 million programme in 2018, which will see at least one million

people trained in basic mental health ‘first aid’ skills. The programme is expected to

launch later this year.

In addition, we are committed to training a member of staff in mental health

awareness in every primary and secondary school by 2022. By April this year we had

trained over 1,300 staff in over 1,000 schools. We aim to reach every secondary

school by 2019 and every primary school by 2022.

General Practitioners: ICT

Jim Shannon: [168059]

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

taking to encourage uptake by GP surgeries of online access systems for patients.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Over the past four years, general practitioner (GP) practices have participated in

workshops and seminars to help them implement online services safely and

confidently. Support materials for GP practices have been made available on NHS

England’s website including clinical guidance developed by the Royal College of

General Practitioners.

NHS England has worked with partners – including the National Association of

Patient Participation, other independent sector organisations and patient participation

groups, and local interest groups - to raise public awareness of patient online

services. Several clinical commissioning groups have run public promotion

campaigns.

Almost 14.3 million people (24.6%) of the patient population are now using GP online

services to access health care via their GP practice to book appointments, order

repeat prescriptions, and see their medical records and test results.

Health Services and Social Services: East Midlands

Ben Bradley: [168086]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to

support the coordination and joining-up of the health and care systems in the East

Midlands; and if he will make a statement.




Caroline Dinenage:

Like all local areas, East Midlands local authorities and clinical commissioning groups

have pooled budgets under the Better Care Fund (BCF) for the purposes of

integrated care, and developed BCF plans according to their local needs.

The BCF has encouraged collaborative working in local areas. Many local areas in

East Midlands voluntarily pooled more BCF funds than required. Their local health

and care leaders also indicated that the overall delivery of the BCF has improved joint

working and integration of health and social care in their area.

The Five Year Forward View set out a clear vision on how to close the gaps of the

health and wellbeing of the population, the quality of care provided, and the finances

and efficiencies of NHS services. Sustainability and transformation partnerships

(STPs) and integrated care systems (ICSs) are the NHS’s chosen vehicle to deliver

this vision. All local areas, including those in East Midlands, have already got their

local plans and partnerships in place to achieve this. As STPs and ICSs continue to

develop, we expect them to make more progress in integrating care across their area,

bringing together organisations to provide more seamless and joined-up care for

patients.

Hearing Aids


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) 16-65

year olds and (b) people over 65 receive hearing aids on the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage:

This information is not collected centrally.

However, the following table shows data published by industry on the number of

Hearing Aid units supplied to the National Health Service in 2017.

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL

Total number

of hearing aid

units supplied

to the NHS in

2017

343,690 341,070 337,228 388,754 1,410,742

Locums: Tax Avoidance

Drew Hendry: [168154]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many locum doctors are

subject to the 2019 Loan Charge.



Stephen Barclay:

No estimate of the number of locum doctors affected by the 2019 Loan Charge has

been made. It is the Department’s expectation however that locum doctors do not

enter into tax avoidance arrangements and should comply with this new legislation

from its introduction in April 2019.

Mental Health Services: Acute Beds

Barbara Keeley: [167230]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many acute non-

consultant-led mental health beds there were in the NHS in England in each year for

which data is available.


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

of acute consultant-led mental health beds in the NHS in England are now classified as

non-consultant-led beds as a result of changes to reporting data in 2013-14.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12

July 2018 to Question 162042 on Mental Health Services: Acute Beds, what

classifications his Department has used for acute mental health beds for data purposes

since 2009.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to collect

information on the total number of acute mental health beds in the NHS in England.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The NHS England KH03 collection collects the number of available and occupied

beds open overnight that are under the care of consultants. This is published

quarterly and is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-

occupancy/bed-data-overnight/

Data is not collected for the total number of acute mental health beds in the National

Health Service in England and data on non-consultant-led acute mental health beds

is therefore not available.

Prior to April 2010, figures on overnight beds were collected and published via the

annual KH03 return on bed availability and occupancy. These figures related to

consultant-led beds, split by ward classification. The ward classifications related to

mental illness were as follows:

Mental illness: children: short stay

Mental illness: children: long stay

Mental illness: elderly: short stay





https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/bed-data-overnight/



Mental illness: elderly: long stay

Mental illness: other ages: secure unit

Mental illness: other ages: short stay

Mental illness: other ages: long stay

Since April 2010, overnight bed figures have been collected and published on a

quarterly basis, based on consultant main specialty. For mental illness, the consultant

specialties are:

710 Adult Mental Illness

711 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

712 Forensic Psychiatry

713 Psychotherapy

715 Old Age Psychiatry

Since 2013/14, we are aware that many trusts have started classifying an increasing

number of mental illness beds as non-consultant-led. This is because some mental

health services are now run by multi-disciplinary teams rather than consultants. In Q1

2015/16, following a validation of beds data, several mental health providers ceased

to submit returns to the NHS England KH03 collection. This was because the

validation exercise concluded that beds that providers had previously been including

in returns to the KH03 collection did not satisfy the criteria to be classified as

‘consultant-led’.

