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Daily Report Thursday, 25 June 2020

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 25 June 2020 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:43 P.M., 25 June 2020). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 6

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6

Bounce Back Loan Scheme:

Hospitality Industry 6

Carbon Emissions 6

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Renewable Energy 7

Energy Performance

Certificates 7

Hydrogen 8

Hydrogen: Investment and Job

Creation 8

Redundancy: Debenhams 9

CABINET OFFICE 10

Civil Service: Racial

Discrimination 10

Elections: EU Nationals 10

Ethnic Groups: Equality 10

Land: Public Sector 12

Marriage: Coronavirus 12

Prime Minister: Public Opinion 13

Property Development: Isle of

Dogs 13

Protective Clothing:

Coronavirus 14

Trade: Northern Ireland 14

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 15

Arts: Finance 15

Gambling 16

Musicians: Coronavirus 16

Orchestras: Coronavirus 17

Press Freedom 17

Tourism: Coronavirus 18

EDUCATION 19

Children and Young People:

Coronavirus 19

Children in Care 19

Children: Coronavirus 20

Children: Coronaviruse 21

Education: Ethnic Groups 22

Education: Internet 23

Erasmus+ Programme:

Northern Ireland 23

Financial Services: Primary

Education 24

Free School Meals 24

Free School Meals: Voucher

Schemes 25

Higher Education: Internet 28

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Home Education: Sheffield

South East 29

Home Education:

Walthamstow 30

Schools: Bullying 30

Schools: Coronavirus 31

Schools: Finance 34

Schools: Sports 34

Sixth Form Education:

Coronavirus 35

Social Workers: Coronavirus 36

Teachers: Coronavirus 36

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 37

Cats: Tagging 37

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs:

Renewable Energy 37

Food: Imports 38

Forests: Commodities 39

Highly Protected Marine

Areas: Angling 39

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 40

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups 40

Development Aid: Poverty 40

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Overseas Aid 40

Marine Environment: Treaties 41

Nigeria: Religion 42

Nigeria: Violence 42

Sri Lanka: Politics and

Government 42

Sri Lanka: Water 43

Yu Wensheng 43

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 44

Asthma: Coronavirus 44

Asthma: Steroid Drugs 44

Blood Cancer: Coronavirus 44

Care Homes: Coronavirus 45

Children: Protective Clothing 47

Contact Tracing: Computer

Software 47

Coronavirus 47

Coronavirus: Children 48

Coronavirus: Death 48

Coronavirus: Disease Control 49

Coronavirus: Funerals 50

Coronavirus: Nike 51

Coronavirus: Patients 51

Coronavirus: Protective

Clothing 52

Coronavirus: Research 52

Coronavirus: Screening 53

Coronavirus: Twickenham 55

Coronavirus: Wirral 55

Cystic Fibrosis: Coronavirus 56

Dental Services: Coronavirus 56

Dental Services: Protective

Clothing 57

Department of Health and

Social Care 57

Diabetes: Coronavirus 58

Diabetes: Medical Treatments 58

Employment: Coronavirus 58

Exercise Cygnus: Care Homes 59

Gender Recognition: Health

Services 59

Health Services: Coronavirus 60

Health Services: Immigrants 60

Health Services: Protective

Clothing 61

Health Visitors: Coronavirus 61

Hearing Impairment:

Screening 61

Hospitals: Patients 62

Hygiene: Products 62

Local Government:

Coronavirus 63

Mental Health Services:

Children and Young People 63

Mental Health Services: Ethnic

Groups 64

Mental Health Services: Young

People 64

Midwives: Age 65

NHS: Disclosure of Information 66

NHS: Sanitary Products 66

Nurses: Students 66

Postnatal Care: Coronavirus 67


Coronavirus 67

Protective Clothing: Imports 68


Manufacturing Industries 68


Procurement 69

Protective Clothing: Shops 71

Public Health: Coronavirus 72

Public Health: Expenditure 72

Social Services: Coronavirus 73

Spinal Muscular Atrophy:

Nusinersen 73

HOME OFFICE 74

Action Fraud 74

Asylum: Coronavirus 74

Asylum: Finance 75

Asylum: Interviews 75

British Nationality:

Assessments 76

Counter-terrorism 76

Counter-terrorism: Local

Government 76

Death Certificates: Ethnic

Groups 77

Immigrants: Finance 77

Migrant Workers: Doctors 77

Police: Stop and Search 78

Registration of Births, Deaths,

Marriages and Civil

Partnerships 78

Slavery: Detainees 78

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 79

Affordable Housing:

Construction 79

Evictions: Coronavirus 79

Funerals: Coronavirus 80

High Rise Flats: Insulation 80

Homelessness: Coronavirus 81

Housing Occupancy:

Coronavirus 82

Housing: Construction 82

Housing: Coronavirus 83

Immigrants: Finance 83

Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local

Government: Faculty 84

Social Rented Housing:

Construction 84

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 85

China: Overseas Aid 85

Department for International

Development: Reorganisation 85

India: Overseas Aid 85

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 86

Food: Imports 86

Trade Agreements 87

JUSTICE 87

Judiciary: Training 87

Legal Aid Scheme: Companies 88

Legal Ombudsman 89

Legal Profession: Disclosure

of Information 89

Ministry of Justice: Renewable

Energy 90

Prisoners' Release 90

Prisoners' Release:

Homelessness 91

Prisoners' Release: Housing 92

Remand in Custody 93

Reoffenders: Coronavirus 93

Social Entitlement Chamber:

