Daily Report Tuesday, 14 May 2019 CONTENTS · 5/14/2019 · this has included allocating £1.2m to...
Transcript of Daily Report Tuesday, 14 May 2019 CONTENTS · 5/14/2019 · this has included allocating £1.2m to...
Daily Report Tuesday, 14 May 2019
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 14 May 2019 and the
information is correct at the time of publication (06:29 P.M., 14 May 2019). For the latest
information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,
please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS
ANSWERS 5
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 5
Business: Stevenage 5
Caravan Sites 5
Employment: Parents 5
Energy: Costs 6
Foreign Companies: Assets 6
Local Enterprise Partnerships:
Rural Areas 7
CABINET OFFICE 7
Brexit: Referendums 7
European Parliament:
Elections 7
Huawei: 5G 9
Politics and Government:
Scotland 9
DEFENCE 9
Armed Forces: Bullying 9
Armed Forces: Females 10
Armed Forces: Hexavalent
Chromium 10
Australia: Joint Exercises 11
Canada: Joint Exercises 11
EU Defence Policy 11
Ministry of Defence: Bullying 12
Netherlands: Military Alliances 13
Radioactive Waste: Dalgety
Bay 13
USA: Diego Garcia 14
Veterans: Criminal
Investigation 14
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 15
Mobile Broadband 15
PledgeMusic: Insolvency 15
EDUCATION 16
Academies: Land 16
Breakfast Clubs 17
Children in Care 17
Education: Rural Areas 19
English Language and
Mathematics: GCSE 19
Erasmus+ Programme 19
Graduates: Employment 20
Pre-school Education:
Disadvantaged 21
Pupils: Disadvantaged 21
Schools: Barnsley 22
Schools: Health Education 23
Schools: Inspections 23
Special Educational Needs:
Finance 24
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 24
Animal Welfare 24
Ash Dieback Disease 25
Coastal Areas: Flood Control 25
Dangerous Dogs 26
Dogs: Tagging 26
Flood Control 27
Foxes: Sites of Special
Scientific Interest 27
Hares: Rabbit Haemorrhagic
Disease 28
Health: Air Pollution 28
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare 28
Meteorology: 5G 29
Pheasants: Imports 29
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 30
Tree Planting 30
Wildlife: Smuggling 31
EXITING THE EUROPEAN
UNION 31
Department for Exiting the
European Union: Bullying 31
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 32
British Nationals Abroad:
Homophobia and Racial
Discrimination 32
Brunei: LGBT People 32
Mali: Peace Negotiations 33
Yemen: Military Intervention 33
Yemen: Peace Negotiations 34
Yemen: Politics and
Government 34
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 34
Abortion 34
Cannabis: Medical Treatments 35
General Practitioners 35
Health Education: Schools 36
Mental Health Act 1983
Independent Review 36
Mental Health Services:
Speech and Language
Disorders 36
NHS Injury Benefits Scheme 37
NHS Trusts: Rural Areas 39
NHS Walk-in Centres 39
NHS: Medical Equipment 39
NHS: Staff 40
Palliative Care 40
Police Custody: Death 41
Prescriptions: Fees and
Charges 41
Speech Therapy: Children 41
Speech Therapy: Children and
Young People 42
HOME OFFICE 42
Death Certificates: Digital
Technology 42
Immigration: Applications 42
Immigration: EU Nationals 43
Migration Advisory Committee:
Public Appointments 44
Police: Rural Areas 45
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 45
Buildings: Insulation 45
Business Premises: Change of
Use 45
Housing: Construction 46
Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local
Government: Bullying 46
Owner Occupation 47
UK Shared Prosperity Fund:
Disadvantaged 48
INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT 48
Developing Countries:
Abortion 48
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 49
Free Trade: Azerbaijan 49
JUSTICE 49
Criminal Injuries
Compensation Scheme 49
Funerals: Children 50
Landlord and Tenant 50
Magistrates: Recruitment 50
Prison Officers: Resignations 51
Prisoners: Hepatitis 51
Prisons: Education 52
Probation 55
TRANSPORT 55
High Speed 2 Railway Line 55
High Speed Two 56
Offical Cars: Exhaust
Emissions 56
Official Cars: Electric Vehicles 57
Roads: Repairs and
Maintenance 57
Taxis: Licensing 57
TREASURY 58
Cash Dispensing: Fees and
Charges 58
Child Rearing 59
Children: Maintenance 59
Mental Health Services:
Capital Investment 59
Pensions: Doctors 60
Transport: Capital Investment 61
UK Membership of EU 61
WORK AND PENSIONS 62
Department for Work and
Pensions: Immigration 62
Flexible Support Fund 62
Housing Benefit 62
Pensions 63
State Retirement Pensions:
British Nationals Abroad 64
State Retirement Pensions:
Reciprocal Arrangements 64
Television: Licensing 64
Universal Credit 65
Universal Credit: Cancer 66
MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 68
CABINET OFFICE 68
Brexit: Referendums 68
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 68
Culture: Finance 68
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 69
St Helena: Fisheries 69
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 69
Infant Foods 69
Tomography 71
WRITTEN STATEMENTS 72
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 72
May Agriculture and Fisheries
Council 72
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 72
Local Government Update 72
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: Stevenage
Stephen McPartland: [249273]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent
steps he has taken to increase support for businesses in Stevenage.
Kelly Tolhurst:
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are playing a vital role in driving forward
economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for
everyone. That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the
Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the
country firing on all cylinders.
The Government will have invested £160m Growth Deal funding in Hertfordshire by
2021, and the LEP was allocated £16.2m Growing Places Funding. The LEP has
prioritised spending on science, research and innovation, developing skills, cultivating
world-leading sectors and supporting businesses to start up and grow. In Stevenage,
this has included allocating £1.2m to the Airbus Foundation Discovery Space.
Since 2012, the Start-Up Loans Programme has delivered 71 loans in Stevenage,
worth £487, 289 to small businesses.
Caravan Sites
Mr Laurence Robertson: [251894]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals
to ban owners of caravan holiday home parks vetting potential purchasers of those
caravans; and if he will make a statement.
Kelly Tolhurst:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: The Government has made no such assessment.
Employment: Parents
Nigel Dodds: [251927]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the effectiveness of support available to parents who have to
return to work while their premature and sick babies remain in neonatal or intensive care.
Kelly Tolhurst:
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently conducted a
short, focussed internal review of the provisions for parents of premature, sick and
multiple babies for the purpose of providing advice to Minsters.
We are currently exploring a range of policy options for providing further support to
parents in this position, recognising that the UK entitlement to 52 weeks of Maternity
Leave among the most generous maternity rights in the world.
Energy: Costs
Stephen Morgan: [250517]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference
to Scope’s report Disability Price Tag 2019, what assessment he has made of the effect
of the higher energy costs faced by families with disabled children on those families.
Kelly Tolhurst:
It is particularly important that those households with higher than average energy
consumption are on a good value tariff and that their homes are energy efficient.
Our work to increase switching and improve the switching process, alongside the
price caps on default tariffs and prepayment meters, is helping to ensure that all
households pay a fair price for their energy.
Households in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence
Payment are eligible for energy efficiency measures under the Energy Company
Obligation.
Foreign Companies: Assets
Paul Farrelly: [252519]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he
plans to require companies to disclose the proportion of their assets under management
originating from countries with a poor record of human rights.
Kelly Tolhurst:
Companies registered in the UK are required to report the value of their global assets
within their annual accounts but there are no plans to introduce requirements to
report on their assets in relation to human rights.
Government has introduced other requirements on companies in relation to human
rights Quoted companies are required to report on human rights issues, as they
relate to the company, within the narrative part of their annual report. Companies
must include a description of their business model and of their policies, in relation to
human rights, and the effectiveness of those policies. The information provided must
be to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or
position of the company’s business and the impact of its activities.
These requirements are enhanced by voluntary guidance and standards, including
the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and the Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Rural Areas
Dr David Drew: [252507]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many
and which Local Enterprise Partnerships have undertaken a rural proofing review for
policies adopted during 2018-19.
Kelly Tolhurst:
The Department does not collect information relating to rural proofing reviews.
In Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships, Government set out its expectation
that all LEPs should seek to be representative of their local economies and ensure
that through their development of economic strategy for their areas, LEPs prioritise
action needed to boost productivity, earning power and competitiveness across their
local economies, rural as well as urban.
In line with the Industrial Strategy, we have set Local Enterprise Partnerships a single
mission to deliver Local Industrial Strategies to promote productivity. This should
include a focus on the foundations of productivity and identify priorities across Ideas,
People, Infrastructure, Business Environment and Places.
For many LEP areas this will involve identifying weaknesses in productivity across
their local areas, such as in isolated rural or urban communities, promoting inclusive
growth by using existing national and local funding.
CABINET OFFICE
Brexit: Referendums
Tom Brake: [252473]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April to Written
Question 246007, if he will make an assessment of the shortest possible timeframe for
legislating for a confirmatory referendum on the EU Withdrawal Agreement, in
accordance with the process described in that Answer.
Mr David Lidington:
Primary Legislation would be necessary. The length of time a Bill would take to get
through Parliament would be a matter for Parliament. The government has no plans
to hold another referendum on EU membership.
European Parliament: Elections
Mike Gapes: [252484]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will respond to (a) the letter sent to him on
28 April by the organisation New Europeans, (b) Early Day motion 2357, tabled on 1 May
and (c) the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Ilford South, of 9 May 2019 on EU
citizens voting in the European election on 23 May 2019.
Kevin Foster:
The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a UC1 form to register as an
elector in the European Parliament elections is 12 working days before the date of
the election. This is based on regulations contained within Representation of the
People Act 1983, Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations
2001, Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001, and
Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.
The rules governing the conduct of European Parliament elections provide for poll
cards only to be sent to individuals who are registered to vote in the poll or an
individual who has been appointed to vote as proxy for an elector. There is no
provision for poll cards to be issued to any other individuals.
Council Directive 93/109/EC requires all Member States to send the details of any EU
citizens' declarations to their Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice,
both here and in another EU country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to
be done "sufficiently in advance of polling day"
Mike Gapes: [252485]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that EU citizens
in the UK who wish to vote in the EU elections are able to do so by (a) making the UC1
form which EU citizens need to complete in order to declare they are not voting in another
EU member state available at all polling stations on 23 May 2019; (b) instructing all local
authorities to write by first-class mail to EU citizens to inform them they will be able to
vote by filling in a UC1 form which will be available at polling stations; and (c) directing
local authorities to send polling cards to all EU citizens and not just those who have
completed and returned the UC1 form.
Kevin Foster:
The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a UC1 form to register as an
elector in the European Parliament elections is 12 working days before the date of
the election. This is based on regulations contained within Representation of the
People Act 1983, Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations
2001, Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001, and
Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.
The rules governing the conduct of European Parliament elections provide for poll
cards only to be sent to individuals who are registered to vote in the poll or an
individual who has been appointed to vote as proxy for an elector. There is no
provision for poll cards to be issued to any other individuals.
Council Directive 93/109/EC requires all Member States to send the details of any EU
citizens' declarations to their Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice,
both here and in another EU country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to
be done "sufficiently in advance of polling day.
Huawei: 5G
Jo Platt: [252605]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2019 to
Question 250002, how many and what proportion of UK 5G operators (a) use and (b) do
not use the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre advice.
Mr David Lidington:
The annual report generated by the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre
(HCSEC) Oversight Board which includes communication service provider
representatives is publicly available. We do not track how many operators use
Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre advice.
It remains the responsibility of operators to ensure the security and resilience of their
networks, based on all the available advice from both Government and the private
sector. Ofcom are the regulator for the telecoms industry and consider whether
operators are meeting their responsibilities and investigate as appropriate.
Politics and Government: Scotland
Deidre Brock: [252113]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the results of the polling his
Department recently commissioned from Ipsos-Mori on Scottish opinion on the state of
the union.
Kevin Foster:
The Government considers publication of research in line with relevant guidelines.
DEFENCE
Armed Forces: Bullying
Mr Gregory Campbell: [252491]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many instances of alleged bullying have
been made in Northern Ireland (a) in Army Cadet Force units and (b) where the
complainant at the time of the complaint held the rank of Lieutenant or above in each of
the last three years.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
Allegations of this type are recorded under the category of bullying and harassment.
On average, 10 allegations of bullying and harassment have been made within each
of the three previous financial years by members of the Army Cadet Force units in
Northern Ireland, although this should not be taken to assume there were 10 in each
year; the numbers vary. This will include cadets and all Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
(officers, adult instructors and non-uniformed volunteers). To provide the number of
allegations made by those holding the rank of Lieutenant and above would be
disclosive given the very small number involved.
Armed Forces: Females
Stephen Gethins: [251341]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress she has made towards the
target of 15 per cent female recruitment to the armed forces by 2020.
Stephen Gethins: [251342]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion recruits to the armed forces in
2018 were female.
Mark Lancaster:
In the 12 months to 30 September 2018, 1,320 female personnel joined the UK
Regular Forces, which was 10.9 per cent of the total intake.
Data on female intake into the UK Regular Forces is published twice a year in the UK
Armed Forces Biannual Diversity Statistics publication. Figures up to 1 October 2018
were published on 13 December 2018 at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/763676/1_October_2018_Biannual_Diversity_Statistics.pdf
The Ministry of Defence is working to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workforce
at all levels, including through increased female representation. This work includes
better understanding and greater engagement with potential female recruits; targeting
recruitment campaigns; supporting candidates through the recruitment process;
opening all roles within the Armed Forces to women; and enabling Service personnel
to request fixed periods of part-time working, or varying their deployability, if
operational requirements allow it, to better fit their service career around family life.
Armed Forces: Hexavalent Chromium
Martin Docherty-Hughes: [250782]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are trained
in the application of paints containing Hexavalent Chromium; and on how many
occasions such paint was applied to military vehicles and vessels in each year since
2013.
