Daily Report Friday, 10 November 2017...

Daily Report Friday, 10 November 2017

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 10 November 2017 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (03:29 P.M., 10 November 2017). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 5

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 5

Art Works: Royalties 5

Commercial Secrets: EU Law 5

Competition 5

Consumers 6

Consumers: Protection 6

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

ICT 6



Procurement 6



Telephone Services 7

Energy: Meters 7

European Patent Office 8

Fracking 8

Government Assistance: Small

Businesses 9

Hinkley Point C Power Station:

Radioactive Materials 9

Industry 10

Intellectual Property 10

Manufacturing Technologies

Association 11

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme 12

Patents: EU Action 12

Social Services: Living Wage 12

Space Technology 13

Wind Power: Seas and

Oceans 13

TREASURY 14

Treasury: Brexit 14

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENT 15

Aerials: Planning Permission 15

Department for Communities

and Local Government: Brexit 15

Department for Communities

and Local Government: Travel 15

Disability: Building Regulations 16

Electrical Safety: Departmental

Responsibilities 16

Energy Performance

Certificates 16

Job Creation: Enterprise

Zones 17

Private Rented Housing:

Energy 17

Social Services: Children 18

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Supported Housing: Mental

Illness 18

Urban Areas: Regeneration 19

DEFENCE 20

Army 20

Army: Digital Technology 20

European Fighter Aircraft 20

HMS Ocean 21

Military Aircraft: Accidents 21

Ministry of Defence: Brexit 21

Ministry of Defence: Pay 21

Ministry of Defence:

Procurement 22

Navy 22

Navy: Spare Parts 24

Type 23 Frigates: Sales 25

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 25

Companies: Data Protection 25

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport:

Brexit 25

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport: ICT 26

Internet: Terrorism 26

Treasure Act 1996 26

Young People 26

Youth Services 27

EDUCATION 27

Academies: Inspections 27

Adult Education 28

Apprentices 28

Apprentices: Females 28

Apprentices: Special

Educational Needs 29

Children in Care 30

Children: Day Care 31

Department for Education:

Brexit 31

Department for Education: ICT 31

Department for Education:


Nurseries: Labour Turnover 32

Oldham College 33

Pupil Premium: Harlow 33

Pupils: Health 34

Pupils: Nutrition 34

Pupils: Personal Records 35

Schools 35

Schools: Garston and

Halewood 35

Special Educational Needs:

Gloucestershire 36

Vocational Guidance:

Disability 37

Work Experience: Disability 37

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 38

Business: Transitional

Arrangements 38

Department for Exiting the

European Union: ICT 38

Department for Exiting the

European Union: Telephone

Services 38

EU External Relations 39

EU Internal Trade: Customs 39

EU Law 39

Small Businesses 40

Small Businesses: Leigh 40

Trade Agreements 41

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 41

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Brexit 41


Office: ICT 41


Office: Telephone Services 42

Middle East: Human Rights 42

Simon Trinidad 42

HEALTH 42

General Practitioners 42

Malnutrition 43

NHS: Foreign Nationals 45

Nursing and Midwifery

Council: Registration 45

Staffordshire and Stoke On

Trent Partnership NHS Trust 45

HOME OFFICE 46

Asylum 46

Asylum: Employment 47

Counter-terrorism 47

Cybercrime: Surveys 47

Entry Clearances: Fees and

Charges 48

Home Office: Brexit 48

Immigrants: Detainees 49

Immigration: EEA Nationals 49

Migrant Workers: EEA

Nationals 50

Passports 50

Refugees: Children 50

Refugees: English Language 51

Skilled Workers: Visas 51

UK Border Force: Northern

Ireland 52

HOUSE OF COMMONS

COMMISSION 52

House of Commons: Zero

Hours Contracts 52

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 52

Department for International

Development: Brexit 52


Development: Procurement 53


Development: Visits Abroad 53

Gaza: Reconstruction 53

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 54

Agriculture: Overseas Trade 54


Trade: Labour Turnover 54


Trade: Nurseries 54

Legal Profession: Overseas

Trade 55

Manufacturing Technologies

Association 55

JUSTICE 56

Administration of Justice 56

Cammell Laird: Strikes 56

Community Rehabilitation

Companies 56

Gender Recognition

Certificates 57

Legal Profession 58

Ministry of Justice: Brexit 58

Ministry of Justice: ICT 58

Ministry of Justice: Telephone

Services 59

Personal Independence

Payment 59


Payment: Appeals 59

Prisoners: Mental Illness 60

Prisoners: Suicide 60

Trials: Languages 60

NORTHERN IRELAND 61

Food Banks: North Down 61

Northern Ireland Office: ICT 61

PRIME MINISTER 61

Prime Minister: Easington 61

Prime Minister: Italy 62

TRANSPORT 62

Department for Transport:

Brexit 62

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 62

Equality and Human Rights

Commission: Advertising 62

Government Equalities Office:


WORK AND PENSIONS 63

Bakeries: Industrial Health and

Safety 63

Department for Work and

Pensions: Brexit 63


Pensions: Length of Service 64


Pensions: Telephone Services 64

Employment and Support

Allowance 64

EU Grants and Loans:

Keighley 64

National Insurance: EEA

Nationals 65


Payment 65


Payment: Forms 66


Payment: Greater Manchester 67


Payment: Manchester Gorton 67

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

Art Works: Royalties

Ben Lake: [111048]

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

Department is taking to ensure that the artist's resale right will continue to apply to artists

and their heirs after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

The UK artist’s resale right stems from the implementation of Directive 2001/84/EC

on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art. The

European Union (Withdrawal) Bill has powers to transpose directly-applicable EU law

into UK law on exit, including the EU Directive on artist’s resale rights.

Commercial Secrets: EU Law

Jon Trickett: [111271]

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

definition of trade secrets will be used for the purposes of implementation of the

European Trade Secrets Directive.

Joseph Johnson:

Article 2(1) of the European Trade Secrets Directive provides a definition of the term

‘trade secret’. The Government proposes to consult on the implementing regulation to

bring the Directive into force in the UK in due course.

Competition

Bill Esterson: [111035]


assessment his Department has made of the implications for the future of UK competition

law of the dispute between Bombardier, Airbus and Boeing; and if he will make a

statement.

Margot James:

The United States Department of Commerce is investigating a complaint made by

Boeing regarding the import of Bombardier’s C Series aircraft into the USA from

Canada. Separately, the World Trade Organisation is examining the disputes

between the European Union and the USA concerning Boeing and Airbus. These

matters do not directly concern UK competition law.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-11-02/111048



Consumers

Patricia Gibson: [111336]


assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer purchasing power of the UK

leaving the EU without having agreed a trade deal with the EU.

Margot James:

The Government has undertaken a significant amount of work to assess the

economic and fiscal implications of leaving the EU as part of continued rigorous and

extensive analytical work on a range of scenarios.

My Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has made clear that the UK aims to agree an

ambitious and comprehensive economic partnership with the EU that is of far greater

scope and ambition than any existing free trade agreement.

Consumers: Protection

Patricia Gibson: [111335]


assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer rights of the UK leaving the

EU without having agreed a trade deal with the EU.

Margot James:

We are carrying out a full suite of economic analysis.

This Government is committed to strong protections for consumers after EU exit.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: ICT


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

Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Margot James:

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold a central

list of the IT and digital assets of its arm’s-length bodies.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Procurement



proportion of his Department's spend in the last year has been with Government strategic

suppliers.

Margot James:

In 2016-17 the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spent 5.5%

of its procurement with the Government strategic suppliers.





Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Telephone Services

Chris Ruane: [111097]

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

and what proportion of his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public

to call.

Margot James:

The only Departmental public phone line that charges members of the public to call is

the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565).

Energy: Meters

Stephen Kerr: [110761]


SMETS1 smart meters have been fitted in domestic premises in each nation and region

of the UK since the start of the smart meter roll-out.

Richard Harrington:

We are unable to provide statistics on smart meter installations broken down by

region and nation.

Collectively across both large and small suppliers, around 7.36 million smart meters

(SMETS1) have been installed in domestic properties in Great Britain to the end of

June 2017.

It should be noted that large supplier statistics are collected at the end of each

calendar quarter and small supplier statistics are collected annually, at the end of the

calendar year. Therefore installations carried out by small suppliers since 31

December 2016 are not reflected in the above figure. The rollout is also across Great

Britain only.

Stephen Kerr: [110762]


domestic energy customers with SMETS1 smart meters have switched energy suppliers

since the roll-out programme began.

Richard Harrington:

We are unable to provide statistics on how many consumers with SMETS1 meters

have switched energy suppliers since the programme began.

According to Ofgem’s report, ‘Consumer engagement in the energy market 2017’,

23% of consumers who say they have a smart meter have switched supplier in the

past 12 months, compared to 17% of those who say they do not have a smart meter.

John Grogan: [111081]

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

he has made of the percentage of customers not taking up the offer of a smart meter from

each of the major energy companies.





Richard Harrington:

The Department does not hold this information.

The rollout of smart meters is on track to deliver significant benefits, including putting

an end to estimated bills, and is set to save consumers £300m in 2020 alone.

Suppliers are mandated by government to offer every household and small business

a smart meter by 2020, and remain committed to this target.

Over 7.7 million smart meters are operating under the Programme.

European Patent Office

Barry Gardiner: [111265]

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

UK will remain a member of the European Patent Office after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

The UK’s exit from the EU will not affect the current European patent system, which

is governed by the (non-EU) European Patent Convention.

The UK will remain part of the European Patent office and UK businesses can

continue to apply to the European Patent Office for patent protection which will

include the UK.

Fracking

Julian Sturdy: [110839]


representations he has received from the general public expressing concerns on fracking

for shale gas.

Richard Harrington:

The Department receives many letters from the general public regarding a wide

range of issues. The Government continues to work closely with regulators and with

the shale industry to ensure that any concerns the general public may be

experiencing are appropriately addressed.

Caroline Lucas: [111259]

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

the Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109370, on fracking, and with reference to

his Department's hydraulic fracturing consent guidance, published in February 2017,

whether licensees seeking hydraulic fracturing consent (HFC) will be required to provide

details in environmental permit applications of proposed plans to undertake 12 months'

monitoring of the level of methane in groundwater in relation to (a) the current application

for HFC for Ryedale, North Yorkshire and (b) all future such applications.




Richard Harrington:

[Holding answer 7 November 2017]:

Under section 4A of the Petroleum Act 1998, all licensees are required to provide

details of proposed plans to undertake 12 months' monitoring of the level of methane

in groundwater, in line with the guidance[1] issued by the Department in February

2017.

[1]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591631

/Hydraulic_Fracturing_Consent_Guidance.pdf

Government Assistance: Small Businesses

Jo Platt: [110816]

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

has to support small businesses after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James:

We are working hard to support businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK to

ensure they can access the wider support to grow and have the right conditions for

companies to invest long-term. That’s why we are proposing a bold and ambitious

free trade agreement as part of a new, deep and special partnership with the

European Union.

In order to allow business time to adjust, we are also proposing a strictly time-limited

implementation period where we continue to have access to one another’s markets

on current terms.

Hinkley Point C Power Station: Radioactive Materials

Stephen Doughty: [108706]


guidance his Department or the Environment Agency have issued to EDF regarding the

removal of radioactively contaminated mud from the vicinity of Hinkley Point C to the

other side of the Bristol Channel at Cardiff Grounds.