Video Conferencing 94

Wayland Prison: Technology 94

NORTHERN IRELAND 95

EU Grants and Loans:

Northern Ireland 95

SCOTLAND 95

Unemployment: Scotland 95

TRANSPORT 96

Biofuels: Public Consultation 96

Department for Transport:

Public Opinion 96

Driving Tests: Coronavirus 96

M67: Bridges 97

M67: Litter 97

Public Transport: Concessions 97

Public Transport: Coronavirus 98

Railways: Franchises 98

Roads: Accidents 98

TREASURY 99

Covid-19 Education Catch-up

Fund 99

Economic Situation:

Coronavirus 100

Employment: Government

Assistance 100

Investment Income:

Coronavirus 101

Protective Clothing: VAT 101

Self-employment Income

Support Scheme 101

Third Sector: Coronavirus 102

Tourism: Employment 103

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 104

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups 104

Gender Recognition: Health

Services 104

Racial Discrimination 105

WORK AND PENSIONS 105

[Subject Heading to be

Assigned] 105

Department for Work and

Pensions: Correspondence 106

Employment Support

Allowance 106

Income Support 106

Pensions: Coronavirus 107

Pensions: Income 107

Personal Independence

Payment 108

Social Security Benefits:

Disqualification 109


Medical Assessments 110


Scotland 110

Thriving At Work Leadership

Council 110

Universal Credit 110

Universal Credit: Coronavirus 111

Universal Credit: Fraud 111

Work Capability Assessments 111

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 112

JUSTICE 112

Prison Accommodation:

Technology 112

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 113

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 113

Energy Infrastructure Planning

Projects 113

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 113

Covid-19 update 113

HOME OFFICE 114

Surveillance Camera

Commissioner – Annual

Report 114

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 114

Planning update 114

JUSTICE 117

Final Report of the MoJ Expert

Panel on Harm in the Family

Courts and Implementation

Plan 117

Notes:

Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared.

Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Hospitality Industry

Kirsten Oswald: [62490]

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

extend eligibility for the Coronavirus Bounceback Loan Scheme to incoming proprietors of

long-established premises in the hospitality sector where the date of registration of the

business entity through that premises was after 1 March 2020.

Paul Scully:

Almost all viable UK-based businesses are eligible to apply for a loan under the

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). You can apply for a loan if your business:

• is based in the UK;

• was established before 1 March 2020;

• has been adversely affected by coronavirus.

Whether or not a business is liable for Business Rates, or occupies business

premises, is not a consideration under the scheme.

The Government-backed loan schemes are part of a broad package of support

measures for businesses, which include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme,

deferral of VAT and income tax payments, grant funding for small businesses, and

more. For more information on the support available to them, businesses should visit

the Government’s business support website.

Carbon Emissions

Navendu Mishra: [61627]

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

plans to announce the Government’s strategy for achieving a low carbon economy in

accordance with its 2050 net zero target; and what steps the Government plans to take to

(a) deliver a cleaner, healthier environment, (b) create high skilled green jobs and (c)

build a more resilient economy.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

We are continuing to develop our net zero strategy. We have recently published the

first stage of our Transport Decarbonisation plan and have announced a £2 billion

package for cycling and walking. This will be supported by further decarbonisation

plans this year covering key sectors, including Heat and Buildings, Trees, and

Energy. We will build on our ambitious plans announced at the Budget – for example

£1bn to deploy electric vehicle infrastructure, and £800m to deliver carbon capture

and storage in the UK – to help to slash our emissions and deliver growth across the

country.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-21/62490


As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy

which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Renewable Energy

Sir Edward Davey: [60652]

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

solar panels and (b) wind turbines his Department's buildings (a) have in 2020 and (b)

had in each of the last five years.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

At its headquarters building at 1 Victoria Street in London, the Department has 28

solar panels which each measure approximately 1.5m x 0.5m. The number of solar

panels is the same for the last five years and for 2020. The Department does not

currently have any wind turbines at its 1 Victoria Street headquarters building, or in

the last five years.

Energy Performance Certificates

Dr Dan Poulter: [60730]

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

Department has to ensure that the EPC action plan due to be published later in 2020

ensures that off-grid homeowners are not incentivised to stay on higher carbon, cheaper

fuels to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard due to the inclusion of input fuel

cost in the EPC methodology.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

EPCs are a widely used measure of the energy performance of buildings, both in the

residential and commercial sectors, and are a key tool in promoting energy efficiency

improvements to buildings.

The EPC Call for Evidence ran from 26 July 2018 to 19 October 2018 and sought

evidence on how EPCs performed against three attributes: quality, availability, and

encouraging action to improve energy efficiency. The forthcoming Call for Evidence

Summary of Responses will outline the responses received from the Call for

Evidence, including on effectiveness of EPCs.

Alongside this, an EPC Action Plan will build on the views expressed as part of the

Call for Evidence, alongside government policy work, to set out a series of actions

which the government will take forward to maximise the effectiveness of EPCs as a

tool for the future.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and Reduced Data SAP (RdSAP)

methodologies which underpin EPCs provide accurate and reliable assessments of

the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER), an indicator of the assumed energy cost per

square metre of a home, and the Environmental Impact Rating (EIR), an indicator of

the carbon dioxide emissions intensity per square metre, of a home. They are

updated regularly in line with updates to Part L of the Building Regulations. We will

keep the ratings we use under review as we develop policies and plans for improving



the energy efficiency of homes and reducing fuel poverty, including those in rural

areas.

