Daily Report Thursday, 5 September 2019 CONTENTS · 2019. 9. 5. · Daily Report Thursday, 5...

Daily Report Thursday, 5 September 2019

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 5 September 2019 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:30 P.M., 05 September 2019). For the

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 7

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 7

Carers and Parents: Flexible

Working 7

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Brexit 7

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Living Wage 8

Life Sciences: EU Nationals 9

Manufacturing Industries:

Energy 9

Manufacturing Industries:

Liverpool 10

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing

Industries 10

Natural Gas: Energy Supply 11

Nissan: Foreign Investment in

UK 11

Plastics: Freezers and

Refrigerators 11

Regional Planning and

Development: County Durham 12

Regional Planning and

Development: North of

England 13

Shipbuilding 13

Small Businesses: Tees Valley 14

Spark Energy: Billing 14

Vauxhall Motors: Ellesmere

Port 14

VE Day 15

CABINET OFFICE 15

Cabinet Office: Redundancy

Pay 15

Cabinet Office: Training 15

Civil Servants 16

Constituencies 16

Foreign Relations: Africa 17

Government Departments:

Digital Technology 17

National Security 17

National Security Strategy

Implementation Groups 18

Public Sector: Computer

Software 18

DEFENCE 19

Aircraft Carriers: Shipbuilding 19

Armed Forces: Compensation 19

Arms Trade: Trade Fairs 21

Army 22

Defence: Expenditure 22

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Defence: Procurement 24

Former Ministers: Redundancy

Pay 25

Harland and Wolff: Insolvency 26

Royal Fleet Auxiliary 26

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Tankers 27

Type 31 Frigates:

Procurement 27

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 28

Advertising: Misrepresentation 28

Art Works 28

Arts 29

Broadband: Scotland 29

Cybercrime: Departmental

Responsibilities 30

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport:

Newspaper Press 30

Gun Sports: Commonwealth

Games 31

Hate Crime: Sports 31

Loneliness: Young People 32

Monuments: Scapa Flow 32

Passenger Ships 33

Social Media: Scotland 34

Social Media: Training 34

Sports: West Midlands 34

Television: Licensing 35

Tourism: Coastal Areas 36

Tourism: North Herefordshire 36

World Heritage Sites 37

Young People: Public

Participation 37

Youth Services: Finance 38

EDUCATION 39

Apprentices: Degrees 39

Apprentices: Taxation 39

Children: Protection 40

Education: Disadvantaged 40

Electronic Publishing: VAT

Zero Rating 41

Higher Education: Equal Pay 41

History: GCE A-level and

GCSE 42

Lifelong Education 42

Primary Education:

Admissions 44

Religion: Education 44

School Exclusions Review 45

Schools: Security 45

Schools: Staff 45

Schools: Uniforms 46

Schools: Weather 46

Special Educational Needs:

Finance 47

Special Educational Needs:

Hearing Impairment 47

STEM Subjects: Higher

Education 48

Truancy 49

Young People: Carers 50

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 51

Agriculture: Subsidies 51

Amazonia: Fires 51

Animal Breeding 52

Eggs: Imports 52

Fishing Vessels: Licensing 53

Food Supply 53

Livestock: Animal Welfare 53

Meat: Imports 54

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust

Emissions 55

Sri Lanka: Recycling 55

Tree Planting: Urban Areas 55

Veterinary Medicine: Drugs 56

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 56

Brexit 56

Brexit: Northern Ireland 57

Brexit: Scotland 57

Environment Protection 57

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 58

Albania: Human Trafficking 58

Armenia: Gold 58

British Indian Ocean Territory:

Sovereignty 59

China: Uighurs 59

Darfur: Peace Negotiations 59

Diplomatic Service: British

Nationals Abroad 60

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Cambridge Analytica 60

Gaza: Health Professions 60

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid 61

Hong Kong: Civil Disorder 61

Hong Kong: Police Brutality 61

Hong Kong: Politics and

Government 62

India: Human Rights 64

Israel: Embassies 64

Julian Assange 64

Kashmir: Politics and

Government 65

Kashmir: Telecommunications 66

Lydian International 66

Nicaragua: Catholicism 67

Nigeria and Pakistan:

Christianity 67

North Korea: Guided Weapons 68

Palestinians: Health

Professions 68

Papua: Armed Conflict 69

Venezuela: Politics and

Government 71

Yemen: Armed Conflict 71

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 72

Alzheimer's Disease: Health

Services 72

Audiology 72

Care Homes: Recreation

Spaces 73

Cervical Cancer: Screening 73

Dementia: Health Services 74

Department of Health and

Social Care: Brexit 75

Department of Health and

Social Care: Cycling 76

Depressive Illnesses: Mental

Health Services 76

Dialysis Machines: British

Nationals Abroad 76

Dialysis Machines: Reciprocal

Arrangements 77

Disability 77

Grenfell Tower: Fires 78

Health Services: EU Nationals 78

Health Services: South West 80

Hearing Aids: Research 81

HIV Infection: Drugs 81

Kidney Diseases: Health

Services 82

Maternal Mortality: Ethnic

Groups 83

Medical Records: Data

Protection 83

Medical Treatments 84

Medical Treatments:

Innovation 84

Mental Health Services 85

Mental Health Services:

Expenditure 86

Mental Health: Children 87

Mental Illness 87

NHS Business Services

Authority: Furniture 87

North Tees and Hartlepool

NHS Foundation Trust 88

Plastic Surgery: Costs 88

Prescription Drugs 89

Prescription Drugs: Shortages 89

Prescriptions: Fees and

Charges 90

Radiotherapy: Travel 91

Social Services: Apprentices 91

Tobacco 92

Transplant Surgery:

Reciprocal Arrangements 92

HOME OFFICE 92

Action Fraud: Training 92

Crime Prevention: Publicity 93

Free Movement of People:

Brexit 94

Home Office: Brexit 95

Human Trafficking 95

Human Trafficking: Nigeria 96

Human Trafficking: Vietnam 96

Immigration: EEA Nationals 96

Immigration: EU Nationals 98

Modern Slavery Act 2015 99

Slavery 100

Sodexo: Contracts 101

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101

Children: Day Care 101

Council Tax: Discounts 101

Local Plans 102

Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local

Government: Brexit 104

Private Rented Housing:

Tenancy Deposit Schemes 104

UK Shared Prosperity Fund 105

UK Shared Prosperity Fund:

Public Consultation 105

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 105

Department for International

Development: Brexit 105

Overseas Aid 106

Yemen: Armed Conflict 106

Yemen: International

Assistance 107

Yemen: Overseas Aid 107

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 107

Arms Trade: Trade Fairs 107

Export Controls 108

JUSTICE 109

Bristol Prison 109

Kirklevington Grange Prison:

Brexit 109

Legal Aid Scheme 109

Marriage 110

Marriage: Humanism 110

Ministry of Justice: Buildings 111

Ministry of Justice:

Departmental Expenditure

Limits 111

Ministry of Justice: Mental

Health Services 112

Ministry of Justice: Post-

traumatic Stress Disorder 112

Personal Independence

Payment: Appeals 113

Prison Accommodation 113

Prison Officers 116

Probate: Computer Software 116

Prosecutions: Scotland 116

Repossession Orders 117

Translation Services 117

Translation Services: Finance 117

Unsolicited Goods and

Services: Vulnerable Adults 119

Young Offenders: EEA

Nationals 120

Youth Offending Teams: EEA

Nationals 120

LEADER OF THE HOUSE 120

Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny 120

Privy Council 121

TRANSPORT 122

A34: Accidents 122

Bus Services: Training 122

Cycling and Walking 122

Department for Transport:

Brexit 123

Electric Vehicles: Charging

Points 123

Manchester-Sheffield Railway

Line 123

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties 124

Motorways: Repairs and

Maintenance 124

Official Cars 125

Portsmouth International Port 126

Roads: Safety 127

Shared Spaces: Visual

Impairment 127

TREASURY 128

Aviation: Alternative Fuels 128

Banks: Closures 128

Bingo: Taxation 129

Bookmakers and Football

Pools: Taxation 129

Brexit 130

Electronic Publishing: VAT 130

Financial Services:

Technology 131

Football Pools: Excise Duties 131

Government Departments:

Public Expenditure 132

Help to Buy Scheme: Scotland 132

Pensions: Tax Allowances 132

Wealth 133

WORK AND PENSIONS 134

Children: Maintenance 134

Department for Work and

Pensions: Public Expenditure 135

Employment and Support

Allowance 139

Employment and Support

Allowance: Appeals 140

Food Supply 140

Health Assessment Advisory

Service 141

Parents: Low Incomes 141

Pension Credit 141

Pensioners: Personal

Independence Payment 142


Payment 143


Payment: Medical

Examinations 145

Post Office Card Account 145

Social Security Benefits:

Appeals 145


Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 147


Medical Examinations 148


Mental Illness 148


Telephone Services 148

State Retirement Pensions:

British Nationals Abroad 149

Universal Credit 149

Universal Credit: Appeals 151

Universal Credit: EEA

Nationals 151

Universal Credit: Fraud 152

Universal Credit: Housing 153

Universal Credit: Support for

Mortgage Interest 154

Welfare Assistance Schemes:

Yorkshire and the Humber 154

Work Capability Assessment 154

Working Links 155

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 156

CABINET OFFICE 156

Electoral Register 156

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 157

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 157

General Affairs Council, July

2019 157

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 158

Building Safety 158

WORK AND PENSIONS 159

Jobseekers (Back to Work

Schemes) Act 2013 159

Notes:

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

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

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Carers and Parents: Flexible Working

Stella Creasy: [284329]

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

Government plans to implement the European Council directive on work-life balance for

parents and carers.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government is committed to maintaining and enhancing workers’ rights as we

leave the EU. We will not be bound by EU law but will be able to raise employment

standards where it is right for the UK.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are already

working on measures designed to increase take-up of family-related leave and

flexible working arrangements.

In addition to consulting on high-level options for how we can better balance the

gender division of the parental leave and pay system, the department is considering

the question of dedicated employment rights for carers alongside existing

employment rights (such as the right to request flexible working and the right to time

off for family and dependents).

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit

Ms Angela Eagle: [284797]

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

meetings her Department has had with Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK

leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Nadhim Zahawi:

BEIS Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the country with

businesses of all sizes and their representatives, trade associations and local

enterprise partnerships, including through regular meetings. We communicate

regularly with intermediaries to ensure businesses obtain information quickly and

efficiently. We will continue to engage across the business population to ensure their

priorities are reflected and that businesses have the latest information on how to

prepare themselves for Brexit, including through a targeted series of roadshows and

events.

The Government also has a business readiness website designed to keep

businesses and consumers informed about what no deal might mean for them, with

information on a range of measures that may need to be taken in order to prepare.

These notices are being regularly updated with the latest information, for example

BEIS have published 18 sector specific guides with the top three to six priorities per

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-09-02/284329


sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive

business search tool https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-brexit-check

Helen Goodman: [284957]


meetings her Department has had with Durham County Council to discuss preparations

for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Nadhim Zahawi:








events.








Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Living Wage

Rachel Reeves: [284489]

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

staff working in her Department for Aramark and ISS are paid below the London Living

Wage.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Pay data and specific rates are a matter for each individual contractor, but

assurances are provided to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the

National Living Wage. In April 2019 Government increased the National Living Wage

to £8.21 per hour. This is an above inflation increase that saw a full-time minimum

wage worker over £2,750 better off over the course of a year compared to when the

policy was introduced.

We value all of our staff and they all deserve a fair and competitive wage, whether

they are directly employed or working through our contractors. The Department has

agreed with its facilities management contractor that they will align the pay of their

cleaning, catering, mailroom and security staff to the appropriate median rates for

that occupation, as identified in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

The median applied from 1 March 2019 and will be aligned annually.

https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-brexit-check






Life Sciences: EU Nationals

Daniel Zeichner: [285292]


assessment she has made of the potential effect of stricter border checks for people from

EU Member States after the UK leaves the EU on the life sciences industry in the UK.

Joseph Johnson:

Science, research and innovation are vital to our country’s prosperity, health and

wellbeing. The Government remains committed to ensuring world leading life

sciences talent is retained and attracted to the UK. We are working to ensure that our

visa arrangements are closely aligned to the sector’s needs.

The Government recently announced that we would remove the numbers cap under

the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa, which exists to attract leading scientists and

researchers to the United Kingdom. We also intend to expand the range of bodies

able to endorse applicants under this route, and my Department is currently working

with the Home Office on how best to achieve this. My Rt hon Friend the Prime

Minister has also made clear our longer-term commitment to introducing an

Australian-style points-based system, which will seek to attract talented individuals

from across the globe to work, live in and contribute to the United Kingdom.



discussions (a) she and (b) her officials have had with their counterparts at the Home

Department on the effect of border checks for people from EU Member States on the life

sciences industry in the UK.

Joseph Johnson:

Science, research and innovation are vital to our country’s prosperity, health and

wellbeing. The Government remains committed to ensuring world leading life

sciences talent is retained and attracted to the UK. We are working to ensure that our

visa arrangements are closely aligned to the sector’s needs.

The Government recently announced that we would remove the numbers cap under

the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa, which exists to attract leading scientists and

researchers to the United Kingdom. We also intend to expand the range of bodies

able to endorse applicants under this route, and my Department is currently working

with the Home Office on how best to achieve this. My Rt hon Friend the Prime

Minister has also made clear our longer-term commitment to introducing an

Australian-style points-based system, which will seek to attract talented individuals

from across the globe to work, live in and contribute to the United Kingdom.

Manufacturing Industries: Energy

Jeremy Lefroy: [285271]

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

she is taking to establish an industrial energy efficiency scheme.




Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund was announced in October 2018. We are

providing £315m for this fund to support industrial energy efficiency and

decarbonisation projects. This will help to bring down energy costs and reduce

carbon emissions for vital industries, including energy intensive industries. We have

sought stakeholder views through our informal consultation as well as a market

intelligence exercise, helping to inform the design of the fund. We will publish a

consultation setting out our preferred fund design and invite stakeholders to comment

shortly.

The IETF will complement existing schemes such as the Industrial Heat Recovery

Scheme and the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator.

Manufacturing Industries: Liverpool

Frank Field: [284248]

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

allocate long-term funding to the LCR 4.0 programme.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Businesses in the Liverpool City Region are able to access support from the Made

Smarter North West Pilot Programme which runs until 2021 and provides support to

manufactures wanting to adopt digital technologies. Decisions on the future funding

for LCR 4.0 will be made at the next multi-year Spending Review in 2020.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Bridget Phillipson: [284925]

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

assessment her Department has made of the effect on the automotive sector of the UK

leaving the EU without a deal.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The document entitled, “EU Exit: Long-term economic analysis” was laid before

Parliament on 28th November 2018 and remains valid. This analysis illustrates the

high level impacts on the UK from different EU Exit scenarios with associated costs

for five broad sector groups across the economy, including motor vehicles and parts

as a key component of the manufactured goods sector.

The macroeconomic modelling tools used for this analysis do not allow for

disaggregation of results at individual sector level.

We are working closely with businesses across the country to help ensure they are

prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances.

This includes regular engagement with the automotive industry by both BEIS

ministers and officials to discuss no-deal risks and mitigations. Engagement may be

bilateral or in group discussions, via trade associations, or through participation in the

Automotive Council.



We are better prepared for no-deal than many think but not as well prepared as we

could be and we are turbocharging preparations. My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of

the Exchequer has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available.

Natural Gas: Energy Supply

Anna Turley: [284937]

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

to the Government’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, by how much her

Department plans to increase the proportion of green gas in the gas network; and if she

will bring forward proposals to amend Section 3 of the Gas Safety (Management)

Regulations 1996 to prepare for the increased use of green gas in the grid.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

In this year’s Spring Statement, the Government stated our commitment to

accelerating the decarbonisation of our gas supplies by increasing the proportion of

green gas in the grid and to consult on the appropriate mechanism to deliver this

commitment later this year.

The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations are the responsibility of the Health and

Safety Executive. Officials continue to engage with the HSE to support their ongoing

assessment of proposals to amend Section 3 of the Gas Safety (Management)

Regulations.

Nissan: Foreign Investment in UK


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

spoke with Nissan on the effect on their operations in the UK of the UK leaving the EU

without a deal.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Nissan is a critical part of the UK’s successful Automotive industry and remains a vital

part of the North East’s manufacturing landscape as it has been for the past 30 years.

I am in active dialogue with Nissan – most recently in a call with the company last

week, and others in the Automotive sector to support investments in new technology,

R&D and electrification Nissan’s decisions to produce the new Qashqai, Juke and the

all electric Leaf models at its world class manufacturing facility in Sunderland are

votes of confidence in the UK’s business environment.

Plastics: Freezers and Refrigerators

Mary Creagh: [284771]

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

her Department took the decision to ban the manufacture of plastic backed (a) fridges, (b)

freezers and (c) fridge freezers.




Kelly Tolhurst:

Action to improve the safety of fridges and freezers has been led by the UK at a

global level. The UK Government worked closely with the British Standards Institution

and the International and European Standardisation Committees to update the fire

safety requirements in the Standard for refrigeration appliances which has applied

since 11 July 2019.

The essential safety requirements which must be met for fridges and other white

goods are set out in the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. From 11

July 2019, any business using the revised Standard for refrigeration appliances to

demonstrate compliance with legal safety requirements under the Regulations, will

need to ensure their appliances pass the tests introduced in the revised Standard.

Refrigeration appliances using flammable materials will not pass the tests introduced

in the new Standard.


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

timeframe is to introduce a ban on the sale of plastic backed (a) fridges, (b) freezers and

(c) fridge freezers.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Action to improve the safety of fridges and freezers has been led by the UK at a

global level. The UK Government worked closely with the British Standards Institution

and the International and European Standardisation Committees to update the fire

safety requirements in the Standard for refrigeration appliances which has applied

since 11 July 2019.

The essential safety requirements which must be met for fridges and other white

goods are set out in the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. From 11

July 2019, any business using the revised Standard for refrigeration appliances to

demonstrate compliance with legal safety requirements under the Regulations, will

need to ensure their appliances pass the tests introduced in the revised Standard.

Refrigeration appliances using flammable materials will not pass the tests introduced

in the new Standard.

Regional Planning and Development: County Durham


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

to use the Northern Powerhouse to increase productivity in County Durham.

Nadhim Zahawi:

In his Manchester Speech of 27 July, the Prime Minister made clear this

Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse as part of its ambitions to

level-up the country, unlocking untapped productivity and economic potential in all

places, including County Durham.



This commitment builds on a track record of investment in economic growth in the

North East. Of the £3.4 billion Government has invested in Growth Deals across the

Northern Powerhouse, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has

received £379.6m across the three rounds of the Local Growth Fund. This investment

in innovation, business support, skills, economic assets and infrastructure and

transport and connectivity, will help people gain access to new jobs and opportunities

and provide businesses with the environment needed to grow and become more

productive. In County Durham, £17m of Local Growth Funding has been invested at

the National Formulation Centre and National Photonics Centre. These leading

innovation centres will boost productivity but also provide facilities and expertise to

help companies of all sizes develop new technologies and turn them into

commercially viable products that will grow the local economy.

The Northern Powerhouse’s emphasis on transport connectivity as a driver of

productivity will also be of direct benefit to Durham, for example the £780 million

upgrade to the East Coast Mainline.

Local economies are a crucial part of this: Bishop Auckland is also one of 50 places

across the Country that has progressed to the second phase of the £675 million

Future High Streets Fund, which will help local leaders to reinvent their town centres.

Those successful towns will now receive up to £150,000 of new funding to work up

detailed project proposals, based on their initial plans.

Regional Planning and Development: North of England



discussions he has had with the National Association of Local Councils on the delivery of

the Northern Powerhouse.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and his officials engage with local councils

through a range of different organisations and forums, including Local Enterprise

Partnerships and Transport for the North, where local councils are represented at

board level.

Shipbuilding

Mr Kevan Jones: [284579]

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

the Government is taking to support the supply of skills and expertise to UK shipyards.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Government is supporting the Maritime Enterprise Working Group (MEWG) to carry

out an analysis of the shipbuilding skills requirements needed to meet future demand.

The MEWG will use this analysis to inform the recruitment by the shipyards to meet

their future delivery requirements.



The Government’s Industrial Strategy “Building a Britain Fit for the Future” includes

the commitment to support young people to develop the skills they need for jobs in

the future. Government is committed to encouraging the take up of apprenticeships

and has set a target of 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020.

Small Businesses: Tees Valley

Dr Paul Williams: [284886]


meetings her Department has had with businesses on Teesside to discuss preparations

for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Nadhim Zahawi:








events.








Spark Energy: Billing

Kevin Brennan: [285213]


discussions she has had with Ofgem on energy bills being issued in error to customers of

other energy suppliers by Spark Energy Ltd.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

Representatives of the department meet regularly with Ofgem on a variety of policy

issues, including the retail energy market. It is for Ofgem to lead on erroneous billing

and other breaches of supplier licensing conditions.

Vauxhall Motors: Ellesmere Port

Justin Madders: [284918]

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

meetings she has had since taking office with representatives of the PSA Group on the

Vauxhall Motor plant in Ellesmere Port.






Nadhim Zahawi:

Vauxhall - part of Groupe PSA - is a key part of the UK’s successful automotive

industry, with major commercial vehicle manufacturing in Luton, as well as its

significant operation at Ellesmere Port. Groupe PSA recently announced that the next

generation Astra could be produced at Ellesmere Port. We are continuing our active

dialogue with Vauxhall and others in the Automotive sector and I was delighted to

speak with the company in recent weeks to discuss their UK operations and to

reiterate our support for investments in new technology, R&D and electrification.

VE Day



representations she has received from events organisers on the cancellation of the May

bank holiday in 2020 in order to commemorate VE Day.

Nadhim Zahawi:

In making the decision to move the early May bank holiday to commemorate VE Day,

options and implications were discussed between Government departments and with

the devolved administrations. The Government recognises that some minor

disruption has been caused to a small number of events but on this historic occasion

we wanted to ensure as many people as possible have the valuable opportunity to

pay a fitting tribute to our heroes of the Second World War.

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Office: Redundancy Pay

Jo Platt: [284484]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office,

which (a) Cabinet and (b) former Cabinet members have returned severance payments to

the public purse in the last three years.

Oliver Dowden:

Severance payments for Ministers are a statutory entitlement under section 4 of the

Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Information relating to Cabinet

Ministers’ severance payments is held by individual departments, and is published in

their departmental annual report and accounts. These are published on gov.uk.

Cabinet Office: Training

John Lamont: [284585]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what

plans he has for training on devolution for the Civil Service.




Kevin Foster:

It has never been more important for civil servants to understand devolution. As we

leave the EU a whole range of powers will return from Brussels and the Civil Service

must be ready to understand how those powers interact with the devolution

settlements.

My department champions devolution capability right across the Civil Service through

the flagship Devolution and You programme. Our learning and development offer is

extensive, ranging from online training to immersive workshops, work shadowing and

written guidance. Departments and devolved administrations also create tailored

devolution training on their specific policy areas and priorities.

We are constantly reviewing Devolution and You to develop additional training. For

example, we are working right now on enhancing our work shadowing and

interchange scheme so more civil servants can spend time directly working in

different administrations and different parts of the UK.

Civil Servants



whether he plans to increase the number of Civil Service roles outside of London.

Simon Hart:

The Government has committed to ensure that the administration of government,

including civil service roles and public bodies are located in the regions and nations

of the United Kingdom. The Cabinet Office is co-ordinating this activity through the

Places for Growth programme.

To date the Programme has identified over three thousand roles for relocation over a

phased timetable and it is working with all departments and public bodies to drive

location and workforce planning ahead of the next Spending Review.

Constituencies

Catherine West: [282446]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government still plans to bring

forward the 2018 Boundary Commission proposals to Parliament.

Kevin Foster:

In January 2019, a judicial review was submitted to the High Court in Northern Ireland

against the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland’s final report

On 28 May, the Court issued its judgment, which concluded that the Boundary

Commission had erred in law in the conduct of its consultation on the proposed new

constituencies for Northern Ireland

Both parties in the judicial review have lodged an appeal against the Court’s

judgment and the date of the appeal hearing is expected to be set later this year



The Government awaits the outcome of these legal proceedings. Primary legislation

requires the boundary changes for the constituent nations of the United Kingdom be

made at the same time.

Foreign Relations: Africa

Nia Griffith: [285238]


recent assessment he has made of the working relationship between the Whitehall Africa

Group and the Africa National Security Strategy Implementation Group; and what recent

assessment he has made of the level of risk of duplication of effort of those two groups.

Oliver Dowden:

The Sub-Saharan Africa National Security Strategy Implementation Group (NSIG) is

an internal governance mechanism established to oversee the development of

HMG’s strategic policy priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is led by a Senior

Responsible Officer at Director General level. The Whitehall Africa Group (WAG) is

responsible for implementing the strategic approach set out by the NSSIG for those

areas of policy within its remit, including overseeing discrete country and regional

strategies and acting as the Regional Board for Sub-Saharan Africa’s Conflict,

Stability and Security Fund allocation. The WAG is chaired by the FCO Director for

Sub-Saharan Africa, who sits as a member of the NSIG. This construct allows for a

productive working relationship between the two structures, which ensures that

HMG’s engagement is effectively and coherently delivered, without any duplication of

effort.

Government Departments: Digital Technology

Jo Platt: [284928]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2019 to

Question 279145, on what date his Department most recently assessed the number of

Government Transformation Strategy objectives on track to be met by 2020; and if he will

set a time frame for the publication of this information.

Simon Hart:

The Government Transformation Strategy concludes in March 2020. The

Government Digital Service (GDS) will publish an assessment of progress against the

commitments set out in the strategy later in 2020.

National Security



contingencies the Government has put in place to ensure that the roll out of Fusion

Doctrine will continue in the event that the current National Security Advisor leaves his

post.




Oliver Dowden:

The Fusion Doctrine was established in the Government’s National Security

Capability Review, published in March 2018. It created a more accountable system to

support collective Cabinet decision-making, with the introduction of senior

responsible owners to deliver each of the National Security Council’s (NSC) priorities.

Each senior responsible owner is accountable to the NSC for the development of

options and the implementation of the Government’s strategy. The Fusion Doctrine is

not dependent on the holder of any post at a particular point in time.

National Security Strategy Implementation Groups



recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the recently established National

Security Strategy Implementation Groups in improving cross-departmental working.



assessment he has made of the effectiveness of appointing Senior Responsible Officials

as part of the Government’s roll out of the Fusion Doctrine.

Oliver Dowden:

The 2018 National Security Capability Review (NSCR) introduced Fusion, a new

approach designed to improve our collective approach to national security and ability

to use all of the UK’s capabilities and policy levers to tackle complex national security

questions. Senior Responsible Owners (SRO) are assigned to each of the National

Security Council’s (NSC) priorities, each supported by an NSSIG to develop robust

advice to the NSC on both strategy and implementation.

The NSCR also set out the intention to conduct an Annual Posture Review (APR), the

first of which took place earlier this year and is the most substantive recent review of

Fusion as a whole. A summary of the key findings from the APR can be found at

paragraphs 5.11-5.12 of the Third Annual Report on the National Security Strategy

and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Public Sector: Computer Software

Jo Platt: [284390]


pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2019 to Question 278600, for what reason that Answer

did not confirm whether the Government has requested an extension for Windows 7

support from Microsoft.

Simon Hart:

The Government Digital Service (GDS) provides government departments with

guidance on selecting technology through the Technology Code of Practice. Further

details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-

code-of-practice/technology-code-of-practice




Individual technology choices and volumes purchased rest with individual

departments. As such, GDS does not provide guidance to departments on specific

operating systems, such as Windows 7 and the Government does not hold

information concerning departments choice to use Windows 7 machines centrally.

Microsoft provides guidance for its operating systems should departments need

specific information.

Additionally, the National Cyber Security Centre published information on their blog

on the upcoming removal of Windows 7 Support. The blog post can be found here:

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/one-year-left-windows-7-support

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers: Shipbuilding


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Harland and Wolff having

entered into administration, which UK shipyards have the infrastructure to facilitate the

repair and retrofitting of the UK's two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan:

Routine scheduled repair and refitting of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft

carriers, other than dry-docking, will be undertaken at Her Majesty's Naval Base

Portsmouth.

The following dry-dock facilities in the UK are of a sufficient size to accommodate the

Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers:

Able UK, Seaton Port, Teeside; Babcock, Rosyth; Cammell Laird, Birkenhead;

Cammell Laird, Greenock (Inchgreen); Harland and Wolff, Belfast.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [284997]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library any analysis

undertaken by his Department on the effect of proposals in Section 3 Civil litigation

longstop of the consultation on Legal Protection for Armed Forces Personnel and

Veterans in operations outside of the UK on (a) personnel who experience PTSD in

excess of 10 years after their service; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to limit the time period from

which injured servicemen and servicewomen can make compensation claims.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the proposals outlined in his

Department's consultation document Legal Protections for Armed Forces Personnel and

Veterans serving in operations outside the United Kingdom will result in varying the legal





protections offered to civilians (a) killed and (b) injured while serving outside the UK to

take action through the courts for compensation; and if she will make a statement.