Martin Docherty-Hughes: [250783]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the
number of (a) current and (b) former serving armed forces personnel that may have been
exposed to paint containing Hexavalent Chromium.
Stuart Andrew:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not have ready access to the information you
have requested as it is not centrally recorded. Hexavalent chromium paint is now only
used by the MOD on platforms where there is no suitable alternative and where it is
absolutely necessary to maintain defence capability and safety. The MOD is alert to
the health and safety risks associated with hexavalent chromate and provides
guidance, safety data sheets, training and working instructions for personnel known
to be working with the substance, together with personal protective equipment. The
MOD has a small number of exemptions in place for known instances of hexavalent
chromate application and is working hard to identify alternatives in these cases.
Australia: Joint Exercises
Andrew Rosindell: [251962]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what joint military exercises the UK plans to
undertake with Australia.
Mark Lancaster:
The UK and Australia continue to exercise alongside each other regularly. Plans
include:
Exercise Pacific Kukri involving elements of British Forces Brunei in Australia enabled
by the Australian Army.
Exercise Talisman Sabre, primarily a US/Australian Exercise, but also involving Royal
Marine and RAF personnel.
Exercise Diamond Strike, a US/Australian air warfare exercise, also involving a small
number of RAF personnel.
Exercise Bersama Lima, the key annual exercise for the Five Powers Defence
Arrangements, including force elements from the RAF participating alongside the
RAAF in 2019
Canada: Joint Exercises
Andrew Rosindell: [251963]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what joint military exercises the UK plans to
undertake with Canada.
Mark Lancaster:
As founding members of NATO, the UK and Canada regularly exercise together in
NATO exercises, such as the US-led Baltops this summer and the UK-led Joint
Warrior. Outside of NATO the UK and Canada plan to exercise together in a range of
different exercises, including Cutlass Fury in September 2019, Nanook-Tuugaalik in
2020 and Maple Flag in 2021 should it be reinstated by the Canadians.
EU Defence Policy
Tom Brake: [252467]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Common Security and Defence Policy
(a) missions and (b) operations the UK contributes to; and which other countries
participate in each of those missions.
Mark Lancaster:
The UK deploys personnel to two military Common Security and Defence Policy
(CSDP) operations (Operation ALTHEA and Operation SOPHIA), two military training
missions in Mali and Somalia, and three civilian missions in Georgia, Kosovo and
Ukraine. As an EU Member State, we also provide common funding for all CSDP
operations and missions, both military and civilian.
Other countries contribute personnel, equipment and funding to all of the CSDP
operations and missions in which we take part. We can provide a snapshot of
contributions by other states for the week ending 5 May 2019:
Operation ALTHEA: Austria; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Greece; Spain; France;
Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovenia; Slovakia; UK; Albania;
Switzerland; Chile; Northern Macedonia and Turkey.
Operation SOPHIA: Austria; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Germany; Denmark;
Estonia; Greece; Spain; Finland; France; Croatia; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Lithuania;
Luxembourg; Latvia; Malta; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Sweden;
Slovenia and UK.
EU Treaty Mission (EUTM) Mali: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic;
Germany; Estonia; Greece; Spain; Finland; France; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Lithuania;
Luxembourg; Latvia; Netherlands; Portugal; Romania; Sweden; Slovenia; UK;
Albania; Georgia; Montenegro and Serbia.
EUTM Somalia: Spain; Finland; Italy; Portugal; Romania' Sweden; UK and Serbia.
EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) Kosovo: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia;
Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Germany; Estonia; Greece; Spain; Finland;
France; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Lithuania; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal' Romania;
Sweden; Slovakia; Slovenia; UK and Switzerland.
EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Georgia: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Czech
Republic; Denmark; France; Germany; Estonia; Greece; Spain; Finland; Croatia;
Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Latvia; Malta; Netherlands; Poland;
Portugal; Romania; Sweden; Slovakia; Slovenia and UK.
EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine: Austria; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Germany;
Denmark; Estonia; Greece; Spain; Finland; France; Croatia; Hungary; Ireland; Italy;
Lithuania; Latvia; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Sweden; Slovakia;
Slovenia; UK and Canada.
Ministry of Defence: Bullying
Dr Matthew Offord: [251303]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate she has made of the number of
cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against managers in her
Department in each of the last five years.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The number of bullying and harassment cases recorded against managers is not
recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes bullying and harassment very seriously and will
not tolerate inappropriate behaviour of any nature. The Department is continually
assessing and identifying ways to improve the culture of the workplace, reduce
tolerance of inappropriate behaviour further, including bullying and harassment, and
making it easier for staff to report possible misconduct as well as providing more
support to staff who have experienced it, and providing more effective and quicker
routes to resolution.
The MOD has introduced a ‘SpeakSafe Helpline’ offering MOD employees a safe
space to discuss issues relating to bullying, harassment and discrimination in the
workplace with experienced practitioners, outside of their immediate workplace, who
will offer advice and support. The SpeakSafe service is impartial and confidential,
allowing callers to remain anonymous, if they wish.
Netherlands: Military Alliances
Andrew Rosindell: [252521]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to increase defence
and security cooperation with the Netherlands.
Mark Lancaster:
The Netherlands is one of the UK's closest defence and security partners and NATO
Ally, a relationship which we are enhancing further under the 2017 Joint Vision
Statement and annual Action Plan that underpins it, and through the UK-led Joint
Expeditionary Force and the Northern Group.
Radioactive Waste: Dalgety Bay
Deidre Brock: [252067]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2019 to
Question 241447 on Radioactive Waste: Dalgety Bay, what those works will entail; what
residents of Dalgety Bay and the surrounding area can expect in terms of disruption to
their lives; and what visual remediation will take place on site at the end of each period of
works.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The implementation of the agreed management strategy at Dalgety Bay involves the
removal of radium sources; the reinforcement, replacement and extension of coastal
armour stone and the construction of a replacement slipway at Dalgety Bay Sailing
Club.
It is not possible at this time to determine the amount of disruption that may be
caused by the work at Dalgety Bay as this has only recently gone to tender. Once a
contractor has been appointed, a construction plan will be developed by them in
consultation with the local council to minimise disruption.
Works on site will only be permitted between 1 April and 30 September each year. At
the end of the first season any incomplete works will be protected and made safe,
and will be completed in the following season.
USA: Diego Garcia
Nia Griffith: [252523]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her US counterparts have requested
to deploy US B-52 bombers to Diego Garcia.
Mark Lancaster:
I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to,
prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and another State.
Veterans: Criminal Investigation
Mr Marcus Jones: [252560]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the
adequacy of the pastoral support provided to veterans subject to historic investigations.
Mark Lancaster:
Within the Army's Personnel Services Group (APSG), the Operational Legacy team
coordinates welfare and pastoral support to Army veterans and serving personnel
who are subject to historical investigations. APSG has drawn together all
stakeholders (Including those in the Ministry of Defence, the appropriate Regimental
Headquarters and Associations, the Confederation of Service Charities and 'ABF -
The Soldiers' Charity') to ensure coherent pastoral support to veterans, under the
primacy of the MOD's Veterans UK. This is incorporated into the recently announced
UK-Wide Veterans' Strategy and is supported by £10 million of funding overall. I am
confident that this demonstrates that the Department has a clear strategy and is
meeting its obligations to veterans subject to historical investigations, whilst also
protecting the Army's reputation for future generations of soldiers.
Mr Marcus Jones: [252561]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if her Department will ensure that all veterans
who are under investigation in relation to historic cases in Northern Ireland are made
aware of her Department's welfare and pastoral support.
Mark Lancaster:
It is a very high priority for Defence to ensure that all personnel involved in Northern
Ireland Legacy matters are offered, free, appropriate legal and pastoral support,
taking account of individual circumstances, including health and wellbeing. For both
inquests and criminal investigations, we contact every veteran as soon as we have
been made aware of their potential involvement. This contact will signpost points of
contact within the Ministry itself, (including the MOD's 'Veterans UK'); the Army,
including the Army Personnel Services Group and Regimental Associations or
equivalent organisations and relevant charities and third sector bodies. In addition,
MOD officials are in frequent contact with veterans' organisations and other
interested bodies and make every effort to publicise this support through appropriate
channels, to ensure that the wider veterans' community has a channel through which
they can contact the Department if appropriate. We also have appropriate points of
contact so that those of whom we are not initially aware, can initiate contact with the
right people.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Mobile Broadband
Chi Onwurah: [252675]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the
findings of the report by Mobile UK on why there is little interoperability between vendors
in 4G and 5G, what assessment he has made of whether Ofcom should promote the
standarisation necessary for vendor interopability.
Margot James:
The Government supports the global standardisation system and works with major
standards bodies to understand and assist their work, as does Ofcom. The major
elements for 4G and 5G are generated through well respected standards
organisations with good industry and regulator involvement. Industry stakeholders
use these bodies to agree relevant interoperability definitions between all major
elements.
My Department is leading a cross-Government review into the supply chain
arrangements for the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. The Review is considering both
the technology and economic aspects of the supply chain & the development and
adoption of technology standards are relevant factors. The decisions of the Review
will be announced in due course.
PledgeMusic: Insolvency
Kevin Brennan: [252506]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has
taken to protect musicians and consumers after the announcement that Pledge Music
has been put into administration.
Margot James:
The Government takes the protection of consumers very seriously. It also supports
the UK music industry and fair remuneration for artists. In the event that a company is
unable to meet its contractual obligation when they fall into administration, consumers
who paid for goods using their credit card are protected under section 75 of the
Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) and should contact their card issuing company. In
some circumstances, debit card payments can be refunded through the Chargeback
scheme and consumers should seek further information from their bank.
The Insolvency Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy, acts as an impartial source of information for the public and
HMG on insolvency and redundancy matters.
EDUCATION
Academies: Land
Preet Kaur Gill: [252621]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of
the total loss of former public land to academy trusts.
Preet Kaur Gill: [252623]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the financial
value of public land which academy trusts own under contracts which do not contain the
right of his Department to acquire the land at no cost upon termination of the funding
agreement.
Nick Gibb:
When schools convert to academy status, in the vast majority of cases there is no
loss of publicly funded land. Most school sites are owned by a local authority (LA).
When such schools convert, the LA retains ownership of the land and leases it to the
academy trust. Only where a school already owns their own land prior to conversion,
and even then only in some instances, will the freehold transfer to the new academy
trust. Further information on these land arrangements are available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-land-transfer-advice.
Where publicly funded land is legally held by an academy trust, it remains ‘publicly
funded’ and therefore protected by legislation. No one can dispose or change the use
of publicly funded school land without first getting consent from my right hon. Friend,
the Secretary of State for Education. Should an academy close, or part of the land
become surplus, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has powers to return it
to the LA, to transfer it to another academy, or to return the proceeds of any sale to
the local authority.
As a further safeguard, all academy funding agreements since at least 2014 should
contain an option for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State to acquire the
academy trust’s legal interest in its land for nil consideration on the termination of the
funding agreement. A version of this option was also in common use prior to 2014,
but we do not have any central record of the rare instances in which it may have been
absent.
The Department has not estimated the financial value of land without such an option
in place. This is because even where this may be the case, all publicly funded land at
academies remains subject to Schedule 1 of the Academies Act 2010. This allows
the Secretary of State to direct the transfer of the land back to the local authority, or
another academy trust, should the school cease to be an academy or seek to dispose
of the land.
Breakfast Clubs
Sir David Evennett: [251244]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Chapter 1 of the Childhood
Obesity Plan, what progress he has made on implementing the Government's
commitment to fund healthy breakfast clubs in schools.
Nadhim Zahawi:
A contract was awarded to Family Action in March 2018 and will run until March
2020. Family Action, in partnership with Magic Breakfast, have both been named as
the leading charities responsible for running the Breakfast Club programme. Family
Action are distributing the appropriate funding to participating schools who meet the
eligibility criteria.
Eligible schools receive a one off £500 grant payment which they are free to use as
they deem appropriate, such as purchasing a toaster, to help set up their breakfast
club. Schools also receive a dedicated programme of support from Family Action,
including assistance in the establishment of each breakfast club.
In March 2019 Family Action confirmed that they have reached their recruitment
target of 1,775 schools.
Children in Care
Vicky Foxcroft: [252096]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department holds on the
number of children of offenders currently in the care system.
Vicky Foxcroft: [252107]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an
assessment of the cost to the public purse of children of offenders taken into care in the
latest period for which data is available.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The department does not collect information specifically on the number of children of
offenders taken into care and the costs associated with this.
Information is collected on the main category of need for which a child is looked-after,
including low income, family in acute stress or family dysfunction, but within those
categories offending by a parent is not identified separately as a reason for a child to
be looked-after. The main category of need is dependent on an individual child’s
circumstances; not solely a shared characteristic of parental offending. Children who
are in need simply because a parent has been imprisoned but the reason for
imprisonment bears no relation to the child being in need can be included as in need
under the category of absent parenting.
The cost of support and care placements varies across individual children. Local
authorities are required to submit their spending on children in care to my right hon.
Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, which is published annually. We also
publish information on the average weekly unit costs of looked after children, by local
authority, in the Local Authority Interactive Tool.
Tim Farron: [252568]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the
(a) number of and (b) reasons for children being taken into care.
Tim Farron: [252574]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to reduce the
number of children being taken into care; and what assessment he has made of the
effectiveness of measures implemented by his Department to support that aim.
Nadhim Zahawi:
Information on the number of children who started to be looked after during the year
by reason is published in Table C1 in the statistical release ‘Children Looked After in
England including Adoption’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-
looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018. Information for children
taken into care is shown in the attached tabled.
The government wants every child to be in a stable, loving home that is right for
them. One of the key principles of the legislation which underpins the UK’s child
protection system, is that children are best looked after within their families. However,
that is not always possible and, as a last resort, local authorities can apply to the
courts for a care or supervision order where the child is suffering, or is at risk of
suffering, significant harm. In making their decisions, the courts must be satisfied that
the threshold for significant harm has been met and that taking the child from his or
her family’s care will be in the child’s best interests.