The Clean Growth Strategy also committed to ‘phase out installation of high carbon

fossil fuel heating in buildings not connected to the gas grid, starting with new build,

during the 2020s’. In 2018 we ran an extensive programme of engagement with

industry and consumers, to seek views on how industry, government and consumers

could work together to phase out the installation of high carbon fossil fuels from

homes and businesses off the gas grid, and we will be consulting on proposals in due

course.

We will publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course which will set out the

comprehensive set of action to decarbonise buildings, joining up approaches to

improving energy efficiency of the building stock and the roll-out of low carbon

heating.

Hydrogen


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

Department plans to take to establish a UK-wide hydrogen strategy.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Government is committed to exploring the development of hydrogen as a

strategic decarbonised energy carrier. As such we are currently developing our

strategic approach to hydrogen and its potential to deliver against our net zero goals.

We are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to

help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK

hydrogen economy. This includes business models to support the deployment of, and

investment in, low carbon hydrogen production and a £100m Low Carbon Hydrogen

Production Fund to stimulate capital investment. We will be further engaging with

industry on both schemes throughout the year.

Hydrogen: Investment and Job Creation

Kevin Hollinrake: [60823]

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

discussions he has had with representatives from businesses on (a) investment plans

and (b) the potential for job creation in shovel-ready hydrogen projects.

Kevin Hollinrake: [60826]

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

discussions he has had with businesses about (a) investment plans and (b) potential for

jobs in shovel-ready hydrogen projects.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

We are in regular discussions with businesses about their investment plans for

hydrogen projects, including those that are ready for very near-term deployment. In




addition we are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new

policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow

the UK hydrogen economy.

We recently published the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) for

hydrogen and fuel cells which identified that up to 15,000 jobs per annum by 2050

could be created through domestic hydrogen opportunities.

We are also looking to formalise regular engagement between Government and

industry to discuss and drive development if the UK hydrogen economy. This will

consider how we can best work together to retain and expand jobs and skills in

hydrogen and related sectors; as well as developing the UK supply chain.

Redundancy: Debenhams

Theresa Villiers: [62340]

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

Department will undertake an investigation into compliance with statutory rules on (a)

notice and (b) consultation of the redundancies at Debenhams.

Paul Scully:

Employers proposing to make 20 or more employees redundant from one

establishment are required to consult employees or their representatives:

- at least 45 days before the first dismissal takes effect where 100 or more

redundancies are proposed.

- at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect where 20 or more

redundancies are proposed.

The consultation must include consultation on ways to avoid redundancies, reducing

the numbers of redundancies, or mitigating their impact. Where an employer has

failed to adequately consult with their employees about impending redundancies,

those employees may apply to an Employment Tribunal for a Protective Award.

Within the same timescales, the employer must notify my Rt. Hon. Friend the

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the proposed

collective redundancies. Failure to notify is an offence.

If special circumstances exist making it unreasonable for the employer to comply with

the consultation or notification obligations, the employer must take such steps as are

reasonably practicable to comply.


CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service: Racial Discrimination

Steve Reed: [62437]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on the use of

non-disclosure agreements in the civil service for settling cases involving racial

discrimination or abuse grievances.

Steve Reed: [62438]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-disclosure agreements have

been used by each Government department for settling grievance cases in each of the

last five years.

Steve Reed: [62439]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, many non-disclosure agreements have been

used by each Government department for settling discrimination cases in each of the last

five years.

Chloe Smith:

The Cabinet Office publishes guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses in the

Civil Service. This is publicly available here. It makes clear that such clauses should

not be used to prevent staff from raising or discussing allegations of bullying,

harassment or discrimination.

As part of the Government's evidence for the Women and Equalities Committee

report on the use of non-disclosure agreements in discrminination cases, we provided

details on the number of non-disclosure agreements used in the Civil Service

including those that were used in cases of alleged discrimination. This represents the

latest data we have available.

Elections: EU Nationals

Wendy Chamberlain: [62639]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether EU citizens (a) with pre-settled or

settled status and (b) without such status will be eligible to (i) stand as candidates in and

(ii) vote in local government elections in England and Wales in 2021, including the

London Assembly election.

Chloe Smith:

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 38882 on 27 April 2020 and to

PQ 1802 on 29 January 2020.

Ethnic Groups: Equality

Yasmin Qureshi: [62369]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Race Disparity Audit,

whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the explain or change






approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Department for

Health and Social Care; and what changes to that Department's policies has the unit

recommended as a result of data it has gathered since its inception.




approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local Government; and what changes to that Department's policies has

the unit recommended as a result of data it has gathered since its inception.




approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Department for

Business Energy and Industrial Strategy; and what changes to that Department's policies

has the unit recommended as a result of data it has gathered since its inception.




approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Ministry of Justice;

and what changes to that Department's policies has the unit recommended as a result of

data it has gathered since its inception.




approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Department of

Education; and what changes to that Department's policies has the unit recommended as

a result of data it has gathered since its inception.

Chloe Smith:

The ‘Explain or Change’ communications campaign concluded in June last year, and

the Race Disparity Unit (RDU) continues to work with other Government departments

to address disparities. This includes working with the Department for Health and

Social Care (DHSC), Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

(MHCLG), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Department for Education (DfE). This work includes,

for example, considering recommendations from an independent review of the Mental

Health Act, acting on the recommendations of the Lammy Review and taking forward

recommendations from the Timpson Review into school exclusions. As has been the

case under successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not

normally disclosed.