Johnny Mercer:

The consultation on Legal Protections for Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans will

close on 13 October 2019. The Ministry of Defence will study carefully the responses

on its proposals (on a statutory presumption against prosecutions arising from

overseas incidents occurring more than 10 years previously; on a partial defence that

takes account of the operational context; and on limiting the courts’ discretion to

extend the three-year time limit for bringing civil claims for personal injury or death)

before deciding how to take these measures forward.

The proposed civil litigation longstop will not preclude Service personnel or civilians

deployed on overseas operations from bringing claims in relation to PTSD or other

conditions that manifest or are diagnosed more than 10 years after the incident which

caused the condition, as section 11 of the Limitation Act calculates time limits from

the later of (a) the date on which the cause of action accrued or (b) the date of

knowledge.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) applications his Department has

received and (b) payments his Department has made for injury compensation in the last

nine years where the injury was sustained more than (i) five years and (ii) 10 years

previously; and if he will make a statement.

Johnny Mercer:

The Ministry of Defence does not hold centralised information on injury dates relating

to War Pension Scheme (WPS) claims on the War Pension Computer System

(WPCS). To compile this information would incur disproportionate cost as paper claim

files would have to be manually reviewed by Defence Business Services Veterans

UK. There is no time limit on submitting a WPS claim.

The response relating to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) has been

compiled using data held on the Compensation and Pension System (CAPS).

However, it has not been possible to separate injury and illness claims as they are

not recorded separately on the CAPS and to compile this information for injury claims

only would incur disproportionate cost through a review of paper files. The response

therefore includes both injury and illness claims.

The incident date as recorded on the CAPS has been used to determine claims

registered five or ten years after the individual's injury was sustained or the onset of

illness. It should be noted that the incident date information may not always be

precise and the information provided is therefore an estimate. Claims under the

AFCS can be made up to seven years from the date of the original injury/diagnosis.

There were 10,767 injury/illness claims registered under the AFCS since 1 April 2010

where the injury/illness was recorded on the CAPS as having been sustained more

than five years prior to the date the claim was registered. Of these, 5,193 were


awarded compensation as at 31 March 2019. Those not awarded include claims

pending a decision, rejected claims and claims assessed as not serious enough to

attract a lump sum payment.

There were 619 injury/illness claims registered under the AFCS since 1 April 2010

where the injury/illness was recorded on the CAPS as having been sustained more

than ten years prior to the date the claim was registered. Of these, 123 were awarded

compensation as at 31 March 2019. As above, those not awarded include claims

pending a decision, rejected claims and claims assessed as but not serious enough

to attract a lump sum payment.

For common law negligence claims, records are not kept which allow the time

between the date of injury and date of claim to be calculated. In addition, not all

claims result from a single incident so dates cannot be assigned. The date of

knowledge of the injury or illness caused by a potentially negligent act is often the

significant factor.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's document

Legal protection for our Armed Forces Personnel and veteran serving in Operations

outside of the United Kingdom, how many military personnel have benefitted from the

discretion on enforcement of time limits to bring a claim as described in that document;

and if he will make a statement.

Johnny Mercer:

All claims received are considered on their individual merits and in line with the

Department's legal liability. Part of this process is to take a view as to whether a claim

falls outside the limitation period. Records are not kept of the number of claims in

which the Courts have heard limitation cases in which the Claimant is seeking

discretion in the application of the time limit relevant to their claim against the

Department.

The proposed civil litigation longstop will not preclude Service personnel or civilians

deployed on overseas operations from bringing claims in relation to PTSD or other

conditions that manifest or are diagnosed beyond that limit, as Section 11 of the

Limitation Act calculates time limits from the later of (a) the date on which the cause

of action accrued or (b) the date of knowledge.

Arms Trade: Trade Fairs

Lyn Brown: [284854]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2019 to

Question 280324 on Arms Trade: Trade Fairs, what military assets the Government will

provide to the Defence and Security Equipment International 2019 arms fair.




Various Ministry of Defence assets will be on display during the Defence Security

Equipment International exhibition including a number of Navy vessels alongside the

quayside and static displays of helicopters, fast jets and vehicles.

Army


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

whether the founding of the 6th Division will affect the current operations of the 77th

brigade.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what new funding has been allocated to the

6th Division.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the 6th Division will include reservists.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the establishment of the 6th Division

will result in servicemen and servicewomen being recruited from 77th brigade.

Mark Lancaster:

The formation of 6th (UK) Division brings together five existing Army brigades,

including 77th Brigade. The Division will enhance the Army's ability to conduct

intelligence, counter-intelligence and information operations as well as respond to

electronic, cyber and unconventional warfare threats. The brigades involved include

reserve units which will play a full part in 6th Division activity. No new funding has

been allocated as this is a rebalancing of existing units not the creation of new ones.

Defence: Expenditure

Peter Dowd: [284206]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row A of the table headed

Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government

Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will

publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Provision of Defence

Capability Service Personnel Costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row B of the table headed




Capability Civilian Personnel Costs.








To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row C of the table headed




Capability Infrastructure Costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row D of the table headed




Capability Inventory Consumption.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row E of the table headed




Capability Equipment Support Costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row F of the table entitled




Capability Other Costs and Services.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row G of the table entitled


Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published May 2019, if he will publish

a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Provision of Defence

Capability Receipts and other Income.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row H of the table entitled




Capability Depreciation and Impairments Costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row I of the table entitled











Capability Cash Release of Provisions Costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row J of the table entitled




Capability Capital Single Use Military Equipment.


It has not been possible to answer the hon. Member's questions in the time available.

I will write to the hon. Member by 17 September 2019.

Defence: Procurement

Dr Julian Lewis: [284780]

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

the potential effect of the proposed takeover of Cobham plc by Advent International on

the continuation and future of the major UK defence programmes (a) Air Tanker and (b)

Tempest; and what alternatives will be available to those programmes in the event that

Cobham plc ceases to contribute to them.


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

has made of the implications for the UK's defence industrial strategy of the proposed

acquisition of Cobham plc by a US-based private equity firm; what impact such a

takeover will have on the availability to other countries of sensitive defence technology;

what guarantees the Government will seek from the potential new proprietors in respect

of such technologies remaining (a) based in, and (b) available to the UK; and if he will

make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of

State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on calling-in the proposed takeover of

Cobham plc to protect UK defence interests.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of the principal (a)

defence services and (b) items of defence equipment supplied by Cobham plc to the UK

armed forces either directly or as component parts of services and goods supplied by

other defence companies for (i) threat simulation services and equipment, (ii) air-to-air

refuelling systems, (iii) weapons-release equipment and (iv) other categories of services

and equipment; what steps he will take to ensure that future generations of those

services and equipment will continue to be available to the UK armed forces in the event

that Cobham plc ceases to bid for the long-term contracts required to develop and deliver

them; and if he will make a statement.







While the proposed transaction for Cobham plc by Advent International is primarily a

commercial matter for the parties concerned, we are closely monitoring the situation.

Ministry Of Defence (MOD) officials have met both parties to understand their plans

in relation to the proposed acquisition. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public

interest grounds covering national security, financial stability or media plurality, with

each merger considered on a case by case basis.

The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has

a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of

State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised.

This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary

on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any

decision on whether to intervene.


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

acquisition of major UK-based defence companies by overseas investors; what

assessment he has made of the prospect of such companies being willing to (a) enter

into, and (b) deliver long-term defence contracts after they have been taken over by

private equity firms structured so as to make long-term ownership improbable; and

whether undertakings in respect of the (i) pursuit and (ii) fulfilment of long-term defence

contracts have or will be sought from Advent International its proposed acquisition of

Cobham plc.


Changes of control within the defence sector are largely a matter for the companies

concerned. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds including

for reasons of national security with each merger considered on a case by case

basis. We can take action through private undertakings in the form of security deeds,

or via statutory means under the Enterprise Act 2002.

The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has

a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of

State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised.

This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary

on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any

decision on whether to intervene.

Former Ministers: Redundancy Pay

Jo Platt: [285450]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what severance payment the rt hon. Member

for South Staffordshire received after he left his position as Secretary of State for

Defence.



Mr Ben Wallace:

Section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 sets out

Ministers' entitlement to severance payments. Any such payments are published in

each department's audited annual accounts, and these accounts can be found in the

Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Account Index where the severance pay for

the right hon. Member for South Staffordshire will be published in 2020. As detailed in

Section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991:

'the amount of the payment to which a person who has ceased to hold a relevant

office is entitled under this section is an amount equal to one-quarter of the annual

amount of the salary which was being paid to that person in respect of that office

immediately before the material time.'

Harland and Wolff: Insolvency


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government took into account

Harland and Wolff's involvement in two bids for the Type 31a Frigate contract when

taking the decision to refuse to offer temporary support to the shipyard prior to that

company entering into administration.


The T31 frigate competition is ongoing and therefore due to commercial and legal

sensitivities I cannot comment.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Sir Nicholas Soames: [284840]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned Establishment of the

Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and what is its current strength at all Ranks against its

Establishment numbers.

Mark Lancaster:

The table below shows the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's workforce requirement, by rank

and rate, as at 1 April 2019.

I am withholding the strength figures as their disclosure would, or would be likely to,

prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

RANK REQUIREMENT

Commodore 2

Captain 53

Chief Officer 87



First Officer 125

Second Officer 215

Third Officer 145

Chief Petty Officer 124

Petty Officer 207

Leading Hand 274

Able Bodied Seaman* 735

Total 1,967

*or equivalent

Note: These figures are from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's internal system and could

differ from published figures.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Tankers


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse has been of

refitting and retrofitting the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s four Tide-Class tankers.


Both RFA TIDESPRING and TIDERACE are currently undertaking their first refit

periods. Until these refits have completed, it is not possible to provide the final cost

figure.

Type 31 Frigates: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for a decision to be made

on the successful bidder to fulfil the new Type 31e frigates order.


I refer the hon. Member to the answer he was given by my predecessor (Stuart

Andrew MP) on 13 May 2019 to Question 251904.

Attachments:

1. 251904 - Type 31 Frigates: Procurement [Hansard Extract 8 May 2019, UIN

251904.docx]



DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Advertising: Misrepresentation

Gavin Robinson: [284864]

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

Department is taking to ensure that the Advertising Standards Authority bans adverts with

misleading descriptions, particularly in relation to broadband speeds.

Matt Warman:

Advertising in the UK is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the

industry’s independent regulator, which enforces the Advertising Codes through a

system of self-regulation and co-regulation with Ofcom. The Codes apply to all

media, including broadcast and online. They incorporate all relevant legislation and

set standards for accuracy and honesty to which advertisers must adhere, including

specific conditions on advertising to children, causing offence and social

responsibility.

The ASA is recognised by the government, the courts and trading standards as the

‘established means’ for the enforcement of misleading advertising, and the Codes

include rules designed to ensure that advertisers do not mislead consumers. It has a

range of sanctions it can take against non-compliant advertisers and, as a last resort,

can refer some to Trading Standards.

The ASA and Ofcom have both taken action in relation to broadband speeds. In May

2018, the ASA implemented new guidance that requires broadband speed claims in

adverts to be based on the download speeds available to at least 50% of customers

at peak time and no longer on 'up to' speeds available to at least 10% of customers.

In March 2019, Ofcom introduced an updated Broadband Speeds Code of Practice,

which all the major communication providers have signed up to. Under this code,

companies have to provide consumers with a minimum guaranteed speed at the

point of sale. If a consumer’s speed then drops below this level, companies have one

month to improve performance, before they must allow consumers to leave their

contract without penalty. This right to exit also applies to landline and TV packages,

which are purchased at the same time as broadband services.

Art Works

Jo Stevens: [282533]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to

respond to the consultation on Strengthening the Process for Retaining National

Treasures.

Rebecca Pow:

We are currently analysing the responses to the 'Strengthening the Process for

Retaining National Treasures' public consultation. The anaylsis is almost complete

and a Government response will be issued following collective agreement, in line with

standard procedures.



Jo Stevens: [282534]

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

consultation on Strengthening the Process for Retaining National Treasures, what plans

she has to strengthen the process for retaining national treasures; and whether her

Department has taken steps to implement the recommendations made by Sir Nigel

Carrington.

Rebecca Pow:

My Department is taking forward work to implement Sir Nigel Carrington’s

recommendations: We are currently analysing the responses to the 'Strengthening

the Process for Retaining National Treasures' public consultation. The analysis is

almost complete and a Government Response will be issued following collective

agreement, in line with standard procedures.

Arts

Thangam Debbonaire: [R] [284868]

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

discussions his Department has had Trade Union representatives for the creative

industries on the effect on that sector of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal

agreement.

Nigel Adams:

The creative industries are one of the UK's greatest success stories, producing an

extraordinary level of talent recognised and respected the world over. The UK's

decision to leave the EU will not change that.

While we have not held meetings with trade union representatives, we have held a

series of ministerial roundtables with the creative industries to ensure they are aware

of Government information on EU Exit and on the impacts and opportunities of

leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement. We will continue to work closely with

the creative sectors as we continue our preparations.

Broadband: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: [281790]

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

meet with his Scottish Government counterpart to discuss increasing the availability of

superfast broadband in the north east of Scotland.

Matt Warman:

The Secretary of State met her Scottish counterpart, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, in

August 2019 shortly after her appointment.

Officials from Building Digital UK meet regularly with Scottish officials on behalf of the

Department to discuss broadband rollout in Scotland, including rollout in the north

east of Scotland. The most recent Director level meeting was held in Glasgow on 20

August 2019.




Cybercrime: Departmental Responsibilities

Jo Platt: [285452]

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

Department's press release entitled, New boost to increase diversity in nation’s cyber

security industry, published 14 August 2019, what the responsibilities of the Cyber

Security Minister are; and what interactions he has with Cabinet Office Ministers.

Nigel Adams:

As the Minister of State, I lead on cyber security including all aspects of DCMS work

on the National Cyber Security Strategy. My full title is Minister for Sport, Media and

Creative Industries and my responsibilities include:

• Sport and the Commonwealth Games

• Oversight of departmental plans on Brexit

• Overall international strategy, including approach to future trade deals

• Lead Secondary Legislation Minister (including EU Exit statutory instruments)

• Media and Creative Industries

• Data and the National Archives

• Cyber Security

I have regular meetings with Cabinet Office ministers on cyber security and other

matters.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Newspaper Press

Philip Davies: [281674]

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

Department has spent on purchasing (a) national newspapers and (b) newspaper online

subscriptions since 2016; and how many copies of each national newspaper were

purchased in that time period.

Nigel Adams:

YEAR 2018/19 2017/18 2016/17

Spending on

Newspapers (£)

15533. 41 7298.92 710.95

Figures on the number of individual copies purchased is not held centrally and to

obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.



Gun Sports: Commonwealth Games

Stephen Kerr: [281126]

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

been made in restoring shooting to the range of sports in the Commonwealth Games.

Nigel Adams:

The decision on which core and optional sports are included in the Commonwealth

Games sports programme rests with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)

and its constituent members. A decision on the status of shooting as an optional sport

was taken at the 2015 Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly, and

also reaffirmed in 2016, when the new CGF Constitution was approved.

Shooting was not included at point of bid in the sport programme for the 2022 Games

in Birmingham, but following interest from a number of the optional sports and

disciplines, the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee has recently concluded an

Additional Sports review and costing exercise, considering the merits of adding

additional sports, including shooting, to the Games within available resources. The

review considered financial considerations and the potential for additional revenue

generation, the availability of suitable venues, and alignment with the CGF

Constitution and the objectives of Games partners. It also considered submissions

from each of the sports concerned. Based on the conclusions from the review, the

Organising Committee’s recommendation was to support the inclusion of Women’s

Cricket, Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis, but not to add Shooting or Archery

to the programme for Birmingham.This recommendation was subsequently approved

by the CGF Executive Board, and confirmed by a vote of the Commonwealth Games

Federation’s membership, who make the final decision on the matter. Looking ahead,

any consideration of shooting’s inclusion in future games will be a matter for the

Commonwealth Games Federation, and the Organising Committees of future Games.

The Government does recognise the strength of feeling on the matter among the

shooting community, and the desire to have an opportunity to showcase the sport in

2022, and as such I have spoken to the Commonwealth Games Federation regarding

the matter. They have agreed to advise British Shooting on the next steps for taking

forward proposals for an event for Commonwealth shooters, to be delivered

separately from the Games. The responsibility for any event would sit with British

Shooting, but I hope that this will give the shooting community in the UK the

opportunity to compete against shooters from across the Commonwealth in a UK

event in 2022.

Hate Crime: Sports

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [280438]

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

Government has allocated to tackle hate speech in sport; and what proportion of that

funding has been spent, in each of the last five years.



Nigel Adams:

It is not possible to isolate government funding to tackle hate speech in sport.

Government and its arm's length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, work with

National Governing Bodies of Sport and organisations such as Kick It Out, Stonewall

and Women in Football to tackle discrimination in local, national and international

sport. Grassroots sports clubs can also access free support and learning in tackling

discrimination through Sport England's "Club Matters" programme.

There is no place in sport or society more generally for any acts of discrimination,

including hate speech. Sports clubs and fans must continue to embrace diversity and

report incidents of discrimination wherever it occurs.

Loneliness: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: [281783]

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

Government provides to tackle loneliness among young people.

Nicky Morgan:

Last year’s loneliness strategy, ‘A Connected Society: A strategy for tackling

loneliness - laying the foundations for change’, sets out almost 60 new commitments

from nine government departments. Many of these commitments are targeted at

tackling loneliness among children and young people.

Examples include: teaching all primary and secondary school children in England

about loneliness from September 2020 under the new subjects of Relationships

Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education and supporting

young people to look after local green spaces and wildlife habitats, while building

social connections, through the #iwill campaign.

Twenty-two of the 126 organisations funded through the £11.5m Building

Connections Fund (delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Community

Fund and the Co-op Foundation) are working specifically with young people at risk of

loneliness. We are also working with the Office for National Statistics and other

external partners to improve the evidence base on youth loneliness.

Monuments: Scapa Flow

Dr Matthew Offord: [281726]

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

he has made on the proposed sale of dedicated monuments at Scapa Flow.

Rebecca Pow:

The wrecks in question – the SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm, SMS Konig, SMS Markgraf

and SMS Karlsruhe – lie within Scapa Flow, Orkney. They are protected as

scheduled monuments under the terms of the Ancient Monuments and

Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Designation of scheduled monuments is a devolved

matter for the Scottish Government and it has given responsibility for this to Historic

Environment Scotland.



Many scheduled monuments are owned privately and their ownership can change.

This does not change their protected status. The proposed sale of the wrecks by their

current owner does not change the fact that they are scheduled monuments.

Permission to undertake works to the Scapa Flow wrecks will continue to require the

prior written consent of Historic Environment Scotland.

Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government is considering changing

the designation of the wrecks from scheduled monuments to a Historic Marine

Protected Area, a designation which was introduced in Scotland by the Marine

(Scotland) Act 2010. A public consultation about this proposal has recently taken

place and the results will be published soon. Decisions about designating Historic

Marine Protected Areas are taken by Scottish Ministers.

Passenger Ships

Ruth Cadbury: [282601]

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

has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Maritime and Coastguard

Agency’ proposals for older passenger boats and the effect of those proposals on (a)

tourism, (b) visitors to National Historic Palaces and (c) vessels no longer being on the

National Historic Ships Register; and if will she make a statement.

Rebecca Pow:

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has not met with Ministers or

officials from the Department for Transport to discuss the Maritime and Coastguard

Agency’s proposals for older passenger boats.

The Department for Transport held an initial public consultation which ran from 6

November 2018 to 29 January 2019 with a second consultation running from 29th

May 2019 to 10 July 2019, which included impact assessments and took comments

from a range of stakeholders. Officials at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are

happy to discuss impacts with any interested parties and consider relevant evidence.


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

Department has had with regional tourism bodies on the potential effect the Maritime and

Coastguard Agency’s proposals for older passenger boats will have on the UK’s (a) fleet

of passenger boats and (b) tourism industry.

Rebecca Pow:

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has not had any discussions

with regional tourism bodies on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s proposals for

older passenger boats.

The Department for Transport held an initial public consultation which ran from 6

November 2018 to 29 January 2019 with a second consultation running from 29th

May 2019 to 10 July 2019, which included impact assessments and took comments



from a range of stakeholders. Officials at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are

happy to discuss impacts with any interested parties and consider relevant evidence.

Social Media: Scotland


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

discussions he has had with (a) his Scottish Government counterpart and (b) social

media companies on tackling online (i) abuse and (ii) extremist content in Scotland.

Matt Warman:

DCMS regularly engages with social media companies and the Scottish Government

on a range of issues relating to online harms, including as part of the recent

consultation on the Online Harms White Paper. The consultation closed on 1 July and

the Government intends to publish its response before the end of the year.

Social Media: Training

Paul Farrelly: [284268]

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

establish a voluntary citizen editors training scheme to help current social media

moderators more effectively manage potentially damaging content.

Matt Warman:

As outlined in the Online Harms White Paper, we intend to establish in law a new

duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent

regulator. The duty of care will ensure companies have appropriate systems and

processes in place to deal with harmful content on their services, and keep their

users safe. The Government is currently analysing the responses to the White Paper

consultation, and will publish its response by the end of the year.

Sports: West Midlands

Bill Wiggin: [282233]

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

make sport more accessible to (a) women and (b) disabled people in the West Midlands.

Nigel Adams:

Government’s strategy for sport and physical activity ‘Sporting Future: A New

Strategy for An Active Nation’ aims to create a more physically active nation, where

people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the benefits that sport and physical

activity can provide. The strategy focuses on people in groups that are currently less

likely to take part in sport and physical activity, such as women and girls and disabled

people.

Our national sport council, Sport England’s strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’ aims

to deliver the aims of Sporting Future and has funded a number of projects aimed at

supporting women and disabed people to be active in the West Midlands, including:




• Street League, who were awarded just over £543,000 to support the growth and

sustainability of their Dance Fitness programme in 5 cities, including Birmingham in

the West Midlands.

• Coventry Sports Foundation, who received over £7,000 to support the delivery of

their #GoGirls programme at multiple sport centres across the city to engage

female participants from deprived communities and minority backgrounds in

activities including Zumba, Clubbercise, circuits, spinning, boot camp, swimming,

netball and badminton.

• Royal Mencap Society, who received over £1m from Sport England (2018 – 2022)

to deliver the Round the World Challenge, which aims to support people with a

learning disability to get more active in a fun and engaging way by turning hours of

sport and physical activity into a round the world adventure. It is running from 10

locations in year 1, including the West Midlands.

• the Sporting Sense programme, which runs in the Midlands, London and Yorkshire,

supports adults and children who are deafblind and have complex communication

needs. This project increases the number of people with multiple sensory

impairments engaged in physical activity through direct delivery and upskilling the

workforce. In August 2019, Sport England announced a further £1.3m investment

for the evolution of the programme.

In addition, the Government is supporting the delivery of the Birmingham 2022

Commonwealth Games, which will have the biggest para sport and women’s sport

programme in Commonwealth Games history. It is the first time any major multi-sport

competition will have more medal events for women than men. It builds on the

incredible growth of women’s sport in recent years and offers a fantastic opportunity

to further increase the profile of para sport.

Television: Licensing

Stephanie Peacock: [282554]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on

the provision of free television licences to pensioners over the age of 75.

Nigel Adams:

In the 2015 funding settlement, we agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the

concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020. The BBC's Director General, Lord

Hall, said after the settlement in 2015: "the government's decisions to put the cost of

the over-75's on us has been more than matched by the deal coming back for the

BBC."

The BBC announced in June 2019 that, only people who are aged 75 and above and

in receipt of pension credit will continue to receive a free television licence from June

2020.

The Government is very disappointed with this decision. People across the country

value television as a way to stay connected, and the Government expects the BBC to


look at further ways to support older people. My officials will be continuing

discussions with the BBC in order to look at further ways to support older people.

Tourism: Coastal Areas

Gordon Henderson: [281738]

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

taking to encourage (a) UK and (b) overseas citizens to take holidays in UK (i) seaside

towns and (b) coastal communities.

Rebecca Pow:

VisitBritain and VisitEngland are responsible for promoting the UK as a tourist

destination, which it does through a range of different initiatives and campaigns. VB

sit on the Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum (run by the National Coastal Tourism

Academy), helping to shape the Coastal Visitor Economy Vision and Action Plan.

DCMS are observers at the forum.

One of the projects currently being supported by the £40m VisitEngland Discover

England Fund is the South West Coastal Path, which is promoting the path to the

Dutch and German market.

Government recently published the Tourism Sector Deal which aims to improve the

sector’s productivity and ready our visitor economy for the visitors of the future.


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

encourage the development of tourism in seaside towns and coastal communities.

Rebecca Pow:

VisitEngland administer the £40m Discover England Fund which has helped to

develop a number of tourism products which celebrate our coastal communities, such

as England’s Seafood Coast, the Garden Gourmet Trails of England and England’s

Coast.

My colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also

provide support and funding to coastal areas through the Coastal Communities Fund

and the Coastal Revival Fund, much of which has a tourism focus. They have also

set up Coastal Community Teams around the country to support the development of

the coastal economy. An example of this investment is the Queensborough Harbour

Trust Community Interest Company who received £500,000 of Coastal Communities

Funding, increasing the number of moorings in the harbour, improving facilities for

visitors and planning further activities and events for the future.

Tourism: North Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: [282232]

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

Department is taking to increase tourism in North Herefordshire.




Nicky Morgan:

On 10th July this year, my department launched the review of the guidance which

sets out the statutory duty placed on local authorities to provide appropriate local

youth services. Preliminary roundtables were held with youth sector organisations

and young people through the Government’s Youth Steering Group, focussing on the

strengths and weaknesses of the current guidance. A public call for evidence is the

next step of this process and will be announced in due course.

World Heritage Sites


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

Department’s single departmental plan, for what reason the intention to sponsor World

Heritage Sites in the UK under Objective 4.8 was removed in the update of 27 June 2019.

Rebecca Pow:

We can confirm that sponsoring World Heritage Sites in the UK has not been

removed from our Single Departmental Plan (SDP), and it remains a part of

“Marketing the UK across the world to promote jobs and growth by strengthening

cultural exports and promoting inward investments”.

Young People: Public Participation

Cat Smith: [285332]


announcement of 27 February 2019 that new youth voice projects will be launched to

encourage young people to participate in making national policy, what policies will be

prioritised for youth participation; and what steps she will take to ensure the work and

influence of the projects is transparent.

Nicky Morgan:

Three new youth voice projects were announced in February to encourage young

people to participate in making national policy:

- Youth Steering Group

- Young Inspectors Group

- Digital Youth engagement research

The Youth Steering Group has already been involved in discussing the Government’s

future offer for young people and the review of the guidance which sets out the

statutory duty placed on local authorities to provide appropriate local youth services.

The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy invited the Youth Steering Group to conduct

a review of environment and climate policy. Young people are also contributing to

policy development on serious violence through the Government’s Youth Advisory

Forum on Serious Violence .



The Young Inspectors Group are participating in the monitoring and evaluation of

national programmes affecting young people.

The Digital Youth Engagement research explored how new digital solutions can

enable large numbers of young people to play a role in consultations and policy

design across government.

We will make further announcements on these pioneering Youth Voice projects in

due course

Youth Services: Finance

Mr Steve Reed: [281767]


review his Department has launched into statutory guidance for local authorities on

providing youth services, whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment

on funding for youth services.

Nicky Morgan:

Local authorities are responsible for allocating public funding to youth services in their

area. We believe they are best placed to know what is required in their communities.

To increase opportunities for young people to benefit from open access youth

services and youth social action, Government is investing £80 million, in partnership

the National Lottery Community Fund, through the Youth Investment and #iwill

Funds.

A public call for evidence as part of the review of the guidance which sets out the

statutory duty placed on local authorities to provide appropriate local youth services

will be announced in due course. We expect that the review will provide greater

clarity of Government’s expectations, including the value added by good youth work.



review his Department has launched into statutory guidance for local authorities on

providing youth services, whether he plans to (a) allocate funding and (b) issue guidance

as a result of that review.

Nicky Morgan:

Local authorities are responsible for allocating public funding to youth services in their

area. We believe they are best placed to know what is required in their communities.

On 10th July this year, my department launched the review of the guidance which

sets out the statutory duty placed on local authorities to provide appropriate local

youth services. Preliminary roundtables were held with youth sector organisations

and young people through the Government’s Youth Steering Group, focussing on the

strengths and weaknesses of the current guidance. A public call for evidence as the

next step of this process will be announced in due course.



EDUCATION

Apprentices: Degrees


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

importance of transparency on setting and lowering funding bands for degree

apprenticeships.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

As part of its agreed responsibilities, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical

Education recommends and reviews funding bands to make sure that employers can

access high quality apprenticeships, and that funding bands represent good value for

money for employers and the government.

The Institute has highlighted its intention to improve transparency in its approach

towards pricing all apprenticeships and will work with trailblazer groups of employers

to test improvements. Details can be found in their Business Plan 2019-2020,

available here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/about/business-plan-2019-

2020/.

The government’s strategic guidance to the Institute asks it to go further in improving

understanding of its work and being responsive to employers’ feedback regarding the

funding band process for all apprenticeships, including Level 6+ and degree

apprenticeships. The strategic guidance is available here:

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

ent_data/file/790021/Strategic_Guidance_to_the_Institute_2019-20.pdf.

