Daily Report Wednesday, 2 May 2018...

Daily Report Wednesday, 2 May 2018

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 2 May 2018 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:31 P.M., 02 May 2018). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 6

ATTORNEY GENERAL 6

Attorney General: Mobile

Phones 6

Attorney General:

Procurement 6

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 8

Batteries: Manufacturing

Industries 8

Biofuels: Carbon Emissions 9

Carbon Emissions 9

Carbon Emissions: Standards 9

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Cybercrime 10

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

EU Law 10

Design 10

Electricity Generation: Costs 11

Electricity Generation:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 11

Energy Performance

Certificates 12

Energy: Prices 13

Energy: Private Rented

Housing 13

EU Emissions Trading

Scheme 13

European Social Fund 14

Fuel Poverty: Greater London 15

Innovate UK 16

Innovate UK: Grants 17

Innovate UK: Wales 18

Nuclear Power 18

Parental Leave 19

Trade Marks 19

CABINET OFFICE 19

Cabinet Office: Procurement 19

Capita: Lincolnshire 20

Zero Hours Contracts 20

DEFENCE 20

Armed Forces: Charities 20

Army: Re-employment 20

Frigates: Procurement 23

Ministry of Defence Police 23

Ministry of Defence: Plastics 25

Ministry of Defence:

Recruitment 25

Ministry of Defence: Staff 26

Warships: Shipbuilding 27

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 27

Audio-visual Industry 27

Broadcasting: Equality 28

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport:

Procurement 28

Fascism: Social Media 28

Film and Television: Tax

Allowances 29

Mobile Phones: Rural Areas 29

Mobile Phones: Scotland 29

National Lottery: Northern

Ireland 30

Parks: Regeneration 30

EDUCATION 30

Adoption: Self-employed 30

Children in Care 31

Education Fellowship Trust 31

Educational Psychology 32

Social Mobility Commission:

Public Appointments 32

STEM Subjects: Females 33

Teachers: Employment 33

Teachers: Older Workers 34

Teachers: Pay 35

Teachers: Qualifications 35

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 36

Agriculture: Subsidies 36

Animal Welfare:

Disqualification Orders 36

Animal Welfare: Sentencing 37

Animal Welfare: Voluntary

Organisations 37

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs: Mobile

Phones 38

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs:

Procurement 38

Dogs: Licensing 38

Dogs: Smuggling 39

Food Poverty 39

Incinerators 39

Livestock: Exports 40

Non-commercial Movement of

Pet Animals Order 2011 41

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 41

Customs Unions 41

Department for Exiting the

European Union: Northern

Ireland 42

Nationality: Northern Ireland 42

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 42

Bahrain: Administration of

Justice 42

Bahrain: Overseas Aid 43

Bahrain: Political Prisoners 43

British Overseas Territories:

Marine Protected Areas 43

Diplomatic Relations 45

Israel: Arms Trade 45

Lula Da Silva, Luiz Ignacio 45

Nabeel Rajab 46

Syria: Military Bases 46

Turkey: Administration of

Justice 46

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 47

Abortion 47

Accountable Care

Organisations 47

Brighton and Sussex

University Hospitals NHS Trust 48

Care Homes: Finance 48

Compulsorily Detained

Psychiatric Patients 49

Fractures 49

Fractures: Older People 49

Health Services: Finance 50

Homeopathy 50

Hospitals: Parking 51

Mental Health Services: Drugs 52

Mental Health Services:

Gambling 52

Mental Health: Children 53

NHS England: Complaints 54

NHS: Finance 54

NHS: South Tyneside 55

Organs: Transplant Surgery 55

Osteoporosis: Fractures 56

Respite Care 57

Social Services: Minimum

Wage 57

Surgical Mesh Implants 57

HOME OFFICE 58

Airguns: Crime 58

Asylum: Housing 58

Counter-terrorism 58

Driving Offences: Speed Limits 59

Fireworks 59

Fraud: Older People 60

Gambling: Crime 60

Home Office: Behavioural

Insights Team 61

Home Office: Contracts 61

Home Office: Flexible Working 61

Home Office: Procurement 62

Home Office: Recruitment 62

Home Office: Telephone

Services 62

Hunting Act 2004 62

Immigrants: Caribbean 63

Immigration: Caribbean 63

Money Laundering 64

Police: Firearms 64

Prostitution 64

Refugees: Children 65

Sexual Offences: British

Nationals Abroad 66

Sports: Slavery 67

Torture 67

UK Border Force: Recruitment 68

HOUSE OF COMMONS

COMMISSION 69

Westminster Hall: Cameras 69

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 69

Building Regulations Advisory

Committee 69

Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local

Government: Diaries 69

Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local

Government: Procurement 70

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 70

Department for International

Development: Vacancies 70

Humanitarian Aid 71

West Bank: Demolition 71

Yemen: Overseas Aid 71

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 72

Africa: Overseas Trade 72

Arms Trade 72

Board of Trade 73

Foreign Investment in UK 73

JUSTICE 74

Chelmsford Prison 74

Crime: Victims 75

Feltham Young Offender

Institution 75

Independent Monitoring

Boards 77

Legal Aid Scheme 78

Legal Aid Scheme:

Immigration 78

Ministry of Justice: Agency

Workers 79

Ministry of Justice: Market

Research 80

Ministry of Justice:

Procurement 80

Offenders: Females 81

Prison and Probation Service:

Expenditure 81

Prison Officers: Allowances 81

Prison Officers: Training 82

Prisoners: Childbirth 82

Prisoners: Females 82

Prisons: Education 83

Young Offenders: Solitary

Confinement 84

NORTHERN IRELAND 84

Northern Ireland Office: Mobile

Phones 84

TRANSPORT 84

Department of Transport:

Procurement 84

East Coast Main Line 85

East Coast Main Line: Digital

Technology 86

First Transpennine Express 86

Great Western Rail Franchise 87

Motorcycles: Safety 87

Railways: East Midlands 88

Railways: North of England 88

Railways: Ombudsman 88

Roads: repairs and

maintenance 89

Roads: Stonehenge 89

Shared Spaces: Visual

Impairment 90

Skipton-Colne Railway Line 91

Thameslink, Southern and

Great Northern Rail Franchise 91

Transport: Disability 91

Transport: Infrastructure 92

TREASURY 92

Air Passenger Duty: Scotland 92

Credit: Regulation 93

Developing Countries:

Sustainable Development 93

Equality 94

Equitable Life Assurance

Society: Compensation 94

Foreign Investment in UK 94

Sugar: Taxation 95

UK Trade with EU 95

WALES 95

[Subject Heading to be

Assigned] 95

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 96

Access to Elected Office for

Disabled People Fund 96

Commonwealth: LGBT People 96

Equal pay: Feltham and

Heston 96

Sexual Harassment:

Employment 97

WORK AND PENSIONS 97

Department for Work and

Pensions: Mobile Phones 97

Department for Work and

Pensions: Plastics 97

Employment and Support

Allowance: Appeals 98

Jobcentres: Crimes of

Violence 98

Jobcentres: Security 99

Universal Credit 99

Universal Credit: Appeals 100

Universal Credit: Automated

Credit Transfer 100

Universal Credit: Internet 100

Vacancies: Internet 101

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 102

ATTORNEY GENERAL 102

Attorney General:

Procurement 102

WORK AND PENSIONS 104

Housing Benefit: Young

People 104

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 105

DEFENCE 105

Contigent Liabilities 105

Counter-Daesh Operations 106

PRIME MINISTER 107

UK Delegation to the

Parliamentary Assembly of the

Organisation for Security and

Co-operation in Europe 107

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

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General: Mobile Phones

Jon Trickett: [137928]

To ask the Attorney General, what apps his Department has approved for use on mobile

phones issued by his Department.

Robert Buckland:

Due to national security concerns it would be inappropriate to publicly supply a list of

applications approved for use on mobile phones issued by the Attorney General’s

Office, as to do so facilitates attacks against official systems by hostile actors.

Attorney General: Procurement


To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2018 to Question

123531, on Attorney General: Procurement, if he will list (a) the suppliers of and (b) the

purpose of the (i) the Government Legal Department's contracts with the eight strategic

suppliers (ii) the CPS's six contracts with strategic suppliers, (iii) the Serious Fraud

Office's three contracts with strategic suppliers and (iv) Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution

Service Inspectorate's contracts with which two strategic suppliers.

Robert Buckland:

[Holding answer 27 April 2018]: Pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2018 to

Question 123531, the table below summarises the purpose of the six contracts

between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and government strategic suppliers.

SUPPLIER PURPOSE OF CONTRACT

Capita Supply of interim and temporary staff let via a pan government framework.

CGI (1) ICT Applications, Hosting and Management let via a pan government

framework. (2) Managed payroll services let via a pan government framework. (3)

Oracle finance system managed service let via a pan government framework. (4)

Fully managed ICT services including; applications, hosting and management,

system integration and management, service desk and end user computing.

Vodafone National contract let via the Cabinet Office G-Cloud framework for managed video

conferencing services.

In addition, the CPS has no major contracts but multiple agreements with the

following government strategic suppliers:

BT –for land line phones, alarm systems and business broadband lines.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-25/137928


Microsoft - for MS office products, server and networking applications and other

software products.

Oracle - for server and networking applications and other software products.

The table below summarises the purpose of the contracts between the Government

Legal Department (GLD) and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

(HMCPSI) and government strategic suppliers. It is the policy to engage with

suppliers using central government frameworks and call off arrangements.

SUPPLIER GLD – PURPOSE OF CONTRACT

HMCPSI - PURPOSE OF

CONTRACT

BT plc Provision of phone services for business

continuity (disaster recovery).

Provision of mobile

connectivity services and video

conferencing at the York office

Cap Gemini Provision of a supplier invoice receipt and

scanning service; provision of a cloud-based

invoice approval and electronic document

management system; and secure destruction

of paper documents.

Capita Predominately temporary staff, mainly

lawyers, and training courses.

Fujitsu Provision of e-disclosure services to support

legal cases.

Microsoft Software licences and support for Microsoft

products, for example, Windows and Office

Suites.

Mitie Office cleaning services.

Oracle Software licences and support.

Vodafone Provision of mobile phone and connectivity

services.

Provision of mobile phone and

connectivity services.

The table below summarises the purpose of the contracts between the Attorney

General’s Office (AGO) and government strategic suppliers.


Amey Facilities management

BT Network lines

Capita IT services

The table below summarises the purpose of the contracts between the Serious Fraud

Office (SFO) and government strategic suppliers.


BT PLC Broadband lines at Southwark Crown Court

Capita IT support contract

Vodafone network services contract

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Batteries: Manufacturing Industries

Mary Glindon: [136413]

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

representations he has received on the use of child labour in the production of batteries;

and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Griffiths:

I confirm I have not received any representations on the use of child labour in the

production of batteries.

The UK is a signatory to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; which

are voluntary standards intended to promote responsible business conduct by

enterprises in all sectors, based in the signatory countries.

The Guidelines include a standard on the abolition of child labour. The UK maintains

a National Contact Point to promote the Guidelines.

Mary Glindon: [136414]

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

steps to encourage companies manufacturing batteries to ban the use of child labour in

their supply chains; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Griffiths:

The UK is a signatory to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; which

are voluntary standards intended to promote responsible business conduct by

enterprises in all sectors, based in the signatory countries. The Guidelines include a

standard on the abolition of child labour. The UK maintains a National Contact Point

to promote the Guidelines.

Tackling Modern Slavery and other labour abuses is also a top priority for this

Government. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires all large businesses to produce

an annual statement setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery



in their business and supply chains. Guidance for business on this is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-in-supply-chains-a-

practical-guide

Biofuels: Carbon Emissions

Mr Virendra Sharma: [136905]

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

Department is taking to measure the carbon dioxide emissions of biomass energy

generation plants.

Claire Perry:

The Department does not estimate emission changes on a differential basis between

technologies. The latest provisional carbon dioxide emissions estimates were

published in March 2017. “Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions national

statistics 2017” https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-uk-greenhouse-

gas-emissions-national-statistics-2017

However, the UK has among the most stringent biomass sustainability provisions in

Europe. Generators only receive subsidies for the electricity output which complies

with our sustainability criteria which ensure biomass reduces carbon emissions

(including a requirement to demonstrate a minimum 60% lifecycle greenhouse gas

saving) and is sourced sustainably.

Carbon Emissions

Barry Gardiner: [137891]

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

assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a UK-wide emissions

trading system after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry:

The Government is considering all factors in relation to the UK’s future participation,

or otherwise, in the EU ETS, in consultation with stakeholders.

Carbon Emissions: Standards


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

to the report entitled 10 years of the UK Climate Change Act, published by the London

School of Economics and Political Science on 30 March, 2018 what assessment he has

made of the potential merits of the recommendation in that report to amend the Climate

Change Act 2008 to include a statutory response time for carbon plans.

Claire Perry:

There are currently no plans to amend the Climate Change Act to include a statutory

response time for the publication of carbon plans.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-in-supply-chains-a-practical-guide






Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Cybercrime


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

the Answer of 24 April 2018 to Question 136113 on Department for Business, Energy and

Industrial Strategy: Cybercrime, if he will publish the infrastructure providers that have

been involved in the discussions on cyber-security.

Richard Harrington:

Cyber security is one of the Government's top national security priorities and BEIS is

continuing to work with industry partners to ensure that the risks to critical national

infrastructure are understood and that appropriate mitigations are in place. For

reasons of national security, we are unable to provide a list of infrastructure providers

that have been involved in discussions on cyber security.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: EU Law

Philip Davies: [136556]

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

regulations his Department (a) has introduced as a result of EU legislation from 23 June

2016 to date and (b) expects to implement as a result of EU legislation in (i) 2018 and (ii)

2019; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such regulation to the (A)

public purse and (B) private sector.

Andrew Griffiths:

All regulations implementing EU legislation that have been introduced since 2013 can

be found on www.legislation.gov.uk. Impact assessments, where available, can also

be found here which provide details of costs of the implemented regulations.

In 2018, we expect to introduce a further 6 regulations. In 2019, we expect to

introduce 6 regulations. However, the exact number is subject to ongoing

negotiations.

Design

Stephen Kinnock: [137576]

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

Department plans to seek reciprocal recognition of unregistered design rights between

the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

As expressed in the UK Technical Note on “Other Separation Issues”, where the UK

does not have existing domestic legislation to protect certain types of rights, it will

establish new schemes. This will preserve the full scope of the unregistered

Community design right in the UK.

In respect of reciprocal recognition of EU and UK unregistered design rights,

negotiations will take place with the EU as part of the leaving process, which we hope

will deal with these matters.




Electricity Generation: Costs

Mr Jim Cunningham: [138372]

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

he has made of the cost per MWh of energy generated by (a) onshore wind, (b) offshore

wind, (c) solar PV, (d) open cycle gas, (e) combine cycle gas and (f) coal in 2020.

Claire Perry:

BEIS’s most recent published assessment of electricity generation costs can be

found in the generation costs report (2016)[1] which covers both renewable and non-

renewable technologies. We are currently undertaking a review of our evidence on

levelised costs of electricity generation.

The relevant section of the 2016 generation cost report is included below. BEIS no

longer produces estimates for the levelised cost of unabated coal.

Levelised Cost Estimates for NOAK Projects Commissioning in 2020, Technology-

specific Hurdle Rates, £/MWh (2014 prices)

CCGT H

CLASS

OCGT 600MW

(500HRS)

OFFSHORE

WIND ROUND 3

LARGE SCALE

SOLAR PV

ONSHORE

WIND >5MW

UK

Pre

Development

Costs

0 5 5 6 4

Construction

Costs

7 63 73 52 44

Fixed O&M 2 17 24 9 10

Variable O&M 3 3 3 0 5

Fuel Costs 35 52 0 0 0

Carbon Costs 19 28 0 0 0

Total 66 166 106 67 63

[1]

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

ent_data/file/566567/BEIS_Electricity_Generation_Cost_Report.pdf

Electricity Generation: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mr Virendra Sharma: [136903]

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

his Department made of emission changes in UK energy generation in each of the last 12

months.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/566567/BEIS_Electricity_Generation_Cost_Report.pdf




Claire Perry:

The Department does not estimate emission changes on a monthly basis. Provisional

carbon dioxide emissions estimates, published in March, show quarterly estimates of

emissions from energy supply for 2017 as follows:

2017 QUARTER: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Carbon dioxide

emissions from

energy supply

(Mt)

110.6 107.6 106.2 105.0

Source: Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics 2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-

national-statistics-2017

Energy Performance Certificates

John Healey: [137007]

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

has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of ensuring that all homes are rated

at least energy performance certificate band C by 2035; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry:

The Clean Growth Strategy set out the Government’s aspiration that as many homes

as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by

2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. The total investment required

depends on a number of factors, including the mix of technologies used to achieve

improvements, how they are financed, and how the costs of technologies change

over time.

The Government is focussed on mobilising investment to help meet this aspiration

and the other goals set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, and reducing the cost of

investment required by encouraging innovation.

Alongside the Clean Growth Strategy, the government set up the Green Finance

Taskforce, which brought together senior leaders from the financial sector. One of

their objectives was to help deliver the investment needed to meet the ambitions and

commitments set out in our Clean Growth Strategy whilst consolidating the UK’s

leadership in financing international clean investment. The Taskforce published their

recommendations in March this year. The government is currently considering these

recommendations and will respond in due course.

The Government also launched two new £10 million innovation programmes to

develop new and improved energy efficiency and heating technologies to help reduce

the cost of improving homes. The funds closed to applicants on 2 January, and we

are currently reviewing bids.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-2017




Further, the Government published a Call for Evidence on building a market for

energy efficiency including additional measures to reduce the cost of investment

required to improve homes. This Call for Evidence closed on 9 January 2018.

Following an evaluation of the responses, we will publish an action plan on additional

market based measures later in 2018.

Energy: Prices

Grant Shapps: [138960]

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

the Government is taking to support Ofgem in ensuring that the new RIIO-2 price control

framework is tougher on energy network companies.

Claire Perry:

Network regulation, including setting the next energy network price control, RIIO-2, is

a matter for Ofgem as the independent energy regulator. By law, Government has no

role in this process.

Ofgem states that its proposals for RIIO-2 are expected to save consumers £5 billion

over 5 years or around £15-25 per household bill.

Government welcomes regulators and network companies acting in the best interests

of consumers and expects consumers to get a fair deal.

Energy: Private Rented Housing



assessment he has made of the long-term trajectory for energy performance standards

across the private rented sector.

Claire Perry:

As we set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government will look at options for a

long term trajectory for the sector, with the aim of as many private rented homes as

possible being upgraded to EPC Band C by 2030, where practical, cost-effective and

affordable. The Department is currently considering options prior to launching a

consultation later this year.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme



assessment he has made of the potential merits of participating in Phase 4 of the EU's

emissions trading system after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry:

The Government welcomes the formal agreement earlier this year on reform of the

EU ETS for the 2021-30 period (‘Phase IV’). It strikes an effective balance between

environmental ambition and protecting the competitiveness of industry. These




reforms are expected to result in a more meaningful carbon price and stimulate

investment in low-carbon technologies and the support of these reforms is without

prejudice to any future decision on UK participation, or otherwise, in the EU ETS after

we leave the EU.

European Social Fund

Nigel Dodds: [137482]

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

each country of the UK received from the European Social Fund in each year since 2012.