There are no plans to collect data on non-consultant-led beds in the KH03 collection.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People


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

budget for child and adolescent mental health services transformation has been allocated

to local clinical commissioning groups; and how much was allocated in each year since

that budget was announced.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The information requested is set out in the following table.

YEAR 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

Total made available for children and young

people's mental health transformation/£ million

(Excludes £15 million per annum for perinatal

mental health)

158 265 265 265

Transformation funds allocated to clinical

commissioning groups (CCGs)/£ million

105

(actual)

189

(actual)

192

(actual)

202 (actual

to July


YEAR 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

2018)

Proportion of total to CCGs 66% 71% 72% 76%

Source: NHS England

Mental Illness: Young People


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help

reduce the number of young people with mental health issues.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

To improve and transform support available to those children and young people with

mental health issues, we are making an additional £1.4 billion available from 2015/16

to 2019/20. This additional money funds clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and

various national programmes, including improving crisis support, expanding the

workforce and tackling stigma. The additional money will also be used to improve

access to services, and latest data shows that we our exceeding our trajectory for an

additional 70,000 children and young people to access mental health treatment by

2020/21. Regarding funding, we have seen a 20% increase in CCG spend on

children and young people’s mental health, rising from £516 million in 2015/16 to

£619 million in 2016/17.

To improve public attitudes towards mental health and encourage help-seeking, we

are investing over £12 million to support the national Time To Change programme

over the course of 2016/17-2020/21. We are also working with Public Health England

to develop a new £15 million programme to train at least 1 million people in basic

mental health ‘first aid’ skills.

Our joint Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education Green

Paper, ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’, will be

supported by over £300 million and aims to improve provision of services in schools,

bolster links between schools and the National Health Service, and pilot a four week

waiting time. We recently published our response to the consultation, which sets out

what we heard during the consultation and provides next steps around

implementation.

NHS: Drugs

Dr Philippa Whitford: [167951]


the cost to the NHS in England of special medicinal products over the last 12 months.



Steve Brine:

In the most recent 12 month period for which data is available (June 2017 to May

2018) the cost of National Health Service special medicinal products dispensed in the

community in England was £70.5 million down from £135.5 million in 2010.

NHS: Mental Health Services



the number of mental health staff that have been recruited to the NHS since June 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

NHS Digital publishes monthly workforce statistics and the data shows there have

been 29,581 joiners to the mental health workforce between June 2017 to 30 April

2018, in National Health Service trusts and clinical commissioning groups,

headcount.

NHS: Research

Siobhain McDonagh: [167853]

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

of the effect of licensing the National Institute for Health Research to use the NHS brand

on the development and dissemination of research on front line NHS clinical practice; and

if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage:

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which is funded by the

Department, supports health and care research and translates discoveries into

practical products, treatments, devices and procedures.

The Department is renewing and refreshing the underlying strategy for the NIHR and

is currently assessing how best to reflect the breadth of the NIHR’s work in its brand,

including research in the National Health Service, public health, social care and

international settings. The NHS, patients and the public will always be at the centre of

NIHR research.

NHS: Staff


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

made of the auditing procedure that is in place to ensure that timesheets of agency and

night workers in the NHS are accurate.

Stephen Barclay:

Individual trusts have their own internal auditing function which is there to assure the

board of the sufficiency of control systems within each organisation. It is for trusts to

ensure timesheet process is robust are accurate, and where any weaknesses are




found report this to their Audit Committee, Local Counter Fraud Specialist or the NHS

Counter Fraud Authority for further investigation.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Darren Jones: [168184]

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

maintain the current cost-effectiveness threshold per quality-adjusted life year in the next

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Steve Brine:

The Government is committed to supporting the United Kingdom life sciences

industry and ensuring that patients can access cost-effective innovative medicines

and technologies at a price the National Health Service can afford. We have been

listening to industry feedback and discussing how the medicines market is likely to

evolve over the next five years. These discussions have now moved into a more

formal phase and are commercially sensitive. The Government will update Parliament

if and when agreement is reached.


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

establish a formal mechanism to (a) involve and (b) listen to patient groups during the

next Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme negotiations.

Steve Brine:

Patient groups have made a valuable input to the development of proposals for a new

medicines pricing scheme through correspondence and meetings. While the formal

negotiations are confidential between industry and the Government, we will, with the

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, continue this dialogue as the

negotiations progress.

Respite Care

Karin Smyth: [168088]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much money each local

authority received via clinical commissioning groups in 2017-18 to provide breaks for

carers as a proportion of the £130 million of Government funding for carers' breaks

included annually in the Better Care Fund.