Land: Public Sector

Wera Hobhouse: [61754]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much publicly owned land has been sold

by the Government in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith:

Details of publicly owned land sold by the Government are available on GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sales-of-government-assets

Marriage: Coronavirus

Bob Seely: [61591]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason (a) weddings and (b) weddings

with the minimum number of five people are not being allowed to be conducted during the

current stage of the easing of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Steve McCabe: [62286]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to

Question 54003, when he plans to review the restrictions imposed as a result of the

covid-19 outbreak on weddings taking place to allow for small weddings to take place

with social distancing.

John Spellar: [62287]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to allow weddings and civil

partnership ceremonies to recommence.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set a date when marriages can

resume as the covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Dame Diana Johnson: [62348]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Answer of 2 June 2020 to Question

48959, when the Government plans to lift covid-19 restrictions to allow small, socially

distant weddings to take place.

Charlotte Nichols: [62661]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to lift the marriage ban in

England.

Penny Mordaunt:

The Government understands the huge significance of weddings. We recognise that

because weddings have not been able to take place in recent months this has

caused difficulty and distress for many people. As set out in the Government’s

COVID-19 recovery strategy, published in May, the Government has been examining

how to enable people to gather in slightly larger groups better to facilitate small

weddings. We have worked closely with faith leaders and local government on how










best to achieve this. The Prime Minister announced on 23 June that wedding and civil

partnership ceremonies will be able to take place in England from 4 July. People

should avoid having a large ceremony, and should invite no more than thirty family

and friends. Venues should ensure they are COVID-19 secure.

Prime Minister: Public Opinion

Judith Cummins: [62462]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the office of the Prime Minister

spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) focus groups in each month since January 2019.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion

polling and (b) focus groups in each month since January 2019.

Peter Kyle: [62526]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure

that polling commissioned by Government or paid for with public funds is not (a) used for

party political purposes or (b) accessed by a political party on preferential terms.

Chloe Smith:

The office of the Prime Minister is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. Complete

information on opinion poll and focus group spending is not held centrally and could

only be provided at disproportionate costs. However, the Government routinely

publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder.

As has been the case under successive administrations, any Government research,

polling or analysis would be for official use.

Property Development: Isle of Dogs

Steve Reed: [59477]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Secretary is undertaking

an inquiry into the circumstances by which the Secretary of State for Housing,

Communities and Local Government made his decision on the Westferry Printworks

development, PA/18/01877/A1 on 14 January 2020.

Chloe Smith:

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has yesterday

published a comprehensive statement to the Housing, Communities and Local

Government Select Committee on the manner in which the Westferry planning appeal

was determined, and released a comprehensive collection of associated documents

into the public domain; and I also refer the Hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s

speech in the Opposition Day Debate.

The Cabinet Secretary has not undertaken an investigation; he has written to the

Hon. Member in relation to this matter in reply to his letter. Given the Hon. Member





publicly released his original letter, I am placing a copy of this reply in the Libraries of

the House.

Protective Clothing: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: [55702]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral contribution of 28

April 2020, Official Report, column 218, how many face coverings have been produced

since 28 April 2020.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many face coverings for use by the

general population are held by Government.

Dan Jarvis: [58710]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure

that face coverings are (a) widely available to the public, (b) affordable and (c) effective in

reducing the transmission of covid-19.

Chloe Smith:

Further to the answer given to PQs 48885, 48886, 48887 on 14 May 2020, the

Government has published guidance on staying safe outside the home during the

COVID-19 pandemic:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-

safe-outside-your-home

The guidance includes information on the use of face coverings. We are asking

people to make their own face coverings at home, using scarves or other textile items

and we have published guidance to help illustrate the process.

In terms of the wider production of PPE for use for medical purposes, Lord Deighton

has been appointed to lead the national effort to boost PPE production, and also

support the scaling up of engineering efforts for small companies capable of

contributing to supplies.

Trade: Northern Ireland

Dr Philippa Whitford: [62459]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to

businesses on shipping goods (a) to and (b) from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK in

preparation for the end of the transition period.

Dr Philippa Whitford: [62460]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, by what date the UK Government plans to

have additional (a) staff and (b) infrastructure in place to comply with the Northern Ireland

protocol in relation to checks on products moving between Northern Ireland and the rest

of the UK.




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home





Penny Mordaunt:

The UK Government will meet its obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol, in

line with the approach set out in the Command Paper published on 20 May, the UK’s

Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. We will ensure that the Protocol is

implemented in a way that upholds the gains of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement,

and which protects the interests of the people and economy of Northern Ireland. We

committed in the UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol to provide guidance

to business, including our plans for extensive support for NI businesses engaging in

new processes. We will publish that guidance during the course of this summer.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Finance

Alex Sobel: [61773]

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

financial support he plans to allocate to the arts sector to protect (a) salaried and (b)

freelance workers.

Alex Sobel: [61774]

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

Government has to increase (a) funding to and (b) financial investment in the arts.

Alex Sobel: [61775]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans

to promote investment in the art sector by (a) extending and (b) improving tax relief

schemes for venues and creatives.

Alex Sobel: [61776]

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

financial support he plans to allocate to arts (a) venues and (b) organisations.

