Daily Report Monday, 22 October 2018 CONTENTS...2018/10/22 · Daily Report Monday, 22 October 2018...

Daily Report Monday, 22 October 2018

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 22 October 2018 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (07:16 P.M., 22 October 2018). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 7

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 7

Business: Human Rights 7

Clothing: Manufacturing

Industries 7

Conditions of Employment: EU

Law 8

Consumers: Dispute

Resolution 8

Consumers: Subscriptions 8

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Public Expenditure 9

Ford Motor Company: Engines 9

Fracking: Climate Change and

Environment 10

Post Offices: Franchises 10

Shops: Urban Areas 10

Trading Standards: Finance 11

CABINET OFFICE 11

Absent Voting 11

Crown Commercial Service:

Keir 12

Employment: Learning

Disability 12

Keir 12

Keir: Contracts 12

Russia: Subversion 13

Temporary Employment: North

East 13

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS 14

Housing Estates: Sales 14

DEFENCE 14

Armed Forces: Mental Health

Services 14

Arms Trade: Exports 15

Army: Cadets 15

Autonomous Weapons 15

Defence: Scotland 16

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark 16

Ministry of Defence: Written

Questions 16

Navy: Cadets 16

Royal Military Academy:

Foreign Nationals 17

Treasury: Public Expenditure 17

Warships: Procurement 18

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 18

Arts and Design: Trade

Promotion 18

Boxing: Northern Ireland 18

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Broadband 19

Internet: Wales 19

Northern Ireland Boxing

Association 19

Vasilijs Melniks 19

EDUCATION 20

Apprentices: Taxation 20

Assessments: Standards 21

Children: Dyslexia 21

Children: Hearing Impairment 21

Free School Meals: Liverpool 22

Freedom and Autonomy for

Schools National Association:

Electronic Government 22

GCE A-level 22

IGCSE 23

Local Government: Private

Finance Initiative 24

Schools: Greater London 24

Secondary Education: Pupil

Exclusions 25

Social Work 26

Special Educational Needs 26

Students: Loans 27

Teachers: Pay 29

Teachers: Pensions 29

Teachers: West Midlands 29

Teaching Excellence

Framework Independent

Review: Public Appointments 30

Universities: Finance 30

University Academy

Warrington 31

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 31

Abandoned Vehicles 31

Flood Control 31

Fracking 32

Greyhound Board of Great

Britain 33

Nature Conservation:

Developing Countries 33

Pet Travel Scheme 34

Plastic Bags: Fees and

Charges 35

Primates: Pets 35

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 35

Bangladesh: Demonstrations 35

Bangladesh: Elections 36

Bangladesh: War Crimes 37

Benin: Elections 37

Cameroon: Elections 37

Cameroon: Violence 38

China: Organs 38

Conservative Party:

Conferences 39

Human Rights 39

Human Rights: Business 39

India: Prisoners 40

Israel: Bedouin 40

Libya: Human Rights 40

Libya: Politics and

Government 41

Prisoners: British Nationals

Abroad 42

Syria: Chemical Weapons 43

USA: International Criminal

Court 43

Yemen: Armed Conflict 44

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 44

Allergies: Medical Equipment 44

Audiology: Paediatrics 45

Blood: South West 45

Breast Cancer: East Sussex 46

Cattle 46

Co-proxamol 46

Dental Services 47

Diabetes: Health Education 47

Diabetes: Medical Equipment 48

Diabetes: Pregnancy 49

Disability: Health Services 50

Drugs 50

Epilepsy: Nutrition 50

Exercise 51

Female Genital Mutilation 51

General Practitioners:

Liverpool 52

Hospices: Finance 52

Hospitals: Admissions 52

Influenza: Vaccination 53

Leicester General Hospital 54

Lung Diseases: Rehabilitation 55

Medical Equipment: UK Trade

with EU 56

Mental Health 57

Mental Health Services:

Children and Young People 57

NHS: Negligence 59

NHS: Waste Disposal 60

Palliative Care 60

Pigmeat 61

Pregnancy Loss Review 61

Sheep 61

Sign Language: Hospitals 62

Stem Cells: Donors 62

Sugar: Consumption 63

Urology: Medical Equipment 63

Usher Syndrome: Health

Education 64

HOME OFFICE 65

Agriculture: Migrant Workers 65

Airports: Biometrics 65

Airports: Immigration Controls 65

Asylum: Housing 66

Drugs: Crime 67

Female Genital Mutilation:

Arrests and Prosecutions 68

Hate Crime 68

Home Office: Staff 69

Human Trafficking 69

Human Trafficking: Organs 70

Immigrants: EEA Nationals 70

Immigrants: Entry Clearances 71

Immigrants: EU Nationals 71

Immigration: Security 71

Medicine: Research 72

Money Laundering 72

National County Lines

Coordination Centre: Staff 73

Police: Expenditure 73

Police: Finance 74

Police: Merseyside 75

Proceeds of Crime 75

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 76

Affordable Housing: Liverpool 76

Change of Use 76

Council Tax: Dorset 76

Grenfell Tower: Fires 77

Homelessness: Mental Health 77

Housing: Construction 78

Housing: Safety 79

Local Government Finance 80

Local Plans 80

Social Rented Housing:

Regulation 81

Supported Housing: Learning

Disability 81

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 82

Bangladesh: Overseas Aid 82

Bangladesh: Rohingya 83

Department for International

Development: Social Media 84

Developing Countries: Brexit 85

Developing Countries: Nature

Conservation 85

Israel: Palestinians 86

Yemen: Overseas Aid 86

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 87

Department for International

Trade: Contracts 87

Overseas Trade 87

Trade Promotion 88

UK Trade with EU: Exports 90

JUSTICE 90

Bedford Prison 90

Bedford Prison: Prisoners'

Release 91

Companies: Fraud 91

Employment Tribunals

Service: Appeals 91

European Convention On

Human Rights 92

Prisons: Reviews 92

Prosecutions: Greater London 92

Risley Prison: Staff 93

Sexual Offences: Bristol 93

Young Offenders: Greater

London 94

Youth Justice 94

NORTHERN IRELAND 95

British Irish Council 95

PRIME MINISTER 95

Members: Correspondence 95

TRANSPORT 96

Bus Services: Greater

Manchester 96

Bus Services: South Yorkshire 96

Crossrail 97

Dangerous Driving 97

Department for Transport:

Public Expenditure 98

Driving Instruction 99

Driving: Licensing 99

Electric Vehicles 100

Food: Transport 101

High Speed 2 Railway Line 102

Hospitals: Parking 102

London-Brighton Railway Line:

Fares 103

Public Transport: Disability 103

Railways: Compensation 104

Railways: Disability 104

Railways: Pay 104

Roads: Repairs and

Maintenance 105

TREASURY 105

Capital Gains Tax 105

Competition and Markets

Authority: Finance 106

Employment: Taxation 107

Help to Buy Scheme:

Oxfordshire 107

Insurance Premium Tax:

Public Sector 108

Mortgages: EU Law 108

Personal Pensions: Tax

Allowances 108

Police: Pensions 109

Private Rented Housing:

Stamp Duty Land Tax 110

Revenue and Customs:

Offices 110

Taxation (International and

Other Provisions) Act 2010 110

Taxation: EU Law 111

WALES 111

Ports: Wales 111

Wales Office: Contracts 111

WORK AND PENSIONS 112

Department for Work and

Pensions: Interserve 112

Disability Living Allowance:

Appeals 112

Employment and Support

Allowance: Arrears 113

Employment and Support

Allowance: Maladministration 113

Employment: Disability 113

Maternity Allowance: Universal

Credit 114

National Insurance

Contributions 115

Paternity Pay: Self-employed 115

Personal Independence

Payment: Appeals 116


Payment: Hearing Impairment 116


Payment: Multiple Sclerosis 118

Poverty 119

Social Security Benefits:

Forms 119


Immigrants 120


Medical Examinations 120

Universal Credit 121

Universal Credit: Housing 123

Universal Credit: Liverpool

Riverside 123

Universal Credit: Mental

Illness 124

Universal Credit: Nottingham 124

Universal Credit: Preston 124

Universal Credit: Terminal

Illnesses 125

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 127

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 127

Dementia: Health Services 127

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 128

DEFENCE 128

Call-Out Order to Support Air

Policing Operations 128

HOME OFFICE 128 Opt-in Decision on the

Proposal of the European

Parliament and the Council on

European Production Orders

and European Preservation

Orders for cross-border

access to electronic evidence

in criminal matters 128

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

Business: Human Rights

Jo Swinson: [180125]

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

on business and human rights his Department has funded in each of the last five years;

and what the total spend of each such project was in each of those years.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The UK’s National Action Plan to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on

Business and Human Rights sets out a rolling programme of actions requiring both

legislative and non-legislative approaches. The Department has funded one project in

the last five years. The Department matched funding from the Dutch Government

toward the development of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, a private sector-

led initiative that ranks some of the world’s largest companies by their human rights

policies, processes, and practices. The total spend on this project from UK

Government was £60,000 in 2014/15 and £20,000 in 2015/16.

Clothing: Manufacturing Industries

Stephen Timms: [180080]

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

discussions his Department has had with fashion brands and businesses based in

Europe on their concerns on accessing the UK after March 2019.

Kelly Tolhurst:

This Department engages regularly with UK based businesses across a range of

sectors, including fashion brands and businesses, many of whom also have a

European base, and we understand the concerns of these businesses about retaining

frictionless trade.

This is why Government has been clear that the best outcome is for the UK to leave

the EU with a deal and why, following months of intensive work and detailed

discussions, we proposed a third option for our future economic relationship, based

on the frictionless trade in goods.

At March European Council, the UK and EU agreed that during the implementation

period, the UK would be treated as a Member State for the purposes of international

agreements, including trade agreements.

This provides certainty and confidence that there will be no disruption to existing

relationships underpinned by international agreements as we move into the

Implementation Period.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-16/180125


Conditions of Employment: EU Law

Jon Trickett: [180641]

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

Cabinet has held discussions on removing worker's rights that derive from EU law after

the UK has left the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst:

This Government has committed not to roll back workers’ rights when we leave the

European Union (EU). This commitment stands regardless of whether there is a

Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU or not, and irrespective of where

the rights originated. The EU (Withdrawal) Act ensures that existing rights are

retained in UK law when the UK leaves the EU.

We are committed to ensuring everyone is treated fairly at work. In order to ensure

our legal framework keeps pace with the changing world of work, and workers have

access to the rights they deserve, the Prime Minister commissioned Matthew Taylor

to carry out an independent review of modern working practices in the UK. We

responded to the review in February 2018, committing to firm action and future

legislation and launched four consultations on the detail. We are currently considering

the responses and will respond in due course.

Consumers: Dispute Resolution

Martyn Day: [180258]

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

to the April 2018 Green Paper on Modernising Consumer Markets, if he will make an

assessment of the potential merits of the mandatory participation in alternative dispute

resolution being extended to cover non-regulated markets.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government is making such an assessment as part of its review of the system of

alternative dispute resolution. The Modernising Consumer Markets Green Paper

asked for views on whether there should be an automatic right for consumers to

access alternative dispute resolution in sectors with the highest levels of consumer

harm.

Consumers: Subscriptions



to the April 2018 Green Paper on Modernising Consumer Markets, what estimate he has

made of the annual cost to consumers who fail to cancel subscriptions following initial

free trials; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government has not estimated the annual cost to consumers of unwanted

subscriptions.




The Government is committed to tackling the problem of subscription traps and has

asked Citizens Advice to lead work on behalf of the Consumer Protection Partnership

to recommend any actions needed to prevent consumers paying for unwanted

subscriptions.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: [180218]

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

change has been to his Department's budget in real terms in each year since 2010; and

what the projected real terms changes are for each year to 2022.

Richard Harrington:

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was created in

July 2016, so its first full year budget was for the financial year 2017/18.

BEIS budgets decreased in real terms by 3.8% between 2017/18 and 2018/19.

BEIS budgets are projected to increase in real terms by 4.9% between 2018/19 and

2019/20. (2019/20 budgets are yet to be approved by Parliament so may be subject

to change.)

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has confirmed that there will be

a Spending Review in 2019 which will set planned departmental budgets beyond

2019/20.

Note: “BEIS budgets” refers to total Departmental Expenditure Limits, excluding

depreciation, taken from the Autumn Budget 2017 publication.

Ford Motor Company: Engines

Gill Furniss: [180279]


to faulty engines of the Ford Ecoboost, what steps the Office of Product Safety and

Standards plans to take to support both the recall of that vehicle and consumers that

have been affected.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Office for Product Safety and Standards was established in January 2018 to

further improve the UK’s leading product safety system. It covers general consumer

product safety, but not vehicles, food, medicines, medical devices, construction

products or workplace equipment which are all covered by separate bodies.

The Department of Transport has policy responsibility for vehicle safety and the

Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, an executive agency of the Department for

Transport, is responsible for automotive safety defect and recall matters.



Fracking: Climate Change and Environment

Paul Blomfield: [179204]

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

assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) the ability of the Government to

meet its climate change targets and (b) the environment of reducing regulations on shale

gas extraction; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry:

The Government is firmly committed to meeting its ambitious climate change targets

and contributing to the global effort to tackle climate change through the Paris

Agreement.

Shale gas has the potential to be a home-grown energy source which can lead to

jobs and economic growth, contribute to our security of supply, and be compatible

with our climate change objectives.

Pursuant to my response to Question 175969, there are no plans to reduce the

robust regulations for shale gas extraction - we have been clear that shale gas

development must be safe and environmentally sound.

Post Offices: Franchises

Gill Furniss: [180280]

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

money from the public purse has been spent on the Post Office franchising programme

since 2013.

Kelly Tolhurst:

Government has invested over £2 billion in the Post Office since 2010. Funding has

been split between subsidy funding to support branches that are not economically

viable and investment funding to modernise the post office, including transforming

branches and franchising some directly managed branches. The split for the current

funding package between April 2018 to March 2021 is £210 million in investment

funding and £160 million in subsidy.

While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the

company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent

business. Thus, the precise allocation of funding to different programmes is an

operational matter for Post Office Limited and is reported in their annual report and

accounts which can be found on their website at http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/.

Shops: Urban Areas

Mr Gregory Campbell: [180111]

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

an assessment of potential changes to the level of high street retailing in the next five

years.


https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/175969/

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/175969/


http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/

http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/


Kelly Tolhurst:

This Government recognises that High Street retailing is evolving, but high streets

remain a crucial part of our local and regional economies, creating jobs, nurturing

small businesses and injecting billions of pounds into our economy.

Under current assessments, the majority of employment remains in high street retail.

95% of retail jobs related to traditional retailers in 2017, with 5% of jobs accounted for

by online only retailers.

To make assessments of potential changes, we have assembled an industry led

expert panel focusing on what consumers and local communities want from their high

streets of the future. In conjunction with the expert panel, evidence sessions are also

being held across the country. We want to know what the public, and young people in

particular, want from their high streets of the future. The responses will be considered

by the expert panel and help to inform their recommendations.

Trading Standards: Finance


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

Government will provide additional funding to National Trading Standards and Trading

Standards Scotland.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department has provided a single enforcement grant of £12,961,000 to National

Trading Standards and of £1,215,000 to Trading Standards Scotland for financial

year 2018/19. We keep the funding needs of both organisations under constant

review.

CABINET OFFICE

Absent Voting


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will undertake a review of the (a) reasons

and (b) extent of increases in postal and proxy vote applications in constituencies in (i)

Northern Ireland and (ii) England in advance of any changes required to the system for

such applications for the next General Election.

Chloe Smith:

The Government will continue to keep electoral legislation, for all non-devolved polls,

under review and consider what changes, if any, may be required before the next

General Election.

The Government has no plans to undertake such a review. Relevant to postal and

proxy working more generally, the Government responded to the Review in

December 2016, addressing each of the concerns raised in turn, setting out a number

of measures for tackling the risk of fraud. The Government is considering the way



forward on the recommendations made by Sir Eric Pickles, a number of which relate

to absent voting, and will continue to consider how to improve the integrity of electoral

processes more generally.

Changes to electoral law in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Secretary of State

for Northern Ireland.

Crown Commercial Service: Keir


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings the Crown Commercial

Service has had with Kier in the last 12 months.

Oliver Dowden:

This is information is not held centrally. However, I can confirm that Kier attended a

Buildings Strategic Category stakeholder engagement event with officials in the last

twelve months.

Employment: Learning Disability

Vicky Foxcroft: [179257]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the

number of people with learning disabilities who have been in (a) full-time and (b) part-time

employment in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.

I have asked the Authority to reply.

Attachments:

1. UKSA response [PQ179257 Vicky Foxcroft MP.pdf]

Keir


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions his Department has

had with Keir on that company's financial sustainability.

Oliver Dowden:

Cabinet Office officials are in regular contact with the largest suppliers to government

in the normal course of business. Discussions cover a range of issues including

contract and financial performance.

Keir: Contracts


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the total value

of Government contracts held by the construction firm Keir.





Oliver Dowden:

Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details

of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Russia: Subversion

Tom Watson: [177631]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any unsuccessful attempts have been

made by Russia to interfere in the UK's democratic processes in the last three years.

Tom Watson: [177632]

To ask the Cabinet Office, whether any indirect attempts have been made by Russia to

interfere in the UK's democratic processes in each of the last three years.

Mr David Lidington:

The Government has said previously that we have not seen evidence of successful

foreign

interference in UK elections and we take any allegations of interference in UK

democratic

processes by a foreign government extremely seriously. That remains the case. We

know

that certain states routinely use disinformation and other means as a foreign policy

tool,

and have seen evidence of this happening elsewhere. It should therefore not surprise

us

that they might try to influence democratic processes in the UK.

Temporary Employment: North East

Julie Elliott: [179209]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed in the North

East (a) on zero-hour contracts and (b) in non-permanent jobs.

Chloe Smith:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.

I have asked the Authority to reply.

Attachments:

1. UKSA response [PQ179209 Julie Elliott MP.pdf]




CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Housing Estates: Sales

Frank Field: [175982]

To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners,

which housing estates (a) in the Greater London area and (b) elsewhere have been sold

by the Church Commissioners; and whether guarantees were sought that those estates

would remain in social housing ownership.

Dame Caroline Spelman:

[Holding answer 11 October 2018]: In 2005 and 2006 following careful consideration

the Church Commissioners took the decision to sell what were known as the Octavia

Hill Estates, comprising approximately 1,580 flats and houses within the Greater

London area.

The sales, to a joint venture between Grainger plc and Genesis Housing Group, were

subject to the residents’ leases, and the rights and obligations contained in these

remained. A commitment was made to engage with residents’ associations and to

keep in touch with tenants as the sales progressed to keep them fully informed.

Some tenants had the right to purchase their properties and this was communicated

to the qualifying tenants.

In 1985 the Church Commissioners took the decision to sell their residential property

holdings in Brixton to a housing association. According to the records of the

Commissioners covenants were not placed on these properties and to the best of

knowledge these properties are still owned by a housing association.

The Church Commissioners are not and have never been a social housing provider

and have a statutory duty to deliver the best possible return on their investments to

fund the work and mission of the Church of England across the country. The Church

Commissioners continue to provide new housing across the country where they have

land holdings and affordable housing is a key part of that provision.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Sir David Evennett: [907176]

What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for members of the armed

forces and veterans.

Mark Lancaster:

The Ministry of Defence works with a range of partners to ensure that serving

personnel and veterans receive the mental health support they need. Last year we

published a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy setting out measures to

further improve the mental health of the Armed Forces. Earlier this year we



commissioned a new 24/7 Mental Health Helpline for serving personnel and their

families from Combat Stress, linking into its existing service for veterans.

Arms Trade: Exports

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [180282]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to

Question 176572 on Arms trade: exports, what estimate he has made of the number of

UK jobs that depend (a) directly and (b) indirectly on arms exports.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information.

Army: Cadets


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army Cadets there were in each

year between 2007 and 2017.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence publishes official statistics on Cadet strengths. The number

of Army Cadets as at 1 April each year between 2007 and 2017 can be found in the

publications below.

2007-2016 (Excel Spreadsheet - Table 1, Row 27)

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-2016

2017 (Excel Spreadsheet - Table 1, Cell M34)


Autonomous Weapons


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

the possible guiding principles set out in the final report of the 2018 Group of

Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous

weapons.

Stuart Andrew:

Her Majesty's Government welcomes the Chair's summary of possible guiding

principles in the field of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). These

principles mark a move towards international consensus on the key considerations in

the LAWS debate, and will provide a useful basis for further discussions as the Group

of Governmental Experts (GGE) continues its work next year.




Defence: Scotland

Ged Killen: [907182]

What estimate he has made of the change in real terms defence spending in Scotland

since 2010.

Stuart Andrew:

Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure with Scottish industry has increased in real

terms from £1.372 billion in 2013-14 to £1.592 billion in 2016-17.

The number of jobs supported by MOD expenditure with industry in Scotland

currently stands at 10,500, and this has increased every year since 2013.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark

Luke Pollard: [178537]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the new out of service dates are for (a)

HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew:

The out of service dates for HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark remain 2033 and 2034

respectively.

Ministry of Defence: Written Questions

Deidre Brock: [180221]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish an substantive

Answer to Questions 142890 and 142899, on Clyde Naval Base: Submarines, tabled on

10 May 2018 by the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith.

Stuart Andrew:

The work to retrieve and assess the data to provide a substantive answer to the hon.

Member's questions is still ongoing. Once the process is complete I will provide a

response, placing a copy in the Library of the House.

Navy: Cadets


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Cadets there were in each

year between 2007 and 2017.

Mark Lancaster:

The Ministry of Defence publishes official statistics on Cadet strengths. The number

of Sea Cadets as at 1 April each year between 2007 and 2017 can be found in the

publications below.

2007-2016






2017


Royal Military Academy: Foreign Nationals

Layla Moran: [180289]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many foreign nationals received training

at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in each year between 2005 and 2017.

Mark Lancaster:

The table below shows the number of International Cadets who attended the Royal

Military Academy Sandhurst in each financial year (FY) between 2005 and 2017. This

includes attendees on the Regular Commissioning Course, Commissioning Course

Short (Reserves) and the International Trainer Development Course.

FY

2005-

06

2006-

07

2007-

08

2008-

09

2009-

10

2010-

11

2011-

12

2012-

13

2013-

14

2014-

15

2015-

16

2016-

17

2017-

18

Int.

Cdts

70 60 70 70 70 70 60 70 70 70 110 90 110

Notes:

These figures are single service estimates and are not official statistics produced

by Defence Statistics.

Commissioning Course Short data prior to Financial Year 2006-07 is not available.

Figures have been rounded to 10 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality;

numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent

systematic bias. “-” denotes zero or rounded to zero.

Treasury: Public Expenditure

Sir Henry Bellingham: [907169]

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

Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future funding of his Department.

Gavin Williamson:

I have regular discussions with the Chancellor.

This Government is committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defence and the

Ministry of Defence’s budget will rise at least 0.5% above inflation every year of this

Parliament, taking it to almost £40 billion by 2021.



Warships: Procurement

John Spellar: [907175]

What priority his Department accords to the preservation of UK shipbuilding capacity

when awarding contracts to build the fleet solid support ships.

Stuart Andrew:

The Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy was clear that for reasons of

national security warships must be built in the UK.

Fleet solid support ships do not fall under the National Shipbuilding Strategy definition

of a warship. All non-Warships are procured through international competition to

secure best value for money.

We have encouraged UK shipyards to participate in the competition and have been

pleased with the positive engagement so far.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts and Design: Trade Promotion

Stephanie Peacock: [R] [178521]

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

Department is taking to promote the arts and fashion industry to emerging markets.

Margot James:

Ministers regularly undertake international visits to emerging markets as well as

meeting incoming delegations from these countries to promote the UK's art and

fashion industries.

As part of the Creative Industries Sector Deal, the government has established an

industry-led Trade and Investment Board, comprising members from across the

creative industries - including the fashion and design industries - which will oversee

development and delivery of an export strategy with ambitious targets. The Board’s

trade activities have been supported by at least £4m this financial year.

