Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 24 June 2020 and the
information is correct at the time of publication (06:35 P.M., 24 June 2020). For the latest
information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,
please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS
ANSWERS 6
ATTORNEY GENERAL 6
Intestacy 6
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 7
Bounce Back Loan Scheme 7
Bounce Back Loan Scheme:
Scotland 7
Clinical Trials: Finance 8
Derelict Land: Regeneration 8
Electric Scooters: Safety 9
Employment: Domestic Abuse 10
Enterprise Zones: Coronavirus 10
Future Fund 10
Post Offices: Closures 11
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Grant Fund 11
Sub Post Offices: Staff 12
Tattooing: Coronavirus 12
CABINET OFFICE 13
Cabinet Office: Ministerial
Responsibility 13
Government Departments:
Carers 13
UK Trade with EU: Small
Businesses 13
DEFENCE 14
Ministry of Defence: Overseas
Aid 14
Royal Navy Museum:
Coronavirus 14
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 15
Actors and Theatres:
Coronavirus 15
Caravan Sites: Coronavirus 15
Caravans: Second Homes 16
Channel Four: Privatisation 16
Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport:
Renewable Energy 16
Leisure: Coronavirus 17
Newspaper Press: Regulation 17
Tourism 17
Voluntary Organisations:
Finance 18
EDUCATION 18
Apprentices 18
Children in Care: Coronavirus 19
Children: Computers 19
Children: Coronavirus 20
Children: Ethnic Groups 22
2 Wednesday, 24 June 2020 Daily Report
Department for Education:
Overseas Aid 22
Financial Services: Education 23
Free School Meals: Voucher
Schemes 24
Further Education:
Coronavirus 25
Higher Education: Coronavirus 26
Higher Education: Finance 28
Higher Education: Internet 29
Home Education: ICT 30
Pupils: Coronavirus 30
Schools: Coronavirus 31
Students: Finance 32
Students: Rented Housing 33
Teaching Methods:
Coronavirus 34
Universities: Foreign Students 35
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 36
Agriculture: Coronavirus 36
Air Pollution: Pollution Control 37
British and Irish Association of
Zoos and Aquariums 38
Highly Protected Marine Areas 38
Supermarkets: Coronavirus 39
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 40
Aviation: Coronavirus 40
Department for International
Development: Foreign and
Commonwealth Office 40
Department for International
Development: Reorganisation 40
Nigeria: Human Rights and
Violence 41
Nigeria: Violence 41
Trade Agreements: Brazil 42
Turkey: Human Rights 42
USA: Police Brutality 43
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 43
Blood Cancer: Drugs 43
Blood: Contamination 44
Cannabis: Medical Treatments 45
Care Homes: Coronavirus 46
Carers: Protective Clothing 47
Contraceptives: Finance 47
Coronavirus: Air Pollution 48
Coronavirus: Death 48
Coronavirus: Disease Control 49
Coronavirus: New Zealand 49
Coronavirus: Social Distancing 49
Coronavirus:
Thromboembolism 50
Diabetes: Coronavirus 50
Drugs: Coronavirus 51
Drugs: Imports 51
Drugs: Prices 52
Drugs: Procurement 52
Epilepsy: Cannabis 53
Exercise Cygnus: North West 53
Food: Allergies 53
Free School Meals: Fruit 54
Hydroxychloroquine:
Coronavirus 54
Lacri-lube 54
Mental Health Services:
Coronavirus 55
Mental Health Services:
Finance 55
Wednesday, 24 June 2020 Daily Report 3
Mental Illness: Coronavirus 56
NHS Trusts: Training 56
NHS: Drugs 57
NHS: Recruitment 57
Paediatrics: Coronavirus 58
Parkinson's Disease: Mental
Health Services 58
Pharmacy: Coronavirus 60
Vaccination: Coronavirus 61
HOME OFFICE 61
Arrests: Domestic Abuse 61
Children: Domestic Abuse 61
Coronavirus: Disease Control 62
Crime: Gambling 62
EU Nationals: Northern Ireland 63
Home Office: Written
Questions 63
Immigration: EEA Nationals 63
Immigration: EU Nationals 65
Marriage: Licences 66
Marriage: Registration 67
Migrant Workers: Visas 67
Opiates: Crime 67
Passports 67
Police: Dismissal and
Disciplinary Proceedings 68
Sexual Offences 68
Visas: Coronavirus 69
HOUSE OF COMMONS
COMMISSION 69
Parliament: Coronavirus 69
Parliamentary Estate:
Coronavirus 69
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 70
Business Improvement
Districts: Coronavirus 70
Domestic Abuse: Hotels 71
Private Rented Housing 71
Reopening High Streets Safely
Fund 72
INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT 72
Department for International
Development: Renewable
Energy 72
Department for International
Development: Reorganisation 73
Independent Commission for
Aid Impact 73
Israel: Palestinians 74
Nigeria: Agriculture 74
Occupied Territories:
Overseas Aid 75
Yemen: Coronavirus 76
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 76
Agriculture: Exports 76
Trade Agreements:
Coronavirus 76
Trade Agreements: Food 77
Uk Export Finance: Arms
Trade 77
JUSTICE 77
Administration of Justice:
Ethnic Groups 77
Community Orders 78
Gambling: Crime 78
Justice and Security Act 2013 79
Prisoners' Release:
Coronavirus 79
4 Wednesday, 24 June 2020 Daily Report
Prisoners: GCE A-level and
GCSE 79
Prisons: Coronavirus 80
NORTHERN IRELAND 81
[Subject Heading to be
Assigned] 81
TRANSPORT 82
Air Traffic: Electric Vehicles 82
Cars 82
Cycling and Walking: Sheffield 83
Driving Instruction:
Coronavirus 83
Railways 84
Railways: Chester and North
Wales 84
Railways: Coronavirus 84
Railways: North Wales 85
Shipping: Coronavirus 85
Thames Gateway Bridge:
Costs 86
Tolls 86
Wrexham-Bidston Railway
Line 86
TREASURY 87
[Subject Heading to be
Assigned] 87
Business: Coronavirus 87
Business: Tax Allowances 88
Businesses: Non-domestic
Rates 88
Consumer Credit Act 1974 89
Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme 89
Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme: Hospitality Industry
and Tourism 91
Debts: Mental Illness 91
Non-domestic Rates:
Coronavirus 92
Public Expenditure: Wales 93
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Grant Fund 93
Self-employment Income
Support Scheme 93
Silver: VAT 94
Tax Avoidance: Multinational
Companies 95
Tolls: Greater London 95
Working Tax Credit 96
WORK AND PENSIONS 96
Bereavement Support
Payment 96
Bereavement Support
Payment: Appeals 97
Child Maintenance Service 97
Child Maintenance Service:
Coronavirus 97
Children: Maintenance 98
Debts: Coronavirus 100
Department for Work and
Pensions: Overseas Aid 100
Food Poverty 101
Future Jobs Fund: Greater
Manchester 101
Health and Safety Executive:
Finance 102
Jobcentres: Staff 102
Local Housing Allowance:
Coronavirus 102
Personal Independence
Payment 103
Social Security Benefits 103
Wednesday, 24 June 2020 Daily Report 5
State Retirement Pensions 103
State Retirement Pensions:
Coronavirus 104
Unemployment 104
Unemployment: Slough 105
Universal Credit 105
Wind Power: Coronavirus 105
WRITTEN STATEMENTS 107
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 107
Additional Funding for Rough
Sleeping 107
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.
6 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
ANSWERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Intestacy
Wera Hobhouse: [58045]
To ask the Attorney General, whether she has made a recent assessment of levels of
compliance among local authorities with the guidance issued by the Government Legal
Department on the referral to the Bona Vacantia Division of estates of people who have
died without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will and instead passing the
details directly to a single heir hunting firm.
Michael Ellis:
The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals
with the estates of people domiciled in England & Wales who appear to have died
without leaving a valid will or relatives entitled to share in their estates in priority to
the Crown. Estates which potentially fall to be dealt with as bona vacantia may be
referred to BVD by a variety of routes, for example, banks, other financial institutions,
solicitors or members of the public.
There is no statutory obligation to refer estates to BVD but guidance on the referral
process and the circumstances in which a referral will be accepted are published on
BVD’s website ( https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia ). It is
for local authorities to determine whether an estate should be referred to BVD.
In 2017-2018, 2768 estates were referred to BVD of which 909 were referred by local
authorities. In 2018-2019, 1971 estates were referred to BVD of which 575 were
referred by local authorities.
In 2019-2020, 2336 estates were referred to BVD of which 561 were referred by local
authorities
GLD has no responsibility for overseeing local authorities or their compliance with
guidance issued by GLD about the handling of estates. Such information – including
whether an estate has been referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of GLD, or
whether the local authority has instructed an heir hunter – will be held by the
particular local authority concerned.
Wera Hobhouse: [58046]
To ask the Attorney General, if she will make it her policy to strengthen the guidance
issued by the Government Legal Department to local authorities on handling the estates
of people who have died without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will to
ensure that they refer all eligible estates as soon as possible after death to the Bona
Vacantia Division and do not pass the details directly to a single heir hunting firm.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 7
Michael Ellis:
The Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department (GLD) handles the
estates of people who die without known entitled relatives, and without leaving a will.
There is no statutory obligation to refer estates to GLD. However, GLD publishes
guidance on the matter. In addition, local authorities can and do seek advice from
GLD about the referral of specific cases.
GLD does not provide advice to local authorities on the use of heir hunters.
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Martyn Day: [61544]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he
has taken to accredit more lenders to the Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
Paul Scully:
In order to offer the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), finance providers must be
accredited by the Government-owned British Business Bank. Accrediting new lenders
for the BBLS is a priority for the Bank. It is working at pace to accredit more lenders
to further extend the scheme’s reach and provide more choice for businesses.
The Bank has put substantial additional resources in place to create a streamlined
process to help onboard new lenders seeking accreditation.
There are currently 23 accredited lenders for the BBLS.
Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Scotland
David Mundell: [59710]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many
Bounce Back Loans have been approved in Scotland to date; and what the total value is
of those loans.
Paul Scully:
As of 21 June, 921,229 loans have been issued under the Bounce Back Loan
Scheme (BBLS), with a total value of £28.09 billion.
Issuing new loans is the priority for lenders and the Government.
At this time, we are unable to provide a breakdown of lending or number of
applications by region or devolved region. We are working with the British Business
Bank, HM Treasury and the lenders on regular and transparent data publication going
forward.
8 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Clinical Trials: Finance
Julian Sturdy: [60748]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
proportion of the core science budget was allocated to fund medical trials of new drugs
during the last period for which data is available.
Amanda Solloway:
UK Research and Innovation is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy and supports basic research into the development of new drugs
including pre-clinical research and early stage clinical trials. It does not routinely
analyse data on the number of trials specifically relating to the development of new
drugs.
UK Research and Innovation supports clinical trials through the Medical Research
Council (MRC) including early phase clinical stage trials through ‘response mode’
schemes such as the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme, which supports pre-
clinical development and early clinical trial of novel therapeutics including new and
repurposing of existing therapies.
Later stage trials are funded through the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
Programme (which is a jointly funded partnership between MRC and the National
Institute for Health Research). The MRC also supports:
• The Joint Global Health Trials programme in partnership with the National Institute
for Health Research, the Department for International Development and the
Wellcome Trust.
• The European Developing Countries Clinical Trials programme (EDCTP), with a
specific focus on poverty-related infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
These provide funding to later stage trials including studies evaluating the efficacy
and effectiveness of interventions with potential to make a step-change in the
promotion of health, treatment of disease and improvement of rehabilitation or long-
term care.
A recent example of a clinical trial project for a new medicine is the award of over
£2.7 million for a Clinical Trial of a Novel Treatment for Clostridium difficile (
associated diarrhoea) from Innovate UK as part of the Biomedical Catalyst. This was
awarded to MGB Biopharma Ltd based in Glasgow for this new class of small
molecule antibiotic.
Derelict Land: Regeneration
Andrew Gwynne: [61680]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he
has made an assessment of the potential merits of a new industrial site reclamation
scheme to help bring regional strategic employment sites forward for development.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 9
Andrew Gwynne: [61681]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he
will meet with (a) the Hon Member for Denton and Reddish and (b) officers from
Tameside Council to discuss plans for bringing the Ashton Moss regional strategic
employment site forward for development.
Andrew Gwynne: [61682]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his
Department will provide support to Tameside Council to help bring forward the borough’s
employment site investment strategy.
Nadhim Zahawi:
Officials in the Department recently met with Greater Manchester Combined Authority
and will continue discussions on plans for Tameside and the vision for the city region.
The Government has made funding available to support these types of scheme. This
includes £663.4 million from the Government’s Local Growth Fund 1, 2 and 3 to
Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, of which £3.5 million went to the
Tameside Minors project for highway and rail access improvements, as well as cycle
links.
Tameside will soon have the opportunity to apply for further funding to support local
regeneration. This includes a further round of the Future High Streets Fund to
welcome proposals from local authorities to change their high streets. There are also
plans to enable further places to benefit from the Towns Fund.
It is vital that we have well-resourced, efficient, and effective planning frameworks in
place to unlock regeneration, investment, and business growth. Our ambitions build
on the Government’s recent Planning White Paper, which aims to make the planning
system clearer and more accessible. The White Paper includes options to introduce a
new planning fee structure to ensure that planning authorities are resourced to
improve the speed and quality of decisions.
Electric Scooters: Safety
Yvonne Fovargue: [61479]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps (a)
his Department and (b) the Office for Product Safety and Standards are taking to raise
public awareness on the safe charging of e-scooters in homes.
Paul Scully:
Manufacturers are required to ensure the safety of their products under reasonably
foreseeable use, and to issue instructions for safe use.
The Government is considering the requirements for electric scooters as part of its
Future of Transport Regulatory Review. Following this review any necessary public
awareness information or guidance will be issued.
10 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Employment: Domestic Abuse
Darren Henry: [61825]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his
Department is taking to ensure that businesses have a robust policy to safeguard (a)
victims and (b) survivors of domestic abuse in the workplace.
Paul Scully:
On 9 June 2020, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
launched a review into support for victims of domestic abuse in the workplace. The
review aims to ensure victims of domestic abuse are given the support they deserve
within the workplace, whether that is an outlet for reporting abuse, financial
assistance or as a source of emotional support. The review will also look specifically
at employer policies and best practice when it comes to practically supporting victims.
The review features a call for written evidence which is open until 9 September, and
the Government will respond by the end of 2020.
The Government also continues to support the important work of the Employers’
Initiative on Domestic Abuse to mobilise employers to work together and improve the
support available to employees affected by domestic abuse.
More widely, the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill, which is going through
Parliament, will provide significant and important changes in the law to ensure that
victims of domestic abuse get the support they need.
Enterprise Zones: Coronavirus
Dr Luke Evans: [61605]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the potential for Enterprise Zones as part of his plans for
covid-19 recovery planning.
Nadhim Zahawi:
Enterprise Zones (EZs) are designated areas that create local economic growth by
supporting businesses to grow.
Currently, the Government has no plans to extend or create new EZs. However, the
Government remains committed to creating up to ten new innovative Freeports
across the UK, to level up the country and make sure businesses and communities
benefit from the opportunities of leaving the EU. The consultation concludes on the
13 th July, after which the Government will make further announcements.
Future Fund
Chi Onwurah: [59769]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate
he has made of the number of UK start-ups whose Future Fund loans will be converted to
equity.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 11
Paul Scully:
As of 21 June, 252 convertible loans have been approved under the Future Fund,
with a total value of £236.2 million.
We are currently monitoring scheme uptake and total uptake statistics are published
weekly here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-treasury-coronavirus-
covid-19-business-loan-scheme-statistics.
The convertible loans issued under this scheme will automatically convert to equity in
recipient companies in the next qualifying equity financing round. There may also be
other circumstances in which loans would either convert into shares or be repayable,
such as: specific exit events; maturity of the Loan; or on an event of default by the
Investee Company.
As a result, we are unable to make an estimate on the number of conversions at this
time.
Post Offices: Closures
Marion Fellows: [59822]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many of
each post office branch type have been temporarily closed in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c)
Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England as of (i) 31 March 2020 and (ii) since 1
April 2020.
Paul Scully:
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and
for small businesses across the UK.
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the
company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent
business. As such, the number of Post Offices which are temporarily closed across
the UK is an operational matter for Post Office Limited.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
Sir Edward Davey: [59677]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a)
bed and breakfast, (b) hotel and (c) guest house owners have accessed the Retail,
Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, by (i) region, (ii) local authority area and (ii) the value
of that support.
Paul Scully:
Government is working closely with all local authorities to help them make payments
to businesses in scope of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF)
as quickly and effectively as possible. As of 14 June, £10.36 billion has been paid out
to over 844,000 business properties in scope of Small Business Grants Fund and
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. We do not hold data from local
authorities broken down by sector. We have, however, published a full breakdown of
12 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-
authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.
Sub Post Offices: Staff
Marion Fellows: [59821]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the
average age is of Sub-Postmasters in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and
(d) each region of England.
Paul Scully:
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and
for small businesses across the UK.
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the
company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent
business. As such, the average age of Postmasters across the UK is a matter for
Post Office Limited.
Tattooing: Coronavirus
Alex Sobel: [61570]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what
reasons tattoo shops, in which personal protective equipment, non re-usable needles are
used and strict hygiene standards apply, are included in the same category as
hairdressers and beauty salons in respect of when they may reopen after the covid-19
outbreak.
Paul Scully:
The Government is committed to reopening businesses in a phased approach,
guided by the science to ensure it is safe to do so. As such, we have now published
(23 June) new guidance for working safely during coronavirus for close contact
services and restaurants, pubs and bars. This supports the Prime Minister’s
announcement on 23 June for their reopening from 4 July where they can do so in a
safe and COVID-secure way, and their preparation for reopening at a later date
where they cannot reopen on 4th July – as in the case of some close contact services.
Close Contact Services are defined as work where someone is in close physical
proximity to other individuals outside their household for a sustained period of time
throughout their working day. This includes tattoo artists who need to be in close
physical contact and often in touching distance with people outside their household
for long periods of time to do their work.
Some of these sectors remain closed because the risk of transmission in these
environments is higher due to the indoor environment and closer physical contact.
We will work with the sector to develop safe ways for them to open at the earliest
point at which it is safe to do so.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 13
CABINET OFFICE
Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility
Mr William Wragg: [61731]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question
59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, if he will publish the time taken for the
updated list of ministerial responsibilities to be published after each (a) Ministerial
reshuffle and (b) General Election in each of the last ten years.
Chloe Smith:
Details of the updates to the List of Ministerial Responsibilities are published on
GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers-and-
responsibilities#history
Government Departments: Carers
Sir Edward Davey: [59681]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in each Government
Department have used the Civil Service's Carers Passport in each of the last five years.
Chloe Smith:
The Civil Service Carer’s Passport was launched in June 2018. We do not currently
collect information centrally about civil servants completing a carer’s passport but are
already looking to capture this data better in future.
UK Trade with EU: Small Businesses
Darren Henry: [61622]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that a future
trade agreement with the European Union will benefit small businesses.
Penny Mordaunt:
The UK wants to start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we move
forward, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people. Leaving the EU will
allow us to shape the UK’s economy in our best interests, including those of small
businesses, and open up market access around the world with an independent trade
policy.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy and we are
committed to helping them to seize the opportunities that will become available when
we strike new deals with our trading partners, including the EU.
14 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
DEFENCE
Ministry of Defence: Overseas Aid
Preet Kaur Gill: [59846]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the criteria his Department
plans to use for prioritising Official Development Assistance spending in the event of a
decrease in GNI.
James Heappey:
The Ministry of Defence's Official Development Assistance spend is already reducing
where some planned activity cannot be delivered during the current pandemic.
Should it be necessary to make further reductions, we will protect those programmes
which have the greatest impact on development objectives.
Preet Kaur Gill: [59852]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's share of the Official
Development Assistance will be reduced in the event of a decrease in GNI.
James Heappey:
The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income each
year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). ODA budgetary allocations to
Departments are decided by HM Treasury.
Preet Kaur Gill: [59857]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is signing new
funding agreements for projects from the Official Development Assistance budget.
James Heappey:
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Official Development Assistance programmes are
delivered primarily using MOD assets and personnel, and do not involve funding
agreements with external delivery partners.
Royal Navy Museum: Coronavirus
Stephen Morgan: [61765]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date his Department plans to issue
further information to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth on the
provision of funding support during the covid-19 outbreak.
Stephen Morgan: [61766]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his
Department regarding cash-flow during the covid-19 outbreak at the National Museum of
the Royal Navy, Portsmouth.
Johnny Mercer:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been liaising with the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport to consider appropriate support for the National Museum of
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 15
the Royal Navy (NMRN) during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assist with its
recovery once visitors are able to return.
The MOD has provided the NMRN with an advance of Grant in Aid as immediate
assistance and is working with the museum to explore additional emergency funding
options.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Actors and Theatres: Coronavirus
Seema Malhotra: [60763]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support he is
providing to (a) self-employed actors and (b) theatres who lost income as a result of the
covid-19 outbreak.