Caroline Dinenage:

The UK’s arts sector is one of our greatest success stories and we are doing all we

can to support it through the pandemic. We are providing unprecedented assistance

including a years' business rates holiday, government loans, the recently-extended

Self Employed Income Support Scheme, the Job Retention Scheme that hundreds of

organisations have received support from.

Additionally, DCMS has worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored

support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package

announced by Arts Council England, made possible by Government funding. This

intervention complements the financial measures already announced to ensure

immediate resilience of this vital sector.

The package includes £140 million of support for artistic organisations, including

venues, and £20 million of financial support for individuals, including freelancers, so





they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. To date

more than 9000 individuals and organisations have been successful in applying for

this emergency funding.

The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the Art sector

extensively to ensure we fully understand the financial impact of the Covid-19

outbreak on the sector.

On the basis of that engagement, DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to

consider the additional measures required to ensure the long-term recovery and

growth of the cultural sector. We remain committed to opening up venues as soon as

it is safe to do so and are working directly with the sector on detailed advice and

guidance.

Gambling

Andrew Rosindell: [60701]

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

Department is taking to support Adult Gaming Centres.

Nigel Huddleston:

The Prime Minister announced on 23 June that, providing they adhere to Covid-19

Secure guidelines, Adult Gaming Centres and other arcades will be able to reopen

from 4 July.

The Government has provided a package of measures to support businesses,

including Adult Gaming Centres, as announced by the Chancellor on 17 and 26

March. This includes a business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality

and leisure sectors, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, through which all UK

employers are able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’

salary, and the

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which provides loans of up to £5

million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% government

guarantee.

Further support for SMEs was announced on 27 April through the Bounce Back Loan

scheme.

Musicians: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: [62430]

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

Departments has to issue guidance to (a) singers, (b) wind and brass players and (c)

other musicians on (i) rehearsals and performances as the covid-19 restrictions are

eased and (ii) minimising risks of asymptomatic transmission of covid-19.

Caroline Dinenage:

DCMS has worked closely with the Entertainment and Events Working Group to

develop guidance which will enable performing artists to train, rehearse and perform



safely. The guidance will be published in due course and will include guidance on

minimising risk of transmission and supporting singers, wind and brass players and

other musicians to return to work in COVID-secure ways.

DCMS is also holding targeted talks with leaders in the orchestra, choral and theatre

sectors to better understand how the higher risk of activities like singing and playing

of wind/brass instruments can practically be mitigated.

Orchestras: Coronavirus


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

has made on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on orchestras; and if he will make a

statement.

Caroline Dinenage:

In order to support the sustainability of the Arts sector, including classical orchestras,

DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a tailored

package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m emergency

response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the

Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector. In addition,

ministers have continued to engage with leading members of the orchestral sector on

specific guidance to enable orchestras to resume live performances as soon as

possible, and how to safely resume activity within current regulations.

This package includes £140 million of support for artistic organisations including

orchestras; and £20 million of financial support for individuals, including self-

employed classical musicians, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work,

in the coming months. More than 9000 individuals and organisations have been

successful in applying for this emergency funding.

Furthermore, self-employed classical musicians are among the millions of people

(including freelancers) who can now benefit from the Self-Employed Income Support

Scheme, which will provide those eligible with cash grants worth up to £2,500 per

month. We expect that the Self-Employed Income Support scheme will cover 95% of

people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment.

Press Freedom

Bill Wiggin: [61436]

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

of the public have written to his Department in support of the Save the Independent Press

campaign.

Mr John Whittingdale:

The Department has received correspondence from a range of stakeholders,

including from members of the public.



This Government is clear that newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our

society and we continue to work with stakeholders from across the Press sector and

political landscape in order to ensure the effectiveness of our policies in relation to

supporting all news publishers, including independent outlets. The Government will

continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining

high-quality news journalism across the sector.

Tourism: Coronavirus

Craig Williams: [61534]

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

Department has to support the tourism sector in Mid Wales as covid-19 lockdown

restrictions are eased.

Nigel Huddleston:

We recognise that COVID-19 has significantly impacted the tourism sector across the

UK, including in Mid Wales. I hold regular discussions with my counterparts in the

Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to

assess COVID-19’s impact on tourism across the UK. We will continue to engage

with the Devolved Administrations to assess how we can most effectively support the

sector’s recovery from COVID-19.

As tourism is devolved, the Welsh Government is responsible for how and when

lockdown restrictions are eased for the tourism sector in Wales, and for targeted

financial initiatives to support the sector.

Stuart Anderson: [61594]

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

Department is taking support (a) theatres, (b) museums and (c) other tourist attractions in

Wolverhampton after the covid-19 outbreak.

Caroline Dinenage:

In order to support the sustainability of the Arts sector, including theatres and

museums, DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a

tailored package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m emergency

response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the

Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector.

This package includes £140 million of support for artistic organisations including

theatres and museums; and £20 million of financial support for individuals, including

self-employed theatre practitioners, so they can better sustain themselves, and their

work, in the coming months. More than 9000 individuals and organisations have been

successful in applying for this emergency funding. Additionally, the National Lottery

Heritage Fund launched the £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic

England has launched two £2 million Emergency Funds.



The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the Art and Tourism

sectors extensively to ensure we fully understand the impacts of Covid-19 and remain

well placed to respond as it develops.

EDUCATION

Children and Young People: Coronavirus

Jonathan Gullis: [59639]

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

protect children and young people online during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

At this deeply challenging time, it has been so important that people, especially

children, have been able to stay in touch online, but that they be able to do so safely.