Where a child cannot live at home, we must make sure they are safe and receive the
highest quality care, which is why we are working hard to improve the social care
support for children across England through our reform programme, Putting Children
First. We have also established the Children’s Social Care What Works Centre,
whose initial research priority focuses on ‘what works in safely reducing the need for
children to enter care’.
In the Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
announced an additional £410 million for adult and children’s social care in 2019-20.
A further £84 million is also being invested over the next 5 years through the
Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme. This programme will support
up to 20 local authorities with high or rising demand for children’s social care services
to improve the support offered to vulnerable children and their families. Through this,
we aim to enable more children to stay at home thriving in stable family
environments, and safely reduce the number of children entering care.
Across the government, we are also tackling the problems that cause children to be
in need in the first place. This includes better supporting those with alcohol-
dependent parents, the introduction of landmark legislation for those affected by
domestic abuse, preventing young people being drawn into serious violence, and
unprecedented investment in early years education and support for children and
young people’s mental health.
Attachments:
1. 252568_252574_Table [252568_252574_Children_In_Care_Table.doc]
Education: Rural Areas
Dr David Drew: [252478]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which (a) Local Education Authorities and (b)
Academy Chains undertook a rural proofing review of policies adopted in 2018-19.
Nick Gibb:
The information requested is not held centrally.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published guidance on
rural proofing for which local authorities, and others, can apply if they wish. The
information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rural-
proofing.
English Language and Mathematics: GCSE
David Simpson: [251989]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to introduce Essential skills
Maths and English for students with lower levels of attainment in respect of the GCSE
curriculum.
Anne Milton:
The government recognises the importance of English and maths both in work and
everyday life. In England, we want to ensure that pupils benefit from reformed
GCSEs, which are the gold standard qualification at 16. The new GCSEs are better
at equipping young people with the literacy and numeracy required for further study
and employment.
Students in England who leave school without a GCSE grade 4/C or above in English
and maths have to continue studying these subjects.
Post-16 students with prior attainment of a GCSE grade 2 or below have a choice of
which qualification to study including GCSEs and functional skills qualifications. We
are reforming functional skills qualifications to improve their rigour and relevance, as
well as improving their recognition amongst employers.
Erasmus+ Programme
Dr Lisa Cameron: [251375]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with
representatives of the devolved governments on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme.
Chris Skidmore:
The UK as a whole participates in the Erasmus+ Programme and the department is
the national authority for the programme in the UK. The department oversees the
work of the UK National Agency, which is responsible for the management and
delivery of the programme across the UK, including in the devolved administrations.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and I regularly discuss
matters relating to education and exiting the EU with the devolved administrations.
For example, last month I met with my counterparts from the devolved
administrations to discuss higher education in relation to our exit from the EU, which
included a discussion on Erasmus+.
Department officials also hold regular meetings on the topic of Erasmus+ with
officials from the devolved administrations to ensure close cooperation on this matter.
The department will continue to closely engage with the devolved administrations
going forward and ensure that their views are taken into account with regards to the
future of the Erasmus+ Programme.
Graduates: Employment
Paul Farrelly: [250754]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to data in the Office for
National Statistics's quarterly Economic Review published on 2 May 2019, what
assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding that 31 per cent
of graduates had more education than was required for the job they were doing in 2017;
and what steps the Government is taking to make more effective use of graduates' skills
and education.
Chris Skidmore:
Employment outcomes for graduates are strong. The recently published Graduate
Labour Market Statistics 2018 shows that the employment rate of working-age
graduates was 87.7% in 2018, which is 0.3% higher than 2017. This employment rate
is 16.1% higher than the rate for non-graduates (71.6%). 65.4% of working-age
graduates were employed in highly skilled roles, compared with 22.9% of non-
graduates.
The government’s Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost productivity
by backing businesses to create good jobs and increase the earning power of people
throughout the UK by investing in skills, industries and infrastructure. Through this
plan, £120 million was provided to fund collaboration between businesses and
universities to stimulate local innovation through the Strength in Places Fund.
The primary aim of the Office for Students’ (OfS), the higher education regulator, is to
ensure that higher education delivers positive outcomes for students and that it has a
regulatory focus to ensure that students are able to progress into employment or
further study. The OfS supports graduate employment outcomes in a number of
ways. This includes a Challenge Competition, which aims to boost local employment
outcomes, and the Institute of Coding, which aims to boost UK digital skills and
graduate outcomes.
The government has been improving the information available to students to help
them make informed choices when making decisions on higher education providers
and subject choice. For example, Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes
Frameworks, Longitudinal Education Outcomes data and the Higher Education Open
Data Competition all provide information to prospective students.
Pre-school Education: Disadvantaged
Dan Carden: [250799]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department collects to monitor
the effectiveness of money allocated from the public purse to early years early
intervention strategies in (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The Public Health Outcomes Framework is a comprehensive source of data at local
authority unitary, county and district level on the extent to which local strategies are
successful and effective in improving outcomes for children in the early years. It is
available at the following link: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/public-health-
outcomes-framework.
The framework includes data on outcomes for children aged 5 from the Early Years
Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP). Further information on the EYFSP is broken down
by local authority and available to view at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results-
2017-to-2018.
We do not publish this data at constituency or combined authority level.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Lucy Powell: [251400]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children classified as in scope for
the 16-18 English progress measure from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-disadvantaged
backgrounds (i) achieved a grade 4 in English, (ii) made positive progress, (iii) did not
enter an approved English qualification by the end of 16-18 study in 2017-18 by each
prior attainment grade.
Lucy Powell: [251401]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children classified as in scope for
the 16-18 English progress measure from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-disadvantaged
backgrounds by prior attainment achieved (i) a GCSE grade 3 or D and (ii) other level 2
qualification; and whether they (A) did not enter an approved qualification, (B) achieved a
grade 4 or above (or equivalent) and (C) made positive progress in 2017-18.
Lucy Powell: [251402]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children classified as in scope for
the 16-18 English progress measure were from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-
disadvantaged backgrounds in 2017-18 by each prior attainment grade.
Lucy Powell: [251403]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children classified as in scope for
the 16-18 maths progress measure from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-disadvantaged
backgrounds achieved a grade 4 in maths by the end of 16-18 study in 2017-18 by each
prior attainment grade.
Lucy Powell: [251405]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for a breakdown of the number of children
classified as in scope for the 16-18 maths progress measure from (a) disadvantaged and
(b) non-disadvantaged backgrounds by prior attainment qualification of (i) GCSE grade 3
or D (ii) other level 2 qualification; and whether they (A) did not enter an approved
qualification, (B) achieved a grade 4 or above (or equivalent) and (C) made positive
progress in 2017-18.
Lucy Powell: [251406]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children classified as in scope for
the 16-18 maths progress measure were from (a) disadvantaged and (b) non-
disadvantaged backgrounds in 2017-18 by each prior attainment grade.
Nick Gibb:
The number of state-funded students in scope for the 16-18 mathematics and English
measures and their attainment, split by disadvantage status[1] and prior attainment,
are provided in the attached tables. This expands on published data within the
Department’s statistical release[2].
[1] Disadvantage status is taken from the census recorded completed for that
student’s final year of key stage 4 study.
[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results-2017-
to-2018-revised. Main text, page 30-32.
Attachments:
1. 251400_251401_251402_251403_251405_251406_table
[251400_251401_251402_251403_251405_251406_table.pdf]
Schools: Barnsley
Stephanie Peacock: [251382]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the announcement entitled,
Schools backed to tackle bad behaviour, published on 4 May 2019, how much funding his
Department plans to allocated to schools in Barnsley.
Stephanie Peacock: [251383]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the announcement entitled,
Schools backed to tackle bad behaviour, published on 4 May 2019, how many schools in
Barnsley will be allocated funding.
Nick Gibb:
The £10 million investment announced on 4 May 2019, will enable schools to share
best practice on behaviour and classroom management. Behaviour support networks
will be made up of schools that have exemplary behaviour management practices
and effective whole-school cultures. They will work with other schools offering advice
on ways to better manage behaviour using measures that have been effective in
successful schools.
Decisions on where these networks will be set up will be via an open application
process to recruit suitable lead schools who can demonstrate their behaviour
expertise and capacity to work with a small group of other schools to improve. The
Department will provide more detail on the application process in the autumn term to
enable the first behaviour support networks to be in place for September 2020.
Schools: Health Education
Fiona Bruce: [252525]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure the new
Abortion and Abortion Care Fact Sheet for schools is balanced and objective in its use of
language.
Nick Gibb:
The Abortion and Abortion Care Factsheet was produced by the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive
Healthcare.
Schools are free to determine which resources they use, including materials to
develop professional knowledge. Head teachers and subject specialists are best
placed to make those decisions. The Department does not prescribe what must and
must not be used.
Many schools work with specialist subject associations who help schools to access
high quality materials, including resources that they have quality assured.
The Department is clear that in teaching about sensitive issues such as abortion, any
teaching must be age-appropriate.
Schools: Inspections
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [252627]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in England that are due to
close have been inspected by Ofsted in the last 12 months; how much did each such
inspection cost; and what the outcomes were of each of those inspections.
Nick Gibb:
This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked
her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries
of both Houses.
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [252629]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much notice (a) schools and (b) local
authorities are given for Ofsted school inspections.
Nick Gibb:
This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked
her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries
of both Houses.
Special Educational Needs: Finance
Geraint Davies: [250743]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the
implications for his Department's policies of the findings of the National Education Union,
published on 15 April 2019, that SEND provision in England has had a £1.2bn shortfall in
funding increases from Government since 2015.
Nadhim Zahawi:
High needs funding has risen by £1 billion since 2013 to £6.3 billion this year.
However, we recognise that local authorities and schools are continuing to face cost
pressures. Funding levels for future years will be determined by the next Spending
Review.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Animal Welfare
Grant Shapps: [252554]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the
Government has plans to improve animal rights after the UK leaves the EU.
David Rutley:
We will maintain and enhance our high animal welfare standards as we leave the EU.
We recently laid legislation to ban travelling circuses from using wild animals and to
tackle puppy farming by ending third party sales. We have made CCTV mandatory in
slaughterhouses and are introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales
to protect elephants from poaching. Each of these measures goes further than EU
rules require.
Ash Dieback Disease
Dr Matthew Offord: [251296]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his
Department provides to local authorities to help safely dispose of trees felled as a result
of Ash dieback disease.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
Under the Occupiers Liability Act, individual landowners are responsible for the care
and management of trees on their land. We encourage all landowners to think
strategically about the management of their ash trees, and use the recently published
Forestry Commission guidance and the Tree Council’s ash dieback toolkit, to adopt
best practice and help reduce the impact of this disease on our landscape.
Onward spread of ash dieback via wood/timber is considered to be a low risk, so ash
wood may be moved without restriction within Great Britain (England, Scotland and
Wales), to help landowners recover some of the value from the timber.
Dr Matthew Offord: [251297]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made on the cost to the public purse of Ash dieback disease.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
We do not collate costs relating to felling of diseased ash. Individual landowners,
including local authorities, are responsible for the care and management of ash trees
on their land. The cost of ash dieback will differ between local authorities, depending
on the prevalence of ash trees and the concentration of those trees that are affected
by the disease. Council budgets for the care and management of trees on their land
are determined by individual local authorities.
Defra funds work on horizon scanning, border biosecurity, disease surveillance,
contingency planning and research as part of an extensive programme of work on
plant health. For example, since 2012 the Government has invested over £6 million in
ash dieback research.
Coastal Areas: Flood Control
Chris Ruane: [252510]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the number of miles of English coastline which are deemed unbeneficial for
flood protection or adaption.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
This is a devolved matter and the answer applies to England.
The Government has not made any such assessment. Shoreline management plans
prepared and approved by local authorities contain details of expected levels of
protection.
Dangerous Dogs
Mr Jim Cunningham: [252517]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment
his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing behaviour testing of dogs
banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in order to reduce the number of dogs
needlessly destroyed.
David Rutley:
A dangerous dogs exemption scheme already operates under the Dangerous Dogs
Act 1991 which allows the Courts to decide that individual dogs of types subject to
the general prohibition may be kept, subject to certain conditions, if they are
considered not to represent a risk to the general public based on the dog’s
temperament and behaviour and that the owner is a fit and proper person.
Mr Jim Cunningham: [252518]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the effectiveness of breed specific legislation in reducing the number of
dog attacks.
David Rutley:
The Government considers that the general prohibition on certain types of dog bred
for fighting, or that share the characteristics of dogs bred for fighting, should remain in
place. Evidence shows that pitbull type dogs are responsible for a disproportionate
number of attacks on people and fatalities, and should not be kept without individual
dogs being subject to a public safety test including that the owner is a fit and proper
person. We have not seen any evidence that shows removing the general prohibition
would reduce the number of dog attacks.
Dogs: Tagging
Mr Jim Cunningham: [252516]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislation for mandatory
microchip scanning for all pet dogs at routine visits to the veterinarian.
David Rutley:
The Government agrees with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) that it is good
practice for veterinary practices to scan dogs that are presented to them, and
particularly for the first time, but that it should not be compulsory for them to do so, as
in some circumstances this might deter some owners from presenting their dogs at
veterinary practices for much needed treatment.
On 23 April 2019, I understand representatives of the group Vets Get Scanning and
the BVA met to discuss this issue. The BVA has undertaken to remind veterinary
practices to scan dogs in line with best practice and help owners understand the
importance of keeping their microchipping records up to date.
Flood Control
Chris Ruane: [252511]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is
taking to improve the resilience of (a) homes and (b) businesses against flooding.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England
only.
In England, we are working with the commercial and technical sectors through a
business led Property Flood Resilience Roundtable, to increase the uptake of flood
resilience approaches (recoverability and resistance), both by homes and
businesses, in areas at risk of flooding.