Caroline Dinenage:

The clinical commissioning groups minimum allocation to the Better Care Fund (BCF)

in 2017-18 includes £130 million of funds for the provision of carers’ breaks.

Local BCF plans set out the level of resource that will be dedicated to carer-specific

support, including carers’ breaks, and identify how the chosen methods for supporting

carers will help to meet key outcomes. The exact breakdown on spend for carers

breaks is not collected centrally.




HOME OFFICE

Abortion: Northern Ireland

Layla Moran: [165169]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had

with (a) political parties and (b) civil society in Northern Ireland on (i) repealing and (ii)

amending sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Victoria Atkins:

There have been no such discussions held by the Home Office. Therefore I refer the

Hon. Member to the response given by the Northern Ireland Office, UIN 155724 on

the 27th June 2018.

British Nationality

Mr Alistair Carmichael: [135904]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to establish a

fast-track citizenship system for people who have lived in the UK for more than 40 years;

and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

To support those people who have lived in the UK for a long time, on 30 May we

launched the Windrush Scheme. The scheme ensures that members of the Windrush

generation, their children born in the UK and who arrived in UK as minors, and others

who have been in the United Kingdom for a long period of time, will be able to obtain

the documents to confirm their status and, in appropriate cases, be able to obtain

British citizenship free of charge.

We aim to provide a high level of service for all our customers and to everyone who

uses our services. All applications to UK Visas and Immigration, including citizenship

applications, will be considered in line with existing service standards and customer

commitments.

Deportation: Windrush Generation

Rushanara Ali: [163105]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 63 Windrush

generation members that were wrongly removed from the UK first came to the attention

of her Department as a result of the outsourcing company Capita’s trawl of past

applications.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office held a contract with Capita from October 2012 to October 2016, to

establish contact with individuals who were in the Migration Refusal Pool, which is a

pool of records of those who have applied to remain in the UK but had not obtained

any leave.




Those individuals who had been refused leave to remain in the UK, had their existing

leave curtailed or had an application or representations rejected, were contacted by

Capita to discuss the options open to them. The data for the individuals to be

contacted was supplied to Capita by the Home Office.

More information about review of historical removals and detentions dating back to

2002 who might have been part of the Windrush generation, is set out in the second

monthly update provided by the Home Secretary to the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP on

21 August 2018. A copy of that letter has been deposited in the House Library.

Fraud

Layla Moran: [168180]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports to Action

Fraud have been dismissed by a computer system before they are read by a member of

staff in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr Ben Wallace:

No reports are dismissed by a computer system, all reports submitted to Action Fraud

are processed through an automated triage system that is designed to ensure that

resources are targeted at those cases that have the most viable lines of enquiry. An

automated process is required due to the large number of cases received

(approximately 42,000 per month) to provide an efficient and effective response.

Home Office: Written Questions

Nic Dakin: [167973]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to answer

Questions 146839 and 163094, on criminal proceedings, tabled on 22 May and 11 July

2018 respectively by the hon. Member for Scunthorpe; and for what reasons he has so

far not responded to those Questions.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The responses for UIN 146839 and 163094 were answered on 25th July 2018.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Ms Harriet Harman: [138337]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has

taken to ensure the legality of the admission process of members of the Windrush

generation that were detained.

Caroline Nokes:

Any decision to detain an individual is taken on the basis of careful consideration of

the facts of the individual case. In order to detain an individual there must be a power

to detain in legislation. Detention decisions must be in line with statutory detention

powers and relevant case law as well as published policy on their use. As the policy

makes clear, there is a presumption against detention.




Detention decisions are subject to internal assurance processes, including an initial

decision by an operationally independent “Detention Gatekeeper” and initial and

subsequent detention reviews. Reviews are conducted regularly at successively more

senior levels throughout the period of detention to ensure that detention remains both

lawful and appropriate. Case Progression Panels are held for those where detention

reaches three months and at three monthly intervals thereafter.

Furthermore, any individual who is detained is entitled to make an application for

immigration bail to the First Tier Tribunal. Those not subject to deportation orders are

also automatically referred for immigration judge bail every four months. Individuals

may also seek to determine the lawfulness of their detention by making an application

to the High Court.

Whether we acted lawfully or not in detaining an individual is a matter which could

only be determined by the courts looking at the facts of the individual cases.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Maria Eagle: [167892]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his

Department has had with local authorities in (a) Liverpool and (b) the North West affected

by the roll out of the private pilot of the new application process for the EU Settlement

Scheme due to begin on 28 August 2018.

Caroline Nokes:

Following the publication of the Statement of Intent on the EU Settlement Scheme on

21 June 2018, the Home Secretary wrote to local authority leaders with further details

about how the scheme will work. We have been clear that we are designing the

scheme with users in mind, and we are regularly engaging with our user groups for

the scheme, which include local authority representatives.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has

taken to contact, inform and involve hon. Members whose constituencies are included in

the area of the private pilot of the new application process for the EU Settlement Scheme

due to be launched on 28 August 2018.