Caroline Dinenage:
In order to support the sustainability of the arts sector, including self-employed actors
and theatres, DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide
a tailored package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m
emergency response package to complement the financial measures already
announced by the Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector.
This includes £20 million of financial support for individuals, including self-employed
actors, and £140 million of support for organisations, including theatres, so they can
better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. To date over 9000
individuals and organisations have been successful in applying for this support.
Furthermore, self employed visual artists are among the millions of people (including
self-employed actors) who can now benefit from the Self-Employed Income Support
Scheme, which will provide those eligible with cash grants worth up to £2,500 per
month. We expect that the Self-Employed Income Support scheme will cover 95% of
people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment.
Caravan Sites: Coronavirus
Mr Clive Betts: [61664]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government
plans to allow (a) mobile caravan sites to reopen and (b) allow users of mobile caravans
to stay in them overnight.
Nigel Huddleston:
Forms of holiday accommodation such as caravan parks will be allowed to reopen for
overnight stays in Phase 3 of the government’s recovery strategy on 4 July.
My Department has been working closely with the sector, including the British Holiday
& Home Parks Association (BH&HPA), through the Visitor Economy Working Group
to produce guidance on the reopening of the tourism sector. This will include
16 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
guidance on reopening hotels, caravans and other guest accommodation. The
guidance will be published shortly.
VisitEngland are working on a common industry standard quality mark. While work is
ongoing, it will be designed to complement COVID-19 Secure Guidelines produced
by the Government.
Caravans: Second Homes
Mr Clive Betts: [61663]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the
Government's timeline is for the opening of sites for static caravans owned as a second
home.
Nigel Huddleston:
People will be allowed to travel to second homes - including static caravans - for
overnight stays in England from 4 July, in Phase 3 of the government’s recovery
strategy
My Department has been working closely with the holiday accommodation sector,
including the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA), through the
Visitor Economy Working Group to produce guidance on the reopening of the tourism
sector. This will include guidance on reopening hotels, caravans and other guest
accommodation. The guidance will be published shortly.
VisitEngland are working on a common industry standard quality mark. While work is
ongoing, it will be designed to complement COVID-19 Secure Guidelines produced
by the Government.
Channel Four: Privatisation
Bill Wiggin: [59699]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the
Government has plans to privatise Channel 4.
Mr John Whittingdale:
The government has no current plans to privatise Channel 4.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Renewable Energy
Sir Edward Davey: [60653]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) solar
panels and (b) wind turbines his Department's buildings (a) have in 2020 and (b) had in
each of the last five years.
Caroline Dinenage:
The Department’s energy is supplied by HMRC, from whom DCMS leases office
space. The department has no buildings of its own.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 17
Leisure: Coronavirus
Kate Osborne: [61607]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when (a) soft play
centres, (b) trampoline parks and (c) other leisure facilities will be allowed to reopen
during the covid-19 outbreak.
Nigel Huddleston:
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and
children to be active and the Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon
as it is safe to do so. The government has announced that indoor fitness and dance
studios, and indoor gyms and sports venues/facilities would remain closed but from 4
July other indoor facilities, including indoor games, recreation and entertainment
venues would reopen.
The Secretary of State has established a task force with the sport and leisure sector
to help them become Covid-secure and re-open as soon as possible.As with all
aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science
to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.
Newspaper Press: Regulation
Bill Wiggin: [61435]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his
Department plans to work with IMPRESS or other independent regulators.
Mr John Whittingdale:
An independent press is vital to a strong and healthy democracy. The government is
supportive of the independence of self-regulatory bodies. Ministers and officials are
open to engagement with such bodies.
Tourism
Jamie Stone: [61758]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what date the
Minister for Tourism, held discussions with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on
specialized support for the tourism Industry; and if he will publish the minutes of
discussions between the Government ministers and the Scottish Government on support
for the tourism industry between 24 March and 18 June 2020.
Nigel Huddleston:
The Minister for Sports, Tourism and Heritage holds regular discussions with his
three counterparts in the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the
Northern Ireland Executive. The dates on which such meetings have taken place
since the start of the Coronavirus crisis are: 25th March, 8th April, 21st April, 7th May,
27th May, and 9th June.
There are no plans at present to publish the minutes of these discussions.
18 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Voluntary Organisations: Finance
Rachael Maskell: [60818]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what further steps he
is taking to provide additional financial support for the Voluntary and Community Sector in
addition to the £750 million announced on the 8th April 2020.
Mr John Whittingdale:
The Government has announced a broad package of support for businesses and
charities to ensure that organisations that need support are able to access it. This
includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business
Interruption Loan Scheme, and the option to defer VAT payments due between 20
March and 30 June 2020.
In addition to the broad package of support and the £750m to specifically support the
Voluntary and Community Sector, the government has also unlocked a further £150
million from dormant bank and building society accounts. These will be distributed to
organisations to support urgent work for groups in need to tackle youth
unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and
help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable
circumstances.
EDUCATION
Apprentices
Seema Malhotra: [59776]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with
representatives of employers on the continuation of planned apprenticeships in (a) 2020
and (b) 2021.
Gillian Keegan:
Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment
opportunities, particularly for young people, and supporting employers in all sectors to
access the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow post COVID-19. The
flexibilities we have introduced are enabling apprenticeships to continue. We are
looking to support employers of all sizes, and particularly smaller businesses, to take
on new apprentices this year. We will set out further details in due course. We will
also ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses wanting to
take on an apprentice this year.
We are continuing to meet with employers and their representative organisations. I
hosted a series of round tables with employers and business representative groups to
discuss what more is needed to support employers, including the Department for
Work and Pensions and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The National Apprenticeship Service continues to support employers, intermediary
organisations and stakeholders through regular virtual meetings, and timely
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 19
communications about changes to apprenticeship policies in response to COVID-19.
Insight gathered from our engagement with employers and their representative
bodies is used to help shape further flexibilities.
Children in Care: Coronavirus
Sarah Champion: [61714]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to issue revised guidance to
local authorities on facilitating face to face contact between parents and looked after
children during covid-19 restrictions.
Vicky Ford:
Revised COVID-19 guidance for children’s social care services is currently being
updated and is expected to be published by the end of June.
Children: Computers
James Wild: [59897]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral contribution of 9
June 2020, Official Report, column 180, how many laptops have been distributed to
children in Norfolk.
James Wild: [59898]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will list for each Academy Trust in North
West Norfolk (a) the date on which the Trust was invited to apply for digital devices for
disadvantaged children under the scheme announced on 19 April 2020 and (b) the
number of devices that have been delivered.
Nick Gibb:
The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and
disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care
services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers.
We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise
not have access and are preparing for examinations in Year 10, receiving support
from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social
worker at secondary school and children in Year 10 do not have internet connections,
we are providing 4G wireless routers.
The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and allocated devices
to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of
eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy
trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need
devices. The Department is working to provide these devices in the shortest possible
timeframe; deliveries to schools and local authorities began in May and will continue
throughout June. So far we have shipped over 100,000 laptops and 20,000 4G
routers, including 1,803 to Norfolk local authority for children with a social worker and
care leavers.
20 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
As a priority we will be delivering devices and connectivity to children with a social
worker and care leavers. Social distancing presents a risk to the safety and wellbeing
of vulnerable children since Children’s Social Care services have reduced face-to-
face contact with families. This creates a need for remote safeguarding measures,
but these are reliant on digital infrastructure which is not available in every
household. Families that require Children’s Social Care services are put at a greater
risk if they cannot be seen virtually and monitored by safeguarding services online.
Vulnerable care leavers also risk social isolation and associated mental health
problems.
The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G
wireless routers we have delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy
trusts as of 14 June, which can be viewed here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-
progress-data.
Children: Coronavirus
Derek Twigg: [61666]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what basis the £1bn fund announced by
the Prime Minister on 18 June 2020 to help children catch up on what they have missed
while schools have been closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak was determined.
Nick Gibb:
Children and young people have experienced unprecedented disruption to their
education during lockdown. We expect the most disadvantaged children to have
fallen further behind than their peers. The Education Endowment Fund’s (EEF)
median estimate suggests the attainment gap between children from economically
deprived households and their peers could widen by 36% as a result of school
closures [1].
The Government has therefore announced a package of support to ensure that
schools have the support they need to help all children and young people make up
for lost teaching time, with extra support in the form of a tutoring programme for those
who need it most.
This package of measures includes:
• A universal catch up premium for state-funded primary and secondary schools in
England of £650 million to help them make up for lost teaching time.
• A new £350 million National Tutoring Programme for disadvantaged pupils.
The evidence strongly shows that tutoring is an effective way to accelerate
educational attainment. We therefore believe targeted tutoring is the best way to
narrow the gaps that emerged during the closure of schools.
To support schools to make best use of the catch up premium, the EEF has
published a COVID-19 Recovery Guide for Schools with evidence-based approaches
to catch-up for all students:
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 21
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-
19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdf.
[1] https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/EEF_(2020)_-
_Impact_of_School_Closures_on_the_Attainment_Gap.pdf
Attachments:
1. 61666_PDF_1 [61666_Impact_of_School_Closures_on_the_Attainment_Gap.pdf]
2. 61666_PDF_2 [61666_COVID19_Support_Guide_for_Schools.pdf]
Derek Twigg: [61667]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much and what proportion of the £1bn
fund announced by the Prime Minister on 18 June 2020 to help children catch up on what
they have missed while schools have been closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak
will be allocated to Halton.
Nick Gibb:
The Government has announced a package of support worth £1 billion to ensure that
schools have the support they need to help all children and young people make up
for lost teaching time, with extra support in the form of a tutoring programme for those
who need it most.
This package of measures includes:
• A universal catch up premium for schools of £650 million to help them make up for
lost teaching time.
• A new £350 million National Tutoring Programme for disadvantaged pupils.
The universal catch up premium will be paid as a grant to all state-funded primary
and secondary schools in England over the 2020/21 academic year.
This premium will be in addition to schools’ core budgets for 2020-21. We will confirm
the timetable for publishing institution-level allocations in due course.
Derek Twigg: [61668]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to provide
support for pre-school children affected by the closure of nurseries during the covid -19
outbreak.
Vicky Ford:
We know that young children have missed out on early education at a crucial period
of cognitive and behavioural development. This is especially significant for vulnerable
and disadvantaged children, which may widen the early development gap.
The most effective intervention government can take to address this is to get children
back into early education.
Since 1 June, early years settings have been able to welcome back children of all
ages. We want to ensure councils and early years providers can get children back
into settings as quickly as possible, where they can be fully supported during this
crucial period for their development.
22 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Fifteen hours of high quality free early education is provided for all three- and four-
year olds and disadvantaged two-year olds. An additional fifteen hours (30 hours) is
provided for eligible working parents for three- and four-year olds.
We will work with the sector to explore how best to continue to support children’s
early development, including through the department’s Hungry Little Minds campaign
which we will use to continue to provide support for parents to develop their children’s
early language and literacy.
Information on the Hungry Little Minds campaign can be found at:
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk.
Children: Ethnic Groups
Apsana Begum: [61818]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the children who have
continued to attend school during the covid-19 outbreak are from Black, Asian and
minority ethnic backgrounds.
Apsana Begum: [61819]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children
who have reattended school from 1 June 2020 following the covid-19 outbreak are from
BAME backgrounds.
Apsana Begum: [61820]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the staff who have
continued to work onsite in schools during the covid-19 outbreak are from Black, Asian
and minority ethic backgrounds.
Apsana Begum: [61821]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of staff
working in schools since 1 June 2020 are from BAME backgrounds.
Nick Gibb:
The information requested is not held centrally.
Department for Education: Overseas Aid
Preet Kaur Gill: [59566]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the criteria his Department
plans to use for prioritising Official Development Assistance spending in the event of a
decrease in GNI.
Preet Kaur Gill: [59567]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department's share of the
Official Development Assistance will be reduced in the event of a decrease in GNI.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 23
Preet Kaur Gill: [59568]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is signing new
funding agreements for projects funded by Official Development Assistance.
Nick Gibb:
The Department’s spending on official development assistance (ODA) primarily
relates to the provision of education to child and unaccompanied child asylum
seekers in the 12 months after they make an asylum claim in the UK. The ODA
contribution is an estimate of how much of the wider core schools funding for England
is allocated due to having these children on schools’ rolls. As such, our ODA
spending in future years will be primarily dependent on the number of asylum seeker
children arriving in the country.
Fleur Anderson: [59899]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he last met the Secretary of State for
International Development to discuss Official Development Assistance spending.
Nick Gibb:
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education regularly meets with his
Cabinet colleagues, including my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for
International Development, to discuss a range of issues.
Financial Services: Education
Emma Hardy: [59878]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the effect of the covid-19
outbreak on access to education, what steps he is taking to ensure that children are
provided with the skills to (a) manage money effectively and (b) prepare them for making
future financial decisions.
Nick Gibb:
Financial education is taught within the national curriculum in maths and citizenship.
The Department will continue to work closely with The Money and Pension Service
and HM Treasury to consider how we can further support the teaching of financial
education in schools.
At present, due to the unprecedented challenges for schools caused by COVID-19,
the Government understands that schools will need flexibility around the education
they are providing to their pupils, both at home and at school. We expect schools and
teachers to use their professional judgement, and knowledge of their pupils’
educational needs and home circumstances, to plan appropriate content that enables
education to continue.
These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under
review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.
24 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes
Tim Farron: [61699]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to tackle delays in
delivery of food vouchers through the free school meals scheme.
Vicky Ford:
Since the launch of the free school meals voucher scheme, it has been upgraded and
is working well for thousands of schools and families. Our supplier Edenred has
indicated that orders are currently processed well within the 4-day period specified
within our guidance to schools. Edenred has reported that over £169 million worth of
voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and
families through the scheme as of Friday 19 June, and that over 17,500 schools had
placed orders for the scheme.
Tim Farron: [61700]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase the number of
supermarkets where free school meal vouchers are redeemable; and if he will take steps
to help ensure that those vouchers are redeemable at (a) Co-op, (b) Spar and (c) all other
supermarkets.
Vicky Ford:
During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are at home and
eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food
parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many
schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for
eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we
recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all
schools. That is why on 31 March, we launched a national voucher scheme as an
alternative option, with costs covered by the department.
The vouchers for free school meals can currently be spent in a variety of
supermarkets. Initially, the scheme included supermarkets that already have e-gift
card arrangements in place with our supplier, Edenred, including Asda, Sainsbury’s,
Tesco, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose. On Monday 27 April, we added Aldi to this list
and on Wednesday 29 April, we added McColl’s. We have been working with other
supermarkets to encourage them to join. Any additional supermarkets would need to
have the right infrastructure to deliver e-gift cards across their network of stores.
Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate free school
meal arrangements for eligible pupils during this period.
As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to make
food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for
free school meals who are staying at home.
Where this is not possible, schools can use the national voucher scheme or make
alternative voucher arrangements locally. Our guidance for schools sets out that they
can be reimbursed for costs incurred where the national voucher scheme is not
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 25
suitable for their families, and this can include alternative voucher arrangements with
supermarkets that are not part of the national voucher scheme.
Tim Farron: [61701]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he will take to ensure infants
eligible for free school meals that receive vouchers under the universal infant free school
meals will continue to receive those vouchers during summer holiday 2020.
Vicky Ford:
Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the
COVID-19 outbreak, the government understands that children and parents face an
entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing
additional funding for a COVID-19 Summer Food Fund which will enable children who
are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to receive food vouchers covering
the six-week holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique
circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Infant pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who are eligible for benefits-related free
school meals will be eligible to receive vouchers as part of the COVID-19 Summer
Food Fund. However, this provision is not available for children who receive universal
infant free school meals and who are not eligible for benefits-related free school
meals. It is right that we concentrate resources on those who are eligible for benefits-
related free school meals at this time.
Apsana Begum: [61816]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made
of the effect of his Department's initial decision not to implement the national voucher
scheme during the 2020 school summer holiday on (a) BAME children and adults and (b)
people with other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010; and if he will
place a copy of that assessment in the Library.
Vicky Ford:
Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government understands that children and
parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we
will be providing additional funding for a Covid Summer Food Fund that will enable
families with children who are eligible for free school meals to receive food vouchers
covering the six-week holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique
circumstances of the outbreak. As we have announced this provision will take place,
we will not publish an assessment of any alternative scenarios.
Further Education: Coronavirus
Rachael Maskell: [60817]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to provide additional
funding for any additional transport required by Further Education Colleges due to the
covid-19 outbreak.
26 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Gillian Keegan:
The department provides a range of financial support for students, including a
bursary fund for 16 to 19 year-olds and learner support funds for students aged 19
and over, to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people pay for things necessary for
education which they could not otherwise afford, including amongst other things, the
cost of travel. We are also working with stakeholders to identify and evidence
additional costs that might arise as a result of COVID-19.
We do recognise the costs as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak may have put some
further education providers under pressure, and we are working to understand this
further as we look at the overall support the sector requires.
Higher Education: Coronavirus
Esther McVey: [59753]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with
representatives from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in England on
ensuring that universities maintain a high quality of education during the covid-19
pandemic.
Michelle Donelan:
The department is working closely with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher
Education (QAA) to ensure that higher education providers are given advice on the
practical steps they can take to support students during the COVID-19 outbreak. The
QAA has published a series of guides on how providers can maintain quality and
standards. This guidance has been developed in consultation with the government,
regulators and funders of higher education as well as sector representative bodies.
We will remain in close contact with the QAA throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
Esther McVey: [59754]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to
support students that are dissatisfied with the support provided by their university during
the covid-19 outbreak; and what processes are in place for students to obtain a refund if
that support has not met the guidelines set out by the Quality Assurance Agency for
Higher Education.
Michelle Donelan:
We welcome the series of guides which the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher
Education (QAA) has published to support providers to secure academic standards
and to support student achievement during the outbreak.
The government expects universities to continue delivering a high-quality academic
experience and help students to achieve qualifications that they and employers value.
We are working with the Office for Students (OfS) to make sure all reasonable steps
are being taken to enable students to continue their studies to the best of their
abilities. Where it is clear to the OfS that reasonable steps have not been taken by
providers, the OfS has a range of sanctions at its disposal.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 27
The OfS has published guidance on student and consumer protection during the
COVID-19 outbreak. This sets out that providers must make sure students can
access complaints processes which are accessible, clear and fair.
If students have concerns, they should first raise their concerns with their university. If
their concerns remain unresolved, students at providers in England or Wales can ask
the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their
complaint.
Esther McVey: [59755]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the
adequacy of universities' response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Michelle Donelan:
We are very proud and grateful for the leadership that we have seen from our higher
education providers in the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the incredibly
creative and pragmatic ideas they have managed to develop in such a short space of
time.
This sector is one of those at the frontline in the battle we are facing – from
developing ground-breaking research and supplying equipment to releasing
thousands of volunteers to support our NHS.
We also know this has been a difficult and uncertain time for students, but we are
working with the sector to make sure all reasonable efforts are being made to enable
students to continue their studies. We have seen some fantastic and innovative
examples of high-quality online teaching being delivered by providers across the
country.
Furthermore, for the next academic year, providers are planning for a blended
approach where teaching is delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face
provision, or a dual approach with face-to-face provision replicated online to support
those who are unable to attend in person and to allow self-isolation as and when
required as societal and personal circumstances change. This will ensure a high
quality academic experience can be delivered for students during 2020-21.
Esther McVey: [59757]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many refunds have been issued by
universities to students who made complaints about the quality of tuition provided during
the covid-19 pandemic.
Michelle Donelan:
Higher education (HE) providers in England are independent and autonomous
bodies. They are responsible for the management of their own internal affairs,
complying with any relevant legislation and for addressing student complaints. As
such, responsibility for handling student complaints in the first instance and offering
redress, including refunds where they consider it appropriate, is a matter for the
relevant HE provider.
28 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Regarding how many universities have offered refunds to students, this information is
not held centrally.
For students who exhaust the internal university procedures and remain dissatisfied
with the final outcome, they can contact the Office of the Independent Adjudicator
(OIA) for Higher Education.
The OIA publishes an annual report each year which sets out the number and
outcomes of complaints they received and closed as well as examples of complaints
and the OIA’s recommendations.
Higher Education: Finance
Emma Hardy: [61761]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what methodology his Department used to
determine the values of a continuation rate of ≥90% and a skilled employment/further
study rate of ≥75% as minimum qualifying thresholds for higher education establishments
to bid for funding for 5,000 non-health care places.
Michelle Donelan:
The process for bidding for the additional 5,000 non healthcare places, the details of
which were published on 1 June, is for one year only. The intention is that it is simple,
competitive, and places minimal burden on higher education providers.
The Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) Year Four data
was used, as it provides a comprehensive overview of quality measures for higher
education providers in England, including continuation and high-skilled employment
and further study metrics. It is publicly available and requires no additional
aggregation or calculation, ensuring transparency. Other data sources are or will be
available, but do not average across multiple years of data as is done in TEF.
The combination of the continuation rate of ≥90 per cent and the skilled
employment/further study rate of ≥75 per cent as minimum qualifying thresholds,
ensures that the 5,000 places are awarded on a competitive basis, by restricting
eligibility to only the top performing providers.