Andrew Griffiths:

Funding for European Structural Fund programmes, including the European Social

Fund (ESF), are set as part of the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF), The

ESF allocations to the UK, excluding any Youth Employment Initiative funding, for the

2014-20 MFF are as follows:

2014(€) 2015(€) 2016(€) 2017(€) 2018(€) 2019(€) 2020(€)

TOTAL(20

14-20)(€)

Englan

d

- 899,042,7

88

463,063,7

45

476,653,9

47

486,192,8

13

495,922,5

45

505,845,9

12

3,326,721,

750

Scotla

nd

56,201,74

9

57,326,91

8

58,474,45

3

60,082,30

4

61,284,70

4

62,511,12

8

63,761,98

4

419,643,24

0

Wales 135,265,8

34

137,973,8

81

140,735,7

57

144,089,6

22

146,973,2

30

149,914,4

50

152,914,2

66

1,007,867,

040

Northe

rn

Ireland

27,621,12

7

28,174,10

7

28,738,07

9

30,580,99

1

31,192,98

2

31,817,20

0

32,453,85

5

210,578,34

1

Gibralt

ar

- 1,315,551 677,820 690,861 704,868 718,875 733,367 4,841,342

These figures include EU funding available to support projects and programme

administration, and the performance reserve, and does not include any non-EU co-

financing. Each country of the UK has its own operational programme setting out the

objectives and focus of ESF expenditure.

ESF managing authorities will hold data on the 2007-13 programmes. The managing

authorities for the ESF programmes in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and

Gibraltar are the Devolved Administrations and HM Government of Gibraltar


respectively. In England, where the Department for Work and Pensions is the

managing authority, the allocations of ESF funding were:

2012 (€) 2013 (€)

England 410,923,902 427,344,776


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

successful applicants to the European Social Fund left the programme early in each

region of the UK in the latest period for which information is available.

Andrew Griffiths:

European Social Fund (ESF) programmes are administered in the UK by designated

managing authorities. These are the Department for Work and Pensions for England,

and the Devolved Administrations and HM Government of Gibraltar outside of

England.

To date managing authorities have had the following number of applicants withdraw

from 2014-20 ESF projects before completion:

NUMBER OF APPLICANTS WHO WITHDREW FROM

PROJECTS BEFORE COMPLETION

England 3

Wales 0

Scotland 3

Northern Ireland 5

Gibraltar 0

The above figures refer to applicants for funding who are managing ESF projects,

rather than individual participants in individual projects.

Fuel Poverty: Greater London

Vicky Foxcroft: [138076]

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

assessment he has made of trends in the level of fuel poverty in (a) Lewisham borough

and (b) London.

Claire Perry:

The table below shows the number and proportion of households living in fuel poverty

in Lewisham and London between 2014 and 2015 (latest data available).



LEWISHAM LONDON

Fuel Poor

Households

Percent Fuel

Poor

Fuel Poor

Households

Percent Fuel

Poor

2014 12,300 10.5% 348,000 11%

2015 12,000 10.2% 335,000 10%

*Household figures for Lewisham are rounded to the nearest 100 and proportion of

fuel poor to the nearest 1 decimal place

*Household figures for London are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and proportion of

fuel poor to the nearest whole number

Due to the relative nature of the fuel poverty measure, the proportion of households

in fuel poverty fluctuates between 10% and 12% at the national level.

The latest sub-regional fuel poverty statistics can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-sub-regional-statistics

Innovate UK



applications were received by Innovate UK from applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c)

Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

In 2015 the number of applications received by lead applicants from:

(a) England 4,020

(b) Wales 133

(c) Scotland 224

(d) Northern Ireland 50

In 2016 the number of application received from :

(a) England 4,053

(b) Wales 159

(c) Scotland 239

(d) Northern Ireland 54

There is no data available for 2017.






applications received by Innovate UK from applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c)

Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland were successful in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

In 2015 the number of successful applications by lead applicants from:

(a) England 1,059 (26.34% success rate)

(b) Wales 44 (33.08% success rate)

(c) Scotland 62 (27.68% success rate)

(d) Northern Ireland 12 (24% success rate)

In 2016 the number of successful applications by lead applicants from:

(a) England 1,106 (27.29% success rate)

(b) Wales 41 (25.79% success rate)

(c) Scotland 85 (35.56% success rate)

(d) Northern Ireland 19 (35.19% success rate)

There is no data available for 2017.

Innovate UK: Grants


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

funding Innovate UK awarded to applicants in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and

(d) Northern Ireland in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

Total grant commitments awarded to all applicants/participants from:

2015-2016

(a) England 634,666,900 (core budget only – 285,291,379)

(b) Wales 13,702,138 (core budget only – 12,329,668)

(c) Scotland 32, 371,269 (core budget only – 21,748,053)

(d) Northern Ireland 10,378,401 (core budget only - 3,746,692)

2016-2017

(a) England 658,944,899 (core budget only – 298,702,027)

(b) Wales 18,699,408 (core budget only – 18,129,691)

(c) Scotland 26,786,768 (core budget only – 26,180,878))

(d) Northern Ireland 11,280,825 (core budget only – 9,023,132)



Innovate UK: Wales


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

is taking to increase the number of bids to Innovate UK from applicants in Wales.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

There is on ongoing activities through UK Research and Innovation which brings

together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and funding for university

research through Research England. Companies have opportunities to bid for funding

projects through connecting services for innovators such as Knowledge Transfer

Network and Enterprise Europe Network. Details of funding opportunities are also

published on www.gov.uk.

Since 2016, Innovate UK has put in place regional managers throughout the UK,

including in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These managers are working with

local stakeholders to strengthen relationships with key players in cities and regions,

as well as to ensure that businesses throughout the regions and nations understand

the offer from Innovate UK. Over the last 12 months Innovate UK have held 10

specific regional events aligned with and co-developed with each region, (e.g. the

recent ‘NW Innovation’ event with Jürgen Maier), as well as participating in flagship

events such as the Wales Festival of Innovation, Northern Ireland Science Festival,

and Great Expedition of the North. We are also participating in innovation strategy

boards throughout the UK, including those reporting to Ministers such as the Can Do

Forum in Scotland, and Innovation Advisory Council for Wales. This will have real

impact as Local Industrial Strategies are developed in the coming year

Nuclear Power

Caroline Lucas: [136931]


assessment he has made of the value for money of the Government's new nuclear power

programme compared with other alternatives; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington:

The published value for money case for HPC details how cost competitive new

nuclear is with alternative large scale technologies in the mid-2020s.[1] Having

considered this analysis the Secretary of State for BEIS was satisfied that HPC is a

good deal for both consumers and investors. An assessment of value for money

would also be undertaken for any future proposed new nuclear projects.

[1]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/621400

/Detailed_value_for_money_assessment.pdf



Parental Leave

Danielle Rowley: [139035]

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

Government's policy is on making shared parental pay and paternity pay a right for all

employees from their first day of employment.

Andrew Griffiths:

We have started the evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave and Pay schemes this

year. This will look at the take up of leave and pay by fathers and partners, barriers to

take-up, and how Shared Parental Leave and Pay are being used in practice. As a

part of the same process of data collection, we will also gather information on the

take up of paternity leave and pay.

The evaluation will improve the evidence base and inform future policy development

in this area.

Trade Marks


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

Department plans to maintain a continuation of the EEA exhaustion regime in the UK

after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

Exhaustion of rights is one of the IPO’s priorities in preparing for the UK’s exit from

the EU, and we are working closely with other departments on this subject.

The current framework means that rights are exhausted after first sale within the

EEA. In the draft Withdrawal Agreement the EU and UK have agreed, in principle,

that IP rights exhausted in the EU and the UK before the end of the transition period

shall remain exhausted in both areas.

We are considering options for the choice of regime in the future.

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Office: Procurement


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of his Department's invitations to

tender have received no bidders in the last two years.

Oliver Dowden:

Every tender published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) by the Cabinet Office

during the period from April 2016 to March 2018 received bids.




Capita: Lincolnshire

Karen Lee: [137660]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which contracts Capita administers in (a)

Lincoln constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

Oliver Dowden:

Capita operates a number of national contracts that may provide services to

individuals or cover areas in Lincolnshire. In addition, there are individual contracts

with local contracting authorities. Details of contracts with a value over £10,000 are

published on the Contracts Finder website.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Zero Hours Contracts

Catherine McKinnell: [138969]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the reasons are for the rise of zero-hours

contracts in the UK by 100,000 in 2017 identified in the most recent Office for National

Statistics data return.

Chloe Smith:

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

I have asked the Authority to reply.

Attachments:

1. UKSA Response [PQ138969 HR.pdf]

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Charities

Sir Mike Penning: [137506]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he made the decision that Ministers will

not meet military charities which are not members of Confederation of Service Charities;

and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

No such decision has been made. I am encouraging the service charity sector to

strengthen their professional standards, and Confederation of Service Charities

(COBSEO) membership is part of this. I will by exception engage with non-COBSEO

charities, and part of the conversation I will have with them is to understand why they

are not members of COBSEO.

Army: Re-employment

Mr Kevan Jones: [137971]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many regular army service leavers from

(a) Infantry, (b) Royal Artillery, (c) Royal Corps of Signals, (d) Army Medical Services, (e)





Adjutant General's Corps, (f) Royal Armoured Corps, (g) Army Air Corps, (h) Royal

Engineers, (i) Royal Logistics Corps, (j) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and

(k) Intelligence Corps in each of the last five years have subsequently rejoined the (i)

regular army (ii) army reserve.

Mark Lancaster:

The following tables show the number of regular Army service leavers from the

requested Regiments or Corps for the last five years who have subsequently rejoined

the Regular or Reserve Army, data is as at 31 December 2017.

Regular Army Service Leavers who Re-joined the Regular Army:

YEAR OF OUTFLOW

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps 30 10 - 10 -

Royal Regiment of Artillery 30 20 10 - -

Corps of Royal Engineers 30 10 10 10 -

Royal Corps of Signals 10 10 10 - -

Infantry 100 90 60 20 10

Army Air Corps 10 10 - - -

Royal Logistic Corps 30 40 10 10 -

Army Medical Services 10 10 10 - -

Royal Army Medical Corps 10 10 10 - -

Royal Army Veterinary Corps - - - - -

Royal Army Dental Corps - - - - -

Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps - - - - -

Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical

Engineers

30 10 - - -

Adjutant General Corps 20 - - - -

Intelligence Corps - - - - -

Regular Army Service Leavers who Re-joined the FR20 Reserves:

YEAR OF OUTFLOW

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Household

Cavalry/Royal

Armoured

Corps

100 60 70 70 60

Royal

Regiment of

Artillery

120 100 100 70 80

Corps of Royal

Engineers

170 120 150 140 100

Royal Corps of

Signals

100 90 100 100 60

Infantry 400 320 280 220 210

Army Air Corps 20 30 20 10 20

Royal Logistic

Corps

220 180 160 150 100

Army Medical

Services

70 70 70 60 60

Royal Army

Medical Corps

50 50 60 40 40

Royal Army

Veterinary

Corps

10 10 - 10 -

Royal Army

Dental Corps

10 10 10 - -

Queen

Alexandra’s

Royal Army

Nursing Corps

10 10 10 10 10

Corps of Royal

Electrical and

Mechanical

Engineers

120 60 70 80 70

YEAR OF OUTFLOW

Adjutant

General Corps

100 80 60 60 50

Intelligence

Corps

30 20 30 50 30

Notes/Caveats:

Outflow figures are from the trade trained Regular Army (previously known as trained,

ie after completion of Phase 2 training), and therefore exclude Full Time Reserve

Service (FTRS) and Gurkhas (but include those individuals who have transferred

from Brigade of Gurkhas to Regulars) and untrained personnel.

Figures include untrained and trained personnel who re-entered between 1 January

2013 and 31 December 2017.

Arm/Service refers to the Arm/Service on outflow from the Regular Army, the

Arm/Service on re-entry may not be the same.

Future Reserves 2020 includes volunteer reserves who are mobilised, High

Readiness Reserve and Volunteer Reserve personnel serving on ADC or FTRS

contracts and some Sponsored Reserves. Figures have been rounded to 10 to limit

disclosure, ensure confidentiality; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the

nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the

sum of their parts.

“-” denotes zero or rounded to zero.

Frigates: Procurement

Douglas Chapman: [138613]

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

counterpart on their respective Governments' frigate procurement programmes; and if he

will make a statement.

Guto Bebb:

No such discussions on this issue have taken place.

Ministry of Defence Police


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2018 to

Question 127005, on Ministry of Defence Police, what the (a) agreed size of the Ministry

of Defence Police complement and (b) the actual number of officers employed by the

Ministry of Defence Police was in each year since 2010.



Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence Police complement and strength in each year as at 31 March

since 2010 is:

31 MARCH COMPLEMENT STRENGTH*

2005 Not available within timescale 3,346

2006 3,535 3,462

2007 3,513 3,525

2008 3,680 3,550

2009 3,670 3,490

2010 3,661 3,464

2011 3,645 3,302

2012 2,729 2,949

2013 2,708 2,660

2014 2,690 2,497

2015 2,666 2,503

2016 2,691 2,520

2017 2,691 2,570

2018 2,706 2,533

*Average number employed up to 31 March of each year as published In Ministry of

Defence Police accounts


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to remove the Ministry of

Defence Police presence from UK (a) facilities, (b) property and (c) sites which to date

have had their protective security ensured by that force.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to maintain Ministry of

Defence Police armed policing capacity.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has sought additional

investment in police counter-terrorism capability for the Ministry of Defence Police; and if

he will make a statement.




Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The safety and security of the Defence Estate continues to be of the utmost

importance. There are many ways this is achieved, including the vital role provided by

the Ministry of Defence Police.

The deployment of Ministry of Defence Police resources is kept under constant

review. This ensures our policing resources are deployed where they are most

needed. We continue to fully safeguard all of our sites and would never contemplate

changes that would place these in jeopardy.

We are confident that the current strength of the force, together with other security

provision is sufficient to counter the threats we face.

The Ministry of Defence Police continues to focus on delivering its specialist policing

services efficiently and effectively within its allocated budget. The MOD remains

committed to supporting the national Counter-Terrorism response. The Ministry of

Defence Police have deployed significant numbers of armed officers followed the

activation of OPERATION TEMPERER.

Ministry of Defence: Plastics

Thelma Walker: [138553]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to

reduce its use of single-use plastics.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

In the 25 Year Environment plan (published on 11 January 2018 and available on

Gov.uk) the Government outlined a range of measures on how we will reduce the

amount of plastic in circulation through reducing demand for single-use plastic. This

included a commitment to removing all consumer single use plastics from the central

Government estate offices. Like all Departments we will work to reduce and, where

practicable, eliminate the use of single use plastics. We are currently undertaking a

review of what single-use plastics the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces use

and are working with industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs to take this initiative forward.

Ministry of Defence: Recruitment


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time taken was to fill

vacancies for (a) Administrative Assistant/Administrative Officer, (b) Executive Officer, (c)

Senior Executive Officer/Higher Executive Officer, (d) Grades 6 and 7 civil servants and

(e) Senior Civil Service grade positions in his Department in each of the last five financial

years.



Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Information can only be provided for the last four financial years as the current

recruitment system was introduced in April 2014. The average time taken to fill a

vacancy has been calculated in working days from the date the vacancy was

advertised to the date a provisional offer was made to a candidate.

GRADE BAND FINANCIAL YEAR

2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18*

Administrative Assistant/Administrative

Officer

35.2 38.0 38.7 39.

4

Executive Officer 37.8 40.9 42.8 42.

7

Senior Executive Officer/Higher Executive

Officer

39.1 44.1 42.9 43.

4

Grades 6 and 7 48.9 49.8 47.4 53.

5

* Excludes Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) vacancies as DE&S ceased

using the Civil Service broader banded grades in April 2017

The information on the average time taken to fill vacancies for the Senior Civil

Service is not held in an easily accessible format. I will write to the hon. Member with

the information shortly.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Jim Shannon: [137559]

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

up its shortfall in personnel.

Mark Lancaster:

We are committed to maintaining the overall size of the Armed Forces. The Services

are meeting all their current commitments. To help address Armed Forces manning

challenges the Ministry of Defence has introduced its Armed Forces People

Programme to modernise the employment offer including scope for flexible working

and a new Forces' Accommodation Model. The individual Services have also

implemented a wide range of programmes including:

The Royal Navy/Royal Marines have the Personnel Recovery Programme which

includes initiatives to improve inflow (gains to trained strength); throughflow (changes

to training pipelines, promotions and accelerated throughput); and outflow (improving

retention and reducing voluntary outflow).


The Army is implementing improvements to recruitment and training policy and

practices; targeted financial retention incentives; and a strategy to attract personnel

to re-join the Army.

The RAF has established Enterprise Collaboration Teams to oversee a range of

recruitment initiatives for critical skills groups, including the appointments of Specialist

Recruitment Teams for hard to recruit branches and trades, BAME and female

personnel. A new initiative has also been introduced to encourage personnel to re-

join the Service.

Warships: Shipbuilding

Mr Stephen Hepburn: [137947]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to

support naval shipbuilding in (a) the North East and (b) the UK.

Guto Bebb:

The National Shipbuilding Strategy aims to re-energise the UK's shipbuilding industry

by encouraging participation from across the UK shipbuilding enterprise, including

opening up the procurement of all future naval ships to competition.

A key objective of the National Shipbuilding Strategy is to improve the international

competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry. To that end, the Ministry of Defence

(MOD) is working with industry through the Maritime Enterprise Working Group

(MEWG) to undertake a long-term programme of improvement. The MEWG's

membership consists of high ranking industry members from different parts of the

country, including representatives of companies based in the North East. The group's

priorities include improving competitiveness and productivity in the shipyards and

supply chain to help shipbuilding companies improve their capability when bidding

for, both, commercial and naval contracts. This is on top of approximately £3 billion of

MOD expenditure with the UK's shipbuilding and repair industry in FY2016-17, as set

out in the MOD's most recent regional spending bulletin:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-

and-supported-employment-201617

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Audio-visual Industry


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

Department has made of the potential effect on the UK audio visual sector in the event

that the country of origin principle for broadcasters ceases to apply in the UK after the UK

leaves the EU.



Margot James:

As stated by the Prime Minister in her Mansion House speech in March 2018, we are

working hard to secure an agreement with the EU which would allow UK-based

broadcasting licensees to continue broadcasting freely into the EU.

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

including a scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement on broadcasting can

be reached. DCMS Ministers and officials are therefore engaging with individual

businesses to understand possible impacts and mitigations to ensure that the UK

remains the most attractive destination for doing broadcasting business.

Broadcasting: Equality

Afzal Khan: [137661]

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

has had with broadcasters on the omission of religion as a category in the diversity

monitoring system Project Diamond.



has had with the BBC on (a) the omission of religion in the diversity monitoring system

Project Diamond and (b) the effect of that omission on on-off screen diversity monitoring

of faith groups working in or with that public service broadcaster.

Margot James:

We expect broadcasters to voluntarily publish their data on all diversity characteristics

- not just those they are legally obliged to - and the BBC should be leading the way

on this.There have been no discussions with broadcasters regarding Project

Diamond monitoring categories. Project Diamond is an industry led monitoring

scheme owned by the Creative Diversity Network which is made up of all of the UK’s

major broadcasters. Therefore, the decision to include or exclude categories is for the

Creative Diversity Network alone.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Procurement


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

Department's invitations to tender have received no bidders in the last two years.

Margot James:

There has been one such invitation.

Fascism: Social Media


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government has taken steps to

deter the display or sale of Nazi memorabilia on social media marketplace platforms; and

if he will make a statement.