DCMS also works very closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the

British Council, the Department for International Trade and the GREAT campaign,

both in London and throughout the global network of British Embassies, to ensure the

arts, fashion and all other cultural and creative industries are fully integrated into the

UK Government's wider trade and promotion activities in emerging markets around

the world.

Boxing: Northern Ireland

Gavin Robinson: [180212]

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

taking to support boxers from Northern Ireland in representing boxing for (a) Northern

Ireland and (b) the UK.




Tracey Crouch:

Athletes in Northern Ireland have the choice as to whether they wish to represent the

UK or Ireland in their given sport. However, at times this will be subject to the

overarching rules applied by the individual Governing bodies of the sport. Eligibility

and selection for international competition remain matters for the relevant sports

authorities.

Broadband


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

Answer of 13 September 2018 to Question 172405 on Broadband, when he plans to

discuss with BT and Ofcom how transparency measures might be introduced.

Margot James:

Discussions with Openreach and Ofcom about greater transparency of build plans

have started and are ongoing.

Internet: Wales

Chris Ruane: [180105]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the 100 wards in

Wales were with the lowest proportion of people who had not accessed internet services

within the last 6 months in each of the last 3 years.

Margot James:

My department does not hold the information requested.

Northern Ireland Boxing Association

Gavin Robinson: [180211]

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

Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that the Northern Ireland Boxing

Association are included as a constituent part of GB Boxing; and what support the

Government can provide for the Northern Ireland Boxing Association's application to join

The International Boxing Association.

Tracey Crouch:

I refer the Honourable Member to my response to PQ 179240 on 18th October.

Vasilijs Melniks

Chi Onwurah: [180723]

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

Commission undertook due diligence on Vasilijs Melniks before granting a licence to the

Park Lane Casino in London.





Tracey Crouch:

The Gambling Commission has advised me that it undertook enhanced and

significant due diligence in relation to Mr Melnik’s Park Lane Club casino licence

application in 2014. Based on the result of those checks it was satisfied as to his

suitability to be associated with the licence. The Gambling Commission is currently

reviewing Silverbond’s (Park Lane Casino’s) licence to provide gambling in Britain.

Details of the Commission’s processes may be found at the following links:

https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/for-gambling-businesses/Apply-for-a-

licence/What-you-need-to-send-us-when-you-apply-for-an-operating-licence-medium-

to-large-businesses.aspx

https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Statement-of-principles-for-licensing-

and-regulation.pdf

https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/Regulatory-

action/Review-a-licence.aspx

EDUCATION

Apprentices: Taxation

Catherine McKinnell: [180191]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, a) what estimate he has made of the amount

of unspent funds in employers’ accounts under the Apprenticeship Levy; for what reasons

those funds remain unspent; and whether he has plans to extend the period of time within

which levy-paying employers can use those funds.

Anne Milton:

At the end of September, the total balance of employers’ Apprenticeship Service

accounts was £2.7 billion, which includes government top-ups. This will change as

payments are made in and out of apprenticeship service accounts. Some of these

funds are already committed.

The apprenticeships programme (and therefore the expenditure) is demand-led.

Employers choose which apprenticeships they want to offer, how many apprentices

they want to employ and when they want them to begin. We do not anticipate that all

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

Levy-paying employers have up to 24 months in which to spend the funds available

to them. The 24 month expiry period is designed to give employers time to develop

their apprenticeship programmes whilst encouraging employers to take action to

create new apprenticeship opportunities. We currently have no plans to extend the

expiry period.


Assessments: Standards

Mr Jim Cunningham: [180097]

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

requests for exam re-marking for (a) GCSE, (b) BTEC, and (c) A-Level exams by

students at (i) community and academy comprehensive schools, (ii) community and

academy grammar schools, and (iii) private schools in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb:

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I

have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write to the hon. Member and a copy

of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Children: Dyslexia

Henry Smith: [R] [179182]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to

local authorities on assessments for children who may have dyslexia.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Schools are required under the Children and Families Act (2014) to identify and

address the special educational needs (SEN) of the pupils or students they support,

and guidance is set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of

Practice. This includes arranging for appropriate tests where the school’s own

assessments indicate that this is necessary

Children: Hearing Impairment

Thelma Walker: [180286]

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

adequacy of funding available to local authorities for specialist education services for deaf

children.

Nadhim Zahawi:

We want children with special educational needs and disabilities to be able to reach

their full potential.

Nationally, high needs funding has risen by £1 billion since 2013-14, to just under £6

billion in 2018-19. Allocations for individual local authorities can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-

2019.

However, we recognise that costs have increased which is why we are providing

extensive support to schools to deliver the best value possible with available

resources. This includes a high needs benchmarking tool to allow local authorities to

compare their spending in this area.

We are monitoring the impact of our national funding formula on high needs and are

keeping the overall level of funding under review.




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019



Free School Meals: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: [180172]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many recipients of free school meals

there have been in Liverpool in each of the last 10 years.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is published at the

annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-

january-2018.

For 2018, the number and percentage of pupils eligible for and claiming free school

meals by local authority can be found in Tables 8a to 8e, in the Schools pupils and

their characteristics 2018 - LA tables of the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their

characteristics: January 2018’ statistical release.

Information for earlier years (from 2008 onwards) can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

Freedom and Autonomy for Schools National Association: Electronic Government


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the speech entitled Damian

Hinds speech at Confederation of School Trusts conference, published by his

Department on 11 October 2018, for what reasons parts of that speech have been

redacted on the gov.uk website; and who took the decision to redact sections of that

speech.

Nadhim Zahawi:

In line with the Government Communications Service propriety guidance, published

by the Cabinet Office and based on the Civil Service Code, the Department for

Education redacted political content from the version published on GOV.UK. The

guidance is available at:

https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Government-

Communication-Propriety-Guidance-Feb-16-1.pdf.

The speech by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is available on GOV.UK at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/damian-hinds-speech-at-confederation-of-

school-trusts-conference.

GCE A-level


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

Level results in (a) Coventry South, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England

in the last five years.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers


https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Government-Communication-Propriety-Guidance-Feb-16-1.pdf



https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/damian-hinds-speech-at-confederation-of-school-trusts-conference




Nick Gibb:

The Department publishes pupil attainment data through a number of headline

measures for each local authority and region of England; these figures can be

compared to the national (England) average for all pupils.

The headline measures for 16-18 study for each local authority and region in England

for the academic years 2009/10 – 2017/18 are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-attainment-at-19-years.[1]

Due to A and AS Level reforms and changes to headline measures (including

methodological changes), the available figures are only directly comparable between

2009/10 – 2014/15 and 2015/16 – 2017/18.

The last five years’ figures for A Level results for England, the West Midlands region,

and Coventry Local Authority are summarised in the tables attached. Constituency

level information is not published for 16-18 performance measures.

[1] For each year, select the ‘revised’ publication and then open the ‘Local authority

tables’. For 2015/16 - 2016/17 the headline attainment measures are the average

point score (APS) per entry and APS per entry expressed as a grade for each

qualification type. These can be found in table ‘9a all’ (2017/18); table ‘9a all’

(2016/17); table 9a (2015/16); table 12c (2014/15); table 12a (2012/13 - 2013/14);

table 9a (2011/12); table 10 (2010/11); table 9 (2009/10).

Attachments:

1. 180634_a_level_results_england_w_midlands_coventry

[180634_a_level_results_england_w_midlands_coventry.pdf]

IGCSE

Lucy Powell: [180739]

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

entries were taken in (a) state-funded schools (b) independent schools in 2018.

Nick Gibb:

The number and proportion of international GCSE entries in state-funded schools and

independent schools in 2017/18 is provided below:

INSTITUTION TYPE

NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL GCSE

ENTRIES

% OF ALL

INTERNATIONAL

GCSES

State-funded 7,824 23%

Independent 26,024 76%

Other (e.g. Pupil Referral Units and

Alternative Provision)

337 1%

All schools 34,185

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-attainment-at-19-years

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-attainment-at-19-years


For pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2018, the number and proportion of entries in

approved international GCSEs, which count in the departments’ school and college

performance tables, is provided below:

INSTITUTION TYPE

NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL GCSE

ENTRIES

% OF ALL

INTERNATIONAL

GCSES

State-funded 5,782 76%

Independent 1,848 24%

Other (e.g. Pupil Referral Units and

Alternative Provision)

21 0%

All schools 7,651

Local Government: Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: [180183]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September

2018 to Question 173578 on Local Government: Private Finance Initiative, how much

funding his Department has allocated in the form of private finance initiative (a) grants

and (b) credits to each local authority in each financial year since 2010.

Nick Gibb:

Since 2010, the Department has not allocated any new funding to local authorities for

Private Finance Initiative projects.

Schools: Greater London

Clive Efford: [179078]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has been made of the cost of

relocating flood defences to enable a school to be built on the Bowring sports ground

SE12; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi:

As is usual when developing proposals for a new free school, the department has

undertaken various site surveys and consultations. This has informed the

development of the design and provided an estimate of construction costs for the

proposed new school. In this case, this includes investigating options and obtaining

estimated costs to relocate part of the existing flood defences at the former Bowring

Sports Ground.

At this stage, the estimated cost to relocate the existing flood defences is

approximately £604,000. The proposals remain, however, subject to obtaining

planning permission and the procurement of a building contractor. As such, this figure



will be subject to further refinement as the plans are developed. When planning

approval is achieved, the department will procure a contractor to construct the new

school, and construction costs will be agreed at that time.

Secondary Education: Pupil Exclusions


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

of trends in the level of fixed-period exclusions in secondary schools in (a) the North East

of England and (b) England.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) exclusions and (b) instances

of off-rolling in school year (a) ten and (b) eleven there were in the North East of England

in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb:

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

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

period exclusions. The full release is available here:

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

england-2016-to-2017.[1]

The attached table provides the number of exclusions in the North East of England in

national curriculum years 10 and 11 for academic years 2010/11 to 2016/17.

The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of pupils taken off

roll. Local authorities have a duty to make arrangements to establish the identities of

children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered pupils at a

school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise.

The law is clear that a pupil’s name can only be deleted from the admission register

on the grounds prescribed in regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration)

(England) Regulations 2006 as amended.

If a school removes a child from their roll when not at the point of a standard

transition, it must inform the local authority and set out the grounds for their action.

When removing a pupil’s name, the notification to the local authority must include: the

full name of the pupil, the full name and address of any parent with whom the pupil

normally resides, at least one telephone number of the parent, and the pupil’s future

address and destination school, if applicable.

[1] National and regional information by academic year is available in the Underlying

data section of the release, in the file ‘national_region_la_school_data_exc1617.csv’.

The data can be filtered by the columns ‘year’, ‘level’ and ‘region_name’.

Attachments:

1. 180188_180189_Exclusions_years_10_and_11

[180188_180189_Exclusions_years_10_and_11.pdf]




To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if will publish a ranked list of the reasons for

fixed-period exclusions of pupils in secondary schools in (a) the North East and (b)

England in the last two years.

Nick Gibb:

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

2016 to 2017’ includes information on the reasons for exclusions. The full release is

available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-

exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017.[1]

[1] National and regional information on reasons for exclusions by academic year by

school type is available in the underlying data section of the release, in the file

“reason_for_exclusion_exc1617.csv”. The data can be filtered by the columns “year,

“level”, “region_name” and “school_type”.

Social Work


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

Chancellor of the Exchequer on the adequacy of funding allocated to (a) Step Up to

Social Work (b) other programmes that promote diversity in the social work profession;

and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The government is committed to continuing investment in the education and training

of social workers and securing a diverse workforce representative of service users. A

further round of applications to Step Up to Social Work will launch in February next

year with up to 700 participants starting training in January 2020. The department is

also currently procuring provision of fast-track social work education in 2020 and

2021 following the successful Frontline programme. Separately, the government

supports proposals for a new graduate apprenticeship which will provide a route into

social work for a broader range of people. This is in addition to existing investment in

bursaries for social work students attending traditional university social work degree

programmes.

Special Educational Needs

Ben Bradley: [180302]

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

improve outcomes for children with special educational needs.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms introduced by the

Children and Families Act (2014) were the biggest in a generation. Since then, we

have given £391 million to local areas to support implementation of the new duties

under the act and a great deal of progress has been made with 98% of statements




transferred to education, health and care (EHC) plans, where appropriate, by April

2018.

We want to ensure that families are able to participate meaningfully in developing

local services and have a contract worth £20 million with the Council for Disabled

Children (CDC) and Contact, to improve local information, advice and support and

provide a national helpline; and a contract worth £3.8 million with Contact, in

partnership with KIDS and the CDC, to promote and develop strategic participation by

young people and parent carers.

We have in place a new contract with the Whole School SEND Consortium to embed

SEND within approaches to school improvement in order to equip the workforce to

deliver high quality teaching across all types of special educational needs. The

programme of work includes building a community of practice with the involvement of

10,000 schools by 2020 and 15,000 schools by 2022, across the eight regional

schools commissioners’ regions.

We are establishing a SEND Commissioning Board for children and young people

with high needs to help support local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups

to improve planning and commissioning of SEND provision.

We have published a roadmap for reforming alternative provision that will see us

focus on sharing best practice across the sector and launched a £4 million innovation

fund. We have also announced an externally led review of school exclusions, carried

out by former children’s minister Edward Timpson CBE, looking into why certain

groups of pupils – including those with SEND – are more likely to be excluded than

others, and launched a review into the outcomes of and support for children in need.

Finally, we have asked Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to design a

programme of further local area SEND inspections to follow the current round and to

develop an approach for further inspection or monitoring of those areas required to

produce a written statement of action. The inspections consider how effectively local

areas identify, meet the needs of and improve the outcomes of children and young

people with SEND. They have proved a catalyst for supporting local areas to improve

their services and deliver better outcomes for children and young people.

Students: Loans

Angela Rayner: [180208]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Written Statement of 10

October 2018 on Government Asset Sale, HCWS979, what book value his Department

has placed on the student loans to be sold in the second sale.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The department calculates the book value for the pool of loans for any given sale

after the sale has completed, and the fully audited number for the second sale will be

available in the 2018-2019 annual accounts.




December 2017 on Government Asset Sale, HCWS317, what estimate he has made of

what the minimum price for the sale was that would have achieved value for money

according to HM Treasury Green Book rules.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

Disclosing the minimum value is considered commercially sensitive and would put

achieving the best value for money for future sales at risk.

The approach to Sale 1, including the tests the department used to assess value for

money, was reviewed by the National Audit Office, which concluded that in terms of

preparation, process and proceeds, the government achieved value for money.

Following HM Treasury Green Book principles, the department used a range of

measures to assess that the sale offered value for money, as set out in the report that

was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 7 December 2017.



December 2017 on Government Asset Sale, HCWS317, if he will publish the full value for

money assessment undertaken in this asset sale; and what the the evidential basis was

for his Department’s conclusion that the sale represented value for money according to

HM Treasury Green Book rules.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

It is a requirement of Section 4 of the Sale of Student Loans Act (2008), that the

Secretary of State lay a report before Parliament about arrangements following a

sale, including the extent to which the arrangements give good value, within three

months of a sale. For Sale 1, this report was placed in the Libraries of both Houses

on 7 December 2017.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution by the

Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation to the hon Member for

Kettering of 11 October 2018 on Student Loan Book: Sale, Official Report, column 286, if

he will (a) publish the range of estimates for the expected proceeds of the sale and (b)

place in the Library a copy of the information shared with the hon. Member for Kettering.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The government and its advisers are continuing to refine the range of estimates for

the expected proceeds of the sale.

A report on the sale arrangements, and the extent to which they gave good value, will

be placed in the House Libraries within three months of the date of the transfer

arrangements.




Teachers: Pay

Jo Stevens: [180794]

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

of school teachers in England that are paid over £50,000 per annum.

Nick Gibb:

The proportion of full and part-time teachers in state-funded schools in England with

salaries of £50,000 or more in November 2017 is 13%.

The figures provided are available from table 9a, from the publication ‘School

Workforce in England, November 2017’. This is available at the following web link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-

2017.

Teachers: Pensions


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018

to Question 176323 on Teacher's Pensions, what proportion of the projected rise in

employer contribution costs is due to the change to the Scape discount rate.

Nick Gibb:

The Superannuation Contributions Adjusted for Past Experience (SCAPE) discount

rate is only one of a number of factors that need to be taken into account when

completing pension scheme valuations. Taken in isolation, the SCAPE rate change

from CPI+2.8% to CPI+2.4% results in an increase of around 7 percentage points on

the employer contribution rate. This is equivalent to the full projected rise in employer

contribution costs across the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The Department for Education intends to fund state-funded schools and further

education providers, but will shortly be running a public consultation to seek views

and understand better the impact of the proposed changes to inform action the

Department will take.

Teachers: West Midlands


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

headteachers in (a) Coventry South, (b) Coventry and (c) the West Midlands on schools

the increase in funding of teachers' pay as set out in the 2018 School Teachers' Review

Body report.

Nick Gibb:

Officials from the Department have met with a number of stakeholder groups when

developing the Teachers’ Pay Grant, including the National Association of Head

Teachers, the Association of School and College Leaders and the Local Government

Association.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2017





Teaching Excellence Framework Independent Review: Public Appointments

Gordon Marsden: [180102]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress he has made on appointing

the Chair of the Independent Review into the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

We have made excellent progress in appointing an independent reviewer of the

Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework and I hope to make an

announcement shortly.

Universities: Finance

Jared O'Mara: [179313]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to replace potential lost

funding for universities as a result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

We remain confident that we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the EU –

we do not want or expect a no deal scenario. It is, however, the duty of a responsible

government to continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes, including the

unlikely event of no deal. Extensive work to prepare for this scenario has been under

way for almost two years and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the

country continues to operate smoothly from the day we leave. We have now

published 106 specific technical notices – including on Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ –

to help businesses, universities, citizens and consumers prepare for a no deal

scenario.

In the event of a no deal scenario the government’s underwrite guarantee will cover

funding for successful competitive bids to Horizon 2020 submitted before exit day. In

July 2018, we extended this guarantee to cover all successful competitive bids by UK

entities to Horizon 2020 calls open to third country participation submitted between

exit day and the end of 2020. The guarantee will apply for the lifetime of qualifying

projects, even where this extends beyond 2020.

The government will cover funding for successful Erasmus+ bids from UK

organisations that are submitted while the UK is still a Member State, even if they are

not approved until after we leave. The government will need to reach agreement with

the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+ projects and is

seeking to hold these discussions with the EU. The government has also extended

the underwrite guarantee to cover the payment of awards under successful

Erasmus+ bids submitted post-March 2019 until the end of 2020. The eligibility of UK

organisations to participate in calls for bids once the UK is no longer a Member State

is subject to agreement between the EU and the UK.



University Academy Warrington

Helen Jones: [180645]

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

new provider for University Academy Warrington has (a) expertise in and (b) a track

record of raising the attainment of working class pupils; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi:

In selecting a preferred sponsor for University Academy Warrington, the Regional

Schools Commissioner for Lancashire and West Yorkshire will consider the trust’s

track record of working with pupils who have similar characteristics to those at

University Academy Warrington, alongside a range of other criteria, including the

raising of attainment.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

Daniel Kawczynski: [179169]

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

authorities are responsible for removing abandoned cars from private land.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

Local authorities’ duties in respect of abandoned vehicles stem from the Refuse

Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods &

Environment Act 2005.

The Government’s guidance on abandoned vehicles is published here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/abandoned-vehicles-council-responsibilities

Where it appears to a local authority that a vehicle in its area is abandoned, it will be

its duty to remove the vehicle. This duty applies to all land in the open air or any land

forming part of a highway. However, in respect of such vehicles that are not on the

carriageway, this duty does not apply where the costs of removing them to the

nearest convenient carriageway is unreasonably high.

It is up to councils to decide how best to meet their statutory duties in respect of

abandoned vehicles, and how to prioritise this against other local services.

Flood Control

Dan Jarvis: [R] [180729]

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

forward legislative proposals to make it mandatory for (a) utility companies and (b) the

private sector to contribute financially to flood protection when their infrastructure is at

risk.







Utility companies are responsible for the resilience of their supplies. The 2016

National Flood Resilience Review requires utility companies to develop plans for

permanently improving resilience of service provision from the most severe flood

events.

In 2019, we will update the national flood and coastal erosion risk management

strategy, looking to strengthen joint delivery across organisations. We will look at

current partnership arrangements ahead of a review of funding needs beyond 2021,

seeking to attract more non-public sector investment, and make sure all relevant

agencies are able to respond quickly and effectively to support communities if and

when flooding does occur.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

the 2018 NAO report on the financial sustainability of local authorities published by the

NAO in March 2018, what plans he has to (a) promote a sustainable means of funding

flood defences and (b) mitigate the risk that flooding presents to communities and the

economy.


The NAO report states that while local authority spending power has decreased, local

Government spending on floods has increased by 29% in real terms since 2010.

This Government is investing £2.6 billion capital to better protect the country from

flooding. £2.6 billion is a real terms increase – up from £1.7 billion in the 2010-2015

Parliament, and £1.5 billion between 2005 and 2010. Local authorities have access to

this funding for flood defence improvements on the same terms as the Environment

Agency and internal drainage boards.

Other funding for local authority needs, including for local flood management, is

provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Over this

spending period, councils will be able to access more than £200 billion to spend on

local services. The majority of this funding is non-ring-fenced as it is for local

authorities, who are independent of central Government, to manage their budgets in

line with locally determined priorities.

Fracking

Kate Hollern: [180215]

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

assessment his Department has made of the effect on the local environment of fracking.


The Environment Agency (EA) has carried out an assessment of the environmental

risks associated with hydraulic fracturing and the measures that are needed to

ensure that the local environment is protected. Based on this, the EA has developed



and published detailed guidance setting out the conditions that fracking operations

must meet.

Businesses proposing to explore for oil and gas using hydraulic fracturing require

environmental permits from the EA, which are subject to a detailed site specific

assessment. The permits set legally binding conditions on the activities and how they

are carried out to protect the local environment. They include requirements to monitor

groundwater, surface water and air quality before, during and after operations.

Greyhound Board of Great Britain

Anna Turley: [180246]

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

Department has made an assessment of adequacy of the injury and retirement data

published by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

David Rutley:

The format of the injury and retirement data published by the Greyhound Board of

Great Britain (GBGB) for the first time in March this year was requested and

approved by Defra. Alongside publication of the data, which has been independently

verified, the GBGB also made several commitments to improve the figures, which the

Government has welcomed. Defra will continue to monitor the data, and the progress

of GBGB’s commitments.

Nature Conservation: Developing Countries

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [177767]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and

what proportion of UK Overseas Development Assistance is allocated to training park

rangers for the protection of endangered species.


We cannot provide this as a percentage of Overseas Development Aid (ODA) spend,

as ODA spend varies in line with the 0.7% commitment. However through Defra’s

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund around £18.5million has been allocated to 61

projects in developing countries. Defra Challenge Fund projects focused on training

rangers are as follows:

Combatting illegal wildlife trade in the W-Arly-Pendjari landscape - ZSL

Increasing capacity for anti-poaching and enhancing human-elephant coexistence -

Tanzanian Elephant Programme

Developing elephant eco-guardians: fundamental for co-ordinated anti-

poaching/trafficking initiatives in Mali - Wild Foundation, Mali Elephant Project

Counter-Poaching Training Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa - Tusk Trust.



Pet Travel Scheme

Louise Haigh: [180250]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

the report Puppy Smuggling: When will this cruel trade end?, published by the Dogs

Trust, what steps his Department is taking to tackle abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme.

David Rutley:

Defra takes the health and welfare of dogs coming into the UK very seriously. We

share Dogs Trust’s concerns about illegal puppy trafficking, where commercial

operators have abused European Union (EU) pet travel rules to traffic underage

puppies into the UK, using falsified pet passports to conceal the animals’ true ages.

Defra has zero tolerance for this abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme. Defra has

published guidance for owners on buying a pet. This contains guidelines such as

buying from a reputable supplier and viewing the animal and its documentation, and

also highlights the trade in illegal imports. A wider public communications campaign

is also being planned.