Flood Re was established in 2016 to help improve the affordability and availability of
Flood Insurance for homes at high risk of flooding across the whole of the UK
(including Wales). Flood Re is required to take action to help the flood insurance
market transition to one that is risk reflective by 2039. This includes exploring ways in
which Flood Re can help improve the uptake of flood resilience measures in homes
at risk of flooding.
Our investment programme will better protect at least 300,000 homes from the risk of
all flooding and coastal erosion by 2020/21. Up to 60,000 commercial properties have
also benefited from better protection thanks to these schemes.
Property Flood Resistance schemes are eligible for GIA and are used where it is
technically or financially difficult to use other mechanisms and for residual risk to
increase the level of protection from an asset.
Foxes: Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr Laurence Robertson: [249820]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with Natural England on the provision of information on fox
numbers in each site of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
I have been well informed of the discussions that my officials are having with Natural
England (NE) on this issue. NE’s licencing process for badger control includes a
detailed assessment of effects on protected wildlife sites such as sites of special
scientific interest (SSSIs). In 2018, NE’s successful defence of judicial review
proceedings against these assessments included a commitment to review its
procedures on and within 2km of SSSIs, where they support bird species which may
be vulnerable to a potential increase in fox predation as a result of a reduction in
badger numbers. NE will collect information in order to make a judgement on whether
sufficient fox control is taking place to avoid this potential risk.
Hares: Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease
George Eustice: [251977]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to
the confirmation of cases of type 2 rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in hares in January
2019, what epidemiological modelling (a) his Department and (b) the Animal and Plant
Health Agency have conducted to assess the potential effect of that disease on the hare
population.
David Rutley:
There has not been any epidemiological modelling on rabbit haemorrhagic disease in
hares carried out by Defra or the Animal and Plant Health Agency. There is
insufficient evidence on rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in hares to allow valid
modelling.
Health: Air Pollution
Angela Smith: [251249]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what steps his
Department took to alert (a) children, (b) older people, (c) people with health conditions
and (d) other vulnerable groups to the pollution episodes that occurred across England
between 4-26 April 2019.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
During episodes of elevated air pollution (including the episodes between 4-26 April
2019), Defra works closely with Public Health England and a network of health
charities to ensure that key health messages are communicated to those who are
vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, in addition to communicating through our
normal digital channels.
Defra’s Daily Air Quality Index ( https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/daqi ) assists
in understanding air pollution levels and suggests recommended actions and health
advice. Such advice applies to anyone experiencing symptoms.
Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
Mr Roger Godsiff: [250745]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions
he has had with the British Horseracing Authority on the death of the horse named Up
For Review during the Grand National race.
Mr Roger Godsiff: [250747]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether autopsies
were carried out on racehorses Crucial Role and Up For Review after the Grand National
meeting.
David Rutley:
The Government is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both
during their racing lives and afterwards and any racehorse fatality is one too many.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is responsible for the safety of racehorses at
British racecourses, including the Grand National. The BHA works alongside the
RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible. However,
both I and the BHA consider that more can be done to make horseracing safer which
is why I have been holding regular discussions with the BHA about this, including the
fatalities at the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival 2019 as well at any other
racetrack.
On 14 May, I am due to meet the BHA Chair and the new independent Chair of the
BHA’s newly appointed Horse Welfare Board when I will again press them on what
progress they are making to improve racehorse safety and what further lessons have
been learned from this year’s Grand National and Cheltenham Festival.
The Government understands that the BHA carried out post-mortem examinations on
all three horses which incurred fatal injuries at the Aintree Grand National meeting.
Meteorology: 5G
Sir Mark Hendrick: [251230]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment
his Department has made of the effect of the introduction 5G services on the accuracy of
weather forecast predictions.
Mr Robert Goodwill:
Defra Digital Data and Technology Services (DDTS) has been tracking, through its
emerging technology scanning activity, the recent news on the potential impact of the
introduction of 5G services on the accuracy of weather forecast predictions. Defra
DDTS has not undertaken any assessment of this potential impact, and is not aware
of any such assessment being undertaken within Defra.
The Environment Agency and the Met Office Flood Forecasting Service would be
expected to undertake such an assessment, but this service is not within core Defra.
Pheasants: Imports
Mr Roger Godsiff: [250746]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many
pheasant (a) eggs for hatching and (b) live birds were imported into England from each
(a) EU country and (b) third country in the last year for which figures are available.
David Rutley:
The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into England from the
EU in 2018 was:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TOTAL
Hatching Eggs France 13,070,875
Poland 1,211,480
Portugal 15,000
Spain 943,620
Hatching Eggs Total 15,240,975
Live Birds Belgium 12,000
France 5,943,220
Live Birds Total 5,955,220
The number of pheasant hatching eggs and live birds imported into the UK from third
countries in 2018 was:
Hatching eggs – 91,560
Live birds – 5,250
All imports were from the USA.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency is not able to determine how many of the above
imports from third countries were imported into England.
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease
George Eustice: [251979]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research
projects (a) his Department and (b) his department's agencies have (i) commissioned and
(ii) plan to commission into type 2 rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus.
David Rutley:
There are diagnostic tests and vaccines for rabbit haemorrhagic disease available for
use in rabbits. We have no immediate plans for additional research, but will keep this
under review.
Tree Planting
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [252670]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he
has made on the target to plant eleven million trees between 2015 and 2020.
David Rutley:
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England
only.
The Government has planted 15 million trees since 2010, and remains committed to
planting 11 million trees in this Parliament, 2017-22. Woodland creation is a key
activity of our 25 Year Environment Plan.
The Forestry Commission routinely publishes statistics on planting rates as part of its
Corporate Performance Indicators. The latest figures show that from April 2017 to
end March 2019 at least 3.2 million trees have been planted, equivalent to
approximately 2,083 hectares of woodland creation.
The Government’s support for this woodland creation has predominantly been from
the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further Government support has been through
the Environment Agency and National Forest Company.
In the Autumn Budget the Government announced an additional £60 million for tree
planting initiatives, comprising £10 million to fund urban tree planting and £50 million
for a Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme. This will add to other new planting in the
pipeline, supported by the High Speed 2 Woodland Fund, the Woodland Carbon
Fund and the Government’s kick start investment in the Northern Forest.
Wildlife: Smuggling
John Lamont: [251333]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the
Government is taking to tackle the illegal wildlife trade coming through Scottish ports and
airports.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
The UK is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) which regulates the wildlife trade and protects endangered wildlife from
unsustainable trade. These obligations are effected in the UK through the EU Wildlife
Trade Regulations. The issuance of CITES import, export and re-export permits is
administered in the UK by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Compliance with the
regulations and licensing requirements is enforced across all UK borders.
EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION
Department for Exiting the European Union: Bullying
Dr Matthew Offord: [251311]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made
of the number of cases of bullying and harassment that have been recorded against
managers in his Department in each of the last five years.
Kwasi Kwarteng:
The Department for Exiting the European Union is committed to being an inclusive
workplace where people can bring their whole selves to work. We care about the
wellbeing of our staff and have committed to taking a zero tolerance approach to
bullying and harassment.
We fully investigate all claims of bullying and harassment and take action in line with
Departmental policies as appropriate. We have also introduced fair treatment
ambassadors to provide another avenue for staff to receive support and signposting,
as well as initiatives to help individuals, especially managers, recognise and resolve
instances of bullying and harassment.
As the Department was created within the last 5 years, we only have records from
2017:
2015: 0
2016: 0
2017:
2018:
2019: 0
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
British Nationals Abroad: Homophobia and Racial Discrimination
Chi Onwurah: [252046]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his
Department has issued to UK citizens on the prevalence of (a) racism and (b)
homophobia when travelling abroad.
Harriett Baldwin:
We advise British people travelling abroad on LGBT+ issues in the Local laws and
customs section of the travel advice. This includes a dedicated guidance page on
travel advice for LGBT+. For countries where we have evidence to suggest racial
discrimination may occur, we include information in the Safety and security section of
the travel advice.
Brunei: LGBT People
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [250501]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the
Answer of 25 April 2019 to Question 245924 on Brunei: LGBT People, what meetings he
has had with his counterpart in Brunei on the implementation of anti-LGBT laws in that
country; and what the outcomes of those meetings has been.
Mark Field:
The Foreign Secretary spoke to Brunei’s Foreign Minister, Dato Erywan, on 4 April to
express the UK’s concerns about the impact of the Sharia Penal Code. On 11 April,
the Foreign Secretary and I met Dato Erywan and the Finance Minister, Dato Amin
Liew, in London. The Prime Minister wrote to His Majesty The Sultan on 1 May
encouraging the Sultan of Brunei to respond to international concerns.
We welcome the assurances thereafter provided by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei
on 5 May; in particular, confirmation that the de facto moratorium on the death
penalty will apply to punishments under the Sharia Penal Code and that His Majesty
the Sultan will commit to ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Following this announcement, I again met Dato Erywan and Dato Amin Liew on 7
May in London followed by a letter from the Foreign Secretary on 9 May.
The announcement by His Majesty demonstrates the importance of engaging in
respectful dialogue and diplomacy to address sensitive issues. The assurances
provided by His Majesty the Sultan are positive and go some way to addressing our
anxieties about the human rights situation in Brunei. However, we urge Brunei to
build on these assurances and formalise its commitment to respect individual
freedoms and minorities.
Mali: Peace Negotiations
Mr Jim Cunningham: [252522]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is
taking to promote peace in Mali.
Harriett Baldwin:
The Government continues to be concerned about the situation in Mali. We reiterate
our previous calls on the parties to the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement to take
immediate steps to advance the peace process. We are also deeply concerned by
the increase in terrorist and intercommunal attacks in the centre of Mali. We underline
the need for security efforts to be accompanied by inclusive political and institutional
reform, as well as initiatives to promote economic development.
Yemen: Military Intervention
Geraint Davies: [251194]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his
Department has received confirmation that Saudi Arabia will investigate the bomb attack
that damaged a Save the Children-supported hospital in Kitaf, Yemen on 26 March 2019.
Dr Andrew Murrison:
We are deeply concerned of reports of an alleged airstrike on a petrol station at a
hospital facility on 26 March 2019. UK officials have been in contact with Save the
Children, who fund the hospital, about this alleged incident and have raised this
matter with the Saudi-led Coalition, who have announced an investigation.
Richard Burden: [251887]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department
will take steps to establish an independent investigation into the bombing of a de-
conflicted hospital in Kitaf, Yemen on 26 March 2019.
Dr Andrew Murrison:
We are deeply concerned of reports of an alleged airstrike on a petrol station at a
hospital facility on 26 March 2019. UK officials have been in contact with Save the
Children, who fund the hospital, about this alleged incident and have raised this
matter with the Saudi-led Coalition, who have announced an investigation.
Yemen: Peace Negotiations
Helen Whately: [910888]
What diplomatic steps he is taking to support a peace process in Yemen.
Dr Andrew Murrison:
The security situation in Yemen is of great concern. Working with partners and
agencies, we are monitoring developments and doing all we can to end the conflict.
The UK has played a leading role in diplomatic efforts and will continue to do so. My
Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Yemen in March. He also
hosted a ministerial Quad meeting last month to discuss implementation of the
Hodeidah agreement and next steps in the political process. I welcome reports over
the weekend that the Houthis have begun their withdrawal from Hodeidah.I look
forward to receiving independent verification from the UN and hearing the
assessment of the UN Special Envoy during his briefing to the Security Council.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Kevin Brennan: [910882]
What recent discussions he has had with international agencies on the security situation
in Yemen.
Dr Andrew Murrison:
The security situation in Yemen is of great concern. Working with partners and
agencies, we are monitoring developments and doing all we can to end the conflict.
The UK has played a leading role in diplomatic efforts and will continue to do so. My
Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Yemen in March. He also
hosted a ministerial Quad meeting last month to discuss implementation of the
Hodeidah agreement and next steps in the political process. I welcome reports over
the weekend that the Houthis have begun their withdrawal from Hodeidah. I look
forward to receiving independent verification from the UN and hearing the
assessment of the UN Special Envoy during his briefing to the Security Council.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Abortion
Fiona Bruce: [252572]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has
carried out studies on the effect on men of a partner electing to have and having an
abortion, particularly in relation to men's mental health.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Department has not commissioned research on the effect on men of a partner
electing to have and having an abortion.
Cannabis: Medical Treatments
Tom Brake: [252465]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is
taking to (a) increase public consultation on the creation of interim guidance for medicinal
cannabis and (b) ensure patient and health professional organisations are engaged in the
Department’s working group on medicinal cannabis.
Seema Kennedy:
The Department does not have a standing working group on medicinal cannabis. It
has, however, held a number of engagement events with representatives of patients
and health professionals in relation to this policy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been
commissioned to update and replace interim clinical guidelines on the prescribing of
cannabis-based products for medicinal use by October 2019. NICE has consulted
with a wide range of stakeholders on the draft scope of the guidelines, including a
stakeholder workshop held on 6 November 2018, which was attended by patient and
health professional organisations. NICE is expected to issue a public consultation on
draft guidelines, which will commence in summer 2019. Anyone interested in this
topic, who wants to be involved in the consultation process, can register as a
stakeholder at www.nice.org.uk by searching “GID-NG10124”.
General Practitioners
Jo Stevens: [252606]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his
Department has made of trends in the number of GPs per 100,000 people in England
since 2010.
Seema Kennedy:
The number of general practitioners (GPs) and clinical staff per 100,000 registered
patients is available in the table attached for the years 2015-18 (headcount and full-
time-equivalent (FTE)). Data is not included prior to 2015. GP locums are excluded
as improvements have been made to GP locum recording methodology and figures
are not comparable prior to December 2017.