Margot James:

As set out in the Internet Safety Strategy, behaviour which is unacceptable offline is

unacceptable online. Therefore, where the sale of memorabilia supports harmful

views or could encourage hate crime, we expect social media companies to have

robust processes in place to remove this content.

Film and Television: Tax Allowances

Tom Watson: [137503]


has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changing (a) film and (b) high-end

television tax relief to encourage an increase in the diversity of people working in the film

and television industries.

Margot James:

The Secretary of State meets regularly with his counterparts in Treasury to discuss a

range of matters, including the creative sector tax reliefs, which have successfully

encouraged the production of culturally British films and high-end TV programmes

worth over £10 billion in expenditure since 2007, making the UK one of the top

production destinations in the world.

We are committed to improving diversity in all DCMS sectors and is supportive of

relevant work being undertaken by the British Film Institute (BFI) as the government’s

arm’s length body for the moving image.

Mobile Phones: Rural Areas

Mr Alister Jack: [137646]

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

has made of the potential merits of using emergency services masts to improve mobile

phone coverage in rural parts of Scotland and the UK.

Margot James:

In delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), the mobile network operator

EE is delivering around 500 new sites (up to 291 of which will be funded by the

Government) and upgrading its entire existing network. Over 300 of these new sites

are in Scotland and all new sites are open to incoming site share applications from

other Mobile Network Operators. Additionally, in the more remote areas of Great

Britain, the Government, as part of its Extended Area Service (EAS) Programme, will

deliver approximately 300 further sites for ESN and, potentially, for commercial

coverage. 123 of these EAS sites will be in Scotland.

Mobile Phones: Scotland

Mr Alister Jack: [137647]

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

discussions he has had with mobile phone operators on improving mobile phone

coverage in rural parts of Scotland.




Margot James:

Ministers regularly meet the Mobile Network Operators to discuss a range of issues

including improving mobile phone coverage across the whole of the UK, including

Scotland.

National Lottery: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: [137518]

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

Lottery funding has been allocated to projects in Northern Ireland in 2017.

Tracey Crouch:

National Lottery good cause money is allocated by expert bodies at arm’s length from

Government, taking account of their own priorities and the need for equitable

distribution. The devolved Lottery Distribution Bodies have their policy directions set

by the devolved administrations.

National Lottery good cause monies are distributed in Northern Ireland by Sport

Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Sport Northern Ireland receives 0.52% of the total National Lottery

Distribution Fund; Arts Council of Northern Ireland receives 0.56%. This amounts to

an estimated £17.7m in 2017/18 (subject to audit).

In addition to this, the UK-wide Lottery Distributors (UK Sport, Big Lottery Fund,

Heritage Lottery Fund and British Film Institute) also distribute parts of their allocation

to projects in Northern Ireland. Proportions will vary by distributor.

Parks: Regeneration

Alex Norris: [139041]

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

Department has made of the effect on local communities of the ending of the Parks for

People conservation grant scheme.

Michael Ellis:

The Parks for People programme was a joint scheme between the Heritage Lottery

Fund and Big Lottery Fund, and therefore such decisions are made independently of

Government.

EDUCATION

Adoption: Self-employed

Peter Kyle: [138509]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2018 to

Question 136096 on Self-employed: Adoption, what assessment he has made of the

implications for his policies on statutory adoption leave for the self-employed of the




request by adoption agencies that adoptive parents spend a minimum of six months at

home when a child is first placed.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: Adoption agencies will have a range of policies about

how long they would ask adoptive parents to stay at home once a child is placed with

them. We work closely with the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the

Association of Directors of Children's Services when developing policy on adoption.

As previously stated, where adopters do not qualify for family related statutory pay

because they are self-employed, local authorities may make a payment equivalent to

Maternity Allowance. This is at the discretion of the local authority and is means-

tested.

Children in Care

Tulip Siddiq: [137628]

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

incentivise local authorities to improve levels of participation by vulnerable children in

decision-making on their care.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The statutory framework around care planning makes clear that local authorities

(LAs) should take into account a child’s wishes before making decisions affecting

them and their care. This is set out in section 22 of the Children Act 1989.

In addition, the corporate parenting principles, introduced through the Children and

Social Work Act 2017, specifically require LAs to encourage children and young

people to express their views, wishes and feelings; and that the LA acts upon these.

The accompanying statutory guidance, published in February 2018, highlights the

importance of understanding and acting on the views of all looked-after children,

including those with disabilities, special educational needs and other barriers to

participation. The guidance also sets out a number of examples of how LAs can

involve children, including vulnerable children, in decision-making on their care.

Ofsted’s framework for the inspection of LA children’s services considers the

application of the corporate parenting principles when determining what judgement to

award local authorities.

The corporate parenting principles guidance can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-corporate-parenting-principles-

to-looked-after-children-and-care-leavers.

Education Fellowship Trust

Angela Rayner: [138485]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2018 to

Question 136599 on Education Fellowship Trust (TEFT), if he will list the (a) 10 TEFT

schools for which new trusts have been identified but which have not yet been transferred

and (b) two TEFT schools for which no new trust has been identified.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-corporate-parenting-principles-to-looked-after-children-and-care-leavers




Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: The department has confirmed that Rushden

Community College will join Tove Learning Trust; Desborough College will form a

Single Academy Trust, Desborough College Academy Trust, until joining or forming a

multi-academy trust within two years. Blackthorn Primary School and Thorplands

Primary School will join the Northampton Primary Academy Trust. Olympic Primary

School, Ruskin Junior School and Warwick Academy will join Lion Academy Trust.

Risdene Academy and Windmill Primary School will join Manor Learning Trust. The

Clarendon Academy will join Acorn Learning Trust.

The Regional Schools Commissioners are working to confirm preferred new trusts as

soon as possible for the remaining two schools, Pembroke Park Primary in Wiltshire,

and Wrenn Academy in Northamptonshire.

Educational Psychology

Chris Ruane: [138395]

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

children who received help from schools-based educational psychologists in each of the

last three years for which data is available.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department provided

for schools-based educational psychologists in each of the last three years for which data

is available.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Mobility Commission: Public Appointments

Lyn Brown: [138413]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the panel sift for the appointment of

a new Chair of the Social Mobility Commission took place on 12 April as advertised.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: Progress on appointing a new Chair and

Commissioners is running to schedule as per the procedures set out in the

Governance Code for Public Appointments. My fellow ministers and I look forward to

working with the successful candidate to improve social mobility.

Lyn Brown: [138414]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether final interviews for the appointment

of a new Chair of the Social Mobility Commission are still planned for 3 May.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: Progress on appointing a new Chair and

Commissioners is running to schedule as per the procedures set out in the





Governance Code for Public Appointments. My fellow ministers and I look forward to

working with the successful candidate to improve social mobility.

STEM Subjects: Females


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

increase the number of girls participating in core STEM subjects after the age of 16.

Anne Milton:

In England, the department have taken focussed action to increase the take-up of

science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects after the age of

16. Whilst we have seen the number of girls taking STEM A levels increase by 18 per

cent since 2010, there is still more to do.

That is why we are investing in programmes to encourage take up in STEM-related

subjects and courses, including announcing substantial spending commitments in the

Autumn Budget 2017 on mathematics, digital skills and technical education. For

example:

to increase the take-up of mathematics (such as a new post-16 mathematics

premium), computing and physics;

to support better teaching of mathematics, science and computing in schools,

including a new £84 million programme to improve computing teaching, with a

particular focus on girls.

We are also improving STEM careers advice in schools in the recently published

‘Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents’. For example, we

support wider government initiatives such as the Department for Business, Energy &

Industrial Strategy’s STEM Ambassador programme. The STEM Ambassador

programme represents a network of over 30,000 volunteers from scientific research

and business who visit schools, Further Education colleges and youth or science

clubs, encouraging participation in STEM and providing real-life examples of careers

in STEM. 42 per cent of the ambassadors are women, providing visible role models

for girls wishing to pursue STEM.

We are taking action to address gender disparities in the take up of STEM-related

apprenticeships through a range of activities. These include taking part in the Year of

Engineering 2018 and use of the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s

Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network. We have also made it easier for part-

time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those with caring responsibilities

and lone parents.

Teachers: Employment


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

support newly registered teachers to find employment.



Nick Gibb:

Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers are required to demonstrate that their trainees

go on to secure employment; employment rates are one of the outcome measures

that Ofsted uses to grade ITT providers.

The latest data shows that 95% of postgraduate trainee teachers who were awarded

Qualified Teacher Status were employed in a teaching post within six months of

qualifying.[1]

The Department is developing a free national digital service for schools to publish

teacher vacancies and for teachers to search for them. This new service will assist

newly registered teachers to find posts.

[1]

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

ent_data/file/632451/SFR38_2017_Text.pdf

Teachers: Older Workers


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teachers over the age of 60 were

employed in schools in each year in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England

since 2010.

Nick Gibb:

The following table provides the full time equivalent number of teachers over the age

of 60 in service in state funded schools in the Coventry local authority area, West

Midlands region and England in November 2010 to November 2016. November 2017

figures will become available at the end of June 2018 and will be available via the

following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-workforce.

TEACHERS [1],[2]

Coventry West Midlands England

2010 70 1,070 10,580

2011 90 1,020 10,840

2012 110 1,120 10,990

2013 80 1,100 11,500

2014 70 1,080 10,900

2015 70 1,020 10,460

2016 80 970 10,160

Source: School Workforce Census

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632451/SFR38_2017_Text.pdf




[1] Figures for England contain an adjustment for schools that did not provide a

return, but this adjustment is not available at local authority or regional level.

[2] Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 teachers.

Teachers: Pay

James Frith: [137649]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to make

changes to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document to permit salary sacrifice

for the purchase of a car.

Nick Gibb:

There is a statutory process for revising the pay and conditions of teachers. Any

change must first be referred by the Secretary of State to the independent School

Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The demands on the STRB’s time and resources

mean that the Government has to make decisions on prioritising the issues it refers.

The Government is committed to making the teaching profession an attractive and

competitive career but is not currently considering proposing an extension to the

current salary sacrifice schemes for teachers to cover cars.

Academies and free schools are not required to follow the School Teachers’ Pay and

Conditions Document and could choose to offer their teachers access to car schemes

as part of salary sacrifice arrangements should they wish to do so.

Teachers: Qualifications


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

promote to people holding (a) Early Years Teacher Status and (b) Early Years

Professional Status, the financial support made available by his Department for Qualified

Teacher Status courses.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Initial teacher training leading to Early Years Teacher Status (previously Early Years

Professional Status) is designed for those who wish to specialise in early childhood

development and lead education and care for children from birth to five years.

For those who wish to work with primary age children the most common route to

becoming a school teacher is to undertake initial teacher training leading to Qualified

Teacher Status.

Information about all the initial teacher training routes and funding is available on the

‘Get into Teaching’ website at: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/.



https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies


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

what proportion of Basic Payment Scheme payments have been delayed by (a) one, (b)

two and (c) three and (d) more than three months in each of the last eight years.

George Eustice:

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was introduced in 2015. The window for making

payments under BPS runs between 1 December and 30 June.

Payments can be made outside of the payment window for a number of reasons

including the resolution of legal proceedings, such as probate. The table shows

number of payments made outside of the payment window since 2015. The payment

window for BPS 2017 runs until 30 June 2018.

2015 SCHEME YEAR BPS 2016 SCHEME YEAR

Date Volume Date Volume

Within window (Dec 2016-

June 2016)

85,237 Within window (Dec 2017-

June 2017)

85,231

1 month (July 2016) 774 1 month (July 2017) 123

2 months (August 2016) 431 2 months (August 2017) 74

3 months (September 2016) 290 3 months (September 2017) 57

>3 months (Post Sep-2016) 437 >3 months (Post-Sep 2017) 204

Total 87,169 85,231

Animal Welfare: Disqualification Orders


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

disqualification orders issued under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 have been

breached in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

George Eustice:

The number of offenders found guilty of breaches of animal disqualification orders in

England and Wales from 2012 to 2016 can be viewed in the table below.

Court proceedings data for 2017 is planned for publication in May 2018.



OFFENDERS FOUND GUILTY AT ALL COURTS OF BREACHES OF ANIMAL DISQUALIFICATION ORDERS

(1) , ENGLAND AND WALES, 2012 TO 2016 (2)(3)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

73 102 81 68 54

(1) An offence under S34(9) Animal Welfare Act 2006

(2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal

offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or

more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same

disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the

statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete.

However, it is important to note that this data has been extracted from large administrative

data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be

taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into

account when this data is used.

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Alex Sobel: [134637]

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

the Government's press release, Sentences for animal cruelty to increase tenfold to five

years, published on 30 September 2017, what progress his Department has made on

bringing forward legislative proposals to increase sentences for animal cruelty in the

agriculture industry.

George Eustice:

Since the press release in September, the Government published the draft Animal

Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill in December 2017 for

consultation which closed on 31 January. We are analysing the 9,000 responses and

will respond shortly.

Animal Welfare: Voluntary Organisations

Eddie Hughes: [138099]

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

he has made of the potential merits of introducing a registration and licensing system for

animal sanctuaries and re-homing activities.



George Eustice:

In reviewing the licensing systems for dog breeding, pet sales and other animal

activities in England we considered extending the licensing requirement to animal

sanctuaries and re-homing centres. We were not provided with evidence that such

operations need to be regulated in the same way. We support the work of the

Association of Dogs and Cats Homes who have developed sector guidance for dog

and cat rescue and rehoming centres which we endorse.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Mobile Phones


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

Department has approved for use of mobile phones issued by his Department.

George Eustice:

In core Defra applications are approved and accessed through a secure, managed

application catalogue.

In addition, the default applications supplied on the mobile phone are approved and

managed using the Department’s security policies.

These policies are closely aligned with National Cyber Security Centre guidance.

Providing details of specific applications would be inappropriate due to national

security concerns and the risk of facilitating acts against official systems by hostile

actors.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement


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

Department's invitations to tender have received no bidders in the last two years.

George Eustice:

There were 11 invitations to tender published between 1 April 2016 and 31 March

2018 that received no bidders.

Dogs: Licensing

Giles Watling: [138111]

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

Department has plans to replicate the Northern Ireland dog licencing system in England

and Wales.

George Eustice:

Since April 2016 every dog in Great Britain is required to be microchipped with the

keeper’s details. Over 90% of dog owners are compliant with the microchipping

requirement which allows dogs to be traced back to their keeper and if the dog strays

allows dog and keeper to be reunited quickly. There are no plans to reintroduce the

dog licence in England.




Dogs: Smuggling


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

answer question 115400, on Dogs: Smuggling, how many illegally imported puppies have

been seized at Dover and Folkestone ports by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and

placed into quarantine via the Puppy Pilot in the last six months.

George Eustice:

From 1 October 2017 to 31 March 2018, 143 puppies were seized at Dover and

Folkestone and placed into quarantine under the Puppy Pilot.

Food Poverty


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is

taking to tackle food poverty.

George Eustice:

The Government is committed to making a lasting difference to long-term outcomes

for poor and disadvantaged families and children. We believe that work offers the

best opportunity for people to get out of poverty and to become self-reliant. This is

why the Government is undertaking the most ambitious reform to the welfare system

in decades to support people to find and stay in work.

Defra is taking action to support the redistribution of unsold edible and nutritious

surplus stock food from businesses to individuals in need. The Waste and Resources

Action Programme (WRAP), supported by Defra, launched the Courtauld

Commitment 2025 in March 2016. Business signatories including leading retailers,

manufacturers and food redistribution organisations have agreed an ambition to work

collaboratively with WRAP to double the amount of surplus food they redistribute by

2020 against a 2015 baseline of 15,000 tonnes. At the end of last year, the

Government and WRAP announced a new £500,000 fund for charities who

redistribute surplus food from food businesses to those in need.

Incinerators

Dr David Drew: [137071]


Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 131978, how can residents who live near an

incinerator find out the amount of (a) PM2.5, (b) PM1 and (c) PM0.1 particulate matter

emitted by the incinerator.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

There is currently no accurate method by which the exact amount of PM2.5, PM1 or

PM0.1 emitted from incinerators can be determined. This is because total particulate

matter (TPM) emissions from modern incinerators are so low that quantifying the




amount of the smaller particles with any level of accuracy is not possible using

currently available technology.

However, there are European air quality standards for both PM10 (which will include

PM2.5, PM1 and PM0.1) and PM2.5 (which will include PM1 and PM0.1) and the

Environment Agency will not permit an incinerator if its emissions could cause these

standards to be exceeded.

Documents which explain how the Environment Agency makes its permitting

decisions (including its assessment of the impacts from particulate matter) are

available on the public register for all incinerators.



Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 131978, why incinerators are exempt from

monitoring and reporting on emissions of PM 2.5 and of PM10, when other industries are

required separately to monitor and report the incidence of such particles.


Waste incinerators are required to continuously monitor and report on emissions of

total particulate matter (TPM) in line with the requirements of the European Industrial

Emissions Directive. TPM includes PM10 and PM2.5 as well as other sizes. There is

no commercially available equipment for the continuous monitoring of PM10 and

PM2.5 and therefore there are no requirements in permits to monitor and report on

these emissions. Where appropriate, for reasons of air quality, the Environment

Agency may require operators in industries it regulates to assess and report on

particle size distribution.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to his

answer of 20 April 2018 to Question 135442 on Air Pollution, what steps he has taken to

ensure that (a) the public and (b) people living in close proximity to waste incinerator sites

have adequate information on the dispersal of emissions of (i) PM 0.1, (ii) PM 1, (iii) PM

2.5 and (iv) PM10 from waste incinerator sites.


Documents which explain how the Environment Agency makes its permitting

decisions (including the results of air dispersion modelling for PM10 and PM2.5,

which will include PM1 and PM0.1) are available on the public register for all

incinerators. The public register is available online at:

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index.

Livestock: Exports


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

to restrict the export of live animals for slaughter.



https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index


George Eustice:

The Government has always been clear that it would prefer animals to be

slaughtered close to the point of production. Our manifesto made it clear that we

would take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter once we

leave the EU. We have recently launched a call for evidence on the subject.

Non-commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011


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

Department plans to publish its post implementation review of the Non-Commercial

Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011.

George Eustice:

The Post Implementation Review (PIR) will evaluate the effectiveness of the Non-

Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order. A public consultation was conducted

and responses published in June 2017.

We intend to publish the PIR report before summer recess.

EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Customs Unions

Jo Platt: [139057]

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

made of the potential effect on (a) GDP, (b) the balance of trade, (c) small business

growth and (d) large business growth of the Government's policy on leaving the EU

Customs Union.

Suella Braverman:

The Government has been clear that the UK will leave the EU Customs Union when it

leaves the EU.

As set out in our future partnership paper, in assessing the options for the UK's future

customs relationship with the EU, we will be guided by three strategic objectives:

ensuring UK-EU trade is as frictionless as possible; avoiding a hard border between

Ireland and Northern Ireland; establishing an independent international trade policy.

The future partnership paper set out two possible options to meet these objectives.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our

EU exit negotiations and preparations. Our overall programme of work is

comprehensive, thorough and is continuously updated.

We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on

internal analytical work that is being carried out within Government.



Department for Exiting the European Union: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: [137497]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much time he spent

(a) in Northern Ireland and (b) visiting the border area on 23 April 2018; and if he will

make a statement.

