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
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
Personal Independence
Payment 143
Personal Independence
Payment: Medical
Examinations 145
Post Office Card Account 145
Social Security Benefits:
Appeals 145
Social Security Benefits:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 147
Social Security Benefits:
Medical Examinations 148
Social Security Benefits:
Mental Illness 148
Social Security Benefits:
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
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
meetings her Department has had with Durham County 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
sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive
business search tool https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-brexit-check
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.
Life Sciences: EU Nationals
Daniel Zeichner: [285292]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
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.
Daniel Zeichner: [285293]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
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
Bridget Phillipson: [285258]
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.
Mary Creagh: [285239]
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
Helen Goodman: [284516]
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
Helen Goodman: [284826]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
meetings her Department has had with businesses on Teesside 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
sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive
business search tool https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-brexit-check
Spark Energy: Billing
Kevin Brennan: [285213]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent
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
Kevin Brennan: [284820]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
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
John Lamont: [284587]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office,
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]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what
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
Nia Griffith: [284719]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what
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
Nia Griffith: [284530]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what
recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the recently established National
Security Strategy Implementation Groups in improving cross-departmental working.
Nia Griffith: [285237]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what
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]
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office,
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [284819]
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.
Mr Kevan Jones: [285097]
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.
Mrs Madeleine Moon: [285226]
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.
Mrs Madeleine Moon: [285100]
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.
Mrs Madeleine Moon: [285101]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [284345]
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.
Mr Kevan Jones: [284459]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what new funding has been allocated to the
6th Division.
Mr Kevan Jones: [285216]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the 6th Division will include reservists.
Mr Kevan Jones: [285217]
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.
Peter Dowd: [284208]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row B 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 Civilian Personnel Costs.
Peter Dowd: [284211]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row C 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 Infrastructure Costs.
Peter Dowd: [284216]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row D 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 Inventory Consumption.
Peter Dowd: [284218]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row E 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 Equipment Support Costs.
Peter Dowd: [284377]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row F of the table entitled
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 Other Costs and Services.
Peter Dowd: [284379]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row G of the table entitled
Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government
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.
Peter Dowd: [284381]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row H of the table entitled
Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government
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 Depreciation and Impairments Costs.
Peter Dowd: [284384]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row I of the table entitled
Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government
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 Cash Release of Provisions Costs.
Peter Dowd: [284388]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row J of the table entitled
Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government
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 Capital Single Use Military Equipment.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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.
Dr Julian Lewis: [284897]
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.
Dr Julian Lewis: [285054]
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.
Dr Julian Lewis: [285056]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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.
Dr Julian Lewis: [285109]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [284814]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [284825]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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
Frank Field: [284571]
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.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan:
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.
Ruth Cadbury: [282602]
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
Andrew Bowie: [281487]
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.
Gordon Henderson: [281739]
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
Kevin Brennan: [285047]
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the
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.
Mr Steve Reed: [281786]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the
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
Paul Farrelly: [281645]
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.
Children: Protection
Gill Furniss: [284506]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the
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
Paul Farrelly: [284935]
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/.
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.
Mr Jim Cunningham: [284400]
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.
Steve McCabe: [281574]
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
Frank Field: [284251]
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
Mary Creagh: [282265]
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
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:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/428850/Looking_After_Children_Heat_PHE_AC_AB_Publications_MP_
JRM_FINAL.PDF.
Special Educational Needs: Finance
Mrs Anne Main: [282251]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the
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.
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
Stephen Morgan: [284403]
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.
Stephen Morgan: [284408]
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.
Peter Kyle: [284514]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to
ensure that schools are consistent in their responses to cases of school refusal.
Peter Kyle: [284778]
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
Vicky Foxcroft: [281784]
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.
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
Thangam Debbonaire: [285073]
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
Paul Farrelly: [284180]
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
Mr Jim Cunningham: [280906]
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.
Hannah Bardell: [912293]
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.
Christopher Pincher:
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.
Christopher Pincher:
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
Ruth Cadbury: [285297]
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
Dr David Drew: [285092]
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
Hannah Bardell: [285364]
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.
Christopher Pincher:
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
Helen Hayes: [284768]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his
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
Dr David Drew: [285176]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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
Paul Farrelly: [285055]
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Dr David Drew: [284277]
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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. 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.
Paul Farrelly: [284371]
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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. 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.