Richard Harrington:

The Environment Agency has advised me that it is not aware of any guidance being

issued to EDF on dredging of mud from the vicinity of Hinkley Point C. Permission to

dispose of that mud at the Cardiff Grounds is a matter for Welsh Government and

Natural Resources Wales, who act for Welsh Ministers.

Licensing for marine disposal of sediments around the South Wales coastline is a

devolved matter for Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government. Nuclear

safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance to the UK

Government. The UK has a strong regulatory system and companies involved in the

civil nuclear industry are required to meet robust standards overseen by independent

regulators.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591631/Hydraulic_Fracturing_Consent_Guidance.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591631/Hydraulic_Fracturing_Consent_Guidance.pdf



Industry



assessment he has made of the importance of the food and farming sector in the new

industrial strategy.

Claire Perry:

Food and drink is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector employing 400,000 people.

The UK food and drink supply chain (including farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers,

retailers, catering, and restaurants) contributed £108 billion to the UK economy in

2014, and employed 1 in 8 workers. As a geographically diverse sector, the success

of the industry is crucial to driving growth across the country, a key objective of

Industrial Strategy.

As part of the Industrial Strategy, Government is supporting all sectors across the

economy to grow, invest and reach their potential. Our new approach also challenges

individual sectors to upgrade through “Sector Deals” - an open challenge to industry

to come to us with proposals to transform their sector. We are prepared to work with

any sector which can organise behind strong leadership to address shared

challenges and opportunities.

Intellectual Property

Ben Lake: [111049]


discussions he has had with representatives from the Design, Trade Marks and Brands

sectors on the future practical arrangements that will need to exist between the UK, the

International Property Office and the EU Intellectual Property Office after the UK leaves

the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

My officials and I have held extensive discussions with representatives from across

the various IP sectors on the effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, including the

UK’s future relationship with the EU Intellectual Property Office. This future

relationship is a matter for negotiation with the EU, and we will continue to explore all

options.

The UK is already an engaged and committed member of the World Intellectual

Property Organization (WIPO) in its own right, and will continue to fulfil its WIPO

treaty obligations.



assessment he has made of the value to UK businesses of a legal framework to protect

and enforce their intellectual property rights throughout the world.




Joseph Johnson:

The Government fully recognises the importance to business and to the UK economy

of being able to protect and enforce intellectual property rights (IPRs), nationally and

internationally. A report by the EU IPO, Intellectual property rights intensive industries

and economic performance in the European Union, estimated that the value of IP

intensive industries to the UK economy was £5,664,168 million or 42.3% of Gross

Value Added (GVA) between 2011 and 2013. In addition the Intellectual Property

Office (IPO) commissioned the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

Development (OECD) to develop a methodology and to deliver a benchmark on the

levels and impact of counterfeiting to the UK. This study Trade in Counterfeit

Products and the UK Economy was published on 4 September 2017.


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

products will continue to be subject to EU trademark and design registrations after the UK

leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

UK businesses will still be able to register an EU Trade Mark or a Community Design

when the UK leaves the EU as these rights are available to non-EU businesses

seeking protection in the EU.

Regarding the UK coverage of existing EU-level rights, we have made good progress

to date on negotiation discussions of separation issues. Many such issues, including

IP rights, are dependent on the future discussions. We have been clear that to

provide certainty to businesses and citizens we must talk about the future. For our

part, we are ready to move these negotiations on. Doing so will allow us to best

achieve our joint objectives and move towards a deal that works for both the UK and

the EU. We are discussing all options with users of the system to establish the best

way forward.

Manufacturing Technologies Association



discussions he has had with the Manufacturing Technologies Association on plans to

relocate jobs to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry:

There have been regular discussions with the Manufacturing Technology Association

(MTA) on a range of issues of importance to the sector, including the implications of

EU exit for MTA member companies. As we continue to engage with MTA and

industry more widely, we remain committed to making the UK the best place in

Europe to own and grow a business. That includes supporting those businesses that

trade with the EU and wider international markets, as well as continuing to encourage

record foreign direct investment that supports business and communities up and

down the country.



Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: [111202]

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

the Answer of 14 September 2017 to Question 9553, if he will publish the Government's

objectives for the forthcoming Mineworkers' Pension scheme valuation.

Richard Harrington:

Whilst the valuation process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to publish the

Government’s objectives.

Patents: EU Action


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

UK will participate in the European Unitary Patent and the EU Unified Patent Court after

the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is an international court. It is not an EU court or an

EU institution. However, all participants are currently EU Member States. Whatever

the UK's future relationship with the UPC, we will need to negotiate with European

partners to reflect the change to the UK's status when we leave the EU.

As the UK's future relationship with both the Unitary and UPC are subject to

negotiation, it would not be appropriate to set out a position at this stage. However,

the Government's efforts will be focused on securing the best deal possible in

negotiations with our European partners.

The UK has one of the best IP regimes in the world, and leaving the EU will not

change that: we will continue to deliver quality rights-granting services, lead the world

in enforcement and engage in international IP discussions.

Social Services: Living Wage

Maria Eagle: [111014]

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

is taking to ensure that people employed in the public sector social care sector receive

the national living wage.

Margot James:

The Government and HMRC provide support and guidance to ensure employers in

the social care sector understand and comply with National Minimum Wage law. The

Government is also increasing funding going into the sector. In the spring Budget

2017, £2bn additional funding for local authorities was agreed for adult social care

over the next three years. Funding agreed by Government since 2015 means

councils have access in total to £9.25 billion more dedicated funding for social care

over the next three years.




Space Technology

Layla Moran: [111360]

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

is taking to allow UK companies in the space sector to retain full participation in (a)

Copernicus, (b) Galileo and Egnos, (c) Govsatcom, (d) Iris, (e) the Space Situational

Awareness programme and (f) Space Surveillance and Tracking in the event that the UK

leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson:

The UK has played a major part in developing the main EU space programmes,

Galileo, Copernicus and Space Surveillance and Tracking, which have supported the

rapid growth of the UK space sector and contributed directly to our prosperity and

security. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State and I have been clear that we want

our companies and our universities to continue participating in key EU space

programmes.

The IRIS and Space Situational Awareness programmes are European Space

Agency (ESA) programmes, rather than EU programmes. ESA is an international

organisation and the UK’s membership of it will not be affected by the UK leaving the

EU. ESA programmes will continue to play an important role in delivering UK national

space objectives.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

David T. C. Davies: [111098]

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

offshore wind capital expenditure data was for each of the last two years; and what the

evidential basis is for his Department's assessment of the fall in the cost of wind power.

Richard Harrington:

The Department does not hold data on capital expenditure for individual offshore

wind projects. The Department’s latest projection of capital expenditure for generic

offshore wind projects is published in Arup (2016): Review of Renewable Electricity

Generation Cost and Technical Assumptions, and can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arup-2016-review-of-renewable-

electricity-generation-cost-and-technical-assumptions.

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) Second Allocation Round results, which were

announced on 11 September 2017, showed one offshore wind project commissioning

in 2021/22 cleared at a strike price of £74.75/MWh (2012 prices) and two offshore

wind projects commissioning in year 2022/23 cleared at a strike price of £57.50/MWh

(2012 prices). Both these prices represent a saving on the administrative strike price

set using the data from Arup (2016), indicating that offshore wind costs are falling.




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

he has made of the cost to the public purse of guaranteeing the strike price to consumers

of operational offshore wind sites in (a) 2015 and (b) 2017.

Richard Harrington:

The first Contract For Difference (CfD) allocation round results, published in 2015,

saw over 1.2 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity secure contracts, estimated at the

time of the auction to cost consumers just over £240 million per year (2012 prices).

The second round results, announced in September 2017, saw the clearing price

half for offshore wind delivered in the auction; we secured an additional 3.2

gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity, estimated at the time of the auction to

cost consumers just over £130 million per year (2012 prices).

There are many factors that affect payments under these contracts, which mean

that actual costs may go up or down.

These results demonstrate that the UK is an attractive place to invest, with a record

amount of renewable capacity secured to power our homes.

The price of offshore wind clearing through the auction has halved in two years,

demonstrating that competitive auctions are working well to drive down costs and

deliver savings for consumers, whilst delivering the government’s decarbonisation

ambitions.

TREASURY

Treasury: Brexit

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: [111218]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the

effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an

agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a

statement.

Stephen Barclay:

HM Treasury keeps its work in this area under review, and will continue to ensure it is

well placed to make the preparations necessary to deliver UK’s exit from the EU,

alongside its other commitments.



COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Planning Permission

Andrew Percy: [111251]

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

Government has for further reform of planning regulations to support investment in

infrastructure to improve mobile connectivity.

Alok Sharma:

In November 2016, the Government delivered major mobile planning reforms in

England in November 2016, which have made it easier for Mobile Network Operators

to roll out mobile infrastructure more quickly and introduced new rights to build taller

masts. In addition, the housing White Paper Fixing our Broken Housing Market,

published earlier this year consulted on proposals to amend national planning policy

so that local planning authorities are expected to have planning policies setting out

how high quality digital infrastructure will be delivered in their area and be available

from a range of providers.

The Government is working closely with the industry to assess whether there are any

further planning issues which can be overcome to improve mobile connectivity

Department for Communities and Local Government: Brexit


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

he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the

EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if

he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones:

Following the referendum in June 2016, My Department continues to make rigorous

preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's negotiations with the

EU.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Travel


To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which tickets

relating to which journeys set out in the transparency release, entitled DCLG ministerial

travel, April to June 2017, published on 13 October 2017, were (a) first, (b) business, (c)

economy and (d) any other class.

Mr Marcus Jones:

Tickets to Finland Between 5-7 April 2017 were Business Class. There were no other

Ministerial journeys in this period.




Disability: Building Regulations


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

Government plans to respond to the ninth report of the Women and Equalities

Committee's report, Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment of Session

2016-17, HC 631, published on 25 April 2017.

Alok Sharma:

The Government is planning to publish its response to the Women and Equalities

Committee report on Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment,

shortly.

Electrical Safety: Departmental Responsibilities

Wera Hobhouse: [111241]

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

responsibility for responding to the recommendations of his Department's Electrical

Safety Working Group has been transferred to the Secretary of State for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Alok Sharma:

An enabling power was included in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 allowing

requirements for electrical safety standards in the private rented sector (PRS), and

their enforcement, to be set through secondary legislation (affirmative) at a later date.

Following Royal Assent, a Working Group of relevant experts was established to

provide recommendations to ministers on what, if any, legislative requirements

should be introduced. The Working Group’s report has been published online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-

private-rented-sector-working-group-report

We will engage further with the sector to test the recommendations of the Working

Group to ensure that any regulation introduced is balanced and works for landlords

and tenants.

There are no plans to transfer responsibility for this policy area.

Energy Performance Certificates


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

he has made of the trends in the level of compliance with Article 13 of the energy

performance of buildings directive.

Alok Sharma:

Data on Energy Performance Certificates required under Article 13 of the Energy

Performance of Buildings Directive to be displayed for buildings occupied by public

authorities can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-working-group-report

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-working-group-report


tables-on-energy-performance-of-buildings-certificates (Table DEC1). Energy

Performance Certificate data for non-domestic buildings over 500m2 can be found at:

https://epc.opendatacommunities.org/. However, the Government does not routinely

hold or collect data to identify buildings that are frequently visited by the public.

Compliance with Energy Performance Certificate requirements is checked by trading

standards' bodies. My Department has sought information on the number of

enforcement notices issued by trading standards' bodies and will provide advice in

due course.