Suella Braverman:

The Secretary of State undertook a visit to Northern Ireland on 23 April to meet some

of the key stakeholders involved in the process of our EU exit. He stayed overnight in

Northern Ireland and as part of his visit spent some time at the border with Peter

Sheridan, the Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland.

Nationality: Northern Ireland

John Grogan: [137432]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph

52 of the Joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom

Government on progress during phase 1 of negotiations under Article 50 TEU on the

United Kingdom's orderly withdrawal from the European Union, whether the commitment

made in that paragraph includes all EU rights normally associated with residents in a

Member State; and if he will list those rights.

Mr Robin Walker:

The UK and the EU acknowledge that the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement

recognises the birth right of all the people of Northern Ireland to choose to be Irish or

British or both and be accepted as such. They also recognise that the people of

Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens,

including where they reside in Northern Ireland. The UK and the EU therefore agree

that the Withdrawal Agreement should respect and be without prejudice to the rights,

opportunities and identity that come with European Union citizenship for such people.

The UK has been clear that we are committed to turning all of the commitments made

under the Joint Report into legally binding text - that includes those on citizenship

rights for the people of Northern Ireland under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Bahrain: Administration of Justice

Fabian Hamilton: [137937]

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

discussions his Department has had with the Government of Bahrain on the sentencing

of family members of Said Ahmed Alwadaei; and if he will call for their release.

Alistair Burt:

The Government is closely following these cases and representatives of the British

Embassy in Bahrain regularly attend court hearings. We have raised these cases at a




senior level with the Government of Bahrain. We understand there is a right of appeal

to the Court of Cassation and we will continue to monitor proceedings.

Bahrain: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UK bodies

will be implementing the technical assistance programme under the £1.52 million funding

for overseas aid to Bahrain; and which Bahraini bodies will be the beneficiaries of that

programme in the 2017-18 financial year.

Alistair Burt:

The Government works with a number of implementation partners and beneficiaries

to support Bahraini-led reform. These programmes aim to support progress on

building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and

justice reform. All of our work is in line with international standards, and aims to share

the UK's expertise and experience. Any training provided by, or on behalf of, the

British Government fully complies with our domestic and international human rights

obligations.

Bahrain: Political Prisoners


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

Department has made representations to the Government of Bahrain on the denial of

family visitations to political prisoners in Jau prison; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

The Government monitors events in Bahrain closely. Where we have concerns on

specific issues, including prison conditions, we raise these with the Bahraini

authorities. We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report

these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies. We encourage the Government

of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.

British Overseas Territories: Marine Protected Areas

Zac Goldsmith: [138963]

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

Answer to Question 136780, on British Overseas Territories: Marine Protected Areas,

which Blue Belt programme activities those payments of Centre for Environment,

Fisheries and Aquaculture Science staff salaries were associated with in (a) 2016-17 and

(b) 2017-18.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Under the Blue Belt initiative in 2016/17, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and

Aquaculture Science (Cefas) provided advice on marine resources and their current

management; undertook baseline assessment and gap analysis of each of the

Overseas Territories (OT) to determine their marine management status and future




needs. Cefas also procured a deep-water camera system to provide data for

baselining and monitoring of Marine Protected Areas, including evaluating the

impacts of fishing gear on habitats.

In 2017/18, Cefas assisted the Tristan da Cunha Government with the planning and

implementation of a marine protection strategy including an extensive programme of

work to help the OT sustainably manage existing and developing fisheries, supporting

the local economy. In collaboration with British Antarctic Survey and the OT

Governments, Cefas planned and implemented scientific surveys in Tristan and St

Helena maritime areas. Cefas also instigated tagging programmes for commercially

exploited tuna and grouper species in the St Helena waters, which are providing

valuable data on the ecology of these species. Cefas has recently undertaken a

camera survey of the South Georgia MPA to investigate the impact of longline fishing

gear on the marine ecosystem. Cefas assisted the British Indian Ocean Territory

Administration in developing a detailed marine management plan for the existing

MPA. Cefas has also providing training to staff from Ascension Island, Tristan da

Cunha and St Helena and procured safety equipment for staff and vessels working in

the Tristan and St Helena maritime zones.

Zac Goldsmith: [138964]

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

Answer to Question 136780, on British Overseas Territories: Marine Protected Areas,

which Blue Belt programme activities those payments of Marine Management

Organisation staff salaries were associated with in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Under the Blue Belt initiative during 2016-2017, the Marine Management

Organisation (MMO) staffing costs were primarily focused on initial programme

development and assessment of Overseas Territory (OT) needs. The MMO

undertook assessment of the effectiveness of satellite surveillance trials across the

relevant OT, undertook a baseline assessment of new and innovative technologies to

complement maritime enforcement and provided legal drafting support to St Helena

Government.

During 2017-2018, MMO established a central compliance and enforcement

intelligence hub in the UK's National Maritime Information Centre to develop risk

analysis profiles for each of the relevant OTs and provide technical support to OTs in

monitoring incursions in their waters. The MMO supported the Government of South

Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands in developing a clearer fisheries compliance

framework; comprehensive compliance and enforcement training to the British Indian

Ocean Territory and supported enforcement patrols in Tristan da Cunha and

Ascension.


Diplomatic Relations

Sir Nicholas Soames: [138937]

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

Department has allocated to diplomatic work in (a) Africa, (b) Europe, (c) USA and (d)

Latin America.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) latest confirmed expenditure (2016-

17) on diplomatic work in the areas you have asked about was as follows:

(a) Africa £164m

(b) Europe £163m

(c) USA £48m

(d) Latin America £61m.

These figures represent the full cost of supporting diplomatic work in these specific

regions and include the costs for direct admin, FCO and Cross-Whitehall programme

funding and overheads as at 2016-17 (the most recent data available, as 2017-18 is

still being finalised). They do not include new and additional funding the FCO has

secured for EU Exit and Global Britain activities for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

Israel: Arms Trade


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

implications are for the sale of arms to Israel of the Palestinians killed and injured during

the Great Return March in 2018.

Alistair Burt:

The UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing violence on Gaza’s borders. The

Government takes its defence exports responsibilities extremely seriously and

operates some of the most robust export controls in the world. We only approve

equipment which is for Israel's legitimate self-defence and when we are satisfied that

it would be consistent with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing

Criteria and other relevant commitments. All applications for export licences are

assessed on a case-by-case basis against strict criteria. We will not issue a licence if

there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used for internal repression, or if

there is a clear risk that it would provoke or prolong conflict.

Lula Da Silva, Luiz Ignacio

Dan Carden: [139047]

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

representations he has made to his Brazilian counterpart on the legal proceedings

against former President of Brazil, Lula da Silva; and if he will make a statement.




Sir Alan Duncan:

I have not made any representations on this issue to my counterpart. Brazil has a

robust, transparent and independent justice system that is rightly tackling corruption

issues.

Nabeel Rajab


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

he has made of the five-year prison sentence for Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain and the

treatment to which he is subjected by prison authorities.

Alistair Burt:

We have raised the case of Nabeel Rajab at senior levels with the Government of

Bahrain. My statement of 21 February made clear my concerns at the five-year

sentence handed to Mr Rajab in addition to the two-year sentence he received in

2017. I understand that Mr Rajab has a right of appeal in this case and we will

continue to monitor proceedings closely.

We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the

relevant human rights oversight bodies. We continue to encourage the Government

of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments

Syria: Military Bases


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

discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on removing Iranian military bases

from Syria.

Alistair Burt:

We have a regular dialogue with the Israeli Government on Syria and the wider

regional. The Prime Minister most recently spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

on 14 April. They discussed mutual concerns on Syria, including Iran’s destabilising

activity in Syria and throughout the region. We will continue to work closely with our

international partners to support stability in the region.

Turkey: Administration of Justice


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

he has had with his counterpart in the Turkish Government on ensuring fair trials for

people accused of having links with terrorist organisations in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Foreign Secretary and I have regular discussions on human rights issues with

our Turkish counterparts. The arrest of Amnesty International staff in Turkey is a case

in point. It is important that legal measures, particularly under the State of Emergency




in Turkey, be proportionate, justified and in line with Turkey's democratic principles

and its international human rights obligations.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Abortion


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his

Department has made of trends in the level of the availability of appointments for

abortions in NHS hospital settings for women with complex medical conditions.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department is aware of concerns over the availability of appointments for women

with complex conditions seeking an abortion and is working with NHS England and

the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to ensure that such women

receive timely access to high quality abortion care.

Accountable Care Organisations

Jonathan Ashworth: [138970]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to

launch its consultation on Accountable Care Organisations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had

with NHS England on its planned consultation on Accountable Care Organisations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure

that no Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) contract is awarded until the NHS England

consultation on ACOs has been completed.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14

February 2018 to Question HL5353, for what reasons the consultation on the contracting

arrangements for Accountable Care Organisations was not launched in March 2018.

Stephen Barclay:

NHS England has decided that the consultation on the draft Accountable Care

Organisations (ACO) Contract will not be launched until two ongoing Judicial Reviews

have been concluded. This will allow the Department and NHS England to take into

account the outcome of both challenges.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chief Executive of NHS

England regularly meet to discuss to discuss a broad range of NHS England policy

issues, of which the ACO policy is one of them.






The Department has been clear that it does not expect any contracts to be signed

prior to this consultation concluding. Furthermore, the Department has been clear

that it will not make the necessary Directions or lay the proposed regulations until

NHS England has completed this consultation.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information he holds on

the number of bed days that were lost due to delayed transfers of care in Brighton and

Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2017.

Caroline Dinenage:

There were 22,772 delayed transfer of care bed days at Brighton and Sussex

University Hospitals NHS Trust during 2017.

NHS England publishes information on the number of delayed transfers of care on a

monthly basis. This is available at individual trust and national level via their

Statistical Work Areas webpages and can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/delayed-transfers-of-care


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what change there was in the

level of emergency admissions of older people between 2013-14 and 2016-17 in the

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Stephen Barclay:

NHS Digital’s Hospital Episode Statistics show that between the financial years 2013-

14 and 2016-17, there was an increase in emergency finished admission episodes at

the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust for patients aged 65 and

over of 1,914 (an increase of 9.9%). This is a count of admissions, not patients, as

the same person may have more than one admission within the time period.

Care Homes: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent representations he

has received from care home operators on their financial viability.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent representations he

has received from care home operators in West Sussex on their future financial viability.

Caroline Dinenage:

We have received two letters from care providers who operate in West Sussex.

The Department receives representations from care providers on a regular basis on a

number of issues and we work with providers through the Care Provider Alliance to

consider targeted action to address the issues.







The Government continues to engage with the care sector, including care providers,

to understand their concerns about their financial viability and the sustainability of

services.

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients

Philip Davies: [138009]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people detained

under the Mental Health Act 1983 have been released in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Fractures


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average (a) length and

(b) cost to the public purse was of a finished admission episode for people admitted to

hospitals with fragility fractures in each of the last five years.

Stephen Barclay:

The requested data is not held centrally.

Fractures: Older People


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many falls among people

aged 65 and over led to a hospital admission in each year since 2009-10; and what the

five most frequent types of such falls resulting in such admissions were.

Stephen Barclay:

A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) for patients aged 65 and over which

have been classified as having been caused by a fall is shown in the following table.

These are for the financial years 2009-10 through to 2016-17. This is a count of

admissions, not patients, as the same patient may have been admitted on more than

one occasion within the time period:

FINANCIAL YEAR COUNT OF FAES

2009-10 274,103

2010-11 295,136

2011-12 309,668

2012-13 259,669

2013-14 266,649




FINANCIAL YEAR COUNT OF FAES

2014-15 282,719

2015-16 291,531

2016-17 294,559

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

The five most frequent specified types of falls which have resulted in admissions for

patients aged 65 and over in the financial years 2009-10 through to 2016-17 are

below:

- Fall on the same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling;

- Other fall on the same level;

- Fall on and from stairs and steps;

- Fall involving bed; and

- Fall involving chair.

Health Services: Finance

Dr Paul Williams: [139056]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the £1.6 billion

announced in Autumn Budget 2017 for allocation in 2018-19 has been used to

commission services from (a) NHS Trusts and (b) independent healthcare providers.

Stephen Barclay:

The information requested is not available.

Clinical commissioning groups can commission any service provider that meets

National Health Service standards and costs. These can be NHS hospitals, social

enterprises, charities or private sector providers. However, they must be assured of

the quality of services they commission, taking into account both National Institute for

Health and Care Excellence guidelines and the Care Quality Commission's data

about service providers. We are clear that patients should be able to access the best

possible treatments based on quality of care not the provider.

The £1.6 billion for 2018-19 will increase funding for emergency and urgent care, and

elective surgery.

Homeopathy


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring

forward legislative proposals to control and monitor the use of homeopathy.



Jackie Doyle-Price:

Homeopathic medicinal products are regulated under medicines legislation.

Homeopathic medicinal products are currently either registered under the Simplified

Scheme which was introduced in 1992 by European Directive 92/73/EC (amended by

Directive 2001/83/EC) or authorised under the National Rules Scheme which was

introduced in 2006 allowing the marketing of homeopathic medicines with a limited

range of indications in accordance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Hospitals: Parking

Robert Halfon: [138024]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of NHS

Foundation Trusts hospital car parks in England are operated by (a) private parking

companies and (b) Foundation Trusts.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of NHS

Foundation Trusts in England operate cashless only hospital car park charging facilities.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS hospital received

the largest income from hospital car parking charges in England in (a) 2014-2015, (b)

2015-2016 and (c) 2016-2017.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals in

England charge blue badge holders the full rate for parking a car at their car parks.

Stephen Barclay:

The information requested is not collected centrally.

The National Health Service trusts are responsible for the actions of any private

contractor they may employ to manage their hospital car parking service.

All the available data on car parking in NHS trusts in England is collected annually

through Estates Return Information Collection, published at the following link:

http://hefs.hscic.gov.uk/ERIC.asp

Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment data is published at the following

link:

http://hefs.hscic.gov.uk/PLACE.asp


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many parking spaces there

are in NHS Foundation Trust hospital parking facilities in England.










Stephen Barclay:

National Health Service car parking data is collected annually through Estates Return

Information Collection (ERIC). The latest ERIC data for 2016-17 shows that there are

282,940 parking spaces available at foundation trusts.

All ERIC data for all trusts in England is published at:




March 2018 to Question 131749 on Hospitals: Parking, when his Department last

reviewed its 2015 guidance on NHS patient, visitor and staff car parking.

Stephen Barclay:

The Department keeps its 2015 guidance on National Health Service patient, visitor

and staff car parking under review.

NHS organisations have the autonomy to make decisions locally on the provision of

charges and how car parking is managed for patients, visitors and staff, taking

account of their local circumstances.

Mental Health Services: Drugs


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

prevent illicit drugs being brought into secure mental health wards.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Operating safe, therapeutic and clinically effective services is the responsibility of

service providers to manage in accordance with best practice. NHS England’s

national service specifications for adult medium and low secure mental health

services reinforce the importance of procedural, physical and relational security to

address such matters. For high secure services, the Secretary of State for Health and

Social Care issues specific Directions to providers regarding the way they must

manage their security arrangements. These arrangements cover illicit substances.

Mental Health Services: Gambling


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his

Department has made of the effectiveness of IAPT services for the treatment of people

with problem gambling disorders.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Over 900,000 people now access Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

(IAPT) services each year, and the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

includes our commitment to expand services further to see a further one million more

people treated for mental health problems every year by 2020. Although problem






gambling is not listed amongst the provisional diagnosis categories that IAPT treats,

IAPT practitioners would be able to treat common mental health disorders such as

depression and anxiety which may affect people with gambling problems.

A new version of the IAPT dataset is being developed and it is intended that gambling

problems will be recorded in the revised dataset. This would enable us to better

assess the impact of IAPT services on people with gambling problems.

People who experience problems with gambling can access services in primary care

and secondary care including specialised mental health and addiction services. There

are a range of services available details of which can be found on the NHS Choices

website. For example, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust has a

national problem gambling clinic which accepts referrals from all over the United

Kingdom including those with mental health problems.

Mental Health: Children

Tracy Brabin: [139021]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission within this

Parliament research into the effect on children's mental health of living with (a) income

poverty, (b) debt, (c) poor housing and (d) in circumstances in which one or more adults

have mental health problems.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department has commissioned NHS Digital to undertake a Children and Young

People’s Mental Health Survey to examine the prevalence of mental disorders. The

survey report is expected to be published in autumn 2018.

The report is planned to include estimates of prevalence of mental health conditions

in relation to parents’ household income and the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation combines information from seven domains to

produce an overall relative measure of deprivation. The domains are:

- Income Deprivation;

- Employment Deprivation;

- Education, Skills and Training Deprivation;

- Health Deprivation and Disability;

- Crime;

- Barriers to Housing and Services; and

- Living Environment Deprivation.

The report is also planned to include information on children and young people’s

mental health prevalence in relation to parental scores on the General Health

Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12), which is designed to screen for general mental health

conditions (non-psychotic psychiatric morbidity).


NHS England: Complaints

Ann Clwyd: [137481]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a strategy

document on steps to improve the responsiveness of NHS England to complaints; and if

he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

NHS England is taking a range of actions to ensure that complaints made to it as a

commissioner of a range of NHS services are timely and of a good quality.

NHS England has published a Complaints Policy which sets out how they manage,

respond to and learn from complaints, and also a Quality Framework, which is based

on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report ‘My Expectations’.

NHS England has also recently introduced a peer review process to monitor

compliance with the Complaints Policy and Quality Framework. Key Performance

Indicators relating to acknowledgment and response have been developed and are

monitored and reported on a monthly basis.

NHS: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 20

March 2018, to question 132755 on NHS Finance, how much money will be reprioritised

from his Department's budget to provide extra funding for the NHS in 2018-19; and what

that money was previously allocated to.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 1.2

of Refreshing NHS Plans for 2018/19, published by NHS England and NHS Improvement

on 2 February 2018, from which of his Department’s budgets he is making a further £540

million available to the NHS through the Mandate; and if he will make statement.

Stephen Barclay:

The additional £540 million will be made available by the Department from the

increase in the migrant surcharge, other income, and some reprioritisation within its

own Departmental budget. NHS England will receive this funding through the

Mandate in 2018-19, and will invest it in core frontline services such as mental health

and primary care.

The business planning process looked at the prioritisation of the Departmental

budget. Whilst most of the additional funding into NHS England is being funded

through additional income in 2018-19, the majority of the remainder has been found

through the removal of contingencies in administration budgets and demand led

budgets, ensuring that available funding is prioritised to support frontline National

Health Service activity.




NHS: South Tyneside


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding has been

allocated from the public purse for NHS services in South Tyneside in each of the last five

years.

Stephen Barclay:

NHS England publishes clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations on its

website. The published CCG allocations for NHS South Tyneside CCG for the past

five years for core services are set out in the following table. It should be noted that

these figures do not include allocations for primary medical care or specialised

services and that these figures are as published, and may not reflect any adjustments

that have occurred since the time of publication. Furthermore, allocations for 2017/18

are not strictly comparable with those of earlier years as a number of changes have

been made to CCG baselines.

NHS SOUTH TYNESIDE CCG ALLOCATION (£000S)

2013-14 222,913

2014-15 227,683

2015-16 238,697

2016-17 242,525

2017-18 245,116

Organs: Transplant Surgery


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have

undergone an organ transplant in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Since the launch of the United Kingdom-wide ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020

Strategy’ in July 2013, organ donation rates have increased by 19% and transplant

rates by 15% mainly through a strengthening of the donation infrastructure (e.g.

increased specialist nurses, improved retrieval arrangements).