Mrs Madeleine Moon: [284764]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Mr Kevan Jones: [285000]
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on the revocation of Article 370 of
the constitution; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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
Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [284996]
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.
Christopher Pincher:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to his Nicaraguan counterpart on reports of harassment of
the Catholic Church in that country.
Christopher Pincher:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his
Department is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians in (a) Pakistan and (b)
Nigeria.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the implications for his policies of the recent missile tests in North Korea.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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
Helen Hayes: [284485]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his
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.
Helen Hayes: [284488]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
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
Alex Sobel: [284682]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Dr David Drew: [284740]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to his Indonesian counterpart on ending the violence in
Papua and West Papua.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Catherine West: [284987]
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
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.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
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.
Venezuela: Politics and Government
Andrea Jenkyns: [284884]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the implications for his policies of the Venezuelan’s Government’s
withdrawal from negotiations with the opposition.
Christopher Pincher:
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
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
Mr Jim Cunningham: [284946]
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
Mr Jim Cunningham: [285014]
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
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
Helen Goodman: [284976]
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
Bridget Phillipson: [284980]
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
Ms Angela Eagle: [284807]
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.
Thangam Debbonaire: [285328]
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
leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
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
Dr David Drew: [284801]
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
Mary Creagh: [285034]
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.
Mary Creagh: [285162]
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
Thangam Debbonaire: [285133]
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
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.
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
Mr Jim Cunningham: [285006]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
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
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
Andrea Jenkyns: [285374]
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.
Andrea Jenkyns: [285375]
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
Lisa Nandy: [284605]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
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.
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
Catherine West: [281788]
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
Chris Ruane: [281629]
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
Chris Ruane: [281627]
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
Chris Ruane: [281619]
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
Ms Angela Eagle: [285061]
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 2015 31 December 2015 £108,214.99 £322,861.48
1 January 2016 31 December 2016 £373,097.90 £564,324.20
1 January 2017 31 December 2017 £87,466.36 £313,385.52
1 January 2018 31 December 2018 £21,216.57 £1,551,559.07
1 January 2019 31 December 2019 £2,855.03 £532,204.97
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Paul Williams: [285142]
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,
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.
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [284642]
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
Peter Kyle: [284543]
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
Sir John Hayes: [281590]
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
Lisa Nandy: [284988]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
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.
Alex Cunningham: [284631]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the
performance of Action Fraud and publish the results.
Alex Cunningham: [285011]
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
Daniel Zeichner: [285288]
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.
Daniel Zeichner: [285289]
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.
Daniel Zeichner: [285290]
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.
Daniel Zeichner: [285291]
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
Ms Angela Eagle: [285067]
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
withdrawal agreement.
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
Frank Field: [284574]
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
Vernon Coaker: [R] [284661]
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
Vernon Coaker: [R] [284657]
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.
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [285440]
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
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [284453]
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
will make a statement.
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
Vernon Coaker: [R] [280138]
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
Vernon Coaker: [R] [284646]
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.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
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.
Vernon Coaker: [R] [284872]
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.
Sodexo: Contracts
Marion Fellows: [285345]
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
Peter Kyle: [284481]
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
Debbie Abrahams: [284187]
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.
Debbie Abrahams: [284189]
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
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
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
Dr David Drew: [284568]
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
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.
Ms Angela Eagle: [285212]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
meetings her Department has had with Wirral Council to discuss preparations for the UK
leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
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.
Dr Paul Williams: [285446]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
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:
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.
Private Rented Housing: Tenancy Deposit Schemes
Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [285028]
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
Paul Farrelly: [284270]
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.
Catherine West: [282463]
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
Stephen Twigg: [284971]
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
Stephen Twigg: [284911]
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.
Vicky Foxcroft: [285384]
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.
Ian Lavery: [286241]
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.
Ian Lavery: [286242]
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
Thangam Debbonaire: [285098]
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
withdrawal agreement.
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
Dr Paul Williams: [284877]
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
Graham P Jones: [282305]
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
Andrea Jenkyns: [284677]
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
Andrea Jenkyns: [284951]
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
Gordon Henderson: [284487]
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
Richard Burgon: [284914]
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.
Richard Burgon: [284943]
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
Richard Burgon: [284915]
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
Andrew Bowie: [281799]
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
Martyn Day: [284575]
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
Ms Angela Eagle: [285211]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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
Graham P Jones: [285252]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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
Nia Griffith: [284896]
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
Rachel Reeves: [285253]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars there are in the Government
Car Service fleet.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
There are 83 cars in the Government Car Service Fleet.