Apprentices: Taxation

Catherine McKinnell: [284461]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value of apprenticeship levy funds

expiring from employers' accounts was in August 2019; and what plans the Government

has for the allocation of those funds.

Catherine McKinnell: [285272]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value of apprenticeship levy funds

expiring from employers' accounts was in July 2019; and what plans the Government has

for those funds.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The amount of funds expiring in employers’ digital apprenticeship service accounts in

July 2019 was £44 million, and in August 2019 it was £52 million.

As well as funding apprenticeships in levy-paying employers, levy contributions are

also used to fund training for existing apprenticeship learners and new

apprenticeships in employers that do not pay the levy. We do not anticipate that all

employers who pay the levy will need or want to use all the funds in their accounts,

though they are able to do this if they wish.


https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/about/business-plan-2019-2020/



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/790021/Strategic_Guidance_to_the_Institute_2019-20.pdf





Children: Protection

Gill Furniss: [284506]


implications for his policies of the recommendations made by Missing Families in its

report entitled All of us were broken, published 29 July 2019; and what steps he is taking

to improve protections and support for children at risk of exploitation and their families.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The department welcomes Missing People’s work on this matter and, together with

the Home Office, will give due consideration to the report’s recommendations.

To improve protections and support for children at risk of exploitation and their

families, we have strengthened local safeguarding arrangements through the

Children and Social Work Act (2017). We have placed a duty on safeguarding

partners – the police, health and the local authority – to work together to make plans

to keep children safe and be accountable for how well agencies work together to

protect children from abuse and neglect in their local area.

These new arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children must

be implemented by safeguarding partners by the end of September 2019. It will be for

local determination regarding what the arrangements cover, but they must set out

how all children, including those at risk of child criminal exploitation, will be kept safe.

In order to ensure transparency regarding the activities undertaken, the safeguarding

partners must publish a report, at least once in every 12-month period, setting out

what they have done as a result of the arrangements and how effective these

arrangements have been in practice.

In 2018 we revised the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and ‘Keeping

Children Safe in Education’ statutory safeguarding guidance documents to reflect

new and emerging risks of harm to children including county lines, criminal

exploitation and other harms from outside the home.

The department is also funding a £2 million Tackling Child Exploitation support

programme to provide evidence-based expertise, advice and practical support to

safeguarding partners in local areas to develop an effective multi-agency response to

extra-familial harms such as child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and

gang and drug involvement that exploit vulnerable children.

Education: Disadvantaged


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the findings of the annual

report by the Education Policy Institute, published in July 2019, what steps he will take to

tackle the education disadvantage gap.



Nick Gibb:

The Department welcomes the focus this report brings and will consider its

recommendations carefully, given the Department’s commitment to closing the

attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.

Since 2011, the attainment gap has narrowed by more than 9% at age 16 and more

than 13% at age 11. The Department’s reforms and the extra support funded by the

pupil premium have contributed to this improvement.

The Department established the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) with £137

million to research in hundreds of English schools the most effective ways of using

pupil premium, and promote these so that all schools can make a difference to their

disadvantaged pupils’ futures. In June 2019, the EEF published a ‘Pupil Premium

Guide’ that gives schools clear advice about how best to use the pupil premium grant.

The Department encourages all schools to use this guide, which can be accessed

here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/pupil-

premium-guide/.

The Department seeks to ensure no pupils are left behind – hence the targeted

support in some of the most socially immobile areas of the country through the £72

million opportunity areas programme and the Department’s commitment to halve the

proportion of children who finish reception year without the communication and

reading skills they need to thrive.

Electronic Publishing: VAT Zero Rating

Hannah Bardell: [285071]

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

Chancellor of the Exchequer on the zero-rating of VAT on digital publications.

Nick Gibb:

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

Cabinet colleagues to discuss the Department for Education's agenda.

Higher Education: Equal Pay

Stephen Morgan: [284396]

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

pay gap in higher education (a) at Portsmouth University and (b) in the UK.

Gavin Williamson:

Since April 2017, employers with more than 250 staff are required by law to annually

report gender pay gap information. All of the gender pay gap data published by

organisations, including the University of Portsmouth, is available on the

government’s reporting website: https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/.

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/pupil-premium-guide/





History: GCE A-level and GCSE

Mr Jim Cunningham: [284393]

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

pupils learning about the British Empire at (a) GCSE and (b) A level.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the (a)

quality and (b) quantity of British Empire history modules offered by exam boards at (a)

GCSE and (b) A level.

Nick Gibb:

The history curriculum gives teachers and schools the freedom and flexibility to use

specific examples from history to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the

wider world. This can include the topic of the British Empire. Schools and teachers

are able to determine which examples, topics and resources to use to stimulate and

challenge pupils, as well as reflect key points in history. A high quality history

education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s

past, and that of the wider world.

The Department does not estimate the numbers of pupils being taught specific topics

within the curriculum. Entries to history GCSE have increased by 7% from 2018, and

there has been a 5% increase to A level history this year, meaning that history A level

entries are now at a higher level than in 2010.

The Department sets out the subject content for GCSE and A level history. Within this

framework, exam boards have the flexibility to offer a greater focus on particular

knowledge areas within the scope of the subject content, including, if they choose,

the British Empire. Exam boards can only award GCSEs and A levels once the Office

for Qualifications and Examinations regulation (Ofqual) accredits them. Ofqual

accredits qualifications when it is confident that the exam board can comply with the

requirements for the qualification on an ongoing basis.

Although the subject content does not specifically require teaching on the British

Empire, both GCSE and A level history must include a substantial element of British

history and/or the history of England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales. The new GCSE

subject content requires a minimum of 40% British history, and the new A level

subject content requires a minimum of 20% British history.

Lifelong Education

Mrs Anne Main: [282252]

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

increase access to lifelong learning.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

Our adult skills system seeks to improve productivity, employment levels and social

inclusion. It supports people who are starting out in their careers, those who want to

upskill and those who want or need to change careers.




Adult skills and lifelong learning provision includes:

• Apprenticeships: Our reforms to apprenticeships are benefiting people of all ages

and backgrounds, including adults developing their skills. We have given

employers the flexibility to offer apprenticeships to both new recruits and existing

staff, supporting the creation of quality workplace training opportunities and life-

long learning.

• Adult Education Budget (AEB) funded provision: The AEB fully funds or co-fund

skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3

(including traineeships) to help them gain the skills they need for work, an

apprenticeship or further learning. It also enables flexible tailored programmes of

learning to be made available which do not need to include a qualification.

• From 1 August 2019, approximately half of the AEB has been devolved to 6

Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and the Mayor of London acting through the

Greater London Authority (GLA). From this date the MCAs and GLA can use the

devolved AEB to shape education and skills provision in a way that best fits the

needs of their residents and local economy. The Education and Skills Funding

Agency (ESFA) will be responsible for funding AEB learners resident in non-

devolved areas.

• Part-time higher education (HE) provision: Flexible and part-time HE has a key role

in terms of widening choice and participation in HE for adults.

• The National Retraining Scheme: The National Retraining Scheme is a new

programme which is currently being developed as part of the government’s answer

to the transforming world of work. The National Retraining Scheme will help

prepare adults for the future changes to the economy, including those brought

about by automation, and help them retrain into better jobs.

• Advanced Learner Loans support clear routes into work, progression within work

and progression to higher education, by providing fees support for level 3 to level 6

qualifications. Access to multiple Advanced Learner Loans enables adults to

progress or re-skill.

• European Social Fund (ESF) funded provision: The ESF is an EU programme that

delivers £3 billion (over 7 years) of employment/training provision to support those

furthest from learning and the labour market. DfE and ESFA are one of several Co-

Financing Organisations that procure provision on behalf of Local Enterprise

Partnerships and deliver on average £150 million of skills provision per annum.

Provision is a mixture of regulated and unregulated employment and skills courses

with a strong focus on additional and ‘wraparound’ support (for example,

employability skills, confidence building, mentoring to overcome personal barriers

to learning and/or employment).

Primary Education: Admissions

Steve McCabe: [281573]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2019 to

Question 263684, what assessment his Department has made of the overall compliance

of schools in England with equalities law and the schools admission code in their

admittance and treatment of children with SEND.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2019 to

Question 263684, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of the

reported practice of parents and reviewing bodies of schools seeking to avoid compliance

with equalities law and the schools admission code in their admittance and treatment of

children with SEND.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The admission authorities of all mainstream state-funded schools must comply with

the School Admissions Code and with equalities law when determining and applying

their admission arrangements.

The Admissions Code includes provisions relating to the admission of children with

special educational needs and disabilities, both in relation to those children who have

an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and those who do not. Where a child

has an EHCP that names a particular mainstream or special school, the school has a

legal duty to admit that child.

If anyone considers that a school’s admission arrangements are not lawful they may

object to the Schools Adjudicator, whose decisions are binding and enforceable. The

parents of any child refused admission to a mainstream school also has the right of

appeal to an independent appeals panel.

Any parent who feels their admission appeal was not carried out properly can

complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (for maintained

schools) or the Education, Skills and Funding Agency (for academies).

Religion: Education

Mike Kane: [284143]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations have been received by

his Department on the provision of RE teaching in schools as part of a broad and

balanced curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb:

The Department receives regular representation on the matter of religious education

(RE). For example, I attended a panel discussion at the All Party Parliamentary

Group on RE on 16 July.

All state funded schools are required by legislation or by their funding agreements to

teach RE to all registered pupils aged 5 to 18 years. Teaching RE is also central to




the duty on state schools to teach a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the

spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils.

School Exclusions Review

Paul Blomfield: [285262]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the consultation on the

recommendations of the Timpson Review will include (a) socio-economic and (b) ethnic

trends in school exclusions.

Nick Gibb:

The Government is taking forward an ambitious programme of action which will

respect head teachers’ powers to use exclusion, while also equipping schools to

support children at risk of exclusion, and ensuring excluded children continue to

receive a good education. As part of this, the Department will make schools

responsible for pupils who are permanently excluded and will launch a consultation

on how to deliver this in practice.

In designing this consultation, the Department is working with leaders from across the

education sector and will consider the findings of the Timpson Review on disparities

in exclusion rates between different groups of children. In response to the review, the

Government called on the Directors of Children’s Services, governing bodies,

academy trusts, and local forums of schools to review information on children who

leave schools, by exclusion or otherwise, and to establish a shared understanding of

how the data on the characteristics of such children feeds local trends.

Schools: Security

Alex Norris: [285087]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department will publish the (a)

results and (b) final guidance from the consultation on school security.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The department is currently considering the results of a public consultation on new

security guidance for schools and colleges, with the intention of publishing this later in

the year. We will publish the department’s response to the consultation at the same

time we publish the guidance.

Schools: Staff

Angela Rayner: [R] [284904]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the post on his

Department's education in the media blog, entitled Supporting teachers for the upcoming

year, dated 30 August 2019, for what reason were representatives of trades unions

representing school support staff not invited to attend the meeting with education trade

unions on 29 August 2019; and what plans he has to meet those trades unions.




Nick Gibb:

The meeting on 29 August 2019 between my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State

for Education and unions representing teachers and school leaders was an

opportunity to discuss issues particularly relevant to those members of the school

workforce, including how we can recruit and retain the best and most experienced

teachers. The Department for Education regularly engages with unions representing

school support staff and that engagement will continue.

Schools: Uniforms


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he will take to make school

uniforms and PE kits more affordable for families on low incomes.

Nick Gibb:

It is for the governing body of a school, or in the case of academies, the academy

trust, to decide rules relating to appearance including whether there should be a

school uniform, what it will be and how it should be sourced.

No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling

unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice. The Department’s best-practice

guidance advises schools that they should give the highest priority to cost

considerations and achieving value for money for parents.

The Department intends to put the school uniform guidance on a statutory footing

when a suitable opportunity arises and the guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform.

Schools: Weather


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had on

publishing guidance on safe temperature in schools and replacing school uniform policy

in hot weather.

Nick Gibb:

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health,

safety and welfare of their staff and others present in the workplace (including

schools) meaning they should seek to protect against excessive working

temperatures.

Similarly, Regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations

1992 requires employers to ensure that temperatures in workplaces should be

reasonable.

The Department published updated guidance for new school buildings in 2018 that

covers indoor temperatures and measures to reduce overheating. This can be

accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ventilation-thermal-

comfort-and-indoor-air-quality-in-schools. The Department is also working with wider


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform


https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ventilation-thermal-comfort-and-indoor-air-quality-in-schools



industry to develop good practice in response to climate change to ensure we have a

sustainable school estate.

Guidance for schools during a heat wave is widely available for both indoor and

outdoor activities including practical advice that includes relaxation of uniform policy.

It is for the governing body of a school (or in the case of academies, the academy

trust) to decide rules relating to appearance, including whether there should be a

school uniform.

Public Health England guidance for teachers and schools for early years provision

during heatwaves is available at:


ent_data/file/428850/Looking_After_Children_Heat_PHE_AC_AB_Publications_MP_

JRM_FINAL.PDF.

Special Educational Needs: Finance



increase the level of funding for special education needs pupils in schools.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

Our ambitions for children and young people with complex special educational needs

and disabilities (SEND) are exactly the same as for every other child and young

person. As part of this, we are pleased to announce that we will be providing an

additional £700 million, 10% in high needs funding next year alone, which will help

local authorities to ensure that they can continue to offer the right support for children

and young people with the most complex SEND.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Tom Brake: [281547]


potential merits of a central bursary fund to train teachers specialising in teaching children

with a hearing impairment; and what plans he has to address the shortage of specialised

teachers in this area.

Tom Brake: [281548]

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

of the potential merits of introducing a bursary scheme to support the training of new

teachers of the deaf.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The department received a proposal from the National Deaf Children’s Society

(NDCS) for a central bursary scheme to fund trainee teachers of the hearing

impaired. After consideration the department found that it did not provide strong

enough evidence that a bursary is the solution to the declining numbers of trained

teachers of the deaf.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428850/Looking_After_Children_Heat_PHE_AC_AB_Publications_MP_JRM_FINAL.PDF







Officials are working with NDCS and other organisations in the sensory impairment

sector to identify non-bursary solutions to support teachers wishing to train as

teachers of the deaf, or teachers for the sensory impaired more widely.

STEM Subjects: Higher Education


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

on funding for STEM subjects at higher education institutions of the UK leaving the EU

without a deal.

Gavin Williamson:

Part of the teaching grant funding that the government provides to eligible higher

education (HE) providers, via the Office for Students, is allocated to support the

provision of high-cost subjects, including science, technology, engineering and

mathematics (STEM) subjects. We do not expect this funding arrangement to change

as a result of Brexit.

We do not expect any significant short-term increase in the vulnerability of HE

providers to financial failure as a result of no deal EU Exit. The income shock from

EU exit, deal or otherwise, is expected to be ‘manageable’, and any effect will not

lead to a cliff-edge.

Department for Education officials engage regularly with HE institutions in relation to

HE funding and the provision of high-priority courses such as STEM, as well as on

EU Exit.


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

universities on the effect of higher education funding arrangements on the sustainability

of STEM courses in (a) Portsmouth and (b) the UK.

Gavin Williamson:

Part of the teaching grant funding that the government provides to eligible higher

education providers, via the Office for Students, is allocated to support the provision

of high-cost subjects, including most science, technology, engineering and

mathematics (STEM) subjects.

As part of the government’s Post-18 Education and Funding Review, the department

will be considering recommendations made by the independent panel carefully. The

government has not yet made a decision regarding the recommendations put

forward. The department will continue to engage with stakeholders as it considers the

recommendations.

Discussions with stakeholders are likely to include higher education funding and

provision of high-priority courses, such as STEM.



Truancy

Peter Kyle: [284511]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will respond to the petition entitled Stop

treating school refusal as truancy hosted by 38 Degrees from Not Fine in School which

calls for the creation of a new legal attendance / absence code that will measure the

scale of school refusal.



ensure that schools are consistent in their responses to cases of school refusal.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the petition entitled Stop

treating school refusal as truancy hosted by 38 Degrees from Not Fine in School, if he will

make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a new legal attendance /

absence code to measure the scale of school refusal.

Nick Gibb:

The Department trusts schools to record, authorise and monitor attendance

effectively and to work constructively with individual parents and pupils to improve

school attendance where it is a problem.

The law places a duty on parents to ensure that their child attends school regularly

where the child is of compulsory school age and registered at a school. The

Education Act 1996 also sets out the situations in which an absent pupil will not be

taken to have failed to attend school regularly, such as where the child was

prevented from attending due to illness.

The Department recognises that mental health problems can have an impact on a

pupil’s attendance and the guidance to schools is clear that they should authorise

pupil absence due to illness (both physical and mental health related) unless they

have genuine cause for concern about the veracity of an illness. If the authenticity of

illness is in doubt, schools can request parents to provide medical evidence to

support absence, but this is not mandatory.

The statutory Special Educational Need and Disability Code of Practice sets out the

approach that schools should take when staff notice an emerging issue, including

mental health issues. Where more serious problems occur, schools should expect

pupils and families to be able to access support from specialist services.

Local authorities must arrange suitable full-time education for children of compulsory

school age who, because of illness, would not receive suitable education without

such provision. The Department’s statutory guidance states that local authorities

should provide such education as soon as it is clear that a child will be away from

school for 15 days or more, whether consecutive or cumulative.




Young People: Carers


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

improving access to adequate support for young carers to tackle loneliness and social

isolation.

Mrs Kemi Badenoch:

The government is committed to supporting young carers so that they are properly

protected from excessive or inappropriate caring responsibilities and supported to

achieve their full potential. Consistent identification remains challenging, with many

being ‘hidden’ and therefore unrecognised and/or unsupported.

Changes through the Children and Families Act 2014 simplified the legislation

relating to young adult carers’ assessments, making rights and duties clearer to both

young people and practitioners. This included promoting whole family approaches

which triggers both children’s or young people's and adults’ support services into

action – assessing why a child is caring, what needs to change and what would help

the family to prevent children or young people from taking on this responsibility in the

first place.

Most of the government’s work to support carers is led by the Department for Health

and Social Care (DHSC) delivered through the Carers Action Plan. The 'Shaping our

Future: Improving Assessment and Support for Young Carers Transition to

Adulthood' report was published in June and is available from here:

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/young-

carer_transition_report.pdf.

One of the recommendations states that there is more to learn about young carers’

experiences of loneliness and how it is related to their well-being. There should be a

specific focus on young adult carers being better connected in order to tackle the

loneliness they experience. DHSC will be sharing the findings of the report with the

appropriate government departments for them to consider the recommendations

within their policies.

We have recently published the Children in Need Review conclusion, and this sets

out our approach to helping schools and children’s social care improve the

educational outcomes of children in need, including those young carers assessed as

being in need.


https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/young-carer_transition_report.pdf



ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Dr Sarah Wollaston: [281018]

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

Government has taken to reduce the complexity of environmental schemes for land

holders.

George Eustice:

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) took on responsibility for Environmental

Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship schemes in October 2018, and has

introduced a number of measures on agri-environment schemes to make it easier for

farmers and land managers to apply and make it simpler for them to administer.

The RPA has made improvements to the online service, including making more offers

available to apply for online and allowing applicants to download application packs. It

has simplified both the rules regarding the evidence we require and the guidance

manuals. In addition the RPA has made changes to the processing cycle which has

reduced completion times for applications, agreements, claims and payments.

Looking forward we are considering ways to drive further online uptake, make

improvements to the information on GOV.UK, and whether there are further

simplifications we can make to the scheme to support the transition to a new

Environmental Land Management Scheme, subject to exit negotiations and funding.

Amazonia: Fires

Alex Sobel: [285148]

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

Department is giving to indigenous people in the Amazon affected by major forest fires;

and what steps his Department is taking to discourage forest burning by logging and

farming interests in Brazil.

Zac Goldsmith:

The increase in forest fires in the Amazon is a tragedy for all of us, but none more so

than the indigenous people who call the Amazon their home. These fires are made

more likely by deforestation, and that is why we have invested nearly £120 million of

our international climate finance in projects to limit deforestation, support local and

indigenous people, prevent forest fires and implement the Forest Code in the

Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.

We will continue to work with Brazilian partners at federal and sub-national levels to

help them protect the Amazon, and to support the transition to a low carbon

economy. The first phase of Defra’s £24.9 million Low-carbon Agriculture

programme, for example, completed in May this year. It reached over 18,500

beneficiaries in the Amazon and Atlantic forest biomes, avoided the clearance of

175,000 hectares of land, reduced carbon emissions by 52% and delivered a seven-

fold increase in livestock productivity.



Animal Breeding

Thangam Debbonaire: [284967]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

the Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 S.I., No. 117, what

assessment he has made of the preparedness of the appropriate authorities defined in

that instrument in each constituent part of the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a

withdrawal agreement on 31 October 2019.

George Eustice:

Defra has been working closely with the Devolved Administrations to ensure

preparedness in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. The existing EU

regime will continue to apply in the UK, with the Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU

Exit) Regulations rolling over current EU legislation into UK law. As part of our no

deal planning, Defra has applied to the EU Commission for third country listing of our

UK animal breeding organisations so that they can continue to participate in

zootechnical trade with EU breeding organisations.

Eggs: Imports

Mr David Jones: [281660]

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

taking to ensure that imported liquid and powdered egg products are compliant with UK

food standards after the UK leaves the EU.

Zac Goldsmith:

Our high animal welfare, environmental and biosecurity standards are of critical

importance to the UK and we are committed to ensuring those standards are

maintained when we leave the EU. We have been clear that we will not water down

our standards in pursuit of trade deals.

As a member of the EU we share standards of biosecurity with other Member States.

This has facilitated the free movement of these goods between Member States. In

the short term those standards will not change. Furthermore, to ensure minimum

disruption at the UK border, we will not introduce new border controls on these goods

imported from the EU. Import requirements relating to welfare will also be retained.

To ensure we remain vigilant, we will require advance notification of imports of high

risk food and feed from the EU. This includes products of animal origin and high risk

food and feed not of animal origin. The Food Standards Agency will be in a position

to monitor those notifications so that, in the event of a food incident occurring

involving imported food or feed, it will be able to respond effectively to safeguard

public health by swiftly identifying the point of entry to the UK and the spread of a

problem. We will also be reviewing our imports regime once we leave the EU.

For imports from countries outside the EU we will maintain the current controls, and

consignments of animal products will continue to be required to enter at UK Border

Inspection Posts for veterinary checks. Notification will be required using the UK



Import of Products, Animals and Food and Feed System. These controls will also

apply to products of animal origin that come from outside the EU, but travel through

the EU before arriving in the UK.

Fishing Vessels: Licensing


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

the Sea Fish Licensing (England) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 S.I., 253, what assessment

he has made of the preparedness of the appropriate authorities in England to operate

licensing procedures for foreign fishing vessels in the event that the UK leaves the EU on

31 October 2019.

George Eustice:

When the UK leaves the EU, access for foreign vessels to fish in UK waters will be a

matter for negotiation. Foreign fishing vessels will be prohibited from fishing in UK

waters unless they have a licence issued by the UK. In the event of an agreement

providing for access to UK waters for foreign vessels, the Marine Management

Organisation will act as the UK’s Single Issuing Authority and will licence non-UK

vessels to fish in UK waters on behalf of Devolved Fisheries Administrations

Food Supply

Caroline Lucas: [281007]

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

his Department's guidance issued to (a) Resilience Forums, (b) local authorities (c) other

bodies with responsibilities to prepare for crises under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004

and (d) representatives from the agriculture industry on the worst-case scenario in

relation to food preparations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice:

Specific guidance for the food and drink sector is available at

www.gov.uk//defra/brexit-food-drink-sector.

Livestock: Animal Welfare


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

to bring forward legislative proposals to ban cages for all farm animals in the UK.

Zac Goldsmith:

The issue of cages for farmed animals is one in which the government is taking a

close interest. We have already banned cages or close confinement systems where

there is clear scientific evidence that they are detrimental to animal health and

welfare. We banned the keeping of calves in veal crates in 1990, sixteen years before

the rest of the EU. We banned the keeping of sows in close confinement stalls in the

UK in 1999, and conventional battery cages for laying hens in 2012. I am pleased




that the UK has by far the largest free range laying hen sector of any EU country, with

over 50% of our hens kept in free range systems.

The government is actively looking into the use of cages and we will be considering

the full range of options that are available for future reform.

Dr Rupa Huq: [284800]

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

she has made of the merits of banning the caging of farmed animals.

Zac Goldsmith:

The issue of cages for farmed animals is one in which the government is taking a

close interest. We have already banned cages or close confinement systems where

there is clear scientific evidence that they are detrimental to animal health and

welfare. We banned the keeping of calves in veal crates in 1990, sixteen years before

the rest of the EU. We banned the keeping of sows in close confinement stalls in the

UK in 1999, and conventional battery cages for laying hens in 2012. I am pleased

that the UK has by far the largest free range laying hen sector of any EU country, with

over 50% of our hens kept in free range systems.

The government is actively looking into the use of cages and we will be considering

the full range of options that are available for future reform.

Meat: Imports

Neil O'Brien: [280389]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a)

proportion, (b) value and (c) volume of (i) lamb, (ii) beef, (iii) pork and (iv) chicken

consumed in the UK is imported (A) from the EU and (B) from the rest of the world.

George Eustice:

According to analysis of HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics and Defra agricultural

statistics, in 2018:

UK lamb consumption - (A) imported from the EU = (a) 7%, (b) £53m, (c) 21

thousand tonnes and (B) imported from the rest of the world = (a) 26%, (b) £320m,

(c) 76 thousand tonnes.

UK beef consumption - (A) imported from the EU = (a) 30%, (b) £1.1bn, (c) 343

thousand tonnes and (B) imported from the rest of the world = (a) 2%, (b) £94m, (c)

22 thousand tonnes.

UK pork consumption - (A) imported from the EU = (a) 55%, (b) £849m, (c) 792

thousand tonnes and (B) imported from the rest of the world = (a) 0.1%, (b) £3m, (c)

1 thousand tonnes.

UK poultry consumption - (A) imported from the EU = (a) 25%, (b) £1.2bn, (c) 548

thousand tonnes and (B) imported from the rest of the world = (a) 2%, (b) £61m, (c)

36 thousand tonnes.



Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Roger Godsiff: [281575]

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

Air Quality Unit vehicle checking software will be ready by February 2020.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

Yes.

Sri Lanka: Recycling


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

taking to prevent the export of (a) hazardous and (b) medical UK waste to Sri Lanka as

recycling.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

It is prohibited to export hazardous waste from the UK to countries, such as Sri

Lanka, which are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD). The export of non-hazardous healthcare wastes for recycling

to countries outside the OECD is permissible when following a prior written

notification and consent procedure, and would require the consent of the competent

authorities in the countries of import and export prior to shipment. No such consent

has been issued in respect of exports of healthcare wastes to Sri Lanka.

The UK environmental regulators take a proactive, intelligence led approach to

checking compliance with the legislation, targeting exports which pose a high risk and

intervening to stop illegal exports. In 2017/18, the Environment Agency issued 158

stop notices, prohibiting the export of unsuitable waste. It stopped 367 containers of

waste destined for illegal export at ports and intervened further upstream to prevent

8,974 tonnes of waste from reaching our ports. Any UK operators found to be illegally

exporting waste can be fined and/or imprisoned for up to two years.

Tree Planting: Urban Areas

Dr David Drew: [282182]

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

Department is making available for planting or replanting urban trees to replace trees that

have been removed due to disease or decay.

Zac Goldsmith:

There are no grants available specifically for the replacement of trees removed due to

disease or decay, but there are opportunities for funding or new planting in and

around our towns and cities under the recently launched £10 million Urban Tree

Challenge Fund. This fund will support the planting of up to 130,000 trees across

towns and cities in England, and contributes to our manifesto commitment to plant

one million urban trees by 2022.




Veterinary Medicine: Drugs

Chuka Umunna: [280341]

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

Government’s plan for registration of veterinary medicines in the event of a no deal Brexit

have been implemented.

Chuka Umunna: [280342]

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

Government’s plan for regulation of veterinary medicines in the event of a no deal Brexit

have been implemented.

George Eustice:

When the UK leaves the EU, the UK will no longer be part of the EU regulatory

framework for veterinary medicines. The UK Government, through the Veterinary

Medicines Directorate (VMD), will take on those functions which are currently carried

out for the UK by the EU. In order to prepare for the regulation and registration of

veterinary medicines in a no deal Brexit parliament has approved no deal statutory

instruments, which will enable the continued regulation of veterinary medicines.

EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brexit

Vicky Ford: [912291]

What outcome he is seeking in his negotiations with the EU.

James Duddridge:

Any deal must abolish the backstop. Our future ambition is for a best in class FTA

and wider provisions covering economic, security and cross-cutting cooperation.


What recent discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on the UK’s

withdrawal from the EU.

James Duddridge:

The Secretary of State has spoken to both Scottish and Welsh government Ministers

twice since his reappointment and I know he looks forward to attending the Joint

Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations later this month.

I have written to my counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh governments, the Welsh

Brexit Minister and the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans in the

Scottish Government, and look forward to meeting with them soon.





Brexit: Northern Ireland

Greg Hands: [912298]

What recent assessment he has made of the efficacy of recommendations of the

Alternative Arrangements Commission on arrangements on the Irish border after the UK

leaves the EU.