We have worked with the National Crime Agency, UK Safer Internet Centre, Internet

Matters, NSPCC and many other experts to provide detailed guidance to support

schools and colleges to keep children safe online, whether in the classroom or

learning from home, and advice and signposting to high quality resources for parents

and carers to support them and their families.

Our latest guidance on protecting children and young people online is set out below:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-

schools-and-other-educational-settings;

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-

coronavirus-covid-19;

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools;

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online ; and

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-

children-safe-online.

These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under

review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Children in Care

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [61515]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what are the current legal monitoring

requirements for children placed on short break placements.

Vicky Ford:

Local authorities are required to monitor short break placements as set out in

Regulation 48 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England)

Regulations 2010. The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment)

Regulations 2020 amended Regulation 48 to provide temporary flexibility, allowing

visits to take place at regular intervals during a short break, as agreed with the child’s


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online




parents (or anyone else with parental responsibility for the child) and their

Independent Reviewing Officer. The 2020 Regulations also specify that these visits

can be conducted by telephone, video-link or other electronic means.

Timings for reviews of the child’s case have also been temporarily amended by the

2020 Regulations. The responsible authority must first review the child’s case as

soon as is reasonably practicable from the start of the first placement, and

subsequent reviews must be carried out at regular intervals during any short break.

These flexibilities should only be used when necessary on a case by case basis and

only when consistent with the child’s safety and wellbeing.

Children: Coronavirus

Sir John Hayes: [61417]

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

working class children do not fall further behind in educational outcomes as a result of the

covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

As plans continue for a full return to education from September, we have announced

a £1 billion COVID-19 ‘catch-up’ package to directly tackle the impact of lost teaching

time.

£650 million will be shared across state primary and secondary schools over the

2020-21 academic year. This one-off grant to support pupils recognises that all young

people have lost time in education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, regardless

of their income or background.

This package will make sure that every pupil, no matter their age or where they live,

gets the education, opportunities and outcomes they deserve. Whilst school leaders

will decide how it is used, the intention is that this money will be spent on the most

effective interventions.

On 19 June, the Education Endowment Foundation published a guide to help school

leaders and staff decide how to use this universal funding to best support their pupils,

which is available here:

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-

19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdf.

In addition, a National Tutoring Programme, worth £350 million, will increase access

to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people. This will help

accelerate their academic progress and prevent the gap between them and their

more affluent peers widening.

This £1 billion package is on top of the £14.4 billion three-year funding settlement

announced last year, recognising the additional work schools will need to do to help

students to catch up.


https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Covid-19_support_guide_for_schools.pdf




To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to debate on 10 June, Official

Report, col 353, when will she update the House on the changes made by Adoption and

Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 445).

Vicky Ford:

I will report to Parliament before summer recess on the outcome of the work the

department has done to monitor the use of the amended regulations.

Children: Coronaviruse

Jonathan Gullis: [59638]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department is providing to

vulnerable children in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Kidsgrove during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

We are taking a number of actions to ensure vulnerable children and young people

across the country are supported and protected during COVID-19, including in Stoke-

on-Trent and Kidsgrove. We have prioritised vulnerable children’s attendance in early

years, schools and colleges throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and supported local

areas to improve attendance rates.

We have also ensured that local authorities can continue to support vulnerable

children through the provision of an additional £3.2 billion to cope with COVID-19

related pressures, including in children’s social care. To support contact, we are

providing laptops and tablets to children with a social worker who do not have access

to a device otherwise, either privately or through school. We are also providing 4G

wireless routers to children with a social worker at secondary school in order to

support them to maintain contact with their social worker and/or access remote

education independently at home. The department is working to provide these

devices in the shortest possible timeframe; deliveries to schools and local authorities

began in May and have continued throughout June. As of 14 June, we have shipped

over 100,000 laptops and 20,000 4G routers, including 1,433 to Stoke-on-Trent local

authority for children with a social worker and care leavers and 1,588 to Staffordshire

local authority for children with a social worker and care leavers, where Kidsgrove is

situated.

We have supported charities that provide vital services that are helping vulnerable

children and young people. This includes providing £1.6 million for the NSPCC to

expand its helpline so that adults can report their concerns about any child’s

wellbeing. We have invested more than £7 million to Barnardo’s for the See, Hear,

Respond service that offers targeted help to vulnerable children, young people and

their families affected by COVID-19 with measures put in place to stop its spread.

The Vulnerable Children National Charities Strategic Relief Fund opened in June,

and is a £7.6 million joint Department for Education and Home Office fund for national

children’s charities that offer services to safeguard vulnerable children that have

financially suffered due to the impact of COVID-19. We have also announced more



than £12 million for 14 innovation projects in social services, each taking a holistic,

family-based approach to addressing the increased risk some children and young

people are facing.

As well as these actions across the country, the department has also established

Regional Education and Children’s Teams (REACT) to provide additional support to

education and children’s services in local areas, with the one for West Midlands

covering Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, which includes Kidsgrove. These teams,

which include support from Ofsted, have a particular focus on improving vulnerable

children’s attendance at education, safeguarding and wellbeing.

The department is also continuing to provide funding to the Stoke-on-Trent

Opportunity Area to provide support for vulnerable families across the city affected by

COVID-19. This has allowed for the provision of academic resources for young

people so they can continue to engage with education, and activities during the

school holidays. The department’s delivery partner – The Hubb Foundation – also

provides weekly food parcels for vulnerable families in need of support. Between April

2020 and June 2020, the Hubb Foundation delivered 70,740 individual meals and

engaged with 19,839 people, of whom 11, 789 were children, and delivered food and

activities in 32 schools across the city.