Caroline Nokes:

On 21 June, we published the Statement of Intent, informing all members of

Parliament of our intention to conduct a private beta. This was followed by my oral

statement on the same day and a written ministerial statement on 23 July which set

out further details on the private testing exercise.

We will provide further details in due course of the planned phased implementation of

the scheme, and we will continue to update Parliament as part of that process.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his

Department has made of the effect of rejected applications under the private pilot of the




new application process for the EU Settlement Scheme on (a) the people making those

applications and (b) the provision of NHS services in the North West whose staff

members have had their applications so rejected.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the eligibility requirements

are for a successful application under the private pilot of the new application process for

the EU Settlement Scheme; and whether people found not to be eligible under the terms

of that pilot scheme will be able to make new applications to the EU Settlement Scheme

once it is fully launched.

Caroline Nokes:

Applicants will need to meet three core criteria to be granted status under the EU

Settlement Scheme: proving their identity and nationality, showing that they are

resident in the UK and declaring whether they have any criminal convictions.

We will work with applicants to help them avoid any errors or omissions that may

impact on the application decision, but any applicant who is refused will be able to

make a further application under the scheme later on. Whether or not an applicant is

granted status under the private beta phase of the scheme, they will continue to

retain their existing rights under EU law, including the right to work.

Immigration: Windrush Generation


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any compensation has

been paid to members of the Windrush Generation who were wrongly detained; and if he

will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has

asked any members of the Windrush Generation to sign a non-disclosure agreement; and

if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

We are currently carrying out a public consultation on the Windrush Compensation

Scheme. Details of the consultation, including how to respond, are available at

www.gov.uk/Windrush

We will be ensuring there is transparency over the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

No one applying to the Scheme will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

We have identified one private law claim, which had not been considered at

Ministerial level, for compensation of unlawful detention, pre-dating the Windrush

Compensation Scheme, involving a member of the Windrush generation, where an

NDA was signed. This is not untypical of litigation cases; for many years, and under

successive governments, such clauses have been used from time to time in a wide

range of litigation and the terms of such settlements are reached on the basis of

agreement between the parties.




Mr David Lammy: [160061]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has

taken to publicise the Windrush compensation scheme to ensure people eligible for

compensation know how to access that scheme.

Caroline Nokes:

The compensation scheme for those of the Windrush generation that might have

been affected is in the process of being established.

On 19 July, the Home Office launched a consultation on a Windrush Compensation

Scheme, the consultation period will run for 12 weeks ending on 11 October. The

consultation is seeking views the scheme’s design and operation including the scope

of the scheme and what types of loss should be compensated for. The scheme will

be set up as soon as possible, after the consultation closes.

The Home Office is promoting the consultation in a variety of ways, including direct

engagement with the Windrush generation at community outreach events and

roadshows, alongside digital and print media.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Environment Protection: Northern Ireland

Kerry McCarthy: [167937]

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

is planned that ratification of the 2004 second amendment to the Espoo Convention on

Transboundary Impact will take place in relation to Northern Ireland.

Kit Malthouse:

Ratification of international agreements is not a devolved policy area and is made at

UK level by the UK Government. The second amendment to the Espoo Convention

was adopted in 2004 and entered into force on 23 October 2017. The Government

takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to formal

ratification when it is satisfied it is in a position to do so. Officials will assess what

needs to be done under domestic legislation, and practical arrangements to ratify the

second amendment, in due course.

EU Grants and Loans


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

the Shared Prosperity Fund is planned to be allocated on the basis of the Barnett

formula.

Jake Berry:

My Department continues to develop the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a

domestic programme of investment to tackle inequalities between communities by




raising productivity across the whole of the UK, especially in those parts of our

country whose economies are furthest behind.

We have committed to engaging the devolved administrations to ensure the UKSPF

works for places in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and will launch a public

consultation for the whole of the UK later this year. Decisions on the operation and

allocation of the UKSPF will be made following the consultation and will be subject to

the spending review next year.

Service Charges

Jo Platt: [168128]

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

steps his Department is taking to help protect tenants from increasing property

maintenance charges.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

The Government's position is that service charges should be transparent,

communicated effectively, and there should be a clear route to challenge or redress if

things go wrong. That is why on 1 April, we set out a number of commitments in

response to the call for evidence on 'Protecting consumers in the letting and

managing agent market’ to regulate and professionalise the managing agents sector.