James Duddridge:

I welcome the report by the Alternative Arrangements Commission co-chaired by my

Right Honourable Friend and I thank him for his continued engagement.

We have considered it alongside input from technical experts and businesses to

inform our approach to removing the backstop and avoiding a hard border in Northern

Ireland in the context of negotiations on the future agreement between the UK and

the EU.

Brexit: Scotland

Martin Docherty-Hughes: [912288]

What plans he has to meet the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and

Constitutional Relations of the Scottish Government.

James Duddridge:

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union spoke with the Cabinet

Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations in the Scottish

Government within the first few days of his reappointment.

The Secretary of State looks forward to seeing him next at the Joint Ministerial

Committee on European Union Negotiations later this month.

I have written to my counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh governments and look

forward to meeting with them soon.

Environment Protection

Ruth Jones: [912296]

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food

and Rural Affairs on environmental policy of the effect of the UK leaving the EU .

James Duddridge:

We continue to have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across

Government on all aspects of exiting the European Union.

The Government has been clear that it will not weaken our current environmental

protections as we leave the European Union and will maintain and enhance our

already high environmental standards.

As part of this we will set up a new, ambitious domestic framework for environmental

governance.




FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Albania: Human Trafficking

Vernon Coaker: [R] [284477]

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

he has had with his Albanian counterpart on human trafficking; and if he will make a

statement.

Christopher Pincher:

The British Government is committed to the eradication of all forms of modern

slavery, forced labour and human trafficking globally by 2030, in line with UN

Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. We work to combat modern slavery

internationally and to engage governments in dialogue, including countries of origin

for victims of modern slavery.

The United Kingdom has committed £2 million to a programme in Albania through the

Home Office Modern Slavery Fund to prevent modern slavery and build capacity to

tackle it at source. The Government also agreed a Memorandum of Understanding

on intensifying cooperation in the fight against trafficking in human beings with the

Albanian Government in 2014. We work closely with the Albanian Government on

this issue; our Ambassador last raised it with the Albanian Interior Minister on 29

August.

Armenia: Gold

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [285002]

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

the statement made by the former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Armenia, as

reported in the press release of Geotim Company, published 26 June 2013, that Amulsar

is the biggest British investment in Armenia, what level of contribution from the public

purse has been invested directly or indirectly in Amulsar; and whether his Department

has made an assessment of the merits to UK interests of that investment.


No direct investment from the British public purse has been made in the Amulsar

mine project in Armenia, owned and operated by Lydian International Ltd. Both the

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International

Finance Corporation (IFC) have invested in Lydian in the past. As a member of those

two international financial institutions, the United Kingdom’s overall financial

contribution is channelled to their investments in countries where they operate. The

United Kingdom’s membership and support for international financial institutions

helps advance sustainable and inclusive growth in developing economies.



British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

Patrick Grady: [285310]

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

Answer of 23 July 2019 to Question 277209, which paragraphs in Chapter VI of the

Award of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Tribunal of March 2015 conclude that

the 1965 Agreement to the detachment of the Chagos Archipelago was legally binding

upon both Mauritius and the United Kingdom.


Chapter VI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Arbitral Tribunal

Award (18 March 2015) considers this issue in detail and makes the relevant

conclusions in paragraph 428.

China: Uighurs


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

representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the reported mass detention

of Uighur Muslims in China.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

I have not yet made representations to my Chinese counterpart on the mass

detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang since assuming office on 26 July. However, the

former Foreign Secretary highlighted our concerns about Xinjiang with Chinese State

Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his last visit to China. The former

Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific did the same with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou

during his last visit to China. Our Embassy in Beijing also raises our concerns with

the Chinese authorities.

Darfur: Peace Negotiations


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

discussions has he had with his Israeli counterpart on (a) the presence of Abdul Wahid

from Darfur residing in Israel and (b) the objective of peace-building in Jebba Marra

mountains.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

We have not had any discussions with the Israeli authorities on this issue.The UK

continues to support peace in Darfur. We encourage all sides to engage in

constructive dialogue to find a fair, comprehensive and sustainable solution for all

people in Darfur and Sudan.




Diplomatic Service: British Nationals Abroad


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

for diplomatic protection have been made by British citizens since 2014.

Andrew Stephenson:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold statistics on the number of

requests for diplomatic protection made by British nationals. Any requests for

diplomatic protection would be considered on a case-by-case basis, and it is

exercised at the Secretary of State's discretion.

Diplomatic protection is a claim by one State against another in respect of an

international legal wrong committed against one of its nationals. Diplomatic protection

is extremely rare – the case of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is the only recent example of

where UK has afforded it.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Cambridge Analytica

Deidre Brock: [284184]

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

minutes of meetings between Cambridge Analytica and (a) his predecessor, the Rt Hon.

Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, (b) his Ministers, (c) his special advisers and (d)

his officials in December 2016.


No minutes relating to meetings between Cambridge Analytica and the then Foreign

Secretary, the then Minister for Europe and the Americas, Special Advisors or

Foreign & Commonwealth Office officials in December 2016 are held by this

department.

Gaza: Health Professions

Helen Hayes: [284767]

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

Department is taking to help ensure that medical workers in Gaza can perform their

humanitarian functions without risk of attack.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

We are concerned by the report on attacks on health workers and healthcare facilities

in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in particular in Gaza. We regularly raise our

concerns about the situation with the Israeli Government, pressing them on the need

for a long-term strategy to improve humanitarian conditions. We are clear that

medical staff and services should have the protection that allows them to do their jobs

in safety.




Gaza: Humanitarian Aid



Department is taking to help ensure that when attacks on humanitarian workers occur in

Gaza those responsible for those attacks are held to account.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The UK supports an investigation which establishes the facts about the violence in

Gaza related to recent protests. Given the importance of accountability, we urge that

any investigation be independent and transparent, that its findings be made public,

and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account.

Hong Kong: Civil Disorder



representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on behalf of (a) British subjects

and (b) people with joint British-Chinese nationality on protecting them from the civil

unrest in Hong Kong.


The Foreign Secretary raised the situation in Hong Kong with Chinese State

Councillor Wang Yi on 31 July, during which he discussed the importance of

upholding the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.

In respect of British Nationals, we keep travel advice under constant review to ensure

it reflects our assessment of risk to British nationals and includes information on the

most relevant issues for British nationals travelling or living abroad. We encourage

British people to read our travel advice to help them make informed decisions.

In respect of BN(O)s, we maintain that the best solution for all the people of Hong

Kong, including the BN(O) passport holders that live there, is full respect for the rights

and freedoms guaranteed in the Joint Declaration.

Hong Kong: Police Brutality


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

representations to the Government in Hong Kong on instituting an independent inquiry

into police brutality.


We note the announcement of a special inquiry by the Independent Police

Complaints Council. It is crucial that any investigation must be credible and command

the trust of the people of Hong Kong. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with Hong

Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, when they spoke on 9 August.




Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: [284203]

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

steps his Department is taking to ease tensions in Hong Kong.


We believe that meaningful political dialogue, taken forward by Hong Kong under its

high degree of autonomy, is the best way to resolve the current impasse. It is

important that the basic freedoms enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration are

maintained.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN,

that remains in force. The UK, as a co-signatory, has an obligation to monitor its

implementation closely, and we are committed to doing so.

The Prime Minister discussed developments in Hong Kong with other leaders at the

recent G7 Summit, and the Foreign Secretary has recently spoken with Chinese

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.


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

he has had with the Chinese authorities on the status of the 1984 Sino-British Joint

Declaration on Hong Kong; and obligations the Government has to monitor the

implementation of the principles established in that Declaration.





maintained.





recent G7 Summit. In his discussion with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign

Minister Wang Yi on 31 July, the Foreign Secretary raised Hong Kong, including the

importance of upholding the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, which is set out

in the Joint Declaration.


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

Government is taking to uphold the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration; and whether he

will support sanctions against persons and institutions that are involved in undermining

freedom in Hong Kong.








maintained.





recent G7 Summit. In his discussion with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign

Minister Wang Yi on 31 July, the Foreign Secretary raised Hong Kong, including the

importance of upholding the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, which is set out

in the Joint Declaration.



Department have taken to ensure the UK’s obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint

Declaration on Hong Kong are being fulfilled; and if he will make a statement.





maintained








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

taking to ensure the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration is adhered to by all parties.





maintained.









India: Human Rights

James Frith: [284711]

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

steps his Department is taking to help tackle alleged human rights violations of Dalits and

tribal people in India.


We engage with India on the full range of human rights matters, working with Union

and State Governments and with non-governmental organisations to build capacity

and share expertise to promote human rights for all. The British High Commission

recently met the Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities in July to

discuss minority rights.

We also support local NGOs to deliver projects to promote minority rights. In 2015,

we funded a project that trained 500 tribal men and women on women’s rights and

access to justice. During 2016-2018, we provided legal training for 2,000 Dalit women

to combat violence against them, and helped create a network of Dalit Women

Human Rights Defenders in four states. This year, we have launched a network of

legal experts to empower Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh and a helpline for

victims of persecution to seek support.

Israel: Embassies

Richard Burden: [285192]

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

planning is being undertaken by his Department on the potential relocation of the UK

Embassy in Israel; and when the results of that contingency planning will be made

available to Ministers.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The British Embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it.

Our position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be

determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and

Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian

states.

Julian Assange

Martyn Day: [284680]

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

Answer of 25 June 2019 to Question 267367 on Julian Assange, when the UK




Government’s response to the Urgent Appeal from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment will be published.


The UK is committed to supporting the Special Procedures of the Human Rights

Council. The UK response to the 'Urgent Appeal' from the UN Special Rapporteur on

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has been

delayed but will be published as soon as it is submitted.

Kashmir: Politics and Government

Jim McMahon: [284773]


representations the UK Government has made to the Indian Government on its

revocation of Article 370, granting special status to Indian-administered Kashmir, from the

Indian Constitution.


We are following the serious situation in Kashmir closely. Events in Kashmir have

regional and international implications and we urge calm and caution from all.

We are in regular contact with the Government of India. We are also in regular

contact with the Government of Pakistan. The PM has spoken with both PM Modi of

India and PM Imran Khan of Pakistan. He stressed to both that HMG's position on

Kashmir remains unchanged (it is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve,

taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people). He also underlined the

importance of maintaining dialogue. In addition to this, the Foreign Secretary spoke

with his Indian counterpart, Dr Jaishankar, on 7 August. He expressed concerns and

called for calm. The continued use of detentions and restrictions on communications

are worrying. It is important individual rights are fully respected and there should be

constructive dialogue with affected communities.

Vernon Coaker: [284869]


representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on the revocation of Article 370 of

the constitution; and if he will make a statement.


We are following the serious situation in Kashmir closely. Events in Kashmir have

regional and international implications and we urge calm and caution from all.

We are in regular contact with the Government of India. We are also in regular

contact with the Government of Pakistan. The PM has spoken with both PM Modi of

India and PM Imran Khan of Pakistan. He stressed to both that HMG's position on

Kashmir remains unchanged (it is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve,

taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people). He also underlined the

importance of maintaining dialogue. In addition to this, the Foreign Secretary spoke

with his Indian counterpart Dr Jaishankar on 7 August. He expressed concerns and



called for calm. The continued use of detentions and restrictions on communications

are worrying. It is important individual rights are fully respected and there should be

constructive dialogue with affected communities.

Naz Shah: [285304]

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

position is at the UN in relation to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir; and

whether the Government opposes the removal of article 370 and 35A by the Indian

Government within that region.


As the Foreign Secretary said in his Statement to the House on 3 September, we are

deeply concerned about the situation in Kashmir. We want to see a reduction in

tensions in Kashmir, respect for internationally recognised human rights and steps

taken on all sides to rebuild confidence. The situation in Kashmir was discussed in

the UN Security Council on 16 August and the UK continues to call for restraint and

action to address current concerns, and welcome efforts to do so as soon as

possible. The UK's longstanding position on Kashmir is that it is a bilateral issue for

India and Pakistan to resolve, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Kashmir: Telecommunications

Stephen Timms: [285008]

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

he has made of the effect on residents of the Indian Government’s communications

lockdown in Kashmir.


We are following the serious situation in Kashmir closely and are concerned about

the restrictions on communications. Respect for individual rights and constructive

dialogue with affected communities is important. We have raised these concerns with

the Indian Government. On 7 August the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with

his Indian counterpart Dr Jaishankar. The Prime Minister has also discussed the

situation in Kashmir with both PM Modi of India and PM Imran Khan of Pakistan.

Lydian International


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

(a) dates, (b) attendees and (c) items discussed at meetings between representatives of

Government and Lydian International between January and July 2019.


The British Embassy meets regularly with businesses active in the Armenian market

including Lydian International. British Embassies play an important role in helping to

develop business for British companies around the world.




Nicaragua: Catholicism

John Spellar: [285193]


representations he has made to his Nicaraguan counterpart on reports of harassment of

the Catholic Church in that country.


The United Kingdom is aware of reports of harassment of the Catholic Church in

Nicaragua, and has been very clear with the Nicaraguan Government that they must

take responsibility for ending the current violence and protecting human rights.

We continue to follow developments closely, including through contacts with EU and

US partners and local stakeholders in the country. We will continue to raise our

concerns with the Nicaraguan Government at every opportunity.

Nigeria and Pakistan: Christianity

Sir John Hayes: [281597]


Department is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians in (a) Pakistan and (b)

Nigeria.


We are deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, as we are about those

of other faiths or beliefs, in many parts of the world. The former Foreign Secretary

commissioned an Independent Review into the subject, led by the Bishop of Truro,

and the Government has accepted all of its recommendations.

Officials and Ministers regularly raise the protection of minority communities,

including religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government. The former Foreign

Secretary discussed the treatment of minority religious communities with Pakistan's

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during his visit to the UK in June 2019.

Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised our concerns with

Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 February. We have also supported projects

in Pakistan to promote greater tolerance and religious freedom and, in November

2018, announced a new £12m fund to bolster the work of civil society and NGOs to

promote respect, and the value of religious diversity and tolerance.

The UK is committed to supporting Nigeria in upholding the right to freedom of

religion or belief, as protected by its constitution. The recent escalation in

intercommunal violence has affected multiple states of Nigeria and communities of all

religions. We regularly engage faith-based organisations and raise our concerns with

the Nigerian government. In northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram and Islamic State West

Africa seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion by attacking both Muslims

and Christians who do not subscribe to their extremist views. The UK remains

committed to supporting Nigeria in tackling the insurgency through a substantial and

increasing package of security, humanitarian and development support.



North Korea: Guided Weapons

Andrea Jenkyns: [284887]


he has made of the implications for his policies of the recent missile tests in North Korea.


We are disappointed that North Korea has conducted multiple short-range ballistic

missile tests in recent weeks. These are a violation of UN Security Council

Resolutions. The British Government has repeatedly expressed its concern at North

Korea’s breaches of international law and has ensured UN Security Council

consideration of the matter, most recently on Tuesday 27 August. We urge North

Korea to cease these tests and re-engage in talks with the United States. Until the

dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, UN sanctions must

remain and be fully enforced. It is our firm belief that complete, verifiable and

irreversible denuclearisation is the path to a peaceful and more prosperous future for

the North Korean people.

Andrew Rosindell: [284932]


he has made of the effect of North Korea's short-range ballistic missile tests on that

country's compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions.


We are disappointed that North Korea has conducted multiple short-range ballistic

missile tests in recent weeks. These are a violation of UN Security Council

Resolutions. The British Government has repeatedly expressed its concern at North

Korea’s breaches of international law and has ensured UN Security Council

consideration of the matter, most recently on Tuesday 27 August. We urge North

Korea to cease these tests and re-engage in talks with the United States. Until the

dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, UN sanctions must

remain and be fully enforced. It is our firm belief that complete, verifiable and

irreversible denuclearisation is the path to a peaceful and more prosperous future for

the North Korean people.

Palestinians: Health Professions



Department is taking to help tackle the issue of impunity for attacks against health

workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The UK is clear that no health workers or aid workers should be at risk of violence

and that they must have the protection they need from the responsible authorities to




allow them to do their jobs in safety. We regularly raise with the Government of Israel

the urgent need to ease access and movement restrictions on Gaza, including for

health workers. We also stress the importance of protecting civilians, especially

children and medical personnel. We call on Israel to adhere to the principles of

necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interest.



his Department has made of the extent to which Israel’s internal investigations into the

killings of Palestinian health workers comply with international standards of

independence, impartiality, promptness, thoroughness and transparency.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

While we have not made an assessment of this matter, we have stressed to Israel the

need for independent and transparent investigations of deaths. We are deeply

concerned by deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza over the last year. We urge the

Israeli Government to publish the findings of the investigations launched by the

Military Attorney General on 13 March. The UK remains concerned about the use of

live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. While Israel has

the right to self-defence, it is vital that its actions are proportionate and seek to avoid

civilian casualties.

Papua: Armed Conflict



he has made of the accuracy of the statement in the communique of the 50th Pacific

Islands Forum that the root causes of the conflict in West Papua relate to the violation of

West Papuan’s right to self-determination and the conduct of the 1969 Act of Free

Choice.


The UK fully respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia, including Papua. Within this

framework we support the efforts of the authorities and civil society to address the

needs and aspirations of the Papuan people.

In August 2019, I attended the Pacific Island Forum in the UK’s capacity as Dialogue

Partner (an observer). The UK notes the communique issued at the Pacific Island

Forum but we have no plans to respond to it. We regard Papua and West Papua

provinces as being part of Indonesia and consider dialogue on territorial issues in

Indonesia to be a matter for the Indonesian people.

UK Officials at the Embassy in Jakarta, including the Ambassador, visit Papua

regularly. Our Officials also press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate

human rights concerns. This includes upholding the right of all citizens to peacefully

protest, and ensuring the sustainable and equitable development of the province

through political dialogue.





representations he has made to his Indonesian counterpart on ending the violence in

Papua and West Papua.
















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

Government has to respond to the communique of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum raising

concerns about the reported escalation in violence and continued allegations of human

rights abuses in West Papua.

















Jonathan Edwards: [285251]

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

the communique of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum, whether the Government will take

steps to help tackle the root causes of the conflict in West Papua.















Venezuela: Politics and Government



he has made of the implications for his policies of the Venezuelan’s Government’s

withdrawal from negotiations with the opposition.


We have maintained regular discussions with key actors on Venezuela following

British recognition of Juan Guaido as interim Venezuelan President. Through our

Ambassador and internationally, we are working closely with like-minded partners to

achieve a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and a return to democracy and

unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.

We hope that this, along with sanctions regimes imposed by the EU, the US and

Canada, will encourage Nicolas Maduro to re-enter Norwegian-brokered negotiations

with the Opposition in good faith.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Stephen Twigg: [284836]


assessment he has made of the security situation in Aden, Yemen; and if he will make a

statement.




Dr Andrew Murrison:

We are gravely concerned by the recent escalation of violence between southern and

Yemeni Government forces in Aden. The UK calls on all parties to cease hostilities

and engage urgently in talks.

We have always been clear about the fact that a political settlement is the only way to

bring long-term peace, stability and security to Yemen. The Yemeni parties must

engage constructively and in good faith to overcome obstacles and find a political

solution to end the conflict.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Alzheimer's Disease: Health Services


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

of the quality of care provided to people with Alzheimer's in NHS hospitals.

Caroline Dinenage:

We remain committed to delivering the Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make

England the best country in the world for dementia care.

The National Audit of Dementia Care in General Hospitals 2018–2019 published in

July 2019 and undertaken on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement and the

Welsh Government, shows that improvements have continued in the care of people

with dementia in hospitals across England and Wales since the previous audit of

2017. For example, 96% of hospitals in England and Wales now have a system in

place for more flexible family visiting and a large number (88%) of carers (and/or

patients) receive a copy of the discharge plan.

The report is available at the following link:

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/ccqi/national-clinical-

audits/national-audit-of-dementia/r4-resources/national-audit-of-dementia-round-4-

report-online.pdf?sfvrsn=f75c5b75_6

Audiology


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

increase uptake of NHS hearing services.

Caroline Dinenage:

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) together with their local providers are

responsible to ensure there are clearly defined referral arrangements in place to

facilitate timely access to regular and specialist services when required. The

Commissioning Framework for Hearing Loss is guidance for organisations


https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/ccqi/national-clinical-audits/national-audit-of-dementia/r4-resources/national-audit-of-dementia-round-4-report-online.pdf?sfvrsn=f75c5b75_6





responsible for planning and commissioning local hearing services for deaf people,

published in 2016 by NHS England. The Framework offers guidance and models of

care that commissioners may utilise to support local needs.

The Action Plan on Hearing Loss, published in March 2015, was developed with input

from the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, Public Health

England, other Government Departments, key stakeholders across the voluntary,

professional and private sectors and people with hearing loss. The aim of the Plan is

to deliver improved hearing outcomes and support for individuals, and it sets out key

objectives including improving prevention, early diagnosis, maximising independence,

and enabling people to take part in everyday activities, like going to work.

In July 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published a quality

standard for adult-onset hearing loss. This will support CCGs to improve the

commissioning of services.

Care Homes: Recreation Spaces


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

all residential nursing and care homes to have outdoor recreational space.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Government has no plans to make it compulsory for residential care settings to

have outdoor recreational space but is committed to ensuring that local authorities

offer a meaningful choice of adult social care services to people in their local area.

That is why the Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to shape their local

markets and ensure that people have a range of high-quality, person-centred care

and support options available to them, and that they can access the services that

best meet their needs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on

improving the experience of care and support for people using care services and

recommends that day and residential care settings should enable people to choose

from a range of leisure activities that allow them to participate in a variety of aspects

of daily life. This includes recreational activities that take place outside the home.

The Care Quality Commission, which monitors, inspects and regulates the quality of

adult social care services, is also clear that everyone should have the right to person-

centred care that is tailored to and meets their needs and preferences.

Cervical Cancer: Screening


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

Department has made of the accessibility of cervical screening to women with a physical

disability.



Jo Churchill:

NHS England is continuously investing in initiatives to help ensure equality of access

to screening and, through the public health functions agreement (S7a), NHS England

aims to improve public health outcomes and reduce inequalities.

General practitioner practices are required to ensure that their premises are suitable

for the delivery of essential and where appropriate additional services, and that they

are sufficient to meet the reasonable needs of its patients, including those with

disabilities. This would involve making any reasonable adjustments necessary, or

making alternative arrangements such as referral to a specialist screening provider or

undertaking the procedures in another setting that is more suitable given any

limitations to a patient’s mobility. Where a patient requires specialist equipment,

clinical staff will ensure that patients have access to its use in a safe environment.

Guidance states that patients should be given an opportunity to express a preference

in order to access a setting most appropriate to their needs.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England has asked Sir Mike Richards to

lead a review of the current cancer screening programmes. The review will be

finalised in autumn 2019, and will make recommendations to further improve the

delivery of the screening programmes, including cervical screening. The Department

will take forward the findings of the review once published.

Dementia: Health Services

Debbie Abrahams: [285278]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the finding in

the Royal College of Psychiatrists fourth annual National Audit of Dementia Care in

General Hospitals 2018-19 that 40 per cent of patients with dementia are not being given

an initial assessment for delirium, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all

patients with delirium are given an initial delirium assessment as set out in NICE

guidelines.

Caroline Dinenage:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines

provide recommendations for the care of individuals in specific clinical conditions or

circumstances within the National Health Service. NICE’s clinical guidelines help

healthcare professionals deliver the best possible care based on the best available

evidence. The guidelines are not mandatory, although health and care

commissioners are expected to take them fully into account.

One of the key priorities of NHS England’s Long Term Plan is to reduce avoidable

admissions to hospital and to ensure that, when admission is needed, people with

dementia and delirium experience the best possible care.

We are committed to further expanding the provision of liaison mental health services

so that no acute hospital is without an all-age mental health liaison service in accident

and emergency (A&E) departments and inpatient wards by 2020/21. The

establishment of acute frailty services in all hospitals with a major A&E department by


the end of 2019 will ensure that patients can be assessed, treated and supported by

skilled multidisciplinary teams delivering a geriatric assessment within the first hour of

arrival. These services will support better identification and treatment of dementia and

delirium in hospitals.

Department of Health and Social Care: Brexit


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

has had with Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a

withdrawal agreement.

Chris Skidmore:

The Department is working with its partners across Government, arm’s length bodies,

local authorities, industry and the wider health and care system to ensure that all

relevant parties are prepared for exiting the European Union. The quality and safety

of patient care is paramount in our preparedness plans.

The Department, alongside NHS England and NHS Improvement, is ensuring that

there is regular communication with frontline National Health Service organisations

and stakeholders in the health and social care sector regarding EU exit preparations.

NHS England will be holding EU exit roadshows in the lead up to the 31 October,

building on the regular communication that the Department and NHS England has

with the frontline.


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

Department has had with Bristol City Council on the effect on social care of the UK


Caroline Dinenage:

The Department is working closely with local authorities, other government

departments and with national partners, including the Local Government Association

and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, to do everything

appropriate to prepare for a ‘no deal’ exit from the European Union on 31 October

2019. This will ensure that the potential impacts of exit on vulnerable people using

adult social care services are mitigated as far as possible.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has

stepped up its preparedness significantly and is speaking regularly to councils and

partners, including through a delivery board and a network of nine regional lead chief

executives. Every council has designated a ‘Brexit Lead Officer’ to work with central

government to intensify their local preparations and, in total, the Ministry for Housing,

Communities and Local Government has made £77 million available to help local

areas get ready for EU exit.



Department of Health and Social Care: Cycling

Philip Davies: [281682]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has

spent on schemes to encourage staff of his Department to cycle to work since 2015; and

how much his Department has spent on (a) installing bicycle racks and (b) bonus

schemes for bicycle use in that time period.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Department strives to create an environment in which our employees can flourish

by delivering a comprehensive and innovative health and wellbeing programme. As

part of this programme and to encourage staff to cycle to work, the Department

provides access to a Cycle to Work scheme which enables employees to trade part

of their salary for a loan to buy a bike, cycling safety equipment or both and repay

through salary sacrifice arrangements. There is no cost to the Department as an

employer in providing the scheme as it is delivered as part of the cross-Government

employee benefits contract.

The Department can confirm that bicycle racks have been installed at Departmental

buildings with the total cost of installation since 2015 as £31,291.35.

The Department can also confirm that during this time period it has not operated any

bonus schemes for bicycle use.

Depressive Illnesses: Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: [281628]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will estimate the average

cost to the public purse of treating repeated episodes of depression by (a) drugs, (b)

individual counselling and (c) mindfulness-based therapy in the most recent period for

which figures are available.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

It is not possible to make such an estimate as reference costs are based on the cost

of the average care pathway and are not broken down further by therapy type.

National Health Service providers submit reference costs annually. Reference costs

detail the average unit cost to the NHS of providing defined services to NHS patients

in England in a given financial year.

Dialysis Machines: British Nationals Abroad

Lisa Nandy: [284986]


ensure that kidney disease patients on dialysis retain the right to receive health care free

of charge when travelling to EU states in the event that UK citizens are no longer eligible

for the European Health Insurance Card after the UK leaves the EU.




Chris Skidmore:

The Government has proposed to all European Union Member States that when we

leave, we should maintain the existing healthcare arrangements including the

European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC) Scheme until 31 December 2020, with

the aim of minimising disruption to healthcare provision for United Kingdom nationals

and European Union citizens. This is subject to negotiations, which are ongoing.

We understand the concerns of patients who require life-sustaining treatment, such

as dialysis, and we are working to secure agreements to ensure ongoing care and

treatment in EU Member States is accessible for UK insured individuals.

However, it is important that individuals make the best decision for their

circumstances post exit day. Advice has been published on NHS.UK and GOV.UK, to

help individuals make informed decisions about the options available to them.

Dialysis Machines: Reciprocal Arrangements


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

that existing mutual aid arrangements for dialysis will continue after the UK leaves the

EU; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Skidmore:

The Government has proposed to all European Union Member States that if the

United Kingdom leaves the EU without a deal, we should maintain existing healthcare

arrangements until 31 December 2020, with the aim of minimising disruption to

healthcare provision for UK nationals and EU citizens. This is subject to negotiations,

which are ongoing, and we are hopeful that we can agree reciprocal healthcare

arrangements.

A number of Member States, including Spain and Belgium, have already prepared

legislation that will protect the healthcare rights of UK-insured individuals travelling

and living in-country after 31 October 2019.

Disability

Laura Pidcock: [282565]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Care and

Support Statutory Charging Regulations 2014, what assessment he has made of the

adequacy of the National Association of Financial Assessment Officers average fuel

costs figures in comparison with those provided by Ofgem, for the purposes of assessing

what constitutes above-average fuel costs for Disability Related Expenditure; and if he

will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage:

The responsibility for interpreting and applying the Regulations and the Care and

Support Statutory (CASS) guidance rests with local authorities, taking into account all

the available information and taking its own legal advice where appropriate. Where a

person receives a disability related benefit, the local authority should assess and



allow for the service user’s disability related expenditure and apply flexibility where

necessary.

The CASS guidance provides in paragraph 41 “What is disability-related expenditure

should not be limited to what is necessary for care and support. For example, above

average heating costs should be considered.”

Grenfell Tower: Fires


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

health testing in the community as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire; and what the age

was of people tested.