Job Creation: Enterprise Zones

Andrew Gwynne: [111426]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the

Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 108119, on job creation: enterprise zones, how

many jobs enterprise zones were planned to create in each year since 2013.

Jake Berry:

We do not collect data on forecast job numbers for Enterprise Zones and do not

publish estimates for net additional jobs.

Enterprise Zones are a twenty five year programme to support local economic

growth, helping businesses to expand and ensure there is the high quality office and

industrial space needed for them to do so. Local Enterprise Partnerships report that

since 2012 and up to September 2016, Enterprise Zones had attracted over 822

businesses and more than £3.3 billion in private investment.

Private Rented Housing: Energy



Answer of 9 October 2017 to Question 105187, what information his Department holds on

the number of private sector landlords who are complying with energy efficiency

regulations on energy performance certificates.

Alok Sharma:

The Department does not hold the information requested. Requirements on landlords

to ensure their properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E

before granting a new tenancy to new or existing tenants do not come into force until

April 2018. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published

an Impact Assessment on the impact of these proposals, which can be found here:


/150202_PRS_Final_Stage_Revised_For_Publication.pdf



Answer of 6 October 2017 to Question 105187, on energy performance certificates, what



https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401382/150202_PRS_Final_Stage_Revised_For_Publication.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401382/150202_PRS_Final_Stage_Revised_For_Publication.pdf


estimate his Department has made of the number of private sector landlords compliant

with the energy efficiency regulations on energy performance certificates.

Alok Sharma:

I refer the Hon Member for Brighton Pavilion to the answer I gave today to Question

110744.

Social Services: Children

Jim McMahon: [111025]

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

his Department holds on the amount spent on children's social care by local authorities in

each year from 2010.


To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was

spent on adult social care by each local authority in each year since 2010.

Mr Marcus Jones:

Information on Adult Social Care and children’s social care by all local authorities in

England are published each year on the Department’s website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-

financing

Supported Housing: Mental Illness

Kate Green: [111199]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to

the funding supported housing consultation published on 31 October 2017, what funding

settlement will be in place for mental health supported housing schemes which fall into

neither short-term nor long-term categories and combine individuals with a variety of

different lengths of stay.

Mr Marcus Jones:

Everyone who is eligible to have their housing costs met under the current system,

will continue to have their housing costs met through the models announced on 31

October, whether they are staying in short-term accommodation, long term

accommodation or in transition between the two.

We will continue to fund long-term supported accommodation through the welfare

system, with 100 per cent of housing costs (rent and eligible service charges)

normally being met (unless, exceptionally, other benefit restrictions may apply to the

individual involved). This funding will be uncapped by Local Housing Allowance rates

as these will no longer apply. For short-term accommodation all funding for rent and

eligible service charges previously met from Housing Benefit will instead be allocated

to local authorities through ring-fenced grants, to fund the commissioning of provision

at a local level.



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing


This will fund housing costs for provision rather than specific individuals. An

individual’s entitlement for help with housing costs whilst staying in accommodation

funded under each of our supported housing models, including the short-term model,

will be exactly as it would have been through Housing Benefit or the housing cost

element of Universal Credit.

Through our consultation, and otherwise, we will continue to engage with the sector

and stakeholders to seek views on key system design elements of the reformed

funding model to ensure it is responsive and will work for providers, tenants and

clients, across such a diverse sector, including provision for those with mental ill

health.

Urban Areas: Regeneration

Robert Halfon: [111103]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much has

been spent on regeneration of town centres in England since 2010; and in which such

towns.

Mr Marcus Jones:

This Government is committed to supporting the regeneration of our town centres.

We have confirmed the permanent doubling of Small Business Rate Relief, meaning

that 600,000 small businesses now pay no business rates at all; we launched the

High Street Pledge and a digital high street pilot scheme; and we are celebrating our

high streets and town centres through the hugely successful Great British High Street

Awards.

Since 2010, we have given over £18 million to towns – funding and upskilling local

teams of people through the Town Team Programme, boosting struggling town

centres with the High Streets Innovation Fund and launching successful initiatives

such as “Love Your Local Market”.

Town centres have also benefited from funding that we have made available for local

economic development, including the Coastal Communities Fund, which has invested

over £132 million in 131 coastal projects across England since 2012. The

Government has awarded £9.1 billion to Local Enterprise Partnerships in Growth

Deals since 2014.

The Government is committed to communities establishing Business Improvement

Districts and the positive impact they have on their local areas, including town

centres.

We are working with Local Enterprise Partnerships to strengthen their role in town

centres and coastal communities, and collaborating with the Local Government

Association to assist local authorities in supporting their town centres.

Further information on the town centres supported may be found at -

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/high-streets-and-town-centres


https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/high-streets-and-town-centres

DEFENCE

Army

Mr Kevan Jones: [111198]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Oral Answer of 23

October 2017, Official Report, column 11, on army personnel, if he will estimate the

number of Army personnel needed to generate a war-fighting division.

Mark Lancaster:

The Government is committed to maintaining an Army that is able to field a war-

fighting division.

Under the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 the Army's principal

contribution to Joint Force 2025 is a division of up to 40,000 regular and reserve

troops. In addition, within its remaining total force strength the Army would need to

retain the ability to deliver its national resilience and fixed tasks, and to deploy a

follow-on force.

All aspects of Defence will be considered in the National Security Capability Review,

including how the Army will deliver the division. The Review is on-going and no

decisions have been put to Ministers.

Army: Digital Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current estimated budget for project

JANUS is.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Project Janus is focused on business process and digital transformation within the

Army. The current estimated budget for the programme from August 2017 to March

2019 is around £3 million.

European Fighter Aircraft


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional capabilities the procurement of

EuroRadar Captor-E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars would give to the

Royal Air Force's Typhoon fleet.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar requirement is being taken

forward through the E-Scan programme, which was endorsed as part of the Strategic

Defence and Security Review 2015. Under current planning, this programme will

provide Typhoon Tranche 3 aircraft with a world-leading electronic radar capability,

including much greater range detection of air-to-air adversaries, and improved

electronic attack, jamming and deception capabilities.




HMS Ocean

Jim Shannon: [111005]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to mothball HMS

Ocean on the date that that ship is due to be decommissioned.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

HMS OCEAN will decommission in 2018 as planned. The ship is currently being

marketed and a number of disposal options are being considered, including the

possibility of selling to another Government. However, no decisions have been made

Military Aircraft: Accidents


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c)

RAF aircraft have received category (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five

damage in each of the last five years; and what the cost of that damage was in each of

those years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate

cost.

Ministry of Defence: Brexit


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



statement.

Mark Lancaster:

Following the referendum in June 2016, the Ministry of Defence continues to make

rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's negotiations

with the EU.

Ministry of Defence: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in (a) his Department and

(b) Defence Equipment and Support earned over £100,000 per year in each of the last

five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The number of officials in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Defence Equipment

and Support (DE&S) who earned £100,000 per year or over in each of the last five

financial years (FY) is set out below:





FY 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2016-16 2016-17

MOD 45 52 57 66 67

DE&S 17 26 17 43 44

Combined 62 78 74 109 111

Notes:

1. The data is correct as of 31March of each Financial Year.

2. The data is for those whose gross pay is £100,000 or over per year and includes

bonuses and allowances.

3. The data does not include the Trading Funds (Defence Science and Technology

Laboratory, Hydrographic Office, Defence Electronics and Components Agency).

Ministry of Defence: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of his Department's spend in

the last year has been with Government strategic suppliers.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

In financial year 2016-17, Ministry of Defence total expenditure with Government

strategic suppliers was £7.8 billion. This amounts to 32.4% of the Department's

overall spend on goods and services.

Navy


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what services were being provided in each of

the planned 16 contracts which form the Common Support Model for support to the Royal

Navy surface fleet.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Common Support Model will provide comprehensive engineering support to

Royal Navy warships whilst in Her Majesty's Naval Bases and when deployed on

operations around the world.

The 16 contracts will provide waterfront engineering, maintenance and other

technical services for all classes of warship, including the new Queen Elizabeth Class

Aircraft Carriers. They cover support to the full range of on board ships' systems,

including power and propulsion, combat management and communications systems,

tactical networks, shared infrastructures, visual landing aids and ships protective

systems.




To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value of the Royal Navy's maritime

support in-year budget was for each of the last 10 years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Under the revised delegated operating model, the information is not held for the

period requested. I will write to the hon. Member once records have been scrutinised.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the shortfall was in trained and qualified

staff within Defence Equipment and Support navy supply teams in each of the last five

years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 30, of the National

Audit Office report, Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy,

published on 1 November 2017, for what reasons there are 42 per cent fewer qualified

inventory management staff in post in the Submarine Delivery Agency than planned.


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

Audit Office report, Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy,

published on 1 November 2017, what steps his Department has taken to improve

Defence Equipment and Support and Royal Navy Inventory manager skills.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

To improve the skills of staff at all levels working in the inventory management

function, both Defence Equipment and Support and the Royal Navy have introduced

mandatory training, leading to the award of a licence to operate.

The shortfall in specialist logistics and commercial roles reported by the National

Audit Office is due to the need to qualify individuals currently in post, together with

the number of vacant posts. The Submarine Delivery Agency has been addressing

these issues and recruitment activity has now led to 97% of posts being filled. Of

those, 70% of individuals are already fully licensed to operate as an inventory

manager. For the Royal Navy, the most recent assessment is that 88% of staff

undertaking inventory management roles are trained and qualified.

Information on the shortfall in trained and qualified inventory management staff in

Defence Equipment and Support navy supply teams has only been held centrally for

the last four years and is shown below:

YEAR NUMBER OF STAFF SHORTFALL OF TRAINED AND QUALIFIED STAFF

2013 163 42

2014 172 58





YEAR NUMBER OF STAFF SHORTFALL OF TRAINED AND QUALIFIED STAFF

2015 171 41

2016 164 20


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) permanent and (b) contracted

staff there were within (i) Defence Equipment and Support Ships Operating Centre and

(ii) Defence Equipment and Support Submarine Operating Centre.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The information requested is provided below and is accurate as of 11 October 2017.

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT SHIPS OPERATING CENTRE

Permanent Staff 1 Contracted Staff 2

1,431 47

Defence Equipment and Support Submarine Operating Centre

Permanent Staff 1 Contracted Staff 2

1,292 7

1 Civilian Full Time Equivalents and military staff.

2 Contracted staff has been interpreted as meaning “manpower substitution” and

defined as being those “generally engaged on a temporary basis to fill vacant, funded

posts until recruitment action is taken to appoint a salaried permanent member of

staff”.

Navy: Spare Parts


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Audit Office

report, Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy, published on 1

November 2017, what plans he has to increase investment in technical documentation

and the cataloguing of Royal Navy ship parts when vessels are brought into service.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

As part of a continuous review of the Royal Navy's In Service Capability Management

process, improvements continue to be made to the performance, reliability,

sustainability and affordability of each of their capability areas. Included in this

process is consideration of the quantity and quality of technical documentation and

cataloguing and the elements highlighted in the National Audit Office Report will

inform further the decisions made about future investment.



Type 23 Frigates: Sales


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has received representations from

any foreign government on the sale of Royal Navy Type 23 frigates.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence has not received representations from any foreign

government about the potential sale of in-service Royal Navy Type 23 frigates.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Companies: Data Protection


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

were notified of the data breach experienced by an accredited body for Cyber Essentials

in June 2017 that resulted in its list of registered consultancies being stolen.