We will be establishing a working group to take this forward, which will also consider

how service charges and fees should be presented to consumers and to explore the

best means to challenge fees which are unjustified. As part of this work,

consideration will also be given to standards around service charges and how to

include them in a statutory code of practice.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Overseas Aid

Ben Lake: [168074]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made

of the amount of funding given to UK-based organisations that has been spent on (a)

overseas aid and (b) administrative costs within the UK over the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin:

UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) data is collected and reported according

to a standard international classification produced by the Organisation for Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD). According to this classification, the amount

of UK ODA delivered by UK and other donor country NGOs in the last five years is

given in the table below:



UK ODA spend delivered by donor1-based NGO, 2012-2016 2

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Net ODA

(millions £)

£488m £662m £759m £772m £710m

Source: Statistics on International Development

1. Donor-based NGOs cover UK based NGOs as well as the NGOs of other donors.

The figures included above will mainly consist of UK based NGOs however there are

some amounts included for other donor NGOs delivering UK ODA, such as UK

contributions to the Norway-based, Norwegian Refugee Council.

2. The latest data is for calendar year 2016 and figures for 2017 will be published this

autumn.

This classification does not include ODA spend by other types of UK based

institutions (research institutions, universities and private sector organisations).

The information for (b) is not held in the form requested and can only be collated at

disproportionate cost.

DFID works to reduce administrative costs charged by suppliers. The policy, which

ensures a consistent approach, is followed across all contracts. The policy can be

found on Gov.uk:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/652367

/Cost-Eligibility-Guidance.pdf

JUSTICE

Child Contact Centres: Data Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that any unresolved disputes

around General Data Protection Regulation implementation will not prevent National

Association of Child Contact Centres accredited support contact centres from receiving

grants from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in 2019.

Lucy Frazer:

While the Government has no overall responsibility for funding child contact centre

provision, the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)

provides small value grants of up to £3,000 in total per annum to assist individual

NACCC-accredited child contact centres run by the voluntary sector (i.e. supported

centres), where such organisations seek financial assistance.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) certification is one of the standards

which must be met for NACCC accreditation. Cafcass is able to fund supported child

contact centres which achieve GDPR certification. Those working towards

https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F652367%2FCost-Eligibility-Guidance.pdf&data=02%7C01%7C%7C836d7dc6ed7841a7da2f08d5f5f3d833%7Ccdf709af1a184c74bd936d14a64d73b3%7C0%7C0%7C636685350004043448&sdata=dgkMa%2Bd1F3ILClr0I27izZYF%2FdOiwSBOasbAfRspw4k%3D&reserved=0




certification are eligible to apply for funding and will receive this once certification is

achieved and confirmed by NACCC. NACCC reports that the majority of supported

child contact centres are already compliant or are working towards this.

Family Courts: Domestic Violence


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will make an assessment of

the potential merits of establishing an independent statutory inquiry on the family courts’

handling of domestic abuse.

Lucy Frazer:

We are determined to improve the treatment of domestic abuse victims in the family

justice system. We believe that the Government’s consultation on domestic abuse

provides a good avenue for considering how best to build on the recent

improvements we have made in this area. We are examining responses received to

the consultation, ahead of publishing a formal Government response later in the

autumn.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Borders: Northern Ireland

Mr David Jones: [167939]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Government has for

the construction of new infrastruture on the UK border in Northern Ireland in the event of

no withdrawal agreement being concluded under Article 50 of the Treaty on European

Union.

Mr Shailesh Vara:

As set out in the Joint Report, the UK and the EU are committed to ensuring that our

departure does not lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Our White Paper outlines a new and detailed proposal for a principled, pragmatic and

ambitious future partnership between the UK and the EU and would enable us to

meet these commitments.

We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal and

we are confident that this will be achieved.

Priti Patel: [168022]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information her Department

holds on whether the (a) Republic of Ireland and (b) the EU has plans for building new

infrastructure on the UK border in Northern Ireland in the event of no agreement being

reached under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union; and whether the UK

Government has any such plans.




Mr Shailesh Vara:

As set out in the Joint Report, the UK and the EU are committed to ensuring that our

departure does not lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Our White Paper outlines a new and detailed proposal for a principled, pragmatic and

ambitious future partnership between the UK and the EU and would enable us to

meet these commitments.

We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal and

we are confident that this will be achieved.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Kevin Foster: [906648]

What recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Karen Bradley:

The threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism continues to be SEVERE in

Northern Ireland, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Our response to terrorism and paramilitary activity is coordinated, effective and fully

resourced.

This Government remains fully committed to keeping people safe and secure and

ensuring that terrorism never succeeds.

Jack Lopresti: [906650]

What steps she is taking with all communities in Northern Ireland to resolve legacy issues

in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive.

Mr Shailesh Vara:

On 11 May 2018, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland launched the public

consultation, ‘Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past’. The consultation

provides everyone who has an interest with the opportunity to see the proposed way

forward and contribute to the discussion on the issues.

There has been extensive stakeholder engagement and following calls for additional

time, the Secretary of State has decided to extend the closing date from 10

September to 5 October.

Veterans: Northern Ireland

David T. C. Davies: [906654]

What steps she is taking to support armed forces veterans and police officers who have

served in Northern Ireland.