We have increased resourcing at major UK ports. The UK carries out more checks at

the border than most other EU Member States and penalties are in place where

people are found to be breaking these rules. The Animal and Plant Health Agency

(APHA) is working in partnership with Dogs Trust, enforcement bodies and transport

carriers to identify non-compliant animals destined for Dover and Folkestone ports.

This partnership began in December 2015 and has since then resulted in over 800

puppies being seized and placed into quarantine.

Defra has also launched an intelligence-led Task Force to work on this issue. We are

working with a wide range of stakeholders (including Dogs Trust) to develop long

term solutions to the illegal puppy trade.

Defra considers it extremely important to raise the profile of this issue at an EU level.

In 2017, an EU Platform on Animal Welfare was set up, and the UK is a member of

this. It contains a specific, smaller subgroup on the dog trade. Defra considers this

subgroup to be an important initiative and our Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer will

speak at a conference on the Online Puppy Trade in Brussels in November, which is

affiliated with this subgroup.

Defra has in recent months held a consultation on a proposed ban on commercial

third party puppy and kitten sales in England. This would mean that anyone looking to

buy or adopt a puppy or kitten must either deal directly with the breeder or with one of

the nation’s many animal rehoming centres. It is hoped that this will drive up animal

welfare standards and deter those motivated to traffic puppies into the UK and sell

them on for financial gain. This consultation closed in September and is now being

reviewed.

We welcome the latest Dogs Trust report and will be reviewing the evidence it

presents to consider what further action can be taken to end the illegal puppy trade.


Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges


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

he has made of the effectiveness of the single use carrier bag charge; and whether he

has plans to expand the scheme to other single use items.


The single use carrier bag charge introduced in 2015 has seen plastic bag sales in

major supermarkets drop by 86%. This is equivalent to 19 bags per person in

2016/17 in England, compared with 140 bags each before the government introduced

the charge. It has taken 13 billion plastic bags out of circulation in the last two years

and last year alone generated over £51.6 million for charities and other good causes.

The HMT call for evidence on tackling single use plastic waste through the use of

fiscal measures or new charges closed in May. A summary of responses was

published in August ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget on 29 October.

Primates: Pets

Mr Roger Godsiff: [180094]

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

assessment of the potential merits of banning (a) the keeping of primates as pets and (b)

the sale of primates as pets.

David Rutley:

Keepers of animals including primates must provide for the welfare needs of their

animals as required by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. To assist in this regard, there is

the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Non-human Primates.

Anyone keeping a primate as a pet in a domestic setting, or otherwise causing

unnecessary suffering, would be in breach of the 2006 Act and liable to a penalty of

six months’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both. The Government has

announced that the maximum custodial penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to

an animal will rise from six months’ imprisonment to five years’ imprisonment.

As of 1 October new laws were introduced regulating the sale of pets. The new laws

provide strict minimum welfare standards for any business selling pets. In addition,

Defra has worked with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group on the development of

voluntary minimum standards for the online advertising of pets, which now include a

prohibition on the sale of primates on five of the main online advertising sites.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Bangladesh: Demonstrations

Emily Thornberry: [178486]

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

his Department holds on the number of people (a) detained and (b) charged for




involvement in recent demonstrations led by (i) students and (ii) young people in

Bangladesh on (A) reform of public-sector employment quotas and (B) road safety in that

country.

Mark Field:

There are no reliable figures for those detained and charged for their part in the

recent public sector quota reform, and road safety protests, including no official

figures. Media reporting in Bangladesh on the public-sector quota reform protests,

indicated 30 students were arrested then granted bail during court hearings held in

August. Media reporting in Bangladesh of the road-safety protests quoted a Dhaka

Metropolitan Police spokesperson on 15 August that there had been 97 arrests.

I was deeply concerned by the violence we saw in Dhaka in response to road safety

protests and by the action taken against those peacefully protesting against the

public sector quota system. In a statement on 7 August, the British High

Commissioner to Bangladesh, Alison Blake, together with other EU Heads of Mission,

was clear that the Government of Bangladesh should investigate incidents of unlawful

or disproportionate violence against road safety protestors and journalists and hold

the perpetrators to account. Subsequently, Joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office

and Department for International Development Minister Alistair Burt expressed our

concern regarding the response to the road safety protests with the Government of

Bangladesh, during his visit to Bangladesh from 28-31 August.

Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office. We raised freedom of expression as a key concern in

Bangladesh during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review and we

continue to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to work with Bangladeshi Civil

Society to address their concerns regarding freedom of expression.

Bangladesh: Elections


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

Government has plans to provide election observers to monitor the conduct of the

forthcoming general election in Bangladesh; and what recent discussions he has had with

his counterparts in other EU members states on the potential deployment of an EU

Election Monitoring Mission to Bangladesh in advance of those elections.

Mark Field:

The UK supports election monitoring in Bangladesh through a Department for

International Development project that funds domestic observers to monitor the

political environment around elections, including observation of sub-national

elections. This project will also provide local observers to monitor conduct on the day

of the general election. The UK has consistently advocated for an EU election

observation mission to Bangladesh.

I want to see a general election in Bangladesh that is free, fair and inclusive and I

encourage the Government of Bangladesh and the main opposition parties to engage


in an effective dialogue to lay the groundwork for this. The Foreign Secretary made

these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at

UNGA. I made these points to the senior Bangladeshi interlocutors, including the

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and senior members of the

opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, during my visit to Bangladesh

from 29 June to 1 July.

Bangladesh: War Crimes


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

his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) proportion of cases heard by the

International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh that have resulted in (i) convictions and (ii)

acquittals.

Mark Field:

There are no reliable figures on the number of cases heard by the International

Crimes Tribunal, and the proportion of those being convicted or acquitted. Foreign

and Commonwealth records indicate there have been 18 verdicts delivered since

2013, all convictions. Six executions have taken place as a result of these

convictions, though the number of death penalties handed down is higher, with some

of those convicted having absconded. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has

consistently opposed the use of the death penalty in Bangladesh.

Benin: Elections


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

representations he has made to his Benin counterpart on the imposition of a law in that

country requiring any (a) candidate and (b) party wishing to stand in its parliamentary

elections to pay an upfront fee equivalent to £340,000.

Harriett Baldwin:

The British Government has not made representations to the Government of Benin

regarding the new electoral law passed on 3 September 2019. The British

Government nevertheless continues to encourage Benin to continue to reform its

electoral processes in advance of the 2019 parliamentary elections in order to further

safeguard and consolidate the country's positive democratic progress.

Cameroon: Elections


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

he has made of how (a) free and (b) fair the elections in Cameroon were on 7 October

2018.




Harriett Baldwin:

The African Union's Election Observation Mission found that the elections were

conducted in a relatively orderly manner in most of the country but violence affected

polling in the Anglophone regions. I was concerned by reports of violence and

casualties on polling day in Anglophone regions and by how difficult it was for citizens

to vote there. I called on all parties to follow proper procedure for tallying results and

exercise restraint.

Cameroon: Violence



he has made of the accuracy of reports of the escalation of violence in the Anglophone

regions of Cameroon; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin:

We are aware of reports of increase in violence in the Anglophone region, especially

in the lead up to the Presidential elections which took place on 7 October. The

situation there is such that it is difficult to obtain an accurate account of what is

happening or verify social media reports. We continue to engage with the

Government of Cameroon on this and wider issues and deliver the message that we

want to see an end to violence and a meaningful process to address the core issues

in the Anglophone region of Cameroon. We will also continue to underline that all

parties have a responsibility to work for peace and stability and to use only legal and

peaceful means to voice grievances.

China: Organs


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

representations to his Chinese counterpart on a reported increase in forced organ

harvesting.

Mark Field:

We are aware of reports that suggest a process of involuntary organ removal may be

taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are

being specifically targeted. The UK government fully supports the Declaration of

Istanbul (May 2008), which encourages all countries to draw up legal and

professional frameworks to govern organ donation and transplantation activities.

As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Europe and the Americas, Sir

Alan Duncan, stated in a Westminster Hall debate on 11 October 2016: “Although I

do not doubt the need to maintain close scrutiny of organ transplant practices in

China, we believe that the evidence base is not sufficiently strong to substantiate

claims about the systematic harvesting of organs from minority groups. Indeed,

based on all the evidence available to us, we cannot conclude that this practice of

“organ harvesting” is definitely happening in China.”



Conservative Party: Conferences


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

representations his Department has received since his reference to the Soviet Union

when speaking about the EU at the Conservative party conference on 30 September

2018.

Sir Alan Duncan:

None.

Human Rights

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [179149]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is

taking to (a) support and (b) protect human rights defenders in the UK’s human rights

priority countries.

Mark Field:

In November 2017 the then Foreign Secretary issued a revised version of the UK

Guidelines on Working with Human Rights Defenders to the diplomatic network,

giving it advice on how best to support human rights defenders. Depending on the

local context, this might involve making public statements, attending trials, or working

privately with the host government. In addition, posts in all Human Rights Priority

Countries are required to have a Human Rights Strategy which includes working with

human rights defenders. Funding for projects through the Magna Carta Fund further

supports the work of the diplomatic network in supporting human rights defenders.

Working at the multilateral level, in November 2017 we helped secure consensus on

the UN General Assembly Resolution on Human Rights Defenders to support and

protect human rights defenders.

Human Rights: Business


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which projects on

business and human rights his Department has funded in each of the last five years; and

what the total spend of each such project was in each of those years.

Mark Field:

For the 2018-19 financial year, the department intends to spend through the Magna

Carta Fund a total of £107,000 supporting business and human rights projects.

Information for projects relating to business and human rights in previous financial

years is not readily available; we will write to the Hon Member in due course.




India: Prisoners


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

representations to his Indian counterpart on the seven Indians in the Orissa region who

have been in prison on murder charges for 10 years awaiting an appeal hearing.

Mark Field:

Our close relationship with the Government of India means we discuss a wide range

of matters, including religious tolerance and minority rights. However, we are unable

to intervene in Indian legal proceedings. An appeal hearing remains at the

prerogative of the Indian authorities.

Israel: Bedouin

Paula Sherriff: [180244]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral

contribution by the Minister for the Middle East of 4 July 2018, Official Report, column

333, on the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, what progress he has made on the

investigation.

Alistair Burt:

My officials have looked into the matter and understand that demolitions are carried

out by private contractors on behalf of the Israeli authorities. I can assure you that the

Government is fully committed to encouraging respect for human rights among UK

businesses, including promoting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human

Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Guidelines. Where a company decides to trade is however a decision for each

company to reach. At Prime Minister’s Questions on 17 October, the Prime Minister

reiterated the UK’s strong opposition to Israel’s proposed demolition of Khan al-

Ahmar.

Libya: Human Rights


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

Department has received reports of human rights abuses perpetrated by Libyan militias

allied to the Government of National Accord.


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to

UN Security Council Resolution 1970, what recent steps the Government has taken to

support the issue of International Criminal Court warrants for the arrest of members of (a)

the Libyan National Army and (b) other armed groups in Libya.

Alistair Burt:

The UK has been clear about the need for perpetrators of human rights abuses in

Libya to be held to account, regardless of their affiliation. We have taken action in the





UN Security Council to sanction militia commanders who undermine Libya's peace

and security. We have also called clearly on all Libyan parties to co-operate fully with

the International Criminal Court, including in the case of Major Al-Werfalli. The UK co-

sponsored a resolution at the March 2018 session of the Human Rights Council

calling for greater accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in

Libya.

Libya: Politics and Government


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

assessment he has made of the feasibility of holding parliamentary and presidential

elections in Libya that are compliant with the outcome of the talks between Libyan

factions in Paris on 29 May 2018.



assessment he has made of the ability Libya to hold a free and fair referendum on that

country's draft constitution.



he has made of progress on the outcomes of talks held by representatives of local and

municipal councils (a) in Tunis in December 2017; (b) in Shahat in January 2018 and (c)

in Tripoli in March 2018.


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

made an assessment of the adequacy of the security arrangements for voters

participating in the planned constitutional referendum and elections in Libya.

Alistair Burt:

The UN Action Plan launched in September 2017 makes clear that elections and a

referendum on the country's constitution will be important milestones in Libya's

political transition. UN Special Representative to the Secretary General Ghassan

Salamé has also been clear about the need for elections to be preceded by the

necessary political, technical and security preparations, and for progress towards a

new constitutional framework that commands sufficiently broad support among

Libyans. The Libyans present in Paris in May this year set out an ambitious timetable

in relation to these objectives, but further progress is needed. Italy will host an

international conference on Libya in Sicily next month to discuss outstanding issues.

The UK is supporting the work of Libya's national and local election commissions –

including by providing £1.2 million to UN Development Programme over two years to

support fair and safe local and national elections in Libya.

Local and Municipal Councils and wider civil society will play an important role in any

sustainable solution to Libya's problems. We support the UN-led National Dialogue





process, which has brought together and consulted with a range of Libyans from

across the country; and we are encouraged by recent exchanges between municipal

representatives from east and west Libya.

Prisoners: British Nationals Abroad

Robert Halfon: [179187]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which countries

UK citizens are incarcerated in prisons.

Harriett Baldwin:

As of May 2018, we are aware of 2,325 British nationals in detention in 114 countries

abroad. This can include British nationals in immigration detention, in police custody,

on remand awaiting trial, and sentenced prisoners. The length of custodial sentence

being served by individuals ranges widely, from very short periods up to life

imprisonment.


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

has made of the average length of prison sentence of UK citizens incarcerated in prisons

outside the UK.

Harriett Baldwin:


abroad. This can include British Nationals in immigration detention, in police custody,



imprisonment.



has made of the longest prison sentence of a UK citizen currently incarcerated in a prison

outside the UK.

Harriett Baldwin:





imprisonment.



has made of the shortest prison sentence of a UK citizen incarcerated in a prison outside

the UK.





Harriett Baldwin:





imprisonment.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Chris Williamson: [180698]

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

Government received information following the inspection of Barzeh by the Organisation

for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at any time in the six months before missile

strikes were initiated against that location on 14 April 2018.

Alistair Burt:

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reports on a

monthly basis to the UN Security Council on the Syrian chemical weapons

programme. Its report of 24 November 2017 noted Syria's declaration of parts of the

Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) and the OPCW assessment that this

declaration remained incomplete. The OPCW report of 23 March 2018 reported on

the inspections at the Barzeh facility of the SSRC, and repeated the conclusion that

outstanding issues remained unresolved and the declaration remained incomplete.

Chris Williamson: [180699]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the

Answer of 17 September 2018 to Question 172062 on Syria: chemical weapons, what the

evidential basis is for his statement that the Director General of the Organisation for the

Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reported that they had been prevented from deploying

to Douma by Russia and Syria.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

(OPCW) reported in detail on 16 April and again on 18 April to the Executive Council

meeting of the OPCW about the attempted deployment of the Fact Finding Mission to

Douma. The UK is a member of the Executive Council and was represented at both

meetings. The OPCW Director General's relevant statements to the Executive

Council are available on the website of the OPCW.

USA: International Criminal Court

Richard Burden: [179090]


assessment he has made of the effect of the US Administration’s relationship with the

International Criminal Court on the work of that institution; and if he will make a

statement.




Mark Field:

On 10 September US National Security Advisor, John Bolton delivered a speech

concerning the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Preliminary Examination into the

situation of Afghanistan. On 12 September the ICC issued a statement saying it will

continue its independent and impartial work, undeterred. The UK has always been

clear that the ICC can play an important role in ending impunity for the most serious

international crimes. It has our full support in pursuing the mandate it was given

under Rome Statute.

Yemen: Armed Conflict


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

his Department has taken to support initiatives to bring an end to the conflict in Yemen.

Alistair Burt:

The Goverment remains committed to supporting the UN Special Envoy's efforts to

end the conflict in Yemen, including through diplomatic engagement with the parties

to the conflict and countries in the region. The Foreign Secretary met the foreign

ministers of the United States, United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on

27 September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Foreign

Secretary urged a renewed push for political progress and discussed how to put in

place confidence-building measures. Through the cross-government Conflict, Stability

and Security Fund, the Government is providing funding to the UN Special Envoy's

office to bolster UN capacity to facilitate the peace process.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Allergies: Medical Equipment

Jonathan Ashworth: [180734]

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

taking to increase the supply of epipens.

Steve Brine:

The Department is working very closely with all the manufacturers of adrenaline auto-

injectors, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, NHS England,

and others to try to resolve these issues and improve the situation as quickly as

possible. Supplies of adult adrenaline auto-injectors are currently available and

sufficient to meet demand. Additional supplies of junior adrenaline auto-injectors have

arrived this week and the situation is expected to improve further in the coming

weeks.



Audiology: Paediatrics

Bambos Charalambous: [180843]

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

national tariff for paediatric audiology services.

Caroline Dinenage:

There is not a distinct paediatric audiology outpatient price. However national tariffs

are available for daycase, elective and non elective care for Audiometry or Hearing

Assessments, between five and 18 year olds and Audiometry or Hearing Assessment

for four year olds and under.

James Frith: [180851]

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

has made of the number of audiologists specialising in paediatrics that will be needed up

to 2020.

Caroline Dinenage:

Data on local National Health Service plans covering the number of audiologists

specialising in paediatrics that will be needed up to 2020 is not collected centrally.

Responsibility for assessing and managing staffing levels, including specialty staff,

rests with individual NHS trusts and their boards who are best placed to decide how

many staff they need to provide a given service.

Blood: South West


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to

increase the volume of blood donations in Plymouth and the South West.

Matt Hancock:

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for the collection, manufacturing

and issuing of blood products to the National Health Service in England. NHSBT

needs to collect more than 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients in need

across England. Each donation has the potential to save or improve up to three lives.

NHSBT holds a number of national marketing campaigns throughout the year as part

of wider activity to recruit 200,000 new donors each year to replace those who can

longer donate for reasons such as illness, travel or pregnancy.

There are a number of blood donation sessions in Plymouth and the South West,

including Plymouth Blood Donor Centre which is open Monday to Friday. From 20

November there will be an increase in blood appointments on Tuesdays, from 29 to

around 110 appointments.

NHSBT regularly reviews its blood donation programme to ensure that the venues,

staff numbers and session frequency are all in place to ensure that the amount of

blood collected is sufficient to meet patient needs.




Breast Cancer: East Sussex

Peter Kyle: [180266]

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

Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of specialised nursing care for

people with secondary breast cancer in (a) East Sussex and (b) Brighton and Hove.

Steve Brine:

Service models, for the provision of specialised nursing care for people with

secondary breast cancer, are a matter for local trusts. East Sussex and Brighton and

Hove both offer excellent care for those living with a secondary breast cancer

diagnosis. East Sussex offers a well-established, integrated specialist nursing service

for all people with breast cancer. The service consists of four Macmillan Breast Care

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) clinically led by a Macmillan Nurse Consultant. They

employ an integrated service model where each CNS is equally skilled in caring for

patients with breast cancer at all stages of their care, and patients are signposted to

other group and individual support services such as their Cancer Counselling

Service. The Brighton and Sussex Cancer Centre is one of the few in the United

Kingdom which has a specifically designated metastatic breast care nurse and the

Cancer Alliance is seeking to share their experience with the rest of the region.

In the Cancer Workforce Plan for England, published in December 2017, Health

Education England (HEE) set out the case for the need to target additional training

support for several priority professions, including clinical radiology, histopathology,

oncology and diagnostic and therapeutic radiography. During HEE’s follow-up work to

phase 1 of the Cancer Workforce Plan, the cancer nurse workforce will also be

reviewed. Health Education England will support the expansion of Cancer Nurse

Specialists so that every patient has access to a CNS or other support worker by

2021. We plan to work with partners like East Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Cancer

Alliances and Macmillan to identify and develop clear career pathways into the CNS

role as part of a wider review of the contribution nurses can make to cancer.

Cattle

Mr Charles Walker: [180664]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of England's

total cattle stock slaughtered annually do not pass vet inspections for release into the

human food chain.

Steve Brine:

The proportion of total condemnations was 0.40% for cattle in Food Standard Agency

approved slaughterhouses in England.

Co-proxamol

Darren Jones: [180284]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are plans to

review guidance on the licensing and availability of co-proxamol.




Matt Hancock:

There are currently no plans to review the licensing or availability of co-proxamol.

Co-proxamol is a combination of paracetamol and dextropropoxyphene which was

licensed for the treatment of pain.

In 2004, the safety of co-proxamol was reviewed and it was concluded that the

benefits of co-proxamol did not outweigh the risks of accidental overdose and death

and that co-proxamol should be withdrawn from the market. All licences in the United

Kingdom were cancelled by the end of 2007.

This was communicated to healthcare professionals in January 2005 with reminders

in 2007 and 2011. Where possible existing patients were to be switched to alternative

pain medication and no new patients should have been prescribed co-proxamol. It

remains the case that co-proxamol is an item that should not be routinely dispensed

in primary care following NHS England guidance.

As an unlicensed medicine, co-proxamol can be prescribed on a named patient basis

if it is judged to be the most appropriate treatment by the prescribing doctor.

Dental Services


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

dental therapists to hold NHS dental contracts.

Steve Brine:

There are two forms of primary care dental contract, a General Dental Services

Contract or a Personal Dental Services Agreement. Dental therapists are able to hold

either of these providing the individual meets the general criteria set for holding such

contracts or agreements. There are no plans to change these requirements.

Diabetes: Health Education

Keith Vaz: [178468]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS patients have

been offered structured diabetes education after their diagnosis since March 2018.

Keith Vaz: [178475]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS patients over

the age of 65 have been offered (a) diabetes education and (b) dietary intervention since

March 2018.

Steve Brine:

The importance of structured education and of appropriate dietary advice and support

for people with diabetes is recognised. The National Diabetes Audit reporting

timescales mean that data for periods since March 2018 are not yet available. Due to

the time lag in allowing people a year to attend structured education, data for

education of people diagnosed in 2018 will not be published until the autumn of 2020.




Data is not collected on dietary intervention.

Keith Vaz: [178469]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS patients with

diabetes have been offered on-going nutritional advice by a registered dietitian since

March 2018.

Steve Brine:

The information requested is not centrally held.

Keith Vaz: [178470]

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

taken to encourage the take-up of dietary patterns that reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Steve Brine:

Being overweight or obese is the main modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes,

therefore, Public Health England (PHE) encourages the population to follow a healthy

balanced diet through a variety of communications including the Government’s 5 A

Day campaign, PHE’s catering guidance, the Change4Life and OneYou social

marketing campaigns and the NHS.UK website.

Following the dietary pattern advocated by the Eatwell Guide, maintaining a healthy

weight and following the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity recommendations

will help to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Keith Vaz: [178471]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his

Department holds on the number of (a) overweight and (b) obese NHS patients with type

2 diabetes that achieved weight loss of at least 15kg since their diagnosis.

Steve Brine:

The information requested is not centrally held.

Diabetes: Medical Equipment

Grahame Morris: [180697]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral

contribution by the Prime Minister on 17 October 2018, if he will publish the procedure for

a diabetic to obtain a Freestyle Libre Glucose Monitoring System through the NHS.

Steve Brine:

The Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee North, one of four NHS England

committees providing guidance on the use of drugs and devices, has issued advice

on the use of Freestyle Libre to support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs),

suggesting a careful start to its use and data collection to better understand the

benefits for patients. However, ultimately it is for CCGs, who are primarily responsible

for commissioning diabetes services, to meet the requirements of their population. In

doing so, they need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect





the needs of the local population, are based on the available evidence and take into

account national guidelines.

Diabetes: Pregnancy

Keith Vaz: [178473]

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

the number of pregnant women with diabetes that have taken 5mg of folic acid a day until

the end of the 12th week of pregnancy.

Steve Brine:

The National Pregnancy in Diabetes (NPID) Audit provides a view of the care of

women with pre-existing diabetes1 in pregnancy, and the outcomes of those

pregnancies. NPID covers pregnancies in England and Wales and measures the

effectiveness of care against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Clinical Guidelines2. In 2016, 172 antenatal diabetes services participated in the

audit.

The most recent NPID Audit in 2016 reports on the number of pregnancies where

women with diabetes took folic acid at a dose of 5mg up to the end of the twelfth

week of pregnancy and can be found in the following table.