Matt Hancock:

A configuration error from a supplier led to data containing 801 email addresses,

usernames, company name, and IP addresses from 800 companies, including

assessors of and applicants to the scheme, being exposed. There is no information to

suggest it was extracted. No personal data was released. The scheme's certification

bodies and all 801 email addresses were notified by email and were provided directly

with advice and guidance.

Cyber Essentials remains one of the best ways for organisations to test and show

they have protected themselves against the most common cyber threats, including

phishing and malware attacks. All firms which rely on the internet should aim to have

a Cyber Essentials certificate to show they have met the minimum standards.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit


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

has made of the effectiveness of her Department's preparations for the UK leaving the


she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock:

Following the referendum in June 2016, DCMS continues to make rigorous


EU.




Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: ICT


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


Matt Hancock:

The information requested is not held centrally.

Internet: Terrorism


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

taking to prevent online subscription to websites with Islamic extremist content.

Matt Hancock:

This Government remains at the forefront of the fight against online terrorist and

extremist material. The Police Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) has

secured the removal of over 290,000 pieces of terrorist-related material, including

extremist propaganda, since February 2010. We are also working closely with

industry to encourage companies to develop innovative solutions to tackle online

radicalisation. Finally, we are seeking to tighten the law: my RHF the Home Secretary

announced recently our aim of extending to fifteen years the maximum sentence for

those who repeatedly view terrorist content online; and we are setting up a new

Commission for Countering Extremism to identify whether more powers are needed.

Treasure Act 1996

Tim Loughton: [110975]

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

review the effectiveness of the Treasure Act 1996.

John Glen:

The Department is planning a public consultation on treasure policy, which will

primarily focus on proposed revisions to the Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice.

Young People


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

publish the Government's updated youth policy.

Tracey Crouch:

DCMS conducted a series of regional workshops in March and April 2017 with

representatives from the youth sector, local authorities and young people to discuss

current issues and opportunities for youth policy. The evidence gathered is being

used by DCMS across its youth policy work.






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

taken to implement the Government's Positive for Youth policy on youth.

Tracey Crouch:

The Government published a statement on the implementation of Positive for Youth

in 2013. DCMS’ focus on youth policy builds on the legacy of Positive for Youth. This

includes funding opportunities for young people to develop skills and participate in

their communities and supporting the youth sector to develop its evidence base,

sustainability and impact.

Youth Services


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

has made of trends in the level of spending on youth services excluding spending on the

National Citizen Service.

Tracey Crouch:

Local authorities are responsible for allocating funding to youth services in line with

local need. Section 251 data gathered by the Department for Education shows that

between 2012/13 and 2015/16 total local authority spending on youth services has

reduced by 36%.

Local authority spending is only one part of the picture: many local authorities are

creating new partnerships and models to respond to the changing funding landscape.

Government has supported local authorities to adapt through the £700,000 Delivering

Differently for Young People programme and is investing £80 million through the

Youth Investment and #iwill Funds to increase opportunities for young people to

develop skills and participate in their communities.

EDUCATION

Academies: Inspections

Ian Mearns: [111242]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to grant Ofsted powers to

inspect multi academy trusts.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

There are no plans to grant Ofsted powers to inspect multi academy trusts (MAT) at

this time.

Ofsted currently scrutinises MAT performance through focused inspections of schools

within the same MAT.




The Department is working with Ofsted to develop new approaches to better

scrutinise MATs, and the legal framework already has sufficient provisions to take

this forward. We will publish details in due course.

Adult Education

Jared O'Mara: [110887]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the adult education budget was

spent last year; and how many bids were received for that grant.

Anne Milton:

Based on the 2016-17 financial year, the total adult education budget was £1.5billion.

Our latest annual accounts for the financial year 2016-17 show an underspend of

£15million, or 1 per cent, at year end.

Providers were allocated funds based on the previous year, so no bids were

received.

Apprentices


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the change has been in proportion and

number of new apprenticeship starts since May 2017.

Anne Milton:

There have been 43,600 apprenticeship starts for the provisional 2016/17 academic

year since May 2017 to July 2017.

These figures are available in the Statistical First Release, published on 12 October

2017:


/SFR_53_2017_main_tables.ods.

Additionally, the Further Education data library also holds further information and

breakdowns for apprenticeship starts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fe-data-library.

Apprentices: Females


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

up by women born in the 1950s after they reached the age of 60.

Anne Milton:

There have been 8,300 apprenticeship starts since the 2010/11 academic year by

women aged over 60 and born in the 1950s.

Please note data is based on administrative returns for academic years 2010/11 to

2016/17 and the data for 2016/17 is based on a provisional year number. This figure

is rounded to the nearest hundred.



https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650552/SFR_53_2017_main_tables.ods


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fe-data-library


For further information, data on apprenticeship starts by age band and gender are

available in the apprenticeship demographic tool:


/apprenticeships-demographics-data-tool-starts-v1.xlsx.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to

promote the extension of apprenticeships to women in their sixties.

Anne Milton:

Apprenticeships are an excellent route into skilled employment for those of all ages.

Women have accounted for the majority of apprenticeship starts - 53.5 per cent in

2016/17 (provisional 2016/17 full year data).

It is important that both older and younger people are able to achieve the long term

benefits associated with completing an apprenticeship, which include an increase in

wages and progression in their careers.

Women in particular can face challenges when returning to full-time employment,

such as arranging necessary childcare or care for relatives. We have therefore

amended our Funding Rules to allow more flexibility in working arrangements. This

will make it easier for part-time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those

with caring responsibilities and single parents.

The employer-led Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network is encouraging

apprenticeships amongst those from a diverse range of backgrounds. This will

include championing female apprenticeships particularly within sectors where women

are currently underrepresented.

Apprentices: Special Educational Needs


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of apprenticeship starts have

been taken up by learners with learning difficulties and disabilities and special education

needs and disability in 2016-17.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the percentage change was in the

number of traineeship starts in 2016-17 from that number in each of the previous three

years.

Anne Milton:

The table below provides provisional figures for the 2016/17 academic year on the

number of apprenticeship starts for learners with and without a learning difficulty and

disability.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/624584/apprenticeships-demographics-data-tool-starts-v1.xlsx

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/624584/apprenticeships-demographics-data-tool-starts-v1.xlsx




2016/17 FULL YEAR

(PROVISIONAL) PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION

Learning Difficulty/Disability 50,470 10.3%

No Learning Difficulty/Disability 434,050 88.3%

Not Known 6,820 1.4%

Total 491,300 100.0%

Note: Total figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Apprenticeship data is collected via the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). The ILR

does not hold information on statements of special educational need for

apprenticeship learners, this is only collected for school pupils via the school census.

Information on Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities is self-declared

by the learner and covers a wider range of both learning difficulties and disabilities.

For further information on apprenticeship starts by demographic breakdowns, please

refer to the demographic data tool via:


/201617_Oct_Apps_Demographic_Data_Tool_FINAL.xlsx

The table attached provides provisional traineeship starts figures for the 2016/17

academic year along with the percentage changes in comparison to finalised figures

from each of the three previous years. Comparisons to previous academic years

should be made with caution as the provisional figures are subject to change. Final

2016/17 academic year figures will be published on 23 November 2017.

For further information on traineeship starts by academic year, please refer to the

October SFR main tables via:


/SFR_53_2017_main_tables.ods

Attachments:

1. Provisional traineeship starts [110825, 110826 Attachment.docx.pdf]

Children in Care

Mr Barry Sheerman: [111237]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that local

councils have sufficient funds for children in care.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Spending Review 2015 made available more than £200 billion to local councils

for local services up to 2019-20.

Funding for children’s services is an un-ring-fenced part of the wider local

government finance settlement. It is for local councils to determine how to spend their

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650223/201617_Oct_Apps_Demographic_Data_Tool_FINAL.xlsx

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650223/201617_Oct_Apps_Demographic_Data_Tool_FINAL.xlsx




non-ring fenced income on the services they provide, including services for children

in care. Local councils increased spending on children and young people’s services

to over £9 billion in 2015-16.

To help local councils redesign their children’s services to achieve higher quality and

better value for money, we have invested £200 million since 2014 in our Innovation

and Partners in Practice Programmes.

Children: Day Care

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [110716]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department is making on

the provision of and parental choice on 30 hours of childcare to working parents in

Hampshire.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The department is committed to ensuring all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours

free childcare entitlement are able to take up a place that suits their childcare needs.

That is why we ran a £100 million early years capital bid round, for which local

authorities, in partnership with providers, were invited to submit bids. Over 350

projects across 123 local authorities were successful in this bid round – six of which

were located in Hampshire.

Local authorities have a duty to secure childcare provision free of charge to qualifying

children. They are, therefore, best placed to ensure parents in their area have a

sufficient choice of childcare. As of 31 August, over 216,000 codes were issued for

the autumn term, with 90% being validated as of 9 October.

Department for Education: Brexit


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

effectiveness of her Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an

agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if she will make

a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

Following the referendum in June 2016, the Department for Education continues to

make rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's

negotiations with the EU.

Department for Education: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds a central list

of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.




Mr Robert Goodwill:

We understand the term arm’s-length body (ALB) to include non-departmental public

bodies, executive agencies and non-ministerial departments. We understand IT

assets to mean physical assets such as laptops and mobile phones and digital assets

to mean non-physical, digitally held information assets owned by the ALBs.

The Department for Education (DfE) holds a central list of the IT assets of our

executive agencies – Education and Skills Funding Agency, National College for

Teaching and Leadership, Standards and Testing Agency – and some of our other

ALBs – Institute for Apprenticeships, Office of the Children’s Commissioner,

Government Equalities Office, Office of the Schools Adjudicator and the Social

Mobility Commission. This list only contains assets supplied to the ALB by the DfE;

there may be additional assets held by the ALB that the DfE does not hold

information on.

The DfE does not hold a central list of the IT assets of any other ALBs. This is

because the DfE does not supply assets to these bodies and does not manage

assets on their behalf.

The DfE’s Information Asset Register, which includes information on digital assets,

includes assets of our executive agencies only.

Department for Education: Telephone Services


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

Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to call.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Department for Education, including the Government Equalities Office, operates

nine principal public phone lines. Calls to five of these lines are charged as UK-wide

(0370), geographic (020) or public body (0300) numbers. Four of these are free-

phone (0800 or 0808) numbers, which do not incur a charge.

Nurseries: Labour Turnover


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

recruitment and retention of staff in nurseries.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

In March, the department published an early years’ workforce strategy, the Early

Years Workforce Strategy, which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy. This set

out a number of measures to support the sector to recruit, retain and develop staff.

These measures are currently being implemented. To support recruitment, for

example, we consulted with the sector and as a result broadened out the English and

maths qualification requirements for level 3 staff to include other suitable level 2

qualifications, including functional skills.



Oldham College


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what future capital funding the Government

plans to provide for Oldham College.

Anne Milton:

The Department for Communities and Local Government are responsible for Growth

Deals with the Local Enterprise Partnerships. This includes the provision of Local

Growth Funding to support capital investment for Further Education colleges in

England.

The Government has awarded £663.4m to Greater Manchester through three rounds

of Growth Deals. This is to invest in local priorities, including improving its Further

Education estate from 2015 to 2021.

Pupil Premium: Harlow


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much each school in Harlow received in

pupil premium funding in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much pupil premium funding schools in

Harlow received in each financial year since 2014-15.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

Information on how much pupil premium each school has received in each

parliamentary constituency and in each financial year since its introduction in April

2011 is available in the national archive and on gov.uk at the links listed below.