In 2017-18, the UK had the highest ever deceased donor and transplant rates. The

number of transplants (including living and deceased donations) performed in the UK

for each of the five years is set out below:

2017/18 – 4,969*

2016/17 – 4,753



2015/16 – 4,601

2014/15 – 4,431

2013/14 – 4,655

Note:

*provisional figures, subject to change.

Osteoporosis: Fractures


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to help prevent osteoporosis breaks; and what drugs are available from the NHS

for people with that condition reduce the risk of repeat fractures.

Steve Brine:

In 2012, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published best practice

clinical guidance on assessing the risk of fragility fracture. It aims to provide guidance

on the selection and use of risk assessment tools in the care of adults at risk of

fragility fractures in all National Health Service settings. The guidance recommends

that clinicians consider assessment of fracture risk in all women aged 65 years and

over and all men aged 75 years and over. Women aged less than 65 years and men

aged less than 75 years should be considered for assessment in the presence of

certain risk factors, such as a family history of hip fracture or low body mass index.

The guidance can be found at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg146

There are a number of therapies and treatments available for the prevention of

fragility fractures in people who are assessed as being at risk, or to prevent further

fractures in those who have already had one or more fragility fractures. Drugs

available to help maintain bone density include: bone sparing agents, such as

bisphosphonates; calcium and vitamin D supplements; and certain hormone based

treatments.

Locally commissioned fracture liaison services (FLS) can also play a key role in

reducing the risk of fracture in patients. These services systematically and proactively

identify patients in secondary and/or primary care who have suffered a fragility

fracture and assess the patient’s risk of future fragility fracture in a timely fashion.

FLS then provide advice and/or therapy to reduce that risk. There is good evidence

that these services are cost-effective and can result in a reduction in the incidence of

fragility fractures in the local population. NHS England has developed a Falls and

Fragility Fractures Pathway in partnership with Public Health England and the

National Osteoporosis Society, as part of its Rightcare programme. Rightcare

highlights the high value interventions that systems should focus on to address

variation, improve outcomes, reduce cost and contribute toward a sustainable NHS.

More information about the pathway can be found at the following link:


http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg146

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg146

www.england.nhs.uk/rightcare/products/pathways/falls-and-fragility-fractures-

pathway/

Respite Care

Andy McDonald: [138989]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether respite care is a health

service or a social care.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether clinical commissioning

groups have a statutory duty to provide respite care.

Caroline Dinenage:

Respite care may be commissioned as either a social care or a health service. A

clinical commissioning group has a duty under section 3 of the NHS Act 2006 to

arrange for the provision of health services to the extent it considers necessary to

meet the reasonable needs of the persons for whom it has responsibility, including

services for the care of persons suffering from illness, and the after-care of persons

who have suffered from illness, and this could include respite care.

Social Services: Minimum Wage



March 2018 to Question 133056 on social services: minimum wage, how many and what

proportion of providers enrolled in the Social Care Compliance Scheme responded to the

(a) Deloitte and (b) Frontier Economics and Laing Buisson study on sleep-in back-pay

liabilities.

Caroline Dinenage:

This information is not held. No data that would identify providers has been shared

with any Government department from the Deloitte or the Frontier Economics and

LaingBuisson studies.

Surgical Mesh Implants


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to support people experiencing after-effects as a result of surgical mesh implants.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

To help deliver improved support to women, 18 trusts in England and one in Scotland

have declared themselves as having the right multi-disciplinary teams and experience

to provide advice and treatment or onward referral for women with complications

following surgery involving mesh.

In addition, in England the national specialised commissioning team will shortly be

consulting on a number of service specifications that cover specialised women’s

http://www.england.nhs.uk/rightcare/products/pathways/falls-and-fragility-fractures-pathway/







surgery, which includes mesh insertion and removal. Once the specification has been

agreed NHS England will commission specific centres for complex mesh removal

where women have experienced significant complications from their treatment with

mesh. A key requirement for all services will be a multidisciplinary team to support

women to understand the options available to them and to access expert care

required for their individual circumstances.

HOME OFFICE

Airguns: Crime

Louise Haigh: [139545]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences involving an

airgun were recorded by police in each year from 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Office for National Statistics publishes offences recorded by the police involving

an air weapon and time series data can be found in Table 2, available here:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/off

encesinvolvingtheuseofweaponsdatatables

Asylum: Housing


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15

November 2017 to Question 113165, what plans her Department has to publish reports

on inspections of G4S asylum accommodation by UKVI.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office and its contracted asylum accommodation providers inspect

property on a regular basis as part of the existing service delivery and contract

management regime. There are no plans to publish the reports from individual

property inspections.

Counter-terrorism

Rosie Duffield: [113016]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which funding authority is

responsible for the installation of (a) rising bollards and (b) other such permanent road

furniture designed to prevent terrorist attacks; and what assessment she has made of the

potential benefits of establishing a central fund for such installations.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Government provides high quality advice and guidance to the owners and

operators of major crowded places through police Counter Terrorism Security

Advisors.


https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/offencesinvolvingtheuseofweaponsdatatables





The costs of protective security measures such as rising bollards or other permanent

street furniture, as part of security capabilities installed at a given location fall to the

owner, operator or responsible authority under the user pays principle. We will

consider as part of the review of Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy,

CONTEST, where it would be appropriate to revise existing approaches.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has

plans to commission an independent review of the Prevent strategy.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The UK's counter-terrorism strategy 'CONTEST' was last published in 2011. We are

reviewing our entire approach to counter-terrorism and will publish a new counter-

terrorism strategy. Prevent is being reviewed as part of the wider CONTEST review.

The review is focusing on four key areas:

o Tackling terrorist ideology;

o Denying safe online spaces to terrorist communications and content;

o Denying safe spaces in the real world (covering both overseas action and counter-

extremism work in the UK); and

o Examining CT powers (including sentencing).

Driving Offences: Speed Limits


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department

holds on the number of drivers who took the National Speed Awareness courses in 2017.

Mr Nick Hurd:

National Speed Awareness courses are offered under the police controlled and

operated National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS). The Home Office

does not hold information on the number of drivers who have taken Speed

Awareness courses.

Fireworks

Gill Furniss: [124771]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department

holds on the number of complaints received on the use of fireworks in each of the last five

years.

Victoria Atkins:

The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office.




Fraud: Older People


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment his

Department has made of the effectiveness of the statutory provisions for combating

fraudulent activities and scams aimed at the elderly.

Mr Ben Wallace:

Fraud is a heinous crime often affecting the most vulnerable members of society such

as the elderly and those who may be susceptible to approaches from fraudsters.

Through the Joint Fraud Taskforce the Government is working collaboratively with the

police, banks, and national trading standards to implement a series of measures

designed to protect vulnerable and susceptible people from becoming victims of

fraud, and to provide better care and assistance to those who do become victims. We

are committed to measuring the effectiveness of these measures.

The Joint Fraud Taskforce has supported the roll-out of the Banking Protocol, through

which bank staff are trained to recognise signs that fraud may be taking place in

branch. The Banking Protocol guarantees a direct enforcement response and has so

far stopped over £16m from getting into criminal hands and led to over 150 arrests.

The Taskforce has also supported the development and launch of a Code of Practice

for banks which sets minimum standards for the recognition and care of victims of

fraud and financial abuse. The Taskforce is working to ensure that all banks adhere

to the principles of the Code of Practice and is currently developing this monitoring.

The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign developed by the banks and the Home Office

is designed to help encourage the public to protect themselves from fraud and

scams, providing advice on specific protective behaviours including around phishing.

The campaign was developed jointly by industry, Government experts and the Joint

Fraud Taskforce. Take Five has partnered with a number of organisations including

Neighbourhood Watch, National Trading Standards and Age UK to ensure

awareness is raised amongst older people. The Take Five video advert has been

viewed over 13 million times, and millions have engaged with the campaign on social

media. The Take Five Week in January generated 108 pieces of coverage and over

160

partners supported the week, including law enforcement, and public and private

sector partners. Neighbourhood Watch reached over 368,000 members with an e-

alert on Take Five, and circulated 100,000 co-branded Take Five window stickers to

local co-ordinators.

Gambling: Crime


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

of the effect of (a) problem gambling and (b) gambling addiction on acquisitive crime.



Victoria Atkins:

The Home Office has not undertaken an assessment.

The Modern Crime Prevention Strategy published in March 2016 sets out how we

analyse and respond to crime through the consideration of six drivers of crime

(opportunity, character, effectiveness of the criminal justice system, profit, drugs and

alcohol). This includes looking at new and emerging trends in acquisitive crime where

we work closely with the police and relevant industry leads. While there are various

studies suggesting that the prevalence of gambling is higher in offenders than the

general population, the issue of problem gambling and gambling addiction has not

been raised as a specific issue during our conversations about acquisitive crime with

the police and others.

Home Office: Behavioural Insights Team



October 2017 to Question 105522, how much was paid to the Behavioural Insights Team

for services relating to each of those policy areas.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The work with the Behavioural Insight Team is commercially sensitive, therefore we

will not release information on funding.

Home Office: Contracts



January 2018 to Question 127777, what factors her Department considers in its

monitoring of the financial performance of strategic suppliers.

Victoria Atkins:

Monitoring of the financial performance of strategic suppliers is commercially

sensitive information and is not therefore to be published.

Home Office: Flexible Working


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what percentage

of employees in her Department worked (a) in departmental accommodation, (b) from

home and (c) at any other location in the most recent 12-month period for which data is

available.

Victoria Atkins:

Home Office staff can work from more than one location and can be required to work

in a variety of other accommodation not owned or leased by the Department. The

Home Office only records the main building staff are assigned to, this shows that 96%




(30,247) were assigned to a Home Office Building. The information on where people

work is not held centrally and could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of her Department's

invitations to tender have received no bidders in the last two years.

Victoria Atkins:

During Financial Years 16/17 and 17/18, the Home Office issued 2 invitation to

tenders, that attracted no bid responses.

Home Office: Recruitment

Jo Stevens: [128642]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which external recruitment

agencies are used by her Department's non-departmental public bodies.

Victoria Atkins:

The Home Department and NDPBs publish consultancy spend under the

transparency agenda.

The following consultancy spend for April to June 2017 and for recruitment April to

June 2017 are published on the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-spend-control-data-for-april-

to-june-2017

Home Office: Telephone Services


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which public telephone lines for

her Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each

such telephone line in the last 12 months.

Victoria Atkins:

Across its contact centres the Home Office publishes 24 telephone lines for use by

the public. None of these are charged at higher rates.

Hunting Act 2004

Christian Matheson: [130618]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests and (b)

convictions were made relating to offences committed under the Hunting Act 2004 in the

last two years for which figures are available.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Office does not centrally hold the information requested.



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-spend-control-data-for-april-to-june-2017





The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of arrests for notifiable

offences on a financial year basis. The Home Office collects and publishes these

data at the offence group level, for example, ‘Sexual offences’ or ‘Miscellaneous

crimes against society’. More detailed information on the specific offence or the Act

under which the individual is arrested is not collected.

Data on the number of arrests are published in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures,

England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-

and-wales

Information on convictions is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Luciana Berger: [137167]


of the potential long-term trauma and detrimental effects on mental health caused to

people affected by the Windrush scandal; and what steps the Government is taking to

provide counselling, talking therapies and ongoing support to all those affected and their

families.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office has made clear it's commiment to do right by the Windrush

generation which is why we have established a dedicated taskforce to help the

Windrush Generation and other long-term residents to evidence their right to be in the

UK. We will want to take time to consult and think about all areas of compensation

but we will put this right.

Immigration: Caribbean

Luciana Berger: [136300]


of the number of Windrush citizens who have been (a) denied and (b) charged for NHS

treatment; and what steps she is taking together with the Secretary of State for Health

and Social Care to rectify that matter.

Caroline Nokes:

Information about individuals who have been denied or charged for NHS treatment is

not held by the Home Office.

Individuals affected should contact the Home Office. The new team set up will help

the applicants to demonstrate that they are entitled to live in the UK and will aim to

resolve cases within two weeks when the evidence has been provided.

The Home Office will also be setting up a new compensation scheme. We will want to

take time to consult on the scope of the new scheme.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales





Money Laundering


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the number of

requests for mutual legal assistance that have been made to foreign jurisdictions to

recover criminal assets laundered abroad since 2016.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The number of outgoing mutual legal assistance requests for money laundering

offences transmitted via the Home Office was 83 in 2016 and 58 in the first half of

2017.

The data does not include requests transmitted directly under the EU’s Council

Framework Decisions 2003/577/JHA (Freezing Orders) and 2006/783/JHA

(Confiscation Orders). Outgoing requests for restraint or confiscation made under the

2003 and 2006 EU Framework decisions are sent by the CPS directly to the relevant

EU Member State.

Please note that these figures are taken from local management information, and

have not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. As such

they should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Police: Firearms


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to uplift

armed policing capability and capacity to respond more quickly and effectively to firearms

attacks.

Mr Ben Wallace:

We are providing £144 million over the spending review period to uplift our armed

policing capability and capacity, in order to respond more quickly and effectively to a

firearms attack. The first phase of the armed uplift is complete, providing an

additional 41 Armed Response Vehicles and around 650 armed officers. The next

phase - an increase in Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers - is expected to

complete by the end of 2018. Not only are the numbers of specialist armed officers

increasing but they are now better trained and equipped to deal with a wider range of

terrorist attacks.

Prostitution


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is

taking to help reduce the levels of prostitution and to close brothels in the UK.

Victoria Atkins:

The Government is committed to tackling the harm and exploitation that can be

associated with prositution, and believes that people who want to leave prostitution

should be given every opportunity to find routes out.




We have provided £389,000 from the Tampon Tax to organisations which help those

who want to leave prostitution and sex work, and £650,000 from the Violence Against

Women and Girls Service Transformation Fund to Merseyside PCC, to provide a

victim-focused service for sex workers who are victims, or at risk of sexual or

domestic violence and abuse, exploitation or human trafficking.

As set out in our response to the Home Affairs Select Committee, we recognise the

need for research into the nature and prevalence of prostitution in England and

Wales. The Home Office has provided £150,000 to fund this research, which will be

carried out by the University of Bristol, and will help inform future policy.

It is illegal to keep a brothel in England and Wales. Enforcement action is an

operational matter for the police, who are in the best position to identify and respond

to issues related to prostitution and sex work in their communities. They are

supported in this by guidance developed by the National Policing Lead for

prostitution.

Refugees: Children

Ms Diane Abbott: [112311]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will lift the requirement that

applicants to participate in the Dubs scheme be under 18-years olds at 20 March 2016.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will carry out

a comprehensive national audit of local authorities that are volunteering to take in

unaccompanied refugee children; and if she will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether legal assistance will be

provided to unaccompanied children who are seeking to apply to live in the UK under the

Dubs scheme.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children the

Government plans to accept into the UK under the Dubs scheme by the end of 2017; and

how many of those children will be children with disabilities.

Caroline Nokes:

In accordance with section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016, the Government

conducted a comprehensive consultation with local authorities across the UK in 2016

to assess capacity for the care of unaccompanied children. Following the

consultation, the Government set the specified number for section 67 at 480. This is a

one-off commitment. On 2 November the High Court confirmed that the

Government’s approach to implementing section 67 was lawful.

The Government maintains a continual dialogue with local authorities and Strategic

Migration Partnerships. We welcome all offers from local authorities with capacity to





look after unaccompanied asylum seeking children and will continue to utilise these

offers to fulfil all of our existing commitments, including ensuring a more equal

allocation of unaccompanied children across the country through the National

Transfer Scheme.

The Government is fully committed to transferring 480 unaccompanied children from

Europe under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the ‘Dubs Amendment’). Over

200 unaccompanied children have arrived in the UK under section 67 of the

Immigration Act 2016. Children have been transferred this year from France under

section 67 and transfers are ongoing. On 10 March, the Government published the

basis on which further transfers under section 67 will take place:


/Dubs_policy_statement_-_update.pdf.

To be eligible, children need to have been present in Europe before 20 March 2016,

and it be determined, following individual assessment, that it would be in their best

interests to be transferred to the UK.

It is for participating Member States to refer children; there is no process for children

to lodge an application for consideration under section 67. Member States have been

asked to prioritise those likely to qualify for refugee status and the most vulnerable.

Vulnerability may include, but is not restricted to UNHCR’s Children at Risk individual

risk factors. These risk factors include: child victims of trafficking and sexual abuse;

survivors of torture; survivors of violence; and, children with mental or physical

disabilities.

The primary responsibility for unaccompanied children with the authorities of the

Member State in which they are present. The UK cannot operate on the territory of

another sovereign nation without a specific request to do so, and this includes

providing legal assistance to children not currently on UK territory.

Once in the UK, unaccompanied asylum seeking children are placed into the care of

local authorities and are provided with specialised legal advice and support which is

available from their social worker, the Refugee Council Children’s Panel of Advisors

for children in England and the Scottish Guardianship Service for children in

Scotland.

Sexual Offences: British Nationals Abroad

Sarah Champion: [136410]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with her

international counterparts to ensure that processes are in place to manage registered sex

offenders who have been issued a green notice or been included in an Interpol diffusion

when they are travelling outside of the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Government is committed to working closely with other countries and

international agencies to minimise the risk posed by serious offenders travelling to

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/632633/Dubs_policy_statement_-_update.pdf




and from the UK. UK law enforcement authorities flag UK sex offenders and other

high-risk individuals to European partners using the Second Generation Schengen

Information System (SIS II) and the National Crime Agency’s Liaison Officers work

with countries around the world to ensure host countries can take appropriate action

in relation to the highest harm individuals. INTERPOL systems underpin our

international law enforcement cooperation with countries outside the EU but

decisions on the use of INTERPOL notices are an operational matter for UK law

enforcement.

Sports: Slavery

Frank Field: [138393]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the article

entitled Premier League to question clubs over trafficking, published by the Times on 23

April 2018, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of child trafficking within the

supply chains of Premier League football clubs; and what steps the Government is taking

to tackle modern slavery in sport supply chains.

Victoria Atkins:

The threat of modern slavery and human trafficking is assessed by the National

Crime Agency on a regular basis to inform the National Strategic Assessment. There

has not been a specific assessment of the level of risk of child trafficking within the

supply chains of Premier League football clubs.

Through the Transparency in Supply Chains provisions of the Modern Slavery Act

2015 the Government has introduced a requirement for large businesses, including

Premier League football clubs, to publish an annual statement setting out the steps

they are taking to prevent and tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. We are

currently considering what more can be done on a sector by sector basis to ensure

that businesses are taking serious steps to prevent modern slavery.

The Government recognises that child victims of modern slavery and trafficking are

particularly vulnerable and has committed to the full national roll out of Independent

Child Trafficking Advocates as well as allocating £2.2m from the Child Trafficking

Protection Fund to deliver tailored support for victims of child trafficking.

Torture

Mr Paul Sweeney: [139044]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the High Court

Judgment of 10 October 2017, Medical Justice v. Secretary of State, what steps her

Department is taking to review the guidance in respect of torture; and with which

organisations her Department has consulted on that guidance.

Caroline Nokes:

The Government laid draft revised statutory guidance before Parliament on 21 March

2018, and the corresponding statutory instruments on 27 March, to implement a new

definition of torture for the purposes of immigration detention. The new definition of



torture and the revised statutory guidance give effect to the High Court judgment to

which the hon. Member refers. Whilst there was no obligation to consult on these

changes, officials have engaged with interested stakeholders, including a range of

non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) and inspectorate bodies. Officials will

continue this engagement on the corresponding caseworker guidance and training.