The following table details the number of pregnancies which ended in 2016 in women

with pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and where the mother took a 5mg dose of

folic acid up to the end of the 12 th week of pregnancy.

TYPE 1 DIABETES TYPE 2 DIABETES

Total pregnancies 1,623 1,610

Number of pregnancies where

women took 5mg folic acid

679 367

Percentage of pregnancies

where women took 5mg of folic

acid

41.8 22.8

Notes:

1. NPID does not report on gestational diabetes.

2. NICE Diabetes in Pregnancy: Management of diabetes and its complications from

pre-conception to the post natal period is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/NG3




Disability: Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [178478]

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

taking to ensure the (a) availability and (b) adequacy of the health services provided to

deafblind people.

Caroline Dinenage:

NHS services must ensure that people with a sensory impairment receive information

that they can access and understand, for example braille, and professional

communication support, if they need it, to meet the Accessible Information Standard.

The Care Quality Commission, when inspecting the quality of care delivered by

providers looks at how services implement the Accessible Information Standard.

Under the Children and Families Act 2014, children and young people who are

deafblind may be eligible for special educational support, and health, education and

social care services should work together to assess and plan to deliver this. The Care

Quality Commission is inspecting all local areas over five years to assess the quality

of these local arrangements for special educational need (in addition to the routine

inspection of providers of health and social care).

Drugs


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidential basis was

for the request to pharmaceutical companies to increase stocks of medicines by six

weeks in August 2018; and what recent estimate he has made of the length of time that

there will be border disruption in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and

if he will make a statement.

Stephen Barclay:

Six weeks is the current cross-Government planning assumption that the Department

is using as the basis for our contingency plans but will of course be subject to revision

in light of future developments.

Epilepsy: Nutrition


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

of the effect of medical nutrition on the management of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Steve Brine:

The Department has made no specific assessment of the effect of medical nutrition,

also known as the ketogenic diet, on the management of drug-resistant epilepsy.

However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence sets out best practice

guidance for clinicians in ‘Epilepsies: diagnosis and management’ which is available

at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137




http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137

Exercise

Keith Vaz: [178472]

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

Department has taken to encourage people to undertake at least 150 minutes of

moderate to vigorous physical activity each week.

Steve Brine:

We are committed to promoting physical activity. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of

State for Health and Social Care recently launched Moving Medicine, which is a

practical web tool for health professionals to use with their patients and Public Health

England is working with the Royal Colleges to embed physical activity within clinical

practice so that health professionals can use routine consultations to promote

physical activity. The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers have also endorsed and

published physical activity guidelines for disabled adults to encourage them to be

active.

Female Genital Mutilation

Keith Vaz: [178462]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of female

genital mutilation have been recorded by the NHS in the last three years.

Matt Hancock:

The following table shows from April 2015 to March 2018, 16,265 individuals have

been recorded, where female genital mutilation (FGM) was identified or a procedure

for FGM was undertaken. Each patient is only counted once, no matter how many

attendances they had during the year.

Individuals, newly recorded and total attendances by quarter, April 2015 to March

2018, England

NUMBER

Year 1 Individuals 2 Newly Recorded 3 Total attendances 4

2015/16 6,185 6,185 9,335

2016/17 6,640 5,585 9,500

2017/18 6,195 4,495 9,490

Total 16,265 16,265 28,325

Source: NHS Digital

Notes:



1. Figures are based on the latest state of the database – records can be added,

removed or amended after the year end. As such, published figures may not match

previously published figures.

2. Individuals refers to all patients in the reporting period where FGM was identified or

a procedure for FGM was undertaken. Each patient is only counted once, no matter

how many attendances they had during the year.

3. Newly Recorded refers to an individual’s first appearance in the FGM dataset.

Newly recorded does not necessarily mean that the attendance is the woman or

girl’s first attendance for FGM.

General Practitioners: Liverpool


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the ratio of GPs to

patients was in each Liverpool parliamentary constituency in each of the past 10 years.

Steve Brine:

The ratio of patients per general practitioner is provided in the table attached. Figures

are not available at a parliamentary constituency level; therefore figures have been

included at the lowest available level corresponding to these areas, specifically

primary care trusts prior to 2013, and clinical commissioning groups from 2013

onwards.

Hospices: Finance

Colleen Fletcher: [180771]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much statutory funding

each Clinical Commissioning Group in England provided to hospices in each of the last

five years.

Caroline Dinenage:

This information is not held centrally. As with many NHS services, the funding and

commissioning of palliative and end of life care is a local matter, over which individual

National Health Service commissioners have responsibility.

Hospitals: Admissions


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

the number of emergency admissions to NHS trusts in England from people over 65

years of age within 28 days of discharge in each financial year from 2013-14 to 2017-18.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will estimate the number of

emergency admissions among people aged over 80 within 28 days of their discharge

from hospital by NHS trust for each calendar year from 2013 to 2018.





Stephen Barclay:

The information is not available in the format requested and could only be obtained at

disproportionate cost.

Influenza: Vaccination

Dr David Drew: [180629]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on the

provision of the FluMist flu vaccine in schools; whether take-up of that vaccine by schools

is voluntary; and what procedures his Department has put in place for parents who do not

wish their children to be immunised with that vaccine.

Steve Brine:

The take-up of Fluenz, the children's flu vaccine, is voluntary and parents are

provided with a consent form to be completed before vaccination through the schools

programme.

A child who is unable to have the live attenuated influenza vaccine, for reasons other

than being medically contraindicated, will continue to derive benefit from the

programme by virtue of the reduction of transmission among their peers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure

that GPs contact patients who are entitled to a free flu vaccination invite those patients to

be vaccinated.

Steve Brine:

The general practitioner (GP) Contract and the ‘Directed Enhanced Service

Specification; Seasonal influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination

programme 2018/19’ describes the service that GPs should offer. GPs are expected

to proactively call eligible patients for vaccination and also to recall them if they are

defined as at risk due to an underlying medical condition.

During each season, NHS England teams take all opportunities in their

communication with practices to reinforce this requirement, and Public Health

England have made available resources to encourage GPs to promote flu

vaccination.


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

eligible for free flu vaccination have received that vaccine in each of the last five years for

which figures are available.

Steve Brine:

Data on the proportion of people eligible for a free flu vaccination that have received

vaccine in each of the last five years is available in the attached table.




Attachments:

1. PQ180648 attached document [Copy of

PQ180648_VaccineUptake_Past5yearsAmended.xlsx]

Leicester General Hospital

Keith Vaz: [178463]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many services are planned

to be moved to (a) Glenfield Hospital and (b) Leicester Royal Infirmary as a result of the

downgrade of Leicester General Hospital.

Stephen Barclay:

Services planned to be transferred to Glenfield Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary

as a result of the planned changes at Leicester General Hospital are shown in the

following tables

The service changes between Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital and

Leicester Royal Infirmary are designed to ensure the best possible arrangements for

the shared use of clinical expertise and equipment. These changes are also designed

to provide care that is as integrated as possible for patients, reducing the need for

transfers between hospitals

Leicester General Hospital to Glenfield Hospital – 23 Services

ANAESTHETICS GENERAL SURGERY NEUROSURGERY SPINAL SURGERY

Chemical Pathology Geriatric Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine

Clinical Immunology Hepatobiliary and

Pancreatic Surgery

Pain Management Stroke Medicine

Dermatology Hepatology Renal Access Surgery Transplant

Endocrinology Integrated Medicine Rheumatology Urology

End Stage Renal

Failure

Nephrology Sleep

Leicester General Hospital to Leicester Royal Infirmary – 12 Services

COLORECTAL SURGERY MATERNITY SCANS

Emergency General Surgery Neonatal Intensive Care

Gynaecology Neonatology

Gynaecology Oncology Obstetrics

Haematology Rheumatology

Infectious Diseases Well Baby


Leicester General Hospital to both Glenfield Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary –

4 Services.

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Interventional Radiology

Gastroenterology

Neurology

Lung Diseases: Rehabilitation

Andrew Selous: [178476]


taking to increase access to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Steve Brine:

Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for chronic lung

disease. Respiratory care is one of the focuses of the National Health Service long-

term plan currently in development and new guidelines from the National Institute for

Health and Care Excellence are due to be published in December.

The Department supports the NHS to increase access to pulmonary rehabilitation

and improve the quality of care for people with long-term respiratory conditions

through the following actions:

- a national roll out of the RightCare programme by NHS England which directs

clinical commissioning groups to offer pulmonary rehabilitation as part of an optimal

pathway for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients;

- the COPD best practice tariff encourages NHS providers to refer patients for

pulmonary rehabilitation as a financial incentive; and

- a pulmonary rehabilitation service accreditation programme run by the Royal

College of Physicians.

Sir Kevin Barron: [180099]


taking to increase access to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Sir Kevin Barron: [180100]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the World

COPD Day on 21 November 2018, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the

NHS long-term plan includes an expansion of pulmonary rehabilitation services.




Steve Brine:

Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for chronic lung

disease. Respiratory care is one of the areas being considered as part of the National

Health Service long-term plan currently in development and new guidelines from the

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are due to be published in

December.

The Department supports the NHS to increase access to pulmonary rehabilitation

and improve the quality of care for people with long-term respiratory conditions

through the following actions:

- a national roll out of the RightCare programme by NHS England which directs

clinical commissioning groups to offer pulmonary rehabilitation as part of an optimal

pathway for COPD patients;

- the COPD best practice tariff encourages NHS providers to refer patients for

pulmonary rehabilitation as a financial incentive;

- a pulmonary rehabilitation service accreditation programme run by the Royal

College of Physicians.

Medical Equipment: UK Trade with EU



taking to ensure that tariffs are not levied on the import of EU produced medical devices

after the UK has left the EU.

Stephen Barclay:

The Government’s White Paper that was published in July 2018, 'The future

relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union', sets out the UK’s

vision for a bold, ambitious and innovative new partnership with the EU. The White

Paper makes proposals for a free trade area between the UK and EU with zero tariffs

across all goods, including medical devices and also agricultural, food and fisheries

products, with no quotas.

We continue to negotiate to secure a partnership which would allow as frictionless as

possible movement of goods between the UK and the EU, without tariffs or other

trade barriers. The Government’s White Paper is the best way to achieve this and

ensure an ambitious new partnership with the EU, whilst respecting the referendum

result and the integrity of the United Kingdom.

We remain confident that a deal can be achieved between the UK and the EU.

However, as is our duty as a responsible Government we are preparing for all

scenarios. In order to be prepared for such a scenario the Government is considering

a range of options for our future tariff regime and will carefully consider the evidence

available to us before making a final decision in the interests of UK business,

consumers and patients.


The UK has one of the strongest and most productive life sciences sectors in the

world. This Government is committed to ensuring a positive outcome for the sector,

that enhances competitiveness and builds on the success that we are rightly proud

of, as we exit the European Union. We want our deep and special partnership with

the EU to include life sciences and to ensure that patients are protected.

Mental Health


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

the effects of loneliness on physical and mental health in (a) Coventry, (b) the West

Midlands and (c) England.

Caroline Dinenage:

On Monday 15 October the Prime Minister launched England’s first Loneliness

Strategy which lays the foundation for people to build better and more meaningful

connections.

The Government is committed to working alongside businesses, healthcare

professionals, charities, community groups and local authorities to have a real and

lasting impact on loneliness and reduce its impact on physical and mental health.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People



taken to ensure that clinical commissioning groups spend funds allocated for children and

young people’s mental health services on those services.

Matt Hancock:

It is not always possible to track actual expenditure on specific services against all

funds allocated for those services. However, we can confirm that the clinical

commissioning group spend on children and young people’s mental health has

increased, rising from £516 million in 2015/16, to £619 million in 2016/17 and to £687

million in 2017/18.

NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Operational Planning and Contracting

Guidance 2017-2019 makes it clear that additional transformation funding for mental

health care made available to support the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

should “not be used to supplant existing spend or balance reductions elsewhere”.

This requirement applies to deliverables for improved children and young people’s

mental health services as well as for adult services.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph

2.16 of the National Audit Office report, Improving children and young people’s mental

health services, published on 9 October 2018, what assessment he has made of the

effect on his Department's ability to measure the expansion of NHS workforce against




sustainability and transformation plans of Health Education England not expecting to

have data on the number of NHS staff working in children and young people’s services

until 2019.

Matt Hancock:

Although some relevant data on staff roles is available on the National Health Service

Electronic Staff Record, this does not currently align with the staff groups targeted for

growth within the mental health workforce plan.

Because the Department is keen to track progress with implementation of the plan we

asked Health Education England (HEE) to develop a Mental Health Workforce

Dashboard to monitor plans for the delivery of the workforce targets. This uses:

- Data from Strategic Transformation Partnership regional plans (to monitor staff

expansion plans);

- NHS Digital data to track the size of the whole mental health workforce;

- Data from NHS Improvement on staff retention rates; and

- Data from HEE on the numbers of trainee staff currently studying and those

undertaking specific courses for upskilling themselves to work in mental health.

For the longer term a project is underway, led by the Department, to improve the way

in which NHS Digital data captures changes in workforce numbers. We are hoping

that this will enable more accurate reporting of actual staff changes from early next

financial year.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 14

on page 9 of the National Audit Office report, Improving children and young people's

mental health services, published on 9 October 2018, what steps he is taking to recruit

additional NHS staff to work in those services.

Matt Hancock:

Health Education England (HEE) has established a Mental Health Workforce Delivery

Group attended by the Department and its arm’s length bodies. The group oversees

implementation of the workforce plan through regional Sustainability and

Transformation Partnerships (STPs).

HEE have introduced an online resource for their regional leads in support of

workforce planning, called ‘Recipe for good workforce planning’. This includes a

‘confirm and challenge’ process whereby HEE Regional Leads work closely with STP

partners to ensure that workforce growth is happening according to STP delivery

plans. Regional leads challenge where plans for staff expansion fall short of those

required by ‘Stepping Forward’ and ensure that plans are in place to mitigate risks.

NHS England is also holding quarterly ‘deep dives’ with all the regional teams to

review progress against provider and STP level plans.


NHS: Negligence

Mr John Baron: [180108]

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

improve the quality of assessments of liability by the NHS in advance of the

commencement of legal proceedings.



of the accuracy of assessments of liability by the NHS in advance of the commencement

of legal proceedings in the last three years.

Stephen Barclay:

NHS Resolution handles clinical negligence claims on behalf of National Health

Service organisations and independent sector providers of NHS care in England.

The Department oversees the performance of NHS Resolution in relation to claims

management through its sponsorship arrangements which include a Framework

Document and quarterly accountability meetings with reporting against a range of

Key Performance Indicators. In addition, the National Audit Office has conducted a

Value for Money assessment of the costs of clinical negligence, including examining

the role and activities of NHS Resolution in detail. No concerns have been raised to

NHS Resolution in relation to its decision making through either process.

NHS Resolution has advised that 70% of cases were resolved in 2017/18 without

court proceedings of which 39% resulted in no payment of damages. Less than 1%

go to trial with most ending in judgment in favour of the NHS. All its cases are

thoroughly reviewed and in the great majority of clinical negligence cases, NHS

Resolution obtains independent expert evidence before reaching a decision on

liability.


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

of the litigated claims in which the NHS paid damages in the last 12 months were as a

result of (a) breach of duty and (b) or causation.

Stephen Barclay:

NHS Resolution handles clinical negligence claims on behalf of National Health

Service organisations and independent sector providers of NHS care in England.

NHS Resolution has provided the following information.

NHS Resolution has advised it does not pay damages unless on the balance of

probabilities there is both a breach of duty and causation. NHS Resolution’s last

audited period of accounts which is contained in its Annual Report for 2017-18

showed that it had 3,902 cases where damages have been paid on litigated claims

settled in the financial year 2017-18.




NHS: Waste Disposal


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has

made an estimate of the cost to (a) NHS trusts and (b) the public purse of transferring

clinical waste management contracts from Healthcare Environment Services to Mitie at

15 NHS trusts.

Stephen Barclay:

The National Health Service trusts will meet the increase in cost to have their waste

disposed of by Mitie. It is not possible at this stage to disclose the cost differential

from transferring the contract from Healthcare Environment Services to Mitie, as the

Mitie contract has been let on a price per tonne basis for all waste collected from the

15 trusts, rather than an overall contract price. Details of the price per tonne paid to

Mitie is subject to commercial sensitivity.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans

to allocate funding to NHS trusts for the transfer of clinical waste management contracts

from Healthcare Environment Services to Mitie, including any legal expenses; and if he

will make a statement.

Stephen Barclay:

All costs relating to the transfer of clinical waste management contracts from

Healthcare Environment Services to Mitie, including any legal expenses, will be met

from the overall group funding budget for health.

Palliative Care

Alex Sobel: [180295]


taking to ensure that end of life patients are able to die at home.

Caroline Dinenage:

Our Commitment to you for end of life care’, published in 2016, set out what everyone

should expect from their care at the end of life and the actions we are taking to make

high quality, personalised care a reality for everyone. This includes measures to

enable personalisation; improve care quality; enhance education and training in end

of life care; and encourage the spread of innovative models of care. The Commitment

also sets out that by 2020 we want to significantly improve patient choice, including

ensuring an increase in the number of people able to die in the place of their choice,

including at home.

Through the Mandate to NHS England, we have asked NHS England to deliver the

Choice Commitment, and for 2018-19, we have set NHS England the objective of

increasing the percentage of people identified as likely to be in their last year of life.

Earlier identification should mean that a person’s end of life care can be improved by

personalising it according to their needs and preferences at an earlier stage and to




enable the right care planning can take place which is key to supporting someone to

die in a place of choice. NHS England will use the Quality and Outcomes Framework

to demonstrate such an increase by looking at the percentage of people who are on

the general practitioner register for supportive and palliative care, and consider

expected levels based on local populations. Currently the national English average is

0.37%, it is anticipated this figure will increase in the 2018/19 period.

NHS England has launched an ‘Identification Project’ with four integrated care

systems/sustainability and transformation partnership areas to demonstrate how the

number of people identified in the last year of life can be increased in practice, to train

staff and share learning.

Pigmeat



pig stock slaughtered annually do not pass vet inspections for release into the human

food chain.

Steve Brine:

The proportion of total condemnations was 0.12% for pigs in Food Standard Agency

approved slaughterhouses in England.

Pregnancy Loss Review


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for the

publication of the findings of the pregnancy loss review.

Matt Hancock:

The Pregnancy Loss Review was commissioned by the Department in March 2018.

The Department continues to work with the Review’s independent co-leads to engage

with stakeholders such as parents, charities and medical professionals. The findings

of the Review are intended to be published in 2019.

Sheep



total sheep stock slaughtered annually do not pass vet inspections for release into the

human food chain.

Steve Brine:

The proportion of total condemnations was 0.17% for sheep in Food Standard

Agency approved slaughterhouses in England.




Sign Language: Hospitals



taking to ensure hospital staff can support British sign language interpreters to assist deaf

patients.

Caroline Dinenage:

Compliance with the Accessible Information Standard is a legal duty: organisations

that provide National Health Service care or adult social care have been required to

meet the Standard since August 2016. Compliance with the Standard is also a

requirement of the NHS Standard Contract 2018/19.

Commissioners must actively support compliance by organisations from which they

commission services and they must also seek assurance from providers with regard

to compliance.

The Care Quality Commission, when inspecting providers, also looks at how services

implement the Accessible Information Standard.

Stem Cells: Donors



taking to ensure that adequate numbers of donors are available for patients requiring a

stem cell transplant.

Matt Hancock:

Since 2011 the Department has provided more than £26 million in financial support to

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and Anthony Nolan to enable improved

provision of stem cells for patients requiring a transplant, supporting the recruitment

and management of donors.

Departmental funding has also enabled the establishment of a unified stem cell

registry for the United Kingdom, the ‘Anthony Nolan and the NHS Stem Cell Registry’.

There are now 1.4 million potential donors on the UK’s aligned registry.

Each of the UK’s stem cell registries that collectively form the ‘Anthony Nolan and the

NHS Stem Cell Registry’ is a member of the World Marrow Donor Association

(WMDA) – a group of organisations and individuals who promote global collaboration

and best practices for the benefit of stem cell donors and transplant patients.

The WMDA’s ‘Search and Match Service’ is a global database of life-saving donors

that provides a fast search facility to find the best matched donor or cord blood unit in

the world for a patient in need of a blood stem cell transplant.



Sugar: Consumption

Keith Vaz: [178474]


taken to encourage people to ingest lower amounts of (a) free sugars, (b) sugar-

sweetened beverages, (c) added fructose and (d) polyols.

Steve Brine:

Many of the key measures in our childhood obesity plan will have an impact on

reducing sugar intake across all age groups. These include the soft drinks industry

levy, sugar reduction and wider calorie reformulation programme, restricting

promotions of fatty and sugary products, calorie labelling in restaurants, and banning

the sale of energy drinks to children, which will improve our eating habits and reduce

the amount of sugar we consume.

Public Health England’s flagship social marketing campaign, Change4Life, supports

the Government’s sugar reduction agenda. In recent years there have been a number

of Change4Life campaigns to encourage families to cut down on sugar, including

Sugar Swaps (2015), Sugar Smart (2016), Be Food Smart (2017) and a healthier

snacking campaign in 2018. These campaigns work alongside other One You

campaigns encouraging adults to adopt a more healthy diet.

Urology: Medical Equipment



of the potential effect on the import and export of urology devices to the UK of the UK not

reaching a deal on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Stephen Barclay:

Patient safety is paramount in our exit negotiations and maintaining continuity of

supply of medical products is a key part of ensuring patients continue to receive the

safe high-quality care they need on day one of European Union exit and thereafter.

While we remain confident of getting a good exit deal for the United Kingdom, the

Department is making extensive preparations for a variety of EU Exit scenarios

including planning for a No Deal outcome to ensure that there is no disruption to the

supply of medical devices.

The Government’s plans are multifaceted and include increasing stock levels

nationally, putting in place arrangements to facilitate continued supply of products

directly from the EU, and working with key suppliers, wholesalers and distributors to

ensure that they are securing their own supply channels. These plans cover medical

devices and clinical consumables including urology devices.


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

ensure that urology devices produced in the UK can continue to be sold in the EU without

regulatory barriers after the UK leaves the EU.





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

ensure the maintenance of frictionless trade in relation to medical devices after the UK

leaves the EU.

Matt Hancock:

The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medical devices

in the United Kingdom; ensuring patients and the public have fast access to new,

innovative devices.

The future regulatory system for medical devices is subject to negotiation. The White

Paper proposal sets out a proposed UK-European Union free trade area for goods, to

ensure continued frictionless access at the border to each other’s markets,

underpinned by an upfront commitment to a common rulebook on goods and a

Facilitated Customs Arrangement to avoid customs checks and controls at our

borders.

Furthermore, UK and EU negotiating teams have already agreed a time-limited

implementation period that will maintain access to each other’s markets on current

terms - providing certainty for businesses across the EU and UK and time to prepare

for the future.

On 22 August the Government also set out its plans for medical devices regulation in

the unlikely event of no deal, through a technical notice. This announced that the UK

will recognise medical devices approved for the EU market and CE-marked, and will

also comply with all key elements of the Medical Devices Regulation and the in vitro

diagnostic Regulations, which will apply in the EU from May 2020 and 2022

respectively.

Usher Syndrome: Health Education

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [178477]


taking to ensure the (a) availability and (b) adequacy of health services for patients with

Usher Syndrome.

Steve Brine:

Patients with Usher syndrome have a wide range of needs, with many services being

commissioned by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). NHS England

commissions more specialist services such as cochlear implants (which are suitable

for some patients with Usher syndrome). NHS England also commissions the

complex genetic analysis associated with Usher syndrome.

Whilst NHS England is considering a number of new interventions for some patients

with retinitis pigmentosa, some of these interventions are not suitable for patients

who are also deaf or have selective frequency hearing loss because they prevent the

hearing of device alarms and alerts.



CCGs are also responsible for working with their local communities to understand the

needs of the local populations and make decisions about how best to commission

services that meet those needs, in partnership with other local commissioners and

organisations and taking into account any relevant guidance.