Education: Ethnic Groups

Layla Moran: [62714]

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

proportion and (b) assessment he has made of the adequacy of BAME representation

among (a) pastoral and (b) disciplinary staff in the education system.

Nick Gibb:

The Department for Education does not collect data on pastoral and disciplinary staff

within the School Workforce Census. The School Workforce Census captures data

for non-teaching staff, auxiliary staff, teaching assistants and support staff, as well as

for classroom teachers and leadership roles.

BAME teachers represented 9% of the teaching population in state funded schools in

November 2018. 9% of classroom teachers, 6% of deputy and assistant

headteachers and 4% of headteachers came from BAME backgrounds

11% of non-teaching staff were from a BAME background in November 2018. This

was 12% for auxiliary staff and 11% for both teaching assistants and other support

staff.

This data is available in Tables 5 and 6 of the publication, School Workforce in

England, 2018, available here:

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

2018

Information for 2019 data was published on the 25 June 2020.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2018



Education: Internet

Rachael Maskell: [62508]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to help ensure (a)

the safety of and (b) presence of a teacher at all on-line classes.

Nick Gibb:

The Department has published safeguarding guidance, both for schools and for

parents and carers, which specifically addresses online remote education. This

guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-

covid-19 and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-

keeping-children-safe-online/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-parents-and-carers-to-

keep-children-safe-online.

It states that in their regular communications with parents and carers, schools should

emphasise the importance of securing any online support for their children from a

reputable organisation that can provide evidence that they are safe and can be

trusted to have access to children.

Separate Departmental case studies guidance stresses the importance of ensuring

regular teacher contact with pupils. Not all pupils’ home environments will support

synchronous or live online remote education, meaning it will not always be possible

for a teacher to be present at all online classes. There are, however, a range of other

effective means of ensuring ongoing support and feedback between teacher and

pupil. The Department’s guidance is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-

coronavirus-covid-19.

Erasmus+ Programme: Northern Ireland

Colum Ezastwood: [62694]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the Minister for

the Cabinet Office on ensuring that Northern Ireland can continue to participate in the

Erasmus+ programme after the end of the transition period.

Michelle Donelan:

The UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+

programme under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the European Union

(EU). This means that the projects successfully bid for during the current

programmes will continue to receive EU funding for the full duration of the project.

This includes projects where funding runs beyond 2020 and the end of the transition

period.

With regards to the next Erasmus+ programme (2021-27), the government remains

open to considering participation in elements of the next Erasmus+ programme,

provided that the terms are in the UK’s interests. Future participation is subject to our

ongoing negotiations with the EU.





https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-parents-and-carers-to-keep-children-safe-online




https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19




Ministers regularly meet to discuss the ongoing negotiations, including the UK’s

consideration of programmes participation. While international relations remain a

reserved matter, the UK government is committed to working closely with the

devolved administrations throughout negotiations with the EU to ensure a future

relationship that works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

In parallel, the government is continuing to develop a domestic alternative to

Erasmus+, to ensure we are prepared for every eventuality. We are working closely

with other government departments and the devolved administrations as we work

towards a UK-wide domestic alternative scheme.

Financial Services: Primary Education

Emma Hardy: [59583]

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

of covid-19 lockdown on the provision of financial education to primary school pupils by

(a) teachers and (b) voluntary organisations.

Nick Gibb:

Due to the unprecedented challenges for schools caused by the COVID-19 outbreak,

the Government understands that schools will need flexibility around the education

they are providing to their pupils. We expect schools and teachers to use their

professional judgement, and knowledge of their pupils’ educational needs and home

circumstances, to plan appropriate content that enables education to continue.

Our latest guidance on teaching children at this time is set out below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under


Free School Meals

Margaret Greenwood: [61524]

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

the number of eligible pupils that did not register for free school meals in each of the

financial years since the pupil premium was introduced.

Margaret Greenwood: [61525]

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

potential merits of automatic enrolment for free school meals to ensure that all pupils

receive their pupil premium allocation.

Vicky Ford:

We want to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free

school meals, and to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to

determine eligibility. To support this:


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19



• we provide an Eligibility Checking System (ECS) to make the checking process as

quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities;

• we have developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to

sign up for free school meals; and

• we provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal

Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including

free school meals.

The latest estimates of the number of pupils who are entitled to receive free school

meals but are not claiming them are available at:

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

ent_data/file/266339/DFE-RR319.pdf.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Dr Matthew Offord: [51893]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support the families of

pupils on free school meals in the Hendon constituency during the school summer

holidays in 2020.



pupils on free school meals in Kingston upon Hull North during the school summer

holidays in 2020.

Bob Blackman: [53409]


pupils on free school meals in Harrow East constituency during the school summer

holidays in 2020.

Ian Paisley: [53427]


pupils on free school meals in during the school summer holidays in 2020; and whether

support will be available in Northern Ireland.

Jonathan Ashworth: [53439]


pupils on free school meals in Leicester South constituency during the school summer

holidays in 2020.

Liz Twist: [53570]

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

families of pupils eligible for free school meals in Blaydon constituency during the school

summer holidays in 2020.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/266339/DFE-RR319.pdf










To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to provide financial

support to the families of pupils on free school meals in Oxford West and Abingdon

constituency during the 2020 school summer holidays.