Additionally, the Detention Centre Rules 2001 will be reviewed later this year and

NGOs and others will be consulted on proposed changes to them. Home Office

Ministers have also written to a number of hon. Members and Peers about these

issues.

UK Border Force: Recruitment

Stephen Doughty: [121635]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new officials tasked

with (a) immigration and (b) customs enforcement duties in backroom functions were

recruited in each of the last six months.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office does not hold this information in the format requested.

Stephen Doughty: [121639]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new officials tasked

with (a) immigration and (b) customs enforcement duties at the UK border were recruited

in each of the last six months.

Caroline Nokes:

Border Force has recruited 400 officers to work across a range of functions during the

period covering 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2017. The below table shows the

breakdown of new entrants by month.

We are unable to show the distribution of officers between immigration and customs

duties, this is a local management decision and figures are not held centrally.

MONTH TOTAL RECRUITS

Jul-17 99

Aug-17 46

Sep-17 65

Oct-17 86

Nov-17 82

Dec-17 22

Grand Total 400



HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Westminster Hall: Cameras

Sir Desmond Swayne: [138335]

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of

Commons Commission, for what reason the public were prevented from using single lens

reflex cameras in Westminster Hall on 25 April 2018.

Tom Brake:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: Single lens reflex (SLR) cameras are permitted in

Westminster Hall if they are used in line with the regulations governing photography

in the Palace. If the advice was given that photographs could be taken on mobile

phones but not on SLR cameras this was incorrect. The Visitor Services team and

Parliamentary Security Department will reissue briefing instructions to their staff to

ensure that the regulations are applied correctly and consistently.

Filming and photography in Westminster Hall is for ‘personal’ rather than

‘professional’ use unless agreed in advance. Photography is not permitted in the

following circumstances:

Tripods, lighting equipment or trailing cables are involved

The images are for commercial purposes

The images include signage or banners for party political purposes

The images will be used to promote a specific cause or campaign.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Regulations Advisory Committee

Steve Double: [137602]

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

discussions his Department has had with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee

on the scope of the review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2.

Dominic Raab:

[Holding answer 30 April 2018]: The Department is speaking with the Building

Regulations Advisory committee and is looking to set out its plans to scope a review

of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2. The committee is expected to

discuss this at a forthcoming meeting in the coming weeks.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Diaries


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

many page views there were of his Department's Ministerial diaries in each of the last 12

months.




Jake Berry:

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) does not

publish ministerial diaries.

Information on MHCLG ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and external meetings is

published quarterly. To date, the page views for each set of data are as follows:

January – March 2017 370 page views

April – June 2017 428 page views

July – September 2017 384 page views

October – December 2017 165 page views

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Procurement


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

many of his Department's invitations to tender have received no bidders in the last two

years.

Jake Berry:

There were no invitations to tender with a value exceeding the Official Journal of the

EU (OJEU) thresholds which received no bids during the period from April 2016 to

March 2018.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department for International Development: Vacancies


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the average time taken

was to fill vacancies for (a) Administrative Assistant/Administrative Officer, (b) Executive

Officer, (c) Senior Executive Officer/Higher Executive Officer, (d) Grades six and seven

civil servants and (e) Senior Civil Service grade positions in her Department in each of

the last five financial years.

Alistair Burt:

DFID does not hold this information. DFID follows Civil Service Recruitment principles

and targets a maximum of 8 weeks for cross government staff to join and 12 weeks

for staff joining new to the Civil Service. The time frame is dependent on the

individual's notice period required, security and medical clearance and any other

relevant checks to confirm employment.



Humanitarian Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department

has to report to the Platform on Action Commitments and Transformation set up at the

World Humanitarian Summit 2016.

Alistair Burt:

The UK government has recently submitted its second World Humanitarian Summit

self-report, through the Platform for Action, Commitment and Transformation. This

report documents progress made by the UK in 2018 to deliver on commitments made

at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. My department will prioritise getting the

humanitarian system to work better, working in concert with other major donors and

agencies.

West Bank: Demolition

Jo Stevens: [138070]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has

made of the humanitarian effects of recent trends in the number of demolitions and

evictions in the West Bank.

Alistair Burt:

Demolitions of Palestinian homes and buildings, and evictions of the residents, cause

unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, are harmful to the peace process and,

in most circumstances, are contrary to international humanitarian law. According to

the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian affairs, 97 structures were

demolished or seized in the West Bank in the first quarter of 2018 (January-March),

including homes and livelihood structures. The humanitarian effects include impact to

children’s education, displacement, psychological distress and damage of livelihoods.

The UK continues to make clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concerns over

the demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes.

Yemen: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what guarantees her

Department sought from the Saudi government on (a) humanitarian access to Yemen

and (b) ending Saudi-led air strikes on Yemen, in advance of signing the £100 million

humanitarian aid deal announced on 7 March 2018.

Alistair Burt:

The UK is a critical friend of Saudi Arabia and our strong relationship means we are

able to raise difficult issues more effectively. We have led the call for unhindered

humanitarian and commercial access into Yemen, including through the UK-

coordinated Security Council Statement of 15 March, the Secretary of State’s visit to

Riyadh in December and lobbying from the Prime Minister. Most recently, during the

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to London in early March, Saudi




Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to work together with the UK to strengthen the UN’s

mechanism for inspecting ships so that all Yemeni ports can remain fully open to

commercial and humanitarian supplies. During this visit, we also agreed with the

Saudi Fund for Development that we would contribute £50 million each to support

development in East Africa – the ‘£100 million humanitarian aid deal’ referred to in

the question.

The UK has been clear that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and

we have continuously lobbied all sides to urgently de-escalate the fighting and find a

comprehensive political solution. We also regularly press, including at senior levels,

the need for the Saudi-led Coalition to conduct thorough and conclusive

investigations into reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Africa: Overseas Trade


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking

to support an increase in UK business and trade with African countries.

Graham Stuart:

The trading relationship between the UK and Africa is currently worth more than £27

billion and the UK has more than £21 billion invested in the African continent. The

Department for International Trade has 80 staff in 21 African countries who provide

invaluable support to British businesses who wish to trade or invest on the continent.

We also have 10 Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys who do invaluable work to promote

UK-Africa trade.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has significant capacity to support UK exports to Africa

and its risk appetite is over £20bn.

As we leave the EU, we will put in place a UK trade preferences scheme which will,

as a minimum, provide the same level of access as the current EU scheme. We will

also seek to replicate the effects of the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements.

Arms Trade


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Human Rights

and Democracy Report 2016, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in July

2017, which countries listed as countries of concern on human rights the Government

has authorised arms sales to in the last year.

Graham Stuart:

The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) of

licences granted and refused for military exports on GOV.UK. These reports contain

detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination,



including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items

covered by these licences. These can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data

All export licences are issued in strict accordance with the Consolidated EU and

National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Board of Trade


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when the most recent meeting was

of the Board of Trade.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, who attended the most recent

meeting of the Board of Trade.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will publish the minutes from

the most recent meeting of the Board of Trade.

Greg Hands:

The Board of Trade met at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston on 29

March 2018.

The meeting was attended by the Advisers to the Board of Trade, as stated on

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-trade-secretary-dr-liam-fox-

convenes-a-new-board-of-trade-to-ensure-the-benefits-of-free-trade-are-spread-

throughout-the-uk, my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for International Trade,

the Secretary of State for Wales, my Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary

of State for Northern Ireland and I. The Lord Mayor of London also attended as an

Adviser.

Foreign Investment in UK

Justin Tomlinson: [137539]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to attract

foreign direct investment to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Graham Stuart:

The Department for International Trade’s Foreign Direct Investment strategy will

ensure Government support is focused where it is most valued by investors and in a

way that will maximise wealth creation across the whole of the UK.

We have changed our measure of performance from simply measuring project

volumes to measuring economic impact.




https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-trade-secretary-dr-liam-fox-convenes-a-new-board-of-trade-to-ensure-the-benefits-of-free-trade-are-spread-throughout-the-uk





Our growing portfolio of ‘High Potential Opportunities’ will promote emerging sector

clusters, supply chain gaps and other investment opportunities with high potential to

deliver economic benefits across the whole of the UK.

We continue to work closely with Government colleagues strengthening the

attractiveness of the UK business environment for foreign investment.

JUSTICE

Chelmsford Prison

Richard Burgon: [137616]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many members of staff have resigned from

HMP Chelmsford since 1 January 2018.

Rory Stewart:

The data requested is not currently available as the latest set of HMPPS workforce

statistics covers the period up to 31 December 2017. The next set of data for the

period to 31 March 2018 is due to be published in the HMPPS Quarterly Workforce

Statistics Bulletin on 17 May 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoner on prisoner assaults have

occurred at HMP Chelmsford since 1 January 2018.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff have occurred at

HMP Chelmsford since 1 January 2018.

Rory Stewart:

Data about assaults by prisoners, including those on staff and on other prisoners, is

published in the quarterly Safety in Custody statistics. The figures for January to

March 2018 are scheduled to be published on 26 July.

The most recent statistics were published on 26 April and cover assaults to

December 2017. Figures for individual prisons can be found in the data tool:


/assaults-data-tool.xlsx.

We are taking urgent action to make prisons safer, and assaults on our hardworking

staff will never be tolerated. We are ensuring that prison officers have the tools they

need to do their jobs by rolling out body worn cameras, 'police-style' handcuffs and

restraints, and trialling PAVA incapacitant spray.




https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/702356/assaults-data-tool.xlsx




To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many members of staff resigned from HMP

Chelmsford in 2017.

Rory Stewart:

There were 25 individuals who resigned from HMP Chelmsford in the year ending 31

December 2017.

In 2016 we pledged to recruit 2,500 more prison officers. We recently announced that

we have reached this target seven months ahead of schedule, and frontline staffing

numbers are now at their highest for five years.

We continue to work closely with individual prison governors, including HMP

Chelmsford, to address local staff retention issues. Across the estate we have also

given governors more freedom to innovate and make the best decisions for their

prisons.

Crime: Victims

Gloria De Piero: [137525]

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

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 24 April 2018, Official Report,

column 717, on Victims Law when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals for a

Victim's Law.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Supporting victims of crime is a priority for the Government and we have made a

commitment to publish a victims strategy by Summer 2018. As I said on 24 April, as

part of the strategy, we are considering both legislative and non-legislative measures.

If appropriate, we will bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Feltham Young Offender Institution

Seema Malhotra: [137562]

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

number of hours spent in education, purposeful activity and association by inmates of HM

Feltham Young Offenders Institution since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee:

I am committed to improving the education offer and tailoring it to the individual needs

of young people. This will include ensuring that there is sufficient time in the day for

access to vocational activities, sports, and health and behavioural interventions as

well as academic education. We are working with education providers and YOI sites

to improve flexibility of provision within the 30 hour week, to drive delivery of a wide

range of activities alongside traditional classroom based learning.




Across both sites at Feltham, there are more than 100 prison officers currently in

training – with the first new officers beginning to arrive on the landings this month.

This will help to provide better access to education and get young people engaged in

meaningful activities which will help them to turn away from crime.


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

incidents where Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint techniques were deployed

in response to (a) prisoner on staff, (b) prisoner on prisoner and (c) multi-perpetrator

fights at HM Feltham Young Offenders Institution since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is one of the highest priorities

for the Youth Custody Service (YCS). The YCS has rolled out the Minimising and

Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) technique for staff to use on young people in

all Young Offender Institutes and Secure Training Centres – including Her Majesty’s

Young Offender Institute (HMYOI) Feltham. MMPR has been specifically designed to

reduce the use of physical restraint on young people by focusing on de-escalation

techniques. It is only to be used as a last resort when there are no other suitable

interventions available.

See the data below relating to the use if the (MMPR) technique for HMYOI Feltham.

OCT-16 NOV-16 DEC-16 JAN-17 FEB-17 MAR-17

Total use of MMPR incidents 83 103 62 51 66 77

- Preventing damage to property 2 0 2 0 2 4

- Preventing an escape/abscond 0 0 0 0 0 0

- Good Order and Security 4 5 1 3 1 1

- Preventing harm to self 10 12 7 6 13 17

- Prevent harm to third party 67 85 51 42 50 55

- Incitement 0 1 1 0 0 0

Notes:

HMYOI Feltham only started using the technique of Minimising and Managing

Physical Restraint (MMPR) in October 2016, so the data below only relates to data

available from this until March 2017. This period is the most up to date published

data available;

the data collected by HMYOI Feltham is not classified in terms of ‘who the disputes

were between’ – but the reason for why the MMPR was use;


this data is taken from monthly case level returns on the use of MMPR submitted to

the Youth Justice Board (YJB) by HMYOI Feltham;

this data includes some 18 year olds who remain in the under 18 secure estate.

data received from HMYOI Feltham through monthly returns is validated before

publication by an annual reconciliation process;

these figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any

large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and

processing and can be subject to change over time.


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

incidences of violence in HM Feltham Young Offenders Institution.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Keeping all children and young people in custody safe is a key priority for the Youth

Custody Service. We are taking active steps to address and reduce the levels of

violence for all those who live and work within the Youth Estate, including Feltham.

A number of initiatives have recently been implemented to tackle violence and drive

performance improvements within the Youth Estate. A holistic style approach to

managing behaviour within the youth estate has led to the implementation of

Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) in all under-18 Young Offender

Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres. In public sector Young Offender

Institutions, local psychological teams have been put in place to carry out

assessments of young people involved in multiple perpetrator/serious assaults. A

new structured approach to the delivery of interventions for young people has been

introduced to ensure that interventions delivered are either accredited or formally

approved. Restorative justice practises have also been rolled out.

At Feltham specifically, we have around 100 new officers currently in training - with

the first officers on the landings in April - helping to get to the root causes of violence

and improve safety.

In addition, the first Enhanced Support Unit within the Youth Estate opened at

Feltham in November 2017 to support and manage young people who are deemed to

have exceptionally complex needs and high-risk behaviours.

Independent Monitoring Boards


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department records the (a) number

of members, (b) number of vacancies or (c) quorum of each Independent Monitoring

Board.

Rory Stewart:

As of 25 April 2018, there were 1,394 IMB members in post and 691 vacancies. The

quorum for each Board meeting should be no fewer than three, as set out in Prison



Rule 1999 76(2), Young Offender Institution Rule 2000 80(2) and Detention Centre

Rule 2001 60(2).

Legal Aid Scheme


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2018 to

Question 136378, whether it is planned to review the legal aid means test threshold as

part of the post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of

Offenders Act 2012.

Lucy Frazer:

The government evaluates the civil and criminal means tests thresholds on an

ongoing basis.

The post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of

Offenders Act (LASPO) 2012, will assess the impact of the relevant changes to the

legal aid means test that were implemented as part of the reforms and inform wider

consideration on the future of legal support in the justice system.

Legal Aid Scheme: Immigration


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many immigration law legal aid providers

there were in each region in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer:

The number of offices holding a legal aid contract in the immigration category

according to which Legal Aid Agency region they fell under is shown below. The Lord

Chancellor has confirmed that we are conducting an evidence-based review which

will examine the impact of the changes made by LASPO including those on

providers.

LAA

REGIONAL

OFFICE 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

Birmingham 21 27 23 47 41 34 31 30 27

Brighton 4 5 5 6 6 6 5 5 4

Bristol 5 5 6 13 12 11 11 8 8

Cambridge 11 11 9 16 15 9 7 6 6

Cardiff 7 7 7 16 15 14 13 12 11

Leeds 15 22 20 46 40 35 34 33 30

Liverpool 2 2 2 9 9 8 7 7 5



LAA

REGIONAL

OFFICE 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

London 136 141 132 178 167 151 136 125 102

Manchester 14 17 15 37 35 27 22 20 16

Newcastle 8 10 8 15 15 13 12 11 10

Nottingham 9 9 7 20 18 11 8 8 6

Reading 10 12 10 10 10 11 8 7 6

Grand

Total

242 268 244 413 383 330 294 272 231

Ministry of Justice: Agency Workers


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2018 to

Question 133123, what the average target rate set out in contracts agreed by his

Department for agency work was in 2017.

Dr Phillip Lee:

As stated in the previous PQ (133123) The rates that we pay for agency staff vary

due to a range of factors including, but not limited to, location, number of hours,

specialism, experience, etc.

Some contracts have rate cards which include “Target” and “Maximum” rates per day

or per role.

Rates can vary due to length of services and application of Agency Worker Rights

and other factors which can affect the rates paid such as type of engagement.

Average target day rate in 2017 for:

Capita - £305.57, Brook Street - £76.74, Hays - £81.94, Redsnapper & Servoca -

£138.65



Question 133123, what the average maximum rate set out in contracts agreed by his

Department for agency work was in 2017.

Dr Phillip Lee:







or per role.



Average maximum day rate in 2017 for:

Capita - £447.49, Brook Street - £76.74, Hays - £81.94, Redsnapper & Servoca -

£138.65



Question 133123, what the maximum hourly rate was which was set out in the last five

available agency contracts agreed by his Department which contain such a rate.

Dr Phillip Lee:





or per role.



The maximum hourly rate set out in the agency contracts agreed in 2017 was:

Capita - Rates can vary for different role types between £19.34 and £221.06, Brook

Street - £19.25, Hays - £15.30, Redsnapper & Servoca - £23.85

Ministry of Justice: Market Research


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on social

research or communications and marketing research in each year since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee:

We do not hold the information requested on how much the Ministry of Justice has

spent on social research since from 2010 to 2017 or on communications and

marketing research from 2010-2013. Between April 2014 and March 2017, the

department spent £0 on communications and marketing research. Between April

2017 and March 2018, the Department spent £44,160.

Ministry of Justice: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of his Department's invitations to

tender have received no bidders in the last two years.




Dr Phillip Lee:

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Offenders: Females


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for the publication of his

Department's female offender strategy.

Dr Phillip Lee:

We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending

so we can better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation.

Considering how we can best address the needs of female offenders, to improve

outcomes for them, their families and their communities, is a complex issue that we

want to get right.

We are working hard to develop the Female Offender Strategy and we will publish in

due course.

Prison and Probation Service: Expenditure


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total real terms change in his

Department's expenditure on HM Prison and Probation Service was between (a) 2017-18

to 2018-19 and (b) 2010-11 to 1018-19.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the real terms change in his Department's

expenditure on the Youth Justice Board was between (a) 2017-18 and 2018-19 and (b)

2010-11 and 1018-19.

Dr Phillip Lee:

Final expenditure figures for the period 2017-2018 and full expenditure figures for

2018-2019 are not yet available.

Prison Officers: Allowances


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

expenses for prison officers in each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart:

We are unable to provide the data requested, as the expenses records that we have

are not able to be broken down to the level of grade of staff, therefore it is not

possible to identify which expenses were for Prison Officers only.





Prison Officers: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often training is provided to prison officers

by HM Prison Service.

Rory Stewart:

Newly recruited Prison Officers receive a 12 week Prison Officer Entry Level Training

(POELT) course. This provides a foundation level of training in all core skill areas

including interpersonal skills, mental health awareness, equality, violence reduction

and safer custody, alongside the more traditional security awareness and practical

skills needed to be a prison officer.

Additional training is available throughout the year for Officers once they have

completed their POELT training as part of their continued professional development

and is in line with their personal development plans which are agreed with managers

every year. Training is available in Offender Management, Incident Management,

Intelligence and Security.