HOME OFFICE

Agriculture: Migrant Workers

Jenny Chapman: [180695]

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

of whether the Government's plans for a skills-based immigration system after the UK

leaves the EU will meet the skills requirements of the agri-food sector.

Caroline Nokes:

The Government will publish a White Paper setting out its plans for the future

immigration system later this autumn. We have always been clear that we want

decisions about the future immigration system to be based on evidence and we will

carefully consider the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations in its recent

report before setting out our plans.

The Government announced on 6 September its plans to introduce a pilot scheme for

the admission of 2,500 workers from outside the EU to help meet seasonal labour

needs in the agricultural sector.

Airports: Biometrics

Nick Thomas-Symonds: [180254]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans

to support trials of new biometric technologies at UK airports.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office continues to explore a range of digital options to improve the

security and efficiency of our visa and border systems. These proposed changes are

part of the government’s commitment to ensure the security of the UK border for the

safety and benefit of customers and taxpayers.

Airports: Immigration Controls

Nick Thomas-Symonds: [180255]


of the effect on reducing immigration queuing times at airports allowing passengers from

five eyes partner countries to use ePassport gates would have.

Caroline Nokes:

We keep our border and immigration system under regular review to understand what

changes can made to improve the passenger experience without reducing border

security.




Asylum: Housing


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the criteria used

by (a) UK Visas and Immigration and (b) providers of asylum accommodation to assess

the vulnerability of tenants.

Caroline Nokes:

The Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 provide that in

considering whether to provide support under Section 95 and 98 of the Immigration

and Asylum Act 1999 to asylum seekers or their family members, account must be

taken of their special needs if they are vulnerable. The Regulations define a

vulnerable person as:

A minor

A disabled person

An elderly person

A pregnant woman

A person who has been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of

psychological, physical or sexual violence;

A person who has had an individual evaluation of his situation that confirms he/she

has special needs.

Accommodation providers are also contractually required to take account of any

particular circumstances and vulnerability of those that they accommodate. The

definition of vulnerability in the contracts is the same as the one set out in the 2005

Regulations.

The particular circumstances of other supported asylum seekers and their

dependants who may have other particular vulnerabilities are also carefully

considered, for example because they have care needs or health problems that

require a need for a specific type of accommodation or accommodation in a particular

location. Further details regarding these policies can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-requests-policy

https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/asylum-seekers-care-needs

https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/healthcare-needs-and-pregnancy-

dispersal-guidance


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what processes are in place to

ensure that (a) service users and (b) advocates of service users are able to challenge

refusals to relocate them to a different property under the new (i) Asylum Accommodation

and Support and Advice and (ii) Issue Reporting and Eligibility Support contracts.






https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/healthcare-needs-and-pregnancy-dispersal-guidance




Caroline Nokes:

Under the new Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts, Service Users or

their advocates will continue to be able to make relocation requests directly to the

Home Office.

The new Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility Provider will also be required to assist

Service Users with applications to move accommodation. In the event of a refusal,

the Service User and/or those representing will be able to submit further

representations and evidence to support a relocation request.

Helen Hayes: [180826]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions he plans to

make in the new asylum accommodation contracts to ensure that pregnant women and

new mothers have access to adequate maternity care and advice.

Caroline Nokes:

Under the new asylum accommodation contracts, Providers will be contractually

required to take account of the needs of all those that they accommodate, including

expectant mothers.

The contract will also ensure that standardised health checks are undertaken whilst

Service Users are accommodated in Initial Accommodation and Providers will also be

contractually responsible for securing GP registrations for Service Users. This

service, where necessary, will include facilitating and providing assistance to attend

medical appointments.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions will be in the

new asylum accommodation contracts to ensure accommodation is safe for young

children and infants before families are placed.

Caroline Nokes:

The new contracts will require accommodation providers to provide safe, habitable, fit

for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation that complies with the Decent

Homes Standard in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing

legislation.

The contracts will also include provision for childcare equipment, including cots, high

chairs, sterilisation equipment and child safety gates where necessary.

Drugs: Crime

Joan Ryan: [180089]

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

Department has had with representatives of (a) Uber and (b) Airbnb on the county lines

drug trade.




Victoria Atkins:

We recognise the value and opportunity presented by workers in those services used

by county lines drug dealers to identify perpetrators and potential victims who are

being used to move, store or deal drugs. This includes those in the transport and

accommodation sectors.

Home Office officials have ongoing engagement with both representatives of Über

and Airbnb in order to highlight county lines exploitation to their drivers and hosts

respectively. We are also delivering a communications campaign to raise awareness

within the wider transport sector and community.

Female Genital Mutilation: Arrests and Prosecutions

Keith Vaz: [178461]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a)

arrested and (b) prosecuted for offences relating to female genital mutilation in the most

recent period for which data is available.

Victoria Atkins:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government is

clear that we will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong suffering

to women and girls.

The Home Office does not collate information on arrests and prosecutions centrally.

Information on FGM referrals from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

from 2010-18 is available in the CPS’s Violence Against Women and Girls Report. To

date, there have been no convictions for FGM.

The Serious Crime Act 2015 introduced a number of measures to help overcome the

barriers to prosecution, including: a new mandatory reporting duty for known cases of

FGM in under-18s; extended extra-territorial jurisdiction over FGM offences

committed abroad; lifelong anonymity for victims; FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs),

and a new offence of failure to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. To date, 248

FGMPOs have been made to protect victims and those at risk.

In addition, the police and CPS have put in place joint FGM investigation and

prosecution protocols. Border Force, the police and other agencies regularly carry out

joint operations at the border to raise awareness of practices such as FGM. Earlier

this month, the Home Office launched an FGM communications campaign which

seeks to prevent FGM by changing attitudes among affected communities. The

campaign also highlights that FGM is a crime and encourages communities to report.

Hate Crime



of trends in the level of reported hate crime since January 2015; and if he will make a

statement.



Victoria Atkins:

The Home Office holds hate crime data for all police forces in England and Wales on

an annual basis. The number of hate crimes recorded by the police has increased by

79% between 2014/15 and 2017/18, from 52,465 to 98,098 offences. This increase is

thought to be driven by general improvements by the police in how they record crime,

better identification of hate crimes, willingness of victims to come forward, and a

genuine increase in these offences around certain events such as the EU

Referendum and the terrorist attacks in 2017.

Better recording is an important part of how to tackle hate crime and support victims.

However, it should be seen in the context of the latest data from the independent

Crime Survey for England and Wales which shows there has been a downward trend

in hate crime incidence with hate crime falling by 40% over the last decade.

On 16 October 2018 the Government published ‘Action Against Hate: The Uk

Government’s plan for tackling hate crime: ‘two years on’’ - a refresh of the 2016 Hate

Crime Action Plan, which includes an update on action so far and new commitments

in relation to increasing the reporting and recording of hate crime .

Home Office: Staff

Jessica Morden: [180674]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) staffing and (b)

caseload levels have been in his Department's post-decision casework unit in each of the

last eight years.

Jessica Morden: [180675]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average and (b)

longest processing time was for documents to be issued following a decision by his

Department's post-decision casework unit in each of the last eight years.

Caroline Nokes:

There is no single overarching post-decision casework unit within UK Visas and

Immigration (UKVI). We are therefore unable to provide the staffing, caseload or

processing time information requested.

Within UKVI there are a number of units that consider further applications after an

initial decision has been made. The scope and handling of work conducted by these

units depends on the category of application originally submitted.

Human Trafficking

Kate Green: [R] [180185]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) positive and (b)

negative Conclusive Grounds decisions were made to potential victims of human

trafficking after referral to the National Referral Mechanism and the 45 day reflection

period in each quarter of 2017.




Victoria Atkins:

Data on National Referral Mechanism (NRM) decisions is published every quarter by

the National Crime Agency. The quarterly reports for 2017 can be found here:

http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-

statistics/2017-nrm-statistics

Human Trafficking: Organs

Vernon Coaker: [R] [179106]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of

the proportion of human trafficking cases that are linked to organ harvesting; and if he will

make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: [R] [179107]

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

with European counterparts on the proportion of human trafficking that is linked to organ

harvesting; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

There have been no confirmed cases of organ harvesting in the UK. The threat of

organ harvesting is likely to be used by traffickers as a form of coercion and control in

other forms of trafficking.

There have been a very small number of instances of organ harvesting reported

through the National Referral Mechanism (6 conclusive ground decisions in total), but

these relate to instances where victims felt they were at risk of organ trafficking,

rather than attempted or confirmed cases.

Our threat assessment on the scale and nature of human trafficking, including organ

harvesting, is kept under regular review, informed by liaison with European

counterparts.

Immigrants: EEA Nationals

Steve Double: [180248]


of the potential merits of the recommendations made by the Migration Advisory

Committee in their recent report EEA migration in the UK; and if he will make a

statement.

Caroline Nokes:





report before setting out our plans .




Immigrants: Entry Clearances


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

has reduced the validity of biometric residence permits issued to people granted indefinite

leave to remain from 10 to six years; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

Under existing EU technical specifications, the UK is required to ensure that all

Biometric Residence Permits in circulation after 31 December 2024 meet new EU

encryption technology standards.

Therefore, anyone with indefinite leave to remain, issued with a BRP after 31

December 2014 is issued with a shorter validity Permit to ensure it can be replaced

with a new document, free of charge, in time for the deadline. As the UK will have left

the EU by this point, we are also considering how best to document migrants’

immigration status in the future border and immigration system.

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Hilary Benn: [180101]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have

been received from EU nationals for settled status; and how many of those applications

(a) have been granted, (b) have been refused and (c) are awaiting a decision.

Caroline Nokes:

As set out in my Written Statement on the EU Settlement Scheme on 11 October

(HCWS997), I have written to the Rt Hon Member for Normanton, Pontefract and

Castleford, the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, with our early findings

from the initial private beta phase and placed a copy of that letter in the Library.

We will continue to monitor findings and will publish a full report with our findings

once this first phase, which runs until later this month, has been completed.

Immigration: Security

Stella Creasy: [180182]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timeframe has been set by

his Department for the completion of security checks for immigration applications; and

what steps his Department taken when that timeframe is not met.

Caroline Nokes:

Security checks are an important part of the process of considering immigration

applications made to the Department.

Different areas complete different checks and have different expected timescales for

security such checks to be completed.

The department publish transparency data on the number of applications which are

considered within service standards across different immigration routes, and this data




is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-

data

Medicine: Research

Ian Murray: [180160]

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

taken to ensure that the medical research sector will be able to recruit talented overseas

professions through the immigration system that will be introduced after the UK leaves

the EU.

Ian Murray: [180161]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to assess the

skills of prospective migrants using measures other than their expected salary in reforms

to the UK's immigration system; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:





report before setting out our plans .

Money Laundering

Keith Vaz: [178464]

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

Department has taken to tackle money laundering in the UK.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Government has made significant progress in developing our response to the

threat from money laundering. We want to ensure that the full force of government

can be used against criminals and kleptocrats who seek to use the UK as a haven for

their illicit funds.

As part of the Criminal Finances Act, Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) were

introduced on 31 January 2018. UWOs are an important addition to existing

investigation powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and compel individuals to

explain the sources of their wealth where it is suspected that their lawful income

would be insufficient to obtain specified property and they are a non-EEA politically

exposed person or suspected of being involved in serious crime. Three UWOs have

been applied for, and all granted, since the UWO power came into force in January.

The Home Office works with law enforcement agencies to encourage the use of

UWOs.

The Act made it easier to seize the funds of criminals and those suspected of

financing terrorism from bank accounts, and introduced powers to prevent the

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data






laundering of money through works of art, precious metals and stones, and casino

chips. The Act also contains powers to deal with the failure to prevent tax evasion.

The Home Office has established a suspicious activity report (SARs) Reform

Programme, working with reporters, law enforcement and regulators, to design an

effective regime that ensures that there is no safe space to move, use or hide illicit

finances.

The Government has also announced the setting up of the National Economic Crime

Centre (NECC) in the National Crime Agency. The NECC will be hosted in the NCA

and will be staffed by partners from across the law enforcement community (including

the NCA, Financial Conduct Authority, HMRC, City of London Police and the Serious

Fraud Office) and from the Private sector. It will build on the work already done by

these organisations to enable economic crime is tackled in a more coordinated way

National County Lines Coordination Centre: Staff

Joan Ryan: [180086]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a list of the roles

and responsibilities of (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff at the National County Lines

Coordination Centre.

Joan Ryan: [180087]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the recruitment and

appointment process is for filling posts at the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Victoria Atkins:

The National County Lines Co-ordination Centre is a joint initiative between the

National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, supported by £3.6m

of Home Office funding. It is one of our key commitments set out in the Serious

Violence Strategy.

The Centre is fully operational and has around 40 staff in post. The Home Office is

not involved in the set up and running of the Centre as it is an operational matter for

the NCA and police.

Police: Expenditure


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of

the (a) amount of direct Government funding and (b) contribution from council tax through

the police precept to each police force in England in each year from 2009 to 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Earlier this year the Home Office published a statistical bulletin setting out the

breakdown of general Government grant funding and precept funding for each force

for the years 2015-16 to 2018-19, available at the link below.




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-funding-for-england-and-wales-2015-

to-2019

Police Grant Reports and accompanying Written Ministerial Statements setting out

the grant funding provided by the Home Office are available for the years since 2010-

11 at the address below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-finance

The 2009-10 Police Grant Report can be found at the link below.

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

ent_data/file/98274/police-grant-report.pdf

Council tax information for Police and Crime Commissioners in England since 2011-

12 is published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and

is available at the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics

The 2009-10 and 2010-11 council tax information can be found at the links below.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919221338/http://www.communities.

gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/counciltax200910

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919171510/http://www.communities.

gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/counciltax201011

Police: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of reserve funding

police forces held at 31 March in each year since 2009.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Reserves are an important tool for police leaders, but this is taxpayers’ money and

we need real transparency about how it is being used.

That is why in January the Government published information on police reserves and

provided guidance to Police and Crime Commissioners making clear that they must

be more open with taxpayers about their plans to use them.

The exact level of reserves is a matter for individual Police and Crime

Commissioners, who have a legal duty to set balanced annual budgets and ensure

they have adequate reserves. Police reserve levels since 2011 are published in the

Police Financial Reserves section on gov.uk. These can be found by following the

link below. Earlier figures can be found in former Police Authority statements of

accounts.

We will shortly be publishing March 2018 police reserve figures on gov.uk, following

the publication of Police and Crime Commissioners’ annual accounts

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-financial-reserves

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-funding-for-england-and-wales-2015-to-2019





https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/98274/police-grant-report.pdf





http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919221338/http:/www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/counciltax200910









Police: Merseyside


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there

were in Merseyside in each of the last eight years.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers

employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These

data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical

publication.

Data on the number police officers employed by Merseyside Police, as at 31 March

each year and going back to March 2007, can be found in the Open Data Table

accompanying the main release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362

/open-data-table-police-workforce.ods

Proceeds of Crime

Keith Vaz: [178465]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of

the total debt to the public purse for confiscation orders.

Keith Vaz: [178466]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money his

Department has recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 since January 2017.

Keith Vaz: [178467]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money was

recovered from criminal proceeding by the National Crime Agency since January 2015.

Mr Ben Wallace:

Data on outstanding confiscation orders is published annually by HMCTS as part of

their trust statement. The latest trust statement was published on 17 July 2018

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-courts-tribunals-service-trust-

statement-2017-to-2018), indicating a gross value of confiscation order debt at

£1,961million, of which £152million is considered recoverable.

Data on asset recovery performance under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is

published annually by the Home Office. The latest data, showing asset recovery

performance year on year from 2013-2018, was published on 13 September 2018 (

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/asset-recovery-statistics ).

Data on asset recovery performance at the National Crime Agency is published

annually in their annual report, which is published according to financial year.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362/open-data-table-police-workforce.ods






https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/asset-recovery-statistics

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/asset-recovery-statistics

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Liverpool


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

many affordable homes were built in Liverpool in each of the last 10 years.

Kit Malthouse:

The number of additional affordable homes provided in Liverpool is published in live

table 1008C https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-

affordable-housing-supply

Change of Use

John Healey: [178243]

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

recent assessment he has made of the quality of homes that were converted into

residential dwellings under permitted development.

James Brokenshire:

National permitted development rights play an important role in the planning system,

providing flexibility, reducing bureaucracy and making the most effective use of

existing buildings. Permitted development rights for change of use are making an

important contribution to the delivery of new homes across the country. All homes,

whether granted permission on a planning application or through a permitted

development right, are required to meet Building Regulations, including fire safety.

A local authority building control body is required to hold a record of any compliance

certificate issued in relation to Building Regulations. Where there are outstanding

non-compliance issues in relation to building regulations it is for the local authority to

consider enforcement.

Council Tax: Dorset

Sir Christopher Chope: [180627]

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

average amount of council tax is across the area of (a) the Shadow Dorset Unitary

Authority and (b) the Christchurch, Poole and Bournemouth Shadow Authority for the

purpose of his Department's approach to council tax harmonisation.

Rishi Sunak:

I wrote on 17 October to the leaders of the shadow Dorset Council and the shadow

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council setting out the approach to council tax

harmonisation we are minded to adopt.

It will be for each of the councils to calculate any average council tax across its area

needed for the purposes of any approach to council tax harmonisation that we adopt,

in accordance with the secondary legislation that makes provision for that approach.




Grenfell Tower: Fires



many households affected by the Grenfell Tower fire require rehousing; and how many of

those households are in (a) emergency, (b) temporary and (c) permanent

accommodation.



many households in (a) Barandon Walk, (b) Testerton Walk, (c) Hurstway Walk, (d)

Treadgold House and (e) Bramley House require rehousing as a result of the Grenfell

Tower fire; and how many of those households have been rehoused in (i) emergency

accommodation, (ii) temporary accommodation and (iii) permanent accommodation.

James Brokenshire:

Further to the update provided in July 2018, as of 11 October 2018, the latest data

from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) shows that 204

households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk require rehousing. Of this

number, 39 households are in emergency accommodation (22 households are in

hotels, 14 in serviced apartments and 3 with friends and family). 35 households are

currently living in temporary accommodation, and 130 households have moved into a

permanent home.

Council tenants from Barandon Walk, Testerton Walk, Hurstway Walk, Treadgold

House and Bramley House who do not feel able to remain in their homes, are eligible

to be rehoused under RBKC’s Wider Grenfell Rehousing Policy. As of 11 October, 5

of these households are in emergency accommodation (3 are in hotels, 2 are in

serviced apartments) and 72 households are currently living in temporary

accommodation, while they await permanent rehousing. 2 households have moved to

new permanent accommodation. In order to prevent individual households being

made identifiable, I am unable to provide a breakdown of the location of these

households based on which part of the Estate they originally lived in.

Homelessness: Mental Health



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

the effect of long-term homelessness on mental health.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health

and Social Care on matters of mutual departmental interest, including through the

Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce.

We recognise that poor mental health can both contribute to, and be exacerbated by,

homelessness and rough sleeping. Having stable and appropriate housing is




invaluable for people living with a long-term mental health problem. We also know

that rough sleeping can exacerbate existing, underlying mental health conditions and

can result in a mental health crisis.

In 2018/19 the Department for Health and Social Care will provide up to £2 million in

health funding to test models of community-based provision designed to enable

access to health and support services for people who are sleeping rough. This will

include services to support people with both mental ill health and substance misuse

issues. We are undertaking a rapid audit of provision targeted at people who sleep

rough that can be used to inform future commissioning decisions. The Department for

Health and Social Care has asked NHS England to spend up to £30 million on health

services for people who sleep rough, over the next five years.

Housing: Construction



many residential units were granted planning permission in each financial year since

2006-7.

James Brokenshire:

The Department sources information on the number of residential units granted

permission in the last 12 months from Glenigan. The latest snapshot of the planning

system is routinely published in the department’s quarterly ‘Planning Applications in

England’ publication, the latest of which, with notes relevant to the below data (found

on page 30), can be found here:


ent_data/file/741789/Planning_Applications_April_to_June_2018_-

_statistical_release.pdf

Figure 6 on page 11 shows a chart of the quarterly year to date time series from

Quarter 1, 2007 to Quarter 2, 2018. Please see the table below for the underlying

figures requested for each financial year from 2006/07 to 2017/18.

Number of residential units granted planning permission in the previous 12

months by financial year.

FINANCIAL YEAR

RESIDENTIAL UNITS GRANTED PERMISSION

(ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST 100)

2006/07 249,800

2007/08 256,900

2008/09 183,000

2009/10 176,900

2010/11 173,900


FINANCIAL YEAR

RESIDENTIAL UNITS GRANTED PERMISSION

(ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST 100)

2011/12 192,400

2012/13 198,800

2013/14 240,000

2014/15 261,900

2015/16 264,700

2016/17 313,700

2017/18 365,700

Source: Glenigan

Grant Shapps: [180142]

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

the Objectively Assessed Need criteria includes population growth as a result of

immigration.

Kit Malthouse:

The National Planning Policy Framework expects councils to identify their objectively

assessed need for housing and other uses. The new Framework, published in July,

expects a standard method to be used for assessing housing need, which is based

on national projections of population and household growth. The population

projections take into account anticipated changes in net migration based on past

trends.

Housing: Safety



recent estimate he has made of the number of high-risk residential buildings.

James Brokenshire:

The Final Report of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety,

which was published in May 2018, identifies all multi-occupancy high-rise residential

properties which are 10 stories high or more as being ‘higher-risk residential

buildings’. It states that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 of these buildings

currently in existence. This is calculated according to information provided by Land

Registry and Ordnance Survey. An explanation of the data sources can be found in

Appendix C of the Review:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-building-

regulations-and-fire-safety-final-report



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-building-regulations-and-fire-safety-final-report



Local Government Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

publish the amount of funding per head of population his Department has allocated to

each local authority in ranked order for each year since 2010.

Rishi Sunak:

Core Spending Power is a measure of the resources available to a local authority to

fund its services. It includes Settlement Funding Assessment (business rates

baseline funding level plus Revenue Support Grant), Council Tax and other central

government grants. There is no consistent measure of Core Spending Power prior to

2015-16. Figures for the period 2015-16 to 2019-20 are available at the below link:


/Core_Spending_Power_Supporting_Information.xlsx.The Department does not

publish Core Spending Power per capita. The Office for National Statistics has

published population statistics which can be found at the below link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/popu

lationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorth

ernireland.

Local Plans


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

(a) duties and (b) responsibilities are for a Government Local Plan Inspector.


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

what circumstances a Government Local Plan Inspector is able to recommend the

alteration of a Local Plan; and whether an inspector is able to recommend such an

alteration when it will have an effect on the level of housing allocation in a locality.

Kit Malthouse:

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out that Inspectors are

appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out an independent examination to

assess whether a local plan is sound. The National Planning Policy Framework tests

of soundness require the plan to be positively prepared, justified, effective and

consistent with national policy. If the plan does not meet those tests, the Local

Planning Authority can request that the Inspector recommends main modifications to

make the plan sound. These could cover any matter within the scope of the tests of

soundness, which could include the level of housing allocation within the locality. All

proposed main modifications are subject to public consultation




Social Rented Housing: Regulation

Rushanara Ali: [178503]

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

reference to paragraph 94 of the Social Housing Green Paper and paragraph 19 of the

Review of Social Housing Regulation call for evidence, whether the proposals for

changes to the threshold of the serious detriment test used in the consumer home

standard would require the introduction of new legislation.

Kit Malthouse:

Under section 198A(2) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, the Regulator

may only intervene in the breach of consumer standards if there is or may be a

“serious detriment” to existing or potential tenants. The Regulator of Social Housing

has published guidance on how it assesses compliance the regulatory standards,

which may be found at:


ent_data/file/698332/Regulating_the_Standards_April_2018.pdf.

As part of the review of social housing regulation we will consider whether serious

detriment remains the right threshold for intervention, and any change to this

threshold will require amendment to primary legislation.

Supported Housing: Learning Disability

Mr David Lammy: [178458]


estimate he has made of the number of people with complex and severe learning

difficulties who are living in supported living accommodation.