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

Grenfell Tower fire were transported to hospital.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Following the Grenfell fire, enhanced health checks were introduced as a result of

community concerns. The health checks are delivered though general practitioner

practices and a community provider.

Since the health checks were established, 1,097 assessments have taken place (to

July 2019). Of the 1,097 assessments that have taken place, 52 related to children

and young people up to the age of 18. The remainder were adults. The precise age of

those individuals assessed has not been collected at this stage but is something that

will be considered going forward.

On Wednesday 14 June 2017, London Ambulance Service reported 68 casualties

had been conveyed to hospitals from Grenfell Tower.

Additional National Health Service funding will provide up to £50 million over five

years to support physical and mental health services as well as systematic health

checks in the Grenfell area.

Health Services: EU Nationals

Tom Brake: [285167]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Overseas

visitor charging: no-deal Brexit guidance for NHS service providers published in April

2019, what guidance his Department has provided to NHS Trusts about how they should

carry out eligibility checks for EU citizens seeking healthcare after the 31 October 2019 in

the event that the UK leaves the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has

been allocated to NHS Trusts to enable them to carry out those checks.

Tom Brake: [285168]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Overseas

visitor charging: no-deal Brexit guidance for NHS service providers published in April





2019, what steps NHS Trusts will have to take to determine whether EU citizens seeking

healthcare after the 31 October 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a

deal have secured Settled Status.

Chris Skidmore:

In the event that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a deal on 31

October 2019, the Department has advised National Health Service providers that

they should continue to establish eligibility for healthcare in the same manner as they

do now, including for those EU citizens who have secured Settled Status.

The Government has made clear that the rights of EU citizens in the UK on exit day

will be protected, and this includes being able to access NHS care without charge on

the basis that they are ordinarily resident in the UK. EU citizens already living in the

UK on exit day have up until 31 December 2020 to apply for Settled Status, but their

access to healthcare will remain the same regardless of whether they apply for

Settled Status up to then.

No additional funding has been allocated to trusts to carry out eligibility checks for EU

citizens. The Chancellor announced on 1 August that he has made an additional £2.1

billion available to prepare for EU Exit which includes the creation of an Operational

Contingency Fund, to meet the costs of ‘no deal’ operations. This fund is available for

bids where EU Exit operational costs arise that cannot be met by existing funding

settlements.

Tom Brake: [285169]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps Spanish and

Portuguese citizens visiting the UK after the 31 October 2019 or residing in the UK but

without Settled Status will have to take to prove that they are entitled to free healthcare

under the bilateral agreements on healthcare rights for EU citizens in the event that the

UK leaves the EU without an agreement.

Chris Skidmore:

The Government has made clear in a ‘no deal’ scenario, the rights of European Union

citizens, including Spanish and Portuguese citizens, in the United Kingdom on exit

day will be protected. This includes being able to access National Health Service care

without charge on the basis that they are ordinarily resident in the UK, and the NHS

will apply the same eligibility tests as it does now. It should be noted that EU citizens

already living in the UK on exit day have up until 31 December 2020 to apply for

Settled Status, but their access to healthcare will remain the same regardless of

whether they apply for Settled Status before then.

The Government has proposed to all EU Member States that when we leave, we

should maintain the existing healthcare arrangements including the European

Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC) Scheme until 31 December 2020, with the aim of

minimising disruption to healthcare provision for UK nationals and EU citizens. This is

subject to agreement by individual EU Member States.


For those Spanish and Portuguese citizens visiting the UK after exit day, if agreed

under bilateral agreements with Spain and Portugal, visitors will be able to use their

EHIC as they do now. Should individual countries not agree to continue reciprocal

healthcare, then access to healthcare cover for visitors from those countries may

change.

Visitors from Spain or Portugal to the UK whose visit begins before and continues

over exit day will still be able to use their EHIC during that visit, should they fall ill or

have a medical emergency.

We welcome action from EU Member States such as Spain and Portugal who have

prepared their own legislation for a ‘no deal’ scenario.

Health Services: South West


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

had with the Clinical Commissioning Group for Bristol, North Somerset and South

Gloucestershire on the effect on medical services of the UK leaving the EU without a


Chris Skidmore:

The Department is working with its partners across Government, arm’s length bodies,




In August 2019, the Department published up-to-date guidance on GOV.UK on what

local authorities can do to prepare for EU Exit. This covers a range of issues

including workforce, business continuity planning, data sharing, and the continuity of

supply of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables, and of non-clinical

goods and services. It also provides key contact information and signposts where

local authorities and providers can go for further support. We continue to work closely

with the health and social care sector to ensure that this guidance is accurate,

practical and up-to-date.

The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working

with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to

make detailed plans that should help ensure continuation of the supply of medical

products to the whole of the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies following

the UK’s departure from the EU

The Department, alongside NHS England and NHS Improvement, are ensuring that

there is regular communication with frontline NHS organisations and stakeholders in

the health and social care sector regarding EU Exit preparations. NHS England will

be holding EU Exit Roadshow’s in the lead up to the 31 October building on the

regular communication that the Department and NHS England has with the frontline.


Hearing Aids: Research



support research and development of new hearing aid technology.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Department funds research mainly through the National Institute for Health

Research (NIHR). The usual practice of the NIHR and other research funders is not

to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics. The NIHR welcomes funding

applications for research into any aspect of human health, including hearing aid

technology.

In 2017-18 the NIHR was supporting four studies related to hearing aid technology

and improving the use of hearing aids through its research infrastructure in the

National Health Service. Between 2017 and 2019, the NIHR Clinical Research

Network supported eight clinical studies related to hearing aid technology.

The NIHR funds three Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) which have research

themes related to hearing loss, deafness and hearing health. The total NIHR

investment in these three BRC research themes over the five years from 1 April 2017

is £10.9 million. This includes the Manchester BRC that has established the United

Kingdom’s only Hearing Device Research Centre to drive innovation in interventions

for hearing loss and to accelerate the translation of new hearing technologies into the

NHS.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Norman Lamb: [285065]

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

taking to (a) raise awareness of and (b) increase access to the PrEP impact trial in BAME

communities.

Norman Lamb: [285069]

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

taking to (a) raise awareness of and (b) increase access to the PrEP impact trial amongst

women at high risk of contracting HIV.

Jo Churchill:

A core function of the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Impact Trial Community

Advisory Board (CAB) is to raise awareness and uptake of PrEP in key populations

including women and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Further

information about PrEP Impact Trial CAB activities and participating community

groups can be found at the following links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/blood-and-

infection-group-f/f03/prep-trial-updates/

https://www.prepimpacttrial.org.uk/faqs




https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/blood-and-infection-group-f/f03/prep-trial-updates/





In addition, Public Health England’s Innovation Fund has supported a number of

community based projects aimed at increasing PrEP awareness in women, BAME

groups and trans communities; information on the projects funded in 2018 can be

found at the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/innovative-hiv-prevention-projects-reached-

170000-people-in-2018

Since the start of the PrEP Impact Trial in October 2017, over half of the available

26,000 trial places have been filled. As of 3 September 2019, all participating Trial

clinics were open to recruitment for women, trans men and heterosexual men.

Information on the enrolment status of participating clinics is regularly updated on the

PrEP Impact Trial website at the following link:

https://www.prepimpacttrial.org.uk/join-the-trial


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the lack of availability

of places on the PrEP impact trial disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the 26,000 places on the

PrEP impact trial will be filled; and what proportion of places will be filled by (a) men who

have sex with men and (b) other eligible communities.

Jo Churchill:

As of September 2019, over 15,000 individuals are enrolled on the PrEP Impact Trial.

The trial aims to recruit up to 26,000 places and several thousand places remain

open for recruitment. Of the 153 research clinics participating in the trial, 124 remain

open to recruitment for men who have sex with men. Individuals interested in joining

the trial can get information on their nearest recruiting clinics from the trial website

which is available at the following link:

https://www.prepimpacttrial.org.uk/

The website is updated on a regular basis.

Participation in the trial is on a voluntary basis and it is for clinics and local authorities

to decide the number of allocated places they can accept. Recruitment to places in

the trial is managed locally by participating clinics.

Kidney Diseases: Health Services



protect the supply and space for storage of medicines, equipment and consumables

required for the treatment of kidney disease patients in the event that the UK leaves the

EU without a deal.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/innovative-hiv-prevention-projects-reached-170000-people-in-2018










Chris Skidmore:

As part of a responsible Government, the Department is doing everything appropriate

to prepare for European Union exit. We want to reassure patients that we should be

fully prepared for leaving on 31 October, and that our plans should ensure the supply

of medicines and medical products remains uninterrupted when we leave the EU.

The Department is implementing a multi-layered approach, which consists of

stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory

requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to

improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption

Response to manage potential shortages. This should ensure the continuity of supply

of medicines and medical products following EU exit.

The scope includes medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables, including

those related to the treatment of kidney disease.

Maternal Mortality: Ethnic Groups


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission an urgent

review of maternal care in response to the findings of the MBRRACE-UK maternal deaths

and morbidity statistics 2014-16 relating to increased maternal mortality rates for women

from BAME communities.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Department is funding the Maternal and Neonatal Policy Research Unit at the

University of Oxford to investigate the factors associated with the excess perinatal

mortality experienced by black, Asian and minority ethnic babies; and identify the

factors associated with the excess risk of maternal death for black and South Asian

women.

The NHS Long Term Plan outlines plans to reduce health inequalities and address

unwarranted variation in maternity care. This work is led by NHS England through the

Maternity Transformation Programme.

Targeted and enhanced continuity of care from the same midwife, or group of

midwives can significantly improve outcomes for women. The NHS Long Term plan

sets out that 75% of black women will receive continuity of carer from midwives by

2024.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Rosie Cooper: [284558]

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

taking to ensure that patients' data held by the NHS is owned by those patients.



Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Data Protection Act 2018 gives effect to the General Data Protection Regulation

(GDPR) introduced in May 2018. The GDPR provides rights in relation to the control

of data rather than referring to ownership.

The organisation that creates a health record is responsible for the use of information

in the record and determines who has access to it and that any access is lawful. In

addition, under the national data opt-out an individual has the right to opt out of their

confidential patient information being shared beyond their direct care, and under

Article 21 of the GDPR, an individual has the right to object to the processing of their

personal data under certain circumstances.

Medical Treatments

Antoinette Sandbach: [285138]

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

made of the potential effect on the supply chains for medicines and medical supplies of

the UK leaving the EU without a deal; what steps he is taking to protect ongoing supplies

of medicines and medical supplies; and if he will update the dear colleague letter of the

27 June 2019 entitled No deal Brexit contingency planning assumptions for continuity of

supply of medicines and medical products.

Chris Skidmore:

As part of a responsible Government, the Department is doing everything appropriate

to prepare for European Union exit. We want to reassure patients that we should be

fully prepared for leaving on 31 October, and that our plans should ensure the supply

of medicines and medical products remains uninterrupted when we leave the EU.

The Department is implementing a multi-layered approach, which consists of

stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory

requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to

improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption

Response to manage potential shortages. This should ensure the continuity of supply

of medicines and medical products following EU exit.

We continue to engage with stakeholders and update our communications regularly.

We are looking to update Members shortly.

Medical Treatments: Innovation

Eleanor Smith: [282441]

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

made of the potential merits of NICE modifying its Single Technology Appraisal ICER

thresholds to recognise the value of treatments for severe and rare conditions that are not

put through NICE’s Highly Specialised Technology pathway.

Jo Churchill:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its

technology appraisal and highly specialised technology evaluation methods. The



methods review will include a review of a wide range of methods, including those

relevant to severe and rare conditions.

The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access 2019 - an

agreement between the Government and the Association of the British

Pharmaceutical Industry - states that the standard cost effectiveness threshold used

by NICE will be retained at the current range (£20,000 - £30,000 per Quality Adjusted

Life Year).

In the current Single Technology Appraisal process there are several factors that may

currently be considered by NICE committees when deliberating, including some that

may affect the value of a treatment. NICE’s methods review will explore if these

factors are still relevant for patients and the National Health Service, whether there is

a need to modify the approach and whether any additional factors should be taken

into account when making a recommendation on a technology.

The review will also consider other methods that are important for rare and severe

conditions, including methods for measuring and valuing the health-related quality of

life for people with rare diseases, dealing with uncertainty and sourcing different

types of evidence. Proposals will be presented for six weeks of public consultation in

the summer of 2020.

Furthermore, in parallel with the methods review, NICE is reviewing its highly

specialised technologies topic selection criteria – to make them clearer, more

specific, and more transparent and predictable.

Mental Health Services

Jonathan Ashworth: [284975]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to report Neuro

Patience: Still Waiting for Improvements in Treatment and Care published by the Kings

Fund on 9 July 2019, what steps the Government is taking to improve support for people

with neurological conditions who have unmet health, social care and mental health

needs.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Neuro Patience report, published by the Neurological Alliance, presents the

findings of an online survey of the experiences of people with neurological conditions

in engaging with health and social care. Patient insights can provide useful

intelligence to commissioners and service planners when delivering or reviewing

service provision, highlighting areas where improvements can be made.

NHS England works to provides tailored national support, enabling local

commissioners and providers to drive improvement and ensure services best reflect

the needs of individual communities. NHS England also works with patient

organisations such as the Neurological Alliance to raise awareness and support

improved outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. This includes

reflecting on intelligence and insights, such as those provided by the survey report, to

drive improvements in care.


NHS England established the National Neurology Advisory Group (NNAG) with the

Neurological Alliance, which led the development of a national collaborative clinical

leadership model, bringing together key stakeholders, a range of national clinical

leaders and patient groups. The NNAG, which is co-chaired by Professor Adrian

Williams (who serves as chair for NHS England’s neurosciences Clinical Reference

Group), aims to support alignment between neurology improvement programmes in

NHS England, arm’s length bodies and system partners; and to guide the strategic

development of work to improve outcomes for people living with neurological

conditions.

Mental Health Services: Expenditure


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

by his Department on the NHS was spent on mental health services in each of the last 10

years.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The information available is in the following table. Information on National Health

Service mental health expenditure is not available prior to the introduction of the

mental health investment standard from 2015-16. Before the introduction of the

mental health investment standard, the NHS was not required to report mental health

spend separately.

YEAR

TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL

EXPENDITURE (£

BILLIONS)

NHS MENTAL HEALTH

EXPENDITURE (£

BILLIONS)

MENTAL HEALTH

EXPENDITURE AS A

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL

DEPARTMENTAL

EXPENDITURE %

2010-11 100.4 n/a -

2011-12 102.8 n/a -

2012-13 105.2 n/a -

2013-14 109.8 n/a -

2014-15 113.3 n/a -

2015-16 117.2 10.9 9.3

2016-17 120.6 11.6 9.6

2017-18 125.2 11.9 9.5

2018-19 130.4 12.1 1 9.3

Source: Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard


Note:

1 Planned spend. Actual spend is not yet available.

Mental Health: Children


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information he holds on

the incidence of (a) self harming, (b) eating disorders and (c) mental illness among (i)

boys and (ii) girls in each of the last five years.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The information is not held in the format requested.

Mental Illness


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the rate of mental illness

is of (a) males in the richest decile and (b) females in the poorest decile.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The information is not available in the format requested.

NHS Business Services Authority: Furniture


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost of purchasing

office furniture for NHS Business Authority offices was in (a) the North West and (b) the

North East in each of the last five years.

Chris Skidmore:

The NHS Business Service Authority has provided the following response, detailing

expenditure on office furniture over the past five years.

START DATE END DATE NORTH WEST NORTH EAST

1 January 2014 31 December 2014 £11,240.19 £142,704.78




1 January 2018 31 December 2018 £21,216.57 £1,551,559.07





North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust


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

Department has had with North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on

preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Chris Skidmore:

The Department is working with its partners across Government, arms length bodies,




In August 2019, the Department published up-to-date guidance on GOV.UK on what

local authorities can do to prepare for EU Exit. This covers a range of issues

including workforce, business continuity planning, data sharing, and the continuity of

supply of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables, and of non-clinical

goods and services. It also provides key contact information and signposts where

local authorities and providers can go for further support. We continue to work closely

with the health and social care sector to ensure that this guidance is accurate,

practical and up-to-date.

The Department, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations (DAs), has been

working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in

England to make detailed plans that should help ensure continuation of the supply of

medical products to the whole of the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies

following the UK’s departure from the EU

The Department, alongside NHS England and Improvement, are ensuring that there

is regular communication with frontline National Health Service organisations and

stakeholders in the Health and Social Care sector regarding EU Exit preparations.

NHS England will be holding EU Exit Roadshow’s in the lead up to the 31 October

building on the regular communication that the Department and NHS England has

with the frontline on the Health and Social Care sector.

Plastic Surgery: Costs


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the NHS has

been as a result of correcting or ameliorating the effects of unregulated aesthetic surgery

procedures in the last three years.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Neither the Department nor its arm’s length bodies holds the information requested.



Prescription Drugs

Alex Norris: [285129]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the

announcement, Millions at risk from antidepressant withdrawal, new review concludes,

published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence in

October 2018, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the accuracy of

prescribing guidance issued by the NHS.

Jo Churchill:

The Government takes the issue of responsible prescribing seriously. The National

Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance for

the National Health Service on the safe prescribing and withdrawal management of

prescribed drugs associated with dependence and withdrawal. NICE’s guidance will

be based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and developed

through extensive engagement with stakeholders. NICE expects to publish draft

guidance in May 2021 with final guidance in November 2021.

On 10 September Public Health England will publish its evidence review on

dependence and withdrawal associated with some prescribed medicines, including

anti-depressants. This work is timely as it follows the Chief Medical Officer opioids

roundtable held earlier this year and will further our understanding of dependency on

prescribed medicines in England and Wales and how such issues should be

addressed. We look forward to working with PHE to look at taking forward any

recommendations made in the review.

Prescription Drugs: Shortages

Rosie Cooper: [285128]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons (a)

Colesevelam (cholestagel) and (b) other prescription medications are out of stock; and

what steps he is taking to resolve the situation.

Jo Churchill:

We are aware of a recent supply issue affecting Colesevelam (cholestagel) tablets.

This was due to the manufacturer, Sanofi, experiencing distribution issues. However,

these issues are now resolved and supplies of Colesevelam (cholestagel) tablets are

available in volumes that are sufficient to meet normal United Kingdom demand.

Medicines shortages are an ongoing issue that the Department constantly manages.

Supply problems can arise for various reasons such as manufacturing issues,

problems with raw ingredients and batch failures.

The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate the small

number of supply problems that may arise at any one time due to manufacturing or

distribution issues.



Prescriptions: Fees and Charges


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

charge notices issued by the NHS Business Authority have been overturned because the

person was confirmed to have paid in each of the last five years.

Jo Churchill:

The following table shows the total number of Penalty Charge Notices closed

because the patient had paid for the prescription.

FINANCIAL YEAR IN WHICH CASE STARTED NUMBER OF CASES

2014/15 1,122

2015/16 5,195

2016/17 10,274

2017/18 13,467

2018/19 21,497

Nic Dakin: [284853]

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

being undertaken as part of the consultation on proposals to change the reimbursement

arrangements for NHS dispensing contractors.

Jo Churchill:

The Department is consulting on changes to the reimbursement of pharmacy

contractors. The Department acknowledges in the consultation document that

dispensing doctors are one of the groups impacted by these reforms. An impact

assessment has been published alongside the consultation document which will be

updated with information provided by respondents to the consultation. Changes to

payments for dispensing doctors are made through the general practitioner contract.

Nic Dakin: [285259]

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

taking to engage with representatives of dispensing practices on the proposed changes

to the reimbursement for the costs of drugs dispensed by NHS contractors.

Jo Churchill:

The Department has informed all relevant stakeholder representative bodies,

including the British Medical Association and the Dispensing Doctors’ Association,

about the consultation and has offered meetings to explain the proposals and answer

any questions. Some representative bodies have taken up this offer.




Radiotherapy: Travel

Tim Farron: [285017]

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

the number of cancer patients that turn down radiotherapy due to the distances involved

in travelling to radiotherapy centres.

Jo Churchill:

The data are not available in the format requested.

Social Services: Apprentices


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

taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in social care in (a) Lincolnshire and (b)

the UK.

Caroline Dinenage:

Apprenticeships are an important entry route into the social care sector, offer an

excellent opportunity for employers to upskill existing staff and train new staff as part

of high-quality training programmes, and provide clear career progression routes

through the sector.

Social care workforce policy is a devolved matter. We fund our delivery partner Skills

for Care to support the sector in England in recruiting apprentices at local and

national levels.

There were around 550 apprenticeship starts in social care in Lincolnshire in

2017/18. Skills for Care’s Locality Managers offer support and signposting to

employers and run workshops and networking events to support the uptake of

apprenticeships. The Lincolnshire Care Association provide bespoke support to

employers in accessing funding for apprenticeships and ran two symposium events in

November 2018 and February 2019. Social care providers in Lincolnshire, supported

by the local authority, have also been heavily involved with the first cohorts of the

new Nursing Associate apprenticeship. The very first entry on the Nursing and

Midwifery Council’s register of Nurse Associates was trained and works in social care

in Lincolnshire.

There were 38,300 apprenticeship starts in social care in England in 2017/18. Skills

for Care distribute financial support to employers through the Workforce Development

Fund, including access to funding to support employees undertake apprenticeships.

Skills for Care also publish information and guidance and run regular networking and

information events across the country, to support employers in recruiting apprentices.

Skills for Care also supports the Institute for Apprenticeships in carrying out regular

reviews of social care apprenticeship standards to ensure standards are fit for

purpose and meet the demands of the sector.



Tobacco

Andrew Lewer: [282451]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps (a) Public Health

England and (b) his Department are taking to ensure that smokers are aware that heated

tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes.

Jo Churchill:

The consumption of any tobacco product is harmful. Therefore the best thing a

smoker can do for their health is to stop use of tobacco products, including heated

tobacco products. As part of our commitment to evaluate the evidence of these

products, we will run a call for independent evidence to assess how effective heated

tobacco products are, or are not, in helping people quit smoking. Furthermore, as

committed in the Tobacco Control Plan, Public Health England will continue to review

the evidence on e-cigarettes and other novel nicotine delivery systems annually till

2022.

Transplant Surgery: Reciprocal Arrangements



ensure the continuation of arrangements for the sharing of human organs for

transplantation across EU borders after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Dinenage:

The United Kingdom shares small numbers of organs with European Union countries.

In 2018/19, 14 organs from deceased donors came into the UK from EU countries,

and 13 left the UK.

The current UK regulatory frameworks transpose the EU Organ Donation Directives

and set high standards of patient safety. We have amended the legislation through

The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU

Exit) Regulations 2019 to maintain the current safety and quality standards to allow

organ exchange to continue following EU Exit.

NHS Blood and Transplant is the organisation responsible for organ donation in the

UK and is working with their partner organisations in the EU which should ensure that

plans are in place to allow organ exchange to continue post-EU Exit.

HOME OFFICE

Action Fraud: Training

Alex Cunningham: [284620]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will undertake an

investigation into reports that Action Fraud call handlers are coached to tell callers to that

helpline that they are talking to police officers.





To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the

performance of Action Fraud and publish the results.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking in

response to reports that Action Fraud is not investigating fraud cases.

Brandon Lewis:

This Government is determined to crack down on fraudsters and it is vital that victims

have the confidence to come forward and know that their case will be dealt with

properly.

The allegations concerning Action Fraud Contact Centre staff behaviour, reported

recently in The Times articles, raises serious concerns. The Home Secretary has

asked the City of London Police to set out how they intend to respond to these

allegations. I will closely monitor the response and the performance of Action Fraud.

Action Fraud is the national reporting service for fraud and cyber crime. It receives

reports from the public via its call centre and its website, however the operational

response to fraud, including decision to investigate, remains with individual forces.

Crime Prevention: Publicity

Cat Smith: [285330]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department

consulted with (a) young people and (b) members of the DCMS Youth Steering Group

before launching the #knifefree chicken boxes campaign on 14 August 2019.

Kit Malthouse:

The #knifefree campaign has been developed in close consultation with young

people. Regular independent quantitative and qualitative research has been

undertaken with the target audience to inform campaign development and evaluation.

During campaign development we undertook qualitative research with young people

aged 10-21 years old in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Leeds. Across

the age range, fast food eateries were one of the key environments young people

stated that they spend time.

A workshop held with stakeholders in December 2017 recommended that we

ensured we placed outdoor advertisements strategically (i.e. in places where the

audience are likely to go and spend time). Examples of these that were given

included chicken shops.

We piloted the #knifefree fast food boxes in Spring 2019 in London and Manchester.

Research conducted by All City Media Solutions indicated that there was:

• A 16% increase in spontaneous awareness of the #knifefree campaign among

visitors to chicken shops that did carry the #knifefree chicken and burger boxes

and had the adverts on their screens




• A 17% increase in prompted awareness of the #knifefree campaign among visitors

to chicken shops that did carry the #knifefree chicken and burger boxes and had

the adverts on their screens

We have not previously consulted with members of the DCMS Youth Steering Group,

however would welcome the opportunity to work with them on future campaign

planning.

Free Movement of People: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the impact

assessment of the additional border restrictions for people moving between EU Member

States and the UK after the UK leaves the EU that were reported on 19 August 2019; and

if she will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional border checks

will be put in place on people moving between the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the

EU; and if she will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to

provide information for employers on their obligations towards EU nationals living and

working in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to

provide clarity to EU nationals living and working in the UK on what they need to do to (a)

remain and (b) continue to be able to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Brandon Lewis:

When the UK leaves the European Union on 31 October, free movement as it

currently stands will end, if the UK leaves without a deal. The details of new

immigration arrangements for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit

were announced on 4 September

(https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-

statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-04/HCWS1817/).

To remain in the UK after 2020, EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit,

and their close family members, will be able to apply for European Temporary Leave

to Remain. Under this scheme, EU citizens will be granted a period of 36 months’

leave to remain in the UK, which will provide them and their employers, with greater

confidence and certainty during the transitional period before the new points-based

immigration system is introduced from January 2021.

The rights of EU citizens resident in the UK before Brexit are unchanged and will be

protected by the status they can obtain under the EU Settlement Scheme, as more





than one million of them have already done. They will have at least until 31

December 2020 to make an application under that scheme.

Until the new points-based immigration system is introduced in 2021, EU citizens will

be able to prove their right to take up employment, as now, by using their passport or

national identity card. Alternatively, those with status under the EU Settlement

Scheme or with European Temporary Leave to Remain may choose to use the Home

Office on-line checking service to demonstrate their entitlement. When the new

points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021, employers will

need to check that, in respect of any new recruitment, an EU citizen has a valid UK

immigration status.

The Home Office continues to undertake extensive communications activity with

employers. This includes events, webinars, and an online guide to employing EU

citizens after Brexit. We have also published an employer toolkit to enable employers

to provide reassurance and information to their staff. Advertising and local events are

now underway to support the cross-government Get Ready campaign.

Home Office: Brexit


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

has had with Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a


Brandon Lewis:

It is the duty of any responsible Government to prepare for every eventuality including

the scenario that we leave the EU without agreeing a deal.

We are working closely with operational partners - including the police - on

contingency planning so we can ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all

scenarios.

Forces are working closely with partner agencies in Local Resilience Forums across

the country to prepare at a local level.

Human Trafficking


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome was of her

Department's review into different responses provided to FOI requests 53533 and 52979

in relation to the immigration outcomes of victims of trafficking.

Victoria Atkins:

An internal review was conducted on request 53533 and a response sent to the

requester on 12 July. This found that the outcome of the original response (refusal

under the cost limit) was correct. The two requests (53533 and 52979) asked for

distinct information, hence the difference in responses: in one case the information

could be provided within the cost limit, in the other it could not.



Human Trafficking: Nigeria


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

with the Foreign Secretary on the trafficking of people between the UK and Nigeria; and if

she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

The UK Government is committed to the eradication of all forms of modern slavery,

forced labour and human trafficking globally by 2030, in line with UN Sustainable

Development Goal 8.7. The Home Office and Foreign Office work closely to combat

modern slavery internationally and to engage governments in dialogue, including

countries of origin for victims of modern slavery.

In addition to engagement, the UK has committed £200 million in UK aid to tackle

modern slavery. This supports a range of interventions, such as the commitment of

£5 million to a programme in Nigeria and £3 million to Vietnam through the Home

Office Modern Slavery Fund to prevent modern slavery and build capacity to tackle it

at source. HMG also agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in

Countering Human Trafficking with the Vietnamese government in 2018.

Human Trafficking: Vietnam


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

with the Foreign Secretary on the trafficking of people between the UK and Vietnam; and

if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

The UK Government is committed to the eradication of all forms of modern slavery,

forced labour and human trafficking globally by 2030, in line with UN Sustainable

Development Goal 8.7. The Home Office and Foreign Office work closely to combat

modern slavery internationally and to engage governments in dialogue, including

countries of origin for victims of modern slavery.

In addition to engagement, the UK has committed £200 million in UK aid to tackle

modern slavery. This supports a range of interventions, such as the commitment of

£5 million to a programme in Nigeria and £3 million to Vietnam through the Home

Office Modern Slavery Fund to prevent modern slavery and build capacity to tackle it

at source. HMG also agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in

Countering Human Trafficking with the Vietnamese government in 2018.