Mr Shailesh Vara:

This Government is clear that it is only due to the unstinting efforts of our Police and

Armed Forces that we have peace in Northern Ireland today. We have always

acknowledged our ongoing duty of care to our former soldiers which includes

providing legal support and representation.




Policing in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. It is the role of the Police Federation

to represent and promote the interests and welfare of the Police.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Compensation

Ian Murray: [168009]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the

potential merits of introducing into the airline industry a delay-repay scheme similar to

that in the rail industry; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

Strong levels of consumer protection are already in place for air passengers under

EC Regulation 261/2004 which apply to delays, and the UK will not fall below current

standards of protection when we leave the EU. As part of the Aviation Strategy, the

Government plans to raise awareness and clarify the current compensation

arrangements for air passengers in the event of delay, cancellation or denied

boarding. The Department for Transport will publish its final Aviation Strategy in mid-

2019.

Bridges: English Channel

Patrick Grady: [168145]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2018 to

Question 165618, what his Department’s policy is on the construction of a new fixed link

between Britain and France.

Joseph Johnson:

The department maintains a strategic overview of capacity utilisation across the rail

network as part of long term planning.

Rolling Stock


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2018 to

Question 163101 on Rolling Stock, if he will list the specific economic benefits.

Joseph Johnson:

Passengers will benefit from improvements in rolling stock quality and capacity along

with the wider benefits of the employment of many skilled workers dedicated to rolling

stock manufacturing, maintenance, and refurbishment and across the industry supply

chain.




Taxis: Electric Vehicles

Andrew Rosindell: [167885]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with the (a) Mayor

of London and (b) representatives of London boroughs on accelerating the installation of

rapid electric charging points for taxis.

Jesse Norman:

DfT Ministers meet regularly with the Mayor of London and the Metro Mayors. New

provisions have been included in the recently adopted Automated and Electric

Vehicles Act to enable Metro Mayors, including the Mayor of London, to seek to

require provision of chargepoints at large fuel retailers in their areas.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) is in regular contact with Transport for

London (TfL) and Local Authorities, and works with them to accelerate the installation

of rapid chargepoints for taxis and public use. OLEV officials work collaboratively on

EV Infrastructure provision, as a member of the Mayor of London’s recently launched

EV Infrastructure Taskforce, at which London boroughs are also represented.

Government is providing £18m to TfL to install 300 rapid chargepoints, of which 90

are to be taxi dedicated. To date, 116 rapid chargepoints have been installed, of

which 56 are taxi dedicated.

Taxis: Licensing

Sir Graham Brady: [167877]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the report of the task and

finish group on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in September.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The report of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing

will be published soon.

TREASURY

Non-domestic Rates: Solar Power

Craig Mackinlay: [168087]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made a recent

assessment of the potential effect on encouraging people and businesses to be more

environmentally-friendly and on energy security of establishing an exemption from any

valuation uplift of business premises for business rates purposes when solar panels have

been fitted.

Mel Stride:

Solar panels are only rateable for business rates purposes where they are supplying

energy for the business occupying the property. Where the energy generated is

wholly or mostly sold to consumers, the panels are exempt from business rates. This




is an established principle for rating energy generation. New microgeneration

installations benefit from a business rate exemption until the following revaluation.

Businesses occupying properties with solar panels are also benefiting from recent

reforms and reductions to business rates worth over £10bn by 2023, including

switching from Retail Price Index to Consumer Price Index uprating of business rates

and increasing the frequency of revaluations.

Robert McCoy

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: [168048]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information he holds on the current status

of the EU's review of compensation due to Robert McCoy; what official UK involvement

there has been in investigating the criminal allegations originally made by him; what legal

support has been provided to him; if he will ensure that all outstanding anti-fraud cases

relating to EU institutions and involving UK nationals as eye-witnesses are resolved as

part of negotiations on the UK leaving the EU; and if she will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss:

The UK Government does not monitor official investigations or legal cases that the

EU has initiated against its own staff, irrespective of nationality. The conduct of these

investigations and cases is a matter for the EU.

Tax Avoidance


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to extend IR35 off-payroll

tax rules to the private sector.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential

effect on private sector (a) employment and (b) workforce structures of extending IR35

off-payroll tax rules to the private sector.

Mel Stride:

The Government has recently consulted on non-compliance with the off-payroll

working rules in the private sector. The Government is carefully considering the

responses received, and will issue its response in due course.

The impacts and effect on business will depend on the outcome of the consultation.

UK Trade with EU

Jo Platt: [168130]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to

Question 165182, by what means HMRC plans to distinguish between a good settled in

its final destination in the UK and a good destined to travel on to the EU.





Mel Stride:

Under the Facilitated Customs Arrangement, the UK will apply the EU’s tariffs and

trade policy for goods intended for the EU; while applying its own tariffs and trade

policy for goods intended for the UK.