Officers are able to access additional face to face training and e-learning via Civil

Service Learning (CSL) and the Justice Academy.

Prisoners: Childbirth


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the procedure is for recording (a) births

and (b) stillbirths in women's prisons.

Dr Phillip Lee:

It is a requirement for mothers (or fathers) to register births (and still births) within 42

days and prison staff will arrange for registrars to come into the establishment to do

this where necessary.

While there is no requirement for prisons to keep a central record of women who give

birth (or suffer a still birth) whilst in prison, the issues pertinent to prisoners, their

management and care will be noted on their individual case record. This will include

details of whether the woman is pregnant and the outcome of that pregnancy, should

it occur whilst they are in custody.

We currently do not record the number of women who give birth in prisons centrally

but consideration will be given on recording this information locally on prison

systems.

Prisoners: Females


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

women serving prison sentences for non-violent crimes since 1 January 2018.




Dr Phillip Lee:

At 31 March 2017, there were 2,271 sentenced females in the prison population for

non-violent crimes (everything but violence against the person) and an additional 445

on remand. This information is publicly available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-

october-to-december-2017.

Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS), does not calculate separately

the average cost of prisoners by any type of offence. However, HMPPS routinely

publishes average costs per prisoner, costs per prison place and overall prison unit

costs for each private and public sector prison in England and Wales, including all

categories of the women’s estate. This information is produced on an annual basis

and is published after the end of each financial year.

The most recent published figures, for financial year 2016-17, can be accessed on

the www.gov.uk website from the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-performance-statistics-2016-to-2017.

Prison unit costs can be found within the Excel document Costs per prison place and

cost per prisoner by individual prison establishment in the ‘Cost by Establishment’

tab.

The courts have a range of sentences at their disposal including community

sentences, suspended sentences, fines and custodial sentences. Custodial

sentences are reserved for the most serious offences. Women diverted from custody

and into community sentences, also have an associated cost to the taxpayer.

Prisons: Education

Ellie Reeves: [136954]

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

Personal Learning Plans in ensuring the delivery of hate crime education in prisons.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on prisoners'

Personal Learning Plans; and what such data his Department plans to hold in future.

Rory Stewart:

[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: Personal learning plans are created to map out a

prisoner’s journey through education whilst in custody, aiming to provide them with

the skills and knowledge needed to realise their employment and other aspirations

and ultimately, decrease the chance of reoffending. Should a prisoner’s need include

being educated on hate crime, it will form part of this plan.

To promote prisoner ownership of learning plans, they are delivered locally in a

paper-based manner, so a prisoner can physically have their own plan. We are

seeking to introduce a digital element to this system so that information can be

collated and analysed, informing education programme developments and providing

data on prisoner achievements, through which governors can be held to account.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-performance-statistics-2016-to-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-performance-statistics-2016-to-2017



Young Offenders: Solitary Confinement


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the

(a) number of instances of, (b) average length of time and (c) average number of hours

per day people aged 18 were held in solitary confinement in the youth secure estate in (i)

England and (ii) Wales since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is one of our highest priorities

and is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system. We are committed

to reforming youth custody so that it is safer for both young people and staff and

better equipped to help young people turn their lives around.

There are some occasions, when young people in custody are putting themselves or

others at risk, during which segregation can be used as a last resort for limited

periods of time when no other form of intervention is suitable.

Any decision to remove a young person from association is subject to regular review

and a range of safeguarding measures are in place to ensure appropriate oversight of

their care. There are careful limits placed on the length of time for which young

people can be removed from association without review of the decision to remove.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Office: Mobile Phones


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what apps her Department has

approved for use on mobile phones issued by her Department.

Mr Shailesh Vara:


applications approved for use on mobile phones issued by the Department, as to do

so facilitates attacks against official systems by hostile actors.

TRANSPORT

Department of Transport: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer 27 April 2018 to

Question 137449 on Department of Transport: Procurement, what each of the contracts

were for.




Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The information requested is in the table below:

DFTC

TYRE AGE RESEARCH – TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE EFFECT

OF AGE ON PASSENGER COACH TYRE INTEGRITY. A CONTRACT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY

AWARDED IN JANUARY 2018.

Northern Transport Strategy: Sub National Transport Bodies – A contract to

develop the geographical understanding of the populations demands and how

they affect transport needs

West Coast Partnership Shadow Operators - This requirement is for the

provision of specialist railway technical and commercial advice to support the

West Coast Partnership Franchise Competition

Rail Industry Competitiveness Work Package B - this was to evaluate rail

industry competitiveness in overseas markets. This was re-tendered and awarded.

DVLA GB-Swansea: Professional Driver Training - Professional Driver Training to

provide driving lessons for shuttle and fork lift training - responses required by 12

October 2017. This requirement was eventually split between shuttle driver

training and fork lift truck training and was awarded via Low Value Procurement.

GB-Swansea: Provision of Service Oriented Architecture Practitioner

Training (SOAP) - Provision of Service Oriented Architecture Practitioner

Training Specialist training services. Computer-user familiarisation and training

services. This is an essential tool used in test for new and existing developments –

responses required by 29 September 2017. No responses were received to our

advert and we had to award by way of Single Tender Action.

DVSA Tachograph Head Sealing Pliers 2017 – 2019 - The supply of tachographs and

anvils which are used for functionality check of speed limiters on some vehicles.

MCA Intrinsically safe power packs – Specific safety zone requirements identified

that resulted in no bids. Current technical requirements are being reviewed and

new tender to be advertised shortly.

All-Terrain Vehicles – Initial requirement was for an 8 seat requirement which

resulted in no bids being received. The specification was amended to 6 seats and

retendered resulting in 3 bids and a contract awarded.

East Coast Main Line

Julian Sturdy: [137059]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps Network Rail is taking to improve

power supply on the East Coast Main Line.


Joseph Johnson:

Over £150m has already been spent in upgrading the East Coast power supply since

2014 to enable additional Thameslink services, currently being introduced, and the

introduction of Intercity Express Trains (Class 800 and 801) through the East Coast

franchise from December 2018. A further upgrade on the East Coast power supply is

planned which will enable the full roll out of new Intercity Express Trains which will

bring greater capacity, improved customer experience, faster journeys and more

direct connections for passengers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of

the cost to the public purse of upgrading the power supply on the East Coast Main Line to

ensure that the network is ready for the full roll-out of Class 800 and Class 801 trains.

Joseph Johnson:

Network Rail is currently designing a second phase of the power upgrade and the

Department expects to receive updated designs and costs in early 2019. The

Department will consider the cost for this second power upgrade in line with the new

Rail Enhancements Pipeline decision making process published on 20th March.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps Network Rail are taking to reduce

journey times on the East Coast Main Line.

Joseph Johnson:

The Department continues to work with Network Rail to deliver the East Coast Main

Line Enhancements Programme which will enable entry into service of a new fleet of

trains through the Intercity Express Programme. Together these will deliver increased

capacity, reliability and reduced journey times to destinations along the east coast.

The industry is working together to ensure that the timetable improvements expected

on the East Coast Main Line are delivered.

East Coast Main Line: Digital Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department and Network Rail

are taking to make the East Coast Main Line a digital railway.

Joseph Johnson:

Currently, the Department for Transport are discussing with Network Rail signalling

options on the East Coast Main Line. These discussions will take into consideration

how we can deliver most passenger benefits and offer best value for money.

First Transpennine Express


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the proposals of Trans

Pennine rail submitted to him on the provision of train services on Boxing Day 2018.





Joseph Johnson:

The report has been received from TPE and contains commercially confidential

information and is therefore unsuitable for public publication. The proposals

contained within the report have been considered by a technical working group,

under confidentiality agreement, within Rail North / Transport for North and options

will be considered that could see Boxing Day services introduced within the current

franchise (running 2016 to 2023).

However, there are a number of issues relating to the introduction of Boxing Day

services, most notably the infrastructure works required to deliver capacity

improvements that are often undertaken during Christmas / Boxing Day closures. It

should also be noted that Boxing Day services are not contracted through the existing

TPE Franchise Agreement and additional funding is expected to be needed to deliver

such services.

Great Western Rail Franchise


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

Great Western Railway on the reliability of its services; and if he will commission an

independent audit of that service's reliability prior to assessing the potential merits of any

longer-term extension of that franchise.

Joseph Johnson:

Ministers and officials meet Network Rail and the train operators at a senior level to

discuss performance. A Supervisory Board for train services on Network Rail’s

Western Route was set up in 2017 with a key focus on performance. It is chaired

independently by Dick Fearn, a senior rail executive with extensive experience in this

country and abroad.

Motorcycles: Safety

Vicky Ford: [137678]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to (a)

bring forward legislative proposals to make compulsory and (b) promote the use of

reflective or fluorescent clothing for motorbike riders.

Jesse Norman:

The Government already advises motorcyclists to wear high visibility clothing - Rules

86 and 87 of the Highway Code includes the advice to “wear a light or brightly

coloured helmet and fluorescent clothing or strips, in daylight” and “wear reflective

clothing or strips to improve your visibility in the dark”.

The Government has no plans to bring forward proposals to make compulsory the

use of reflective or fluorescent clothing for motorcyclists.



Railways: East Midlands

Ben Bradley: [137659]

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

increase the number of rail services in the East Midlands.

Joseph Johnson:

The Government is committed to improving journeys for passengers in the East

Midlands, which is why we are delivering the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main

Line route since it was completed in 1870. Passengers will see modern trains

introduced across the route during the next East Midlands franchise, including a fleet

of brand new bi-mode intercity trains. The upgrade will enable increased passenger

capacity and improved journey times, thereby improving the overall experience for

passengers.

In an extensive public consultation last summer we sought views on the future of East

Midlands rail services to ensure the new franchise delivers the best railway for

passengers, communities and businesses, including how local train services can be

improved to meet current and future needs more effectively.

The consultation closed on 11 October 2017. All options for rail services in the next

franchise are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and the responses we

received to the consultation. No decisions have yet been made on the rail services

that will be specified. Any outcome will seek to secure the best value for money for

the taxpayer and be in the best interests of rail passengers.

The next East Midlands franchise is planned to start in August 2019. Invitations to

Tender (ITT) are due to be issued to potential bidders shortly. The ITT will set out the

minimum requirements and provide the baseline that we expect the next franchise to

build on.

Railways: North of England


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to remove the Liverpool-

Nottingham service from the East Midlands Trains franchise and add it to the

TransPennine Express franchise.

Joseph Johnson:

This issue is being considered as part of the procurement of the next East Midlands

franchise and an announcement on this will be made when the Invitation to Tender is

released.

Railways: Ombudsman

Martyn Day: [136927]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the Rail

Ombudsman to commence operations.




Joseph Johnson:

The Rail Delivery Group is finalising the procurement of a specialist ombudsman

provider to run the Rail Ombudsman. The identity of the successful bidder is

expected to be announced shortly, following which the timetable for the

commencement of the scheme will be clearly established. However, we have been

clear we are expecting it to be up and running by the end of the year.

Roads: repairs and maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of insurance claims for pot-hole

damage has been to the public purse in the last 12 months.

Jesse Norman:

In England, Highways England is responsible for the strategic road network, that is

motorways and major A roads. Local roads, making up around 98% of the road

network, fall under the responsibility of the relevant local highway authority. Highways

maintenance in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is a devolved matter and

therefore falls under the responsibility of the respective Devolved Administrations.

The Department is providing local authorities in England, outside London, with

funding of £6.2 billion for local highways maintenance and to help repair potholes or

stop them forming.

The Department for Transport does not hold information on what the estimated cost

of insurance claims has been to the public purse in the last 12 months due to pothole

damage. The matter of insurance and dealing with any compensation claims due to

possible defects, including potholes, on the highway network is entirely a matter for

the relevant highway authority, who have delegated statutory responsibility for

managing and maintaining their roads as set out in the Highways Act 1980 (as

amended).

Roads: Stonehenge

Sir Michael Fallon: [138932]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Article 4 of the 1972 World

Heritage Convention, what assessment he has made of whether plans for a new tunnel

and flyover at Stonehenge are compliant with the terms of that Convention.

Jesse Norman:

A key aim of the scheme is to remove the roads and heavy traffic, with their

associated noise and disturbance, from the vicinity of the Stonehenge World Heritage

Site – improving the presentation of the Site both for now and for future generations.

A full environmental impact assessment of the A303 Stonehenge scheme is under

way. This will include a Heritage Impact Assessment, that has regard to Article 4 of

the World Heritage Convention. This will be published as part of Highways England’s

application for a Development Consent Order.



A historic environment assessment was undertaken in relation to the choice of

preferred route for the A303 Stonehenge scheme. This is contained in Appendix E to

the scheme assessment report published in September 2017 and is available at:

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/cip/a303-stonehenge/results/sar-volume-

7.pdf

Shared Spaces: Visual Impairment


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the ninth report of session

2016-17 of the Women and Equalities Committee, Building for Equality: Disability and the

Built Environment, published on 25 April 2017, HC 631, what steps he is taking to ensure

that blind and partially sighted people are able to safely navigate shared space areas.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has

had with local authorities in England on making shared space areas accessible for blind

and partially sighted people.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The Government published its response to the Women and Equalities Select

Committee report on 14 March 2018. It can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-and-the-built-environment-

government-response-to-select-committee-report.

The response welcomed the Committee’s contribution to this important debate and is

absolutely clear that the needs of the whole community, including disabled people,

need to be considered by councils looking to introduce any public realm scheme,

including shared space.

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation has now reported to the

Government on its review of shared space. It published “Creating better streets:

Inclusive and accessible places” in January 2018.

http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/document-summary/index.cfm/docid/BF28B40D-9855-

46D6-B8C19E22B64AA066

The review has considered many of the issues raised by the Committee, and the

report made recommendations for further work, including on guidance. The

Government is considering those recommendations and will respond formally in due

course.

The Department for Transport is aware of and understands the issues raised around

navigation within shared space. Local Transport Note 1/11: Shared Space already

stresses the importance of engaging with groups representing disabled people during

the development of any shared space scheme. It also refers to the need for

authorities to ensure their designs are inclusive and reminds them of their duties

under the Equality Act 2010.

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/cip/a303-stonehenge/results/sar-volume-7.pdf





http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/document-summary/index.cfm/docid/BF28B40D-9855-46D6-B8C19E22B64AA066



Local traffic authorities are responsible for the design of streets in their care, and do

not have to seek Department for Transport approval to install street design schemes,

whether they incorporate shared space or not.

Skipton-Colne Railway Line


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the terms of reference of the

feasibility study into the restoration of the Skipton to Colne railway link.

Joseph Johnson:

The study is being progressed under the Government’s new approach to railway

enhancements. We are creating a rolling programme of investment, focused on

outcomes that deliver real benefits to passengers, freight users and the economy.

This new approach was set out in the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP)

published in March 2018.

The study, on which we are working closely with Transport for the North, will evaluate

the costs, value and funding options for reopening the line for passengers and freight,

as part of a freight route across the Pennines. It will build on previous work

commissioned by the local authorities and local campaign group. We expect to

receive the results later this year in the form of a Strategic Outline Business Case

prepared in line with the RNEP approach and other Government guidance on

transport business cases. We will engage with wider stakeholders as the study

progresses and on the conclusions before any decisions on next steps.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Rail Franchise

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [137645]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the second remedial plan

for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, whether he has made an

assessment of the potential benefits to (a) the company and (b) passengers of any new

default levels .

Joseph Johnson:

The Remedial Plan includes an interim performance regime for the period up to

September 2018. This regime includes enforcement provisions that will be triggered if

performance falls below the contracted levels. In accordance with the Franchise

Agreement, the Department is working with GTR on assessing the performance

benchmarks (including the default levels) that will apply post September 2018.

Transport: Disability

Sir Mark Hendrick: [137465]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to publish maps showing

disabled access to rail and bus stations and to other transport hubs.




Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The Department agrees that it is important to provide clear, accessible information for

passengers about disabled access to, and facilities at, transport hubs. The Rail

Delivery Group (RDG) have a programme that will produce a map of stations on the

rail network that are step-free and have accessible toilets. Where train companies

produce these, they are added to the Network Rail Stations Made Easy webpage.

Bus stations and bus stops are the responsibility of local authorities, and the

Department encourages them to make such information publicly available. Airports

and ports are run by commercial operators who are required by legislation to make

information on access provision available in accessible formats.

Transport: Infrastructure


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions took place with the aviation

sector during the preparation of the port connectivity study in relation to the surface

access needs of ports and airports.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

The port connectivity study was commissioned specifically to examine the current

level of surface access to sea-ports in England. Discussions were therefore

undertaken with relevant stakeholders who utilise that surface access. This included

road and rail freight industries, logistics companies, exporters, and the port industry,

but not the aviation sector directly, though some of these stakeholders may work with

both aviation and port sectors

The Government is developing a new Aviation Strategy for the UK. It will set out the

long-term direction for aviation policy to 2050 and beyond. This includes reviewing

how road and rail links to airports are planned and delivered.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty: Scotland

Ian Murray: [138962]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date he is basing his plans for the (a)

disapplication of Air Passenger Duty and (b) replacement of that duty with an air

departure tax in Scotland.

Robert Jenrick:

The timing of the introduction of Air Departure Tax in Scotland is a matter for the

Scottish Government. As agreed, the UK Government will maintain the application of

Air Passenger Duty in Scotland in the interim.



Credit: Regulation


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to protect

customers from the high cost of (a) rent-to-own and (b) doorstep lending products.


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department is taking steps to

support the Financial Conduct Authority in regulating the high cost credit market.

John Glen:

The government transferred the regulation of consumer credit, including rent-to-own

and doorstep lending, to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014. The

Government has given the FCA strong powers to protect consumers, and the FCA

proactively monitors the market, focussing on the areas most likely to cause

consumer harm.

The FCA is reviewing the high-cost credit market, and has identified specific

concerns in rent-to-own and doorstep lending. The FCA will publish an update on its

work later this month.

Treasury ministers and officials meet regularly with the FCA, and the government will

continue to work closely with the FCA to ensure all customers are treated fairly.

Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

Clive Lewis: [138078]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the role of his Department is on contributing

to UK implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 on sustainable

consumption and production.

Robert Jenrick:

HM Treasury supports the wider work of the government on this issue through

spending but also sets environmental tax policy, encouraging more sustainable

production and consumption.

For example, the Carbon Price Support incentivises investment in renewable energy

and has contributed to a rapid decline in the use of coal in power generation. This

helps to deliver cleaner energy for manufacturers and consumers. In the construction

industry, the Aggregates Levy is shifting demand towards recycled and byproduct

building materials and reducing the need to quarry for new materials. Tax is also

transforming how we deal with waste. Since the Landfill Tax was introduced in 2000,

the amount of waste going to landfill has decreased by 65% in the UK. Recycling has

increased from 18% to 44% over the same period.

HM Treasury is now exploring how the tax system or charges could be used to make

the production and consumption of single-use plastics more sustainable. The

Chancellor further supported this goal by committing £20m to businesses and

universities, acting now to stimulate new thinking and rapid solutions in this area.




Equality

Tracy Brabin: [139022]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of all

departmental budgets to ensure that they (a) include a sum for investment in tackling

children's social and economic inequalities and (b) enable policy collaboration between

Departments on social and economic inequalities.

Elizabeth Truss:

To tackle the inequalities that children face, in 2018-19 we’re giving schools £5.5

billion to support disadvantaged children. Over half a million of the country’s most

disadvantaged 2 year olds have received free early education since the offer was

introduced in 2014. And thanks to the government’s strong record on employment,

since 2010, 598,000 fewer children are now living in workless households.