Financial year 2011 to 2012

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130108054747/http://www.education.gov

.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlemen

t2012pupilpremium/a0075963/pupil-premium-2011-12.


http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130123124929/http://www.education.gov

.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlemen

t2013pupilpremium/a00200465/schools-funding-settlement-2012-13.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-

allocation-tables.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2014-to-2015-final-

allocations.




http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130108054747/http:/www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlement2012pupilpremium/a0075963/pupil-premium-2011-12



http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130123124929/http:/www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlement2013pupilpremium/a00200465/schools-funding-settlement-2012-13



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2014-to-2015-final-allocations

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2014-to-2015-final-allocations


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2016-

to-2017.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2017-

to-2018.

Pupils: Health

Angela Smith: [110875]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will amend the statutory guidance

entitled Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school to include a requirement for

all schools to publish their medical conditions policies.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

We know how important it is that children with medical conditions are supported to

enjoy a full education. That is why we introduced the duty, under section 100 of the

Children and Families Act 2014, to require governing bodies to make arrangements

to support pupils with medical conditions and have provided statutory guidance

outlining schools’ responsibilities in this area.

We keep this statutory guidance under review. We will continue to ensure that it

clearly sets out the arrangements that governing boards should be making to support

pupils with medical conditions, based on best practice.

All governing boards should ensure that the school's policy for supporting pupils with

medical conditions is reviewed regularly and is readily accessible to parents and

school staff.

Pupils: Nutrition

Scott Mann: [111232]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had

with retailers on assisting parents to identify healthy lunchbox items (a) in store and (b)

online.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

Officials at the Department for Education have not held discussions with retailers on

this issue.

We want to make it easier for parents to feel confident that they are preparing

balanced, nutritious lunches for their children. The Department for Health has

published further information such as recipes, tips and swap suggestions that are

practical and affordable for parents. These are available on the Change4Life website

at: https://www.nhs.uk/change4life-beta/healthier-lunchboxes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2016-to-2017






https://www.nhs.uk/change4life-beta/healthier-lunchboxes

Pupils: Personal Records

Darren Jones: [109014]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what legal advice her Department has

received on meeting data protection requirements for data held on the national pupil

database that relates to former pupils with whom schools have no contact.

Nick Gibb:

The Department seeks legal advice as and when necessary.

The Department has legislative powers in section 537A of the Education Act 1996 to

collect information on individual pupils. Pursuant to section 537A (9) ‘individual pupil

information’ means information relating to and identifying individual pupils or former

pupils at any school within section 537A (1).

Schools

Christian Matheson: [111247]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) local authorities and (b) multi-

academy trusts are responsible for the provision of primary and secondary education in

England.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

As at 1 November 2017, there are 1,240 Multi-academy Trusts (MATs) and 152 Local

Authorities (LAs) responsible for the provision of primary and/or secondary education

in England. The breakdown of these is as follows:

1. 971 MATs that have at least one primary school within them

2. 715 MATs that have at least one secondary school within them

3. 151 LAs across England that maintain at least one primary school

4. 142 LAs across England that maintain at least on secondary school

In addition, there are 626 Single Academy Trusts (SATs) which contain a primary

school and 874 SATs which contain a secondary school.

This information was sourced from the “Get Information About Schools” website on 1

November 2017. Further information can be found here: https://get-information-

schools.service.gov.uk/.%20.

Schools: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: [111017]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that

reductions in real-terms to school funding in Garston and Halewood constituency will not

exceed 1.5 per cent in 2017-18.

Nick Gibb:

We have made a significant investment in our schools by providing an additional £1.3

billion across 2018-19 and 2019-20, over and above existing plans. As the



https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/

https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/


independent IFS have confirmed, overall funding per pupil will now be maintained in

real terms up to 2020. The national funding formula will deliver higher per pupil

funding in respect of every school, and every local area.

Since 2015, the schools budget has been protected in real terms. Both Liverpool’s

and Knowsley’s School Block allocations have been protected in cash terms per

pupil.

Local authorities, in consultation with local schools, set their own formulae that

determine schools’ budgets. As my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out in

July, this will continue in 2018-19 and 2019-20, providing stability for schools during

the transition to the national funding formula.

Local formulae must include the minimum funding guarantee, which means that no

school’s budget can be reduced by more than 1.5% per pupil in any year.

Special Educational Needs: Gloucestershire

Dr David Drew: [110785]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with an (a) Education,

Health and Care plan, (b) Statement of SEN or (c) Learning Difficulties Assessment

received a permanent or fixed exclusion within Gloucestershire in each of the last five

years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in Gloucestershire with

autism as their primary need received a permanent or fixed period exclusion in each of

the last five years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average rate of exclusion for

children with autism as their primary need was in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) the UK in

each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The attached tables provides information as requested on the number of pupils

receiving permanent and fixed period exclusions by special educational needs

provision in schools in Gloucestershire local authority and the number and rate of

exclusions for pupils with autism as their primary need in Gloucestershire local

authority and England.

Exclusions of pupils with Learning Difficulties Assessments and for schools outside of

England are not collected by the department.

Attachments:

1. 110785, 110786, 110787 [110785 Attach.xlsx]




Vocational Guidance: Disability

Julia Lopez: [111028]

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

ensure that young disabled people are able to access good quality careers advice.

Anne Milton:

The Government is taking steps to improve careers education and guidance for all

ages. We are investing over £70m this year to help young people and adults access

quality careers provision.

The Government is also funding specialist training for careers advisers working with

young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). And we

will be supporting post-16 providers in developing training and materials to help

young people entering the workplace.

The careers strategy, which will be published shortly, will include proposals to

improve the quality and coverage of careers advice in schools. In particular, these will

provide aspirational careers advice for children, young people and adults with SEND.

Work Experience: Disability

Julia Lopez: [111029]

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

ensure that young disabled people are able to participate in work experience.

Anne Milton:

We want all young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to

be able to access high quality external work placements. This is so they can benefit

from real life work experience in the same way as any other student.

The Government is aware that SEND students may require more support when

embarking on a work experience placement. We have recently launched a work

placements Capacity and Delivery Fund which will receive £74 million in additional

funding from April 2018. This will help providers boost their capacity to provide work

placements from 2018/19.

We expect providers to use some of this fund, alongside other available funding (e.g.,

High Needs Funding), to provide additional support and any reasonable adjustments

within the workplace. This will enable students with SEND to access the same quality

of provision as their peers.



EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Business: Transitional Arrangements


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has

made of the benefit to businesses and the economy of a transition period of three years

or longer as called for by the British Chambers of Commerce.

Mr Steve Baker:

The Government is undertaking analysis of different scenarios, but will not publish

any information that could undermine our negotiation position.

We will need to build a bridge from our exit to our future partnership, to allow

business and people time to adjust, and to allow new systems to be put in place. It

makes sense for there to be only one set of changes.

That is why we are proposing a strictly time-limited implementation period, based on

the existing structure of EU rules and regulations, during which the UK and the EU

would continue to have access to one another’s markets on current terms, and the

UK would take part in existing security measures.

The length of the period should be determined by how long it will take to prepare and

implement the new processes and new systems – as the Prime Minister has said, this

is likely to be for a period of around two years and it should be agreed as early as

possible, so as to provide certainty.

Department for Exiting the European Union: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department

holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Department for Exiting the European Union does not have any arm’s-length

bodies.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many and what

proportion of his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to call.

Mr Steve Baker:

The Department for Exiting the European Union does not have any public phone-

lines which charge members of the public to call.




EU External Relations


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to

provide UK businesses with certainty about the UK's future relations with the EU.

Mr Steve Baker:

We understand that businesses want as much certainty about the future relationship

between the UK and EU as soon as possible, and we are engaging with companies

across the economy to provide them with the information they need to understand the

challenges and opportunities they may face in the coming months and years.

The Prime Minister emphasised this commitment in her Florence speech, where she

acknowledged the value of certainty for business and proposed a time-limited period

of implementation on current terms. This will give businesses time to adjust, as well

as allowing for new systems to be put in place. Our desire is to agree arrangements

for this period as soon as possible.

EU Internal Trade: Customs


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has

had with his counterparts in the EU on customs arrangements for movement of goods

within Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union regularly meets with

counterparts in the EU to discuss a range of matters relating to the UK's Exit from the

EU.

The Government set out its position in relation to future customs arrangements with

the EU in a Future Relationship Paper in August.

EU Law


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has

made of the importance of regulatory alignment to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

In our negotiations with the EU, the UK will seek to secure a new, deep and special

partnership. We propose the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our

European neighbours based on our rules and regulations being the same at the start,

and on maintaining our commitment to free trade and high standards.

But there will be areas that affect our economic relations where we and our European

friends may have different goals; or where we share the same goals but want to

achieve them through different means. This is where we recognise that the single

market is built on a balance of rights and obligations, and so our task is to find a new




framework that allows for a close economic partnership but holds those rights and

obligations in a new and different balance.

Small Businesses

Jo Platt: [110835]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his

Department has had with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on

the financial protections offered to small businesses after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Department for Exiting the European Union is working closely with other

departments, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,

to deliver the right outcome for UK businesses, including small businesses, as we

leave the EU.

Ministers from across Government have carried out extensive stakeholder

engagement on EU Exit - with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the

economy and all regions of the UK. In August 2016 the Prime Minister held a small

business summit at Downing Street to hear the views and interests of small

businesses. Representatives from trade associations including the Federation of

Small Businesses (FSB) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) were in

attendance.

Small Businesses: Leigh

Jo Platt: [110553]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate his

Department has made of the number of small businesses in Leigh that could be

significantly impacted financially by the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Government is committed to the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a

deal that works for small businesses and all parts of the UK.

Stakeholder engagement is a central element of our plan to build a national

consensus around our negotiating position. Ministers from across Government have

carried out extensive engagement on EU exit - with businesses and industry bodies

from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK, including the North West.

On 4th August 2016 the Prime Minister held a small business summit at Downing

Street to learn the post brexit views and interests of small businesses.

Representatives from trade associations including the Federation of Small

Businesses (FSB) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) were in

attendance.

The UK government believes it is in the interests of both parties to achieve the best

possible outcome and the strongest possible partnership for the future - one that

works for the UK and for the EU.



Trade Agreements

Jo Platt: [110920]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his

Department has made of the potential effect on not reaching a deal with the EU on exiting

the EU on the UK economy.

Mr Steve Baker:

We are confident that a future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests

of both sides, so we approach these negotiations anticipating success. We do not

want or expect a no deal outcome.

However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes,

including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be

reached. The government is therefore undertaking a comprehensive programme of

analytical work across a range of scenarios.

However, we have been very clear that we must not publish material that could

undermine the UK position in the negotiations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment

he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the


he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Following the referendum in June 2016 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

continues to make rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the

UK’s negotiations with the EU.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his


Sir Alan Duncan:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office only holds details of its own IT and digital

assets, including those located at arms-length bodies. Separate systems owned and

used by the FCO’s arms-length bodies are managed by their own IT departments.




Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and

what proportion of his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to

call.

Sir Alan Duncan:

All Foreign and Commonwealth Office telephone numbers, including those enabled

during a crisis, are either London/Milton Keynes prefixed or local call rate. All callers

are charged at those respective rates. Overseas, our embassies also use numbers of

the local rate type. This means that our consular services are available to British

people 24 hours a day, for the cost of a non-premium phone call.