Independent research commissioned by my department and the Department for Work

and Pensions estimated that at the end of 2015 there were around 47,000 supported

housing units across Great Britain for people with learning disabilities. The research

was published in 2016 and can be found at:


ent_data/file/572454/rr927-supported-accommodation-review.pdf

Mr David Lammy: [178459]


recent assessment his Department has made of the suitability of supported living

accommodation for people with complex and severe learning difficulties.


We have made no recent assessment but we are committed to the vital role that

supported housing plays in the lives of many vulnerable people. As announced on 9

August, my department and the Department for Work and Pensions are working

closely with supported housing stakeholders to develop additional oversight of the

quality and value for money of housing across the whole supported housing sector.




This will include accommodation for people with complex and severe learning

difficulties.

More widely, the Department for Health and Social Care invested £25 million over

2016-18 in 52 separate projects, in housing and technology to support people with a

learning disability to live as independently as possible with the right care and support.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh: Overseas Aid

Mrs Anne Main: [180138]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she

has made of the value for money of the provision of development assistance to

Bangladesh for freedom of expression and political engagement.

Alistair Burt:

The Strengthening Political Participation phase 2 (SPP2) programme works to track,

mitigate and prevent violence in politics and elections. The social and economic costs

to families and communities are very high - before and after the 2014 elections,

almost 900 people were killed and over 38,000 were injured across Bangladesh.

Whilst the SPP2 programme cannot guarantee an end to violence in politics, it makes

an important contribution to this aim.

The SPP2 programme is subject to annual review which includes an annual Value for

Money (VfM) assessment. The first and most recent annual review of SPP2 was

conducted in April 2018 and is published online via DFID’s web portal for

Bangladesh. Overall the VfM propositions made in the business case remain on

track.

Mrs Anne Main: [180139]

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

made of the progress of the strengthening political participation phase two aid project in

Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt:

The last annual review of the Strengthening Political Participation phase 2 (SPP2)

Programme was carried out in April 2018. In the first year the project scored an ‘A’

and all programme components were under implementation. The annual review is

published on DFID’s web portal and contains recommendations on how to maximise

the impact of the programme in an election year. The next review is due by April

2019.

Diplomatic engagement also supports SPP2 goals and activities pushing for inclusive

and peaceful elections in Bangladesh and increased tolerance for open debate and

dialogue. DFID is still confident that the SPP2 Programme provides critical support to

democratic governance in the country and is more relevant than ever in an election

year.



Bangladesh: Rohingya


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

had with the Bangladeshi Government to ensure there are no delays in granting access

to international NGOs operating in Bangladesh.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any of her

Department's partners have had their permits to operate within the refugee camps in

Cox’s Bazar rescinded by the Government of Bangladesh; and if she will make a

statement.


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

had with her Bangladeshi counterparts on allowing NGOs to carry radios in the refugee

camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Alistair Burt:

We are aware of NGO concerns regarding access and ability to deliver in the camps.

DFID Bangladesh humanitarian leads are in regular contact with the head of the NGO

platform in Cox’s Bazar and directly with our NGO partners. We and other

development partners work with UN agencies to raise issues with the Bangladesh

government including timely and transparent processing of authorisations.

NGOs have discussed access to radios with the UN Resident Coordinator and

Government officials. Currently NGOs can only access radios through UN partners,

which creates some restrictions. DFID is aware of these issues, and continues to

raise this issue with the UN.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her

Department has allocated to mental health support for Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s

Bazar.

Alistair Burt:

Up to March 2018, the £59m first tranche of UK funding to the humanitarian crisis

included support to ACF and UNICEF to provide emergency psychosocial support to

adults and adolescents; play sessions to ease stress and trauma for children under

16 years; and established child friendly spaces for 34,019 children.

In March 2018, a further tranche of £70m was announced and included funding to

UNHCR and UNICEF to provide support to adolescents with life-skill based education

and safe spaces, and support sexual and gender-based survivors with appropriate

assistance.






To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the UK's

contribution to humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees includes resources to

improve lighting in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

UK funding to ICRC has supported: light installation in 53 gender segregated latrines

and bathing spaces; 13 newly constructed latrine blocks with solar lighting; 115 street

lights; 8,500 solar lamps, with priority to women and girls; and 5,000 solar lanterns for

Rohingya, with plans to distribute a further 36,000 solar lanterns this year. Funding to

IOM and Christian Aid will support the installation of solar lamps in camps covering

almost 10,000 refugees.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her

Department has allocated to provision of secure and properly screened toilets for

Rohingya women refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last three years.

Alistair Burt:

The UK has been a leading donor in responding to the Rohingya crisis; since August

2017 we have committed £129m. The needs of women and girls are a key

consideration of all our programming

This support has already delivered toilets and hygiene facilities for over one million

people and emergency latrines for over 280,000 people. This includes the

construction of 53 latrines and bathing spaces that are segregated for women and

girls and have lights installed for their safety. Recent allocations to partners, including

Christian Aid, UNICEF and UNHCR, will support additional latrines, tube wells, water

points and bathing cubicles and 14 women friendly spaces with washing and

sanitation facilities.

Department for International Development: Social Media

Tulip Siddiq: [179275]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department

has spent on promoted content on (a) Twitter, (b) Facebook and (c) Instagram in each

month since June 2017.

Harriett Baldwin:

The Department for International Development has spent £0 on promoted activity

with these platforms since June 2017 through its media buying agency Carat. The

Department spent £1,000 on Facebook to drive up awareness of Soccer Aid for

UNICEF in June 2018.




Developing Countries: Brexit


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

of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on (a) producers and (b)

workers in developing countries.

Harriett Baldwin:

DFID is working closely with other governmental departments in taking all necessary

steps to ensure that we are prepared for a no deal outcome, to ensure we will be able

to meet our development objectives in all scenarios. We remain committed to

spending 0.7% of our national income on development assistance.

The UK is preparing for a range of possible scenarios to maintain existing trading

relationships, and our Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in

place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. As the UK exits the

EU, we will seek to replicate the effects of the EU’s Economic Partnership

Agreements, which are development-focused trade deals with African, Caribbean and

Pacific countries.

Developing Countries: Nature Conservation

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [179262]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of Official

Development Assistance is spent on protecting endangered species.

Harriett Baldwin:

There is no exact figure for the proportion of overseas development assistance spent

on protecting endangered species. DFID is supporting a range of activities to support

tackling IWT and to conserve nature and wildlife, including by reducing poverty,

strengthening borders and creating green corridors, including committing over £600m

funding between 2011-2021. This includes:

- £150m for the Global Environment Facility from 2018 to 2022 (as well as £100m

from Defra) – this includes the world’s biggest fund on tackling IWT, the Global

Wildlife Programme, of which the UK has contributed $17m (approximate £13m)

during the same period.

- £46m from 2013 to 2021 countering Illicit Financial Flows in Africa and mobilising

international action against corruption.

- £328m from 2011 to 2021 to support work in the forestry sector, increasing trade in

legal timber and reducing the demand for illegal and unsustainable food and timber

products.



Israel: Palestinians

Alan Brown: [180249]

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

of the amount of international aid funding allocated to properties at Khirbet al-Halawah

that were demolished by Israeli forces; what (a) discussions she has had with her

counterparts in the EU and (b) representations she has made to the Israeli Government

on those demolitions; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA),

nine structures have been demolished in Khirbet al-Halawah so far in 2018, of which

four were donor funded. We have not made an estimate of the value of international

aid allocated to these structures. No structures directly funded by the UK in the West

Bank in recent years have been demolished. Whilst we have not raised these specific

demolitions with counterparts in the European Union or the Government of Israel, we

continue to raise concerns with the Israeli authorities about demolitions and evictions

of Palestinians from their homes in general, which cause unnecessary suffering to

ordinary Palestinians, calls into question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state

solution, and, in all but the most exceptional cases, are contrary to International

Humanitarian Law.

The UK supports Palestinian communities at risk of forcible transfer in Area C of the

West Bank through a legal aid programme, which helps residents challenge decisions

in the Israeli legal system. Additionally, we are supporting Palestinian development in

Area C and helping nearly 500 Palestinian families to remain on their land through

improving infrastructure and enabling access to education and health services.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her

Department has made of the effect of Israeli Government restrictions on the movement of

goods into Gaza on UNWRA provided aid and humanitarian resources in each of the last

five years.

Alistair Burt:

I remain deeply concerned about restrictions on movement and access in Gaza, and

the impact that this is having on the humanitarian situation. We have not made a

specific assessment of the effect of these restrictions on UNRWA, which liaises with

the Government of Israel directly to coordinate the movement of goods for their

operations. Nevertheless, my officials and I regularly raise the need to ease

restrictions on Gaza with our counterparts in the Government of Israel.

Yemen: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her

Department has taken to support people in Yemen affected by the conflict in that country.




Alistair Burt:

The UK continues to be at the forefront of the humanitarian response in Yemen,

helping secure vital access for food, fuel and medicine to enter the country and

consistently being one of the largest donors to the crisis. On 3 April 2018, the UK

announced an additional £170 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen

for this financial year (2018/2019). This funding will meet immediate food needs for

2.5 million Yemenis and will bring the total UK bilateral support to Yemen to over

£570 million since 2015.

Most recently, on World Food Day (16 October), the UK announced a package of

£96.5 million which will help UNICEF tackle malnutrition in Yemen over the coming

three years. This package will screen 2.2 million children under the age of five for

malnutrition and provide urgent treatment for 70,000 of the most vulnerable children.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Department for International Trade: Contracts

Tom Brake: [180070]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether gagging clauses have been

used in contracts drawn up between his Department and any charities, voluntary sector

organisations, social enterprises or companies with the intention of stopping any criticism

of Ministers of his Department.

George Hollingbery:

Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of

£10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February

2015 can be viewed at: https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive

Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Overseas Trade

David Simpson: [180148]

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

the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the UK trading on WTO terms

after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery:

We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That

remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it

is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have

already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that

we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal and trade with the EU reverts to WTO

terms.





Consequently, no deal planning and trading on WTO terms forms a necessary part of

the discussions across Whitehall between all members of Cabinet, including the

Department for Exiting the European Union.

Trade Promotion

Ian Austin: [180666]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11

October 2018 to Question 178257 on Trade Promotion, if he will publish the visits

undertaken by each Trade Envoy in the last year.

Graham Stuart:

The table below outlines all overseas visits undertaken by the PM’s Trade Envoys

from October 2017 – September 2018. In total they have undertaken 61 overseas

visits to 41 markets in the last year.

TRADE ENVOY MARKET VISITED DATE MARKETS VISITED:

Adam Afriyie MP Ghana Ghana, Guinea Ghana,

Guinea

8-11 November 2017 8-13

April 16-21 September 2018

Andrew Murrison MP Morocco Tunisia 7-10 February 2018 No visit

Andrew Percy MP Canada 4-9 November 2017 8-12

February 2108 27-11 June

2018

Andrew Selous MP South Africa 6-9 February 2018 27-30

August 2018

Baroness Bonham-Carter Mexico 10-16 February 2018 23-30

September 2018

Baroness Morris Kuwait 5-8 December 2017

Baroness Nicholson Azerbaijan, Kuwait(for Iraq

conference) Turkmenistan

12-16 February 2018 28 May-1

June 2018

Baroness Northover Angola Zambia 7-10 November 2017 19-21

September 2018 26-28

September 2018 8-16

February 2018

Ed Vaizey MP Vietnam Cambodia, Laos

Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos

5-11 November 2017 8-12

February 2018 29 September -

3 October 2018

Jeremy Lefroy MP Ethiopia 8-11 November 2017 11-16

February 2018 28-31 May



2018 3-5 September 2018

John Howell MP Nigeria 6-9 November 2017

Julian Knight MP Mongolia 5-10 April 2018 19-24

September 2018

Lord Astor Oman 2-6 October 2017 11-14

February 2018

Lord Faulkner Taiwan 24-31 January 2018 17-22

September 2018

Lord Hollick Tanzania 1-4 October 2017

Lord Janvrin Turkey 2-5 October 2017 12-14

February 2018

Lord King Saudi Arabia 23-25 September 2017

Lord Lamont Iran 23-28 September 2018

Lord Popat Uganda Rwanda 16-24 November 2017 13-16

February 2018

Lord Risby Algeria 6-9 November 2017 29-1 May

2018

Mark Menzies MP Columbia, Chile Columbia,

Chile Peru

4-10 November 2017 31

March-11 April 2018 23-28

September 2018

Mark Pritchard MP Georgia, Armenia 6-9 October 2017 1-10

November 2017 7-21 February

2018 6-11 June 2018

Paul Scully MP Thailand 5-11 November 2017

Ranil Jayawardena MP Sri Lanka 14-17 February 2018 17-21

September 2018

Rehman Chishti MP Pakistan 8-11 November 2017 11-15

February 2018 14-18

September 2018

Richard Graham MP Malaysia Indonesia 3-5 November 2017 31 July –

3 August 2018 11-13 April

2018


Rushanara Ali MP Bangladesh 20-31 July 2018

Simon Hart MP Panama, Costa Rica,

Dominican Republic

10-13 April 2018

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Egypt 28 July – 1 August 2018 22-27

September 2018

UK Trade with EU: Exports

Jared O'Mara: [179314]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans his Department has to

support businesses that export to the EU in the event that that the UK leaves the EU

without a deal.

Graham Stuart:

The Department for International Trade has carried out significant preparations for a

‘no deal’ scenario, and alongside other Departments has published technical notices

to guide businesses on preparing for this eventuality. Our technical notices cover

trade remedies, export control regulation, and trade agreement continuity, as well as

a further technical notice on tariffs which we published jointly with HMRC and HMT.

We are also preparing the Department to provide business-friendly answers to EU

Exit enquiries on areas within our competence. Together with other Departments we

are ensuring that businesses can access Government information on EU Exit online.

Businesses, including current exporters to the EU, will benefit from the Department

for International Trade’s strong offer regardless of the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

This offer includes impartial export advice from International Trade Advisors, our

overseas network with a presence in 108 countries, and access to digital services

that sit on our great.gov.uk platform.

JUSTICE

Bedford Prison

Mohammad Yasin: [180840]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the

implications for the Government's policies of the Independent Monitoring Board's report of

17 October 2018 on HMP Bedford.

Rory Stewart:

I am currently considering the content and recommendations of the report from the

IMB at HMP Bedford. I will respond to the report as soon as that process is

completed, and I will ensure a copy of the response is shared with you.



We have published an action plan to stabilise HMP Bedford following an Urgent

Notification by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The action plan can be found at the

following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/justice-secretary-publishes-plans-to-stabilise-

bedford-prison

Bedford Prison: Prisoners' Release


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to accept the

recommendation of the Independent Monitoring Board report of 17 October 2018 on HMP

Bedford to permit prisoners with a date for release to make an application for universal

credit; and if he will discuss that recommendation with the Secretary of State for Work

and Pensions.

Rory Stewart:

Prisoners are able to meet a DWP Work Coach in their prison in the weeks before

release who can help them prepare their claim for Universal Credit. The Work Coach

can make an appointment at the relevant Job Centre as early as the day of release

and an advance of a full month’s benefit including the housing element, if appropriate

can be made within hours.

The MoJ is working closely with DWP to improve the process for access to benefits

for prison leavers.

Companies: Fraud


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish the outcome of his

Department's call for evidence on corporate liability for economic crime.

Lucy Frazer:

The Ministry of Justice carried out a call for evidence on corporate criminal liability for

economic crime in 2017, to establish whether further reform of the law was

necessary. The response will be issued in due course.

Employment Tribunals Service: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost to HM Courts and

Tribunal Service was to administer a First-Tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child

Support Appeal) in relation to personal independence payments in the last 12 months.

Lucy Frazer:

The information requested is not held centrally. The cost of personal independence

payment hearings is included in the overall cost of the First-tier Tribunal (Social

Security and Child Support Appeal).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/justice-secretary-publishes-plans-to-stabilise-bedford-prison






European Convention On Human Rights

Tom Brake: [180064]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans for the

European Convention on Human Rights to remain in force when the UK leaves the EU.

Edward Argar:

The UK will remain a party to the ECHR after it has left the European Union. The

decision to leave the European Union does not change our strong commitment to

recognising and respecting human rights.

Prisons: Reviews


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 4 of the 17 October 2018

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board on HMP Bedford, if he will undertake

a review of the role of local prisons.

Rory Stewart:

As well as constructing new prisons, the Government’s Prison Estate Transformation

Programme is working to reconfigure the existing estate so that prisoners will be held in the

right place at the right time in their custodial journey and their rehabilitation can be managed

more effectively. This work will see the organisation of the adult male prison estate - including

local prisons -simplified into three key functions: reception, training and resettlement.

Reception prisons will manage men on remand, fixed recalls and those with a very short time

to serve, and they will allocate other individuals for transfer to the next prison. Resettlement

prisons will prepare people for release into the community, and they will hold shorter-

sentenced men, as well as people transferred from training prisons. To support

reconfiguration, we have developed evidence-based Models for Operational Delivery (MODs)

for each prison function and also for specialist cohorts. The MODs are best-practice toolkits

that will enable governors and commissioners to deliver effective services for their functions

and specialist cohorts. The combination of building new prisons and the reconfiguration of the

existing estate will address basic issues such as safety and decency, reduce crowding, and

drive improvements in rehabilitation. By improving the match between the supply of places

and the demands of the population men will be able to progress through the estate to access

the right regimes for their needs and prisons will be able to better carry out their function.

Prosecutions: Greater London


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the effect on

the public purse of transferring young offender cases from Camberwell Green

Magistrates Court to Bromley Magistrates Court.




Lucy Frazer:

HM Courts & Tribunals Service officials will monitor the operational effect of the

transfer of young offender cases from Camberwell Green Magistrates Court to

Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

The assessment made in the response to the consultation published on 8 February

2017 was that the closure would provide a saving to the public purse. Consolidating

workload into Bromley Magistrates’ Court and Croydon Magistrates’ Court will result

in efficiency gains by improving the utilisation of the London region’s court estate, and

reducing the cost of the estate by removing the annual running costs of maintaining a

separate building. The receipts from the sale of the building will be reinvested into the

transformation of HM Courts & Tribunals Service to modernise courts and tribunals.

Risley Prison: Staff


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy

of the number of (a) prison officers and (b) qualified mental health practitioners employed

at HMP Risley.

Rory Stewart:

HM Prison and Probation workforce statistics detailing staffing by establishment are

published quarterly. The latest publication can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-

workforce-quarterly-march-2018

Prison officer numbers are at their highest in five years, which is vital to ensuring

prisons are safe, secure and decent. We now have over 3,500 additional staff in post

compared to October 2016. The recruitment drive will continue until we reach

required levels across the prison estate, ensuring prisons can fulfil their purpose -

protecting the public, reducing reoffending and crucially, rehabilitating offenders.

Increased staff numbers will enable us to implement the key worker role, giving staff

dedicated time to provide one-to-one support to individual prisoners and, for example,

identify where mental health support may be needed.

Staffing for prison healthcare services at HMP Risley is a matter for healthcare

providers under contract to NHS England. Prison governors work collaboratively with

NHS England commissioners to support the commissioning of high quality healthcare

services across the prison estate in England.

Sexual Offences: Bristol


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been under

the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in relation to arrangements where sex has been requested

in return for accommodation in the City of Bristol.



Rory Stewart:

It is not possible to identify from centrally held data the number of offenders convicted

for arrangements where sex had been requested in return for accommodation in

Bristol under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as this particular offence cannot be

disaggregated from the broader offence of ‘sexual offences’. Additionally, any data

held at a court level refers to where the defendant was dealt with rather than where

the offence was committed.

Young Offenders: Greater London


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate his Department has made

of the rate of youth reoffending in (a) Dulwich and West Norwood and (b) London after (i)

three, (ii) six and (iii) 12 months of attending court.

Rory Stewart:

The Ministry of Justice measures proven reoffending from the point at which an

offender is released from custody, receives a non-custodial conviction at court or

receives a youth caution, reprimand or warning. Proven reoffending is not measured

from the point of attending court.

The Ministry of Justice measures reoffending over a one year follow-up period plus a

further six month waiting period to allow the offence to be proven in court.

Reoffending rates are not available by constituency, they are available down to lower

tier unitary authority. Reoffending rates by geographical area are available online:


/Geographical_data_tool_oct05_sep16.xlsx

Youth Justice


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to improve

the efficiency of the youth justice system; and what steps he is taking to reduce rates of

youth re-offending.

Edward Argar:

Reducing reoffending by children in the youth justice system is a key aim of the

system. Although fewer young people are committing crimes for the first time, those

who do are some of the most troubled in our society.

We are continuing to work with the Home Office to deliver the Serious Violence

Strategy, pursuing those responsible for crime, protecting victims and communities,

and preventing vulnerable people from being exploited. This includes tackling the

increase in serious violence and drug-related crime, with an emphasis on responding

to county lines activity. This year the government has awarded £22 million for the

Early Intervention Youth Fund to support local areas to tackle these problems.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/728736/Geographical_data_tool_oct05_sep16.xlsx




Learning from this fund will inform the upcoming £200 million Youth Endowment

Fund, and will help deliver a public health approach to addressing serious violence.

We also fund Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) to support young people at a local

level, in partnership with other services (for example, police, health, education and

social care). We have had significant success in reducing the under 18 custodial

population in recent years.

To improve safety and the life chances of children in custody we established the

Youth Justice Reform Programme in 2017. We have expanded frontline capacity in

Young Offender Institutions by 20%, equating to over 120 new posts and we are

introducing a new Youth Justice Specialist officer role in youth custody tied to a

professional qualification in youth justice.

We have developed a new approach to behaviour management in custody and are

working with the NHS on a new approach to strengthen the provision of mental health

care for young people. We are investing in the development of Enhanced Support

Units for children with the most complex needs, one of which has already been

opened at Feltham YOI, and are also developing plans for secure schools, with the

aim of improving outcomes for young people in custody.

Since the creation of our Youth Justice Reform Programme in 2017, Her Majesty’s

Inspectorate of Prisons reports have highlighted improvements in all the under-18

sites they have inspected. It’s promising to see our reforms are starting to have an

impact on the ground, but we absolutely must continue to invest in system-wide

reform to further improve safety and rehabilitative outcomes for children.

NORTHERN IRELAND

British Irish Council


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times the British Irish

Council have met since January 2017.

Mr Shailesh Vara:

Since January 2017 the British Irish Council has held two summits; one in 2017, and

one in 2018.

PRIME MINISTER

Members: Correspondence


To ask the Prime Minister, when she plans to respond to the letter of the hon. Member for

Ashton-under-Lyne of 21 March 2018 on the enforcement of the Ministerial Code.



Mrs Theresa May:

My Office does not have a record of receiving a letter dated 21 March 2018 from the

Hon. Member. An undated letter from the Hon Member was received by my Office on

8 March which mentioned Ministerial Code issues, to which a reply was sent by the

(Acting) Cabinet Secretary.

Deidre Brock: [180220]

To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to her oral Answer of 12 September 2018,

Official Report, column 749, when she plans to write to the hon. Member for Edinburgh

North and Leith in relation to Questions 136216 and 135115 tabled in April 2018 and

March 2018 on the visit of Aggregate IQ founders to Downing Street.

Mrs Theresa May:

The transparency data published on a quarterly basis relates to ministerial meetings

with external organisations and individuals. I have not met Aggregate IQ and there

was therefore nothing to publish in the transparency data.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Greater Manchester

Jim McMahon: [180276]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what power the Mayor of Greater Manchester

has to franchise bus services; and whether the Government has provided additional

funding to facilitate such franchising.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The Bus Services Act 2017 gave Mayoral Combined Authorities, including Greater

Manchester, the powers they need to franchise buses. No additional funding has

been provided to Greater Manchester Combined Authority to facilitate such

franchising.