Immigration: EEA Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [285439]

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

has made of the number of EEA nationals that will not have applied to the EU settlement




scheme by (a) 30 June 2021 and (b) 31 December 2020 in the event that the UK leaves

the EU without a deal.

Brandon Lewis:

The Home Office has put in place a comprehensive communications and

engagement plan and is working with a range of stakeholders to ensure that all those

who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme do so by the relevant

deadline.

We are encouraged by the initial number of applications, well over one million people

have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, but recognise that we

must continue to raise awareness of the Scheme to ensure that all resident EEA and

Swiss citizens are aware of the steps they need to take to secure their status in the

UK. Advertising and local events are underway to support the cross government Get

Ready campaign and further publicity will roll out over the lifetime of the Scheme. All

available channels will be used to reach our audiences – such as direct marketing,

radio, video-on-demand and outdoor advertising, presentations, email updates,

toolkits and webinars to name a few – to direct EU citizens towards reliable sources

of information on GOV.UK and the application itself.

We have made clear that we will take a proportionate approach to anyone who

misses the deadline and will make provision for those who have reasonable grounds

for doing so to apply after the deadline. Those who apply before the deadline but

whose application is not decided until after the deadline will have all their rights

protected until their application is concluded.


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

taking to ensure that EEA nationals are able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if

they (a) lack mental capacity, and (b) are detained in a secure mental health unit.

Brandon Lewis:

There is a wide range of support available on the phone, email and in person for

people making, or those supporting people to make, applications. This includes

funding 57 organisations with up to £9m from the Home Office to help vulnerable EU

citizens to apply.

Ensuring that vulnerable EU citizens are supported to obtain status is a core element

in the delivery of the scheme. For applicants with additional care and support needs,

we are continuing to engage with stakeholders to determine responsibilities in

multiple complex scenarios across different care settings to ensure appropriate

support is in place.

This includes:

o Those in care homes (nursing and residential), receiving community or at home

support;

o Those whose care is funded by local authorities, the NHS or privately, and

combinations of care funding; and


o Those who lack mental capacity

We are working collaboratively with key organisations such as the Ministry of

Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Health and Social

Care, Ministry of Justice, the Devolved Administrations, the NHS and Office of the

Public Guardian, as well as with stakeholders including the Association of Directors of

Adult Social Services, the Care Provider Allice and Local Government Association.

This collaborative approach is informing the development of a support model that will

set out how local authorities and partners can work together to identify and support

adults with care and support needs to apply to the Settlement Scheme.

Immigration: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will provide

translations of the EU Settlement Scheme publications (a) Leaflet 1: Important

information for EU citizens in the UK and (b) Leaflet 2: Application guidance for EU

citizens in the UK into each official language of the EU.

Brandon Lewis:

It is vital that the over three million EU citizens and their family members living in the

UK understand how and when to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme. At the end

of March, the Home Office launched a new national marketing campaign to

encourage EU citizens to apply.

The Home Office has translated advertising and communications materials into 25

European languages and Welsh. This includes the applicant guidance, poster,

factsheet and videos. These materials are all available on GOV.UK.

The Home Office continually reviews it translated materials and translated

communications and engagement materials will continue to be available throughout

the lifetime of the Scheme.

Mr Chris Leslie: [284892]

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

has put in place for an EU citizen arriving in the UK to prove to immigration officials at the

point of entry that they are eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme in the event

that freedom of movement between the EU and UK ends on 1 November 2019; and if she


Brandon Lewis:

We are leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019 and, in a no deal Brexit,

freedom of movement as it currently stands will end then.

The Prime Minister has been clear that we want EU citizens who are resident in the

UK by exit to stay and they will be eligible for status under the EU Settlement

Scheme to enable them to do so. In a no deal Brexit, they will have until at least 31

December 2020 to apply. Until then, they will continue to be able to use their EU



passport or national identity card to prove their rights to work and rent property; and

will have the same rights to work and access benefits and services as they have now.

Border crossing arrangements will not change on 1 November 2019; EU citizens will

continue to cross the border as they do now, using their passport or national identity

card. They will be able to use e-Gates if they are travelling on a biometric passport,

and they will not face routine intentions testing.

Mr Chris Leslie: [285051]

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

plans to use to require non-UK EU citizens to undertake visa clearance prior to arrival in

the UK after 1 November 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis:

We are leaving the EU on 31 October and this will mean that freedom of movement

as it currently stands will end on 31 October.

Whether we leave the EU with or without a deal, the Government has announced that

EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or

short-term trips, without needing a visa.

The arrangements for people coming to the UK for longer periods of time and for

work and study will change. Details of changes immediately after 31 October and

improvements to the previous government’s plans for a new immigration system are

being developed.

Marion Fellows: [285334]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19

December 2018 to Question 203927, what her Department's policy is on whether EU

citizens with Leave to Land who do not apply for pre-settled or settled status under the

EU Settlement Scheme will still maintain the same rights once the UK has left the EU.

Brandon Lewis:

A person granted leave to land under earlier (repealed) legislation is treated for the

purposes of the Immigration Act 1971 as having been granted leave to enter the UK.

Existing leave to enter and the rights conferred by this will not be affected by the UK’s

withdrawal from the EU.

Modern Slavery Act 2015


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) primary and (b)

secondary legislation will be required as a result of the Government's response to the

review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

In response to the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, on the 9 July the

Home Office launched a public consultation to gather views on proposals to

strengthen section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act. The proposals under consideration




– including extending the reporting requirement to public sector organisations,

requiring organisations to report on specific topics and introducing a new civil penalty

regime – would require changes to primary legislation. Following the consultation, the

Home Office will make any necessary legislative changes as soon as Parliamentary

time allows.

The full Government response to the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act

2015 was published in July 2019 and is available via the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-

independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-act

Slavery


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many confirmed victims of

modern slavery are waiting for a decision on their immigration status; and if she will make

a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

Prior to the transfer of National Referral Mechanism decision making responsibilities

to the Home Office Single Competent Authority (SCA) in April 2019, publications

were produced by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and can be accessed via the

NCA website.

https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/component/finder/search?q=national+referral+me

chanism+&Search=

Responsibility for publishing the NRM statistics now sits with the Home Office, and

the first report (Q2 2019) was published at the end of August.


ent_data/file/827508/national-referral-mechanism-statistics-quarter-2-2019-april-to-

june.pdf

The publication does not distinguish the immigration status of confirmed victims but

invites stakeholders to submit their interest into a review of how the publication of

NRM statistics can be improved.

It is not possible to accurately provide data on the number of confirmed victims

awaiting a decision on their immigration status currently due to the range of potential

immigration outcomes following an NRM decision.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the trafficked status of a

confirmed victim of modern slavery is considered when determining their application for

leave to remain; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

The UK’s policy for confirmed victims of modern slavery is to consider on a case-by-

case basis whether a grant of leave to remain is appropriate, taking into account the

particular circumstances of each case.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-act





Sodexo: Contracts


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to extend

the contract with Sodexo to pay asylum seekers through the use of an Aspen card by six

months.

Victoria Atkins:

The Home Office intend to extend the contract for three months but reserve the right

to extend for a further three months if required.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Children: Day Care


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

assessment he has made of the effect of the application of business rates to domestic

childcare settings on those childcare providers.

Luke Hall:

Businesses which use a small part of a home for their trade will not usually have to

pay business rates. However, the Valuation Office Agency is responsible for

determining whether premises are rateable and, in the case of childcare providers,

might consider factors such as the extent to which the home has been modified and

whether the part of the property used is still suitable for domestic occupation. The

Government has doubled the threshold for small business rate relief, meaning that

675,000 businesses with rateable values under £12,000 now pay no business rates

at all.

Council Tax: Discounts


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

many people claimed the severe mental impairment council tax discount in (a) 2018, (b)

2017, (c) 2016, (d) 2015 and (e) 2014.


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

many people with dementia claimed the severe mental impairment council tax discount in

(a) 2018, (b) 2017, (c) 2016, (d) 2015 and (e) 2014.

Luke Hall:

We do not collect information on the number of people claiming discounts. However,

the number of dwellings benefiting from council tax exemptions under Class U

(‘persons with a severe mental impairment’) between 2009 to 2018 are set out in

table 5 of the publication: ‘Council Taxbase in England’. This can be found at






ent_data/file/758952/Table_5_2018_rev.xlsx The number of people with dementia

claiming the exemption is not available since the information collected is not broken

down by impairment.

Local Plans


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

local authorities have not adopted a Local Plan.

Esther McVey:

As of 31 August 2019, 37 local authorities have not adopted a Local Plan under the

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Details of these local authorities are

provided in Tables 1-3 below:

Table 1 – Local authorities that have submitted their draft plan for examination but

are yet to adopt.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Aylesbury Vale

Basildon

Bolsover

Broxbourne

Calderdale

Central Bedfordshire

Craven

Durham

Eastleigh

Epping Forest

Harlow

Hart

Liverpool

Mansfield

North East Derbyshire

North Hertfordshire


LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Northumberland

Old Oak and Park Royal DC

Runnymede

St Albans

Sunderland

Tendring

Thanet

Uttlesford

Welwyn Hatfield

Windsor and Maidenhead

York

Table 2 – Local authorities that have published a draft plan but have yet to submit for

examination.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Brentwood

Isles of Scilly

Table 3 – Local authorities that still need to publish their draft plan.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Amber Valley

Ashfield

Bury

Castle Point

Medway

Salford

Tameside

Wirral

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit

Graham P Jones: [284824]


discussions he has had with the leader of Lancashire County Council on the UK leaving

the EU without a deal.

Luke Hall:

We have stepped up our preparedness significantly and are speaking regularly to

councils and partners, including through a delivery board and a network of nine

regional lead chief executives. Every council has designated a Brexit Lead Officer to

work with central government to intensify their local preparations and, in total, we

have made £77 million available to help local areas get ready for Brexit.



meetings her Department has had with Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK


Luke Hall:








discussions his Department has had with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on

preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Luke Hall:






Private Rented Housing: Tenancy Deposit Schemes


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

the Government plans to include deposits of lodgers in deposit insurance schemes.





Esther McVey:

The requirement to hold a deposit in a recognised tenancy deposit scheme is

restricted to landlords who let on assured shorthold tenancies. Most lodgers do not

hold assured shorthold tenancies, but should they do so, their deposits would be

covered by a recognised tenancy deposit scheme. The Government has no plans to

extend the scope of tenancy deposit schemes.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund


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

the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will provide the same level of funding as that currently

provided by EU Structural Funds when the UK leaves the EU.

Jake Berry:

The Government recognises the importance of providing certainty and clarity on the

UK Shared Prosperity Fund. There are many detailed design questions to come, on

which we welcome input from across the UK.

It is only right that we take final decisions about the design of the UK Shared

Prosperity Fund after a cross-government Spending Review.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Public Consultation

Jessica Morden: [284688]

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

the Government will publish the consultation on the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Jake Berry:

As the Prime Minister announced on 27 July, the Government will bring forward plans

on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We will consult on the design of the fund and

welcome input for across the UK.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department for International Development: Brexit

Preet Kaur Gill: [285081]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many hours have staff

in his Department spent in each of the last 12 months on preparations in the event that

the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

DFID operates a flexible working policy and staff hours worked are not tracked

centrally by DFID HR in line with DFID policy. As such the information required to

answer this question would require collation of individual records held at team level

and could only be collated at disproportionate cost.




Preet Kaur Gill: [285408]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many FTE staff in his

Department are working on preparations for the event that the UK leaves the EU without

a deal.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

Around 100 staff from across the Department for International Development are

working to support both DFID’s preparations and preparations across Government for

the UK leaving the EU, both with and without a deal.

Overseas Aid

Neil Coyle: [282382]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government

remains committed to contributing 0.7 per cent of UK GNI in Official Development

Assistance.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The Government’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our Gross National Income

on Official Development Assistance is enshrined in law and in the Conservative

manifesto and was re-affirmed by the Secretary of State upon his appointment. The

chancellor reiterated this commitment announcing the Spending Round.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether it is Government

policy to spend 0.7 per cent of GDP target on overseas aid.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

It is the Government’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our Gross National

Income on overseas aid. It is enshrined in law and in the Conservative manifesto and

was re-affirmed by the Secretary of State upon his appointment. The chancellor

reiterated this commitment announcing the Spending Round. This commitment

shows we are an enterprising, outward-looking and truly global Britain that is fully

engaged with the world.

Yemen: Armed Conflict


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

Department has made of the humanitarian impact of the recent escalation of military

activity in Aden, Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The UK is monitoring the humanitarian impact felt in the south of Yemen.

The UN has so far verified 13 civilian deaths and 70 civilian injuries since fighting

escalated, and has reported over 1,600 families and 1,000 individuals have been

displaced to northern governates in August.





Major overland routes in the south have closed and a backlog of 15,000 containers in

Aden port is waiting to be processed. This is affecting the delivery of commercial

goods and humanitarian services, including challenges for UN agencies transferring

goods between Aden and the north.

The UK regularly raises humanitarian concerns with all parties to the conflict, calling

on them to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2451 and facilitate safe,

rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarian and commercial supplies, including

through Aden Port.

Yemen: International Assistance


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

Department has made of the adequacy of access for humanitarian supplies from the port

of Aden, Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

The UK tracks Yemen’s imports and ports to monitor trends and predict pressure

points in humanitarian supplies.

Although Aden port remains operational, we are concerned by a backlog of 15,000

containers waiting to be processed. Fighting across the south of the country has also

closed many major overland routes, affecting the onward delivery of commercial

goods and humanitarian services.

The UK regularly raises humanitarian concerns with all parties to the conflict, calling

on them to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2451 and to facilitate safe,

rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian and commercial supplies, including

through Aden port and onward movement across the country.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Neil Coyle: [282383]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any UK Aid-funded

facilities in Yemen have been (a) damaged and (b) destroyed by airstrikes by the Saudi-

led coalition.

Dr Andrew Murrison:

Since the Yemen conflict began in 2015, our partners have reported two incidents to

us in which UK funded assets incurred damage as a result of the conflict.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Arms Trade: Trade Fairs

Lyn Brown: [284852]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July

2019 to Question 280324 on Arms Trade: Trade Fairs, what engagement by Government




Ministers will be provided to the Defence and Security Equipment International 2019 arms

fair.

Graham Stuart:

It is expected that Ministers from MOD, DIT and BEIS will attend Defence and

Security Equipment International 2019 (DSEI). Last minute diary changes may

supersede any arrangements made. Details of the Ministers who attended will be

available after 13 September 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reasons she invited a

delegation from Hong Kong to the Defence and Security Equipment International arms

fair; and if she will make a statement.

Graham Stuart:

The reason any country is invited to the Defence and Security Equipment

International exhibition is because it brings together manufacturers of defence and

security equipment and prospective purchasers. It provides an opportunity for UK

industry to demonstrate the wide range of products to potential overseas customers.

Hong Kong has recently confirmed that it is not attending.

Export Controls

Ian Lavery: [286240]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many export licence requests

have been received by her Department from businesses in (a) the UK, (b) the North East

and (c) Wansbeck constituency in 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many export licence requests

have been granted by her Department to businesses in (a) the UK, (b) the North East and

(c) Wansbeck constituency in 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how long on average it takes from

receipt of an export licence request to that licence being processed.

Graham Stuart:

Licensing data is published as Official Statistics on GOV.UK. It covers only licensing

information for the whole of the UK. Regional and constituency data can only be

provided at disproportionate cost.

Currently only information from Q1 2019 (1 January to 31 March 2019) has been

published; this shows 3,343 export licence applications were received and 3,298

export licences were issued.

The department’s performance targets are for 70% of applications for Standard

Individual Export Licences (SIELs) to be responded to within 20 working days, and





99% within 60 working days. The targets apply as soon as the applicant has supplied

the full documentation necessary to support their application. The median processing

time for SIELs in Q1 2019 was 11 working days. Data covering the period 1 April

2019 to 30 June 2019 will be published on 15 October 2019.

JUSTICE

Bristol Prison


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with HMP Bristol

in Horfield on the potential implications for that prison of the UK leaving the EU without a


Lucy Frazer:

The department is working closely and meets regularly with HMPPS to consider any

impact on prisons in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

Preparations include ensuring that our food and retail contracts have alternative

arrangements in case of disruption through ports; working closely with the

Department of Health and Social Care to make sure that the supply of health

products to prisoners is not disrupted; and co-operating with other government

departments to prepare for other contingencies.

Kirklevington Grange Prison: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what meetings his Department has had with

Kirklevington prison on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal

agreement.

Edward Argar:

The department is working closely and meets regularly with HMPPS to consider the

impacts on prisons of leaving the EU without a deal.

Preparations include ensuring that our food and retail contracts have alternative

arrangements in case of disruption through ports; working closely with the

Department of Health and Social Care to make sure that the supply of health

products to prisoners is not disrupted; and co-operating with other government

departments to prepare for other contingencies.

Legal Aid Scheme


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

(a) court closures and (b) the reduction of funding for legal aid on trends in the level of

access to justice.




Wendy Morton:

The closure of a court is subject to public consultation and a decision to close is not

taken lightly. In every case, the Lord Chancellor will only agree to close a court when

satisfied that effective access to justice can be maintained.

Every person should have access to legal advice when they need it – that’s why the

Legal Aid Agency keeps availability under constant review and takes urgent action

whenever it has concerns. There are enough solicitors and barristers for criminal

legal aid-funded cases across England and Wales and the Civil Legal Advice

Telephone Service, offers legal services in a range of issues to those who need it.

We are investing £5m in innovative new technologies to help people access legal

support wherever they are in England and Wales.

Marriage


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much is allocated to be spent from the

public purse on conducting the Law Commission's review of the law on how and where

people can marry in England and Wales.

Wendy Morton:

The cost of the project to review the law on weddings and provide recommendations

for a simple, fair and consistent system which gives couples choice in to marry in a

way that is meaningful to them will be approximately £400,000.

This cost is for the resource for two years of a project team made up of one full-time

lawyer, one full-time research assistant, a proportion of the time of a team manager

and some travel, publication and translation costs (totalling approximately £150,000

per year) plus the cost of engaging a specialist academic (£50,000 per year).

Marriage: Humanism


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

merits of immediately laying an order under Section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex

Couples) Act 2013 to give legal recognition to humanist marriages rather than waiting for

the outcome of the Law Commission’s review into that matter.

Wendy Morton:

The Law Commission review that the Government announced this June is a

fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England

and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to

make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious

belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all

marriages that is simple, fair and consistent. The Government will decide on provision

on the basis of the Law Commission’s recommendations.



Assessment of the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages can

be found in the consultation paper and response published by a previous

Government in 2014 and available at justice.gov.uk.

Exercising the power in section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to

provide for legally binding non-religious belief marriage, including humanist marriage,

would provide a freedom to marry in a way that would not be available to many other

people who wish to marry. That is why the Government asked the Law Commission

to carry out a fundamental review of the law on how and where couples can marry. It

is a law that has been added to over several centuries without any systematic reform.

Ministry of Justice: Buildings

Liz Saville Roberts: [282480]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many repairs to his Department’s buildings

were outstanding in each of the last 12 quarters.

Edward Argar:

The information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There is a rolling programme of repairs and investment in place to address the

highest priority areas of maintenance based around building condition, criticality and

usage. This is regularly reviewed to ensure that the needs of the estate are combined

with the operational needs of the department subject to the available levels of

funding.

Ministry of Justice: Departmental Expenditure Limits

Richard Burgon: [285135]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of his Departments capital

expenditure limit has been switched to resource expenditure limit in each year since

2015; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar:

The table below shows the proportion of the ministry’s capital funding which was

switched to resource funding, as agreed with HM Treasury at the Supplementary

Estimate in each year from 2015/16 to 2018/19.

CAPITAL DEL £M 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Capital DEL 1 279 459 425 517

Amount switched

to Resource DEL

45 0 235 150

% switched to

Resource DEL 2

16% 0% 55% 29%



1 Reflects capital DEL settlement (net of the CDEL switch and other movements) at

the Supplementary Estimate in each year.

2 Shown as a percentage of the capital DEL settlement at the Supplementary

Estimate in each year.

Ministry of Justice: Mental Health Services

Caroline Flint: [281604]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what mental health support his Department

provides to people employed in the justice and custodial sector.

Edward Argar:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) recognises the importance of mental wellbeing and

offers a wide range of mental health support to employees working in all its executive

agencies and arm’s length bodies, which includes HM Courts and Tribunals Service

(HMCTS) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). This is captured in our

Mental Health Strategy. MoJ has a network of Mental Health Allies, trained staff

volunteers, working across MoJ to support staff.

MoJ offers all staff access to an Occupational Health (OH) service. For staff working

in HMPPS this includes additional access to specialist Mental Health Advisers. All

MoJ staff have access to our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP). The service is

available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It includes:

• six free counselling sessions per year (these can be extended in certain

circumstances)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and

reprocessing (EMDR) where recommended by our OH providers.

• trauma and critical incident support.

• a range of workshops covering mental health for staff and line managers.

We have dedicated mental wellbeing intranet pages that all staff can access. Content

includes, stress support tools and stress risk assessment forms, guidance for

managers on how to support employees with mental ill health and links to external

organisations. HMPPS offer staff “Live learning” programmes aimed at supporting the

mental health of new Prison Officer recruits. Prison Officers are also supported by a

variety of peer support groups such as Wellbeing Champions, the Chaplaincy Team,

and Care teams.

Ministry of Justice: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Caroline Flint: [281605]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support his Department provides to people

employed in the justice and custodial sector who are suffering from post-traumatic stress

disorder.



Edward Argar:

At the Ministry of Justice, all staff in all its executive agencies and arm’s length

bodies, which includes HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and HM Prison

and Probation Service (HMPPS) have access to our Occupational Health provision

and our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) services.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be identified through an Occupational

Health referral. In addition, within HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Mental

Health Advisers, specialist advisers, provided by our OH supplier can identify

treatment for PTSD, following a work related traumatic incident. Where PTSD is

diagnosed MoJ employees will be referred for bespoke support provided by our EAP

in the form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement

Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). These treatments have been identified as

best practice in NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

In HMPPS we plan to implement TRiM (Trauma Management) training for prison

based staff. This will take place in ten prisons with imminent roll out across the

estate. TRiM is a mental health assessment approach used by the military to detect

PTSD and will provide an additional method of recognising the condition which will

allow employees to be fast tracked to the appropriate therapy.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times

for personal independence payment appeals to be decided at HM Courts & Tribunals

Service Ashford.

Edward Argar:

The Ministry of Justice expects appeal hearings to take place as quickly as possible

and is carrying out a series of initiatives to increase capacity which will help reduce

waiting times for appellants in Ashford. Since September 2018, three additional

judges have been allocated to Ashford as their primary venue and three further

judges have been allocated to Ashford as their secondary venue. Furthermore, from

November this year the capacity at the Ashford venue will increase from three

hearing rooms to four on a daily basis and from August 2019, appeals to be heard at

the Ashford venue can now be heard at a new venue in Hastings, depending on the

appellant’s postcode.

Prison Accommodation


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison places defined as in-use

certified normal accommodation there were on 30 June of each year since 2010; and how

many of those places were in (a) public and (b) private prisons.



Lucy Frazer:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes monthly individual prison population and

capacity information through the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-population-statistics

The table below identifies the in-use certified normal accommodation (CNA) on the

30 June in each year since 2010 and how many of these places were provided in

public and private prisons.

YEAR

CNA IN PRIVATELY

MANAGED PRISONS

CNA IN PUBLIC SECTOR

PRISONS TOTAL IN-USE CNA

25/06/2010 8,406 68,617 77,023

24/06/2011 8,805 67,942 76,747

29/06/2012 12,188 66,394 78,582

28/06/2013 13,464 63,362 76,826

27/06/2014 13,144 61,910 75,054

26/06/2015 13,864 61,993 75,857

24/06/2016 14,094 61,763 75,857

30/06/2017 14,148 60,916 75,064

29/06/2018 13,996 61,471 75,467

28/06/2019 13,798 60,915 74,713

CNA, or uncrowded capacity, is the Prison Service’s own measure of

accommodation. CNA represents the good, decent standard of accommodation that

the Service aspires to provide all prisoners. Where the operational capacity of a

prison is higher than the CNA, prisoners may be held in ‘crowded’ conditions, with

more prisoners accommodated in individual cells than they were designed for. In the

financial year 2018/19, 22.5% of the prison population was being held in crowded

conditions, down from 24.2% in the previous year.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the prison population was on 30 June in

each year since 1997; and how many of those prisoners were in (a) public and (b) private

prisons.

Lucy Frazer:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes monthly individual prison population and

capacity information through the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-population-statistics


The table below sets out the prison population as at 30 th June in each year since

1997 and identifies how many of these prisoners were held in public and private

sector prisons and Young Offender Institutions.

DATE

NUMBER OF PRISONERS

HELD IN PRIVATELY

MANAGED PRISONS &

YOIS

NUMBER OF PRISONERS

HELD IN PUBLIC SECTOR

PRISONS & YOIS

TOTAL PRISON

POPULATION

30/06/1997 1735 59011 60746

30/06/1998 4170 61160 65330

30/06/1999 4475 59745 64220

30/06/2000 5600 59542 65142

30/06/2001 6465 60213 66678

30/06/2002 7602 63530 71132

30/06/2003 7956 65488 73444

30/06/2004 7179 66968 74147

30/06/2005 7708 68088 75796

30/06/2006 8443 69147 77590

30/06/2007 9004 70310 79314

30/06/2008 9489 73257 82746

30/06/2009 9391 73554 82945

30/06/2010 9841 74734 84575

30/06/2011 10299 74442 84741

30/06/2012 13674 71644 85318

30/06/2013 14394 68616 83010

30/06/2014 15246 69361 84607

30/06/2015 15905 69051 84956

30/06/2016 15949 68363 84312

30/06/2017 16818 68229 85047

30/06/2018 16252 66195 82447

30/06/2019 16077 66378 82455

The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which,

as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data

entry and processing.

Our £2.5 billion long-term building programme will provide 10,000 additional prison

places - reducing overcrowding and creating a prison estate that is fit for the future.

Modern, efficient jails provide us with the stability needed to rehabilitate offenders,

preventing future victims and keeping the public safe.

Prison Officers


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to increase

the number of prison officers above the levels as outlined in HM Prison and Probation

Service workforce quarterly: June 2019; and what his Department's target is for the

number of prison officers to be in post by 30 June 2020.

Lucy Frazer:

Our hard-working officers play a crucial role in keeping prisons safe and transforming

offenders’ lives, and ultimately make sure the public is protected. We have recruited

more than 4,700 additional prison officers since October 2016 and staffing levels are

now at their highest since 2012. We will continue to recruit officers to ensure safe and

decent prisons.

Probate: Computer Software

Liz Saville Roberts: [284794]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2019 to

Question 278565 on Probate: Computer Software, at what point in the Probate

application process is user feedback requested; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar:

The 93% user satisfaction figure for the online probate service is obtained via an exit

survey once an application has been submitted.

Prosecutions: Scotland


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions under the Malicious

Communications Act 1988 were made in Scotland in the last five years.




Edward Argar:

The Malicious Communications Act 1988 only extends to England and Wales. Data

collected by the Ministry of Justice is only available, therefore, for prosecutions that

occur in England and Wales.

Repossession Orders

Kevin Hollinrake: [R] [284958]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her Department's publication,

Mortgage and landlord possession statistics in England and Wales, April to June 2019

(provisional), published on 8 August 2019, which large mortgage provider has driven up

the number of home repossessions to their highest level since 2014.

Edward Argar:

The organisation was required to provide its details to enable the court to process its

possession claims. It would be inappropriate to release such information where it

would be likely to prejudice an organisation’s commercial interests.

Translation Services

Yasmin Qureshi: [284295]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to

Question 275723 on translation services, what assessment he has made of the reasons

for the increase in expenditure between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 financial years.

Wendy Morton:

Spend on language services increased in October 2016 as a result of an intentional

move by the Ministry of Justice to increase the quality of the services. A new set of

contracts commenced in 2016 which included various improvements based on

independent recommendations made about the previous contract. These changes

included a more robust performance management regime, improved data and the

implementation of a new quality assurance service.

Spend on Language Services is expected to fluctuate due to the nature of the

contracts being demand led.

Translation Services: Finance

Yasmin Qureshi: [285249]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding was allocated to each

provider of translation services in each financial year since 2010-11.

Edward Argar:

The table below shows the amounts spent on an accruals basis, by HMCTS on

suppliers of interpretation and translation services, on an accruals basis, for the

financial years 2015-16 to 2018-19. This list is limited to suppliers with whom HMCTS

has spent £25,000 or more in total over the last four years. The amount that HMCTS

spent with a further 783 smaller suppliers have been aggregated together.