The methodology used for student number controls more broadly, already allows for
the substantial growth forecast by the sector, plus another 5%. This allows providers
to increase their student numbers compared to previous years.
Emma Hardy: [61762]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason values of the continuation
rate of ≥90 per cent and the skilled employment/further study rate of ≥75 per cent as
minimum qualifying thresholds for higher education establishments to bid for funding for
5,000 non-health care places were chosen in place of indicators available from the
Teaching Excellence Framework.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 29
Michelle Donelan:
The process for bidding for the additional 5,000 non healthcare places, the details of
which were published 1 June, is for one year only. The intention is that it is simple,
competitive and places minimal burden on higher education providers.
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Year Four data was used, as it provides
a comprehensive overview of quality measures for higher education providers in
England, including continuation and high-skilled employment/further study metrics. It
is publicly available and requires no additional aggregation or calculation, ensuring
transparency. Other data sources are or will be available, but do not average across
multiple years of data as is done in TEF.
The combination of the continuation rate of ≥90 per cent and the skilled
employment/further study rate of ≥75 per cent as minimum qualifying thresholds,
ensures that the 5,000 places are awarded on a competitive basis, by restricting
eligibility to only the top performing providers.
The methodology used for student number controls more broadly, already allows for
the substantial growth forecast by the sector, plus another 5%. This allows providers
to increase their student numbers compared to previous years.
Higher Education: Internet
Esther McVey: [59756]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support students that
wish to defer their 2020-21 academic year as a result of their academic tuition potentially
being taught in-part or fully online.
Michelle Donelan:
There is no need for students to defer entry this year unless they want to.
We understand this has been a difficult and uncertain time for students, but we are
working with the sector to make sure all reasonable efforts are being made to enable
students to continue their studies. We have seen some fantastic and innovative
examples of high-quality online teaching being delivered by providers across the
country.
Furthermore, for the next academic year, providers are planning for a blended
approach, where teaching is delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face
provision, or a dual approach with face-to-face provision replicated online to support
those who are unable to attend in person and to allow self-isolation as and when
required as societal and personal circumstances change.
If students do want to defer, it is a matter for individual providers and not the
government, so students should speak to their providers directly to determine what
flexibility exists.
Given the exceptional circumstances, the government would encourage all providers
to offer as much flexibility as possible for all students, whether they are international
or domestic.
30 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Home Education: ICT
Ms Angela Eagle: [57917]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2020 to
Question 51606 on Home Education: Computers, how many (a) laptops, (b) tablets and
(c) 4G wireless routers his Department has allocated to Wirral Council.
Nick Gibb:
The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G
wireless routers we have delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy
trusts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-
routers-progress-data.
The Department is providing over 200,000 laptops and tablets to vulnerable and
disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for
examinations in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school
children, or are a care leaver.
Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and
disadvantaged children in Year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing
4G wireless routers.
Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and distribute the
laptops and tablets to children and young people who need devices. In May, the
Department invited local authorities to order devices for the most vulnerable children
first - children with a social worker and care leavers.
Earlier this month, the Department started inviting academy trusts and local
authorities to order their devices for disadvantaged year 10 pupils. Thousands of
devices continue to be delivered each day. Laptops and tablets will continue to be
ordered and delivered throughout June.
Pupils: Coronavirus
Derek Twigg: [61671]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many headteachers he consulted in (a)
Halton and (b) England on the resources required to help pupils catch up following the
closure of schools as a result of covid-19 outbreak.
Nick Gibb:
We have consulted with stakeholder groups across the sector. We have also
conducted more than 300 social and user research interviews with school leaders,
teachers and parents from schools across England and Wales to inform our response
to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 31
Schools: Coronavirus
Sir Desmond Swayne: [59329]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether additional funding will be made
available to schools to acquire additional space in which to teach appropriately distanced
classes during the covid-19 outbreak.
Nick Gibb:
From 1 June, primary schools have been able to welcome back children in nursery,
reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside children of critical workers and vulnerable
children. Each school’s circumstances will be slightly different. Any school that cannot
achieve the small group sizes set out in the protective measures guidance for the
current phase of wider opening should discuss options with their local authority or
academy trust. If necessary, schools have the flexibility to focus first on continuing to
provide places for priority groups and then, to support children’s early learning,
schools should prioritise groups of children as follows:
• infant schools - nursery (where applicable) and reception
• primary schools - nursery (where applicable), reception and year 1.
We know that in some schools, there will be capacity to welcome more children back,
in group sizes of no more than 15, before the summer holidays. Primary schools have
the flexibility to do this, but should only welcome back additional children where
provision for eligible groups has already been made, and where they do not require
additional funding, staff or classrooms to do so.
We have published guidance on the additional funding we are providing to schools to
cover unavoidable costs incurred due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that
cannot be met from their existing resources. The fund is targeted towards the costs
we have identified as the biggest barrier to schools operating as they need to at this
challenging time.
The cost categories covered by the fund are clearly set out in the guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-
for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-
for-the-period-march-to-july-2020. These are: the increased premises-related costs of
opening over school holidays; support for free school meals for eligible children who
are not in school, where schools are not using the national voucher scheme; and
additional cleaning costs relating to cases or suspected cases of coronavirus, above
the cost of existing cleaning arrangements.
James Cartlidge: [59839]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) teachers, (b) pupils and (c)
other members of school staff who have been attending or working at school in England
since 1 June 2020 have tested positive for covid-19 since that date.
32 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Nick Gibb:
Please note that the Department does not hold the information in the format required.
The latest national data on pupil attendance in educational establishments since 23
March was published on Tuesday 16 June at the following link and covers data up to
Thursday 11 June:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-in-
education-and-early-years-settings.
The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published
figures include estimates for non-response.
Apsana Begum: [61817]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made
of the effect of his Department's decision to reopen schools on 1 June 2020 following the
covid-19 outbreak on (a) BAME children and adults and (b) people with other protected
characteristics under the Equality Act 2010; and if he will place a copy of that assessment
in the Library.
Nick Gibb:
When making decisions about asking schools to welcome back more children, we
have had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and to advance equality
of opportunities and foster good relations between people who share a protected
characteristic and people who do not as required by section 149 of the Equality Act
2010. We continue to keep our assessment of those matters under review.
In respect of BAME children and adults specifically, we continue to assess the
emerging evidence, including Public Health England’s review into disparities in
COVID-19 outcomes and the report on the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups,
and consider what this means for the education system.
There is further work to do to understand the key drivers of these disparities and the
relationships between the different risk factors. In the meantime, we continue to
encourage schools to be particularly sensitive to the needs and concerns of BAME
pupils, parents and carers, and staff, considering if any additional measure or
reasonable adjustments may need to be put in place to mitigate those concerns.
Students: Finance
Esther McVey: [59759]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding has been allocated by (a) his
Department and (b) universities to support students during the (i) 2017-18, (ii) 2018-19
and (iii) 2019-20 academic year.
Michelle Donelan:
In the academic year 2017/18, the total amount paid/awarded through the Student
Loans Company to students domiciled in England and students domiciled in the EU
and studying in England was £16.5 billion [1]. This included grants, allowances and
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 33
tuition fee and maintenance loans. The equivalent figure for 2018/19 was £17.1
billion. Equivalent figures are not yet available for the 2019/20 academic year.
The value of the government’s contribution via the Student Loans Company loans is
contingent upon future repayments and interest rates.
The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for distributing funding to the sector on
behalf of the Department for Education. While the OfS distributes funding to higher
education providers based on the academic year, the department allocates funding
based on the financial year.
In the financial year 2017/18, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (the
OfS’s predecessor) allocated £1.607 billion [2] in recurrent and capital teaching
funding. The equivalent figures for 2018/19 and 2019/20 were £1.538 billion and
£1.487 billion respectively. The 2019/20 allocation was published in February 2019.
The teaching grant is allocated to providers to support various activities, including
high-cost subject funding, where tuition fees alone do not cover the full costs of
provision, and the costs of supporting students most at risk of discontinuing their
studies.
Information on the full range of financial support made available to students from their
providers is not held by the department.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-support-for-higher-education-in-
england-2019
[2] https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/regulation/guidance-
from-government/
Students: Rented Housing
Fabian Hamilton: [59374]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance the Government is giving
landlords of student accommodation on collecting rent on unoccupied accommodation.
Michelle Donelan:
As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer
have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected
by COVID-19.
We expect universities to communicate clearly with residential students on rents for
this period and to administer accommodation provision in a fair manner.
While it is for universities and private accommodation providers to make their own
decisions about charging rents to absent students, we encourage them to consider
the fairness of doing so and to clearly communicate their policies to students. We are
aware that a number of universities and large companies have waived rents for the
summer term or released students early from their contracts.
Students who are tenants with individual private landlords can discuss the possibility
of an early release from their lease. If they face financial hardship and struggle to pay
34 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
their rent, support is available: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-support-
available-for-landlords-and-renters-reflecting-the-current-coronavirus-covid-19-
outbreak . In the first instance, a student should speak to their landlord if they think
they will have difficulty meeting a rental payment, and in this unique context, tenants
and landlords are encouraged to work together to put in place a rent payment
scheme.
Information published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) gives
guidance on the COVID-19 outbreak’s effects on consumer contracts and may be
helpful to students, including those who have already paid deposits for
accommodation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-
concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-
coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds.
The guidance sets out the CMA’s view on how the law operates to help consumers
understand their rights and to help businesses treat their customers fairly. Students
may be entitled to refunds from certain accommodation providers depending on the
terms of their contract and their particular circumstances. If students need help,
organisations such as Citizens Advice offer a free service, providing information and
support.
If a student thinks their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can
raise a complaint under the accommodation codes of practice as long as their
provider is a code member. The codes can be found at: https://www.thesac.org.uk/ ;
https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain and
https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml.
To support landlords who are experiencing a temporary loss of income, mortgage
lenders have agreed to offer payment holidays of up to 3 months where this is
needed due to COVID-19-related hardship, including for buy-to-let mortgages. On 2
June, the Financial Conduct Authority confirmed that borrowers can apply for an
extension to any holiday already taken while extending the window for new
applications to 31 October. Landlords should contact their lender at the earliest
possible opportunity to discuss if the payment holiday is a suitable option for them.
We have also amended the COVID-19 regulations to make clear that people who
wish to move home can do so. Landlords can now advertise and let properties where
they are empty or where the current tenants have agreed to move. Landlords are also
encouraged to contact their local authority homelessness departments or private
rented sector procurement team who can discuss renting their property to a homeless
household, which may guarantee an income during this time.
Teaching Methods: Coronavirus
Derek Twigg: [61670]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the
number of tutors that (a) will be required and (b) are available in the 2020-21 academic
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 35
year to help disadvantaged students catch up following the closure of schools as a result
of the covid-19 outbreak.
Nick Gibb:
As plans continue for a full return to education from September, we have announced
a £1 billion Covid “catch-up” package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching
time.
£650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the
2020/21 academic year. This one-off grant to support pupils recognises that all young
people have lost time in education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, regardless
of their income or background.
In addition, a National Tutoring Programme, worth £350 million, will increase access
to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people. This will help
accelerate their academic progress and prevent the gap between them and their
more affluent peers widening.
We are working closely with our delivery partners, including the Education
Endowment Foundation, Sutton Trust, Impetus and Nesta, to roll out a programme
that ensures we reach the maximum number of disadvantaged students possible
while ensuring that tutors all meet a high quality bar.
We will be supporting the highest quality tutoring organisations to increase their
recruitment of tutors. Alongside this, we will be supporting a small number of schools
in the most disadvantaged areas to directly employ tutors. We will be publishing more
detail of the scheme shortly.
This £1 billion package is on top of the £14.4 billion three-year funding settlement
announced last year - recognising the additional work schools will need to do to help
students to catch up.
Universities: Foreign Students
Esther McVey: [59760]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the decrease
in the number of international students starting at UK universities in the 2020-21
academic year.
Michelle Donelan:
In the 2018/19 academic year, tuition fees from international students at UK higher
education providers accounted for around £7 billion of sector income. The
government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact
on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education sector, including
student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to
monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19 on international student numbers, including
restrictions on travel. We understand that the COVID-19 outbreak and a possible
reduction in the number of international students poses significant challenges and we
stand ready to help the sector with various mitigations.
36 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
On Monday 4 May, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education,
announced the package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn
and ensure sustainability in higher education at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
Full details of the package have been published on GOV.UK:
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-
students.
The government is also working to ensure that existing rules and regulations,
including visa regulations, are as flexible as possible for international students under
these unprecedented circumstances. For example, on 16 June, the government
confirmed that distance/blended learning will be permitted for the 2020/21 academic
year, provided students intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as
circumstances allow. In addition, higher education providers will be flexible in
accommodating applicants’ circumstances where possible, including if applicants are
unable to travel to the UK in time for the start of the academic year.
The new graduate route, due to be launched in summer 2021, provides an
opportunity for international students who have been awarded their degree to stay
and work in the UK at any skill level for 2 years. This week, the government also
confirmed that those studying by distance/blended learning will be eligible to apply for
the graduate route provided they are in the UK by 6 April 2021.
On Friday 5 June, the Department for Education announced Sir Steve Smith as the
International Education Champion, a key deliverable of the 2019 International
Education Strategy. Sir Steve will assist with opening up export growth opportunities
for the whole UK education sector, tackling international challenges such as those
posed to attracting international students and forging lasting global connections. The
International Education Strategy, published in March 2019 by the Department for
Education and the Department for International Trade, set out a commitment to
review progress following its publication. The review, which we intend to publish this
autumn, will ensure that the International Education Strategy responds to this new
context and the challenges that are posed by COVID-19.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture: Coronavirus
Mr Richard Holden: [59913]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the potential merits of providing further ongoing long-term support for
agriculture on a similar basis to the scheme for the dairy industry announced on 6 May
2020.
Victoria Prentis:
The Government wants a profitable and resilient farming sector. We will always
champion our farmers and growers by supporting them to produce more of our great
British food and drink, providing a reliable and sustainable food supply to the British
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 37
public. The Agriculture Bill provides the legislative basis for a transition from old-style
subsidies to investment in a more productive and sustainable farming sector.
The Bill will allow us to introduce ambitious new land management schemes in
England, based on the principle of “public money for public goods”, so that we can
reward farmers and land managers who protect our environment, improve animal
welfare and produce high quality food in a more sustainable way. It will also help
farmers to stay competitive, with measures to increase productivity and invest in new
technology.
The dairy response fund is a temporary measure introduced to deal with COVID-19
and is not meant as a long-term solution. We have also announced other measures
to support the farming sector during COVID-19, including relaxation of driver’s hours,
competition easements in the sector and promotion campaigns for beef and dairy.
We remain in regular contact and continue to work with our food and farming sector
to ensure that they have the support they need. This includes working closely with
farmers and processor representatives to understand specific challenges sectors are
facing.
Air Pollution: Pollution Control
Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [59866]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what
assessment he has made of the potential effect of a policy of aiming for (a) World Health
Organization guideline levels on particulate matter pollution by 2030 and (b) other stricter
than existing environmental targets on the environmental sustainability of (i) general
Government policy and (ii) business investment.
Rebecca Pow:
In July 2019, we published a report assessing the progress that will be made towards
World Health Organization (WHO) PM2.5 air quality guidelines with actions outlined in
the Clean Air Strategy by 2030. This report showed that significant progress would be
made towards achieving WHO guideline levels through the actions outlined in the
Strategy, but that additional action would be needed to reach WHO guideline levels in
specific locations (i.e. central London). The Government is committed to evidence-
based policy making and will consider independent expert advice alongside evidence
and analysis on a diversity of factors in setting air quality targets outlined in the
Environment Bill. This will include the health benefits, the practical feasibility and
economic viability of taking different actions to ensure that the targets are based on
realistic pathways, robust science and full economic analysis such that they are
ambitious, achievable and deliver the greatest public health benefits.
The Government plans to bring forward at least one target in each of the four priority
areas by the Environment Bill’s 31 October 2022 deadline. Legally binding targets are
an important tool. They will drive action by successive governments to protect and
enhance our natural world. They allow for robust, objective scrutiny and
38 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
accountability of government’s progress and they provide much-needed long-term
certainty to businesses and society, to support planning, innovation and investment.
Stuart Anderson: [59885]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has
to ensure that air quality levels in (a) Wolverhampton South West and (b) the rest of
England remain lower than they were prior to the covid-19 outbreak.
Rebecca Pow:
Air pollution poses one of the biggest environmental threats to public health. Our
ambitious plans to decarbonise transport, improve air quality and support more active
forms of travel have not changed, including the £3.8 billion we are already investing
to clean up our air. Our recent rapid call for evidence will ensure we can fully
understand the impact that coronavirus is having on changes in air pollution
emissions, concentrations and exposure. Wolverhampton is part of the 2017 UK plan
to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations; for Wolverhampton this includes
the retrofitting of existing bus fleet and implementation of traffic management
measures.
British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Andrew Rosindell: [60700]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times
his Department has met with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums
since March.
Victoria Prentis:
Since 25 March, Defra officials have been meeting (via teleconference or by
telephone) BIAZA representatives at least once a week.
Highly Protected Marine Areas
Sarah Olney: [59840]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans
to designate areas of UK coastal fishing waters as Highly Protected Marine Areas.
Victoria Prentis:
We welcome the publication of the review into Highly Protected Marine Areas
(HPMAs), which was published on 8 June 2020 and is available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highly-protected-marine-areas-hpmas-
review-2019. I am grateful to Richard Benyon and the advisory panel for their work.
We will consider Richard Benyon's report and issue a formal response to him in due
course, recognising our continued priority to support the cross-Government response
to Covid-19. From there on, we have an opportunity to develop a programme of work
to bring forward highly protected areas for the first time in English waters. We would
of course consult widely with the public and stakeholders, including fishers, before
any decision to designate an HPMA.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 39
A healthy and sustainable fishing industry in the long-term is dependent on a healthy
marine environment, and the Fisheries Bill creates a robust framework for managing
our fisheries sustainably in the future. The panel has concluded that HPMA can be a
valuable tool to help deliver healthy seas. However, we recognise that some
members of the fisheries community may be concerned by the impact of the Review’s
recommendations on their livelihoods. The report suggests several ways in which
government can reduce the impact on the fishing industry, for example by siting
protected areas within existing protected areas and be adopting early, continuous
engagement with all stakeholders when considering the location for an HPMA.
Extensive consultation will take place before any decisions are made.
Supermarkets: Coronavirus
Tom Tugendhat: [59825]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is
taking with representatives from supermarkets to ensure that people on the covid-19
shielded patient list have access to supermarket home deliveries after support from the
Government has ended; and if he will make a statement.
Victoria Prentis:
Those who have been advised that they need to shield will still be able to register for
support to access food until 17 July. This includes access to emergency food parcels
and priority access to supermarket delivery. After this date, the National Shielding
Service will no longer accept registrations. From 1 August, the advice to shield ends
and so will delivery of emergency food parcels.
Supermarkets and convenience stores have played a phenomenal part in ensuring
sure the nation has access to food and essential supplies. Supermarkets have
confirmed that shielded individuals who have requested help to access food will
retain their priority access to online delivery slots after 1 August.
If an individual registers for support before the deadline, and does not yet have an
online account with supermarkets, supermarkets will continue to update their priority
matching lists until 31 July. If a supermarket delivery slot is needed, please
encourage shielded individuals to create online accounts with supermarkets as soon
as possible. We are working continuously across Government and with supermarkets
to remove barriers to accessing online delivery.
When the advice to shield ends, there will still be options in place to support people to
access food if they need help. If someone cannot access delivery slots, and friends
and family are not able to help, then the NHS Volunteer Responders will continue to
offer support with getting access to food. There are also other commercially available
options including telephone ordering, food box delivery, prepared meal delivery and
other non-supermarket food delivery providers. Local Authorities can help people in
urgent need of support.
40 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Aviation: Coronavirus
Paul Maynard: [59406]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions
he has had with his counterparts from (a) Australia, (b) EU member states and (c) New
Zealand on the establishment of air bridges.
James Duddridge:
The Government is considering the concept of international travel corridors, including
air bridges, and how they could be implemented in practice along with other
measures. We want to open up as a country as soon as we responsibly and safely
can, but we have to do it safely and responsibly. We are, of course, continuing to
engage with all partners on all aspects of the global response to the Coronavirus
pandemic.
Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Mary Kelly Foy: [60867]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a)
international aid organisations and (b) humanitarian and development experts were
consulted by the Foreign Office as part of the decision to merge the Department for
International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
James Cleverly:
[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: The Prime Minister has decided to merge the
Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office to form a new international department - the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office. The Government will continue to engage closely with interested
stakeholders, including UK and international Non-Governmental Organisations, in the
weeks and months to come as we work to create the new department, which will
unite our development expertise and first class diplomatic service to make the UK a
force for good in the world.
Department for International Development: Reorganisation
Preet Kaur Gill: [61562]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the
Government did not wait for the conclusion of the review into foreign, defence and
development policy before making the decision that the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Department for International Development should merge.