The recently published NHS Long Term Plan made a clear commitment to the future
of general practice, with primary and community care set to receive at least £4.5
billion more in real terms a year by 2023/24, meaning spending on these services will
grow faster than the rising NHS budget. Since the launch of the Long Term Plan,
NHS England and the British Medical Association’s General Practitioners Committee
have agreed a five-year GP (General Medical Services) contract framework from
2019/20. The new contract framework will be essential to deliver the ambitions set
out in the NHS Long Term Plan through strong general practice services.
Attachments:
1. Regular GP Table [PQ252606 Annex 1 GPs per 100000 patients table formatted.docx]
Health Education: Schools
Fiona Bruce: [252573]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has
taken to check the scientific veracity of the new Abortion and Abortion Care Fact Sheet
for schools.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Department is aware that an Abortion and Abortion Care Fact Sheet has been
produced for schools to inform factually accurate, evidence-based education about
abortion. The factsheet is based on the latest research and is published by the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the national medical authority on
abortion. It is for individual schools to determine whether they use the factsheet.
Mental Health Act 1983 Independent Review
Neil Coyle: [251344]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the
Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, published in December 2018, what
progress his Department, when his Department plans to respond to the recommendations
contained in that review.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
We are considering the report and its recommendations in detail and will respond in
due course. We remain committed to reforming mental health law and will develop
and bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
We have already accepted two important recommendations: the establishment of
new statutory advance choice documents, so that people’s wishes and preferences
carry far more legal weight, and the creation of a new role of ‘nominated person’, to
be chosen by the patient, to replace the current nearest relative provisions.
Mental Health Services: Speech and Language Disorders
Geraint Davies: [250738]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve
access to adult NHS mental health services for people with speech, language and
communication needs.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Department is working hard to improve mental health services for all adults,
including those with speech, language and communication needs, so that many more
people can access the high-quality, vital mental health support they need.
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) commission local services, including mental
health services, on behalf of their local populations taking into account local needs
and priorities. CCGs and NHS England have a duty to have regard to the need to
reduce inequalities in access to health services and the outcomes achieved.
Under the NHS Long Term Plan, local areas will design and implement models of
care that are age appropriate, closer to home and bring together physical and mental
health services. These models will support health development by providing holistic
care across local authority and NHS services, including primary care, community
services, speech and language therapy, school nursing, oral health, acute and
specialised services.
The National Implementation Framework, to be published later this spring, will
provide further information on how the NHS Long Term Plan will drive improvements
in people’s mental health care.
NHS Injury Benefits Scheme
Hywel Williams: [250442]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications for
permanent injury benefit under the NHS Injury Benefits Scheme have been made in each
year since 2002; and what proportion of those applications have been successful.
Stephen Hammond:
The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for the administration of the
NHS Injury Benefits Scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State. The following table
shows the number of applications for permanent injury benefit under the NHS Injury
Benefits Scheme received by the NHS Business Services Authority in each scheme
year since 2002.
YEAR NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVED
2002 678
2003 710
2004 765
2005 584
2006 465
2007 349
2008 524
2009 520
2010 381
2011 312
YEAR NUMBER OF CASES RECEIVED
2012 301
2013 208
2014 212
2015 176
2016 106
2017 77
2018 94
2019 18
Information is not held in the format requested on the number of successful
applications, and it would incur disproportionate cost to the NHS Business Services
Authority to interrogate individual member records to produce this data.
Hywel Williams: [250444]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the potential merits of reviewing the permanent injury benefit system under the NHS
injury benefits scheme.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department has made no recent assessment of reviewing the NHS Injury
Benefits Scheme. A partnership review of the Scheme was conducted by NHS
Employers and Trade Unions of the NHS Injury Benefit provisions in 2013, and new
arrangements came into force from 1 April 2013.
Hywel Williams: [250445]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the efficacy of the NHS Business Services Authority in processing applications for
permanent injury benefit under the NHS injury benefits scheme.
Stephen Hammond:
The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for the administration of the
NHS Injury Benefits Scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Injury Benefits
Scheme covers NHS workers with injuries or diseases contracted through their
employment before 31 March 2013.
The NHS Business Services Authority will process Injury Benefits applications
received up to and including 30 March 2018 but only in respect of injuries or diseases
occurring on or before 30 March 2013. An exception to this rule is that the NHS
Business Services Authority will process Injury Benefit applications received by 30
March 2038 for applicants who can provide evidence that there has been a delayed
onset of their symptoms, such that application was not possible before 30 March
2018.
The NHS Business Services Authority has always had a dedicated team to process
Injury Benefit applications, and the Department is content with the efficacy of their
administration.
NHS Trusts: Rural Areas
Dr David Drew: [252476]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS Trusts undertook a
rural proofing review of policies adopted for 2018-2019.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The information requested is not centrally held.
NHS Walk-in Centres
Gareth Thomas: [250425]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for Clinical
Commissioning Groups to phase out the provision of walk-in centres.
Stephen Hammond:
NHS England is committed to providing the most appropriate out-of-hospital urgent
care, which is simple for patients to navigate. In response to the review of urgent
treatment services in the National Health Service (published in 2015), patients and
the public said that they felt confused by the mix of walk-in centres, minor injuries
units and urgent care centres, in addition to numerous general practitioner health
centres and surgeries offering varied levels of core and extended service.
The ‘Next Steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View’ set out plans for the roll-out of
urgent treatment centres. Following the publication of ‘Urgent Treatment Centres –
Principles and Standards’ in July 2017, systems have been developing their plans for
local service provision.
The NHS Long Term Plan has reiterated the intent to fully implement the Urgent
Treatment Centre model by autumn 2020, so that all localities have a consistent offer
for out-of-hospital urgent care.
NHS: Medical Equipment
Tom Brake: [252469]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1
May to Question 246433, which products purchased in preparation for the UK leaving the
EU without a deal his Department had to dispose of as a result of expiry dates being
before 29 March 2019.
Stephen Hammond:
There are no products purchased by the Department in preparation for leaving the
European Union without a deal that have had to be disposed of as a result of expiry
dates before 29 March 2019.
NHS: Staff
Mr George Howarth: [250441]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the interim
recommendations of Baroness Dido Harding's Workforce Implementation Plan will be
published.
Stephen Hammond:
Following the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan in January this year, the
National Health Service has been working with a broad range of experts to lead the
development of a new People Plan. The aim of the plan is to provide clarity and detail
to the 10-year workforce vision set out in the Long Term Plan, including making sure
the NHS has the staff it needs.
The plan’s initial recommendations will be presented to the Department this spring,
with the final People Plan currently scheduled for publication following the Spending
Review.
Palliative Care
Grant Shapps: [252553]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long
Term Plan, what funding his Department plans to allocate to end of life care.
Caroline Dinenage:
As with the vast majority of 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. Local commissioners are best placed to
understand the needs of local populations and commission services to meet those
needs accordingly.
The NHS Long Term Plan, sets out significant investment and activity to improve the
quality of patient care and health outcomes, including for end of life care. This
includes £4.5 billion of new investment to fund expanded community multidisciplinary
teams aligned with new primary care networks. Based on individual needs and
choices, people identified as having the greatest risks and needs will be offered
targeted support for both their physical and mental health needs, helping them to
maintain independence and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. This includes
patients approaching the end of life.
Police Custody: Death
Neil Coyle: [251346]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Ministerial Council on
Deaths in Custody last met; and whether it has has plans to consider the
recommendations of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act relating to deaths
in custody.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Ministerial Board last met on 27 February 2019, and the Independent Advisory
Panel last met on 2 May 2019. The recommendations of the Independent Review of
the Mental Health Act relating to deaths in custody are included on the Board’s work
programme, and the Government welcomes views from the Council on them.
The Government will publish its response to the Independent Review in due course.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mr George Howarth: [250443]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30
April 2019 to Question 245660 on Prescriptions: Fees and Charges, what the annual cost
is to the NHS Business Services Authority's Loss Recovery Service of (a) checking
prescription form exemption declarations, (b) issuing Penalty Charge Notices and (c)
managing associated customer contact.
Seema Kennedy:
In 2018-19 the cost to the NHS Business Services Authority for the running of the
Prescription Exemption Checking Service which includes, checking prescription form
exemption declarations, issuing Penalty Charge Notices and managing associated
customer contact was £8.41 million.
Speech Therapy: Children
Geraint Davies: [250735]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Public Health England
has plans to issue guidance to (a) parents and (b) carers on (i) identifying need for and
(ii) access to speech, language and communication services for children .
Caroline Dinenage:
Public Health England (PHE) is working in partnership with the Department for
Education to produce evidence-based resources and tools to support health visitors,
early years practitioners and parents/carers in identifying and supporting children’s
early speech, language and communication (SLC) needs through training guidance
and an enhanced early language assessment tool. The assessment tool will
incorporate parent resources to support family understanding of SLC in their children
and will be rolled out from April 2020.
Alongside this work, PHE is developing a model SLC pathway for children under five.
This will ensure that professionals working with families are able to help them support
their child’s SLC and how to access support if needed. The pathway will be published
by September 2019.
Speech Therapy: Children and Young People
Geraint Davies: [250739]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had
with NHS Clinical Commissioners on the importance of joint commissioning services for
children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
Caroline Dinenage:
The Department has had no discussions with the organisation NHS Clinical
Commissioners on joint commissioning of services for children and young people with
speech, language and communication needs.
HOME OFFICE
Death Certificates: Digital Technology
Rosie Duffield: [252590]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has
made of the potential merits of developing a secure digital death certification service.
Caroline Nokes:
The Home Office is working with the Department of Health and Social Care on taking
forward the death certification reforms.
Immigration: Applications
Mohammad Yasin: [252622]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average time taken
was for UK Visas & Immigration to process indefinite leave to remain applications in each
year since 2010; what proportion of those applications application were responded to
outside of the 20-day service standard; and what the average number of days was for
those response times that exceeded the service standard.
Caroline Nokes:
We do not publish this specific data for all applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain
(ILR), however the vast majority of such cases are dealt with within the service
standard of 6 months (which applies to straightforward applications, where the
customer has met all their obligations). Where an application is defined as non-
straightforward, due to complexity, the customer will be written to within the normal
processing time to explain why it will not be decided within the normal standard, and
to explain what will happen next).
The published statistics on leave to remain applications that have been processed
within service standard can be found in the migration transparency data release
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-february-2019
at: InC_02: Percentage of In-Country visa applications, for each Route, processed
within Service Standards.
Immigration: EU Nationals
Afzal Khan: [250513]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is
taking to investigate the low take up of the private beta testing phase of the EU
Settlement Scheme.
Caroline Nokes:
The total number of applications received since the testing of the scheme began on
28 August 2018 is now over 600,000, and we received over 50,000 applications in
the first weekend the scheme was fully live. In total, over 230,000 people applied
during the three testing phases of the EU Settlement Scheme. Over 31,000 of these
people applied during the two private beta testing phases and we do not consider that
this was a low turnout or that it needs investigating. It was not our intention to process
high volumes during these phases, which were implemented gradually to bring the
systems up to scale in a controlled way. This gave us a valuable evidence base from
which to assess the application process and allowed for incremental improvements to
be made in response to applicant feedback
We have been clear that applying during the testing phases was voluntary and EU
citizens will have until 30 June 2021 to apply, in line with the draft Withdrawal
Agreement, or until 31 December 2020 in the event of no deal.
Paul Blomfield: [252534]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department
undertook an Equality Impact Assessment assessment of the EU Settlement Scheme.
Caroline Nokes:
In accordance with the public sector equality duty under section 149 of the Equality
Act 2010, the Government has had due regard to the impacts of the EU Settlement
Scheme on those who share a protected characteristic.
Paul Blomfield: [252535]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether applicants to the EU
Settlement Scheme whose automated residency check result is (a) wholly or (b) partially
unsuccessful will be informed of the reasons for that result.
Caroline Nokes:
The automated checks of employment and benefits records of applications to the EU
Settlement Scheme by those who choose to provide their National Insurance number
have enabled most adults so far granted status under the scheme to be so without
needing to provide any further evidence of their UK residence.
Where the automated checks do not provide sufficient evidence of UK residence for
the applicant to be granted the status for which they think they qualify, they can
upload a wide variety of documentary evidence.
Where this is necessary, the results of the checks will indicate to the applicant which
period(s) of residence they need to evidence. We will not be able to tell applicants
why the automated check is unable to cover all their UK residence because doing so
may introduce the risk of identity theft and abuse. We recognise that some applicants
may lack documentary evidence for various reasons, and we will work flexibly with
applicants to help them evidence their UK residence by the best means available to
them.
More information about the automated checks including why records may not be
found in full or in part is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-
scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-records-automated-check.
Migration Advisory Committee: Public Appointments
George Eustice: [250476]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department plans to
begin the recruitment process for a new chair of the Migration Advisory Committee.
George Eustice: [250477]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution
of the Minister for Immigration on 30 April 2019, Official Report, Col 85WH, how many
applicants for positions on the Migration Advisory Committee satisfied the criteria of
having had experience of business in recruitment processes that have taken place since
January 2013.
George Eustice: [250478]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution
of the Minister for Immigration on 30 April 2019, Official Report Columns 84-87WH, how
many applicants for positions on the Migration Advisory Committee who satisfied the
criteria of having had business experience were subsequently deemed unappointable by
the Selection Panel for recruitment processes that have taken place since 2013.
Caroline Nokes:
Any appointment to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will be made in line with
the Cabinet Office Governance Code for Public Appointments 2016. The Government
will consider the position of the MAC Chair shortly. Information about the business
experience of candidates is not collected in the form requested.
Following the publication of the Governance Code in 2016, candidates for public
appointments have been given the option to declare the sector of their principal
employment. In the recruitment campaign for MAC members in 2017, two candidates,
neither of whom was appointed, declared that their principal employment was in the
private sector. This does not mean that other candidates did not have business
experience which they chose to highlight in their application or, if appropriate, their
interview.