The Government sets budgets through the Spending Review process, where we

assess all departmental budgets and spending priorities in the round. At annual fiscal

events the Government can make adjustments to these plans. In the last budget, this

government was more transparent than any other: publishing detailed analysis of the

impact of policy decisions on households of different incomes.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Robert Neill: [138019]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet members of the All-Party

Parliamentary Group on Equitable Life to discuss the level of funding provided to victims

through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme and the funds already allocated which have

not yet been distributed.

John Glen:

Around £1.5bn has been allocated to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme, which

closed to new claims in 2015. Whilst previous representations have been made in

regard of further funding, there are no plans to reopen the Payment Scheme or to

allocate further funds to it.

Foreign Investment in UK

Justin Tomlinson: [137540]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much and what proportion of foreign direct

investment in the UK in 2017 came from (a) acquisitions, mergers and joint-ventures, (b)

new investments and (c) expansions of existing investments.

John Glen:

Data on the proportions of foreign direct investment (FDI) by acquisitions, mergers

and joint-ventures, new investments and expansions of existing investments in 2017,

is not yet available. The annual release containing this information will be published

in December 2018.




The stock of foreign direct investment in the UK increased to £1.6 trillion in 2017, a

further 0.7% increase in addition to the record high FDI inflows in 2016.

Sugar: Taxation


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what system is in place to monitor potential fraud

in the collection of the sugar tax.

Robert Jenrick:

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is under the control of experienced compliance teams

within HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Using the Promote, Prevent and Respond

compliance strategy, HMRC will use intelligence-based risk assessments to identify

those that fail to register or comply with the rules. HMRC will work closely with soft

drinks manufacturers, and, supported by legal powers to tackle evasion, will take

robust action against those that do not comply.

UK Trade with EU


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has modelled the effect on the UK

economy of the Government's planned trading partnership with the EU.

John Glen:

The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis and preparatory work to

support our EU exit negotiations and preparations. However, it is not standard

practice to provide an ongoing commentary on internal analysis.

Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to

release information that would undermine our negotiating position.

We have committed to providing Parliament with appropriate analysis ahead of the

final vote on the deal. That will be the right time to present the work. It will allow

Parliament to scrutinise an appropriate analysis of the options, based on the most

accurate assessment we can make.

WALES

[Subject Heading to be Assigned]

David Linden: [905019]

What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on building a new

prison in South Wales.

Stuart Andrew:

Around 20 potential sites across South Wales were put forward by the Welsh

Government after they approached the Ministry of Justice. The site in Port Talbot was

ranked as the number one site by the Welsh Government as the most suitable

location for a prison in South Wales.




WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Vicky Foxcroft: [136294]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what correspondence there has been

between her Department and the Speaker of the House of Commons on whether a

decision to re-open the Access to Elected Office scheme has been made.

Victoria Atkins:

The previous Home Secretary and the Speaker have corresponded and a decision

will be made in due course.

Commonwealth: LGBT People

Sarah Champion: [136399]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the timetable is for the publication of

the guidance on international best practice on sexual orientation and gender identity; and

what steps his Department is taking to help ensure this guidance is rolled out throughout

commonwealth countries.

Victoria Atkins:

The International Best Practice Guide to Equality on Sexual Orientation and Gender

Identity, developed by OutRight Action International and commissioned by the

Government Equalities Office, was published on 18th April 2018.

The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure the guide is distributed

throughout Commonwealth countries. It was distributed at the Commonwealth

Summit, which was attended by parliamentarians, diplomats, business leaders, civil

society and activists from across the Commonwealth. Events will be held in different

regions of the world in order to distribute the guide and facilitate opportunities for

discussion and the sharing of best practice. A copy of the guide has also been sent to

the House of Commons Library.

Equal pay: Feltham and Heston


To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many companies in the Feltham and

Heston constituency employ over 250 employees; and of those companies (a) what the

average gender pay gap is and (b) how many failed to report their gender pay gap

statistics by the 4 April 2018 deadline.

Victoria Atkins:

Under new regulations, large employers were required to publish gender pay gap

data by the deadlines of 30 March for the public sector, and 4 April for the private and

voluntary sector.

All of the data published by organisations for the first year of gender pay gap

reporting is available on the government reporting website:




https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/

The data can be filtered by postcode, however, organisations are identified by the

address they are registered at according to their Companies House record. As a

result, there may be companies that employ more than 250 people in the

constituency, but are registered at another address.

The Office for National Statistics publishes gender pay gaps by home parliamentary

constituency. The median gap for Feltham and Heston is 16.1%.

Sexual Harassment: Employment

Jo Swinson: [136924]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when the Government plans to publish its

response to the recommendations made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission

in its report entitled Turning the Tables: Ending Sexual Harassment at Work, published in

March 2018.

Victoria Atkins:

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an independent public authority and

Government does not routinely respond to its reports. However, we welcome the

work it has done on sexual harassment in its March 2018 report as a contribution to

the current inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace by the Women and

Equalities Select Committee.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Department for Work and Pensions: Mobile Phones


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what apps his Department has

approved for use on mobile phones issued by his Department.

Kit Malthouse:


applications approved for use on mobile phones issued by the Department, as to do

so facilitates attacks against official systems by hostile actors.

Department for Work and Pensions: Plastics

Thelma Walker: [138548]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has

taken to reduce its use of single-use plastics .

Kit Malthouse:

The Department’s catering supplier Compass Group UK & Ireland top priority is

reducing single-use plastic packaging. They are working closely with their industry

partners to stay abreast of the issues and address the challenges, and are working






with their suppliers to provide solutions to help our sites reduce single-use plastics

and maximise recycling.

The Government’s 25 year environment plan outlined a range of measures on how

we will reduce the amount of plastic waste in circulation through reducing demand for

single use plastic. This included a commitment to removing all single use plastics

from the central government estate offices.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Ian Blackford: [138997]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on

advising claimants who are appealing decisions on employment support allowance

whether to apply for universal credit.

Sarah Newton:

Following a decision that an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimant is

found well enough for work and is therefore no longer entitled to ESA, the

Department provides information on what benefits might instead be available to them.

If a claimant lives in an area where Universal Credit has fully rolled out, they will be

informed that they can claim Universal Credit, including whilst making an appeal to

the original decision.

Jobcentres: Crimes of Violence


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many violent incidents leading

to arrests there have been at jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Nottinghamshire in the last

(i) one, (ii) three and (iii) five years.

Kit Malthouse:

The Department for Work and Pensions takes any form of abuse and harassment of

its staff by customers and claimants very seriously. Where necessary the police are

called to aid in the management of a situation. However, the Department does not

routinely record whether this subsequently leads to arrest.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many violent incidents

involving knives there have been at jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Nottinghamshire in

the last (i) one (ii) three and (iii) five years.

Kit Malthouse:

In the year to March 2018 incidents reported through the Department’s Serious

Incident (Fast Track) Reporting process identified 11 incidences where knives were

brought into our offices, whether to threaten, harm or self-harm. For the three year

period April 2015 to March 2018 there were 28 identified and for the five year period

April 2013 to March 2018 the total is 49.

No Nottinghamshire sites are included in the figures above.




Robust controls are in place to mitigate the risk of unacceptable customer behaviour

(UCB) and eliminate violent incidents as far as reasonably practicable; including

security presence, risk assessments and training for our staff. We review outcomes of

our most serious incidents and consider any lessons learned to make improvements

to our processes and training when necessary to help prevent reoccurrence.

Jobcentres: Security


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to

re-evaluate the security of staff in jobcentres as a result of recent trends in the level of

knife crime.

Kit Malthouse:

The Department takes the safety of our staff and customers extremely seriously. All

of our security control measures are under constant review, and every incident is

carefully analysed to identify any weaknesses exposed. We are very aware of the

increased threat of knife crime, and the staff of our security partners G4S are trained

to recognise the potential threats and respond accordingly.

Universal Credit

David Linden: [139040]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations her

Department has received from gas and electricity providers on the effect of the

introduction of universal credit on levels of debt and arrears; and if she will make a

statement.

Alok Sharma:

We are working closely with utility companies and regularly attend a Utility Company

Debt Group to update them on the latest information regarding Universal Credit, its

rollout and any changes that may have taken place. These include discussions on

deductions and arrears, as well as taking feedback for future improvements to the

service we provide for them.

The Government has also taken a number of steps to reduce the risk of problem

debt, including capping payday lending costs and promoting savings. Within

Universal Credit, we have interest free advances and a system of priority deductions

to help claimants who have got into arrears. We have successfully implemented a

further package of measures announced at the Autumn Budget 2017, such as

making advances of up to 100% of the indicative award available to claimants and

increasing the repayment period to 12 months, removing the 7 waiting days,

providing an additional payment of 2 weeks of Housing Benefit to support claimants

when they transition to Universal Credit, and changing how claimants in temporary

accommodation receive support for their housing costs.



Universal Credit: Appeals


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who were in

receipt of a disability premium and after reaching the age of 20 began claiming Universal

Credit have been successful at appeal to be granted the (a) limited capability for work

element and (b) limited capability for work related activity element.

Alok Sharma:

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur

disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Automated Credit Transfer


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effect of paying universal credit into a joint bank account on the (a) level of

independence of women and (b) balance of power in a relationship between two people

sharing such an account.

Alok Sharma:

In Universal Credit, couples make a joint claim to Universal Credit. Both are

responsible for servicing the claim, and both benefit from the claim. The couple

nominates a bank account for their Universal Credit to be paid into, and this can be a

joint account or an individual account. The Government believes that people within a

household are best placed to make the money management choices that are most

appropriate for them and a single payment enables them to do that.

A single payment of Universal Credit also enables people in a household clearly to

see the effect of their decisions about work on their total household income.

In some circumstances, payment of Universal Credit can be divided between two

members of the household. This is an Alternative Payment Arrangement known as a

Split Payment. Split payments can be made where there is financial mismanagement,

domestic abuse, or the inability to budget for the household’s basic day to day needs.

Universal Credit: Internet


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the provision of universal

credit as a primarily digital service will affect the job security of Jobcentre staff.

Alok Sharma:

Jobcentre staff are a core part of the support provided for those in receipt of

Universal Credit and other benefits.

The Universal Credit digital service provides an interactive and accessible system for

claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient

for them. This means that many administrative tasks are now automated, giving Work




Coaches more time to add value in their community. Work Coaches are able to focus

on providing tailored support to claimants; helping them in to work, to progress in

work, or bringing them closer to the labour market by removing barriers to

employment.

It is important that all claimants can benefit from a dedicated Work Coach, no matter

what their circumstances. This is why we continue to ensure that claimants can

access face-to-face support in a Jobcentre, as well as enabling claimants to interact

with their Work Coach online, such as through their digital journal.

Vacancies: Internet


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of jobs listed on

Universal Jobmatch are open to (a) part-time or flexible hours and (b) full-time hours.

Kit Malthouse:

On 26/04/2018, there were 139,590 adverts live on Universal Jobmatch. 93,123

(66.7%) of these were recorded as being for full time vacancies, and 21,235 (15.2%)

were recorded as being for part-time vacancies. 25,223 (18.1%) of adverts were

recorded as ‘unknown’.

This data relates to how the vacancies are advertised on UJ; it is not possible to

identify jobs which are advertised as part time but available extend to full time or vice

versa. It is also not possible to identify jobs with flexible working hours, as this is not

recorded in Universal Jobmatch.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department

provides to employers on posting part-time vacancies including job share roles on the

Universal Jobmatch website.

Kit Malthouse:

Universal Jobmatch is a self-service job posting service available to all employers.

Employers who require additional support can contact the Employer Services Line on

0800 169 0178 to get practical support and advice about recruitment. This includes

technical assistance, advice on the wording of vacancies and signposting to local

Jobcentre plus offices. There is also an online “contact us” facility on the website and

a Universal Jobmatch employers’ frequently asked questions facility on Gov.uk.



MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General: Procurement


To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2018 to Question

123531 on Attorney General: procurement, if he will list those contracts including the

supplier name and value of those contracts.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 March 2018. The

correct answer should have been:

Robert Buckland:

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has the following contracts with the

government’s strategic suppliers:

SUPPLIER CONTRACT ESTIMATED VALUE* £

BT Plc Multiple landline phones, alarms and broadband service

agreements

143,500

Capita Contingent Labour ONE Call-Off 136,900

CGI Payroll Call-Off 1,300,500

Finance and Resource Management System Call-Off 200,000

Managed ICT Services contract; and 300,000,000

Applications Support and Data Hosting Call-Off 19,000,000

Microsoft Multiple licencing agreements. 172,000

Oracle Multiple licencing agreements 470,000

Vodafone Videoconferencing service Call-Off 700,000

* The Estimated Value is given as the value for the contract Term where the

department has signed a Call-Off Contract and the annual spend to 31 January 2018

where the department has renewable licensing arrangements.


For the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the contracts are:

SUPPLIER 2016/17

BT plc £15,897

Capita £704,697

Vodafone £75,905

To identify overall contract values for the Government Legal Department (GLD),

Attorney General Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

(HMCPSI) would require the identification and examination of all awards made to the

Strategic Suppliers (as defined by the Crown Commercial Services) and this cannot

be achieved without incurring disproportionate cost. However, our payments to

Strategic Suppliers, for 2016-17 is set out below:

STRATEGIC SUPPLIER

EXPENDITURE2016-

17GLD

EXPENDITURE2016-

17AGO

EXPENDITURE2016-

17HMCPSI

Amey £335,965

BT Plc £1,699 £2,159 £1,308

Capgemini £88,914

Capita £424,655 £6,369,832 £847*

Fujitsu £561,131

Microsoft £62,178

Mitie £186,854

Oracle £34,126

Vodafone £226,794 £43,763 £8,779

* The payment for this amount piggy backed on the contract that SFO had with

Capita.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit: Young People


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pension, what estimate she has made of the

cost incurred by (a) Jobcentre Plus, (b) her Department and (c) any other public agency

in the preparation for the roll-out of the now aborted cut to housing benefit for 18-21 year

olds.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 18 April 2018. The

correct answer should have been:

Kit Malthouse:

The preparation costs associated with the removal of the automatic eligibility of 18 to

21 year olds to claim universal credit for housing costs are estimated to be £5£3

million.


WRITTEN STATEMENTS

DEFENCE

Contigent Liabilities

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Guto Bebb): [HCWS664]

I am today laying a Departmental Minute to advise that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is

retrospectively notifying Parliament about contingent liabilities not previously disclosed,

due to procedural errors. Her Majesty’s Treasury has retrospectively approved these

contingent liabilities.

The Minute describes the contingent liabilities that the MOD holds against ten Defence

Equipment and Support contracts (DE&S). It is usual to allow a period of fourteen Sitting

Days prior to accepting a contingent liability, to provide Hon. Members an opportunity to

raise any objections. Regrettably, this was not done ahead of contract award in these

cases and I sincerely apologise for our failure to do so. The purpose of the Minute is to

regularise the position with Parliament. The contracts remain fully enforceable and the

associated contingent liabilities will be reported in the 2017-18 Defence Equipment and

Support (DE&S) Annual Report and Accounts.

Failure to notify these contingent liabilities prior to the award of the associated contracts

has been reported to the Public Accounts Committee. The Department has noted the

Committee’s concerns about this situation and fully accepts the need to follow the correct

approvals and reporting procedures. DE&S has put in place a series of measures to

address this issue including staff briefing; mandated training; improving the clarity of

internal guidance and procedures; and additional controls in the approvals process, to

ensure compliance.

The following contracts have a very low risk of the contingent liability being incurred. The

liability is assessed as unquantifiable due to the nature, scope, range and scale of

possible scenarios that might occur, which means that it is not possible to provide a

realistic estimate of cost:

Supply of Cased Telescopic Cannon and Ammunition – liability against

consequential and indirect losses until 9 July 2018

CTAI Common Cannon and Ammunition Project – liability against consequential

and

indirect losses until 3 June 2019

Design Authority Support for Cased Telescopic Cannon - liability against

consequential and indirect losses until 31 March 2019

Supply of 40mm Cased Telescopic Cannon - liability against consequential and

indirect losses until 15 July 2022

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-05-02/HCWS664/

BAE Systems Dreadnought Design Contract – liability against submarine design

work until 26 April 2023

Babcock Design Contract (submarines) – liability against contractor’s personnel at

defence establishments until 26 April 2023

UK/France Test Facilities (2010) and sub contract – UK liability for dismantling and

decommissioning costs until 2065

The following contract has an agreed amount of contingent liability up to £1.4 million

against a breach of Intellectual Property Rights which expired on 31 March 2018 and a

further unquantifiable element against a breach of environmental liability until 31 March

2025:

Land Equipment Service provision and Transformation contract

If the liability is called against any of these contracts, provision for any payment will be

sought through the normal Supply procedure.

The following contract had an agreed amount of contingent liability up to £7 million

against damage to Ministry of Defence property which expired on 28 February 2018. No

liability was called against this contract.

Support to Combined Arms Tactical Training System

Counter-Daesh Operations

Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson): [HCWS665]

As part of our counter-terrorism strategy, the UK is playing a leading role in the Global

Coalition to defeat Daesh - a unified body of 75 members. We have committed nearly

1,400 military personnel to the region to provide support to local partners.

In the air, the RAF has conducted more than 1,600 air strikes in Iraq and Syria – second

only to the US – and provides highly advanced intelligence, surveillance and

reconnaissance to Coalition partners. These strikes are undertaken in the collective self-

defence of Iraq as part of the global Coalition to defeat Daesh, and at the request of the

Government of Iraq. On the ground, British soldiers have trained over 60,000 members of

the Iraqi Security Forces in engineering, medical, counter-IED and basic infantry skills. As

a result of the Coalition’s action, Daesh has lost more than 98 per cent of the territory it

once occupied in Iraq and Syria, and 7.7 million people have been liberated from its rule.

We do everything we can to minimise the risk to civilian life from UK strikes through our

rigorous targeting processes and the professionalism of UK Service personnel. It is

therefore deeply regrettable that a UK air strike on 26 March 2018, targeting Daesh

fighters in eastern Syria, resulted in an unintentional civilian fatality. During a strike to

engage three Daesh fighters, a civilian motorbike crossed into the strike area at the last

moment and it is assessed that one civilian was unintentionally killed. We reached this

conclusion after undertaking routine and detailed post-strike analysis of all available

evidence. There are limits on any further details that can be provided given ongoing

operations and consequent national security issues. As with any serious incident the

wider Coalition also conducts its own investigation and will report in due course.


These events serve to remind us of the consequences of conflict and of the heavy price

that the people of Syria have paid. It reminds us that when we undertake military action,

we must do so knowing that it can never be completely without risk.

Such incidents will not weaken our resolve to defeat Daesh and rid the world of its

poisonous ideology of hate and intolerance. The UK’s commitment to the Global Coalition

against Daesh and to the people of Iraq and Syria will remain as strong as ever.

PRIME MINISTER

UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and

Co-operation in Europe

Prime Minister (Mrs Theresa May): [HCWS666]

The Hon. Member for Yeovil (Marcus Fysh) and the Hon. Member for Amber Valley (Nigel

Mills) have been appointed as full members of the United Kingdom Delegation to the

Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in

place of the Rt. Hon. Member for Clwyd West (David Jones) and the Hon. Member for

Tewkesbury (Laurence Robertson). The Hon. Member for Southport (Damien Moore) has

been appointed as a substitute member.


Daily Report Wednesday, 2 May 2018...

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