Where a good reaches the UK border, and the destination can be robustly

demonstrated by a trusted trader, it will pay the UK tariff if it is destined for the UK

and the EU tariff if it is destined for the EU. This is most likely to be relevant to

finished goods, and we will seek to maximise the number of trusted traders who can

pay the correct tariff at the border.

Where the destination of the good cannot be demonstrated at the point of import, the

higher of the UK or EU tariff will be due. Where the good’s destination is later

identified to be the lower tariff jurisdiction, it will be eligible for a repayment from the

UK equal to the difference between the two tariffs. This is most likely to be relevant to

intermediate goods.

The FCA, including how goods destined for the UK and the EU will be distinguished,

will be designed to make it as simple as possible for businesses to engage with. The

final details will be subject to negotiations with the EU.

UK Trade with EU: Customs

Mr Marcus Fysh: [168173]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what work has been undertaken to understand

the technology and processes required to remove the need for infrastructure related to

checks and controls at the Irish border itself aside from that on the Facilitated Customs

Arrangement referred to in the Government's White Paper on the future relationship

between the EU and the UK.

Mel Stride:

The Government’s preferred approach to customs, the facilitated customs

arrangement (FCA), would avoid any need for customs declarations on cross-border

trade and would ensure there are no stops or checks at the land border. The FCA will

therefore fully deliver on the Government’s commitments to avoid a hard land border.

The UK is also seeking to be at the cutting edge of global customs policy. As the

Government outlined in the “future customs arrangements” paper in August 2017, it

has been exploring possible ways in which to use future advancements in technology

to streamline the trading process; including by simplifying existing procedures to

reduce burdens on business, or speeding up some authorisation processes through

increased automation. The UK will look to implement such innovations, bilaterally or

unilaterally, to promote the greatest possible trade with the rest of the world.


WORK AND PENSIONS

Electronic Government

Dr Paul Williams: [167403]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to (a)

make the HMRC Gateway service more accessible and (b) enable improved access to

Government services for people with no online or digital access.

Justin Tomlinson:

(a) DWP are key stakeholders in the development of the new HMRC Government

Gateway Service. HMRC are leading on user research around accessibility with DWP

participation via Government Departmental Working Groups.

(b) We are working with partner organisations and with other departments to

understand the level of support users of government services need. As part of this

programme of work we are looking at the current internet devices we have in our

Jobcentre Plus Offices, this includes Digital propensity, Digital Inclusion and the level

of support DWP provides. DWP assures all our digital services meet the quality

requirements of the Digital Service Standard which, includes both accessibility and

assisted digital needs. Face to face appointments’ for claimants and free phone lines

are part of the breadth of services we also have available to people without digital

access.

First Aid: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to bring

forward legislative proposals on workplace health and safety regulations to ensure that

employers provide appropriate first aid training for their staff.

Sarah Newton:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulating first aid provision

in the workplace, as set out in the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.

The Regulations require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment,

facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they

are injured or taken ill at work. The Regulations apply to all workplaces including

those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.

Employers should undertake a needs assessment, to ensure that first aid provision

adequately reflects the needs of their particular workplace or organisation and that

appointed first aid personnel receive appropriate training. It is the responsibility of

employers to choose their training providers and apply due diligence in doing so.



Pensions: Plumbing

Ged Killen: [168080]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of

the effect of section 75 rules on debt calculations for multi-Employer Pension Schemes

on directors of plumbing companies.

Guy Opperman:

There are nearly 1,000 multi-employer schemes. The legislation requiring employers

to pay debts applies to all. This legislation helps ensure employees receive the

pension they have been promised and worked for.

The Green Paper “Protecting Defined Benefit Pensions” specifically discussed Multi

Employer Schemes. The government looked closely at evidence submitted from

employers and representatives from the Plumbing & Mechanical Services (UK)

Industry Pension Scheme regarding this legislation. After careful consideration the

government concluded that it cannot consider amending an important area of

legislation further, which would disadvantage scheme members, just to address one

particular scheme’s problems.

Summaries of the responses to the Green Paper can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-benefit-pension-schemes-

security-and-sustainability

Universal Credit

Ruth George: [168151]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 23

July to Question 165701 on universal credit, when he expects updated figures to be

available.

Alok Sharma:

We plan to provide updated figures by the end of 2018.


https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-benefit-pension-schemes-security-and-sustainability




WRITTEN STATEMENTS

HOME OFFICE

Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and

Vulnerability (Victoria Atkins): [HCWS935]

On 30 July, the Home Office announced plans to launch an independent review of the

Modern Slavery Act 2015. The review is being led by the rt hon. Frank Field MP, the rt

hon. Maria Miller MP and the rt hon. Baroness Butler-Sloss.

The introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the first legislation of its kind in the

world, has helped to transform the UK’s response to modern slavery. More victims are

being identified and supported; more offenders are being prosecuted; and thousands of

companies have published statements setting out the steps they have taken to tackle

modern slavery in their supply chains. The UK is determined to lead global efforts to

tackle this barbaric crime and as the methods used by criminals to exploit vulnerable

people evolve, and our understanding of this crime evolves, it is important to consider our

legislative approach.

The aim of the Review is to understand and report on how the 2015 Act is operating in

practice, how effective it is, and whether the legal framework for tackling modern slavery

is fit for purpose now and in the future. In doing so, the Review will need to take into

account any significant economic, social and technological changes since the 2015 act

was passed.

The following provisions of the Act will be considered in the Review:

section 3 on the meaning of exploitation

sections 8-10 on reparation orders

sections 40 to 44 on the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

section 45 on the statutory defence

section 48 on independent child trafficking advocates

section 54 on transparency in supply chains

The Review will gather evidence and seek views from relevant stakeholders across a

range of sectors and interest groups. The findings and recommendations of the Review

will represent the views of the reviewers, who will be supported by a secretariat seconded

from the Home Office.

The Review will aim to report to the Home Secretary before the end of March 2019.

Following approval, the Home Secretary will lay the report in Parliament.

A copy of the Review’s terms of reference will be placed in the House Library and are

available on www.gov.uk.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-05/HCWS935/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modern-slavery-act-2015-independent-review-terms-of-reference/review-of-the-modern-slavery-act-2015-terms-of-reference

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modern-slavery-act-2015-independent-review-terms-of-reference/review-of-the-modern-slavery-act-2015-terms-of-reference

Prevent Duty Toolkit for Local Authorities and Partner Agencies: Supplementary

Information to the Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales

The Minister of State for Security (Mr Ben Wallace): [HCWS934]

The aim of the Prevent Duty, commenced as part of the Counter Terrorism and Security

Act 2015, is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people from being

drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorism.

The statutory guidance which accompanied the Prevent Duty was the starting point for

the implementation of Prevent across sectors and places a duty on specified authorities

to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. A

range of sector specific advice to supplement the statutory guidance and further support

Duty implementation across Sectors has since been issued.

The Prevent Duty has made a significant positive impact in preventing people being

drawn into terrorism. To further support the local government sector, the Office for

Security and Counter Terrorism has worked across government and with local partners to

publish practical advice in the form of a Toolkit. The Toolkit supplements information

provided in statutory guidance to ensure local authorities are effectively supported in

implementing the Prevent Duty. This Toolkit does not replace the statutory guidance.

The publication of the Prevent Toolkit is based on three years of productive engagement

with the local government sector since the introduction of the Duty, and illustrates

examples of good practice to promote continuous improvement. It will support the

practical delivery of Prevent by local authorities by providing information, implementation

guidance, a self-assessment framework and case study examples to support local

authorities and their partners in delivering the Prevent Duty locally.

The Toolkit has been published today and I will place a copy of it in the Library of the

House. It has also been made available on Gov.uk at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-toolkit-for-local-authorities-and-

partner-agencies

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Rough Sleeping

Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

(James Brokenshire): [HCWS936]

I am today announcing a provisional allocation of the further funding for the Rough

Sleeping Initiative that I outlined in the recently published Rough Sleeping Strategy.

I have already allocated a targeted £30 million Rough Sleeping Initiative fund for 2018-19

to support those sleeping rough and those at risk in 83 local authorities with the highest

need. Today’s announcement of provisional further funding for next year supports the

good work that local authorities are already doing with the funding for this year.



Over the last few months our team of expert practitioners have worked closely with local

authorities and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to identify service gaps and create

tailored packages to tackle rough sleeping in their area this year. Together they have co-

produced bespoke plans to tackle rough sleeping based on local government and the

third sector knowledge of what works. The new Rough Sleeping Initiative team will work

closely with local areas to implement the plans and to monitor their progress.

These provisional allocations represent another significant step in our plans to reduce

and end rough sleeping following on from the publication of our Rough Sleeping Strategy

last month.

A full list of the individual amounts provisionally allocated to the 83 local authorities and

the GLA has been published on GOV.UK. Alongside the £34 million provisionally

allocated today, the Government has set aside a further £11million for spending on

additional areas and projects to those currently supported by the Rough Sleeping

Initiative and will announce further details in due course.

This package will achieve substantial results in these areas of high need. It will also build

upon the work we have already undertaken in order to meet out manifesto commitment.

This work includes, piloting the internationally proven Housing First approach in three

areas of England, allocating over £1.2 billion in order to prevent homelessness and rough

sleeping, including more upfront funding so local authorities can proactively tackle

homelessness pressures in their areas, and also the recent changes made under the

Homelessness Reduction Act which means that more people will get the help they need

and at an earlier stage.

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