Police: Rural Areas
Dr David Drew: [252477]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces undertook a
rural proofing review of policies adopted in 2018-2019.
Mr Nick Hurd:
We recognise that certain crimes may disproportionately or predominantly affect rural
areas. That is why we welcome the Rural Affairs Strategy published by the National
Police Chiefs’ Council in July 2018. The Strategy sets out operational and
organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural crime and can be found at:
https://www.nwcu.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NPCC-Rural-affairs-
Strategy-2018-2021.pdf.
Through the election of Police and Crime Commissioners we have ensured that
communities, including those in rural areas, have a strong voice in determining how
police resources are allocated to tackle the crimes that matter most to them.
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Buildings: Insulation
Mr Steve Reed: [251387]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant
to the Answers of 3 May 2019 to Question 248691 and of 28 March 2019 to Question
236427 on Buildings: Insulation, how the construction industry was made aware before
June 2017 that the core of Aluminium Composite Material cladding was to be considered
filler material as the term is to be understood in Approved Document Part B Volume 2,
2006, 2010 and 2013 editions, paragraph 12.7.
Kit Malthouse:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 9 April to
Question UIN 240560.
Business Premises: Change of Use
Grant Shapps: [251973]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
assessment he has made of the effect on the availability of business premises of
permitted development rules allowing offices to be converted into housing.
Kit Malthouse:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: The permitted development right for the change of
use from office to residential is making an important contribution to the delivery of
new homes across the country. In the three years to March 2018, over 42,000 homes
to buy or to rent have been delivered under the right.
Where it is felt that it is necessary to protect the local amenity or wellbeing of an area,
the local planning authority can consult the local community on removing a permitted
development right by making an Article 4 direction. This requires that a planning
application must be submitted which the local planning authority can determine in
accordance with its local plan.
Housing: Construction
Sir Desmond Swayne: [252466]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
steps he is taking to (a) improve the quality of newly built houses and (b) ensure that
purchasers of newly built homes are able to have defects rectified swiftly; and if he will
make a statement.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
I want to ensure we can be proud of the next generation of homes we build. We know
more needs to be done to protect consumers.
We have announced our intention for a New Homes Ombudsman to be established
and I am considering options for a shadow ombudsman. We will be bringing forward
legislation to require developers to belong to a New Homes Ombudsman, which will
treat home buyers fairly. We’ll soon be consulting on the details of how this will work -
to raise standards and ensure that problems encountered by consumers are resolved
faster and more effectively.
We will also establish the condition that housing developers must belong to a New
Homes Ombudsman to participate in the new Help to Buy Scheme in England, post
2021. In the meantime we expect industry to improve the quality of new build homes
in the first place, treat customers fairly and resolve problems swiftly.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Bullying
Dr Matthew Offord: [251310]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
estimate he has made of the number of cases of bullying and harassment that have been
recorded against managers in his Department in each of the last five years.
Jake Berry:
The number of bullying or harassment cases recorded against managers in this
department in each of the last five years are as follows:
2014/15 – none recorded
2015/16 – none recorded
2016/17 – none recorded
2017/18 – three cases recorded against managers
2018/19 – three cases recorded against managers
Bullying and harassment has no place in any workplace, including the Civil Service.
The department is strengthening the routes for staff to report bullying and harassment
to ensure that all staff are fully supported throughout the process, and to ensure
cultures are positive and inclusive.
Owner Occupation
Chris Ruane: [251918]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
assessment he has made of trends in the level of home ownership in England in each
National Statistics socio-economic classification category in each year since 2012.
Kit Malthouse:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: The English Housing Survey has reported on NS-
SEC classification of home owners since 2015-16. The details of this are set out in a
table below. We have not published the socio-economic classification of home
owners prior to 2015-16. NS-SEC of Household Reference Person, Home owners,
2015-16 through 2016-17
NS-SEC CLASSIFICATION 2015-16 2016-17
thousands of households
higher managerial and
professional occupations
2,933 2,802
lower managerial and
professional occupations
4,248 4,148
intermediate occupations 1,531 1,664
small employers and own
account workers
1,456 1,512
lower supervisory and
technical occupations
1,067 1,130
semi-routine occupations 1,320 1,411
routine occupations 1,134 1,073
All households 13,689 13,740
NS-SEC CLASSIFICATION 2015-16 2016-17
percentages
higher managerial and
professional occupations
21.4 20.4
NS-SEC CLASSIFICATION 2015-16 2016-17
lower managerial and
professional occupations
31.0 30.2
intermediate occupations 11.2 12.1
small employers and own
account workers
10.6 11.0
lower supervisory and
technical occupations
7.8 8.2
semi-routine occupations 9.6 10.3
routine occupations 8.3 7.8
All households 100.0 100.0
UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Disadvantaged
Angela Crawley: [250520]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
steps he is taking to ensure parity of access to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for
disadvantaged groups.
Angela Crawley: [250521]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
progress the Government has made on developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Jake Berry:
Officials have made progress over the past year on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund,
holding 25 engagement events and meeting over 500 stakeholders from across the
UK, in order to aid policy development.
These initial conversations will be built upon in our forthcoming consultation. Final
decisions on the Fund are due to be made at Spending Review.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Developing Countries: Abortion
Fiona Bruce: [252524]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what surveys his
Department has commissioned in (a) the UK and (b) countries in receipt of Official
Development Assistance on his Department's policy of providing support to abortion
services overseas.
Harriett Baldwin:
DFID’s long-standing policy on safe abortion takes an evidence-based public health
approach that aims to reduce death and disability caused by unsafe abortion. The
evidence base for this, from World Health Organisation and other sources, is cited in
our published position.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Free Trade: Azerbaijan
Andrew Rosindell: [252580]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to promote
free trade with Azerbaijan after the UK leaves the EU.
Andrew Rosindell: [252582]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to promote
free trade with Armenia after the UK leaves the EU.
George Hollingbery:
The Department for International Trade is working to strengthen the UK’s trade and
investment relationships with countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia as we
negotiate our exit from the EU. The UK is seeking continuity of existing trade
arrangements with Azerbaijan and Armenia by replicating the effects of the EU-
Azerbaijan Partnership & Cooperation Agreements and EU-Armenia Comprehensive
& Enhanced Partnership Agreement when we leave the EU.
On 3 April 2018, Judith Slater was appointed as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner
for Eastern Europe and Central Asia to improve trade and collaboration with countries
in this region, including Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Prime Minister has also
appointed Trade Envoys to promote bilateral trade and investment in this region,
including my Honourable friend the Member for Wrekin for Armenia and Baroness
Nicholson of Winterbourne for Azerbaijan.
JUSTICE
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
Gloria De Piero: [252546]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken in days from
application submission to decision for compensation applications from the Criminal
Injuries Compensation Scheme was in each year since 2010.
Edward Argar:
The table below shows the average time taken in days from the date an application
for compensation was submitted to the date a first decision was made in each year
since 2010-11.
PERIOD
AVERAGE TIME TAKEN IN DAYS FROM THE DATE
AN APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DATE A
FIRST DECISION WAS MADE
2010-11 250
2011-12 269
2012-13 305
2013-14 329
2014-15 397
2015-16 425
2016-17 305
2017-18 192
Funerals: Children
Chris Ruane: [252503]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with (a)
Cabinet colleagues, (b) Welsh Government ministers and (c) Scottish Government
ministers on the implementation of the children's funeral fund in England.
Edward Argar:
I have had discussions on implementation of the Children’s Funeral Fund with the
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance and the Minister of State
for Immigration. I have not had discussions with Welsh or Scottish Government
ministers. However, Ministry of Justice officials have had detailed discussions with
officials in these Administrations.
Landlord and Tenant
Emma Reynolds: [252630]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many notices were granted by the courts
under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 in each year since 2010.
Paul Maynard:
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Magistrates: Recruitment
Grant Shapps: [252556]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to
encourage more young people to become magistrates.
Paul Maynard:
We are taking a number of steps to encourage younger people to join the magistracy,
including through the use of social media to advertise recruitment campaigns and
collaborative work with Universities and employers, providing talks and information to
raise the profile of the role amongst a younger audience.
Prison Officers: Resignations
Imran Hussain: [250496]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2019 to
Written Question 247090, Prison Officers: Resignations, for what reason private prison
operators are not required to supply data relating to the length of service of their
employees.
Robert Buckland:
Information on numbers of staff employed at privately-managed prisons is
commercially sensitive. The contracts between the Ministry of Justice and private
prison providers require the contractor to be responsible for all staffing matters,
including ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to
maintain safe and decent prisons. There is no requirement in the contracts to inform
the Department of staffing levels in privately managed prisons, nor to agree those
levels with the Department.
Each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM
Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) whose role it is to monitor performance at the
prison across a range of indicators.
Prisoners: Hepatitis
Sir Peter Bottomley: [249814]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support
NHS England's plan to eliminate Hepatitis C in England by 2025, especially with regard to
the prison service.
Sir Peter Bottomley: [249815]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to address
the variation in (a) practice and (b) uptake of opt-out testing for blood borne viruses such
as hepatitis C and HIV in prisons.
Sir Peter Bottomley: [249816]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve
continuity and cooperation between the courts, prisons and probation services to ensure
that offenders have their hepatitis C medication with them when transferred between
different settings.
Edward Argar:
We recognise the unique opportunity that custody offers to identify and encourage
individuals with Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) to engage in treatment. NHS England
are responsible for commissioning and delivering health services in prisons and Her
Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are responsible for enabling
access to healthcare services for those in custody. We are fully supportive of the
work being done by NHS England and Public Health England to meet the 2025 target
for the elimination of Hepatitis C in England.
An opt-out policy for BBV testing was introduced in 2013, under the previous National
Partnership Agreement for Prison Healthcare in England (NPA) between NHS
England (NHSE), Public Health England (PHE) and HMPPS (then NOMS). Full
implementation of the opt-out testing policy for BBVs in all adult prisons in England
was achieved in March 2018. Since opt-out testing was introduced, the uptake of
BBV testing in prisons has increased from a baseline of 4% to 29%. This figure is an
aggregate for all prisons, with some far exceeding the average uptake. This shared
commitment to tackling the spread of infectious diseases, including Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C and HIV, in prisons was reaffirmed in the new NPA between NHSE, PHE,
HMPPS, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and MoJ, published in
April 2018.
We continue to work with our health partners to identify points of attrition and barriers
to testing uptake, as well as with organisations, such as the Hepatitis C Trust, to raise
awareness among prison staff and prisoners about the importance of testing for BBV.
We are currently reviewing the process by which defendants access essential
medication whilst in the custody of the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services to
ensure that it is fit for purpose and to consider further improvements. Additionally,
current processes for Discharge Planning will be enhanced as a part of the Hepatitis
C Pathways work being carried out by NHS England. This will ensure that individuals
diagnosed with Hepatitis C who leave prison, transfer between prisons and attend
court have their medication with them and have detailed instructions about accessing
treatment specialists in the community. Treatment for Hepatitis C uses high value
drugs, and ensuring that the full course follows the individual through the criminal
justice system is a high priority for NHS England. Current processes will also be
augmented by Hepatitis C Trust community peer workers engaging with people
leaving prison, and through enhanced continuity of care arrangements under
RECONNECT as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.
Prisons: Education
Liz Saville Roberts: [252593]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons had issued Dynamic Purchasing
System contracts for education provision by (a) 1 April 2019, and (b) 1 May 2019.
Liz Saville Roberts: [252594]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total value is of all Dynamic
Purchasing System contracts for prison education issued in 2019.
Robert Buckland:
We want prisons to be places of hope and aspiration that propel offenders into
employment, and ultimately help to reduce the number of victims of crime in the
future. Our new education programme will improve the quality of prison education by
ensuring that it meets the needs of prisoners, making it more likely to lead them to a
positive employment outcome on release, and break the cycle of reoffending.
We issued the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) contracts to the following prisons
below.
(A) HM PRISONS DPS CONTRACTS BY 1ST
APRIL 2019
(B) HM PRISONS DPS CONTRACTS BY 1ST MAY
2019
Gartree Gartree
Chelmsford Chelmsford
Highpoint Highpoint
Hollesley Bay Hollesley Bay
The Mount The Mount
Warren Hill Warren Hill
Stoke Heath Stoke Heath
Bedford Bedford
Littlehey Littlehey
Eastwood Park Eastwood Park
Ford Ford
Frankland Frankland
Garth Garth
Long Lartin Long Lartin
WhattonLong Lartin Whatton
Liverpool Liverpool
Buckley Hall Buckley Hall
Hindley Hindley
Risley Risley
Thorn Cross Thorn Cross
(A) HM PRISONS DPS CONTRACTS BY 1ST
APRIL 2019
(B) HM PRISONS DPS CONTRACTS BY 1ST MAY
2019
Full Sutton
Erlestoke
Northumberland
Rochester
Woodhill
North Sea Camp
Bristol
Bure
Norwich
Wayland
Stoke Heath
The total value of all DPS contracts for prison education issued from 1 January to 10
May 2019 is £3,731,294.
Liz Saville Roberts: [252595]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the educational courses on
offer to offenders at each prison (a) before and (b) after 1 April 2019.
Robert Buckland:
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Education publishes data on prison education participation and
completion rates and details on the academic years 2010/11 to 2017/18 can be found
at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/761349/201718_Nov_MAIN_OLASS_Particpation_FINALv1.xlsx
Liz Saville Roberts: [252596]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many education staff have been placed at
risk of redundancy at each prison since the introduction of new commissioning
arrangements on 1 April 2019.
Robert Buckland:
It is for the new education providers to determine how many staff they need to deliver
the requirements of the contracts let under the Prison Education Framework and the
Dynamic Purchasing System.
Liz Saville Roberts: [252597]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of
new prison education commissioning arrangements on the effectiveness of Through The
Gate services; and if he will make a statement.