Middle East: Human Rights

Richard Burden: [111002]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his

Department funds human rights organisations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian

Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

The Government supports a range of organisations and projects in Israel and the

Occupied Palestinian Territories focussed on human rights, dialogue and

coexistence, in line with our policy objective of supporting a two-state solution.

Simon Trinidad

Stephen Pound: [111052]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make

representations to the US Administration supporting the release of Simon Trinidad.

Sir Alan Duncan:

I refer the Hon Member to my answer to written question 110939 of 6 November.

HEALTH

General Practitioners

Justin Madders: [111200]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GPs per head of population there

were in each of the last 10 years.

Steve Brine:

The requested information is shown in the table below. Since 2007, the overall

number of general practitioners (GPs) has increased from 36,420 to 39,660.





YEAR ALL GPS HEADCOUNT PER 100,000 POPULATION (ENGLAND)

2017 71.9 1

2016 72.4 1

2015 73.2 1

2014 71.9

2013 71.8

2012 72.2

2011 71.9

2010 71.6

2009 73.7

2008 69.9

2007 68.0

1 Figures from 2015 onwards include locums, which were not previously included.

Source: NHS Digital

Malnutrition

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [111037]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) children and (b) adults have been

admitted to hospital with malnutrition in the last 12 months.

Mr Philip Dunne:

Data is not available in the format requested. Such data as is available is provided in

the table below. This is a count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)1 with a primary

or secondary diagnosis2 of malnutrition3, by patients aged 0-17 and adults aged 18

and over, for the financial year 2016-17. This is a count of hospital attendances

resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been

admitted into a National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion.

AGE FAE’S

Children (Aged 0-17) 344


AGE FAE’S

Adults (Aged 18+) 7,939

Source: NHS Digital

Notes:

1 FAEs

An FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one

healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the

admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a

person may have more than one admission within the period.

2 Number of episodes in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis

The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from

2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis

fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics record. Each episode is only counted once,

even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.

3 ICD-10 coding for malnutrition

E40 Kwashiorkor

E41 Nutritional marasmus

E42 Marasmic kwashiorkor

E43 Unspecified severe protein-energy malnutrition

E44 Protein-energy malnutrition of moderate and mild degree

E45 Retarded development following protein-energy malnutrition

E46 Unspecified protein-energy malnutrition

O25 Malnutrition in pregnancy

P00.4 Fetus and newborn affected by maternal nutritional disorders

P05.2 Fetal malnutrition without mention of light or small for gestational age

The presence of an ICD-10 code of malnutrition on the admission episode indicates

that the patient was diagnosed with, and would therefore being treated for

malnutrition during the episode of care. The cause of malnutrition is not presented

here but may be due to dietary issues, an inability to absorb nutrients normally or

another disease affecting the patient’s ability to feed normally.

NHS: Foreign Nationals

Mrs Anne Main: [110819]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount of

non-ordinarily resident upfront charges collected in each of the last five years; and what

amount is expected to be collected in each of the next five years.

Mr Philip Dunne:

National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts in England all already have a

statutory responsibility to make and recover charges from patients who are not

ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and are chargeable for their healthcare.

Upfront charging of overseas visitors for non-urgent or immediately necessary care

has been recommended best practice by the Department for several years, including

in published national charging guidance.

The published impact assessment estimates a £9 million income for 2017/18 and £23

million for each subsequent year from mandating upfront charging. It is also

estimated than an extra income of £9 million for 2017/18 and £21 million for each

subsequent year would be identified due to increased compliance since amendments

to the charging regulations were made. We expect these incomes to be identified on

top of the currently identified income from visitors and migrants, which in 2016/17

amounted to £81 million.

The Department does not have estimates for each of the last five years on the

number of upfront charges collected for non-ordinarily residents.

Nursing and Midwifery Council: Registration

Dr Lisa Cameron: [R] [111055]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist (a) mental health and (b)

substance misuse midwives (i) left and (ii) joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council

register in each year from 2011 to 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne:

The information requested is not held by the Department.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the independent regulator of nurses and

midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse and midwifery

registration.

Staffordshire and Stoke On Trent Partnership NHS Trust

Paul Farrelly: [111038]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS (a) England and (b) Improvement

received the Capped Expenditure Programme report for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-

Trent.




Paul Farrelly: [111043]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the Capped Expenditure

Programme report for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent submitted to NHS England and

NHS Improvement.

Mr Philip Dunne:

As happens prior to the start of every financial year, the National Health Service was

asked by the Department to develop a plan for balancing NHS budgets in 2017/18.

As part of their plan, NHS England and NHS Improvement have designed and

implemented the capped expenditure process (CEP), and they therefore have lead

responsibility for it.

CEP is an extension of the annual planning process. Financial performance

information for each clinical commissioning group (CCG) (and in total for CCGs) can

be found in the quarterly published Financial Performance Reports, accessible via the

link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/financial-performance-reports/

As with all public services, local NHS areas need to live within the budget agreed –

otherwise they effectively take up resources that could be spent on general

practitioners, mental health care, and cancer treatment. As part of their financial

planning, NHS England and NHS Improvement have been running a process to look

at how a small number of areas could do more to balance their financial plans, as

many already have.

NHS England have published, at a national level, documents which describe the

overall approach. Individual clinical commissioning groups directly affected will reflect

the impact of the capped expenditure process as part of their publication of plans,

and will comply with any further requirements for consultation.

HOME OFFICE

Asylum


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seeker

placements each local authority has had in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis:

The Home Office publishes quarterly figures on the number of asylum seekers

housed in dispersed accommodation, including under Section 95, by local authority in

the Immigration Statistics release, in table as_16q and 17q in volume 4 of the Asylum

data tables. These are available

at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release


https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/financial-performance-reports/


Asylum: Employment

Laura Smith: [110524]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to

ensure that all asylum seekers are guaranteed the right to work in the UK.

Brandon Lewis:

Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been

outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own.

The policy is designed to protect the resident labour market so that access to

employment is prioritised for British citizens and lawful residents, including those

granted refugee status. We have no plans to change this policy.

Counter-terrorism

Steve McCabe: [111196]

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

made a recent assessment of the adequacy of police spending on counter-terrorism.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Government’s top priority is the safety and security of the public. The 2015

Spending Review settlement protected counter-terrorism policing spend until 2020-21

and included a significant capital increase to deliver growth of key counter-terrorist

policing capabilities.The Government is in regular dialogue with the police to ensure

that the right powers, capabilities and resources are in place across all areas of

policing.

In recognition of the pressures on policing following this year’s terrorist attacks, the

Home Secretary has announced a further £24 million for counter-terrorism policing.

Work is currently under way to review the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy,

CONTEST,including drawing on the lessons learned from the attacks in London and

Manchester.

We remain committed to increasing cross-government spending on counter-terrorism

by 30%, from £11.7 billion to £15.1 billion.

Cybercrime: Surveys


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30

October 2017 to Question 109740, on Cybercrime: surveys, how much has been paid

from the public purse to IPSOS Mori for running the National Crime Security Tracker

survey.

Mr Ben Wallace:

IPSOS MORI has been paid £373,800 to run the National Cyber Security Tracker

since 2015. IPSOS MORI were procured to provide this service through a competitive

tender process administered by the Government’s Crown Commercial Service.




Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges

Chi Onwurah: [110932]

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

has made of how much it receives per year in fees from people applying to enter the

country legally; and what that money is spent on.

Brandon Lewis:

Details of the income that the Department has generated from border, immigration

and citizenship services is provided in the Annual Report and Accounts, published on

Gov.uk.


/ho_annual_report_and_accounts_2016_2017.pdf Page 117

The Home Office sets visa, immigration and citizenship fees at a level that helps

provide resources necessary to operate the Border, Immigration and Citizenship

(BIC) system. The Home Office aims to reduce the overall level of funding that comes

from general taxation by reducing costs and increasing the proportion which is funded

by income generated from fees. The Home Office believes it is right that those who

use and benefit directly from the BIC system make an appropriate contribution

towards meeting the associated costs.

The Immigration Act 2014 is the primary legislation which gives the Home Office

statutory powers to set fees. The relevant sections of the Act relating to fees are 68 to

70 which can be found on pages 58 to 61 of the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/pdfs/ukpga_20140022_en.pdf

Home Office: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made

of the effectiveness of her Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a)

an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if she will

make a statement.

Brandon Lewis:

Following the referendum in June 2016, the Home Office continues to make rigorous


EU, as set out in the Home Secretary’s evidence to the Home Affairs Select

Committee on 17 October.

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/

home-affairs-committee/the-work-of-the-home-secretary/oral/71645.html).


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627853/ho_annual_report_and_accounts_2016_2017.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627853/ho_annual_report_and_accounts_2016_2017.pdf

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/pdfs/ukpga_20140022_en.pdf


Immigrants: Detainees

Anneliese Dodds: [110860]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the longest period is during

which an EU national has been held in immigration detention in the UK in the last 12

months.

Brandon Lewis:

Information on detention can be found at the following link:


/detention-apr-jun-2017-tables.ods

Kate Osamor: [111230]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to ensure

that survivors of sexual violence are not detained in immigration detention centres.

Brandon Lewis:

Home Office immigration policy operates with a presumption against detention. When

people are detained, it is for the minimum time possible, and their dignity and welfare

is of the utmost importance.

As part of its response to Stephen Shaw’s review of the welfare of vulnerable persons

in immigration detention, the Government introduced the adults at risk in immigration

detention policy, which came into force on 12 September 2016. The policy introduced

a case-by-case evidence-based assessment of the appropriateness of detention for

any individual who is considered vulnerable, balanced against the immigration control

considerations that apply in their case. Having been a victim of sexual or gender

based violence (including female genital mutilation) is expressly included as an

indicator of risk for the purposes of the policy.

This means that any such victim will be detained only when the immigration control

considerations that apply in their case outweigh the risk factors. The policy is

supported by the cross-cutting gatekeeper, which assesses vulnerability and provides

challenge to decisions about who enters immigration detention, and scrutinises

prospects and speed of removal.

Immigration: EEA Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of

how many EU-EEA citizens currently resident in the UK do not benefit from EU treaty

rights or any other rights to residency.

Brandon Lewis:

No estimate has been made of the number of EU citizens already resident in the UK

who do not benefit from EU treaty rights or any other rights to residency.




Migrant Workers: EEA Nationals



of her Department's ability to instate a registration scheme for EU-EEA citizens wishing to

come to work in the UK after March 2019.



the earliest date on which her Department would have the capacity to include EU-EEA

nationals who wish to work in the UK within a visa and work permit system.

Brandon Lewis:

We are considering the options for our future immigration very carefully and will

outline our proposals in due course.

The Prime Minister was clear in her speech on 22 September of the need for an

implementation period to ensure that people and businesses – both in the UK and in

the EU – have time to adjust to the new arrangements in a smooth and orderly way.

During the implementation period, people will continue to be able to come and live

and work in the UK; but there will be a registration system – an essential preparation

for the new regime.

Passports

Michael Fabricant: [110499]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to change

the (a) design, (b) colour and (c) wording of the new UK passport after the UK leaves the

EU; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis:

I refer the hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Romford, on 7th

December 2016, UIN 55575.

Refugees: Children

Alex Sobel: [110671]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that all 280

remaining places allocated for unaccompanied child refugees under section 67 of the

2016 Immigration Act will be filled.

Brandon Lewis:

We are fully committed to delivering our commitment to transfer the specified number

of 480 children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 and we are working very

closely with Member States, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGO partners to

ensure the correct processes are in place to identify and transfer children to the UK.