SUPPLIER 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

BOSTICO

INTERNATIONAL

LTD

6,294.58 17,767.20 49,605.63 35,982.08

CAPITA

TRANSLATION

AND

INTERPRETATION

SERVICES

6,563,283.65 4,270,630.76 0 0

CLARION

INTERPRETING

LTD

35,907.17 349,568.23 300,307.47 394,394.39

COMMUNICOURT

LTD

9,306.73 44,376.98 57,174.99 21,708.37

CYMEN

CYFYNGEDIG

67,316.00 65,413.85 78,203.20 58,382.18

FLEX LANGUAGE

SERVICES LTD

49.06 6,662.49 20,128.59 19,650.47

GLOBAL

LANGUAGE

SERVICES LTD

2,217.78 24,683.79 10,290.89 31,216.58

LANGUAGE LINK

PLUS LTD

6,562.39 4,482.45 9,181.68 32,905.71

LOMER

TRANSLATIONS &

INTERPRETING

LTD

0 33,539.00 130,663.10 (1,926.91)

LONDON

BOROUGH OF

NEWHAM

0 20,938.97 83,925.25 0

R LALLAH 16,885.90 7,018.50 1,474.50 411.40

ONE STOP

LANGUAGE

SERVICES LTD

187,747.93 351,639.63 471,520.64 425,282.12

TERPTREE LTD 16,332.00 13,304.00 30,696.00 34,788.00

SUPPLIER 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

THE LANGUAGE

SHOP - LONDON

BOROUGH OF

NEWHAM

0 0 139,399.80 254,092.87

THEBIGWORD

INTERPRETING

SERVICES LTD

0 4,130,721.96 9,683,913.69 8,565,658.58

TRANSLATE UK

LTD

58,534.63 52,499.10 176,306.19 415,314.41

TRIANGLE

SERVICES LTD

0 12,491.95 30,330.64 9,588.08

UK LANGUAGE

SOLUTIONS LTD

13,628.95 49,926.65 22,730.04 106,362.65

UK TRANSLATION

SERVICES LTD

0 0 0 43,769.10

WESSEX

TRANSLATIONS

LTD

4,820.85 2,285.23 17,470.33 26,843.62

783 other smaller

suppliers

123,061.68 225,843.59 174,397.05 526,267.06

Unsolicited Goods and Services: Vulnerable Adults

Mike Amesbury: [284832]

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

that vulnerable people are protected from aggressive or unsolicited sales techniques in

the legal services sector.

Edward Argar:

The direct regulation of the legal profession in England and Wales is independent of

Government. Regulators in the legal services sector, such as the Solicitors

Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, have strict rules on how

individuals and firms should deliver their services. Individuals should approach the

relevant regulator directly if they have any specific concerns, and further details can

be found on their respective websites.


Young Offenders: EEA Nationals

Kate Green: [R] [282338]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Justice, what processes his Department has put in

place to ensure that children that are EEA nationals who come into contact with the

criminal justice system can be identified for the purposes of providing advice and support.

Wendy Morton:

Youth Offending Services (YOS) were established in the Crime and Disorder Act

1998, which introduced a statutory duty for all local authorities to establish a multi-

agency team, with members from police, social services, probation and education, to

deliver youth justice services. YOS have a statutory duty to:

• provide appropriate adults for children detained or being interviewed at the police

station and provide support for children on bail;

• help young people and their families through court proceedings;

• write pre-sentence reports for the courts advising on appropriate interventions;

• supervise young people serving a community sentence;

• stay in touch with a young person if they’re sentenced to custody; and

• assist in the child’s resettlement post-custody.

All children who come into contact with the YOS (including EEA nationals) will have

their individual circumstances and needs assessed and will receive interventions and

support accordingly.

Youth Offending Teams: EEA Nationals

Kate Green: [R] [282337]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children that are EEA nationals

receive services from youth offending teams.

Wendy Morton:

This information is not held by MoJ or the Youth Justice Board. Although local level

Youth Offending Services have the ability to collect data on children’s nationality

using their case management systems, it is unknown how many actually do record

this information because the Youth Justice Board do not collate data on nationality

centrally. This is done to reduce the data reporting burden on frontline services.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Brexit: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Lyn Brown: [284880]

To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he as made of the effect of the

prorogation of Parliament between 9 and 12 September 2019 and the 14 October 2019

on the number of sitting days available for Parliamentary scrutiny of (a) Bills before the




House and (b) Statutory Instruments relating to the UK’s Exit from the European Union

subject to the (i) affirmative and (ii) negative procedure in advance of the 31st October

2019; and what assessment he has made of the level of risk that legislation in relation to

the Government’s No Deal preparation will not have adequate parliamentary time to be

passed.

Lyn Brown: [285104]

To ask the Leader of the House, what estimate he has made of the number of sitting days

available for Parliamentary scrutiny in advance of 31 October 2019 of (a) Bills, (b)

affirmative procedure statutory instruments and (c) negative procedure statutory

instruments relating to the UK leaving the EU.

Lyn Brown: [285247]

To ask the Leader of the House, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Bills,

(b) affirmative procedure statutory instruments and (c) negative procedure statutory

instruments that need to pass through Parliament in advance of 31 October 2019 in order

to meet the Government’s preparation objectives for the UK leaving the EU without a

deal.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg:

The necessary EU exit bills for 31 October in a no-deal scenario are in place. Further

primary legislation will be needed after exit day as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

The number of sitting days available for Parliamentary scrutiny of legislation in

advance of 31 October will depend on when the parliamentary session ends during

the week of 9 September.

Given the expected conference recess period of typically three weeks, prorogation of

Parliament would mean that the number of sittings days would be between four and

seven fewer than would have been available for the scrutiny of legislation, where

Parliament would have otherwise been sitting. To date we have laid over 580 EU exit

SIs. The Government is confident that the necessary secondary legislation will be in

force by 31 October.

Tom Brake: [285166]

To ask the Leader of the House, what further legislative changes are needed to enable

Departments to complete preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31

October 2019; and how much Parliamentary time he estimates is required to pass that

legislation.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg:

If we leave the EU without a deal then no further primary exit legislation is needed

before 31 October. We are confident that the necessary secondary legislation will be

in force by 31 October.

Privy Council

Valerie Vaz: [285264]

To ask the Leader of the House, when the Privy Council will next meet.





Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg:

The next scheduled Privy Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 9 October

2019.

TRANSPORT

A34: Accidents

Layla Moran: [284860]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2019 to

Question 240641 on A34: Oxfordshire, what estimate he has made of the number of (a)

deaths and (b) injuries on the A34 in 2018.

George Freeman:

The latest available final road accident data is for 2017. The annual report on

reported road casualties for 2018 will be published in September 2019.

Bus Services: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Inclusive Transport

Strategy, published on 25 July 2018, when his Department plans to publish guidance on

what should be included in high quality training for bus drivers.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The Government remains committed to publishing best practice guidance on the

provision of high quality disability awareness training for bus and coach drivers, to

support operators to ensure that every driver has the knowledge and skills to assist

disabled passengers.

We will publish the guidance later in the year and will work with the bus and coach

industry to encourage its adoption.

Cycling and Walking

Anna Turley: [284549]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish a report to

Parliament on the Government's objectives for walking and cycling as set out in the

statutory 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Chris Heaton-Harris:

The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to publish the road safety statistics for

England in September. As it would be useful to include this data in its progress

report, and given the prorogation of Parliament, DfT is planning to publish the

progress report over the autumn.




Department for Transport: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings his Department has had with

Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal

agreement.


DfT supports MHCLG’s Brexit discussions with local authority leaders and local

authority Chief Executives to outline its work on Brexit preparedness and to address

transport queries.

No meetings have taken place with Wirral Council, but DfT is directly engaging with

Merseyside Local Resilience Forum, which includes emergency responders, councils

and other public services.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to help ensure that more

public charging points are provided for electronic vehicles.

George Freeman:

We want to encourage private sector investment to build and operate a self-

sustaining public network that is affordable, reliable and accessible.

Government funding and leadership, alongside private sector investment, has

supported the installation of more than 21,000 public chargepoints, 2,100 of which

are rapid – creating one of the largest networks in Europe. In August the Secretary of

State announced that funding for this year’s on street residential charging scheme,

which offers grants to local authorities to support investment at a local level, would be

doubled from £2.5 to £5 million. Highways England has also committed £15m to

ensure there are chargepoints (rapid where possible) every 20 miles on 95% of the

Strategic Road Network by 2020.

This is in addition to the £400m Chargepoint Infrastructure Investment Fund

announced at the Autumn budget in 2017.

Manchester-Sheffield Railway Line

Gill Furniss: [285040]

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

the capacity improvement scheme planned for the Hope Valley line.


Network Rail have completed the single option design for the railway infrastructure

scheme proposed in the Hope Valley and are working on plans to progress the work

to the next stage ‘Decision to Deliver’. Network Rail are developing a procurement

plan to deliver the scheme, and are undertaking pre-construction planning to enable




this scheme to be delivered as quickly as possible. They will be working with the train

operators to assess the best way to deliver the scheme with the least disruption to

passengers.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Melanie Onn: [284483]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the DVLA has refunded to

motorists who sold their cars and claimed back the unused vehicle tax on those cars

since 2014.

George Freeman:

Since 1 October 2014, vehicle excise duty automatically ends when the Driver and

Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been notified that a vehicle has been sold,

transferred into the motor trade, scrapped, exported, stolen or a statutory off road

notification is made. When the DVLA is notified of any of these events, the registered

keeper automatically receives a refund of the full months remaining on their vehicle

excise duty. The table below shows all vehicle excise duty refunds since 2014:

YEAR VED REFUNDS£MILLIONS

2018/19 365

2017/18 352

2016/17 338

2015/16 357

2014/15 216

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his Department’s policy to

include in contracts for motorway maintenance and upgrade work (a) penalty clauses for

contractors failing to complete work within an agreed time frame and (b) set hours during

which such work is to be carried out in order to (i) minimise disruption at peak times and

(ii) ensure timely completion of that work.

George Freeman:

Highways England’s contractual arrangements for contractors that maintain and

repair the Strategic Road Network provides for both financial reward and penalty

depending on performance against the agreed cost for work undertaken. There is

also redress for poor quality including non-compliance with contract, standards, or

statutory obligation, and for failure to deliver to agreed timetables; ranging from



contractors having to bear the cost of correcting defective work through to contract

termination.

Works are planned and scheduled so as to minimize disruption whilst not

compromising value for money.

Official Cars


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars there are in the Government

Car Service fleet.


There are 83 cars in the Government Car Service Fleet.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many petrol or diesel engine cars were

added to the Government Car Service fleet in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019.


As part of a planned replacement programme the Government Car Service (GCS)

added the following cars to its fleet during the years:

1. 2017 – Petrol x 16, Diesel x 0

2. 2018 - Petrol x 0, Diesel x 0

3. 2019 – Petrol x 8, Diesel x 0


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many hybrid electric cars were added to

the Government Car Service fleet in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019.


As part of a replacement programme the Government Car Service (GCS) added the

following hybrid electric cars to its fleet during the following years:

(a) 2017 - 0

(b) 2018 - 5

(c) 2019 - 0





To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fully electric cars were added to

the Government Car Service fleet in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019.


As part of a planned replacement programme the Government Car Service (GCS)

added the following electric cars to its fleet during these years:

1. 2017 – 1

2. 2018 – 5

3. 2019 – 6

Portsmouth International Port


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much additional funding will be allocated

to Portsmouth International Port to prepare for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.


On 30 August, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the £10M Port

Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) fund with the intention of supporting

Brexit resilience preparations at English ports. Portsmouth International Port will be

eligible to apply for PIRC funding, and any bid will be subject to a competitive

assessment process against applications from other ports.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department will be responsible

for reimbursing Portsmouth City Council for costs incurred from preparations at

Portsmouth International Port for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.


On 30 August, as part of a £30m investment package for ports, DfT announced a

targeted £5m fund for Local Resilience Forums (LRF) for traffic management

improvements on roads around key maritime ports outside Kent. Hampshire and the

Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum, which includes Portsmouth City Council, is

eligible for up to £1.25m from this fund in recognition of the high volume of

accompanied freight traffic between Portsmouth International Port and EU ports. The

LRF funding could be used for reimbursement of the council’s capital works on local

roads, provided that it can demonstrate that the works were undertaken to directly

mitigate the potential traffic impacts of a no-deal Brexit.

On the same day, DfT also announced a £10M Port Infrastructure Resilience and

Connectivity (PIRC) fund with the intention of supporting Brexit resilience

preparations at English ports. Portsmouth City Council, who own Portsmouth

International Port, will be eligible to apply for PIRC funding for supporting future no-

deal Brexit related mitigation efforts and any bid will be subject to a competitive

assessment process against applications from other ports.




Roads: Safety

Peter Grant: [284954]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made in reviewing

guidance in the Highway Code to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.


The Government’s response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS)

Safety Review was published in November 2018.

The CWIS Safety Review 50 point action plan, published alongside the Government’s

response, sets the framework for consultation on more detailed proposals and a

targeted programme of research over the next two years.

Three of these actions relate to the reviewing of guidance in The Highway Code to

improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders. The Department is currently

agreeing the scope and delivery of this review, which will be conducted in

consultation with our stakeholders, according to the Department’s usual practice.

Shared Spaces: Visual Impairment

Ian Austin: [284849]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that town

designs that remove navigation tools used by blind and partially-sighted people to

navigate, including kerbs and controlled crossings are not rolled out during the

Government's halt on dangerous shared-space schemes.


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

organisations representing blind and partially-sighted people on the safety of shared

space schemes for those people.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the halt

to shared space schemes remains in force until new designs are considered to be safe by

blind and partially-sighted people.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The focus of the pause is on level-surface schemes in areas with relatively large

amounts of pedestrian and vehicular movement, such as high streets and town

centres (outside of pedestrian zones). Local authorities are responsible for the design

of their streets. It is for them to ensure any pedestrian environment scheme, including

a shared space, is inclusive and meets the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

If local authorities had already let contracts to build a scheme, or it was already under

construction, because any changes to the design may be costly or impractical, to

avoid additional financial burdens, the pause only applies to schemes that were at the

design stage, where changes could be more easily made at the time that the pause

was announced.





Ministers meet regularly with groups representing disabled people, including those

representing blind and partially sighted people, to discuss a wide range of inclusive

and accessible transport issues. Officials in my Department also work closely with a

wide range of stakeholders on many issues including shared space schemes, the

opportunities they offer and the challenges they pose.

TREASURY

Aviation: Alternative Fuels

Gareth Thomas: [281560]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2019 to

Question 277102 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, if he will make an assessment of the

potential merits of introducing tax (a) incentives and (b) disincentives to accelerate the

switch to alternative aviation fuels.

Mr Simon Clarke:

In line with international conventions to which the UK is party, the government does

not charge fuel duty on commercial aviation fuel, therefore alternative aviation fuels

cannot currently be supported through the tax system.

Biofuels are supported outside of the tax system through a market-based certificate

trading mechanism called the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which

has a sharp environmental focus.

Banks: Closures


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he will take to reduce bank closures

in rural areas.

John Glen:

The Government recognises that the closure of bank branches is a very important

issue for many people, particularly in rural communities. However, banking service

providers need to balance customer interests and other commercial factors when

considering their strategies. Although the Government understands the

dissatisfaction, it is right that decisions on opening and closing branches are taken by

the management team of each bank on a commercial basis and the Government

does not intervene in these decisions.

Government cannot reverse the changes in the market and in customer behaviour;

nor can it determine firms’ commercial strategies in response to those changes. In

2018, two-thirds of UK adults used contactless payments, 72% used online banking

and 48% used mobile banking, according to UK Finance. The Government is

committed to ensuring that all areas of the UK benefit from world class digital

connectivity, and we have invested heavily to meet that ambition. The £1.8bn

superfast programme has ensured that 96% of the UK has access to download



speeds of at least 24Mbps. For those premises that do not have access to download

speeds of at least 10 Mbps, the Government have introduced the Universal Service

Obligation (USO), which allows people to request a USO connection from the

designated Universal Service provider, BT, from March 2020.

However, the Government still firmly believes that the impact of branch closures

should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all

customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking

services if they wish to use them. That is why the Government is in full support of the

voluntary Access to Banking Standard that the major high-street banks are signed up

to. This commits them to keep customers well informed about branch closures, and to

set out their reasons for closures and the alternative options for continued access to

services. It is also why the Government supports the Post Office Banking Framework

Agreement, which enables 99% of personal customers and 95% of small business

customers to carry out their everyday banking at one of the Post Office’s 11,500

branches.

Bingo: Taxation

Ian Mearns: [281720]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the financial

effect on the bingo industry of the change to bingo duty in 2014.

Mr Simon Clarke:

No assessment has been made. Bingo Duty was reduced to 10% at Budget 2014 in

recognition of bingo halls’ benefits to local community life.

Bookmakers and Football Pools: Taxation


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the rate of

gross profit tax levied from (a) the Football Pools and (b) bookmakers; what the rationale

is for applying the same rate of duty to the Football Pools and bookmakers; and what

recent assessment he has made of reducing the reducing the rate of the Pools Betting

Duty to 10 per cent.

Mr Simon Clarke:

No recent estimate has been made. Pool Betting Duty raises around £5m and

General Betting Duty raises around £600m in revenue for the Exchequer per annum.

The rate of duty on the Football Pools and Bookmakers was set by the previous

Government. Reducing Pool Betting Duty to 10% is likely to have a negligible effect

on the Football Pools, but could put revenue at risk particularly through incentivising

switching of products from fixed odds bets to pooled bets. HM Treasury however

keeps all taxes under active review.



Brexit


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding from the public purse his

Department spent on the production of the graphic tweeted by his Department on 31 July

2019 entitled We’re announcing £2.1bn funding new funding to prepare for no deal.

Mr Simon Clarke:

The graphic tweeted by HM Treasury on no deal funding was produced in-house by

the digital communications team.

Electronic Publishing: VAT

Ian Murray: [284828]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with (a) his

counterparts in other EU member states and (b) industry of the potential merits of

introducing a reduced rate of VAT on e-publications; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

Any amendments to the VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and e-

publications must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal

considerations. Any representations on this issue will be considered as part of the

fiscal events process.

The Government is aware of moves in some EU Member States to apply a reduced

rate of VAT to e-publications. Within the UK, officials have met with a range of

interested stakeholders, including representatives of the publishing industry, to better

understand the functioning of the market.

Ian Murray: [284908]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the

effect of VAT on e-publications on children’s literacy in the UK; and if he will make a

statement.

Jesse Norman:

The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.





The impact on literacy of any reduction of VAT on e-publications is likely to depend

on commercial decisions about the extent to which any tax saving would lead to price

reductions for consumers, and any associated behavioural changes.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential

merits for the UK's literacy rates of removing VAT from digital products.






To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an

assessment of the potential effect of zero-rating VAT on digital publications on the literacy

of (a) young boys and (b) children on free schools meals who prefer to read on screen.

Jesse Norman:

The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.





The impact on literacy of any reduction of VAT on e-publications is likely to depend

on commercial decisions about the extent to which any tax saving would lead to price

reductions for consumers, and any associated behavioural changes.

Financial Services: Technology


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase

the level of support it provides to the FinTech sector in the UK.

John Glen:

The UK has been independently ranked as the best place in the world to start and

grow a Fintech firm, and the government is committed to maintaining the UK’s

leading edge in the sector. That is why the government has delivered against all of

the commitments made in the Fintech Sector Strategy, which was launched last year.

The government announced at Mansion House 2019 that HM Treasury would launch

a review into the payments landscape, which looks to ensure that regulation and

infrastructure is able to keep pace with new payments models. The government also

announced that it would explore building on the success of Open Banking by

developing an agenda for ‘Open Finance’, looking at ways to safely and securely

share data across a wider range of financial services products. This will further

revolutionise the sector and increase the ability of Fintech firms to compete with

traditional financial services firms.

Football Pools: Excise Duties

Mr Jonathan Lord: [285269]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential

benefits to football pools of reducing betting duty to 10 per cent.

Mr Simon Clarke:

No assessment of the impact of reducing the rate of Pool Betting Duty to 10% has

been made. Pool Betting Duty covers a range of gambling activity that goes wider

than the football pools.




Due to the ease of changing between pools betting and regular betting the

Government considers it would put a significant portion of the General Betting Duty

receipts at risk – which totalled £619m in 2018-19.

However, all taxes are kept under review.

Government Departments: Public Expenditure

Wes Streeting: [285385]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issued to

Departments on the baseline for bids for the spending review; and whether the effect of

additional resources in relation to the UK leaving the EU were included in the calculations

for that review.

Rishi Sunak:

At launch, the Treasury sent official-level guidance and templates setting out financial

and other information required from Departments to make assessments of funding

needs.

As at all spending reviews and spending rounds, in Spending Round 2019 baselines

have been adjusted to represent ongoing spend, with one-off or time limited spend

removed and ongoing spend from the Reserves baselined. This applied to additional

resources for leaving the EU that had been provided from the Reserves.

Help to Buy Scheme: Scotland


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have benefited from the Help

to Buy ISA in (a) north east Scotland and (b) West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine; and

what the cost to the public purse was of that policy in those areas since the introduction

of that scheme.

John Glen:

We do not hold Help to Buy: ISA data specifically for the North East of Scotland or

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine. However, since the introduction of the scheme,

the number of First Time Buyers that have benefitted from the Help to Buy: ISA in

Scotland is 20,921, with 629 being in Aberdeenshire. The value of the bonuses paid

to help people onto the housing ladder in Scotland is £23,230,645 and of this,

£738,986 worth of bonuses were paid in Aberdeenshire.This information is available

in the Help to Buy: ISA accompanying tables as of March 2019 available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-isa-scheme-quarterly-statistics-

december-2015-to-march-2019

Pensions: Tax Allowances


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to raise the pension tax

allowance above the current rate of 25 per cent.




John Glen:

The Government wishes to encourage pension saving, to help ensure that people

have an income, or funds on which they can draw, throughout retirement. This is why,

for the majority of savers, pension contributions are tax-free. Furthermore, investment

growth of assets in a pension scheme is not subject to tax. Up to 25% of the pension

pot can be taken tax-free. After this, payments of pensions are subject to income tax

at an individual’s marginal rate, to reflect the fact that these are a form of deferred

income and have not been previously taxed.

In addition, the Government is committed to keeping taxes low to ensure people keep

more of what they earn.

In April of this year, the Government met its commitment to raise the personal tax-

free allowance to £12,500, one year early. This means the Government has now

raised the personal allowance by over 90% in less than a decade. In 2019-20, over

32 million individuals will see their income tax bill reduced and 1.74 million people on

the lowest incomes will have been taken out of income tax altogether since 2015-16.

A typical basic rate taxpayer will pay £1,205 less income tax compared to 2010-11.

The Government keeps all aspects of the tax system under review and any decisions

on future changes will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of

the wider public finances.

Wealth


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to narrow wealth

differentials between the richest and poorest (a) individuals, (b) regions, (c) counties and

(d) constituencies.

Rishi Sunak:

Addressing inequalities is an important consideration for this Government, and steps

have already been taken to ensure those with the broadest shoulders bear the

greatest burden. That is why we have introduced reforms to dividend taxation and

capital gains tax, and ended permanent non-domicile status – to ensure the rich pay

their fair share. This has led to the top 1% of income taxpayers paying 29% of income

tax – a record high.

This Government is also committed to ensuring opportunities are shared in every part

of the country. People across all regions are benefitting from investments the

Government is making. For example, since 2015, £12bn from the Local Growth Fund

has been provided to local enterprise partnerships for projects that benefit the local

area and economy. In addition to this, our new £3.6 billion Towns Fund will level up

opportunity and create places across the UK where people want to live and thrive –

supporting an initial 100 towns.

By supporting all places to reach their potential, we can drive growth at a national

level and readily share the benefits of a more prosperous United Kingdom.


WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement actions the

HMRC and Child Maintenance Group liaison group has conducted since January 2017.

Mims Davies:

The Department is currently working with HMRC to identify opportunities for closer

working on a range of enforcement activities, as part of the implementation of the

DWP’s child maintenance compliance and arrears strategy.

Alongside this work the Department’s Financial Investigations Unit continues to

conduct investigations into child maintenance matters. Between January and March

2019 the CMS’s Financial Investigations Unit launched 530 complex earnings

investigations and 20 criminal investigations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's timescale is

for notifying all parents who may be eligible to receive historical Child Support Agency

arrears.

Mims Davies:

The Child Maintenance Service began writing to parents with historic CSA arrears in

December 2018. We anticipate that we will have written to all eligible parents by

August 2020.

The notice provides the parent with care an opportunity to make representation within

60 days if they want a last attempt made to collect their historic CSA arrears.


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

registration of the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating

agencies.

Mims Davies:

Where a liability order has been granted for the purposes of pursuing child

maintenance arrears, the paying parent is given a 21 day warning period in order to

respond and agree to pay.

If the warning period passes and no payment has been received from the paying

parent or a payment agreement has not been made, then registration with a Credit

Reference Agency will be considered. The decision is discretionary and intended to

act as a deterrent to those parents who may otherwise choose to evade paying their

maintenance.

The number of liability orders granted is reported in our published statistics and can

be on found table 11 of the tables document in the attached link:




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-

march-2019-experimental


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many incidences of child

maintenance debt of a non-resident parent were registered with a credit rating agency in

the last 12 months.

Mims Davies:

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur

disproportionate cost.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June

2019 to Question 267247 on Children: Maintenance, what assessment she has made of

the effect on inequality in the constituent parts of the UK of calculating child maintenance

liabilities using gross income.

Mims Davies:

An assessment into the effect of the child maintenance calculation on inequality in

different constituencies in the UK has not been conducted. Child maintenance is

calculated as a percentage of a non-resident parent’s income, according to a formula

that is intended to ensure that maintenance is affordable and adapts to changes in

living costs over time.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason deduction of

earnings requests are submitted by the Child Maintenance Service to collect child

maintenance.

Mims Davies:

The Child Maintenance Service makes Deduction from Earnings Requests (DER) to

enforce arrears from non-resident parents in the Armed Forces. A DER works in a

similar way to a Deduction from Earnings Order in that if it is agreed to, regular

deductions will be made from the non-resident parent’s wages and passed on to the

Child Maintenance Group (CMG). The CMG has a memorandum of understanding

with the Ministry of Defence that supports the operation of deductions from earnings.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Expenditure

Margaret Greenwood: [284648]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row D of the

Resource DEL table on page 11 of the DWP Main Estimate 2019-20 Select Committee

Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Executive

Arm’s Length Bodies (Net).

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-march-2019-experimental








To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row G of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Other

Programmes.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row A of the

Capital DEL table on page 12 of the DWP Main Estimate 2019-20 Select Committee

Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Operational

Delivery in 2018-19.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Table 5 on

Resource AME spending on page 12 of the DWP Main Estimate 2019-20 Select

Committee Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under

Other items.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row K of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under

Expenditure incurred by the Social Fund.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row D of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Executive

Arm’s Length Bodies.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row K of the



Expenditure incurred by the Social Fund.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Table 13 on ring-

fenced funding on page 21 of the DWP Main Estimate 2019-20 Select Committee

Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure in 2018-19 under

Supporting the Self Employed.












Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under EU Exit

Allocation.





Financial transactions.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row A of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Operational

Delivery.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row B of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Health and

Safety Executive (Net).


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row C of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under European

Social Fund.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row E of the



Employment Programmes.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row H of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Other

Benefits.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row J of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under National

Insurance Fund.









To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row I of the



Departmental operating costs.




Memorandum, if she will publish a regional breakdown of budgeted expenditure in 2018-

19 under Depreciation.





Supporting the Self Employed.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row F of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Support for

Local Authorities.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row I of the



Departmental operating costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row B of the


Memorandum, if she will publish a breakdown of budgeted expenditure under Health and

Safety Executive in 2018-19.




Memorandum, if she will publish a regional breakdown of budgeted expenditure in 2018-

19 under the Work and Health programme.

Mims Davies:

Estimates are published by HMT. DWP has no plans to publish an additional

breakdown of the Main Estimate.








There is some additional data, detailed below, already available in the public domain

that may assist.

The DWP Annual Report and Accounts for 2018-19


ent_data/file/812722/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-2019.pdf provide a

description of each DEL Estimate line on page 146 and pages 156 -159 detail more

information around our 2019-20 funding although not specifically by each line in the

Main Estimate.

Additionally, within the published Main Estimate Section D, Executive Arm’s Length

Bodies (Net), is broken down in Part III Note E (page 156 of the published Main

Estimate). Note E therefore provides a further break down of row D of the Resource

DEL table and the Capital DEL table.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Brake: [281555]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July

2019 to Question 273727, whether her Department consulted (a) advice agencies and (b)

disability charities on the wording of the revised ESA65B letters to employment and

support allowance claimants’ GPs before authorising the use of that letter from 3 June

2019 onwards.

Justin Tomlinson:

We received comments from a number of sources, including the welfare benefits

advice sector and disability charities, on the previous version of the ESA65B letter.

We took this feedback into account when developing the revised letter.

Tom Brake: [281556]


2019 to Question 273727, whether her Department has written to the GPs of all those

employment and support allowance claimants whom her Department sent an ESA65B

letter between August 2017 and 3 June 2019 to correct the advice that they no longer

need to provide fit notes for patients.

Justin Tomlinson:

Prior to the revised ESA65B letter going live in June, GPs were reminded of all the

circumstances in which fit notes may continue to be issued for those found fit for

work. GPs were also sent a copy of the final version of the revised ESA65B.

The standing guidance for all GPs, clearly setting out the circumstances in which fit

notes should be issued, has been in place since 2013. The guidance has always

been clear that no further fit notes will be required unless the patient wishes to appeal

the decision, their patient’s condition significantly worsens or they develop a new

disability or condition.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812722/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-2019.pdf





Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Ruth George: [284847]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants initially

refused employment support allowance have subsequently been awarded that allowance

under regulation 29 or regulation 35 at (a) the mandatory reconsideration stage and (b)

following an appeal hearing in each of the last four years.