James Cleverly:
[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: The Prime Minister has been considering this
question for some time. Covid-19 has demonstrated just how important it is that our
development and diplomatic efforts are fused together more closely. The integrated
foreign policy review is expected to conclude later in the year, linked to the spending
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 41
review. The review will define the Government's ambition for the UK's role in the
world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the new department. Both the
review and the merger are evidence of the PM's commitment to a unified British
foreign policy that will maximise our influence around the world.
Preet Kaur Gill: [61563]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the
internal review that informed the decision to merge the Department for International
Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
James Cleverly:
[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: The Prime Minister discussed the merger with both
Secretaries of State, and has concluded that in the next decade, international issues
will be even more important to the lives of our citizens and our own national interest;
that the world will become even more complex and competitive, with growing,
interconnected challenges and opportunities for the UK; and that therefore we need a
new all-of-government approach if we are to secure our values and interests in a
changing world.
Nigeria: Human Rights and Violence
Andrew Rosindell: [60703]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make
representations to the Government of Nigeria on investigating cases of military complicity
in (a) violence against Christians and (b) human rights abuses.
James Duddridge:
The UK Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting human rights
around the world. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest
levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious groups,
and human rights for all Nigerians. We are aware of allegations of military complicity
in attacks on communities of all faiths. We call for allegations of human rights abuses
and excessive use of force to be investigated and those responsible for any abuses
to be held to account.
Following allegations of human rights abuses made regarding Nigerian military
detention facilities in Amnesty International's recent report, We Dried Our Tears, the
British High Commissioner raised these with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
and called for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any
individuals found to have committed abuses. We reiterate that the UK Government
does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned.
Nigeria: Violence
Ruth Jones: [61797]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the implications for his policies of the report published by the all-party
42 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Parliamentary group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief on 15 June 2020
entitled Nigeria: unfolding genocide.
Ruth Jones: [61799]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide (a)
financial, (b) technical and (c) capacity building support to his Nigerian counterpart to
implement the recommendations in the report published by the all-party Parliamentary
group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief on 15 June 2020 entitled Nigeria:
unfolding genocide.
James Duddridge:
We welcome the APPG's report and the detailed analysis it provides on the complex
issues of intercommunal violence across multiple states of Nigeria and acts of
terrorism committed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa in North East
Nigeria. The UK Government strongly condemns all acts of violence in Nigeria. We
are considering the report and its recommendations in detail and I will provide a full
response in due course.
Trade Agreements: Brazil
Preet Kaur Gill: [59569]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his
Department plans to take to ensure that the UK's trade facilitation programme with Brazil
upholds internationally agreed climate commitments.
Wendy Morton:
The Prosperity Fund's Trade Facilitation Programme aims to support Brazil's
integration into international markets in a sustainable and inclusive way. It will support
a simplified and more stable business environment, which will contribute to increasing
economic growth, inward investment and opportunities for international business,
including for the UK. The UK Government's partnership with Brazil will reduce the
economic and environmental costs of international trade, while strengthening
Brazilian commitments and capacity to low carbon growth as part of our COP26 aims.
The Trade Facilitation Programme's work to ensure climate and environmental
standards will enable Brazil to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turkey: Human Rights
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59805]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to his Turkish counterpart on the upcoming trial of Amnesty
International Turkey’s (a) honorary Chair Taner Kılıç and (b) former Director Idil Eser and
their nine co-defendant human rights defenders.
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59806]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
representations has he made to his Turkish counterpart Turkey on (a) that country's
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 43
treatment of human rights defenders and (b) the condition of detention facilities in which
they are kept in that country.
Wendy Morton:
We remain concerned by the Amnesty arrests in the summer of 2017 of eleven
human rights defenders, including Amnesty Turkey's former director, Idil Eser, and
former chair, Taner Kılıç. We have followed the cases closely, including attendance
at court hearings. We have raised their cases at Ministerial level with the Turkish
Government on several occasions, as well as raising them in January this year
through the UN's Universal Periodic Review of Turkey. We hope that the outstanding
charges against them can be brought to a timely and equitable conclusion. We will be
monitoring the next hearing in early July.
The United Kingdom recognises that human rights defenders play an essential role in
promoting and protecting democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.
We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Turkish authorities at the
highest level, particularly around detentions, freedom of expression and association.
We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in
accordance with relevant international human rights standards, such as access to
legal representation and medical care We will continue to engage the Turkish
Government on these important issues. We are clear in our expectation that Turkey,
like all countries, should live up to its human rights obligations towards all its citizens.
USA: Police Brutality
Sir Edward Davey: [59679]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he and his
Ministers have made representations to their counterparts in the US on the issue of police
brutality in that country following the murder of George Floyd; and if he will make a
statement.
Wendy Morton:
The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the death of George Floyd was appalling,
inexcusable and deeply distressing. We hope and trust that justice will be done. The
violence we've seen in the US around this is very alarming. We've been clear that
people must be allowed to protest peacefully. Our Embassy in the US has raised the
issue of the protests with the US Administration and have explained the very strong
interest in this issue among the British public.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Blood Cancer: Drugs
Martyn Day: [56072]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
ensure that NICE recommendations for newly licensed medicines for (a) blood cancer
and (b) multiple myeloma are not delayed as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
44 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Martyn Day: [56073]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment has
been made of the effectiveness of NICE’s methodology for assessing combination
therapies.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 11 June 2020]: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) adapted its priorities to
support the National Health Service, local authorities and the wider health and social
care sector. In March, NICE paused the publication of topics that were not COVID-
19-related or therapeutically critical to avoid distracting the NHS at a time of
unprecedented pressure. However, on 1 June NICE began a phased restart of
publishing guidance that had previously been paused.
All cancer appraisals were identified as being therapeutically critical and kept to their
planned timelines. NICE is currently developing guidance on eight technologies for
treating multiple myeloma and leukaemia, and the timescales for these are available
at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/search?om=[{%22gst%22:[%22In%20development%22]}]&ps
=15&q=blood+cancer&sp=on
NICE is an independent body and is responsible for the methods it uses in
developing its guidance. NICE is currently undertaking a review of its methods for
health technology evaluation.
Blood: Contamination
Dame Diana Johnson: [59714]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of
17 December 2014 to Question 218002 on monthly payments from MFET Ltd to people
who contracted HIV through NHS treatment and the Answer of 7 January 2014 to
Question 181908 on monthly payments through the Skipton Fund State 2 to people who
contracted hepatitis C through NHS treatment, what estimate his Department has made
of the average length of time for monthly payments to be made from the England Infected
Blood Support Scheme to people affected by NHS contaminated blood products.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
The Government established the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) in
2017 to provide dedicated ex-gratia financial and non-financial support to people
infected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through treatment with National Health Service-
supplied blood or blood products, and their affected families. This scheme is currently
administered by the NHS Business Services Authority.
EIBSS provides tiered non-discretionary annual payments to eligible infected
beneficiaries, based on their type and stage of infection (hepatitis C and/or HIV). The
majority of beneficiaries opt for these payments to be split into monthly instalments.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 45
EIBSS aims to process new applications within 30 working days of receipt. Eligible
beneficiaries’ payments are then transferred within 10 days after their application has
been approved. These payments are backdated to the month that the beneficiary’s
application was initially received by EIBSS.
The Department hold EIBSS to account via monthly review meetings. EIBSS is
required to maintain a key performance indicator of 90% around the time frame for
processing new applications, which it has met.
Cannabis: Medical Treatments
Alex Sobel: [57344]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is
taking to support research into cannabis-based medicines for epilepsy.
Alex Sobel: [57345]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the potential merits of including cannabis-based medicines in the remit of the proposed
Innovative Medicines Fund.
Alex Sobel: [57346]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department
has made on implementing the recommendations contained in the report published by
NHS England and NHS Improvement, entitled Barriers to accessing cannabis-based
products for medicinal use on NHS prescription, published in March 2019.
Alex Sobel: [57347]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
improve access to (a) cannabis-based medicines and (b) unlicensed medicinal products
for children with severe and treatment-resistant conditions where clinically appropriate.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: Guidelines published by the National Institute for
Health and Care Excellence (NICE) demonstrate a clear need for more evidence to
support routine prescribing and funding decisions of cannabis-based medicines for
severe treatment resistant epilepsy and other conditions. We are working hard with
the health system, industry and researchers to improve the knowledge base
available. The link to the guidance can be found at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng144
Central to this, NHS England and NHS Improvement are working closely with
partners to deliver the recommendations from the NHS process evaluation report
entitled ‘Barriers to Accessing Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use’. Progress
has been made as follows:
- On 20 December 2019 a letter was published reminding prescribers of General
Medical Council guidance on the prescribing and use of unlicensed medicines – and
to clarify the procedure for prescribing and supplying cannabis-based products for
46 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
medicinal use. This complements training material put in place by Health Education
England for all healthcare professionals. A link to the letter can be found at the
following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/guidance-prescribing-
cannabis-based-products-medicinal-use.pdf
- To support research, the National Institute for Health Research has run two
research calls for applications on medicinal cannabis for epilepsy. Following these a
workshop was held in November 2019 including applicants, NHS England and NHS
Improvement, the Department and other research experts on a study for treatment
resistant paediatric epilepsy. We expect this to have significantly cut the time required
to design a study and gain funding agreement;
- Funding was fast-tracked by NHS England and NHS Improvement and was
available from 6 January 2020 for patients who fulfil the criteria for the recently
published NICE Technology Appraisals for the use of cannabidiol (Epidyolex) in
conjunction with clobazam for adjuvant treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-
Gastaut and Dravet Syndrome, two rare forms of refractory epilepsies. This will
improve access to licensed cannabis-based products for appropriate patients;
- A new Refractory Epilepsy Specialist Clinical Advisory Network was launched in
February 2020. This offers timely and evidence-based specialist advice and guidance
from a United Kingdom national expert panel to support local discussions in relation
to the treatment of refractory epilepsy and suitability of cannabis-based medicines;
and
- A patient registry is being developed with input from specialist clinicians and other
advisory bodies, to monitor patient outcomes.
We have also changed the Government policy on imports to allow import of cannabis-
based medicines in anticipation of prescriptions, since 9 March 2020. This aims to
improve continuity of supply for those patients that have been prescribed these
products.
Care Homes: Coronavirus
Rachael Maskell: [54953]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to help
ensure that care home residents have access to (a) medical assessments and (b)
treatment irrespective of age.
Helen Whately:
Throughout the pandemic we have been working closely with the sector and public
health experts to put in place guidance and support for adult social care. Primary care
and community health services are key to ensuring care homes have the clinical
support they need. As part of the care home support package announced on 15 May,
the National Health Service has committed that this includes timely access to clinical
advice for care home staff and residents, a named clinical lead for every care home,
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 47
proactive support for residents through personalised care and support planning, and
remote monitoring of residents with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
On 1 May, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were also asked to take immediate
steps to implement the delivery of consistent weekly care home ‘check ins’. These
check ins are to review patients identified as a clinical priority for assessment and
care, drawing on general practice and community services staff. They should include
appropriate and consistent medical oversight and input from a general practitioner
and/or geriatrician.
Carers: Protective Clothing
Mary Kelly Foy: [58787]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will give
priority access to personal protective equipment to people providing unpaid care in (a) the
City of Durham and (b) England.
Helen Whately:
[Holding answer 16 June 2020]: The Government recognises the crucial role unpaid
carers play, especially during this difficult period. The Department is currently working
with Public Health England to review the advice to unpaid carers on use of personal
protective equipment.
On 8 April the Government published guidance for unpaid carers which provides
general advice, including advice on infection control, links to other information and
support, and advice on caring where someone has symptoms. This can be found at
the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-
care
The Government will continue to work closely with carer organisations and others to
support unpaid carers during this period and beyond. This includes working with
Carers UK to provide carers with practical advice which can be found at the following
link:
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-
health/coronavirus-covid-19
Contraceptives: Finance
Alex Norris: [58063]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his
Department has made of trends in the level of funding for contraception since 2015.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: No assessment has been made of trends in the
level of funding for contraception.
48 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Coronavirus: Air Pollution
Geraint Davies: [903702]
Whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of
the all-party group on air pollution entitled, Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus
Infection and its reference to Queen Mary University's research on the biological link
between air pollution and coronavirus.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: Long-term air pollution exposure is the leading
environmental risk to human health. We are working with relevant experts to
understand the relationship between air quality and increased risks from COVID-19
based on emerging science. This will be supported by the National Institute for Health
Research and UK Research and Innovation joint open call for projects on mitigating
the health, social, economic, cultural and environmental impacts of COVID-19.
We note that there is emerging evidence suggesting an association between COVID-
19 mortality and exposure to air pollution, but many of the emerging papers are, as
yet, generally not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality. Currently, there is no
clear evidence to suggest that air pollution has a direct link to the spread or severity
of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. In April, the Department for the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs initiated work to conduct detailed statistical analysis of the
United Kingdom data, delivered in collaboration with the Department for Health and
Social Care, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics, and with
input from the relevant Air Quality Expert Group and Committee on the Medical
Effects of Air Pollution experts. The work will be published in due course. The
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to have extensive
discussions with the Department for Health and Social Care and other departments
on the relationship between air quality and health.
Coronavirus: Death
Catherine West: [56097]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people that died of
non-covid-19 causes in (a) care homes and (b) the community had been tested for covid-
19 and received a negative result in each week from 2 March to 4 May 2020.
Jo Churchill:
The data is not currently available in the format requested.
Alexander Stafford: [59645]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with
his Cabinet colleagues on establishing a remembrance event on Whitehall to mark the
work of (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) people who lost their lives during the covid-19
outbreak.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 49
Helen Whately:
We are incredibly proud of the hard work and courage of health and care workers
during the COVID-19 response. Officials from the Department are working with
colleagues across Government to consider options to commemorate those who have
lost their lives and to recognise the service of key workers across all sectors -
including the National Health Service and social care.
Coronavirus: Disease Control
Rachael Maskell: [54941]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment
he has made of the number of daily deaths caused by covid-19 infection in England and
EU member states; and what assessment he has made of effect of easing the lockdown
restrictions on the number of deaths due to that infection.
Jo Churchill:
The Government cannot make comparisons with the death rate of other countries yet
because countries measure deaths in different ways. We will learn lessons from our
response to this virus, but these must be drawn from an accurate international
analysis in the future.
As set out in “Our Plan to Rebuild”, the Government is introducing a range of
adjustments to current social distancing controls, timing these carefully according to
both the current transmission rate of the virus and the Government’s ability to ensure
safety. The steps for modifying social distancing measures are set out in the plan,
with strict conditions to safely move from each step to the next. We will make
changes if and, only if, we think it is safe to do so. Protecting the health and safety of
the British public is, and must always be, our number one priority.
Coronavirus: New Zealand
Sir Edward Davey: [57061]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions officials in his
Department have had with health officials in the New Zealand Government on that
country's approach to tackling covid-19; and if he will make a statement.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: The Department is regularly in discussions with
other countries, including New Zealand, on a wide range of issues of issues relating
to COVID-19 and has been throughout the pandemic. COVID-19 presents a global
challenge which requires a collaborative response. The Department will continue to
work with other countries throughout the crisis and beyond.
Coronavirus: Social Distancing
Rachael Maskell: [59514]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the scientific
evidence on the effect of social distancing in reducing the risk of covid-19 contagion.
50 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Helen Whately:
The Government has published the minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for
Emergencies (SAGE) meetings and supporting documentation (scientific data and
analysis used to inform SAGE discussions) and this can be accessed here at the
following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-
sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response
SAGE provides scientific and technical advice to support Government decisions
during emergencies and relies on external science advice and on advice from expert
groups. During COVID-19 as new evidence or data emerges, SAGE updates its
advice accordingly.
The webpage will be updated on a regular basis and the latest available evidence will
be published in the coming weeks that show how our understanding of the disease
has evolved.
Coronavirus: Thromboembolism
Ms Lyn Brown: [49625]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans NHS England has to
protect patients with covid-19 from the increased risk in that group of potentially fatal
venous thromboembolism.
Ms Lyn Brown: [49626]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to
publish the expert clinical guidance that it commissioned on thrombosis and critical care
for patients with covid-19 which was submitted for dissemination on 28 April 2020.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: As COVID-19 is a new disease, there is no high
quality evidence to guide clinical management in protecting patients with the disease
from the increased risk of thromboembolism. NHS England and NHS Improvement
are urging clinicians to support research which may evaluate methods to prevent or
reduce harm from thromboembolism in the context of COVID-19.
NHS England and NHS Improvement are not planning to publish clinical guidance it
commissioned in relation to venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19.
NHS England and NHS Improvement are engaging with other organisations and
professional bodies and looking to them to publish the guidance as soon as possible.
Diabetes: Coronavirus
Gill Furniss: [58757]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the evidence on the risks of covid-19 to people with diabetes.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 51
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 16 June 2020]: NHS England and NHS Improvement have
published a recent paper on type 1 and type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 related
mortality in England which can be found on their website and accessed via the
following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/type-1-and-type-2-diabetes-and-covid-19-
related-mortality-in-england/
Drugs: Coronavirus
Tim Farron: [48380]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of
the number of civil servants supporting the (a) development and (b) deployment of anti-
viral drugs to reduce covid-19 symptoms.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: The pursuit of safe and effective COVID-19
treatments is a cross-Government effort from people in UK Research and Innovation
looking at early stage research and development, to those in the National Institute for
Health Research supporting clinical trials, and the Department of Health and Social
Care, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Public Health
England (PHE) and NHS England overseeing medicine supply, manufacturing and
procurement strategies.
The Therapeutics Taskforce is driving forward, expediting and co-ordinating efforts to
research, produce and distribute safe and effective COVID-19 treatments to patients
as soon as possible.
We estimate that there are at least 50 civil servants (27.4 full-time equivalents)
working across the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and PHE on the development and
deployment of treatments for COVID-19. It is not possible to segregate this figure for
anti-viral drugs only.
Drugs: Imports
Emily Thornberry: [53334]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has
made of the UK’s ability to import prescription medications for supply to the NHS.
Jo Churchill:
As part of our concerted national efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we
are doing everything we can to ensure patients continue to have access to safe and
effective medicines.
Ensuring supply chains remain open is a priority for this Government. We have world-
class systems in place to prevent supply problems and we are working closely with
industry and partners, both nationally and globally, to prevent shortages and continue
52 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
to ensure that patients receive the medicines, including prescription-only medicines,
they need.
Drugs: Prices
Layla Moran: [54240]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of trends in the level of drug prices since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.
Jo Churchill:
The costs of branded medicines are controlled by the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for
Branded Medicines Pricing and Access and the statutory scheme for branded
medicines.
For unbranded generic medicines the Department relies on competition to keep
prices down. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to
react to the market. In an international market this ensures that when demand is high
and supply is low, prices in the United Kingdom can increase to help secure the
availability of medicines for UK patients.
We continuously monitor overall movements in changes in prices of medicines
through various methods including data from suppliers using the provisions in the
Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018.
However, it is too early to assess the full financial impact on the National Health
Service and pharmacies in light of COVID-19.
Drugs: Procurement
Tulip Siddiq: [54198]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his
Department has made of the adequacy of supply of (a) buprenorphine, (b) methadone
and (c) naltrexone during the covid-19 outbreak.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 8 June 2020]: As part of our concerted national efforts to respond to
the COVID-19 outbreak, we are doing everything we can to ensure patients continue
to have access safe and effective medicines. Supplies of buprenorphine, methadone
and naltrexone continue to remain available.
The Department has well-established procedures to deal with medicine shortages
and is working closely with industry, the National Health Service and others in the
supply chain to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.
The Department shares regular information about impending supply issues and
management plans with the NHS via networks in primary and secondary care and will
liaise with relevant patient groups about issues affecting specific medicines, medical
devices and equipment.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 53
Epilepsy: Cannabis
Alex Sobel: [57343]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions for (a)
Epidyolex and (b) unlicensed cannabis-based medicines were issued for people with
epilepsy by the NHS in each month since November 2018.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: The information requested is not held by the
Department. Prescription data collected by the NHS Business Services Authority
does not include what condition the medicine has been prescribed for.
Exercise Cygnus: North West
Sir Mark Hendrick: [57914]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Exercise
Cygnus that took place in 2016, what the key lessons learned from that exercise were for
the preparedness of North West England to respond to a pandemic.
Jo Churchill:
The Government has been extremely proactive in implementing lessons learnt
around pandemic preparedness, including from Exercise Cygnus, to ensure that the
United Kingdom remains well-prepared for infectious disease outbreaks. This
includes being ready with legislative proposals and improving health sector plans to
flex and expand systems beyond normal capacity levels.
The lessons learned from Exercise Cygnus continue to be considered by the
Government and have been shared with a range of stakeholders, including local
emergency planners, in reviewing response plans. Local planners are responsible for
identifying and implementing specific lessons which most affect their areas (such as
the North West).
Food: Allergies
Luke Pollard: [58779]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward
legislative proposals to require a food producer, shop or supermarket to immediately
inform the Food Standards Agency if a food they have made or sold has resulted in a
serious allergic reaction by a customer.
Jo Churchill:
Under Article 19 of Regulation (EC) 178/2002, food businesses have a legal
responsibility to immediately withdraw and/or recall their food if it is not in compliance
with food safety requirements and to notify the relevant local authority. Local
authorities are responsible for enforcement of the requirements on provision of
information on allergens.