All transfers must be in line with each individual Member State’s national laws.





Children have been transferred from France under section 67 this year and we have

received further referrals. More eligible children will be transferred from Europe under

the scheme in due course.

Refugees: English Language


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to

provide asylum seekers and refugees with low levels of English a minimum of six months

free English for Speakers of Other Languages provision from the time when they apply

for asylum.

Brandon Lewis:

Those granted refugee status by the Home Office and in receipt of certain work

related benefits have access to fully funded English for Speakers of Other Languages

courses. For those receiving other benefits and unemployed full funding for the

course is available at the provider’s discretion, and for those not receiving benefits

the government may provide 50% of the costs.

Home Office policy is not to provide asylum seekers with publicly funded English for

Speakers of Other Languages courses, although they may access courses on a fee

paying basis, and providers may waive fees. Asylum claimants awaiting a decision for

over six months may receive a 50% contribution to the costs.

Skilled Workers: Visas

Chi Onwurah: [110948]


of the potential costs and benefits for (a) her Department and (b) the tech sector of high

tech visas.

Brandon Lewis:

The Tech Nation Visa within the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route, re-launched by

Tech City UK in October 2015, is an important part of our offer for attracting digital

talent, and is working well. The route allows leading digital technology talent

endorsed by Tech City UK to enter the UK without needing a job offer from a

sponsoring employer.

The Tech Nation Visa forms only a part of our comprehensive offer for migrants and

businesses in the tech sector. In the year ending June 2017, around 30,000 skilled

non-EEA workers were sponsored under Tier 2, our main immigration work route, to

work in the UK in the Information and Communication industry, more than twice the

number in any other industry. A number of digital technology jobs are included on our

Shortage Occupation List.

We also have dedicated routes for entrepreneurs and graduate entrepreneurs

wishing to establish a tech sector business in the UK, and an excellent offer for

international students wishing to take up a job in the tech sector after their studies.



UK Border Force: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: [110578]


the number of additional UK Border Agency officials that will be needed in Northern

Ireland as a result of the UK leaving the EU; and if she will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis:

Additional staffing required by Border Force, across the UK, following exit from the

European Union will depend on the final outcome of the negotiations. Government

departments are working together across a range of complex issues to develop our

future approach to the border and immigration system.

The government recognises the unique case of the Northern Ireland – Ireland land

border, and we have been clear about avoiding any physical infrastructure at the

border. We have developed joint principles with the Commission to ensure the

continuation of the Common Travel Area. Avoiding a ‘hard border’ between Ireland

and Northern Ireland is one of the Government’s three strategic objectives that have

informed development of the policy options outlined in the recently published

Customs Bill White Paper.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons: Zero Hours Contracts

Chris Stephens: [109825]

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of

Commons Commission, how many and what proportion of (a) parliamentary and (b)

contracted staff are employed on zero hours contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Brake:

No staff are employed by the House of Commons on zero hours contracts. The

House of Commons Commission does not hold information about staff employed by

its contractors. Our standard terms and conditions of contract do not specify that

contractors are not to be employed on zero hours contracts.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department for International Development: Brexit


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

made of the effectiveness of her Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU

with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if she

will make a statement.




Alistair Burt:

Following the referendum in June 2016, the Department for International

Development continues to make rigorous preparations for a range of possible

outcomes from the UK's negotiations with the EU.

Department for International Development: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her

Department's spend in the last year has been with Government strategic suppliers.

Rory Stewart:

In 2016/17, 0.2% of DFID’s total spend was with Government Strategic Suppliers.

Department for International Development: Visits Abroad


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 3

November 2017 to Question 110167, on Department of International Development: visits

abroad, whether that Answer applies to both journeys.

Rory Stewart:

Yes

Gaza: Reconstruction

Richard Burden: [111018]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she

has made of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism and the effect of

the Israeli Government's dual-use list on reconstruction.

Alistair Burt:

The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) has been successful in importing

construction materials to facilitate the reconstruction of buildings damaged during the

2014 conflict. Over 170,000 people have been able to carry out repairs and over

14,000 fully or partially damaged homes have been rebuilt. UN reports assess that

the GRM has been less successful in facilitating the import of other “dual-use”

materials; and that it is critical that the import of more “dual-use” items is simplified

and expedited in order to facilitate larger infrastructure projects. A more

comprehensive lifting of restrictions on materials entering Gaza, as part of a political

agreement, is the only long-term solution.




INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Agriculture: Overseas Trade


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

representatives of the food and farming sectors on the development of new trade deals

with other countries.

Greg Hands:

The Department of International Trade’s (DIT) officials and I maintain close contact

with the food and drink industry; and agriculture.

The ministerial team have had a variety of very productive meetings with a range of

industry representatives.

In carrying out our engagement with the industry we cooperate closely with Defra and

other government departments.

Department for International Trade: Labour Turnover


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what proportion of civil service

posts in his Department was vacant for a week or longer since his Department was

established; and what the turnover rate for civil servants in his Department has been in

that period.

Greg Hands:

The Department for International Trade (DIT) headcount has grown to more than

3,590, which includes an international network of more than 1,300 people. DIT

headcount has grown by 43% since July 2016 (an increase of 1,087 from 2,504 to

3,591.

The turnover rate for civil servants in DIT for the 12 month period from October 2016

to September 2017 was 11.8%.

Department for International Trade: Nurseries

Tracy Brabin: [111065]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what childcare facilities his

Department makes available for its staff; how much his Department spent (a) overall and

(b) per child on those facilities in the last 12 months; and how many of his Department's

staff use those facilities.

Greg Hands:

[Holding answer 9 November 2017]: The Department for International Trade (DIT)

does not administer its own childcare facilities but supports parents to make their own

arrangements through a combination of vouchers, allowances and participation in

shared schemes, depending on where in the UK, and globally, employees work.




London based staff can make use of the Westminster Holiday Play Scheme

organised by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The

Department does not have details on the number of individual staff members who use

the scheme nor the overall cost; however we can confirm a cost of £35 per day/ per

child of which the Department contributes £18.

UK Export Finance staff based at 1 Horse Guards Road can access the HM Treasury

“holiday clubs” which are totally funded by the employee.

For DIT overseas staff, local arrangements are available within their overseas

allowances.

Legal Profession: Overseas Trade


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

future trends in exports by the UK legal services sector.

Mark Garnier:

Legal services are a key export for the UK, with the UK legal services sector the most

international legal sector in the world. We expect access to the UK’s legal services

sector to continue to be in high demand.

The Department for International Trade is engaged with the Ministry of Justice, other

Departments and representatives of the legal services sector to discuss opportunities

to further promote the UK legal services sector, and the benefits of the UK legal

systems, overseas. The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC launched the ‘Legal Services

are GREAT’ campaign in October.

Manufacturing Technologies Association


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had

with the Manufacturing Technologies Association on (a) frictionless trade and (b) the

ability to influence international standards after the UK leaves the EU.

Mark Garnier:

Officials from the Department for International trade have met the Manufacturing

Technologies Association to discuss a wide range of issues important to the

manufacturing sector. This department regularly meets with stakeholders from all

sectors to help shape a UK trade policy that works for all.



JUSTICE

Administration of Justice

Afzal Khan: [107234]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to record the

religious identity of people subject to the courts system and the Crown Prosecution

Service.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Work is underway to improve the quality of data across the Criminal Justice System.

Currently some data is collected by the CPS on an individual’s religion in relation to

specific crimes, such as hate crime. Data on religious identity is not collected by HM

Courts and Tribunal Service.

At the launch of the Race Disparity Audit on 10 th October 2017, the Ministry of

Justice made a commitment to improve the quality and quantity of datasets made

available to the public. Widening data collection by the Courts and the CPS in relation

to religion was part of the first recommendation made by the Lammy Review and is

now being considered. The Government’s full response to the Lammy Review will be

published in due course.

Cammell Laird: Strikes

Ms Angela Eagle: [105692]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the oral contribution of the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Youth Justice of 25 April 2017, Official

Report, column 993, on Cammell Laird, what steps he has taken following that

contribution to look at that case further.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Having looked at the case I am unconvinced this is a matter for the Ministry of

Justice. However, I made an undertaking to consider the case further and I will do so.

I would be grateful if The hon. Member would write to me setting out the issues she

wishes to raise and I would like to offer her a meeting with my officials to discuss her

concerns.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: [111228]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Written Statement of 19 July

2017, HCWS81, on Justice Update, which community rehabilitation companies have had

their contracts amended.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

All 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies have had their contracts amended so

they can focus on activities that best rehabilitate offenders and keep society safe.




This additional investment will see projected payments to providers being no higher

than originally budgeted for at the time of the reforms.

Gender Recognition Certificates


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have applied for a gender

recognition certificate in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and

how many of the applications have been (a) accepted and (b) refused.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Statistics for applications for Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC) are updated and

published on GOV.UK (at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-

statistics) on a quarterly basis. The table below sets out various statistics for the last

three years, including how many applications have been accepted (under the

columns “Full GRC granted” and “Interim GRC granted”) and how many applications

have been refused. Guidance on these statistics is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-

statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2017-and-2016-to-2017

FINANCIAL

YEAR

TOTAL

RECEIPTS

TOTAL

DISPOSALS

DISPOSAL OUTCOMES

FULL

GRC

GRANTED

INTERIM

GRC

GRANTED

REFUSED APPLICATION

WITHDRAWN

NO

FEE

PAID

ERROR

2014/15 343 284 244 9 8 11 8 4

2015/16 374 376 332 3 23 7 7 4

2016/17 364 351 318 8 15 2 4 4


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many gender recognition certificates have

been granted to transgender women who posses male genitalia.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is necessary for a transgender

women to have female genitalia in order to receive a gender recognition certificate.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 (the Act) sets out a number of requirements for

applicants when applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). These include

that applicants must provide two medical reports, at least one of which must be from

a registered medical professional working in the field of gender dysphoria. At least

one of the reports must also set out details of a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and




any surgery and treatment that has been undertaken, or is planned, for the purpose

of modifying sexual characteristics.

Many people who are transitioning will undergo some form of this kind of surgery and

medical treatment. Some applicants are unable to undergo surgery for other medical

reasons. However, there is no requirement under the Act for an applicant to have

undergone gender reassignment surgery in order to obtain a GRC. Each application

under the Act is dealt with on a case by case basis, and no data is held on the

genitalia of the applicants.

Legal Profession


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to support the UK legal

services sector before and after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The UK is a world leader in the provision of legal services and English law has a

reputation for excellence across the world. The reputation of the UK’s Courts,

Judiciary and legal services sector will continue after we leave the EU, and we will

build on this to make the most of the opportunities of post-Brexit global Britain. We

also continue to promote our excellent legal services overseas, and launched our

‘Legal Services are GREAT’ campaign last month, to highlight the UK’s position as a

premier legal centre.”

Ministry of Justice: Brexit


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



statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

Following the referendum in June 2016,The MoJ continues to make rigorous


EU.

Ministry of Justice: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department holds a central list of

the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has 32 agencies and public bodies, most of which have

sole control of their own digital and IT assets. For that reason, the MoJ does not

currently hold a central list of IT and digital assets of its arm’s-length bodies.