Justin Tomlinson:




To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have been

awarded employment support allowance under (a) regulation 29 and (b) regulation 35 of

the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations in each of the past four years.

Justin Tomlinson:

Statistics on the number of people that have been awarded Employment and Support

Allowance (ESA) following a Work Capability Assessment by ESA group allocation

and reasons can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml

Guidance for users is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Food Supply

Ruth Smeeth: [281828]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is

taking to protect people on benefits or low incomes who would be most vulnerable to

rising food prices or food supply disruption in the event that the UK leaves the EU without

a deal.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Government's priority remains securing a deal to leave the EU. We have more

people in work than ever before, with wages continuing to grow. However, as a

responsible government we have plans in place for a range of scenarios. The welfare

system provides a strong safety net. A system of hardship payments, benefit

advances and budgeting loans will be available for eligible claimants who need them.

For new claimants applying for Universal Credit (UC), new claim advances provide

access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same

day, until their first UC payment is due. We have increased work allowance rates by

£1,000 in April 2019 and they will be uprated in line with inflation in the future. This

measure provides additional support in a package announced in Autumn Budget

2018, worth £1.7 billion by 2023/24, to some of the most vulnerable low paid working

households.








Health Assessment Advisory Service

Liam Byrne: [284538]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether employees of the Health

Assessment Advisory Service receive a monetary bonus for each claimant they find fit for

work.

Justin Tomlinson:

Assessment Providers do not decide the outcome of a claim to benefit. They provide

a report to the department’s decision makers who then determine entitlement to

benefit. Employees of the Health Assessment Advisory Service do not have

incentives or targets linked to the outcome of benefit entitlement decisions.

Parents: Low Incomes


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a comparative

assessment of the proportion of parents in low income families who are (a) out of work

and (b) in part-time work (i) during the school summer holidays and (ii) at all other times

in the school year.

Will Quince:

National statistics on the proportion of parents in low income families who are (a) out

of work or (b) in part time work are published annually in the “Households Before

Average Income” publication. These statistics are not possible to break down by

distinct periods of the year.

The statistics can be found using the link below, with the statistics for relative low

income found in table 5.5ts, and the statistics for absolute low income found in table

5.8ts, both in the file “workingage-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2017-18-tables”.


ent_data/file/792784/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip

Pension Credit

Mr Laurence Robertson: [284185]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to

increase the take-up of pensions credit by people who are entitled to claim it; and if she


Guy Opperman:

It is important to highlight that there are over 1.6 million people already claiming some

£5.4 billion in Pension Credit but the Government wants to ensure that all pensioners

eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled.

On a national basis the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be

eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report

a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792784/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip




communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information

on https://gov.uk/, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and

Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about

entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing

Benefit.

Potential customers can use the Pension Credit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-

calculator to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they

may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling the

Freephone number 0800 99 1234.

One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder

working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an

on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage

Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit

The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes

guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to

help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help

organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for

encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability

and carers benefits.

Most recently we have provided to relevant stakeholders a fact sheet about Pension

Credit and the changes introduced on 15 May for mixed age couples to ensure that

accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek

information.

Pensioners: Personal Independence Payment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants over

65 at the date of their application have been refused personal independence payment at

(a) mandatory reconsideration stage and (b) appeal stage when transferring from

disability living allowance.

Justin Tomlinson:

The table below shows the outcomes of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal

Independence Payment (PIP) reassessment claims, and the outcome of Mandatory

Reconsiderations (MR) and appeals for initial disallowance decisions, for claimants

aged 65 or over at the point of claim registration.

Table: DLA to PIP reassessment decisions, MR and appeals, for claimants aged

65 or over at the point of claim registration

Initial decisions - April 2013 to January 2019

https://gov.uk/

https://gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator






INITIAL DECISION

Awarded 172,900

Disallowed 36,290

Withdrawn 3,140

Of those disallowed at the initial decision

Decision not changed at MR 16,290

Decision not changed at appeal 1,830

Notes

• Initial decisions are up to January 2019, whilst MR and appeals data is up to March

2019.

• Data has been rounded to the nearest 10.

• PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.

• Disallowances include those pre-referral to the assessment providers (AP) that

have been disallowed due to failure of basic eligibility criteria or non-return of the

Part 2 form within the time limit and have not been marked as requiring additional

support, as well as those post-referral to the AP that have been disallowed

following the assessment due to the claimant not scoring enough points at the

assessment to be awarded the benefit, or the claimant failing to attend the

assessment without good reason.

• The number of people who did not have a decision changed at appeal are included

in the number of people who did not have a decision changed at MR – therefore

these two figures cannot be added together.

• Appeals data taken from the DWP PIP computer system’s management

information. Therefore this appeal data may differ from that held by Her Majesty’s

Courts and Tribunals Service for various reasons such as delays in data recording

and other methodological differences in collating and preparing statistics.

• Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have

had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to MR or appeal.

Personal Independence Payment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants over

65 have (a) been unsuccessful in their application for personal independence payment,

(b) received benefit at a lower rate and (c) received benefit at a higher rate when

transferring from disability living allowance.


Justin Tomlinson:

The table below shows the outcomes of Daily Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal

Independence Payment (PIP) reassessment claims broken down by whether the

award was increased, unchanged (maintained), decreased, disallowed post referral

to assessment, disallowed pre referral to assessment and withdrawn for claimants

aged 65 or over at the point of decision. This data is from the introduction of PIP in

April 2013 to October 2018, the most recent date for which data is available.

Table: Outcome of DLA to PIP reassessment claims for claimants aged over 65 at

the date of clearance. (April 2013 to October 2018).

INCREASED UNCHANGED DECREASED

DISALLOWED

POST

REFERRAL

DISALLOWED

PRE

REFERRAL WITHDRAWN TOTAL

85,340 31,670 58,320 29,880 5,930 2,320 213,460

Source: PIP Computer System claimant records, DLA Work and Pensions

Longitudinal Study claimant data and Customer Information System data.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults born after 8 April

1948 are awaiting a decision in their application to transfer from disability living allowance

to personal independence payment; and how many of those people are (a) aged 66 to 69

and (b) aged 70 or older.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Department is currently investigating a discrepancy with data on registrations to

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for the quarter ending April 2019. As a result,

registrations data are only available up to 31st January 2019. We are therefore unable

to release data on the number of claimants who have registered for PIP since 31st

January 2019 and therefore the number of those claimants who have not yet had a

decision.

Registrations data are expected to be available in future releases when the issue has

been resolved.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults born after 8 April

1948 are in receipt of disability living allowance and waiting to be invited to claim personal

independence payment; and how many of those adults are aged (a) 66 to 69 and (b) 70

or older.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners claiming

disability living allowance the Department has (a) invited and (b) still to invite to apply for




personal independence payment; and by what date all pensioners claiming disability

living allowance will have been invited to apply for personal independence payment.

Justin Tomlinson:

The specific information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has

made on the evaluation of the video recording pilot for personal independence payment

assessments.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Department is evaluating the findings from the video recording pilot and we will

provide an update on our future plans once this has been completed.

Post Office Card Account


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has

made of the effect of the end on the Post Office Card Account on vulnerable people that

use that service.

Guy Opperman:

The Department’s contract with Post Office Limited for the Post Office Card Account

is due to end in 2021.

For vulnerable customers who are unable to open or operate a standard account, the

Department will implement a replacement payment service.

Customer insight has influenced business requirements for the new service which

outline the positive outcomes that must be achieved to ensure that the payment

needs of individuals who are in a vulnerable situation are met. This includes the

ability to obtain cash payments from a network of payment outlets in their local area

(including suburban and rural locations).

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Edward Miliband: [281665]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of benefits

decisions in Doncaster have been appealed in the most recent period for which figures

are available.



decisions have been appealed in the most recent period for which figures are available.







decisions have been appealed in each Government region in the most recent period for

which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson:

Information on appeal outcomes in relation to Employment and Support Allowance

(ESA) Work Capability Assessments by several geographical areas is available on

Stat-Xplore.

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html

Information on the percentage of initial Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

decisions that have been appealed, by region and for Great Britain, is shown in the

table below.

TABLE: INITIAL PIP DECISIONS AND APPEALS LODGED BY REGION, INITIAL DECISIONS IN 2018-19

Region Appeals

lodged

Initial

decisions

% of initial

decisions

appealed

East Midlands 3,190 54,280 6%

East of

England

3,460 61,030 6%

London 5,920 87,470 7%

North East 3,220 48,920 7%

North West 7,000 109,170 6%

Scotland 5,880 82,980 7%

South East 4,840 80,430 6%

South West 3,760 63,150 6%

Wales 2,820 47,490 6%

West Midlands 4,560 77,680 6%

Yorkshire and

The Humber

4,740 72,050 7%

Great Britain 49,380 784,690 6%






For Doncaster Local Authority, 4,790 initial PIP decisions were made in 2018-19, of

which 5% have been appealed.

Notes

• Data has been rounded to the nearest 10.

• Percentages have been rounded to the nearest percent.

• Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.

• Appeals data taken from the DWP PIP computer system’s management

information. Therefore this appeal data may differ from that held by Her Majesty’s

Courts and Tribunals Service for various reasons such as delays in data recording

and other methodological differences in collating and preparing statistics.

• Appeals data up to March 2019. Claimants who have received benefit decisions

more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and

progress to appeal.

• The Local Authority and Government Office Region geography relates to the origin

of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode) rather than the location of

where the tribunal was held.

To provide the information requested across all other DWP administered benefits

would incur disproportionate cost.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the process is for ensuring

that the outcomes of appeals against the refusal of (a) employment support allowance

and (b) personal independence payments are reported to those who made the original

decision.

Justin Tomlinson:

DWP has processes in place to feedback to original decision makers where a

decision is changed at Appeal, this includes feedback from Presenting Officers who

have been in attendance at the Appeal.

This is fed back to the relevant decision makers and line managers through a

structured mechanism that is used to advise appropriate conversations and quality

actions.

Social Security Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is

taking to tailor medical assessments for benefits to take account of the needs of ME

sufferers.

Justin Tomlinson:

Both the assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Work

Capability Assessment (WCA) are functional assessments designed to respectively



contribute towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health

condition or disability, and to assess an individual’s capability to work. Both benefits

are based on the impact of a person’s disability or health condition, not on the

condition itself. This is important, as we recognise that the same condition can affect

different people in different ways.

Assessors are provided with training and guidance in the full range of health

conditions, including ME. For instance, all WCA assessors have access to a learning

module on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ME, that is externally quality assured by

an expert clinician. Furthermore, the PIP providers have recently been involved in a

programme of engagement with CFS/ME stakeholders, and have developed a

comprehensive suite of training products on CFS/ME.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have received

(a) multiple and (b) no assessments from her Department in the last two years.

Justin Tomlinson:

The information requested on multiple or no assessments is not readily available and

to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an

assessment of the appropriateness of requiring claimants with mental health conditions to

attend face-to-face interviews as part of the social security benefits assessment process.

Justin Tomlinson:

We recognise that attending a face-to-face assessment can be a stressful experience

for some people, including for people who have a mental health condition. That is

why we do not require people to attend face-to-face consultations where there is

enough existing evidence to determine benefit entitlement.

Furthermore, where a face-to-face consultation is required, we encourage claimants

to bring another person with them where they would find this helpful, for example,

reassure them or to help them during the consultation. The person chosen is at the

discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member,

friend, carer, or advocate.

Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an

assessment of the potential merits of recording all calls from benefits claimants to ensure

that complaints can be followed up.




Will Quince:

The Department acknowledges the merit and does record inbound calls to DWP’s

helplines in order to make improvements to service and follow-up on any complaints

received.

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

Faisal Rashid: [284333]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that

state pensions for UK citizens living overseas increase at the same rate as pensions for

pensioners who remain in the UK.

Guy Opperman:

The UK State Pension is payable worldwide. It is up-rated for overseas residents

where there is a legal requirement to do so and it is up-rated abroad at the same rate

as in the UK.

Universal Credit


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her evidence of

24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront

childcare costs, whether work coaches use the Flexible Support Fund to provide that

additional support after the first month.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her oral evidence

of 24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront

childcare costs on Wednesday 24 July, whether work coaches will be given greater

flexibility to use the Flexible Support Fund.

Mims Davies:

Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront

childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting

work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers and

is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:

• Deposit – To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.

• Retainer – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery

provision prior to the parent starting work or training.

• Fees – To pay a provider upfront childcare fees in advance of the service being

delivered; and

• Taster/Settling in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable

the parent to prepare their child before taking up the full childcare offer.

Once a claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the

flexibility to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs




where required and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school

holidays, change of childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase

work hours. Budgeting Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these

childcare costs can be reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a

paid receipt is submitted.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has

made of the length of time taken to respond to journal messages submitted by claimants

of universal credit.

Will Quince:

Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants

to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them.

Via their account, claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments

through their account, notify us of changes and record notes on the online journal

facility.

The journal is primarily used to support work search activity and as such not every

journal entry will require a response.

The Case Manager or Work Coach receives a notification in real time each time a

claimant submits an entry to their online journal. Journal entries are monitored daily

as part of our case management approach.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of universal

credit were (a) employed and (b) unemployed as at 15 August 2019.

Will Quince:

The latest available information as at July 2019 on the number of people on Universal

Credit by Employment Indicator is published and can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/.

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:


Dan Jarvis: [285284]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department

has made of the effect of reduced allowances for universal credit claimants who are

under 25 years old on the financial wellbeing of those claimants.

Will Quince:

The lower standard allowance rates for Universal Credit claimants who are under the

age of 25 years reflects that they are more likely to live in someone else's household,

have lower living costs, and have lower earnings expectations. It also reinforces the

stronger work incentives that Universal Credit creates for this age group. Qualifying








claimants can also receive separate elements to provide support for housing costs,

children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers.

People claiming Universal Credit move into work faster, stay in work longer and

spend more time looking to increase their earnings. It provides more financial help

with childcare costs (eligible claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their

childcare costs, compared to 70% on the legacy system), a dedicated Work Coach,

and removes the 16-hour ‘cliff edge’ for those who are working.

Universal Credit: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times her Department

has requested that HM Courts and Tribunals Service provide an extension to a deadline

for a universal credit appeal in the last six months.

Will Quince:

The Department does not collect information on the number of extensions to a

deadline requested to HM Courts and Tribunals Service for Universal Credit appeals.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is for

her Department to respond to universal credit appeals.

Will Quince:



Alan Brown: [285027]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to

lodge an appeal against the High Court decision by Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice

Lewis in relation to her Department wrongly interpreting universal credit regulations for

assessment of pay cycles.

Will Quince:

The Court judgment affects a small number of people on Universal Credit, with

specific characteristics. The Department is currently appealing this judgment, and as

such will await the outcome of that process before taking any further action. The

amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the

actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.

Universal Credit: EEA Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK EEA citizens

successfully appealed a failure of the habitual residency test between November 2017

and November 2018.






To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she made of the

effectiveness of the habitual residency test for EEA nationals applying for universal credit.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effectiveness of the habitual residency test in accurately assessing the eligibility of

EEA nationals to receive universal credit.



the reasons for EEA nationals failing the habitual residency test when applying for

universal credit.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to review

the use of the habitual residency test for EEA nationals applying for universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson:

Eligibility for Universal Credit depends on a person’s immigration status in the UK. In

line with EU law, EEA nationals must be exercising a legal right to reside, such as

worker or self-employed status, and be habitually resident in the UK to be eligible for

income-related benefits. EEA nationals may now apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

to protect their entitlement to access UK benefits and public services.

The Department is committed to monitoring its policies, regularly reviewing and

analysing the relevant data. Information on HRT appeals is not readily available and

to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Fraud



2019 to Question 275665 on universal credit: fraud, what steps her Department is taking

to close a loophole in the online application process which enables people to make an

application and claim an advance using another person’s information.

Guy Opperman:

The Department takes the prevention of fraud extremely seriously. Part of its strategy

includes ensuring Universal Credit transactions are secure, including tackling

loopholes fraudsters may seek to exploit, which sadly can target some of our most

vulnerable claimants.

It is, however, important to recognise that the vast majority of advances on Universal

Credit are legitimate and ensure those in need of financial support get the help they

need during their transition to Universal Credit.






All claims where fraud may have been committed are investigated. We are committed

to the use of penalties such as prosecutions and tough financial penalties, where

appropriate, to discourage this fraudulent behaviour. The Department considers all

cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence

provided.

Additionally, we have a dedicated team of investigators to address this issue, and are

working with Social Media sites to shut down posts which promote this fraud. The

Department also operates a policy of explicit consent to help reduce the risk of fraud

by ensuring that our claimants’ data is kept safe from unscrupulous organisations and

individuals.

The Department is also raising awareness of this issue through a campaign being run

on social media to remind people of the importance of safeguarding their identity. We

have also been working to further improve knowledge and awareness of advances

fraud amongst Jobcentre and Service Centre staff and guidance has been issued to

ensure that staff are aware how to refer cases of suspected fraud to the Department’s

Counter-fraud team.



2019 to Question 278344, on Universal Credit: Fraud, over what period of time the 52

pages were shut down.

Guy Opperman:

As a result of internal work within the Department and pre-work with social media

companies to identify accounts and determine their fraudulent nature, the first Social

Media account was closed on the 9th July. We continue to work with social media

sites to ensure any pages promoting benefit fraud are closed and have closed down

71 sites to date.

Universal Credit: Housing


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people under 21 years

old have claimed housing support entitlement as part of universal credit since the ending

of means testing for that component in March 2018.

Will Quince:

The housing costs element, in line with all other elements in Universal Credit, has

always been subject to means testing for all Universal Credit claimants.

Numbers of people under 21 years claiming housing support entitlement as part of

Universal Credit since March 2018 is not readily available and to provide it would

incur disproportionate cost.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to introduce

details of the calculation of (a) housing costs, (b) LHA limits, (c) spare bedroom




deductions and (d) non-dependent contributions in Universal Credit Full Service payment

statements.

Will Quince:

The Department is expecting to include the information mentioned in the Universal

Credit statement by this Autumn. We will also include shared accommodation rates

and rent free weeks when appropriate.

Universal Credit: Support for Mortgage Interest



the effect of the restriction on earned income for eligibility for support for mortgage

interest under universal credit on the incentive to work.

Will Quince:

The earned income rule for help with mortgage interest on Universal Credit ensures

that owner occupier claimants have the right incentives to move into work and

increase their hours of work over time where possible.

Universal Credit’s income taper, along with work allowances for qualifying claimants,

ensure a strong work incentive is maintained. For certain owner occupiers, the

withdrawal of support for mortgage interest means they qualify for the higher work

allowance, and so they could earn up to £503 before there is any effect on their

Universal Credit award.

My Department has made no formal assessment of the effect of the rule on work

incentives.

Welfare Assistance Schemes: Yorkshire and the Humber

Dan Jarvis: [282353]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which local authorities in (a)

Yorkshire and (b) Humberside have local welfare assistance schemes in place.

Will Quince:

We do not hold information on delivery of local welfare assistance schemes.

The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the

devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision

for people who are in need of urgent help. We passed funding over to them (from

April 2013) on a non ring-fenced basis with no statutory duties or monitoring

requirements attached, giving maximum flexibility to deliver services as they see fit

according to local needs.

Work Capability Assessment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have died in

the last 12 months after having been assessed by her Department as fit for work.




Justin Tomlinson:




To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons her Department

took the decision to undertake an internal review into the handling of the case of Stephen

Smith in private after his death having been found by her Department as fit for work.

Justin Tomlinson:

Internal Process Reviews (IPR) were established as an internal continuous

improvement tool and take place when it is considered that objective scrutiny would

be beneficial. Its purpose is to examine DWP processes and how they were followed.

If appropriate they can also identify recommendations for changes. IPRs contain

sensitive personal information and are not suitable for disclosure in the public

domain.

Working Links


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions officials of her

Department have had with their counterparts in the Ministry of Justice on the

correspondence entitled Working Links: Ministerial direction confirmation letter from the

Secretary of State for Justice, published on 8 May 2019; and if she will introduce similar

financial protections for permitted subcontractors as set out in that correspondence to her

Department’s Working Links subcontractors.

Will Quince:

DWP Commercial have had discussions with MOJ colleagues to clarify the MOJ

Ministerial direction correspondence published on 8 May 2019.

The MOJ are making payments to a small number of Permitted Sub Contractors on

the basis of a) the unique nature of their services (statutory services) and b) the

structure of their current market in the context of the transformation announced on 16

May 2019.

The Department considered the impact on stakeholders and sub-contractors, based

on the Administrator’s statement of affairs at the point of Working Links going into

administration, and has worked with both the Administrator and Fedcap, who have

taken over a number of Working Links contracts, to minimise the impact on those

supply chain partners owed monies by Working Links at the point of administration.



MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

CABINET OFFICE

Electoral Register


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

merits of a pilot scheme allowing election-day voter registration in polling stations.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 3 September 2019. The

correct answer should have been:

Kevin Foster:

The Government has no plans to introduce election day registration. To work

effectively and securely, it would require all polling stations in a constituency to be

electronically linked and the register updated in real time to prevent anyone

registering and voting in one polling station and moving quickly to another to do the

same. This would present considerable technical challenges and carry significant

cost.

Such a change would introduce uncertainties as to the register to be used for

the election and undermine confidence in the process if candidates were

unable to challenge any unusual trends in registration prior to Polling Day.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are legally responsible for determining who is

eligible to vote in polls in their local areas. Coming to a determination can take time

and cannot be done instantaneously.


WRITTEN STATEMENTS

EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

General Affairs Council, July 2019

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union

(James Duddridge): [HCWS1818]

Lord Callanan, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, has made the following

statement:

I represented the UK at the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels on 18 July 2019.

From September 1 until exit day, the UK will no longer attend most EU meetings, in order

to make the best possible use of UK resources. The UK is still committed to the duty of

sincere cooperation and this decision is not intended in any way to frustrate the

functioning of the EU. A provisional report of the meeting and the conclusions adopted

can be found on the Council of the European Union’s website at:

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2019/07/18/

Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 - 2027

The Presidency presented its plan for approaching the next phase of negotiations on the

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, and indicated its commitment to

the European Council’s objective of concluding the MFF by the end of the year. To

prepare for discussions between EU Leaders on the MFF in October, the Presidency

outlined a new timetable for delivery and prepared a questionnaire for Member States to

complete over the summer. The Commission welcomed the timetable and noted the need

to consider the views of the new European Parliament.

Presentation of the priorities of the Finnish Presidency

The Presidency delivered a presentation on its priorities for the next six months. The

overarching priorities include strengthening common values and the rule of law; making

the EU more competitive and socially inclusive; strengthening the EU’s position as a

global leader in climate action; and protecting the security of citizens comprehensively.

Other issues to be discussed throughout 2019 in the GAC format include the MFF, rule of

law, enlargement and hybrid threats.

Implementation of the Strategic Agenda 2019-2024

Ministers discussed the implementation of the new EU Strategic Agenda 2019-24. The

Strategic Agenda was adopted by the European Council on 20 June 2019 and will guide

the overarching priorities for the next institutional cycle. The priority areas are: protecting

citizens and freedoms; developing a strong and vibrant economic base; building a

climate-neutral green, fair and social Europe; and promoting European interests and

values on the global stage.

Ministers discussed how the Strategic Agenda could be implemented. The discussion

was guided by a Presidency paper which provided an initial indication as to which Council

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-09-05/HCWS1818/



configuration would consider the main issues and set out proposed timings for these

discussions. Member States agreed on ensuring a coherent agenda across all three

institutions; supported greater engagement with citizens and national Parliaments through

clear communication; and stressed the importance of achieving concrete results. I

intervened to welcome the broad themes of the Finnish Presidency and stated that the

UK would support its delivery of priorities whilst we remained a Member State. I also

reaffirmed the UK’s continued commitment and support for the security and

competitiveness of the EU, and welcomed the greater focus on hybrid threats and cyber

threats.

Several Member States referred to the programme set out by Commission President-

elect von der Leyen, and called for the Strategic Agenda to inform the Commission Work

Programme. The GAC will return to this agenda item in October and December, while the

European Council will discuss the follow-up to the Strategic Agenda at the October

European Council.

Commission communication on further strengthening the Rule of Law

The Commission presented its new communication on further strengthening the rule of

law in the EU which was adopted on 17 July. The proposals centered on the three pillars

of promotion, prevention and response and included a Commission-driven ‘Rule of Law

Review Cycle’ and an ‘Annual Rule of Law Review’. These proposals will engage all

Member States to prevent backtracking on the rule of law.

Rule of Law in Poland / Article 7 (1) TEU Reasoned Proposal

The Commission provided a further update on the rule of law in Poland. This followed the

recent judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Poland’s Supreme Court law.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Safety

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Robert Jenrick):

[HCWS1820]

I updated the House today in an Oral Statement on the Government's progress on

building safety and set out this administration’s approach. As set out in the Statement, I

am consulting on changes to fire safety regulations for new-build blocks of flats. We will

seek to commit to requiring sprinkler systems as standard in a wider range of new flats.

We will also consult on requiring better signs and evacuation alert systems to support

effective firefighting. A link to the consultation document ‘Sprinklers and other fire safety

measures in new high-rise blocks of flats’ is here

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sprinklers-and-other-fire-safety-measures-

in-new-high-rise-blocks-of-flats and I will deposit copies of this consultation in the Library

of the House.



https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sprinklers-and-other-fire-safety-measures-in-new-high-rise-blocks-of-flats



WORK AND PENSIONS

Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Act 2013

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment (Mims Davies):

[HCWS1819]

I will, later today, lay a draft Remedial Order to amend the Jobseekers (Back to Work

Schemes) Act 2013, along with the Government Statement, setting out our response to

the Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and other representations my

Department received on the proposal for the draft Order when this was laid in Parliament

between 28 June and 31 October 2018.

The draft Remedial Order ensures the right to a fair hearing for a small group of claimants

who had lodged an appeal against a sanction decision that was retrospectively validated

by the 2013 Act, if that appeal case had not been finally determined, abandoned or

withdrawn before 26 March 2013. For these appeal cases, the draft Order gives the

Courts the ability to find in the individual’s favour and enables the Secretary of State for

Work and Pensions to change the sanction decision and refund the amount withheld,

without those affected individuals having to continue with their appeal, wherever possible.

In 2013, the Courts ruled that the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Employment, Skills and

Enterprise Schemes) Regulations 2011 (ESE Regulations) that underpinned a range of

programmes of support to help people into work did not describe the individual schemes

in enough detail, and that our referral letters did not say enough about the activities

required. The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Mandatory Work Activity Scheme) Regulations

2011 (MWA Regulations) contained identical requirements about the content of referral

letters. The 2013 Act reinstated the original policy intent of these Regulations. This

ensured that job seekers who had failed to take all reasonable steps to increase their

chances of finding work between 2011 and 2013 did not unfairly obtain advantage over

claimants who complied with the benefit conditionality requirements.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the 2013 Act is effective in retrospectively validating

sanction decisions and notifications. The Court of Appeal also ruled that the 2013 Act

was incompatible with article 6(1) (the right to a fair hearing) of the European Convention

on Human Rights. It did not prevent people from appealing if they felt they had a good

reason for not participating in one of the employment schemes, but it meant that their

appeal would be unsuccessful if it related to their compliance with the ESE Regulations or

the referral notification they received under the ESE Regulations or the MWA

Regulations. The Court of Appeal found that the 2013 Act was effective and that there

was no breach of the European Convention on Human Rights for the vast majority of

claimants affected by the 2013 Act. The incompatibility with Article 6 (1) arises only where

a claimant had an undetermined appeal still in the Tribunal system on the 26 March 2013,

the date the Act came into force. The Court’s decision does not affect the continuing

validity of the 2013 Act.

I used the non-urgent Remedial Order process to allow time for Parliamentary scrutiny.

This requires that an initial proposed draft Remedial Order is laid in both Houses for a



period of 60 days for consultation. The Joint Committee on Human Rights also consulted

on the proposal and published its Report on 31 October 2019. The initial proposed draft

Remedial Order restored the right to a fair hearing for ESE Regulation appeal cases

because the appellants in the Court of Appeal case were appealing sanctions decisions

made under these Regulations. An Upper Tribunal Judge has since questioned whether a

limited group of Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) appeal cases might also be included, as

their rights under Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights arguably may

also have been affected by the 2013 Act.

I have thoroughly considered his question and I believe that certain MWA Regulation

appeal cases are in a similar position to the ESE appeal cases that were specifically

examined by the Court of Appeal. I have, therefore, revised the proposed draft Remedial

Order to ensure that all claimants who had a pending appeal in the Tribunal system on 26 th March 2013 that may have been affected when the retrospective provisions of the 2013

Act came into effect are included in the draft Remedial Order.

There are no other groups similarly affected by the 2013 Act. The revised draft Remedial

Order remains limited to circumstances that were incompatible with Article 6(1) of the

European Convention on Human Rights. I will lay the draft Order later today for

consideration by Parliament for a period of 60 days, it is then subject to affirmative

resolution.

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