Food businesses must also immediately inform the local authority if it considers or
has reason to believe that a food which it has placed on the market may be injurious
54 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
to human health. The Food Standards Agency is not the enforcing authority for these
incidents and therefore does not need to be informed directly by the food business.
There is a requirement in the statutory Food Law Code of Practice for local
authorities to notify the Food Standards Agency of a serious localised food hazard
which includes hospitalisation or death as a result of allergens.
Free School Meals: Fruit
Sir Charles Walker: [59194]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will undertake
a review its decision to withdraw funding for the distribution of fruit with free school meals;
and if he will make a statement.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 17 June 2020]: It was announced on 18 March that all schools in
England would remain open only for a very limited number of pupils (children of key
workers and vulnerable children) until further notice. At this time the Government
made a decision to pause the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) so that as
little fresh produce as possible would go to waste.
In the Government’s ‘Our Plan to Rebuild’, published on 11 May, primary schools
were asked to plan to welcome back nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils as
of 1 June 2020. However, it was not possible to restart the SFVS from 1 June.
The Department for Education and schools themselves are ensuring that children
who attend school continue to receive healthy and nutritious food at school, as well
as making provision to support families usually in receipt of free school meals and
whose children are not attending school.
Hydroxychloroquine: Coronavirus
Munira Wilson: [58098]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date the Government
placed the orders for £5 million worth of hydroxychloroquine for the potential treatment of
covid-19.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: A number of contracts were awarded valued at £4.2
million (excluding VAT) for hydroxychloroquine between 11 March and 22 April 2020.
Lacri-lube
Barry Gardiner: [55843]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has
of the availability of the dry-eye medication Lacrilube; and if he will make a statement.
Jo Churchill:
The Department fully understands that maintaining access to dry eye medications is
vitally important to many people in this country.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 55
We are aware that, due to long term manufacturing issues experienced by the sole
supplier, Lacri-Lube Eye ointment has not been available since 2018.
We have liaised with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists who has issued advice
for clinicians regarding suitable alternative treatments to manage affected patients
during this time. We have also communicated the supply issue with the National
Health Service and supplies of Lacri-Lube are expected to become available at the
end of this year.
We continue to work closely with industry and partners in the health system to help
prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when supply
issues do arise.
Mental Health Services: Coronavirus
Zarah Sultana: [59894]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his
Department has made of the need for the provision of increased mental health support to
(a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other NHS staff (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19
outbreak.
Helen Whately:
[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we
recognised there would be a need for additional mental health support for all National
Health Service staff. We commissioned NHS England to develop a comprehensive
emotional, psychological and practical support package for all NHS staff in addition to
existing support that is already available.
NHS England and NHS Improvement launched the support package on 8 April 2020
and it includes a helpline and text service for counselling and support, a dedicated
bereavement helpline, and a range of well-being apps. All the support available can
be accessed via the following link:
people.nhs.uk/help/
The NHS is continuing to update the support available in this package, in line with the
feedback they receive.
Mental Health Services: Finance
Dr Dan Poulter: [59733]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 16
June 2020 to Question 55941, on Mental Health Services: Finance, how many mental
health providers have been allocated funding from the £400 million capital investment
announced by the Government since July 2017.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
The Government has announced £400 million of national capital for mental health
schemes, on top of the day to day investments made by mental health trusts financed
from their own income sources.
56 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Central funding allocation is provided to the National Health Service organisations
undertaking the investments once the Full Business Case (FBC) has been approved
and the construction contract is finalised. The funding allocations in place for the 16
schemes which have received FBC approval are listed in the attached table.
Attachments:
1. Table [Copy of PQ59733 - MH Capital Allocations.xlsx]
Mental Illness: Coronavirus
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [55103]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to data on
deaths of people subject to the Mental Health Act 1983 from the Care Quality
Commission on 7 May 2020, what assessment he has of changes in the level of deaths
of people subject to that Act (a) where covid-19 was a factor in the death (b) overall since
1 March 2020.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
The Care Quality Commission has reported that there have been 152 deaths of
people subject to the Mental Health Act 1983 (from 1 March to 5 June 2020). Around
half of these cases (75 deaths) are suspected or confirmed to be related to COVID-
19, according to mental health providers. The proportion of deaths associated with
COVID-19 is consistent with that reported on 7 May 2020, which the CQC reported
mirrored a rise in notifications from other sectors.
The CQC is continuing to monitor the numbers of deaths of patients under the Mental
Health Act. It has also written to providers asking them to continue reporting the
deaths of patients under the Mental Health Act regardless of whether they are
transferred to an acute trust for treatment.
NHS Trusts: Training
Zarah Sultana: [59895]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role his Department has in
ensuring there is adequate mental health training for staff across all NHS trusts.
Helen Whately:
[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: NHS England and NHS Improvement are supporting
line managers, supervisors and teams to have psychologically informed
conversations. They are also offering peer support training as well as a range of
resources to help teams decompress and process their experiences. When National
Health Service staff require additional professional support, they will be offered
evidence-based treatment by trained and qualified mental health practitioners.
Additional psychological support has also been made available for all NHS staff
during and after COVID-19 response and can be accessed online at the following
link:
people.nhs.uk/help
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 57
NHS staff, frontline workers, and volunteers can now access a new psychological first
aid training course developed by Public Health England and launched on 15 June
2020. There has been significant interest in the course; 8,700 learners have enrolled
as of 17 June.
NHS: Drugs
John Spellar: [57086]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is his Department
taking to prevent the NHS being overcharged for off-patent drugs.
Jo Churchill:
The costs of branded medicines, whether they have patents on them or not, are
controlled by the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access
and the statutory scheme for branded medicines.
For unbranded generic medicines the Department relies on competition to keep
prices down. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to
react to the market. In an international market this ensures that when demand is high
and supply is low, prices in the United Kingdom can increase to help secure the
availability of medicines for UK patients. Concerns about potential drug pricing
abuses are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Where it has
concern about the price of a generic medicines, the Department asks the CMA to
investigate that price. The CMA has several ongoing investigations into excessive
prices of generic medicines.
Chi Onwurah: [57205]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what percentage of exemptions
and payment relief support through the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines
Pricing and Access was invested in innovative new medicines in the latest period for
which figures are available.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: The Department does not hold this information.
NHS: Recruitment
Jeremy Hunt: [60725]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many retired NHS (a)
doctors and (b) nurses returned to work during the covid-19 outbreak.
Helen Whately:
[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: Over 25,000 former doctors and nurses have come
forward to assist the National Health Service during the COVID-19 outbreak. We are
working with the regulators, NHS England and NHS Improvement and local
employers to explore opportunities for those professionals who wish to permanently
join the workforce.
58 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Paediatrics: Coronavirus
Thangam Debbonaire: [48501]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is
taking to ensure the maintenance of an adequate provision of paediatric bladder and
bowel services during the covid-19 outbreak for people that are (a) subject to protection
plans, (b) looked after and (c) that are subject to high levels of professional concern.
Jo Churchill:
Throughout the pandemic the National Health Service has encouraged children,
young people and their families to continue accessing services should they need it.
The NHS is working to ensure that services continue to be available for patients. This
includes access the paediatric bladder and bowel services.
Using the Child Protection Information System (CPIS), NHS England and NHS
Improvement can track children who have a protection plan or looked after status.
However, it should be noted that CPIS does not have a specific medical diagnosis for
bladder or bowel conditions.
Parkinson's Disease: Mental Health Services
Mary Glindon: [59450]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure
people with Parkinson's can access psychological therapies during the covid-19 outbreak.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
National Health Service mental health services have remained open for business
throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, including delivering support digitally and over the
phone where possible. In doing so, the NHS has been clear on the importance of
maintaining face to face care for those patients who need it, and of patient choice in
determining suitability for digital appointments.
When delivering face to face appointments, mental health services are expected to
follow the latest guidance on the use of personal protective equipment in healthcare
settings to support infection prevention and control. Services will be further enabled
by the roll out of the NHS Test and Trace service to reduce transmission risk and
deliver face to face services in as safe a way as possible.
Mary Glindon: [59451]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to
ensure that mental health service providers are able to meet the demand for
psychological services from people with Parkinson's who have not been able to access
those services during the covid-19 outbreak.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
The National Health Service has issued guidance to services to support them in
managing demand and capacity across inpatient and community mental health
services and keeping services open for business.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 59
There is broad consensus that there is the potential for an increase in demand and
we are working with the NHS, Public Health England and other key partners to gather
evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts and plan for
how to support mental health and wellbeing throughout the ‘recovery’ phase.
Mary Glindon: [59452]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to
ensure that people with Parkinson's who do not have access to a digital device and have
symptoms of dysarthria are able to access psychological therapies during the covid-19
outbreak.
Ms Nadine Dorries:
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Health Service has been clear on
the importance of maintaining face to face care for those patients who need it, and of
patient choice in determining suitability for digital appointments.
When delivering face to face appointments, mental health services are expected to
follow the latest guidance on the use of personal protective equipment in healthcare
settings to support infection prevention and control. Services will be further enabled
by the roll out of the NHS Test and Trace service to reduce transmission risk and
deliver face to face services in as safe a way as possible.
Mary Glindon: [59453]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to
support (a) carers and (b) family members of people with Parkinson's experiencing
distressing hallucinations during the covid-19 outbreak.
Helen Whately:
As set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline
‘Parkinson’s disease in adults’, published in July 2017, symptoms such as
hallucinations are an increased risk for people taking some Parkinson’s disease
medications. The guidance sets out that people with Parkinson’s disease should have
a comprehensive care plan agreed between themselves, their family members and
carers and specialist and secondary healthcare providers. Family members and
carers (as appropriate) should be provided with information about the condition, their
entitlement to a Carer’s Assessment and the support services available. Patients
should be regularly reviewed and offered an accessible point of contact with
specialist services. The guidance can be found at the following link:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71/resources/parkinsons-disease-in-adults-pdf-
1837629189061
As a result of COVID-19, digital and remote general practitioner consultations and
outpatient appointments as means to support patients, where clinically appropriate,
have become the norm across England. Providers have been rolling out remote
consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority,
including for those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
60 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Where digital and remote consultations are not possible, clinicians should carry out
face to face consultations where necessary.
Mary Glindon: [59454]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to
(a) carers and (b) family members of people with (i) Parkinson's dementia and (ii)
dementia with Lewy bodies who are experiencing greater levels of agitation in response
to living in lockdown during the covid-19 outbreak.
Helen Whately:
We recognise the crucial role that unpaid carers play in supporting people with
conditions like dementia, especially during the pandemic.
On 8 April we published COVID-19 guidance for unpaid carers on GOV.UK to support
carers during the pandemic, which includes general advice on infection control and
caring where someone has symptoms. The guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-
care
We have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research
on the best ways to mitigate the psychological and social impact of COVID-19 on
people with dementia living in the community and their family carers. Work has
already started with phased outputs to August 2020.
Pharmacy: Coronavirus
Mr Richard Holden: [56200]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to stop
wholesalers artificially inflating prices to pharmacies during the covid-19 outbreak.
Jo Churchill:
The costs of branded medicines are controlled by the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for
Branded Medicines Pricing and Access and the statutory scheme for branded
medicines.
For unbranded generic medicines the Department relies on competition to keep
prices down. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to
react to the market. In an international market this ensures that when demand is high
and supply is low, prices in the United Kingdom can increase to help secure the
availability of medicines for UK patients.
Companies should not capitalise on the current COVID-19 situation by charging
unjustifiably high prices for drugs and other supplies. Concerns about pricing abuse
are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 61
Vaccination: Coronavirus
Tim Farron: [48379]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of
the number of civil servants working on the (a) development and (b) distribution of a
covid-19 vaccine.
Jo Churchill:
[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: The Department has not made an estimate of the
number of civil servants working on development and distribution of a COVID-19
vaccine because it is a cross-Government effort, covering all aspects of vaccine
development and delivery, and includes people from a wide range of departments
and organisations, led by the new Vaccines Taskforce.
This includes, but is not limited to, civil servants in the Department for Business,
Energy, and Industrial Strategy, the Department of Health and Social Care, the
Department for International Development, Her Majesty’s Treasury and Cabinet
Office. This is in addition to people in the Medical Research Council looking at early
stage Research and Development, the National Institute for Health Research
supporting clinical trials, the Office for Life Sciences on working with industry, and
those in Public Health England working on areas such as vaccine procurement,
contracting, and training.
HOME OFFICE
Arrests: Domestic Abuse
Sir Edward Davey: [59674]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests there have
been as a result of domestic violence in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2020.
Sir Edward Davey: [59675]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in each
police force worked solely on domestic violence in each of the last five years.
Kit Malthouse:
This information is publicly available on www.gov.uk
Children: Domestic Abuse
Daniel Kawczynski: [59718]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is
taking to tackle child to parent abuse.
Victoria Atkins:
The Government is committed to tackling all forms of domestic abuse. On 3 March
2020 we reintroduced the landmark draft Domestic Abuse Bill alongside a wide-
ranging package of measures to protect and support victims. The Bill has recently
62 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
passed Committee stage. Our statutory definition of domestic abuse recognises that
abuse can also involve wider family members, including parental abuse by an
adolescent or grown child or between older siblings.
In 2015 the Government published an information guide on adolescent to parent
violence and abuse, which provides materials and advice to support professionals in
the police, the health system, the justice system, the education system, youth
services.
The Government has also committed to draw together best practice and develop
training and resources to improve the response to victims of adolescent to parent
violence; this work is ongoing.
Coronavirus: Disease Control
Mary Kelly Foy: [58793]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made
of the ability of different police forces to implement regional covid-19 lockdowns
consistently.
Kit Malthouse:
The Home Secretary holds regular meetings with policing partners about a range of
issues linked to the response to Covid-19 and the ability of the police to respond
effectively.
In addition, we are working with other government departments and the Joint
Biosecurity Centre (JBC) to develop the framework for the local management of
further outbreaks.
As this work continues, we will maintain our close working relationship with the police
to fully understand the impact on local forces.
Crime: Gambling
Mr Richard Holden: [59908]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests for acquisitive
crimes there have been where the arrested person cited debts from gambling as the
reason for that crime in each of the last five years.
Mr Richard Holden: [R] [59909]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the value was of (a) cash
and (b) goods stolen from acquisitive crime where the arrested person cited debts from (i)
gambling and (ii) gambling addiction as the reason for their criminal activity in each of the
last five years.
Kit Malthouse:
The Home Office does not hold the information requested centrally.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 63
EU Nationals: Northern Ireland
Claire Hanna: [61835]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the
Government has made of the compatibility of the changes to the Immigration Rules for
Northern Ireland announced on 14 May 2020 with Government commitments under the
New Decade New Approach deal to bring domestic UK immigration rules in line with the
Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of
bringing forward the date of the EU settlement scheme applications for Northern Ireland
from 24 August 2020.
Kevin Foster:
The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules laid before Parliament on 14 May
will amend the EU Settlement Scheme so family members of the people of Northern
Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family
members of Irish citizens. This delivers the commitment made in the New Decade,
New Approach agreement which restored the Northern Ireland Executive in January
2020.
Those living in Northern Ireland and currently eligible for leave under the EU
Settlement Scheme have been able to make an application since the scheme opened
fully in March 2019. In order for relevant operational preparations to be made for the
changes announced on 14 May, applications from relevant family members of the
people of Northern Ireland can be made from 24 August.
Home Office: Written Questions
Hywel Williams: [13432]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to
Questions 7123 and 7124 on Immigration: EU Nationals, tabled on 23 January 2020 by
the hon. Member for Arfon.
Kevin Foster:
The responses for UIN 7123 and 7124 were given on 24th June 2020.
Immigration: EEA Nationals
Jamie Stone: [3285]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EEA (a) nationals and
(b) family members have permanent residence in the UK.
Jamie Stone: [3286]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion
of EEA nationals that applied for permanent residence (a) applied for and (b) were
granted settled status.
64 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Jamie Stone: [3287]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EEA nationals that
applied for permanent residence (a) applied for and (b) were granted British Citizenship.
Jamie Stone: [3288]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is
taking to ensure that EEA nationals with permanent residence apply for (a) settled status
or (b) British citizenship before 30 June 2021.
Kevin Foster:
The latest published information on decisions on applications for permanent
residence documents by EEA nationals and their family members can be found in the
Home Office’s quarterly ‘Immigration Statistics’ publication, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-
2020.
Specifically, table ee_02_q ‘Issue and refusal of residence documentation (excluding
EU Settlement Scheme) to EEA nationals and their family members, by country of
nationality’ available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-
march-2020/list-of-tables#european-economic-area-eea.
The latest published information on EU Settlement Scheme applications received and
decided can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme monthly statistics’
available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-may-2020.
The total number of EUSS applications received up to 31 May 2020 was more than
3.6 million (3,612,400).
The latest published information on applications and decisions in respect of British
citizenship can be found in the Home Office’s quarterly ‘Immigration Statistics’
publication, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-
2020
Specifically, datasets Cit_D01 – Applications for British citizenship, by application
type and nationality and Cit_D02 – Grants of British citizenship, by application type,
nationality, sex and age available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-
march-2020/list-of-tables#citizenship.
In order to ensure resident EEA nationals and their family members understand how
and by when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home Office has put in
place a comprehensive communications and engagement plan, using all available
channels to reach our audiences – such as marketing, presentations, email updates,
toolkits and webinars.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 65
The Home Office delivered a £4 million marketing campaign last year to encourage
resident EEA nationals to apply and further campaign activity was undertaken earlier
this year. Alongside this, we have also undertaken extensive engagement and
outreach with stakeholder groups, including employers, local authorities and
community organisations. No-one will be left behind, which is why we are working in
partnership with representatives of vulnerable groups and other experts to make sure
everyone knows what they need to do and has the right level of support.
Immigration: EU Nationals
Neale Hanvey: [23399]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the funding allocated to
charitable organisations to support vulnerable EU citizens to apply for EU Settled Status
will be continued beyond March 2020.
Kevin Foster:
The current grant funded organisations have had their funding extended until
September 2020. In March, the Home Office announced a further £8 million would be
made available to ensure funding for support organisations could continue through to
March 2021. A new grant scheme has been launched and the bidding process
started in May 2020.
Neale Hanvey: [23400]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps will be taken by UK
Border Force to ascertain whether EU citizens entering the UK have settled status after
the transition period.
Kevin Foster:
After the Transition Period EU citizens will not be routinely asked to prove they have
been granted status under the EU Settlement scheme in order to re-enter the UK, but
systems will be in place to allow border officials to make such checks where
necessary.
Once the new points-based immigration system is fully introduced, Border Force will
be able to identify those individuals granted status digitally without the need for the
individual to provide evidence.
Hywel Williams: [7123]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is
taking to increase the proportion of EU27 citizens in Wales who apply for settled status.
Hywel Williams: [7124]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will increase
the number of scanning centres in Wales to improve access for EU27 citizens applying
for settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme.
66 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Kevin Foster:
The latest published information shows more than 3.6 million EU Settlement Scheme
applications had been received up to 31 May 2020. Of these, 59,400 applications had
been received in Wales. The latest figures can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics.
In order to ensure resident EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members,
understand how and by when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home
Office has put in place a comprehensive communications and engagement plan,
using all available channels to reach our audiences – such as marketing,
presentations, email updates, toolkits and webinars.
The Home Office has delivered a £4 million marketing campaign to encourage
resident EEA and Swiss nationals to apply. During the first burst of campaign activity
billboards were placed in 186 locations in Wales with 50% of these posters in Welsh
and 50% in English.
No-one will be left behind, which is why we are working in partnership with
representatives of vulnerable groups and other expert organisations to make sure the
right level of support is available. This includes £9 million of funding awarded last
year to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK to assist
vulnerable and at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members. Five
organisations are providing support for EEA and Swiss citizens in Wales: Newport
Mind Association, Tros Gynnal Plant, International Organisation for Migration, Royal
Association for Deaf People, and Rights of Women.
There are multiple ways applicants can have their identity documents checked as
part of the application process, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check
smartphone app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office.
The identity document scanner locations are currently closed due to the COVID
pandemic, following the latest public health guidance to protect staff. However, the
Home Office and its delivery partners are keeping this situation under constant review
and will endeavour to reinstate identity document scanner locations to their original
capacity in line with public health guidance.
Marriage: Licences
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59802]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to
reopen registry offices as part of the lifting of covid-19 lockdown restrictions to enable
couples to obtain a licence to marry.
Kevin Foster:
The local registration service in England and Wales has been advised notices of
intention to marry or form a civil partnership can be taken where these can be safely
delivered in line with public health and local authority guidelines.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 67
Marriage: Registration
Andrew Gwynne: [60710]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has
to reopen registry offices to enable registration of an intention to marry.
Chris Philp:
The local registration service in England has been advised that they can open to take
notices of intention to marry where these can be safely delivered in line with public
health and local authority guidelines. Restrictions in Wales have not yet been lifted.
Migrant Workers: Visas
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59804]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to
reverse her Department's plans to not issue visas to low-skilled migrants in response to
the covid-19 pandemic.
Kevin Foster:
We will not be introducing a route for employers to recruit at or near the legal
minimum wage those the member believes are “low-skilled migrants” based on job
offers which do not meet the requirements of the new skilled worker route.