Robert Buckland:
The new prison education commissioning arrangements are at a very early stage. It
is not possible to provide an assessment of progress at this point.
Probation
Richard Burgon: [250488]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are managed by (a)
community rehabilitation companies and (b) the National Probation Service in each
constituency.
Robert Buckland:
The information requested is not held centrally and could not be collated without
incurring disproportionate cost.
Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) and the National Probation Service
(NPS) work with offenders within contracted and divisional areas, and as such
statistics relating to parliamentary constituencies are not collated.
The number of offenders supervised in the community, broken down by CRC and
NPS regions, are included in the quarterly Offender Management statistics. This data
is included in the attached table, and is taken from the latest publication:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-
october-to-december-2018.
TRANSPORT
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Dame Cheryl Gillan: [252462]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to
Question 249174, how many non disclosure agreements have been signed with HS2 Ltd.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Pursuant to Question 249174, the Department for Transport does not hold non-
disclosure agreements with any individuals working on High Speed 2.
However, Confidentiality Agreements are used to protect both HS2 Ltd’s information
and the information of the other signatory party and are in accordance with typical
business practice. Confidentiality Agreements help to avoid placing homes and
businesses in unnecessary blight and protect commercially sensitive information and
the personal information of those potentially affected by any proposed changes.
According to HS2 Ltd’s Confidentiality Register, there are 320 Confidentiality
Agreements.
High Speed Two
Dame Cheryl Gillan: [252461]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, why the board minutes of HS2 Ltd have not
been made available since December 2018; and if he will publish those minutes
immediately.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
The minutes have been published and can be found here
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/high-speed-two-limited/about/our-
governance#board-meeting-minutes
Offical Cars: Exhaust Emissions
Mary Creagh: [252570]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative estimate he has made of
the number of vehicles (a) used, (b) owned and (c) rented by each Government
department and their agencies in London that comply with the Ultra Low Emission Zone
standards and the total number of vehicles (i) used, (ii) owned and (iii) rented by each
Government department.
Jesse Norman:
The information for each Government Department is not held centrally.
The information for the Government Car Service (GCS), a division of the Department
for Transport which operates in London, is below .
FLEET NO. OWNED LEASED ULEZ COMPLIANT
ULEZ NON-
COMPLIANT
86 85 1 68 18
Mary Creagh: [252571]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
penalty charge notices that have been issued for non-compliant vehicles used by each
government department and their agencies in London since the ULEZ came into force on
8 April 2019.
Jesse Norman:
In London, transport is devolved to the Mayor and delivered by Transport for London
(TfL) – this includes the ULEZ.
Since it was introduced on April 8th, the Department does not yet expect TfL to hold
any complete data sets on penalty charge notices.
Official Cars: Electric Vehicles
Mary Creagh: [252569]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on increasing
the number of plug-in cars and vans in each government department’s fleet since 2014;
how many plug-in cars and vans were in each fleet as of April 2019; and what proportion
that is of the total number of vehicles owned and rented by each government department.
Jesse Norman:
This information is not currently held centrally. However, the Government has
committed to electrify 25% of central government cars by 2022, and 100% by 2030.
As part of delivering this commitment, from 2019/20 statistics on the share of electric
vehicles in each Department’s fleet will be included in the Greening Government
Commitments annual report.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Andy McDonald: [251397]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the merits
of Highways England's decision to reduce the number of road upgrades in the 2015-2020
Road Investment Strategy by 10 per cent.
Jesse Norman:
In delivering the road investment strategy, Highways England routinely reviews its
delivery plans to ensure that proposed road schemes will deliver value for money and
minimise disruption for motorists. Highways England publishes its annual Delivery
Plan each year to provide details of its planned work programme for the next 12
months and beyond. The next regular update of this is scheduled to be published this
summer.
Taxis: Licensing
Sir John Hayes: [251222]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential
merits of defining (a) pre-booked and (b) plying for hire in law in response to
recommendation made by the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Licensing.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Providing a statutory definition of plying for pre-booking and plying for hire was
considered as part of the Government response to the report by the Chair of the Task
and Finish Group. The response issued on 12 February explained that since the Law
Commission concluded in 2014 that a statutory definition of plying for hire would not
be a practical improvement on the current position and there being no change in the
legal situation, the Government would not take forward that recommendation.
Tom Brake: [252471]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2019 to
Question 240585 on taxis: licensing, how his Department is planning to restrict cross-
border hiring by private hire drivers; and what the timescale is for bringing forward
legislative proposals.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Government is considering how any restriction of out-of-area journeys by taxis and
private hire vehicles proposed by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group might work
in practice, with a view to legislating.
Tom Brake: [252472]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to
provide statutory definitions of pre-booked and plying for hire, in order to maintain the
two-tier taxi and private hire regulation system, as recommended by the Task and Finish
Group on Taxi and Private Hire Licensing.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Providing a statutory definition of plying for pre-booking and plying for hire was
considered as part of the Government response to the report by the Chair of the Task
and Finish Group. The response issued on 12 February explained that since the Law
Commission concluded in 2014 that a statutory definition of plying for hire would not
be a practical improvement on the current position and there being no change in the
legal situation, the Government would not take forward that recommendation.
TREASURY
Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
Frank Field: [252493]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will call a summit with industry
representatives, with the objective of ensuring the continued provision of free cash
withdrawals at ATMs in deprived communities.
John Glen:
Last year, the Government initiated a discussion on payment methods through a Call
for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. This sought to
gather evidence from industry and the public alike on how changing preferences for
cash and digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics.
A formal Summary of Responses to this Call for Evidence was published in May
2019. This response set out the Government’s commitment to supporting digital
payments, whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. It also
highlighted that the Treasury would set up and chair a Joint Authorities Cash Strategy
Group, made up of regulators and the Bank of England, to facilitate further co-
ordination between the authorities and provide comprehensive oversight of the
overall cash infrastructure.
The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely
monitoring developments in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The
PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its
powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad
geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs.
LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1
kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its
Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available for free-to-use ATMs
in the most deprived areas of the UK.
Child Rearing
Paul Farrelly: [252520]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of
rewarding parents for looking after their own children in their formative years.
Elizabeth Truss:
The Government is committed to supporting parents looking after children and does
so in a number of ways throughout their formative years.
For instance, every year the Government spends more than £11bn on Child Benefit
to support those families raising children. There is also a comprehensive crediting
system in place to support those who cannot work due to illness or if they are caring
for someone, including parents looking after a child under 12. These help maintain an
individual's National Insurance record and so protect their entitlement to the basic
State Pension and certain other state benefits.
Children: Maintenance
Luke Graham: [252011]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC takes to verify the income of
people liable for child maintenance payments.
Elizabeth Truss:
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are responsible for the assessment of
Child Maintenance payments, including the verification of the absent parent’s income.
Upon request from DWP, HMRC provide information held on their National Insurance
and PAYE Service, or their Self-Assessment Service. The information is made
available under a Memorandum of Understanding, and is for the latest completed tax
year.
Mental Health Services: Capital Investment
Neil Coyle: [251345]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential
merits of allocating additional capital funding to the mental health estate in the
forthcoming Spending Review.
Elizabeth Truss:
Government has committed £3.9bn of new capital investment by 2022/23 to
transform and modernise NHS buildings.
Of this, £2.6bn of capital funding has been allocated to 153 STP transformation
schemes – the single biggest injection of its kind in the NHS in over a decade. This
includes about £300m for mental health and learning disability schemes.
In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care spent almost £25m capital last
year on central programmes to support mental health services. This includes
schemes to deliver Perinatal Mental Health Mother & Baby Units to deliver more
personalised care to expectant and new mums with serious mental ill health.
Improving mental health is at the heart of this government’s agenda and the STP
capital investment is another step in the government’s ambition to achieve greater
parity between physical and mental health care.
All future capital funding proposals will be assessed at the forthcoming Zero-Based
Capital Review at the Spending Review.
The government is increasing NHS spending by £33.9bn in cash terms by 2023/24 –
reflecting that the NHS is this government’s top spending priority.
Pensions: Doctors
Kirsty Blackman: [252656]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he had had with the
Secretary of State for Health on the flexibility of pensions available to NHS (a) doctors
and (b) consultants.
Elizabeth Truss:
The Government is committed to public service pensions which are fair to workers
and fair to other taxpayers. The Government is aware of specific concerns raised by
NHS doctors who are impacted by annual allowance tax charges, and we are
currently discussing the issue with the Department of Health and Social Care. All
public sector pay and pensions policies are kept under constant review.
Kirsty Blackman: [252657]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he had had with the
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on reviewing the annual allowance taper in
relation to NHS doctor and consultant pensions.
Elizabeth Truss:
The Government is committed to public service pensions which are fair to workers
and fair to other taxpayers. The Government is aware of specific concerns raised by
NHS doctors who are impacted by annual allowance tax charges, and we are
currently discussing the issue with the Department of Health and Social Care. All
public sector pay and pensions policies are kept under constant review.
Transport: Capital Investment
Priti Patel: [252544]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what options are available to finance strategic
transport infrastructure schemes.
Elizabeth Truss:
The Government directly finances strategic transport infrastructure through various
funds. This includes Control Period 6 (which will invest almost £48bn in the railway
network over the period 2019-2024) and the second Road Investment Strategy
(which will invest £25.3bn in the strategic road network over the period 2020 - 2025).
The Chancellor announced at Budget 2018 that PFI and PF2 would no longer be
used for new government projects, and the Treasury will not be seeking a like-for-like
replacement for these models. The Treasury remains open to private finance for
government-funded projects, and is consulting on this as part of the Infrastructure
Finance Review, as announced in the Spring Statement.
UK Membership of EU
Priti Patel: [252543]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the to
the public purse in (a) gross and (b) net terms of the UK's extended membership of the
EU to 31 October 2019; and what estimate he has made of the per diem cost of
membership of the EU post 31 October 2019.
Elizabeth Truss:
The settlement agreed with the EU represents a comprehensive settlement covering
all of the mutual commitments between the EU and the UK. The OBR’s latest
estimate is laid as part of the wider OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook publication.
The most recent estimate, £37.8bn, was published in the March 2019 Economic and
Fiscal Outlook. This analysis assumes an exit date of 29 March 2019
The European Council has agreed an extension to Article 50 to the end of October.
During the extension, the UK will continue to be a member of the European Union.
While we remain in the EU we will uphold our commitments on the EU Budget,
adjusted for the rebate. Similarly, the EU continues to have legal obligations to us as
a member state, including in respect of receipts from the EU budget. We will provide
an updated estimate of the value of the financial settlement once the UK has left the
EU.
The UK makes two contributions per month to the EU Budget which will vary from
month to month. These payments are made on the first working day and the first
working day after the 19th of each month. As such, it would not be possible to
calculate a daily cost of an extension to Article 50 to the end of October.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Department for Work and Pensions: Immigration
Paul Blomfield: [252531]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library, a
copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between her Department and HMRC in
relation to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Alok Sharma:
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) regarding the EU Settlement Scheme have
set out the information sharing arrangements between the Home Office and DWP,
and separately, between the Home Office and HMRC. These are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-records-
automated-check. Each department has direct arrangements with the Home Office,
therefore there is no requirement for an MOU between DWP and HMRC.
Flexible Support Fund
Anneliese Dodds: [243572]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the overall levels of payment
were from the Flexible Support Fund (a) in each region, and (b) on (i) childcare, (ii)
training, (iii) clothing for work and (iv) other categories of activity in each of the last 24
months.
Alok Sharma:
[Holding answer 15 April 2019]: The information is not available in the format
requested. Such information as is available is in the tables attached.
Attachments:
1. Flexible Support Fund Expenditure by Region [Flexible Support Fund Expenditure by
Region.docx]
Housing Benefit
Rushanara Ali: [250474]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the
recommendation to exempt claimants in temporary accommodation from the benefit cap
on page 7 of the report of the Work and Pensions Committee, The Benefit Cap, published
on 12 March 2019, HC 1477, if she will ask local authorities to publish the number of
households that are currently affected by the cap in their area; and how much
Discretionary Housing Payment funding has been used to cover their rent shortfalls in the
most recent period for which figures are available.
Will Quince:
The latest official statistics for households capped under Housing Benefit and
Universal Credit were published on 2nd May 2019, and contain data on households
capped to February 2019, published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-
to-february-2019.
Statistics by Local Authority are available in Tables 2 and 9, respectively. The
number of households who have had their Housing Benefit award capped by local
authorities are also published on the DWP Stat Xplore portal ( https://stat-
xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ ).
Statistics on the use of Discretionary Housing Payments (for local authorities in
England and Wales) are provided by local authorities on a voluntary basis and as
such may not correspond exactly to the total Discretionary Housing Payment funds
allocated. In addition, Discretionary Housing Payment awards can be recorded
against a combination of welfare reform categories including households affected by
the benefit cap.
The latest statistics on spend by local authorities, covering the period April to
September 2018, are published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-
april-to-september-2018.
Statistics relating to the specific welfare reform category can be found in Table 7.
The latest full year of statistics available are for the 17/18 financial year and are
published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-
financial-year-2017-to-2018.
Pensions
Gill Furniss: [251381]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has plans to introduce
the Pensions Bill before summer 2019.
Guy Opperman:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: This Government has recently published responses
to a series of consultations, and have engaged extensively with key stakeholders and
the Pensions Regulator.
In these we have committed to strengthen the Pensions Regulator’s powers to both
enforce pension’s legislation and to punish those who have acted recklessly or failed
to comply with their obligations. We have committed to facilitate industry to make
pensions dashboards a reality. We are also compelling pension schemes to make
consumers data available to them and to facilitate collective defined contribution
schemes.
The Government will bring forward legislation to introduce these measures as soon
as parliamentary time permits.
State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
Andrew Rosindell: [249964]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has made
an (a) reciprocal or (b) unilateral agreement to maintain the annual increases to the
pensions of UK citizens residing in the Republic of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU without
a deal.