Rachel Reeves: [285254]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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
Rachel Reeves: [285255]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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
Rachel Reeves: [285256]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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
Stephen Morgan: [284995]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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.
Stephen Morgan: [284999]
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
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.
Ian Austin: [284856]
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.
Ian Austin: [284920]
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
John Lamont: [284386]
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
Ian Mearns: [281721]
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
Mr Steve Reed: [284791]
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.
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 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.
Hannah Bardell: [285366]
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.
Hannah Bardell: [285367]
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.
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 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
Mrs Anne Main: [282253]
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
Andrew Bowie: [281795]
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
Graham P Jones: [284754]
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
Sir John Hayes: [281595]
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
Peter Grant: [284156]
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.
Peter Grant: [284221]
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.
Marion Fellows: [285021]
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
Marion Fellows: [285084]
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.
Martyn Day: [285165]
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.
Marion Fellows: [285340]
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).
Margaret Greenwood: [284656]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row G 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 Other
Programmes.
Margaret Greenwood: [284662]
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.
Margaret Greenwood: [284664]
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.
Margaret Greenwood: [284665]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row K 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
Expenditure incurred by the Social Fund.
Margaret Greenwood: [284666]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row D 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 Executive
Arm’s Length Bodies.
Margaret Greenwood: [284667]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row K 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
Expenditure incurred by the Social Fund.
Margaret Greenwood: [284668]
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.
Margaret Greenwood: [284669]
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 under EU Exit
Allocation.
Margaret Greenwood: [284670]
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
Financial transactions.
Margaret Greenwood: [285048]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row A 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 Operational
Delivery.
Margaret Greenwood: [285050]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row B 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 Health and
Safety Executive (Net).
Margaret Greenwood: [285052]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row C 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 European
Social Fund.
Margaret Greenwood: [285058]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row E 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
Employment Programmes.
Margaret Greenwood: [285072]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row H 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 Other
Benefits.
Margaret Greenwood: [285075]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row J 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 National
Insurance Fund.
Margaret Greenwood: [285077]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row I 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
Departmental operating costs.
Margaret Greenwood: [285079]
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 regional breakdown of budgeted expenditure in 2018-
19 under Depreciation.
Margaret Greenwood: [285083]
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.
Margaret Greenwood: [285300]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row F 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 Support for
Local Authorities.
Margaret Greenwood: [285301]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row I 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
Departmental operating costs.
Margaret Greenwood: [285302]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to row B 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 Health and
Safety Executive in 2018-19.
Margaret Greenwood: [285303]
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 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
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
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]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July
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.
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:
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur
disproportionate cost.
Ruth George: [284898]
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
Steve McCabe: [281571]
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”.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
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
will make a statement.
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
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
Caroline Lucas: [282280]
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
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
Caroline Lucas: [281692]
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.
Caroline Lucas: [281693]
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.
Caroline Lucas: [281694]
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.
Caroline Lucas: [281695]
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
Peter Grant: [284498]
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
Kevin Brennan: [285121]
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.
Edward Miliband: [281666]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of benefits
decisions have been appealed in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Edward Miliband: [281667]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of benefits
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.
Ruth George: [284818]
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
Mrs Anne Main: [282254]
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
Liam Byrne: [284786]
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
Mr Kevan Jones: [281655]
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
Alex Sobel: [282395]
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
Ruth George: [282561]
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.
Ruth George: [282562]
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.
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [285059]
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.
Paul Blomfield: [285260]
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:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
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
Peter Grant: [284155]
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.
Peter Grant: [284217]
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:
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur
disproportionate cost.
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
Ruth Cadbury: [282581]
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.
Ruth Cadbury: [282583]
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.
Ruth Cadbury: [282592]
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.
Ruth Cadbury: [282597]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
the reasons for EEA nationals failing the habitual residency test when applying for
universal credit.
Ruth Cadbury: [282599]
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
Steve McCabe: [278345]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July
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.
Steve McCabe: [281564]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July
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
Graham P Jones: [284834]
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.
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [285438]
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
Paul Blomfield: [285016]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
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
Liam Byrne: [284785]
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:
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur
disproportionate cost.
Liam Byrne: [284788]
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
Ian Mearns: [284751]
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
Chris Ruane: [282228]
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
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.
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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