Immigration policies should be considered as part of, not as an alternative to, efforts
to get those UK based workers who have lost their employment due to the impacts of
Covid-19 back into work or ensuring those who work in key roles are offered
appropriate salary packages.
Opiates: Crime
John Spellar: [59687]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department
has made of the level of illegal use of (a) fentanyl and (b) other opioids in the UK.
Kit Malthouse:
59687: Information relating to the number of illicit opiate users in England is provided
in these data tables, published by Public Health
England: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opiate-and-crack-cocaine-use-
prevalence-estimates-for-local-populations. Equivalent data for the other countries of
the UK is not available.
No estimate has been made by the Home Office of illegal use of fentanyl in the UK.
Passports
Kate Osborne: [61810]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security safeguards have
been put in place since UK passport production was moved from De La Rue in the UK to
Gemalto in France in 2016.
68 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Kevin Foster:
There are a range of safeguards in place to protect the security of the passport
service throughout the change of supplier. This has included assuring the sites used
by Thales (formerly Gemalto) to produce the UK passport against the UK Security
Policy Framework. In addition, they have been independently certified to the
international standard for the Management of Security Printing Processes, ISO 14298
and the international standard for Information Security Management, ISO27001.
All passports continue to be personalised with the passport holder’s personal details
such as name and photograph, in the United Kingdom. This ensures no personal
data leaves the UK.
The outgoing supplier has maintained the required standards of security throughout
the transition, with agreed plans in place for the secure decommissioning and
destruction of the assets from this service.
Police: Dismissal and Disciplinary Proceedings
Sir Edward Davey: [59676]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have
been (a) dismissed and (b) disciplined for using excessive force in (i) each of the last five
years and (ii) 2020, by police force.
Kit Malthouse:
This information is publicly available on www.gov.uk
Sexual Offences
Karen Bradley: [R] [58699]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made
of the potential merits of imposing restrictions on the online activity of convicted sex
offenders.
Victoria Atkins:
The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and
we are committed to ensuring that the system is as robust as it can be. The
Government believes that the current legislation provides a sufficiently robust
framework to allow the police to monitor sex offenders and minimise the likelihood of
reoffending. We keep this legislation under constant review to ensure that law
enforcement continues to have the tools it needs to tackle the evolving threat of
online exploitation.
Under current legislation, sex offenders can have a range of restrictions placed on
them depending on what the court deems necessary to protect the public. This can
include; a condition that the individual cannot use any computer unless specialist
computer monitoring software is installed on it; prohibiting the offender from using
any device capable of accessing the internet unless it has the capacity to retain and
display the history of internet use; the offender makes the device available on request
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 69
for inspection by a police officer; and prohibiting the offender from deleting their
internet history.
Visas: Coronavirus
Patrick Grady: [59814]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made
of the potential merits of extending all visa categories to compensate for the time lost
during the covid-19 lockdown.
Kevin Foster:
This government has taken the unprecedented measure of extending visas until 31
July in order to support people unable to leave the UK, due to circumstances outside
of their control.
The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by
the covid-19 outbreak, full details of which are published on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-
temporary-uk-residents.
We continue to monitor the situation closely and take exceptional circumstances into
account.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Parliament: Coronavirus
Sir Edward Davey: [61413]
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of
Commons Commission, how many Parliamentary staff have tested positive for covid-19;
what support is available to those staff members; and if he will make a statement.
Pete Wishart:
Testing is available to all staff of the House where they or a member of their
household are symptomatic. Testing is arranged directly by the individual, who then
receives the results directly. The records held by the House will only indicate whether
the member of staff is available for work or not. The full range of HR and wellbeing
support remains available for staff at all times.
Parliamentary Estate: Coronavirus
Sir Edward Davey: [61412]
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of
Commons Commission, how many hand sanitising stations there were on the
Parliamentary Estate in each of the last five years.
Pete Wishart:
Prior to March 2020 hand sanitiser was not centrally supplied or offered as standard.
Individual departments (eg Security) sometimes had their own supply according to
70 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
their requirements. In total there are 49 freestanding units and 28 wall-mounted
dispensers across the House of Commons estate.
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Business Improvement Districts: Coronavirus
Sir Greg Knight: [61672]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
guidance his Department has issued to local authorities acting as billing authorities in
Business Improvement Districts that wish to (a) suspend, (b) alter and (c) reduce that levy
during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Greg Knight: [61673]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with
reference to the Local Government Act 2003, if he will take steps to enable local
authorities to (a) waive, (b) cancel and (c) discount levies in relation to Business
Improvement Districts.
Mr Simon Clarke:
[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have a
significant role to play in high street regeneration and will be even more important in
the recovery from the current crisis.
That is why Government has introduced up to £6.1 million in funding. The funding is
intended to cover the equivalent of three months’ of core operational costs and is
based on a fair percentage of a BID's levy income from each BID’s operating year
ending in 2019/20.
My department undertook a light-touch information gathering exercise to collect
information needed from local authorities to prepare and process the section 31
grants. Following this information gathering exercise, the first batch of grant
payments to 70 local authorities were paid out early in the week commencing 2 June.
Other batches will follow shortly.
All local authorities who have submitted information to us by the initial deadline of 15
May should receive funding this month. We will provide funding to others as soon as
possible.
We have encouraged local authorities to be pragmatic in the collection of BID levies
while acknowledging that they have a statutory obligation to issue the BID levy
invoices. The BIDs support funding will enable authorities to take a more flexible
approach to the collection of BID levies at this difficult time for many businesses.
This funding is in addition to passing legislation which enables BIDs to extend the
maximum duration of their BID arrangements until 31 March 2021. This allows
businesses to focus on recovery from economic shock before deciding whether to
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 71
participate in BID arrangements for the following 5-year period, and allows BIDs to
coordinate their places’ recovery
We will continue to work closely with the sector to look at how further we can support
BIDs, and the businesses that contribute to them, during this time.
Domestic Abuse: Hotels
Zarah Sultana: [61811]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether
his Department will allocate funding to the provision of empty hotel rooms to house
people fleeing domestic abuse during the covid-19 outbreak.
Luke Hall:
On 5 June my Department announced the allocation of £8.15 million funding to 147
refuge charities through 103 successful bids as part of the £10 million MHCLG
Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund. This funding will re-open bedspaces
which are currently closed due to COVID-19, as well as creating 1210 more
bedspaces to support more victims of domestic abuse. The remaining £1.85 million of
the Fund has been reopened for applications. This will enable refuge charities to
continue to respond during the crisis.
My Department have also put in place a system to enable local authorities who need
additional accommodation to meet demand during the pandemic to book rooms for
domestic abuse victims through Crown Commercial Services.
An additional £3.2 billion has been provided to support councils in responding to the
coronavirus pandemic, including supporting vulnerable people.
Private Rented Housing
Darren Henry: [61832]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
guidance his Department has provided for the (a) letting and (b) management of houses
in multiple occupation in the private rented sector.
Christopher Pincher:
The Government has produced a raft of guidance on the letting and management of
houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
• Our guidance for landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities sets out
what makes a property an HMO, which HMOs require licences, how to apply for a
licence and the legal obligations landlords and agents have. This can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/landlord-and-tenant-rights-and-
responsibilities-in-the-private-rented-sector.
• Further guidance for landlords and managing agents on how to apply for an HMO
licence can be found at https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence.
72 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
• Landlords can also consult our specific guidance for tenants on HMOs, which can
be found at https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/houses-in-multiple-occupation.
• Landlords may also be interested in our guidance on HMO licence reform for local
authorities, which can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/houses-in-multiple-occupation-and-
residential-property-licensing-reform-guidance-for-local-housing-authorities.
• We’ve also produced guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the
private and social rented sectors in the context of COVID-19. This guidance covers
shared homes including HMOs and can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-
landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.
Reopening High Streets Safely Fund
Steve Reed: [61715]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant
to the Answer of 18 June 2020 to Question 59479, on Reopening High Streets Safely
Fund, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility of the criteria of
the Re-opening High Streets Safely Fund with the Equality Act 2010.
Mr Simon Clarke:
[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: The public sector equality duty is complied with at
programme level for the European Regional Development Fund in England. This
compliance applies to all projects funded by the programme, including the Reopening
High Streets Safely Fund (RHSSF). Local authorities will be subject to that duty in
delivering this additional targeted funding. The RHSSF is targeted at specific ERDF
programme priorities, and is not designed to fund all of the activities covered by the
Safer Public Places guidance published on 13 May.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Department for International Development: Renewable Energy
Sir Edward Davey: [60656]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) solar panels
and (b) wind turbines her Department's buildings (a) have in 2020 and (b) had in each of
the last five years.
Nigel Adams:
DFID has two Headquarter buildings in the UK: one at 22 Whitehall and the other at
Abercrombie House, East Kilbride.
Neither of the headquarter buildings have (a) solar panels nor (b) wind turbines.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 73
Department for International Development: Reorganisation
Preet Kaur Gill: [61564]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with which civil society and
development partners she held discussions on the potential merger of her Department
with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before the decision to merge the
Departments was made.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
The Prime Minister has decided to merge the Department for International
Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to form a new international
department – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Government
will continue to engage closely with interested stakeholders, including UK and
international NGOs, in the weeks and months to come as we work to create the new
department, which will unite our development expertise and first class diplomatic
service to make the UK a greater force for good in the world.
Preet Kaur Gill: [61755]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her
Department has made of the cost to the public purse of a potential loss in productivity as
a result of combining her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
The Government will implement the creation of the new Foreign Commonwealth and
Development Office in the most cost-effective way possible. This is primarily about
bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK’s influence and
positive impact around the world. By aligning our efforts, we will maximise our
influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the
challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world’s efforts to
recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities
ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.
Independent Commission for Aid Impact
Preet Kaur Gill: [61559]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Government's
plans are for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact after the merger of her
Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be accountable to
parliament for how it spends UK aid. We remain committed to full transparency in our
aid spending and there will continue to be parliamentary and independent scrutiny of
the aid budget – the form this takes following the merger will be set out in due course.
74 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Israel: Palestinians
Dr Matthew Offord: [60746]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of
11 June 2020 to Question 54900 on Israel: Palestinians, which other suppliers submitted
proposals for that project at the design phase.
James Cleverly:
No other suppliers submitted proposals for our people to people programme. DFID
has a range of procurement options available when developing programmes. One of
these is to award an Accountable Grant to a not-for-profit organisation, which is a
non-competitive process. While many organisations are clearly performing excellent
work in different fields of people to people work, Search for Common Ground (SFCG)
approached DFID and proposed a comprehensive programme based on international
best-practice. Based on our research, we judged that the SFCG proposal was the
best fit for the outcomes that we wished to pursue, and therefore awarded SFCG an
accountable grant to take the project forward.
Having SFCG as the sole implementer also offered a cost-effective approach to
managing the unique risks associated with the delivery of the people to people
programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. SFCG delivered some activities
directly and worked through partners in areas requiring specialist expertise.
Nigeria: Agriculture
Andrew Rosindell: [60704]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will identify NGOs that
are running effective reconciliation programmes between farmers and herders in Nigeria
and allocate funding to them to support the capacity building of their programmes.
James Duddridge:
We are deeply concerned by the inter-communal violence in Nigeria and the
devastating impact that this has had on affected communities, including heavy loss of
life. We continue to call for a solution that meets the needs of all the communities
affected. DFID is designing a programme to address natural resource conflicts
between farmers and herders, which may include support to non-governmental
organisations. We value the important role NGOs play in supporting affected
communities in Nigeria, and we will continue to work alongside them where possible.
Staff from the British High Commission in Abuja are actively engaged on the ground.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, along with staff, visited Plateau State in
December 2019 to further discuss the situation with the Governor, as well as
Christian and Muslim faith leaders. They also met NGOs working on reconciliation to
discuss the situation and the efforts they are taking to address it.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 75
Occupied Territories: Overseas Aid
Andrew Percy: [60732]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has
made of the implications for her policies of recent reports by NGO Monitor that UK aid
dispensed by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to support
coronavirus relief efforts in the West Bank and Gaza has been sent to organisations with
links to terrorism.
Andrew Percy: [60733]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has
had with her international counterparts on reports by NGO Monitor that funds from the
Covid-19 emergency response plan for the West Bank and Gaza have been allocated to
NGOs with ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Andrew Percy: [60734]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has
made of the implications for value for money of reports by NGO Monitor that UK aid
distributed by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to support
covid-19 relief efforts in the West Bank and Gaza has been allocated to organisations
involved in political activism for the purpose of funding politically motivated letters and
press releases.
Andrew Percy: [60735]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has
made of the implications for the efficacy of UK aid of reports by NGO Monitor that the UN
Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs has distributed funds for Covid-19
relief efforts to organisations that employ members of the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine.
James Cleverly:
The UK maintains robust measures to ensure that UK aid is not diverted. DFID’s
funding agreements also commit partners to understand and comply with UK and
international counter terrorism legislation.
No UK funds have been provided to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of
Humanitarian Affairs for COVID-19 relief efforts in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs). The UK has provided £840,000 to WHO and UNICEF to help
respond to COVID-19 in the OPTs. This funding did not go to any other partners and
was used to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of medical equipment, treat critical
care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing
capacity.
76 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Yemen: Coronavirus
Mr Gregory Campbell: [61674]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make
representations to the World Health Organisation on publishing a detailed analysis of the
covid 19 outbreak in Yemen.
James Cleverly:
The World Health Organisation already works with the UN Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs to produce regular analysis on the COVID-19 outbreak in
Yemen. Their most recent update can be found online here:
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-covid-19-preparedness-and-response-
snapshot-13-june-2020-enar.
Additionally, my officials remain in close and regular contact with the World Health
Organisation in Yemen to discuss the latest COVID-19 developments and ways of
improving the humanitarian response.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Agriculture: Exports
Simon Baynes: [59903]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to promote
UK agriculture exports.
Graham Stuart:
Our food and drink sector is vital to our economy. In 2019, exports increased by
nearly 5% to £23.7bn.
We want to see this success continue and on 22 June we launched, with the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a ‘Bounce Back’ package which
includes facilitated UKEF access for SMEs and export masterclasses and webinars.
This package of focused activity will further boost our trade efforts for the agricultural
sector and prepare for the new opportunities presented by our future Free Trade
Agreements.
Trade Agreements: Coronavirus
Dr Luke Evans: [60874]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of
the effectiveness of using digital platforms to progress trade negotiations during the
covid-19 pandemic.
Greg Hands:
This Government aims to agree Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries
accounting for 80% of current UK trade within the next three years.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 77
We have used digital platforms to launch our negotiation programme with the priority
countries of the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. These negotiations are now
proceeding at pace on a remote basis mirroring the long-established structures for
engagement on trade.
Trade Agreements: Food
Darren Henry: [61826]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure
that UK food standards will not be lowered as part of future trade deals.
Mr Ranil Jayawardena:
HM Government has made it clear that any future trade deals must work for British
consumers, farmers and companies. We are proud of our high standards in food
safety and these will not be weakened. High standards and high quality are what our
domestic and global customers demand, and that is what we will provide.
It is vital that we explore new trading opportunities, but these should not mean a
dilution of the standards for which British food is world-renowned. The EU Withdrawal
Act transfers all existing EU food safety provisions on to the statute book and we
remain firmly committed to upholding our high food safety standards.
Uk Export Finance: Arms Trade
Zarah Sultana: [61812]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what processes her Department
has put in place to monitor UK Export Finance's distribution of the £1 billion fund
allocated to support overseas buyers of UK defence and security goods and services.
Graham Stuart:
In the March 2020 budget, UK Export Finance (UKEF) was allocated £1 billion of
direct lending capacity for defence and security projects, within its £8 billion overall
direct lending capacity. This £1 billion of direct lending is subject to the same
monitoring processes as UKEF’s overall direct lending facility.
JUSTICE
Administration of Justice: Ethnic Groups
Mike Amesbury: [60860]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to review racial
inequalities in access to justice.
Alex Chalk:
Access to justice is a fundamental right and one which this government is committed
to protecting. We want people to have confidence in a justice system that is fair, open
and accessible– one where no person faces discrimination and access to justice is
available for all.
78 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
We undertake equalities assessments of the direct and indirect impact on racial
inequality of policy changes we bring forward relating to access to justice, in line with
our duties under the Equality Act 2010. In addition, we engage with stakeholders who
represent particular communities to ensure our policy development remains alive to
issues raised.
In response to the Lammy Review we have already committed to embedding a
programme of work to address racial disparity within the Criminal Justice System,
and we remain committed to addresses inequalities across the justice system,
including in relation to access to justice.
Community Orders
Peter Kyle: [61746]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many breaches of community orders
imposed by (a) youth, (b) family, and (c) all courts have (i) been processed and (i) are
outstanding since 23 March 2020.
Chris Philp:
We cannot provide information from the beginning of 2020, as that information forms
a subset of the Criminal Justice Statistics data that is part of Ministry of Justice’s
(MoJ) National Statistics output, which will be published later in 2020 (quarter 1 2020
is due for publication in August 2020) in line with the Code of Practice for statistics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused MoJ to change its data gathering, access and
release practices, focusing efforts on priority analysis and statistics. Their statement
explains this further.
Gambling: Crime
Mr Richard Holden: [R] [59910]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are in custody for acquisitive
crimes associated with gambling addiction.
Mr Richard Holden: [R] [59911]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are in custody on (a) remand
and (b) as a result of a conviction for acquisitive crimes associated with gambling
addiction.
Alex Chalk:
In answering these questions we have interpreted people who are in custody for
acquisitive crimes associated with gambling addiction as people who are in custody
for these crimes because of their gambling addiction.
It has not been possible to estimate the numbers of people who are in custody for
acquisitive crimes because of their gambling addiction, and the numbers of people
who are remanded in custody post-conviction for these crimes, because this specific
data could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost to the department.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 79
Justice and Security Act 2013
Mr Andrew Mitchell: [60691]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has appointed a reviewer to
undertake the review of the operation of sections 6 to 11 of the Justice and Security Act
2013, as required by section 13 of that Act.
Mr Andrew Mitchell: [60692]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to announce the review of the
operation of sections 6 to 11 of the Justice and Security Act 2013, as required by section
13 of that Act to be begun as soon as reasonably practicable five years after section 6 of
that Act came into force in 2013.
Mr Andrew Mitchell: [60693]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he will accord the review of sections 6
to 11 of the Justice and Security Act 2013 the status of a full public consultation.
Alex Chalk:
I can advise that discussions are still ongoing and an announcement will be made in
due course.
Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus
Ms Lyn Brown: [61688]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June to Question
54062, how much funding is being made available to support the Government’s provision
of accommodation for individuals released from prison who are at risk of homelessness.
Lucy Frazer:
The Ministry of Justice has secured up to £8.5 million to support individuals at risk of
homelessness on their release from prison for up to eight weeks and help to move on
into permanent accommodation. This scheme was originally due to run until 26th
June. We have recently undertaken a first review and, following this, have extended
the scheme until 31 July.
This project will help ensure vulnerable ex-offenders at risk of homelessness will get
the vital support they need to stay safe during the Covid-19 period and find suitable
accommodation and continue their rehabilitation during the pandemic. This will help
improve outcomes for ex-offenders and increase the chances of seeing fewer victims
of crime in the future.
Prisoners: GCE A-level and GCSE
Ms Lyn Brown: [61690]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to to provide (a)
examinations and (b) assessments in the next three months for registered prison learners
studying at (i) GCSE and (ii) A level (A) in prison education departments and (B) via
distance learning.
80 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Lucy Frazer:
In accordance with advice from Public Health England (PHE) and in order to keep all
staff and prisoners safe, temporary measures have been introduced during the
pandemic to restrict prison regimes and cease all non-essential activities involving
groups of people. This includes education. We have, however, been working hard to
maintain education service delivery across the prison estate. Dynamic Purchasing
System (DPS) and Prison Education Framework (PEF) providers have worked to
provide in cell activity, distraction material and learning packs for as many prisoners
as possible. We will work with providers to resume education in accordance with
advice from PHE over the coming months.
We have also been working with the Open University (OU) to enable the continuation
of distance learning in prisons. Processes are in place to ensure that prisoners obtain
learning materials and that assignments are returned to the OU for assessment.
With regard to the youth secure estate the Youth Custody Service (YCS) is
continuously assessing the situation, and is keen to expand the regime as soon as it
is safe and sustainable to do so. Whilst this will not be immediate, the YCS are
looking to restarting particular aspects of regime over the coming weeks and months,
including increased education, in a safe and managed approach whilst noting the
latest available guidance.
The recently published recovery framework for prisons outlines how services
(including education) will start to recover from the restrictions imposed in response to
COVID-19 in prisons, and how these restrictions can be cautiously rolled back over
the coming weeks and months. The Framework was published on GOV.UK and can
be accessed via the following link;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-national-framework-for-prison-
regimes-and-services
Prisons: Coronavirus
Kenny MacAskill: [59254]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison staff
(a) in administrative grades or (b) employed as instructional officers are currently (i)
working remotely, (ii) shielding, or (iii) attending prison establishments, by grade; and if
he will make a statement.