Ministry of Justice: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of his


Mr Sam Gyimah:

During 2014 extensive work was undertaken to transfer MoJ’s higher rate customer

service lines into local rate numbers. Since that time the responsibility for these lines

has been devolved to the ALBs and MOJ does not hold any information centrally, in

this regard.

Personal Independence Payment


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2017 to

Question 109400, if he will publish the local personal independence payment areas and

the relevant constituencies, with a longer than average waiting time.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service currently only publishes waiting time

information at national level.

It can provide waiting time information at hearing centre and regional level, but

cannot provide the breakdown requested.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals



Question 109400, if he will publish the number of judicial office holders trained for

personal independence payment tribunals in each quarter since 2 January 2013.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

All judicial training is the responsibility of senior judiciary and this is exercised through

the Judicial College who have provided the following information. The First-tier

Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Composition of Tribunals) Order 2008 and the Senior

President’s Practise Statement provides that all PIP appeals, subject to limited

exceptions must be heard by a judge and a medical and disability qualified members.

All tribunal members in the Social Security and Child Support jurisdiction (with the

exception of financially qualified Tribunal members) are trained to hear PIP appeals.

The table below shows a combined number for both the judges and panel member

training. Number of Judicial Office Holders receiving training in PIP from 01/01/13 by

quarter (The number of active Judicial Office Holder’s (JOHs) has oscillated between

approximately 1800 and 2000 over the period in question.)

Attachments:

1. Table [PQ 111234 Table.doc]




Prisoners: Mental Illness

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [111021]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for training prison officers to

receive improved training on mental health conditions.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The Government is committed to ensuring that prison officers receive the appropriate

training to support prisoners with mental health needs. The Prison Officer Entry Level

Training (POELT) course, delivered to new Prison Officers, includes modules on

mental health and personality disorders which emphasise the importance of mental

health awareness.

The revised “Introduction to Suicide and Self-Harm (SASH) Prevention” training

includes a refreshed mental health awareness module. This training is being

delivered to all new and existing Prison Officers and non-HMPPS staff who come into

contact with prisoners.

A Suicide Prevention Learning Tool has also been developed in partnership with

Samaritans to support our suicide prevention and self-harm work. This tool

communicates important messages to identify and support prisoners at risk.

Prisoners: Suicide



Question 109680, on prisons: suicide, how many and what proportion of self-inflicted

deaths were prisoners (a) on medication for mental health issues and (b) participating in

talking therapies at the time of their death.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

This information is not collected centrally.

Every self-inflicted death in prison custody is independently investigated by the

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and is the subject of a coroner’s inquest.

We take the findings of these investigations very seriously. Her Majesty’s Prison and

Probation Service works with healthcare partners to ensure that action is taken to

address the recommendations made by the PPO, and any matters of concern

brought to our attention by coroners, including any that relate to the provision of

medication or therapies for mental health conditions.

Trials: Languages

Steve McCabe: [111195]

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

take-up by defendants of their right to be tried in a language they understand.




Mr Sam Gyimah:

The Ministry has several statutory obligations to provide interpretation and translation

in criminal proceedings for defendants.

The Ministry is committed to ensuring the justice system is supported by a range of

high quality language services that meet the needs of all those that require them. My

officials monitor demand for these services and work with our suppliers to ensure the

requests of these services are met. The latest official statistics published in

September 2017, shows 98% of language service assessments are fulfilled.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Food Banks: North Down

Lady Hermon: [110571]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will visit the Storehouse North

Down food bank; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire:

I commend the work undertaken by foodbanks across the UK. I will certainly consider

any formal invitation to visit the Storehouse North Down food bank that may be

forthcoming. However, my primary focus at present is to continue working intensively

with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish Government to secure the restoration

of inclusive, stable, devolved government in the interests of the entire community in

Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Office: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department holds a

central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Chloe Smith:

This information is not held centrally as the management of IT and digital assets is an

operational matter for individual arms-length bodies which operate independently

from central government.

PRIME MINISTER

Prime Minister: Easington

Grahame Morris: [111201]

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September to Question 9602, on

how many occasions she has visited Easington constituency since she became Prime

Minister.




Mrs Theresa May:

I visit all parts of the United Kingdom regularly. Details of my visits within the United

Kingdom are published on the gov.uk website.

Prime Minister: Italy


To ask the Prime Minister, what the total cost to the public purse was of the visit by the

Prime Minister, ministers and officials to Florence on 22 October 2017.

Mrs Theresa May:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the First Secretary of State and

Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr

Green) on 2 November 2017, UIN 109813.

TRANSPORT

Department for Transport: Brexit


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



statement.

Mr John Hayes:

Following the referendum in June 2016, the Department for Transport continues to

make rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's

negotiations with the EU.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Advertising

Chris Stephens: [110790]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans she has to provide funding for

the advertising of services provided by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission;

and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb:

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is allocated an overall annual

budget, which is £19.3m in the current financial year. Funding for EHRC’s

promotional activities is included within that budget. Decisions on allocation of

resources within its overall budget are matters for the EHRC as an independent

public body subject to Cabinet Office spending controls which apply to non

Departmental public bodies.




Government Equalities Office: Telephone Services


To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many and what proportion of her


Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Department for Education, including the Government Equalities Office, operates

nine principal public phone lines. Calls to five of these lines are charged as UK-wide

(0370), geographic (020) or public body (0300) numbers. Four of these are free-

phone (0800 or 0808) numbers, which do not incur a charge.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Bakeries: Industrial Health and Safety

Lisa Nandy: [111239]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with

the Health and Safety Executive on the recommendations of the Workplace Health Expert

Committee report on the risks of bakery work published in March 2017.

Penny Mordaunt:

Whilst I have regular meetings with senior officials from HSE, there have been no

specific discussions about the findings in the Workplace Health Expert Committee

(WHEC) report: Risks of bakery work: the adverse effects of working in high

temperatures and of occupational asthma.

HSE receives an annual report from WHEC which includes any reports the committee

has published. HSE, via its Chief Scientific Adviser, is due to provide a formal

response to the next report in Spring 2018.

Department for Work and Pensions: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of

the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an


statement.

Damian Hinds:

The Department for Work and Pensions is undertaking planning for all EU exit

scenarios, as is prudent for such a significant issue, including working closely with the

Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure consistency of plans across

government.




Department for Work and Pensions: Length of Service


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of service

is in his Department by its 10 most highly paid officials.

Caroline Dinenage:

The average length of service of the 10 most highly paid officials in the Department is

16.9 years.

In calculating the average length of service we have used each individual’s date of

entry to the civil service and therefore the calculation may include periods of service

with other Government Departments.

Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of

his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to call.

Caroline Dinenage:

Charges to the Department for Work and Pensions are not set by the Department but

are applied by service providers and are dependent upon individual’s telephone

contract. The Department for Work and Pensions does not have access to individual

customer telephone call data that would establish if a call attracted a charge.

Employment and Support Allowance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of

employment support allowance have moved into work since changes were made to the

level of that benefit in April 2017.

Penny Mordaunt:

The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate

cost.

The latest information to February 2017 on the number of Employment and Support

Allowance (ESA) claimants by phase of claim is published and available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Guidance for users is available at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

EU Grants and Loans: Keighley

John Grogan: [111136]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what date he expects a decision

to be made on the community-led local development aid for Keighley CCLD.




https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html


Damian Hinds:

The application for Keighley Community Led Local Development project is in the final

stages of appraisal and a decision is expected by the end of November.

National Insurance: EEA Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many national insurance

numbers issued to EU-EEA citizens are currently active.

Caroline Dinenage:

The information requested is not available and could only be provided at

disproportionate cost

Personal Independence Payment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to

review the personal independence payments claims process.

Penny Mordaunt:

We constantly look to review and improve the experience of people claiming Personal

Independence Payment (PIP). We are currently considering the recommendations

made in the second independent review of Personal Independence Payment

(published on 30 March 2017) which included recommendations to improve our

communications for claimants. We plan to respond to the review’s findings later this

year.



review its policy on exemptions from reassessment for personal independence payments

claimants.

Penny Mordaunt:

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 July 2017 to Question UIN 5325.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has

published to raise awareness of requesting a home assessment for personal

independence payments applicants.

Penny Mordaunt:

Consultations may potentially be carried out in a variety of locations and some will

need to be carried out at a claimant’s home. Information relating to when a home

consultation should be considered can be found in the PIP Assessment Guide which

is publically available on gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-

assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers





https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what disability-specific training

personal independence payment assessors receive to enable them to adapt their

communication and assessment methods so that claimants can better understand and

take part in their assessment.

Penny Mordaunt:

The Department has set clear requirements on the professions, skills, experience and

training of the Healthcare Professionals that the providers should use to carry out

assessments. Healthcare Professionals are medically qualified professionals who

have previous clinical experience of communicating with individuals who have varied

conditions.

All Healthcare Professionals receive comprehensive training in disability analysis

which includes communication skills and understanding the communication needs of

those with specific disabilities. This training builds on prior clinical knowledge to

develop an understanding as to how conditions affect claimants in their day-to-day

activities.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's

Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide, paragraph 1.5.4, what recent

assessment he has made of compliance with the guidance on cases that should not

require a face-to-face consultation by assessors; and what estimate he has made of the

number of claimants who were invited to attend unnecessary face-to-face assessments in

the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Penny Mordaunt:

Decisions on whether an assessment can be undertaken based on the paper

evidence alone, or via a face-to-face consultation, are made by a Healthcare

Professional on a case by case basis and are not dependent on a claimant’s

condition, except for those people who are applying under the terminally ill provisions.

Most people will be required to attend a face-to-face consultation except where

Healthcare Professionals consider that there is sufficient existing information to carry

out an assessment based on the paper evidence, or where there is strong evidence

to indicate that a face-to-face consultation is likely to be stressful for the claimant.

Personal Independence Payment: Forms



review the PIP2 form and the requirement that it be returned to his Department within four

weeks.

Penny Mordaunt:

Where a claimant finds it difficult to complete the “How your disability affects you”

form within the 4-week period, they are advised to contact the Department who will




automatically provide an additional two weeks when needed. Where a claimant still

has difficulty, they will be granted further time where it is considered reasonable to do

so.

Recent research carried out by Ipsos MORI indicated that 85% of claimants were

able to complete all sections of the PIP2 questionnaire and only 4% were unable to

do so. This has been the subject of a government publication

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-

evaluation-wave-1-claimant-survey-findings

Personal Independence Payment: Greater Manchester


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what venues were used for

assessments for personal independence payments in Manchester in the last 12 months;

and what assessment his Department made of the accessibility of those venues before

choosing them.

Penny Mordaunt:

Independent Assessment Services undertake PIP consultations in Manchester at the

following venues:

Unit 1 & 2, Deva City Office Park, Trinity Way, Salford, Manchester, M3 7BB.

The Lilac Centre, Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall,

Manchester, M8 5RB

DWP has set clear requirements in terms of geography/travel, security and claimant

experience in relation to the sites used for PIP consultations. All Assessment Centres

are compliant with the Equality Act 2010. If a claimant is unable to travel to, or access

an Assessment Centre as a result of their health condition or impairment, a home

visit may be offered.

Personal Independence Payment: Manchester Gorton


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Manchester

Gorton constituency have been denied a home assessment for their personal

independence payment claim; and what reasons were given for those decisions.

Penny Mordaunt:

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at

disproportionate cost.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-evaluation-wave-1-claimant-survey-findings

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-evaluation-wave-1-claimant-survey-findings



Daily Report Friday, 10 November 2017...

Documents

Transcript of Daily Report Friday, 10 November 2017...