Bus Services: South Yorkshire

Stephanie Peacock: [178524]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department allocated

to bus services serving (a) Barnsley and (b) South Yorkshire in the 2017-18 financial

year.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to

increase the number of bus services that serve (a) Barnsley and (b) South Yorkshire.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The bus market outside London is deregulated and decisions regarding service

provision is primarily a commercial matter for bus operators. Decisions on subsidised

bus services are a matter for individual English local authorities, in the light of their





other spending priorities. The Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools local

authorities need to improve local bus services and increase passenger numbers.

£250m of Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) payments are made to bus

companies and local authorities.

Bus operators in Yorkshire & Humber were paid a total of £25,874,000 BSOG in

2017-18 to help meet some of their fuel costs in running local bus services.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council received a total of £20,959 in BSOG during

2017-18 to support subsidised local bus services; South Yorkshire Passenger

Transport Executive received £1,127,171 and Sheffield City Council received

£106,858.

BSOG spend figures are published annually on Gov.uk and can be found via this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-

spend

Crossrail


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

Chancellor of the Exchequer on the cost to the public purse of the delay to Crossrail.

Joseph Johnson:

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer,

covering a variety of subjects.

Dangerous Driving


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to

increase driver awareness of the dangers of overtaking (a) cyclists and (b) other

vulnerable road users without leaving sufficient space.

Jesse Norman:

The Highway Code provides guidance for drivers on being aware of cyclists and other

vulnerable road users and allowing adequate distance when passing them.

The Department is aware that not all road users follow the rules on safe overtaking

and on 18 October 2018 the Department that the Highway Code will be reviewed to

help keep cyclists, vulnerable road users and pedestrians safe on the roads.

This followed announcements in the summer committing to update the Highway Code

in relation to close passing and highlighting a UK-wide initiative to help police enforce

against dangerous drivers who pass cyclists too closely.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend





Department for Transport: Public Expenditure

Andy McDonald: [180207]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the change has been to his

Department's budget in real terms in each year since 2010; and what the projected

change will be in real terms in each year to 2022.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

DfT expenditure for the years from 2010/11 to 2019/20 (the final year of the current

Spending Review period) is set out in the tables below.

Two separate tables are provided to reflect the major change in the accounting

treatment of Network Rail from the 2015/16 financial year onwards, following its

earlier reclassification from the private sector into the public sector.

For years up to and including 2014/15, Network Rail was not within the DfT Group

accounts and DfT’s annual grant to Network Rail was therefore scored as Capital

DEL expenditure (nominal value between £3bn and £4bn per year in each year

shown). From 2015/16 onwards, Network Rail came into the DfT Group and its

annual grant from DfT (which remains in place) became an intra-group transfer, and

as such no longer scores as Capital DEL expenditure. Meaningful comparisons

between these two periods cannot be made for this reason.

Data shows spending outturn for years up to 2017/18, and spending plans for

2018/19 and 2019/20. Network Rail spending is currently classified in AME and is

outside the scope of these figures. Departmental budgets from 2020/21 onwards are

have not yet been agreed and will be set as part of next year’s Spending Review.

2010/11 to 2014/15

£000S

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Resource DEL (nominal) 5,806,274 5,487,143 5,191,309 4,701,510 3,459,901

Capital DEL (nominal) 7,928,710 7,933,844 8,536,711 8,545,473 9,446,280

Total DEL (nominal) 13,734,984 13,420,987 13,728,020 13,246,983 12,906,181

Total DEL (2017/18 prices) 15,372,493 14,826,138 14,866,033 14,086,691 13,550,177

Real-terms change year-on-year -3.6% 0.3% -5.2% -3.8%

2015/16 to 2019/20

£000S

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20

Resource DEL (nominal) 3,069,420 2,926,615 3,673,000 3,761,009 3,327,396


£000S

Capital DEL (nominal) 5,960,594 5,419,249 6,351,907 8,069,900 10,518,500

Total DEL (nominal) 9,030,014 8,345,864 10,024,907 11,830,909 13,845,896

Total DEL (2017/18 prices) 9,405,417 8,504,327 10,024,907 11,452,961 13,236,994

Real-terms change year-on-year -9.6% 17.9% 14.2% 15.6%

Sources:

2019/20 plans: 2017/18 DfT Annual Report & Accounts

2018/19 plans: 2018/19 DfT Main Estimate

Outturn: DfT Annual Report & Accounts for 2017/18 and earlier years

Driving Instruction


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the inclusion in driver

education on road safety of up-to-date visual tools and materials, including virtual reality

films, to ensure that people are made aware of their driving from the perspective of other

road users.


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

of promoting virtual reality road safety awareness films as an educational tool for drivers.

Jesse Norman:

The Department has used the ‘Innovation Challenge Fund’ to assess how new

technologies such as virtual reality can help learner drivers to develop their hazard

perception skills prior to taking their tests.

Virtual reality road safety awareness films are likely to be helpful in driver education.

They promise to bring an added spatial dimension to the experience and can be very

engaging when used well. It is important that they should always be based on the

kinds of established behavioural change techniques used by the THINK! Campaign,

the best local authority driver education, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards

Agency.

Driving: Licensing

Tom Brake: [180625]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018

to Question 173935 on driving: licensing, what estimate he has made of the number of

staff that will need to be recruited in order to meet increased demand for International

Driving Permits in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.




Chris Grayling:

From 1 February 2019, International Driving Permits will be issued by 2,500 Post

Office branches using existing Post Office staff. While staffing levels are a matter for

Post Office Ltd, we do not believe there will be a need to recruit further staff to offer

the enhanced service.

Tom Brake: [180626]


to Question 173935 on Driving: Licensing, what estimate he has made of the (a) number

of International Driving Permits which will need to be issued in 2019-20, (b) individual

cost of securing an International Driving Permit and (c) administrative cost of processing

each application for an International Driving Permit in the event of the UK leaving the EU

without a deal.

Chris Grayling:

a) The government is confident of securing a comprehensive deal to ensure the

continued recognition of our driving licences in the EU. Work that has been done

estimating the likely impact, indicates that up to 0.5m International Driving Permits

(IDPs) may need to be issued in most outcome scenarios.

b) Each IDP will cost £5.50, a fee which has not increased since 2004. For complete

coverage in the EU after exit day a motorist will need 2 IDPs (One in the 1949

Convention format, and one in the 1968 Convention format) at a total cost of £11.00.

However, the 1968 IDP which will be valid in 23 EU Member States, plus Norway and

Switzerland is valid for 3-years reducing the annual cost to around £1.85 per year.

c) The administrative cost of acquiring an IDP is a matter for the Post Office.

Electric Vehicles


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the

uptake of electric vehicles as part of the 2040 target to end the sale of conventionally

fuelled cars.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce a vehicle replacement

scheme to help make the transition to electric vehicles affordable for families on average

and below average incomes.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking support UK car

manufacturing after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make an assessment of the

potential merits of introducing incentives to strengthen domestic demand for new electric

vehicles.





Jesse Norman:

In January 2018, the Government published its Industrial Strategy Automotive Sector

Deal to support the continuing competitiveness of the UK’s automotive sector and its

local supply chains.

The Government’s Road to Zero Strategy – published in July – set out its ambitions

for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040. The transition will

be supported by a package of demand, supply and infrastructure measures, and £1.5

billion in funding. This includes assisting consumers in meeting the cost of ultra low

emission vehicles with a variety of plug-in grant funding schemes for eligible ultra low

emission cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles.

The Government’s recent international Zero Emission Vehicle Summit emphasised its

ambitions to lead this global transition, bringing other nations along through the

‘Birmingham Declaration’. At the Summit the Prime Minister announced £106 million

in an R&D funding package for innovators in ultra low emission vehicle technology,

including in new battery and low carbon technologies.

By supporting new ultra low emission vehicles, the Government is also helping to

build the second hand market in the UK, which already offers a wide range of more

affordable models. Owners of used ultra low emission vehicles are able to take

advantage of the favourable tax regime now in place, alongside local initiatives such

as free parking and grant schemes to help with the cost of installing chargepoints.

There are no plans to introduce a vehicle scrappage or replacement scheme.

Food: Transport

Jim Shannon: [178306]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the

Government in Northern Ireland on the transportation of perishable food produced in

Northern Ireland abroad after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling:

My Department has discussed this issue with officials in the Northern Ireland Office

and Northern Ireland Government officials and I am aware of the short time margins

that perishable food is transported under.

We are committed to securing an agreement that works for the entire United Kingdom

- for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England. An agreement that

works for the unique circumstances of the Island of Ireland is at the very heart of the

Government’s negotiating position.

As the hon. Member will be aware the key market for the Northern Ireland food and

drinks processing sector is Great Britain which accounts for 50% of total sales.

Ireland is the second largest market representing almost 15% of total sales. Other EU

sales represents a little below 8% of total sales for the sector.

In the event of delays caused by increased checks at EU ports, the UK Government

will implement contingency arrangements to manage the flow of traffic across the UK.


High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: [180623]

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

of the construction of High Speed Two on the (a) habitat and (b) population of barn owls.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The impact of HS2 on barn owls was assessed to inform the Phase One

Environmental Statement which recorded a nationally significant adverse effect on

the UK’s barn owl population.

HS2 Ltd has therefore developed a barn owl mitigation plan to reduce this significant

effect. The plan assumes that 80 pairs are affected by the Phase One Scheme and

consists of measures to: avoid disturbance to the species during construction; reduce

the collision risk of the railway to the birds; provide new artificial nesting sites at a

safe distance; and monitor the new nesting sites to ensure uptake by barn owls.

The potential effects on barn owls have also been assessed in the Phase 2a

Environmental Statement, and will be assessed in a Phase 2b Environmental

Statement in due course.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his latest estimate is of (a) the overall

cost and (b) cost of each element of HS2; and what the timetable is for the completion of

phase 2.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

At the 2015 Spending Review (SR15), the Government restated the long-term

Funding Envelope for delivery of the full HS2 scheme of £55.73bn (2015 prices), of

which £27.18bn was allocated to Phase One and £28.55bn for Phase Two. We

remain determined to deliver HS2 within this total Funding Envelope, with cost targets

to be set for HS2 Ltd to deliver the programme below this amount.

We intend to complete Phase 2a by 2027– six years earlier than initially planned. The

planned opening date for the full HS2 network remains unchanged at 2033.

Hospitals: Parking


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

(a) Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on

the cost of parking at hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any recent discussions with the

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care nor the Chancellor of the Exchequer on

this issue. The Department for Transport is not responsible for policy in relation to

hospital car parks, as this is a matter for the Department for Health and Social Care.

More widely, private sector and local authority car parks are the responsibility of the




Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The Department for

Transport is responsible for policy in relation to on-street parking.

London-Brighton Railway Line: Fares

Peter Kyle: [180823]


to Question 178358 on the London to Brighton Railway line, what the timetable is for a

decision on the options his Department is considering to simplify the Brighton mainline

fare structure.

Joseph Johnson:

The Department cannot set a timetable at this time. Our work must take into account

both the options for the specification of the successor to the TSGN franchise and its

broader fares policy, with the Rail Review charged with recommending the most

appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to be able to offer good value

fares for passengers.

Simplification of fares on the Brighton Main Line, where historic competition has

created a particularly complex fares structure, remains a key priority.

Public Transport: Disability

Chris Evans: [179198]

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

potential merits of introducing transport fee concessions to all assistants of a disabled

individual where that individual requires more than one assistant to use public transport.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

This Government is determined to make sure that disabled people have the same

access to transport as everyone else, and that they are able to travel easily,

confidently, and without extra cost. The Disabled Persons Railcard entitles disabled

people and a carer to a third off their rail fares, and the Government provides around

£1 billion of funding each year to enable local authorities in England to provide

statutory and discretionary concessions for 9.8 million disabled and older travel pass

holders.

Local authorities are able to offer additional local bus concessions, such as

companion passes for disabled people who require assistance to travel. The detail of

such further concessions, including the number of carers who can travel at reduced

cost, is a matter for local authorities.

In the Inclusive Transport Strategy, published in July 2018, we committed to conduct

a review into the eligibility criteria of the Disabled Persons Railcard. This review will

examine the issue of the total ticket cost for a disabled person and their carers.



Railways: Compensation


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his speech at the

Conservative party conference on 1 October 2018, what specific stronger obligations he

plans to introduce to rail franchises in relation to passenger compensation rights.

Joseph Johnson:

We will continue to monitor and report on Train Operating Companies’ (TOCs’)

performance in making the claim process easier for passengers. We will mandate

increased use of technology to inform passengers pro-actively that they are entitled

to claim, using Apps, email and onboard announcements and hold TOCs to account

for delivering claim processes that are swift and simple.

Separately from franchise agreements, the Government is supporting the

establishment by the industry of an independent Rail Ombudsman before the end of

2018 to investigate and rule on unresolved customer complaints, with the power to

issue decisions, including on compensation, that are binding on the industry.

Railways: Disability

Laura Smith: [179303]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that provisions

for disability inclusive rail services are included in future rail franchise agreements to

enable disabled people to travel for (a) work and (b) pleasure.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

Our vision is for disabled people to have the same access to transport as everyone

else, being able to travel confidently, easily and without extra cost. The Inclusive

Transport Strategy, launched in July 2018, is the next step in our ambition to deliver

accessible transport.

In future rail franchise competition processes we will require bidders to provide

enhanced services for those with accessibility needs including enhanced disability

and equality awareness training for staff.

Railways: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative risk assessment he has

made of (a) imposing and (b) negotiating changes to the measure of inflation used for rail

industry pay negotiations.

Joseph Johnson:

In August, the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the Rail Delivery Group and

to the trades unions, asking them to adopt CPI, and not RPI, as the basis for inflation

when negotiating wage deals. As you know, CPI is the more widely used and reliable

measure of inflation.




This would be a significant step in ensuring that costs in the rail industry do not rise

faster than ticket prices. It will help to ensure that the railway is affordable for the fare

paying and tax paying public for decades to come, while making sure that those who

work on the railway continue to receive fair reward. Of course, pay negotiations and

the settlements reached by individual employers and trade unions remain a matter for

local collective bargaining.

In his letter to the trades unions the Secretary of State invited them to meet with the

Rail minister so this might be discussed further.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the

Chancellor of the Exchequer on the amount spent on re-surfacing roads in (a) Coventry,

(b) the West Midlands and (c) England since 2010.

Jesse Norman:

Coventry City Council is a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Between 2010/11 and 2017/18 the Department for Transport provided the West

Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) with over £386 million to upgrade and

improve local highways within the West Midlands area. It has been for the WMCA to

distribute this funding to its constituent members such as Coventry City Council.

The Department for Transport has also directly allocated Coventry City Council over

£10 million to upgrade and improve local highways within the City between 2010/11

and 2017/18, in addition to funding for roads which fall within the strategic road

network and are managed by Highways England.

In England, outside London, between 2010/11 and 2014/15 the Department for

Transport provided local highway authorities with £4.7 billion for highway

maintenance. In 2015 the Department announced a six year funding package for

highway maintenance. Between 2015/16 and 2021/22 it is providing local highway

authorities in England, outside London, with £6.2 billion for highway maintenance.

This includes £296 million for a Pothole Action Fund.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax

Anneliese Dodds: [180290]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a comparative

assessment of the effect on the revenue that has accrued to the public purse of other EU

countries of the introduction of a deferred payment of capital gains tax for trusts ceasing

to be resident or non-resident individuals who trade through a national branch or agency.



Mel Stride:

The introduction of a deferred payment of capital gains tax for trusts ceasing to be

resident or non-resident individuals who trade through a national branch or agency

(Clause 36 of the draft Finance Bill) is not expected to have any impact on the

revenue accruing to the public purse of other EU countries.

The effect of clause 36 is that those migrating trusts and non-resident individuals who

defer capital gains tax as a result of the measure will still pay the same amount of tax

in the UK, but over a longer period with interest charged on outstanding amounts.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the annual cost to the public

purse of section 187 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 for each year since its

introduction.

Mel Stride:

The Government does not hold data specifically on the annual cost of section 187 of

the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. Information on the use of section 187 is

reported to HMRC in tax returns, but the relevant data is not held in a centralised

form, and the cost of gathering for statistical purposes is disproportionate.

Competition and Markets Authority: Finance


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will provide additional funding

to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Elizabeth Truss:

At the Autumn Budget 2017, the Government committed over £1.5bn of additional

funding to help departments and the devolved administrations to prepare for the UK’s

exit from the EU in 2018/19. A full breakdown of allocations can be found in the Chief

Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March

(https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-

statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was allocated £23.6 million in 2018/19

as part of this.

At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor also set aside £1.5 billion of additional

funding for department’s EU Exit preparations in 2019/20. The Treasury has received

the CMA’s bid and will announce further details about allocations in due course.

At the same time, the Chancellor announced £2.8m a year in additional funding for

the CMA to take on more cases against companies acting unfairly.

All long-term funding decisions are for the next Spending Review, which will take

place in 2019.



Employment: Taxation


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the check employment status for

tax tool to ensure that it’s results are aligned with case law.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will conduct an assessment of the check

employment status for tax tool to determine whether it meets Government digital service

standards.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what testing his Department has conducted on

the accuracy of the check employment status for tax tool.

Mel Stride:

The Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) service is designed to determine

whether an existing or future contract will be one of employment or self-employment.

CEST results are aligned with case law. Its results have been tested by HM Revenue

and Customs (HMRC) against known case law and settled cases. HMRC published

the list of cases that were used to test the accuracy of CEST on

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cest-tool-tested-against-tax-cases/test-results-

produced-after-cests-development.

CEST was rigorously tested throughout development with input from external

stakeholders prior to release. The accuracy of CEST was checked as part of that

process.

CEST was developed in accordance with government data standards. Government

Digital Services (GDS) standards assessments are only required for transactional

services. Because CEST is a tool for guidance purposes, and not a transactional

service, a GDS assessment was not appropriate.

HMRC will stand by the result of CEST, provided the information entered is accurate

and in line with HMRC guidance. CEST gives an answer in 85% of cases, and where

it does not, more detailed guidance and support is available.

HMRC continues to improve the CEST tool and is working with stakeholders to better

understand the points raised about CEST in responses to the recent consultation on

addressing non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules in the private sector.

Help to Buy Scheme: Oxfordshire


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to

Question 176641 on help to buy scheme: Oxfordshire, if he will (a) publish and (b) place

in the Library the calculation relating to the average value of a property completion under

that scheme in Oxfordshire.




http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cest-tool-tested-against-tax-cases/test-results-produced-after-cests-development




John Glen:

Between the introduction of the Help to Buy ISA in December 2015 to March 2018,

the average property purchase price in Oxfordshire under the scheme was £196,618.

This is based upon 624 property purchase completions taking place, with a total

expected value of c.£122.7 million. The information is recorded and published in the

Help to Buy ISA Quarterly Statistics accompanying tables. The last release of these

was 16th August 2018, which can be found using the following link -

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-isa-scheme-quarterly-statistics-

december-2015-to-31-march-2018

Insurance Premium Tax: Public Sector


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

Insurance Premium Tax on public sector organisations.

John Glen:

The Government regularly keeps all taxes under review. This includes Insurance

Premium Tax.

Insurance Premium Tax is a tax paid by insurers on all general insurance premiums.

It is therefore up to them whether to pass on this cost to consumers, including public

sector organisations.

Mortgages: EU Law

Tim Loughton: [180624]

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

the EU Mortgage Credit Directive on the cost of mortgages.

John Glen:

The Government conducted an impact assessment when implementing the EU

Directive in 2015 and assessed that there would be minimal costs incurred as a result

of businesses absorbing the regulatory changes from the FCA.

Personal Pensions: Tax Allowances


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of

higher rate tax relief claimed by people with personal pensions in each of the last ten

years for which figures are available.

John Glen:

Information on the cost of pensions tax relief is published in the HM Revenue and

Custom (HMRC) National Statistics table ‘Registered pension schemes: cost of tax

relief’, available on GOV.UK, please find the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-

relief




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-relief



Estimates of the number of people making contributions into personal pensions and

the value of their contributions by different income levels can be found in Table 3.8 at

the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/deductions-and-reliefs-2010-to-2011

Estimates for previous years can be found in the national archives:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121102223513/http://hmrc.gov.uk/stats/i

ncome_distribution/menu-by-year.htm

Police: Pensions


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from

police forces on changes to police pension contributions.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Treasury has received representations from a number of employer organisations,

including bodies representing police forces, subsequent to my Written Ministerial

Statement of 6 September announcing the draft amending directions for the 4-yearly

valuations of Public Service Pension Schemes. The finalised directions will be

published later this year.

Representations have included comments on potential changes to pension

contributions.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the

cost to each police force of the revision of assumptions on public sector pension

contributions.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Treasury does not collect data at the level of individual police forces. We

continue to work closely with the Home Office on all aspects of police funding.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from

police bodies on the potential effect of changes to employee pension contributions on

police numbers.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Treasury has received representations from a number of employer organisations,

including police bodies, subsequent to my Written Ministerial Statement of 6

September announcing the draft amending directions for the 4-yearly valuations of

Public Service Pension Schemes. The finalised directions will be published later this

year.

Representations have included comments on the effects of potential changes to

pension contributions.



http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121102223513/http:/hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm






Private Rented Housing: Stamp Duty Land Tax


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the revenue to

the public purse from the introduction of the three per cent surcharge on buy to let

properties between April 2016 and April 2018.

Mel Stride:

HMRC has already published estimates for the Higher Rates on Additional Dwellings

(HRAD) 3% receipts for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 tax years in its Annual Stamp

Taxes Publication:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics

It should be noted that application of the 3% surcharge on a substantial interest in an

additional dwelling does not only apply to buy-to-let properties.

Revenue and Customs: Offices


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the (a) location, (b) postcode

and (c) number of employees of each the HMRC offices that have (i) closed and (ii)

relocated in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride:

The location, postcode and number of employees of each of the HMRC offices closed

in each year from 2010, are detailed in the attached table.

The information requested concerning the number of staff relocated from HMRC

offices closed in each year from 2010, can only be provided at a disproportionate

cost.

Attachments:

1. HMRC office closures 2010 - 2018 [HMRC Office Closures 2010-2018Table.docx]

Taxation (International and Other Provisions) Act 2010


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has accrued to the public purse each

year as a result of the implementation of Chapter 8, Part 6A of the Taxation (International

and Other Provisions) Act 2010.

Mel Stride:

It is not possible to provide details of the tax effect arising from the introduction of the

Hybrid and other Mismatch regime in Part 6A of the Taxation (International and other

Provisions) Act 2010.

The hybrid mismatch regime came into force on 1 January 2017. The majority of

corporation tax returns which will reflect the impact of these rules have not yet been

received.






Taxation: EU Law


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a comparative

assessment of the effect on the revenue that has accrued to the public purse of other EU

countries of the implementation of Council Directive (EU) 2017/1852 on tax dispute

resolution mechanisms in the European Union.

Mel Stride:

No such comparative assessment has been undertaken.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Government plans to participate after

the UK has left the EU in (a) EU Directive 2018/822 and (b) other agreements that

facilitate the disclosure of information pertaining to cross-border tax arrangements.

Mel Stride:

The UK is implementing this Directive as would be required by the terms of the

Implementation Period. After leaving the EU, the UK will continue to participate in a

wide range of information exchange agreements and will remain committed to all

global tax transparency standards.

WALES

Ports: Wales


To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when the Government plans to publish its

contingency plans for the transport network servicing trade and travel through Welsh

ports to Ireland in the event that no deal is reached for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Alun Cairns:

We do not want or expect a no deal scenario. It is however the duty of a responsible

Government to continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes including the

unlikely event of no deal.

We have now published 106 specific technical notices, including on transport, trading

with the EU, and the Common Travel Area, to help businesses, citizens and

consumers to prepare for March 2019 in the event of a no deal scenario. These are

available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/how-to-prepare-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-

with-no-deal

Wales Office: Contracts

Tom Brake: [180076]

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether gagging clauses have been used in

contracts drawn up between his Department and any charities, voluntary sector




https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/how-to-prepare-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal




organisations, social enterprises or companies with the intention of stopping any criticism

of Ministers of his Department.

Mims Davies:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales (Wales Office) has not used any

gagging clauses in contracts it has signed.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Department for Work and Pensions: Interserve

Tommy Sheppard: [180799]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effect on staffing levels at each tier of employment in her Department of the

appointment of Interserve as the contractor for facilities management.