Lucy Frazer:
The vast majority of operational staff in prisons continue to attend the workplace – for
these staff we are providing Personal Protective Equipment where appropriate.
We are unable to provide data on the total number of prison staff working remotely as
this data is collected by exception. However, we are able to provide the number of
staff who are working from home and are unable fulfil all of their usual duties outside
of their usual place of work for Covid-19 related reasons. We are also able to provide
what data we do have as a proportion of our overall headcount of staff.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 81
Of those, and as of 12 June, the number and proportion of public sector prison staff in
administrative grades and employed as instructional officers working remotely or not
working are as below:
WORKING FROM HOME NOT WORKING
(a) in administrative grades 19 0% 336 7%
(b) instructional officers
(excludes vocational
instructors)
~ 0% 98 8%
We do not hold information centrally on the number and proportion of prison staff who
are shielding.
Data Sources & Quality
Source: HMPPS COVID-19 absences data collection
The symbol ~ denotes suppressed values of 3 or fewer (and totals that would allow
values of 3 or fewer to be calculated) to avoid the risk of identifying individuals.
Excludes staff who have been reported absent from work but it is not clear if the staff
member continues to work remotely or not.
These figures have been drawn from the HMPPS COVID-19 data collection. Care is
taken when processing and analysing returns but the detail is subject to the
inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Although shown to the last
case, the figures may not be accurate to that level. This data has been self-reported
and has not yet been checked against our central databases
NORTHERN IRELAND
[Subject Heading to be Assigned]
Kerry McCarthy: [903620]
When he plans to issue guidance to businesses on the steps they will need to take under
the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Rachael Maskell: [903625]
When he plans to issue guidance to businesses on the steps they will need to take under
the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Brandon Lewis:
The Government is committed to having regular detailed discussions with business
about how the Protocol is implemented and to support preparation for the end of the
transition period.
82 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Our Command Paper sets out clearly the approach we will take. We will publish
guidance for business this summer, and proactively communicate how processes will
change.
Jim Shannon: [903639]
What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on support for
implementing the payment scheme for victims of the Troubles.
Brandon Lewis:
I have written to - and had meetings with - the First and deputy First Minister on this
issue and will continue to engage with the Executive as a matter of urgency to try and
unblock progress.
My officials have been offering support to assist the Executive Office in making
progress on implementation.
Victims have waited too long already and we will continue to prioritise supporting the
Executive’s delivery of this scheme. The current framework provides a fair, balanced
and proportionate basis for helping those who suffered most throughout the Troubles.
It is therefore imperative that Sinn Féin enable the scheme to move forward by
agreeing with all the other parties and designating a department.
TRANSPORT
Air Traffic: Electric Vehicles
Sir Edward Davey: [59673]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to
support electric short-haul flights in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Kelly Tolhurst:
The Government supports the development of new aviation technology such as
electric aircraft. We are providing £125m of funding to the Future Flight Challenge
and supported the Civil Aviation Authority establish an Innovation Hub to engage with
innovative aviation companies. Government will consult on Aviation and Climate
Change later this year.
Cars
Andy Slaughter: [59712]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether a
scrappage scheme that allowed older cars to be swapped for new diesel and petrol cars
would be compatible with the Government’s commitment to phase out sales of those
vehicles by 2035.
Rachel Maclean:
The Government has no current plans to introduce a scrappage scheme. We are
investing around £2.5bn, with grants available for ultra-low emission vehicles, as
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 83
well as funding to support charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces, on
residential streets and across the wider roads network. We are consulting on bringing
forward the end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2035,
or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, as well as including hybrids for the
first time. By talking to stakeholders about the best way to achieve that ambition, we
will more easily be able to identify what measures would be needed to support the
transition.
Cycling and Walking: Sheffield
Louise Haigh: [61735]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has
allocated to Sheffield City Council in relation to active travel.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
On the 29th May, indicative allocations to local authorities from the Emergency Active
Travel Fund were published on gov.uk. Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has
been indicatively allocated a total of £7,186,000. The Department will confirm
allocations from tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund as soon as possible,
and will invite bids from authorities for tranche 2 of the fund shortly. Before receiving
any funding, authorities must submit satisfactory plans to the Department, and the
amount each authority receives will depend on it satisfying the Department that it has
ambitious plans in place to reallocate road space to cyclists and pedestrians.
Driving Instruction: Coronavirus
Daniel Zeichner: [59789]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to waive the charge for a
trainee driving instructor certificate for individuals who were advised by the DVSA to
rescind their existing certificates.
Rachel Maclean:
As the health and safety of staff and customers is key, the Driver and Vehicle
Standards Agency (DVSA) is working closely with the Department for Transport to
prepare for a safe return to testing. It will announce details of resumption in due
course.
Trainee driving instructors who have trainee licences that are due to expire and who
are observing Government guidelines not to work, should notify the DVSA as soon as
possible. Trainees do not have to return their licence to the DVSA, but instead they
will need to cut their licence in half and send a photo of the destroyed licence to:
The Registrar will take all information into account, including the current
circumstances, when deciding whether or not to grant a further trainee licence. As the
required checks had previously been conducted it will not be necessary for those
checks to be repeated before a further licence is granted.
84 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
There is no provision in legislation to extend the period of a trainee licence beyond
six months or to waive the fee.
Railways
Darren Henry: [61831]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to
improve rail services in (a) Nottinghamshire, (b) the East Midlands, and (c) England.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
East Midlands Railway will introduce additional trains in 2021 to bring more carriages
on regional routes and a fully refurbished fleet is planned. The £1.5 billion investment
to deliver the Midland Mail Line Upgrade will enable at least a 70 per cent increase in
seats and quicker peak journeys to London for the Nottinghamshire and the East
Midlands.
In England as a whole, we are currently delivering a significant programme of
investment to upgrade both the infrastructure and the trains on our railway. The
Government is committed to invest around £48 billion in maintaining and upgrading
the rail network in the period from 2019 to 2024, focused on increasing reliability and
punctuality for passengers.
Railways: Chester and North Wales
Dr James Davies: [59833]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on linking railway stations
in (a) North Wales and (b) Chester to Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
This month the HS2 Minister will meet with leaders from the Midlands and the North,
to discuss priorities for rail investment. During this meeting the Government will
present an Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands by the end of 2020, which
will look at how to deliver NPR, HS2 Phase 2b, and related connections more
effectively.
Some supporting infrastructure enhancements in this corridor, including line speed
improvements, are already under consideration through industry planning studies and
the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.
Railways: Coronavirus
Vicky Foxcroft: [59836]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on
extending the validity period for Disabled Persons Railcard holders to compensate them
for lack of access to rail services during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps he is
taking to ensure that the Rail Delivery Group tackles that issue.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 85
Chris Heaton-Harris:
The Disabled Persons Railcard is sold and managed by the Rail Delivery Group on
behalf on the rail industry. Therefore, any proposals for amending existing Railcard
policies are for the Rail Delivery Group to bring forward.
The Rail Delivery Group is working with train companies on a number of ways to
assist Railcard holders, in light of the current COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
Departmental officials have been engaging regularly with the Rail Delivery Group as it
considers possible changes to Railcard conditions.
Railways: North Wales
Dr James Davies: [59834]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to
Question 52205, on Rolling Stock: Energy, what steps he is taking to ensure that North
Wales benefits from developments to low carbon rail transport solutions.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
Rail decarbonisation will be an important element in the UK’s first Transport
Decarbonisation Plan. The Department is working with Network Rail and the rail
industry to determine which parts of the network are best suited to use of hydrogen
and battery trains and electrification.
Introduction of these technologies will deliver environmental improvements and
benefits for rail users across the rail network. Through the Transport Decarbonisation
Plan the Government will continue to support the UK economy through the
development of expertise on low carbon technologies.
Shipping: Coronavirus
John Spellar: [59688]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to
facilitate maritime crew changes during the covid-19 pandemic.
Kelly Tolhurst:
The UK has not placed restrictions on the transit and transfer of seafarers. I have
previously written to UN organisations asking for an international solution to this
issue, confirming the UK’s position on crew changes, and also urged other countries
to allow crew changes to take place. The UK has also exempted seafarers from the
quarantine requirements
Mr David Jones: [61679]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of
UK seafarers stranded overseas and awaiting repatriation.
Kelly Tolhurst:
It is estimated that there are approximately 2-2,500 UK seafarers who either are
coming to the end of their contract or will already have had it extended.
86 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Thames Gateway Bridge: Costs
John Spellar: [59686]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected costs for the Thames
Gateway Bridge were; and what recent estimate he has made of the cost of the new
Thames Tunnel.
Rachel Maclean:
As you may be aware, transport in London is devolved. Proposals for river crossings
or tunnels in London are the responsibility of the Mayor.
Tolls
Andy Slaughter: [59711]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the role of
congestion charging in helping to reduce traffic in towns and cities; and whether his
Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of congestion charging for
helping to control levels of (a) traffic and (b) air pollution as the covid-19 lockdown is
lifted.
Rachel Maclean:
The decision to implement road charging in towns and cities is ultimately one for the
relevant Local Highways Authority. The Mayor of London recently reinstated the
Congestion and Ultra Low Emission Zone charges in the capital as a measure to
manage traffic and air quality.
A number of larger cities are developing proposals for charging Clean Air Zones to
reduce air pollution and our recent rapid call for evidence will ensure we can fully
understand the impact that coronavirus is having on changes in air pollution
emissions, concentrations and exposure.
Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line
Dr James Davies: [59832]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with
local stakeholders on the future of the Wrexham to Bidston Railway line.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
My Department is actively engaged with Transport for Wales’s work to progress plans
for a North Wales Metro and is providing strategic planning support and guidance on
funding mechanisms.
Interventions to deliver service frequency improvements are currently being
progressed and my officials will continue to engage with regional bodies on wider
proposals and to provide advice on how they might be funded in the future.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 87
TREASURY
[Subject Heading to be Assigned]
John Redwood: [55717]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on (a)
UK output and (b) tax revenues of changing the social distancing guidance from two
metres to one metre.
Kemi Badenoch:
We cannot isolate the impact of shifting from two metres to one metre in the social
distancing guidance on UK output and tax revenues. However, it is clear that Covid-
19 and the wider social distancing measures are having an unprecedented impact on
the economy which has suffered a 20.4% fall in GDP in April.
We recognise the challenges facing businesses in adapting to the Covid-19 guidance
during this time.
It is for this reason that the Prime Minister has commissioned a comprehensive
review of the 2m guidance, which has been published and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-two-metre-social-distancing-
guidance
As he announced to the House on Tuesday 23 June, where it is not possible to keep
two metres apart, businesses will be able to maintain a social distance of ‘one-metre
plus’ from 4 July, provided that they take precautionary steps to reduce risks to
protect and customers.
The Government continues to publish Covid-secure guidance to help sectors reopen
in the safest way possible, as well as continuing to take robust actions to protect jobs,
income and support businesses while fighting the virus during this challenging and
unique period.
Business: Coronavirus
Caroline Lucas: [61711]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the businesses that closed or
partially closed because of lockdown he expects to be fully open and trading from 1st
July; whether he is aware that HMRC have issued businesses with notices that VAT due
after 30th June cannot be deferred and must be paid in full and on time; and whether he
will make it his policy to extend coronavirus VAT deferral period.
Jesse Norman:
The Prime Minister has already set out next steps on the Government’s response to
COVID-19. In the publication “Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19
recovery strategy”, the Government sets out which businesses can be expected to
open when, and under what conditions.
The VAT payments deferral scheme is ending on 30 June as planned. HMRC have
reminded businesses of this so that they are better prepared and ready to reinstate
88 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
payments with VAT returns due after this date. HMRC’s Time To Pay service is still
available for businesses struggling to pay their tax bills.
Business: Tax Allowances
Rachael Maskell: [59830]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the
potential merits of providing tax relief for businesses which have enhanced safety
measures due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Jesse Norman:
Businesses should make every effort to ensure their workplace is COVID-19 secure
to protect their customers and workers before they open.
The Government recognises this challenge and therefore set up ministerial-led
taskforces last month to work with sectors to develop safe ways for them to reopen at
the earliest point when safe to do so, as well as pilot re-openings to test businesses’
ability to adopt the guidelines.
In addition, the Government is providing an unprecedented package of support to
help businesses through this period. Fiscal support worth £20bn has been directed to
businesses in England through tax relief and cash grants to help them manage cash
flow.
This package includes cash grants of up to £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure
businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 and further grants
of £10,000 for several hundred thousand businesses eligible for business rate relief
and rural rate relief. Further, the Government also removed all eligible properties in
the retail, hospitality and leisure sector from business rates, so that no pub, hotel, or
high street shop will pay business rates for 12 months.
The Government will continue to consider appropriate measures to protect lives and
livelihoods during this period.
Businesses: Non-domestic Rates
Felicity Buchan: [59918]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department provides to owners
of shared office spaces which remain liable for business rates and are ineligible for other
forms of Government support.
Kemi Badenoch:
The Business Rates Relief has been directed towards the retail, hospitality and
leisure sectors as these are properties that are wholly or mainly being used by visiting
members of the public. However, shared office spaces owners who are ineligible for
the Local Authority (LA) grant schemes may be eligible for the Discretionary Grant
Scheme in England. This has made up to £617m of additional funding available to
LAs to enable them to make payments of up to £25,000 to businesses. LAs have
received guidance regarding which kinds of businesses should be considered a
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 89
priority, which includes those in shared offices. LAs may also choose to pay grants to
businesses according to local economic need, so long as businesses meet the
following criteria:
• They face ongoing fixed building-related costs
• They can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to
COVID-19
• They have fewer than 50 employees;
• They were trading on or before 11th March
Small businesses operating out of shared offices also continue to have access to a
range of support measures including, but not limited to:
• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
• The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises
• VAT deferral for up to 12 months
• The Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with
outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs
• Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-
payment until June 30, 2020 – with an option for the Government to extend if
needed.
The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses
can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to
apply -https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.
Consumer Credit Act 1974
Caroline Lucas: [59731]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an
assessment of the potential merits of amending the Consumer Credit Act (1974) as part
of the Government's covid-19 response; and if he will make a statement.
John Glen:
In March 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) submitted its final report to HM
Treasury on the review of the retained provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
The Government is considering whether further reform of the market is necessary
and desirable, taking into account the COVID-19 crisis.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
John Redwood: [59654]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the
number of people who will return to work from furlough as the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme ends.
90 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Jesse Norman:
The CJRS has helped over one million employers protect over 9.1 million jobs. As the
country re-opens, Government support will need to be adjusted in a way that ensures
people can get back to work, and get the UK economy up and running again.
The CJRS has been designed to flexibly and gradually enable employees to return to
work. From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have been
furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim
a CJRS grant for the hours not worked. From August to October, an employer
contribution will be introduced gradually.
It is the case that some employers and sectors will be affected by coronavirus for
longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms
appropriately. CJRS is just one form of support on offer to employers during this
difficult period. The Government will continue to engage with businesses and
representative groups with the aim of ensuring that the support provided is right for
these sectors and for the economy as a whole.
Jeremy Wright: [59717]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential
merits of amending the terms of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to enable
employees to take part in employer sanctioned research and development work while
furloughed.
Jesse Norman:
The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who
would otherwise have been made redundant. To prevent fraudulent claims, the
Government made it clear that individuals cannot work or volunteer for their
organisation.
When on furlough, an employee can undertake training or volunteer subject to public
health guidance, so long as they are not making money for their employer or any
organisation linked or associated with their association, or providing services to their
employer or any organisation linked or associated with their association.
Anthony Browne: [59905]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to publish weekly
statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for each (a) local authority and (b)
parliamentary constituency.
Jesse Norman:
Statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are published on GOV.UK. The
latest publication can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-
june-2020. This includes a breakdown of the total number of employments furloughed
by local authority and by parliamentary constituency. HM Revenue and Customs are
continuing to develop statistics on the CJRS and plan to publish monthly updates.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 91
Claire Hanna: [61836]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will implement an exception for people who
submitted their RTI to HMRC for their PAYE salary annually on a date after the 19 March
2020 so that they may be eligible to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme.
Jesse Norman:
For an employee to be eligible for the CJRS they must have been notified to HMRC
on a real-time information (RTI) submission on or before 19 March. Those paid
annually are eligible to claim, as long as they meet the relevant conditions including
being notified to HMRC on an RTI submission on or before 19 March 2020, which
relates to a payment of earnings in the 2019/2020 tax year. Anyone paid annually
and notified on an RTI submission after that date will not be eligible for the scheme,
which puts them in the same position as those who are paid more frequently and
were not notified to HMRC on or before 19 March. The 19 March cut-off date allows
as many people as possible to be included by going right up to the day before the
announcement and addresses the risk of fraud that existed as soon as the scheme
became public.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Hospitality Industry and Tourism
Kenny MacAskill: [61602]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential
merits of extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme beyond October 2020 for the
tourism and hospitality sector and its food and drink supply chain.
Jesse Norman:
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is a temporary scheme in place for
eight months starting from 1 March and ending at the end of October.
It is the case that some firms will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others,
and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately. It would be
challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and it
may not be the case that this is the most effective or sensible way to provide longer
term support for those sectors most affected by coronavirus. The Government will
continue to engage with businesses and representative groups with the aim of
ensuring that support provided is right for these sectors and for the economy as a
whole.
Debts: Mental Illness
Caroline Lucas: [59729]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate
the effect of debt on people's mental health during the covid-19 outbreak.
92 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Caroline Lucas: [59730]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of
the potential effect of debt collection letters on people's mental health during the covid-19
outbreak.
John Glen:
The government has taken significant steps to support individuals and businesses
through this difficult time, including through the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme
and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
The government has worked closely with the Financial Conduct Authority to deliver
payment holidays to provide temporary support to consumers. To ensure that people
have access to the help they need to make effective financial decisions and manage
their debt, the government is providing an additional £37.8m for debt advice
providers, bringing the Money and Pensions Services’ debt advice budget to over
£100m this financial year.
The government recognises that the mental health impacts of Covid-19 are
significant. The Prime Minister has announced £4.2m for mental health charities to
ensure they can meet increased demand as a result of Covid-19. This builds on the
£5m grant announced in March to be allocated to national and local mental health
organisations.
The Government is also working to implement Breathing Space, which will give
people in problem debt access to a 60-day moratorium on creditor action. People
receiving treatment for mental health crisis will be able to access the protections of
Breathing Space via a different entry route that mitigates the specific barriers that this
group might face in engaging with professional debt advice.
It is important that lenders communicate with their customers about debt, so they can
be supported to manage their finances. The government recognises that some of the
wording in these letters can cause concern and we are monitoring the issue.
Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus
Luke Pollard: [61592]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of
including business improvement district levies in the business rates relief support during
the covid-19 outbreak.
Jesse Norman:
Business rates are distinct from the Business Improvement District (BID) levy and are
managed separately. The BID legislation requires businesses to pay the BID levy and
any decision to waive or reduce the levy is to be made by the BID Board of Directors.
Therefore, business rates relief will not be applied to any percentage payment
towards a BID.
However, the Government is making available up to £6.1 million of support to BIDs to
cover the equivalent of three months of core operational costs. This funding will
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 93
protect BID bodies from insolvency and ensure that they weather the current crisis.
Local authorities and BIDs will now be able to be flexible with the enforcement of the
levy for businesses that are unable to pay, but business remain liable for the levy and
those that can still pay should still pay.
Public Expenditure: Wales
Ben Lake: [61760]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Department for Education's
announcement of 19 June 2020, what estimate he has made of the Barnett
consequentials for Wales arising from the (a) £650 million catch-up funding for schools
and (b) £350 million for the establishment of a National Tutoring Programme.
Steve Barclay:
Any new funding for the Department for Education will have the Barnett formula
applied to it in the usual way.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
Sir Edward Davey: [59678]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses have accessed the
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund since its inception, by region and local
authority area; and what the total value is of grants provided under that fund to date.
Kemi Badenoch:
As of 14th June 2020, over 844,000 business premises have received grants worth
over £10.36 billion from the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund and the Small
Business Grant Fund.
Every week, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy publishes
the combined figures for the number and value of grants paid out from the RHLGF
and SBGF. These data are broken down by Local Authority and can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-
authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.
These data are not published on a regional basis.
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Ian Blackford: [59792]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to discount the state
pension as income for the purpose of claiming the Self-Employment Support Scheme.
Jesse Norman:
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer to Parliamentary Question 49808 on 2
June 2020: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-
answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-20/49808/.
94 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59803]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential
merits of amending the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme to remove the eligibility
criteria of no more than £50,000 in trading profit profits for the second wave of
Government support for self-employed people.
Jesse Norman:
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) helps those adversely
affected by COVID-19. Individuals can at present claim a taxable grant under the
SEISS worth 80 per cent of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single
instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total.
The extension of the SEISS announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29
May 2020 means that eligible individuals whose businesses are adversely affected by
COVID-19 will be able to claim a second and final grant when the scheme reopens
for applications in August. This will be a taxable grant worth 70 per cent of their
average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’
worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
The SEISS, including the £50,000 threshold for average trading profits, is designed to
target those who most need it, and who are most reliant on their self-employment
income. The self-employed are very diverse and have a wide mix of turnover and
profits, with monthly and annual variations even in normal times, and in some cases
with substantial alternative forms of income too: for example, those who had more
than £50,000 from trading profits in 2018-19 had an average total income of more
than £200,000. Some 95 per cent of those with more than half of their income from
self-employment in 2018-19 could be eligible for this scheme.