Guy Opperman:
The UK and Ireland signed on the 1 February 2019 a reciprocal agreement which will
protect the social security rights of UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in
each other’s state when the UK leaves the EU. It allows for the payment of each
country’s uprated state pensions to recipients living in the other.
State Retirement Pensions: Reciprocal Arrangements
Andrew Rosindell: [249961]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the UK leaving the EU
without a deal would have on reciprocal pension agreements with EU member states.
Andrew Rosindell: [249962]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions the Government
have held with (a) the EU and (b) individual EU member states on reciprocal pension
agreements after the UK leaves the EU.
Guy Opperman:
The Government has consistently put citizens’ rights first in our negotiations with the
EU. The best way to guarantee those rights, which include social security, both for
UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, is the deal that the Government
has secured. The Government supported the amendment put forward by Alberto
Costa MP which requires the Government to seek a joint UK/EU commitment to
preserve the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the
outcome of negotiations. The letter to the European Commission setting out the
Government’s position and the Commission’s reply is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-
institutions
The current EU arrangements providing for reciprocity in social security would no
longer apply if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Television: Licensing
Chris Stephens: [252116]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse
was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying
residents in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow City local authority area
and (c) Scotland in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.
Guy Opperman:
[Holding answer 13 May 2019]: The policy for free TV licences for those aged 75 and
over is the responsibility of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport until
the BBC takes responsibility in 2020.
The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV
licences to people aged 75 years and over in the geographical areas requested, in
nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.
EXPENDITURE (£M) (NOMINAL)
2017-18
(a) Glasgow South West constituency £0.7
(b) Glasgow City local authority £4.0
(c) Scotland £51.7
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: [229075]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in the most recent month for which
data is available, in what proportion of universal credit assessments for working claimants
was income data taken from (a) RTI data provided by HMRC and (b) claimants' payslips.
Alok Sharma:
[Holding answer 11 March 2019]: The information requested is not held by the
Department. Adjustments to payments owing to RTI and self-reported earnings
cannot always be separated from other adjustments to a payment, such as a
repayment of advances.
From the information that is readily available for Universal Credit Full Service, in
January 2019, over 1 million households had payments processed, and of these
around 380,000 had an adjustment.
Of the 380,000 payments processed that had an adjustment:
• 88% of the records had earnings information from HMRC’s Real-Time Earnings
system.
• 2% of the records had Self-Reported Earnings - cases where there were no
available real time information feeds. Some of this information would have come
from payslips, however it is not possible to break this data down further.
• less than 0.5% of the records had both Real-Time and Self-Reported Earnings
information; and
• 9% of the records had earnings from other sources such as self employed earnings
and other income, which cannot readily be separated.
Notes:
• Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
• Percentages are rounded to the nearest %.
Grahame Morris: [252567]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has
spent on advertising universal credit in the Metro newspaper to date; and if she will make
a statement.
Alok Sharma:
The Department provides services to around 22 million people, and has a
responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other
key audiences, in a similar way to other government departments. The ‘Opening Up
Work’ campaign aims to increase understanding of how Universal Credit removes
barriers to work and aids career progression, and to provide information to help
people make a claim.
The Department has spent the amounts shown in the table below with the Metro
newspaper.
FINANCIAL YEAR SPEND (£)
2017/18 20,918.16
2018/19 23,628.96
Source: DWP internal accounts
Universal Credit: Cancer
Paul Farrelly: [251218]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure
that universal credit phone-line staff are adequately trained to understand the complex
needs of claimants suffering with cancer.
Alok Sharma:
All DWP staff delivering Universal Credit undergo a comprehensive learning journey
designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a
high quality service to all claimants, including those who have cancer and other
serious health conditions. Colleagues receive on-going learning in their roles and
have access to Universal Credit guidance which is refreshed at regular intervals.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. We are
committed to ensuring that people who have cancer are treated with the upmost
sensitivity and care, when making a claim to Universal Credit.
We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people who
claim Universal Credit to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs.
This includes how they are identified and supported, either from our own staff or via
referrals from local services. For instance, when a claimant is asked to attend a Work
Capability Assessment, they are required to complete a UC50 questionnaire which
incorporates a 'light touch' evidence gathering process for cancer patients; and
makes clear that Clinical Nurse Specialists and consultants can provide information
on the form.
MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS
CABINET OFFICE
Brexit: Referendums
Tom Brake: [246007]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what analysis did the Chancellor of the
Exchequer used for the statement that it is unlikely, at a technical level, whether there
would be enough time to legislate for a confirmatory referendum on the EU Withdrawal
Agreement before the UK leaves the EU reported in the Guardian on 12 April 2019.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 25 April 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Mr David Lidington:
The Government has no plans to hold another referendum on EU membership. The
Government remains committed to delivering on the result of the 2016 EU
referendum by leaving the EU.
An Act of Parliament is required before any UK-wide referendum can be held, the
terms of which are for Parliament to debate and agree, including provisions for setting
the data, franchise and the question as well as incorpating adequate time to prepare
for the poll and a minimum campaigning period.
The Government has no plans to hold another referendum on EU membership.
The Government remains committed to delivering on the result of the 2016 EU
referendum by leaving the EU.
An Act of Parliament is required before any UK-wide referendum can be held,
the terms of which are for Parliament to debate and agree, including provisions
for setting the date, franchise and the question as well as incorporating
adequate time to prepare for the poll and a minimum campaigning period.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Culture: Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: [251910]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the
Government is taking to (a) protect and (b) increase funding for arts and culture outside
London.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 13 May 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Michael Ellis:
We are committed to promoting the Arts and culture outside London, and continue to
work closely with the Arts Council to ensure that the whole of the country has access
to funding for arts and cultural programmes.
Last year 70% of Arts Council's lottery total funding was awarded outside London.
Between 2018 and 2022 an additional £170 million of National Portfolio Organisation
funding will be invested outside London.
In addition, the recent Cultural Development Fund has seen £20 million of funding
shared between five towns and cities outside of the capital, while programmes such
as Creative People and Places and the City of Culture programme continue to focus
outside of the capital.
DCMS has also recently announced an additional £4 million of funding for the
DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. In 2019/20, 35 museums
and galleries will benefit from this funding which aims to improve audience
experience. Over 80% of regional museums outside London will receive money from
this Fund.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
St Helena: Fisheries
Zac Goldsmith: [251370]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the
(a) permitted geographic catch locations and (b) permitted species and catch volumes
under licenses sold by the Saint Helena Government to the Argos Fishing Company in (i)
2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 13 May 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Sir Alan Duncan:
The sale of commercial fishing licenses, and conditions within the licenses such
as location and target species, areis the responsibility of the St Helena
Government.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Infant Foods
Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [247997]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) dates,
(b) attendees and (c) topics of meetings his Department has had with representatives of
the formula milk industry in 2018 and 2019 to date.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 7 May 2019. The correct
answer should have been:
Seema Kennedy:
The Department has provided details of meetings between Departmental officials with
representatives of the formula milk industry. Meetings organised by executive
agencies or the Food Standards Agency have not been included. We have not
disclosed details of staff attending as they were not Senior Civil Service grade. The
information is shown in the following table.
DATE ORGANISATION DISCUSSION
26 February 2018 Nestle Presentation on action on
sustainable diets
26 March 2018 Nestle Phone call
25 April 2018 Danone and Nutrica Early Years Nutrition
Partnership
6 June 2018 British Specialist Nutrition
Association (BSNA), Nestle,
Nutrica
Notifications for Foods for
Special Medical Purposes
22 June 2018 Nestle Planning for visit
4 July 2018 Nestle Visit
11 July 2018 Danone Aptamil
30 July 2018 Danone Childhood Obesity Chapter 2
14 August 2018 Nestle Childhood Obesity Chapter 2
22 August 2018 BSNA Phone meeting
10 September 2018 Danone and Nestle Advertising roundtable
14 November 2018 BSNA Nutrition legislation meeting
15 November 2018 Danone Reformulation, Brexit pressure,
and Chapter
22 November 2018 BSNA Forthcoming CODEX
CCNFSDU40
Tomography
Layla Moran: [230888]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative estimate he
has made of the cost to the public purse of providing PET-CT scanning services through
a (a) private contractor and (b) a NHS trust.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 14 March 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Steve Brine:
The estimated total cost to National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts
of providing PET-CT scans is approximately £90 millionis £29.4 million, with an
average unit cost of approximately £900 £570 per examination (this includes the
cost of both the scan and a standard tracer). Costs are not collected nationally by
private contractors.
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
May Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr Robert Goodwill):
[HCWS1555]
Agriculture and Fisheries Council takes place in Brussels on 14 May.
As the provisional agenda stands, the primary focus for agriculture will be on the Post-
2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package. Ministers will exchange views
on the new delivery model in the Regulation on CAP Strategic Plans.
Member States will also exchange views on the agricultural aspects of the Commission’s
communication titled ‘Clean Planet for all: strategic long-term vision for a climate neutral
economy’.
The Commission will then provide an update on the performance of EU agricultural trade
after which Ministers will hold an exchange of views.
There are currently three items scheduled for discussion under ‘any other business’:
• Information from the Netherlands delegation on the judgement of the Court of
Justice on organisms obtained by mutagenesis (case C-528/16).
• Information from the Spanish and French delegations on the Regulation on the
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
• Information by the Belgian delegation on the situation in the fruit sector for apples
and pears.
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local Government Update
Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
(James Brokenshire): [HCWS1556]
On 29 November 2018 I told the House that I was launching a statutory consultation on
the proposal for reorganising local government in Northamptonshire which I had received
from seven of the area’s eight principal councils. The councils had submitted this
proposal in response to the invitation issued on 27 March 2018 following the
recommendations in the independent inspection report on Northamptonshire County
Council.
This locally-led proposal is to replace the existing eight councils across Northamptonshire
(the County Council and seven district councils) with two new unitary councils - one for
North Northamptonshire covering the existing districts of Kettering, Corby, East
Northamptonshire and Wellingborough, and the other for West Northamptonshire
covering the existing districts of Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire.
The proposal envisaged the new councils being fully operational from 1 April 2020.
The statutory consultation closed on 25 January and invited views from councils
concerned, other public sector providers and representatives of business and the
voluntary sector and welcomed views from any interested persons.
I have received a total of 386 responses. The district and county councils – except for
Corby Borough Council – and councillors and public service providers including the
Police and Crime Commissioner and health partners, generally supported the proposal.
Responses from businesses, members of the public, parish councils and community
organisations were more mixed.
This consultation supplements the consultation exercise undertaken on behalf of the
Northamptonshire councils by the independent Opinion Research Services. This exercise
included face to face workshops, a representative telephone survey of Northamptonshire
residents and an open questionnaire.
90% of respondents to the telephone survey agreed that there was a need to make
changes to Northamptonshire local government and 74% agreed with the unitary
proposal. 83% of the over 6000 individuals who responded to the open questionnaire
agreed that there was a need for change, with 67% agreeing that a number of unitary
councils should be introduced and 44% supporting the proposal for two unitary councils.
I have now carefully considered the councils’ proposal, along with the results of the
consultation exercises, a report by the Northamptonshire Children’s Commissioner,
submitted to my Rt. Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Education and me, on
how best to ensure continued improvement of the fragile children’s social care service in
Northamptonshire in the context of reorganisation, and all other relevant information and
material available to me. I have concluded that the proposal meets our publicly stated
criteria for local government reorganisation. That is if implemented I am satisfied that the
proposal would improve local government and service delivery in the area, has a good
deal of local support and the area of each new unitary represents a credible local
geography.
This is on the basis that there is a Children’s Trust covering the whole of
Northamptonshire, which with my support, my Rt Honourable Friend the Secretary of
State for Education is minded to establish, as recommended by the Children’s
Commissioner, if the unitary proposal is to be implemented. With such an arrangement
children’s social care would not be disaggregated with the Trust discharging functions on
behalf of both councils. My Rt. Honourable Friend will be publishing the Commissioner’s
report today. It is also on the basis that work continues to be taken forward in
Northamptonshire to do more to integrate adult social care and health services.
I have therefore decided, subject to the issuing of statutory directions requiring the
establishment of a Children’s Trust and to Parliamentary approval of the secondary
legislation, to use my powers under the Local Government and Public Involvement in
Health Act 2007 to implement the proposal. These powers enable me to implement a
unitary proposal with or without modification and in this case, having carefully considered
all the material available to me, I have decided to make one modification to the proposal.
This is to extend the period for fully implementing the new arrangements so that the new
councils are operational from 1 April 2021. Whilst I recognise that a delay in
implementation will mean potential savings estimated in the proposal will not be realised
for another year, I am clear that the extended implementation period means we can be
confident that there will be a safe and effective transition to all the new service delivery
arrangements across the whole of the area, including for those crucial services
supporting the most vulnerable. Throughout this extended period my Commissioners will
be able to continue to support the County Council.
To support the transition, I have decided to establish shadow authorities. I envisage the
May 2020 local elections in Northamptonshire will be elections to those shadow
authorities rather than to district councils, with the district elections currently due on that
date being cancelled. In line with the approach in the proposal for elections to the new
unitary councils, I also envisage the elections to the shadow authorities are held on the
basis of 3 member wards resulting in the North Northamptonshire Council having 78
members and West Northamptonshire Council having 93 members. Those so elected
would be members of the new councils when these go live in April 2021. Elections to
parish councils will proceed as scheduled in May 2020. I intend to confirm these electoral
arrangements shortly after hearing any views the district and county councils may have
on this.
I now intend to prepare and lay before Parliament drafts of the necessary secondary
legislation to give effect to my decisions. Establishing these new unitary councils will be a
significant step towards ensuring the people and businesses across Northamptonshire
can in future have the sustainable high-quality local services they deserve. I welcome the
commitment of all the existing councils and their partners to drive forward this process of
establishing new councils and transforming local service delivery. I am confident this will
continue.