Justin Tomlinson:

Interserve does not provide any services which are provided, or were previously

provided, by DWP staff. It is unlikely, therefore, that DWP staffing levels would be

affected.

Tommy Sheppard: [180800]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of

the quality of services delivered by Interserve since it was contracted to provide facilities

management services to his Department.

Justin Tomlinson:

Since contract commencement DWP has assessed the quality of services as per the

terms of the agreed contract delivered by Interserve and this is via a performance

management system which measures service delivery against agreed contractual

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This performance management is monitored on a

monthly basis by DWP Integrator (Sodexo).

Disability Living Allowance: Appeals

Maria Eagle: [177612]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July

to Question 167889 on Disability Living Allowance: Appeals, what estimate she has made

of the length of time it will take for claimants of disability living allowance to receive

backdated payments as a result of decisions made by her Department being overturned

on appeal.

Sarah Newton:

Information about the length of time it takes for claimants of Disability Living

Allowance to receive backdated payments as a result of decisions made by DWP

being overturned on appeal is not available.




Employment and Support Allowance: Arrears


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the

announcement, ESA Underpayments: Forecast Numbers Affected, Forecast Expenditure

and Progress on Checking, published by her Department on 17 October 2018, what the

reasons are for the delay in the estimated completion date of arrears payments to

claimants of Employment and Support Allowance.

Sarah Newton:

As previously announced, those cases identified as part of the initial activity, will be

completed by April 2019. The only exception to this is deceased customer cases

where the time it takes to identify next of kin means it may take until the end of the

year.

The decision in July to review cases back to the point of their conversion to ESA

means more claimants will receive payments but requires us to review an additional

250,000 cases. We are now able to confirm that these additional cases will be

completed throughout the course of 2019.

Employment and Support Allowance: Maladministration


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department

has made of the factors that contributed to her Department's errors in calculating

employment support allowance payments; and what procedures are being put into place

to minimise the risk of further such errors.

Sarah Newton:

The Department has strengthened its governance arrangements for the identification

and management of actual or potential errors, so the impact on individuals can be

understood and an appropriate response put in place.

The National Audit Office conducted an investigation into the underpayment errors in

transferring people to Employment and Support Allowance from other benefits and

the Public Accounts Committee published their recommendations on 18 July 2018.

The Department’s response to this investigation was published on 9 October 2018

and is available here: ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treasury-

minutes-october-2018 ).

Employment: Disability

Sir David Amess: [178456]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to

increase the number of employers that sign up to the disability confident scheme.

Sarah Newton:

Staff in the DWP Disability Confident team are working constantly to engage with

employers, run events and support the scheme. We have recently been working with



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treasury-minutes-october-2018




Jobcentre Plus districts in Devon & Cornwall and South Yorkshire to identify new

opportunities to engage with employers. The learning from this is currently being

shared across Jobcentre Plus and should lead to a significant increase in employer

sign-ups. Over 8,300 organisations are currently signed up to Disability Confident and

this number continues to grow substantially.

The Disability Confident Business Leaders Group (BLG), comprising senior leaders

from significant British businesses across all sectors, helps to increase engagement

with employers and encourage and support them on their Disability Confident

journeys. The group promotes the business benefits of disability employment and

works with DWP officials to identify any changes or developments that will improve

the effectiveness of the scheme.

In the public sector, with all main Government departments now signed up as

Disability Confident Leaders we are turning focus on Local Authorities, Police, Fire

Authorities and NHS Trusts. 75% of Local Authorities are already Disability Confident.

Sir David Amess: [178457]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what budget her Department

allocated to the disability confident scheme in the last year for which figures are available.

Sarah Newton:

The DC scheme is delivered internally by DWP, using DWP staff and other internal

resources. There is no external resources budget set for it.

Maternity Allowance: Universal Credit

David Hanson: [176007]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women in receipt of

maternity allowance have applied for universal credit that have worked for less than 26

weeks continuous weeks.

David Hanson: [176008]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of

the potential merits of enabling working women in receipt of maternity allowance who

have not met the qualifying period for Statutory Maternity Pay to claim full universal credit

payments.

Alok Sharma:

Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants already

receive Maternity Allowance to meet their living costs it is right that their Universal

Credit award is adjusted to take account of the support that they are already receiving

(as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).

Information about the number of women in receipt of maternity allowance who have

applied for universal credit that have worked for less than 26 weeks continuous

weeks is not available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate request.




National Insurance Contributions


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is

taking to encourage people to check their national insurance contribution records in

advance of their retirement.

Guy Opperman:

Checking your National Insurance record regularly is very important and the

Government has designed services and supporting communications to make this as

easy for people as possible. Our online service, Check your State Pension (CySP), is

key in supporting the communication campaign. This service provides a State

Pension forecast (based on the individual’s current National Insurance record and an

assumption that future years count towards their State Pension), and the earliest date

the individual can get their State Pension. Users can look at their National Insurance

record, where they will also find out how many qualifying years they have and any

gaps in their contributions.

The Department has carried out a comprehensive communication campaign to bring

the new State Pension and the role of people’s National Insurance records to

people’s attention. This has been through advertisements in newspapers, on social

media and on radio stations across the country as well as working through

Stakeholders to raise public awareness of the changes. There is also a significant

package of on-line information about the State Pension at www.gov.uk.

Between April 2000 and the end of April 2018, the Department provided more than 22

million personalised State Pension statements to people who requested them (either

online or by telephone or post, and based on both old and new State Pension rules).

We continue to encourage people to request a personalised State Pension Statement

as part of our on-going communications.

Paternity Pay: Self-employed


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to

introduce a paternity allowance for self-employed fathers.

Justin Tomlinson:

My Department have no plans to introduce paternity allowance for self-employed

fathers.

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA) are paid to women to

replace earnings to help them take time off work before and after their baby is born,

in the interests of their health and wellbeing.

Statutory family related leave entitlements focus on employees as they have less

flexibility and autonomy over the work they do and when they take time off work.

The Government agrees with the principle of equalising parental benefits for the

employed and self-employed. But as set out in the Government Response to the


http://www.gov.uk/

http://www.gov.uk/


Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, it is right to only consider making

changes to this area once we have carefully considered this in the wider context of

tax, benefits and rights over the longer term.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal

independence payment assessment results have been overturned on appeal.

Sarah Newton:

Since Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was introduced 3.5m decisions have

been made up to June 2018, of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been

overturned.

Personal Independence Payment: Hearing Impairment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary

disability of deafness or hearing impairment aged 16 to 25 applied for personal

independence payments in the latest year for which figures are available.

Debbie Abrahams: [178504]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a primary

disability of deafness or hearing impairment aged between 16 to 25 applied for personal

independence payment in the last 12 months.

Sarah Newton:

[Holding answer 17 October 2018]: In the application process, claimants’ main

disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment. It

is not recorded at the point of application. The Department does not therefore hold

data on the number of applicants to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a

primary disability of deafness or hearing impairment.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the outcome was of all

applications that deaf people aged 16 to 25 made for personal independence payment;

how many of those people (a) requested a mandatory reconsideration or (b) appealed to

the social security tribunal; and what the outcome was of those (i) reconsiderations and

(ii) appeals in the last year for which figures are available.

Debbie Abrahams: [178505]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications her

Department has received from deaf people aged 16 to 25 for personal independence

payments in the last 12 months; and (a) what the outcome of each claim was and (b) how

many of those applicants have requested a mandatory reconsideration or appealed to the

social security tribunal.






Sarah Newton:

[Holding answer 17 October 2018]: In the application process, claimants’ main

disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment. It

is not recorded at the point of application. The Department does not therefore hold

data on the number of all applicants or outcome of all applications to Personal

Independence Payment (PIP) for people with a primary disability of deafness or

hearing impairment.

For those who have undergone a PIP assessment, information on the number of

initial decisions in 2017/18, and mandatory reconsiderations and appeals, for people

aged 16 to 25 with a main disabling condition of a hearing disorder are shown in the

table below.

Initial decisions, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals

NUMBER

Initial Decisions

Total 1,450

Awarded 620

Disallowed 830

Withdrawn #

Mandatory Reconsiderations

Registrations 410

Clearances 400

New Decision - Award Changed 60

New Decision - Award Unchanged 340

Decision Not Revised 0

Withdrawn/ Cancelled #

Appeals

Receipts 160

Clearances 60

Decision overturned 40

NUMBER

Decision maintained 20

Data has been rounded to the nearest 10. Components may not sum to totals due to

rounding.

'#' fewer than 5 decisions in this category.

The data relates to initial PIP decisions in 2017/18 and any MRs and appeals relating

to those initial decisions recorded up to June 2018 (the latest published data on

appeals). Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet

have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to appeal.

PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants, and is

for both new claims and DLA reassessment claims.

Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer

system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the

decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.

Appeals data is taken from the DWP PIP computer system’s management

information. Therefore this appeals data may differ from that held by Her Majesty’s

Courts and Tribunals Service for various reasons such as delays in data recording

and other methodological differences in collating and preparing statistics.

Some decisions which are changed at mandatory reconsideration, and where the

claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at

tribunal appeal. Therefore the number of people who had a decision changed at

mandatory reconsideration and the number of people who had a decision changed at

tribunal appeal cannot be added together.

Decisions overturned at appeal may include a number of appeals that have been

lapsed (which is where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but

before it was heard at Tribunal).

Personal Independence Payment: Multiple Sclerosis

Dr David Drew: [180092]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many and (b) what

proportion of people with multiple sclerosis in the Stroud constituency are no longer

eligible for the higher rate of mobility support as a result of the transition from disability

living allowance in each year since the introduction of personal independence payment.

Sarah Newton:

Due to small, disclosive sample size issues, the information requested for people with

multiple sclerosis in the Stroud constituency, who are no longer eligible for the higher

rate of mobility support following a Disability Living Allowance reassessment to

Personal Independence Payment, is not available.


Poverty



the implications for her policies of the new measure of poverty recommended by the

Social Metrics Commission: a new measure of poverty, published in September 2018;

and if she plans to adopt that new measure.



the implications for her policies on reducing the number of households living in poverty of

the Social Metrics Commissions report, A new measure of poverty in the UK, published in

September 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Social Metrics

Commission’s new measure of poverty, if will she undertake an assessment of the effect

of all government policies on poverty in the UK.

Justin Tomlinson:

We welcome the work that the Social Metrics Commission has done. Measuring

poverty is complex, and this report offers further insight into that complexity and the

additional measures that can be taken into consideration. From discussions with

SMC they acknowledge that further work needs to be done (particularly around data

availability and quality). We will carefully consider their recommendations and the

detail behind the methodology they have employed when this has been made

available.

Social Security Benefits: Forms


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assistance job centres

provide to claimants who struggle to complete benefits applications forms; and what

procedures are followed by jobcentres when a claimant requests assistance with filling in

forms or expresses that they have difficulty in doing so.

Alok Sharma:

Where our customers advise us that they need assistance to access our services and

information, we make reasonable adjustments to meet their individual needs. This

means the Department communicates with customers in a variety of different formats

such as Braille, audio, large print, through third party interpreters or by arranging for a

member of staff to visit the customer in their home.

Service delivery teams within jobcentres provide a professional and supportive

environment for our customers, providing digital coaching, helping claimants set up

their Universal Credit claims and also maintaining them.





Claimants who require additional support to complete a claim form have the option to

book a one to one appointment with a member of the Service Delivery team to

receive assistance. In addition telephony support is in place for those vulnerable

claimants who cannot ‘self-serve’ online and where a claimant is unable to manage

their own affairs, an appointee can act on their behalf, taking responsibility for making

and maintaining any benefit claim.

Social Security Benefits: Immigrants


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has

made of the number of benefits claims made by migrants with the right to work in the UK

but not in possession of a Biometric Residence Permit in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017.

Alok Sharma:

DWP procedures require non-UK nationals to provide proof of their UK immigration

status upon application for an income related benefit. This may be in the form of a

Home Office Biometric Residence Permit or a valid passport or visa stamped by the

Home Office granting leave to remain and recourse to public funds. Claimants who

provide proof of UK immigration status with recourse to claim public funds are eligible

to claim DWP income-related benefits on the same basis as UK citizens.

Biometric Residency Permits were introduced by the Home Office in December 2012.

As of 31 May 2015 new regulations require non-EEA nationals, seeking permission

from overseas to enter the UK for more than six months to apply for a Biometric

Residence Permit from the Home Office.

The Department does not centrally collect statistical information categorised by the

type of immigration status document provided and the information requested could

only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Angela Crawley: [176400]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money from the public

purse has been paid to private firms to carry out health assessments for her Department

in each year for which information is available.

Sarah Newton:

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

Total

Expenditure

(£m)

112.8 112.4 114.3 80.7 280.4 367.8 443.8 449.3



These figures cover the direct cost of delivering work capability assessments, the

medical assessments undertaken for other benefits, costs relating to written and

verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new

technology and other service improvement expenditure incurred by the Department.

Universal Credit


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the amount given in budgetary

advances to claimants awaiting their first universal credit payment is calculated.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how exceptional circumstances is

defined when determining whether a universal credit claimant in receipt of a budgetary

advance is eligible for the three month discretionary period after the first universal credit

payment before repayments of the advance begin.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) legacy

benefits, (b) personal independence payments and (c) universal credit in the Garston and

Halewood constituency have been given a budgetary advance to cover a delay in

payment of their benefit in the last 12 months.

Alok Sharma:

The purpose of a Budgeting Advance is to help pay for emergency household costs,

or for help getting a job or staying in work. It is not an advance of benefit; therefore no

Budgeting Advances have been paid in the last 12 months to cover delays in the

payment of benefits.

A Budgeting Advance is available to claimants where they have been in receipt of

Universal Credit, or a combination of a legacy benefit and Universal Credit, for at

least 6 months or for a lesser period of time if it relates to either them, or their partner,

obtaining or retaining employment.

The calculation of the amount of a Budgeting Advance available to a claimant will

vary depending upon whether they are single, part of a couple and/or responsible for

a child or qualifying young person. It will also be reduced pound for pound by any

savings they may have over £1000 and eligibility can be affected depending upon the

amount of earnings received in the previous six month period. A Budgeting Advance

is repayable over 12 months, which can be extended by up to 6 months in

exceptional circumstances.

Exceptional circumstances would be an unforeseen expense that occurs after an

advance is agreed, and continued recovery for the initial agreed repayment period

would cause the claimant and their household genuine hardship.




Hugh Gaffney: [176565]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent equalities impact

assessment her Department has conducted on its plans for the managed migration to

universal credit.

Alok Sharma:

In line with Ministers’ legal duties, equality impacts have been considered in

developing our plans for managed migration to universal credit. We will continue to

consider these impacts as our plans for managed migration develop.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date universal credit is

planned to be fully rolled out and operational.

Alok Sharma:

The national rollout of the Universal Credit Full Service will be completed on 12

December 2018 for new claims.

The current roll out schedule can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-transition-to-full-service

Ged Killen: [180312]


the number of instances where universal credit claimants have not received universal

credit payments due to being paid every four weeks rather than per calendar month.

Alok Sharma:

The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual

circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any

earnings reported by the employer during that assessment period, regardless of

when they were paid. Monthly assessment is aligned to the way the majority of

employees are paid and also allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month. This

means that if a claimant’s income falls, they will not have to wait several months for a

rise in their Universal Credit.

Some claimants are paid in differing patterns, including four-weekly, fortnightly,

weekly or on a variable day every month, which may mean that for some months

these claimants receive two or more sets of earnings during one Universal Credit

assessment period (AP). This may reduce, or in some cases completely reduce the

Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month.

We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are

aware of the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment

cycles: this is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-

patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-

payments-payment-cycles.






https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles




Stuart C. McDonald: [180774]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's target time

is for processing applications for alternative payment arrangements under universal

credit.

Alok Sharma:

DWP have no targets for processing applications for Alternative Payment

Arrangements (APA). All APA cases are dealt with urgently and are considered on a

case by case basis by dedicated teams.

Universal Credit: Housing

Laura Smith: [176608]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to extend direct

to landlord payments to all claimants of the housing element of universal credit.

Alok Sharma:

Universal Credit incentivises work by making the journey from unemployment to

employment as smooth as possible, without the hurdles that exist within the current

system. Paying claimants their housing costs direct means their landlord sees no

changes in rent payments when they move into work. Consequently the Department

for Work and Pensions (DWP) will, in the majority of cases, pay eligible housing costs

directly to the claimant as has been the case for Housing Benefit in the Private

Rented Sector since 2008.

Nonetheless, both the claimant and landlord are able to request an alternative

payment arrangement (APA) to have rent paid direct to the landlord at any point in

the claim should the need arise.

Universal Credit: Liverpool Riverside

Dame Louise Ellman: [180103]


the effect of the proposed roll-out of universal credit in Liverpool Riverside constituency

on the household finances of claimants of benefits in that constituency; and if she will

make a statement.

Alok Sharma:

When fully rolled out, Universal Credit will support low income families with around

£60 billion a year across the whole of Great Britain. In addition, Universal Credit

covers up to 85% of childcare costs, up from 70% in the old system.

The Department has made no assessment in Liverpool Riverside specifically.

However we continue to evaluate progress as we roll out Universal Credit nationally

in a careful and co-ordinated way, reviewing against key measures, to ensure safe

and secure delivery.

We know that work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed

to strengthen incentives to move into and progress in work. The impact of Universal




Credit cannot be considered in isolation– it is a key component of a broader strategy

to move Britain to a higher wage, lower welfare, lower tax society.

Universal Credit: Mental Illness


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the

number of people with mental health needs that will be unable to move to universal credit

because they do not understand the communication about that transition in (a) the North

East and (b) the UK.

Alok Sharma:

We do not underestimate the challenge that managed migration represents, we are

co-designing the process with stakeholders, making sure it works for everyone and

building in safeguards to ensure that vulnerable claimants are fully supported.

We are not migrating everyone at once. Migration will begin with begin with small-

scale testing (with up to 10,000 people being migrated in 2019) to ensure that the

process works well, before the volume of migration increases.

The Managed Migration regulations, will come before Parliament in the autumn,

provide the flexibility and fail-safes to protect vulnerable claimants. We are designing

a process to ensure a smooth transition with continuous support.

Universal Credit: Nottingham

Mr Chris Leslie: [180642]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the roll-out

of universal credit in Nottingham; which categories of claimants will be included in each

phase of that roll-out; and what deadline is planned for the completion of that roll-out.

Alok Sharma:

Universal Credit was recently rolled out to jobcentres in Nottingham on Wednesday

17 October, and in December, Universal Credit will be live in every Jobcentre in the

country.

The Managed Migration regulations will come before Parliament in the autumn, and

during 2019 we will test and refine our processes on a small scale to ensure they are

working well before we take on larger volumes from 2020 onwards, and complete the

process in 2023.

Universal Credit: Preston

Sir Mark Hendrick: [175952]


the effect of delays in the payment of universal credit benefits on (a) food bank use and

(b) child poverty levels in Preston.




Alok Sharma:

Under the legacy system £2.4 billion of benefits did not get paid at all because

claimants could not navigate the complexity of the system. Universal Credit puts this

right, ensuring this money goes to 700,000 claimants who need it.

There are many and varied reasons why people use food banks and it is misleading

to link this to any single cause. People on Universal Credit move into work faster and

stay in work longer. Work offers families the best opportunity to move out of poverty

and Universal Credit strengthens incentives for parents to move into and progress in

work. There are 300,000 fewer children in absolute poverty compared with 2010 – a

record low.

Universal Credit: Terminal Illnesses


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has a fast

track process to ensure that a claimant who has submitted a DS1500 receives the first

Universal Credit payment within seven days; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma:

[Holding answer 16 October 2018]: The Department and the Universal Credit

Programme have regular meetings with key stakeholders to understand how our

policies are working and discuss potential areas for improvement. The design of

Universal Credit for terminally ill claimants is based on the well tested processes that

have been in place in Employment and Support Allowance, as have the

documentation of illness requirements. We will continue to keep these under review

to ensure that they work as effectively as possible.

If the claimant does not have a DS1500 but is deemed as terminally ill then we will

fast track the Work Capability Assessment process so that the report is provided

within 48 hours.

If a claimant has been diagnosed as terminally ill with a prognosis of 6 months or less

and been provided with a DS1500 or one has already been provided, Universal

Credit will automatically award the Limited Capability for Work and Work Related

Activity element without the requirement to refer this for a Work Capability

Assessment decision.

All claimants are able to apply for an advance of their Universal Credit to ensure they

do not face financial hardship whilst they are awaiting the assessment of their

Universal Credit award.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants who have

submitted a DS1500 form have waited (i) two weeks; (ii) three weeks; (iii) four weeks; (iv)

five weeks or more to receive their first Universal Credit payment in the most recent

twelve month period for which data are available.



Alok Sharma:

[Holding answer 16 October 2018]: The information requested is not readily

available, as it is not collated centrally, and to provide it would incur disproportionate

cost.

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Dementia: Health Services



taking to ensure that people diagnosed with dementia have access to clinical support

within a reasonable travelling distance from their home.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 16 October 2018. The

correct answer should have been:

Steve Brine:

The number of PSA tests for suspected prostate cancer in primary care is not

routinely collected.

The Government is committed to delivering the Challenge on Dementia 2020 to

make England the world-leader in dementia care and support, research and

awareness by 2020. The joint declaration on post-diagnostic dementia care and

support is an unequivocal joint commitment between the Government, health,

social care, and the third sector to improve care and support for people with

dementia.

Local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for services and

support for people with dementia. The Government and NHS England would

expect CCGs to commission services that take into account relevant guidance,

including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, and the

Dementia Care Pathway, which sets out benchmarks to improve the delivery

and quality of care and support.


WRITTEN STATEMENTS

DEFENCE

Call-Out Order to Support Air Policing Operations

Minister of State , Ministry of Defence (Mark Lancaster): [HCWS1023]

Changes made by the Defence Reform Act 2014 allow reservists to be called out under

section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 if it appears to the Secretary of State that

it is necessary or desirable to use members of a reserve force for any purpose for which

members of the regular services may be used. Reservists called out under this power

may be required to serve for a period of up to twelve months.

A new order has been made under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to

enable reservists to be called into permanent service in support of the United Kingdom’s

contribution to air policing operations.

With the changing international strategic threat, I consider there is a requirement for an

order that enables the mobilisation of reservists to support tasks which provide for, or

contribute to UK air security and policing, including associated strategic tasks. This order

also provides for related activity elsewhere in the world, including, for example, the

protection of the UK’s overseas territories, providing Force Protection for air assets, in so

far as the activity provides for, or contributes, to the continued security of the UK, its

overseas territories, service people and assets.

The order takes effect from the beginning of 1 November 2018 and shall cease to have

effect at the end of 29 September 2019, making it coterminous with other standing call-

out orders.

For operations that fall outside the scope of these orders, for example Military Aid to the

Civil Authorities, or warfighting, or for operations which are likely to involve a large

number of reservists, I would expect to make separate call-out orders.

HOME OFFICE

Opt-in Decision on the Proposal of the European Parliament and the Council on

European Production Orders and European Preservation Orders for cross-border

access to electronic evidence in criminal matters

The Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd):

[HCWS1024]

Until the UK leaves it remains a full member of the European Union with all the rights and

responsibilities this entails. The Government will continue to consider the application of

the UK’s right to opt in to, or opt out of, forthcoming EU legislation in the area of Justice

and Home Affairs on a case by case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s

security, protecting our civil liberties and enhancing our ability to control immigration.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-10-22/HCWS1023/



The Government has decided not to opt in to the Proposal of the European Parliament

and the Council on European Production Orders and European Preservation Orders for

cross-border access to electronic evidence in criminal matters.

Law enforcement access to data held by service providers is an important issue and we

support the underlying objective of improving cross-border access to electronic evidence.

However, from the start of discussions on this issue, we have not supported the need for

new EU legislation. That is because it is not clear that new EU legislation will be a

practical and effective way to address the global issue of providing lawful access to data

held anywhere in the world.

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