Those with average trading profits above £50,000 may still be eligible for other
elements of the unprecedented financial support package made available by the
Government. These measures include Bounce Back Loans, tax deferrals, rental
support, increased levels of Universal Credit, mortgage holidays, and other business
support grants.
Silver: VAT
Mr Richard Holden: [59907]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue is raised annually for the
public purse from VAT on sales of silver bullion (a) coins and (b) bars.
Jesse Norman:
HM Revenue and Customs do not hold data on VAT collected specifically from the
sale of silver bullion, as information on supplies of specific commodities is not
required on VAT returns.
HMRC record and publish annually details of VAT receipts across trade sectors and
subsectors, but not of specific commodities.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 95
Tax Avoidance: Multinational Companies
Sir John Hayes: [61662]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of tax
avoidance by multi-national corporations.
Jesse Norman:
The UK has a comprehensive range of measures in place to tackle tax avoidance
and tax planning arrangements entered into by multinational corporations.
For example, the Diverted Profits Tax (DPT) was introduced in 2015, and aims to
change the behaviour of companies using contrived arrangements to avoid UK tax,
by charging tax on these arrangements at a higher rate. Its primary purpose is to
ensure that the profits taxed in the UK fully reflect the economic activity carried on in
the UK.
Similarly, the Offshore Receipts from Intangibles Property (ORIP) regime, introduced
in 2019, is designed to deal with arrangements where the UK sales of multinational
groups generate significant offshore income in low or no tax jurisdictions, in
circumstances where normal royalty withholding tax rules would not apply. This
measure is expected to generate about £1bn of additional tax revenue over a five
year period.
The UK continues to take a leading role in international efforts to tackle tax avoidance
by multinationals. Following on from the OECD BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit
Shifting) project, the UK is fully engaged in continuing work at the OECD in relation to
the challenges of taxing the digital economy. The UK has been at the forefront of
these discussions within the OECD, and will be continuing to meet virtually with the
OECD Working Parties in the coming weeks and months.
With regard to the taxation of the digital economy, the UK has been clear that it
favours an international agreement on this issue. In advance of an agreed outcome,
the UK has introduced its own Digital Services Tax (DST) which came into force in
April 2020 and is expected to generate over £2bn of additional tax revenue in the
next 5 years.
The DST will be an important tool for addressing the limitations of the existing
international tax framework, ensuring that businesses pay tax in the UK that reflects
the value they generate from user interaction. The Government has been clear that it
will remove the DST once an appropriate global solution is in place.
Tolls: Greater London
Dr Matthew Offord: [59741]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department requested TfL to bring
forward plans to increase the scope and level of the Congestion Charge as a condition of
the funding deal announced in May 2020.
96 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Kemi Badenoch:
On 15 May the government announced a £1.6 billion emergency funding and
financing package to enable Transport for London to continue operating services for
essential journeys through the COVID 19 outbreak.
As part of the agreement with the Department for Transport, the Mayor of London
agreed a number of measures to support the safe restart of the transport system,
including by helping Londoners move towards greener and healthier walking and
cycling options. This included reintroducing the congestion charge, LEZ and ULEZ.
The decision to immediately raise the congestion charge to £15 was taken by the
Mayor. This will be assessed as part of the Department for Transport’s upcoming
review into TfL’s future financial position.
Working Tax Credit
Jeremy Wright: [59716]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department made of the
effect of the additional earnings disregards for Housing Benefits on tax credits before
introducing the increase in the disability element of working tax credits that came into
effect in April 2020.
Steve Barclay:
Section 41 of The Tax Credit Act 2002 requires Treasury ministers to undertake an
annual review of the rates of Tax Credits and to consider whether they have retained
their value.
The disabled worker element and severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
were uprated by CPI for 2020/21 to £3,3220 and £1,390 respectively.
During the review of Tax Credit rates for 2020/21 no specific assessment was made
of the effect of the Housing Benefit disregards when setting the disability element
rates of Working Tax Credit.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Bereavement Support Payment
Daniel Kawczynski: [58111]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend the Bereavement
Support Payment scheme to cover the deaths of parents who were living together or had
children together in order to provide support for the remaining partner and their children.
Mims Davies:
It is a key principle that all rights to inheritable benefits derived from another person’s
contributions, such as Bereavement Support Payment, should be based on the
concept of a legal marriage or civil partnership. However, on 7 February the High
Court ruled that the higher rate of Bereavement Support Payment (which is paid to
those with children) to be incompatible with the ECHR in that it is only payable where
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 97
the survivor was married to, or in a civil partnership with the deceased. Whilst this
ruling does not change the current legislation, we are carefully considering what to do
in response to this judgement.
Sir Edward Davey: [59346]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many bereavement support
payment claims were made more than three months after the related death, in each year
since its introduction.
Mims Davies:
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur
disproportionate cost.
Bereavement Support Payment: Appeals
Sir Edward Davey: [59650]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many bereavement support
payment decisions were (a) appealed and (b) overturned at appeal in each year since its
introduction.
Mims Davies:
The type and volume of tribunal cases received and disposed of are published
quarterly by the Ministry of Justice here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics
Child Maintenance Service
Jess Phillips: [61723]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is provided to staff at
the Child Maintenance Service on domestic abuse.
Mims Davies:
All CMS staff are trained in how to support women who disclose domestic abuse and
have access to The Domestic Abuse Plan which guides caseworkers through the
appropriate action to take to help safeguard vulnerable women..
Additionally, earlier this year we introduced a bespoke Domestic Abuse Awareness
training course that was developed with Women’s Aid and has been delivered for our
staff across the country.
Child Maintenance Service: Coronavirus
Jess Phillips: [61722]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library any
guidance or training materials that were issued by her Department to the Child
Maintenance Service on how to manage changes in procedure in response to the covid-
19 outbreak where domestic abuse was a factor.
98 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Mims Davies:
All CMS staff are trained in how to support women who disclose domestic abuse and
have access to The Domestic Abuse Plan which guides caseworkers through the
appropriate action to take to help safeguard vulnerable women.
There are currently no plans to place Child Maintenance Service guidance or training
materials in the Library.
Children: Maintenance
Martyn Day: [54968]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the amount of child
maintenance arrears is in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.
Mims Davies:
The total amount of arrears for Child Maintenance Service as of December 2019 in
Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency is £599,000.
New Compliance and Arrears powers which came in July 2019 have increased the
departments enforcement powers, such as removal of driving licence to encourage
parent to cooperate and pay the maintenance they owe.
As a result, as at November 2019 the compliance in overall Child Maintenance
Service payments increased to an all-time high of 90.2%.
Steve McCabe: [58625]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many single parents have
seen their child maintenance payments reduced as a result of the paying parent making a
new claim for universal credit since March 2020.
Mims Davies:
We do hold summarised information on number of Change of Circumstances
requests for Child Maintenance payments.
Steve McCabe: [58626]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many single parents have not
received at least one child maintenance payment from the paying parent since the
service paused chasing missed payments.
Mims Davies:
The number of Parents due to pay via Collect and Pay who have paid not any
maintenance each month is published quarterly. The latest figures for Child
Maintenance Service are up to December 2019 and can be found in Table 9 at the
link below.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-
to-december-2019-experimental
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 99
The number of Parents due to pay via Collect and Pay who have not paid
maintenance since 1 April 2020 will not be available until the publication in
September 2020.
Peter Grant: [58733]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
the effect of delays by the Child Maintenance Service in pursuing payments for resident
parents during the covid-19 outbreak.
Mims Davies:
[Holding answer 16 June 2020]: The Government recognises that the income of
many separated parents is being impacted by the public health emergency and some
receiving parents may receive less maintenance as a result of a paying parent’s drop
in income.
Paying parents are still expected to pay child maintenance throughout this period.
Our priority is to maintain the flow of maintenance that is currently being paid, by
easing the financial pressure on paying parents and ensuring that we transfer the
payments as quickly as possible to receiving parents.
In order to ensure that receiving parents do not lose out in the long run, we will
update calculations as soon as possible and collect any unpaid amounts that may
have accrued. The small minority who might be found to be abusing the system at
this difficult time could potentially find themselves subject to the full extent of our
enforcement powers once the emergency passes.
Measures have been introduced to support both paying and receiving parents, whose
income drops as a result of the public health emergency. These include increasing
the standard rate of Universal Credit and working tax credit for this year by over
£1000 per year, benefiting over 4 million of the most vulnerable households. We have
also increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing
Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on
average £600 in people’s pockets.
Drew Hendry: [61732]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department
has made of the potential merits of guaranteeing a minimum child maintenance payment
during the covid-19 outbreak.
Mims Davies:
There is no plan for any such assessment, the purpose of the Child Maintenance
Service is to facilitate the payment of child maintenance between separated parents.
No one should use the pandemic as an excuse to avoid their child maintenance
payments. Where paying parents experience a change in income, we can review
their case and check if the amount paid should change. If it does not, they should
continue to make payments.
100 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
We know the majority of parents take their responsibilities extremely seriously and
will do what is needed to ensure their children are supported.
Debts: Coronavirus
Neil Gray: [58714]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made
an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report entitled, Coronavirus and
personal debt: a financial recovery strategy for households published by Stepchange in
June 2020; and if she will make a statement.
Will Quince:
The Government notes this report and contents. It has introduced a suite of
measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised which benefit those
facing the most financial disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes,
part of an injection to welfare worth over £6.5bn, include:
• making it easier to access benefits. Those applying for Contributory Employment
and Support Allowance (ESA) who may have coronavirus, are self-isolating, or
caring for a child (or qualifying young person) who falls into either of those
categories, or individuals who have been advised to ’shield’ because they are at
high risk of severe illness, will be entitled from day 1 of their claim – as opposed to
day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment. Both
Universal Credit (UC) and ESA can now be claimed by phone or online;
• increasing the standard allowance of UC by up to £1,040 this year;
• temporarily relaxing the application of the Minimum Income Floor for all self-
employed claimants;
• making Statutory Sick Pay available from day 1 – as opposed to day 4 - where an
eligible individual is sick or self-isolating; and
• increasing in the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit
claimants so that it covers the lowest 30% of local market rents – which is on
average £600 in people’s pockets.
These measures, along with the other job and business support programmes
announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of
support by an advanced economy.
Department for Work and Pensions: Overseas Aid
Preet Kaur Gill: [59844]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the criteria her
Department plans to use for prioritising Official Development Assistance spending in the
event of a decrease in GNI.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 101
Preet Kaur Gill: [59849]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department's share of
the Official Development Assistance will be reduced in the event of a decrease in GNI.
Preet Kaur Gill: [59855]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is signing
new funding agreements for projects from the Official Development Assistance budget.
Justin Tomlinson:
The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI)
each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). HM Treasury allocates ODA
budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions on changes to these.
Food Poverty
Rachael Maskell: [59829]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to end
food poverty for adults.
Will Quince:
This Government’s current focus is on supporting people whose finances have been
affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to the £5billion increase in benefit
rates from April 2020, we have injected more than £6.5 billion into the welfare
system, increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by over £1,000 for this
financial year, benefiting over four million of the most vulnerable households. We
have also increased Local Housing Allowance rates - putting an average of £600 into
people’s pockets.
For those who find themselves in severe financial difficulties, the Prime Minister has
announced over £60 million for local authorities in England to support local welfare
assistance programmes. In addition, on 8 May, the Government announced funding
of up to £16 million for charities to provide millions of meals over a 12-week period;
this includes the £3.5 million Food Charities Grant Fund to support charities with
grants of up to £100,000 so they can continue to provide food to vulnerable people.
Our long-term ambition remains to build an economy that will support work, and
ensure that everyone have opportunities to enter and progress in work, where
possible. There is clear evidence of the important role of work in tackling all forms of
poverty; in 2018/19, working age adults in households where all adults were in work
were 6 times less likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than adults in a
household where nobody works.
Future Jobs Fund: Greater Manchester
Andrew Gwynne: [61683]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an
assessment of the potential merits of a future jobs fund to assist with job creation in (a)
Tameside and (b) Stockport.
102 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Mims Davies:
DWP is engaging cross-government to understand supply & demand across the
labour market throughout and beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
We are in discussions with other Government Departments and a range of
stakeholders to explore all options to ensure the right support is in place for
individuals who have been adversely impacted by COVID that will meet the needs of
the individual as well as local priorities.
Health and Safety Executive: Finance
Zarah Sultana: [61814]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether additional funding has
been allocated to the Health & Safety Executive to increase the Executive's level of
staffing during the covid-19 outbreak.
Mims Davies:
I refer the hon. member to my response to question 41525.
Jobcentres: Staff
Seema Malhotra: [61502]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June
2020 to Question 55988, on Jobcentres: Staff, how many full-time equivalent work
coaches are currently employed by her Department.
Mims Davies:
For the period January 2020 to May 2020, approximately 13,500 full-time equivalent
(FTE) work coaches were employed by the Department. These are the latest figures
we hold.
Seema Malhotra: [61503]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many additional work coaches
she plans to recruit by September 2020.
Mims Davies:
The Department is continually assessing the service being offered to customers and
we continue to keep staff numbers under review as part of our response to the impact
of COVID-19 on the labour market.
Local Housing Allowance: Coronavirus
Dan Jarvis: [61499]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
the potential merits of raising the local housing allowance to the fiftieth percentile to
support renters during the outbreak of covid-19.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 103
Will Quince:
We increased Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local rents,
providing additional financial support for private renters, further to lobbying from
homeless charities. This significant investment of almost £1 billion, ensures over 1
million households will see an increase, on average, of £600 per year.
For renters whose circumstances mean they may require more support, Discretionary
Housing Payments are also available. We have already provided £180m in
Discretionary Housing Payment funding to local authorities to support vulnerable
claimants with housing costs in the private and social rented sector in England and
Wales for 2020/21. This includes an extra £40m announced at the spending round.
Personal Independence Payment
Vicky Foxcroft: [59521]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library each
internal memorandum circulated to Departmental staff in relation to applications and
mandatory reconsiderations of personal independence payments since 1 March 2020.
Justin Tomlinson:
The Department continues to engage and update stakeholders on support for people
with a health condition or disability during the Covid-19 pandemic.
There is no plan to place each internal memorandum in the Library.
Social Security Benefits
Carla Lockhart: [44062]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Self-Employment
Income Support Scheme backdated to 1 March 2020 will trigger universal credit over-
payments for additional income for claimants encouraged to claim that benefit until the
scheme is available.
Mims Davies:
[Holding answer 15 May 2020]: Universal Credit takes into account any income
received for the relevant assessment period (AP). In terms of the Self-employed
Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the department has agreed that this will not be
applied retrospectively to previous APs.
State Retirement Pensions
Jack Dromey: [61703]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) members of civil
partnerships and (b) members of same sex marriages are able to claim a Category BL
pension based on the contributions of a civil partner or spouse; and if she will make a
statement.
104 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
Guy Opperman:
Civil Partners and those in same sex marriages, who reach State Pension age before
6 April 2016, can derive entitlement to a Category BL basic State Pension if they fall
into one of two groups. Either, they have no entitlement to basic State Pension based
on their National Insurance contributions, or they get a basic State Pension of less
than £80.45 per week (in 2020/21).
In all cases, their spouse or civil partner must have been born on or after 6 April
1950.
State Retirement Pensions: Coronavirus
Dr Lisa Cameron: [59801]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
the potential merits of increasing the level of the state pension as a result of the financial
difficulties faced by pensioners during the covid-19 outbreak.
Guy Opperman:
The Government remains committed to providing dignity and security in retirement to
all pensioners. In April 2020, full amounts of the basic and new State Pensions
increased by 3.9%, in line with average earnings growth. This was the highest
increase since 2012.
The full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is worth around £700 more in
2020/21 than if it had been uprated by earnings since 2010. That is over £1,900 in
cash terms.
Pension Credit provides a safety net for people of State Pension age most in need. It
provides a top up for people with a weekly income below £173.75 (for single people)
or £265.20 (for couples). On 6 th May we introduced an online claim process for
Pension Credit in addition to the existing ways of claiming by telephone and by post,
making it quicker and easier for people to apply.
Unemployment
Seema Malhotra: [61504]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support for searching for work
her Department is providing to jobseekers.
Mims Davies:
DWP have developed and launched two new websites, Job Help and Employer Help,
that directly link to Find a Job.
These sites promote a range of guidance and advice supporting decisions on
identifying transferrable skills, promoting opportunities of seeking alternative roles or
working in different sectors of the economy. Find a Job is a central place for
employers to post their vacancies and for job seekers to look for work.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS 105
Unemployment: Slough
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [60849]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce
the level of unemployment in the Slough constituency as a result of the covid-19
outbreak.
Mims Davies:
[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: Slough Jobcentre plus has continued to support the
local community during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes working with partner
and provider organisations such as the National Careers Service to host virtual job
fairs, promote traineeships, support the development of skills, and actively promote
vacancies. There is an increased social media presence to support claimants digitally
as well as the exploration of utilising existing funding streams to support customers,
such as the Flexible Support Fund.
DWP have developed and launched two new websites, Job Help and Employer Help,
that directly link to Find a Job. These sites promote a range of guidance and advice
supporting decisions on identifying transferrable skills, promoting opportunities of
seeking alternative roles or working in different sectors of the economy. Find a Job is
a central place for employers to post their vacancies and for job seekers to look for
work.
Universal Credit
Selaine Saxby: [59923]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to
extend easements on work search requirements for claimants of universal credit after 30
June 2020.
Mims Davies:
We made the decision to temporarily suspend the requirement for face-to-face
Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, New Style
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), old-
style JSA and ESA, and Income Support.
Arrangements after the 30th June will be communicated in due course.
Wind Power: Coronavirus
Alex Cunningham: [59222]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has
made of the (a) content and (b) availability of covid-19 workplace safety guidance for (i)
employers and (ii) staff in the offshore wind industry; and when she last discussed that
matter with that industry's representatives.
Mims Davies:
On 24th March 2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wrote to the offshore
wind industry reminding employers of their legal duty to ensure the health and safety
106 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 ANSWERS
of their workforce. The letter also directed duty holders to the more detailed social
distancing guidelines on the Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and
Public Health Wales websites.
On 26 th March 2020, HSE met virtually with representatives of major industry duty
holders and trade associations to discuss how the industry would comply with social
distancing requirements. On 1 st April 2020 the Renewable Energy Emergency
Response Forum (“REEF”) held a meeting at which HSE, the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency, the Police and industry representatives agreed that each duty
holder would develop their own arrangements to comply with their duties under the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, based on the above mentioned social
distancing guidelines.
Since then, HSE continues to contact offshore wind farm duty holders to check that
they have suitable COVID-19 risk control measures in place.
Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 WRITTEN STATEMENTS 107
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Additional Funding for Rough Sleeping
Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
(Robert Jenrick): [HCWS311]
Today I am announcing a further £105 million for local authorities to enable them to
support and accommodate rough sleepers.
At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government took quick action to
accommodate rough sleepers and those in communal shelters, giving them the chance to
self-isolate. This action was supported by councils, charities, faith groups, public sector
partners and businesses. I want to put on record my thanks to everyone who has worked
tirelessly to deliver this – this action has undoubtedly saved countless lives. These efforts
and the action taken to support people at risk of becoming homeless during the pandemic
has resulted in 15,000 vulnerable people being housed in emergency accommodation,
including hotels.
Now is the time to help local authorities and the vulnerable people housed during the
pandemic with what comes next. Local authorities, working with my department, have
already been assessing the needs of each individual currently in emergency
accommodation. For the first time ever, we know who these vulnerable people are and
where they are – allowing us to take a more personal and sophisticated look at each of
their needs. The additional funding, which is available in this financial year, will allow local
authorities to provide appropriate accommodation and support for the next steps, as we
help these individuals to put their lives on a more stable footing. It will fund a wide range
of measures, including: short-term accommodation before moves into safe, long-term
homes can be arranged; moves into the private rental sector; and assistance to secure
training and employment. This sustained support is vital to ensure progress is maintained
as people move out of emergency accommodation.
This investment comes on top of significant funding we have already provided this year,
including plans I announced last month alongside Dame Louise Casey to provide 6,000
supported homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during the pandemic.
These homes will be held as a national asset with the specific purpose of providing move
on accommodation to rough sleepers and former rough sleepers.
The Government also understands the need to support people with complex and
underlying issues which may be behind their rough sleeping. That is why I am also
pleased to announce that a further £16 million in funding will be made available this
financial year – bringing the total to £23 million – to tackle the substance dependence
treatment needs of rough sleepers. This will help strengthen people’s engagement with
substance dependence services while in emergency accommodation as they move into
safer, long term accommodation. It will also help people into treatment services and
support them as they recover, to prevent a return to the streets.
108 Daily Report Wednesday, 24 June 2020 WRITTEN STATEMENTS
Our manifesto set out our bold ambition to end rough sleeping within this Parliament and
the measures I have announced today are a significant step towards that.