Abena Oppong-Asare: [53658]


pupils on free school meals during the school summer holidays in 2020 in Erith and

Thamesmead constituency.



pupils on free school meals in Birmingham Selly Oak constituency during the school

summer holidays in 2020.

Kerry McCarthy: [54032]


pupils on free school meals in Bristol East during the school summer holidays in 2020.

Kate Green: [54100]


pupils on free school meals in Stretford and Urmston during the school summer holidays

in 2020.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [54228]


pupils on free school meals in Slough constituency during the school summer holidays in

2020.

Rosie Cooper: [55666]


pupils on free school meals in West Lancashire during the school summer holidays in

2020.

Robert Halfon: [55678]


pupils on free school meals in Harlow during the school summer holidays in 2020.

Ms Angela Eagle: [55885]


pupils on free school meals in Wallasey constituency during the school summer holidays

in 2020.

Alex Norris: [57324]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will introduce a deadline for the use of

free school meal vouchers during the covid-19 outbreak.












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

of the effect on the most deprived families of the cessation of free school meal vouchers

over the 2020 summer holidays.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support he plans to make available to

the most deprived families to mitigate the cessation of free school meal vouchers over the

2020 summer holidays.

Mary Kelly Foy: [58071]


pupils who qualify for free school meals in County Durham during the school summer

holidays in 2020.

Vicky Ford:

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 23 June 2020 to Question 54195.

Afzal Khan: [59608]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who he consulted in making the decision not

to extend the free school meals voucher scheme over the school summer holidays in

2020.

Afzal Khan: [59609]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the impact assessment on

the decision not to extend the free school meals voucher scheme over the 2020 school

summer holidays.

Vicky Ford:

Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the

coronavirus outbreak, the government fully understands that children and parents

face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be

providing additional funding for a Covid-19 Summer Food Fund which will enable

families with children who are eligible for free school meals to receive food vouchers

covering the 6-week holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique

circumstances of the outbreak.

In response to Covid-19, the government has made significant wider support

available for children and families, injecting over £6.5 billion into the welfare system

to ensure people are receiving the support they need. This includes increasing the

standard rate of Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit for this year by around

£1,000 per year. On 10 June, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed an

additional £63 million to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those

who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19. A further

£3.2 billion has gone to local authorities, supporting them with frontline services.

Additionally, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department

for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are providing £16 million for food support






through charities including FareShare and WRAP. This summer, the department will

also again run the Holiday Activities & Food programme, through which thousands of

disadvantaged pupils will benefit from support.

Catherine West: [62545]


potential merits of extending the free school meals voucher scheme to children aged

between two and four during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

Nurseries in maintained primary schools and maintained nursery schools are able to

access the national voucher scheme where they have registered pupils who meet the

benefits-related criteria, and who would usually receive education both before and

after lunch. Private settings are not covered. Eligible children should receive

vouchers at the same rate as school pupils. Newly eligible children will also be

supported if they meet the above criteria and maintained nurseries and nursery

schools should continue to accept free school meal applications.

Higher Education: Internet

Esther McVey: [59752]


effectiveness of online education compared to face to face learning in universities.

Michelle Donelan:

For many years, UK higher education (HE) providers have delivered education online

successfully and effectively, and a leading proponent of this has been the Open

University, which in 2018/19 was the largest UK university - with over 63,000 UK full-

time equivalent students.

The growth in the use of educational technology has enabled HE providers to

develop and grow their online offers, something which has been significantly

accelerated by the recent COVID-19 outbreak, where online provision has been key

to ensuring that effective teaching, learning and assessment have been able to

continue. A recent report [1] from the Higher Education Policy Institute, attached,

suggested the possibility that remote learning post-lockdown had brought some

closer engagement between teaching staff and students and that this had even led to

improved directed independent learning.

To support the effectiveness of continued online provision, the Office for Students

(OfS) has published information and guidance for providers and students, and the

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has also published a series of guides

to support providers to secure academic standards and to support student

achievement during the outbreak.

The OfS has made it clear that all higher education providers must continue to meet

conditions related to the quality of their courses and the standard of qualifications

they award. This means ensuring that courses are high quality, students are



supported and achieve good outcomes and standards are protected. The OfS will

monitor outcomes to assess quality, using measures such as continuation rates,

completion rates, student surveys and what students move onto after completing their

studies. They will also be polling students in the next academic year to identify any

providers or courses that are a cause for concern. This will allow for a targeted and

focused approach to tackle any areas of concern.

[1] https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The-Student-Academic-

Experience-Survey-2020.pdf

Attachments:

1. 59752_PDF [59752_Student_Academic_Experience_Survey_2020.pdf]

Home Education: Sheffield South East

Mr Clive Betts: [61429]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2020 to

Question 57089 on Home Education: Sheffield South East, how many laptops were

requested by Sheffield City Council for children with social workers; and how many of

those laptops have been delivered.

Nick Gibb:

The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and

disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care

services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers.

We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise

not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support

from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social

worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections,

we are providing 4G wireless routers.

The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and allocated devices

to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of

eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy

trusts are best place to identify and prioritise children and young people who need

devices. The Department is working to provide these devices in the shortest possible

timeframe; deliveries to schools and local authorities began in May and will continue

throughout June. As of 14 June, we have shipped over 100,000 laptops and 20,000

4G routers, including 1,777 to Sheffield City Council for children with a social worker

and care leavers.

The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G

wireless routers we have delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy

trusts as of 14 June, which can be viewed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-

progress-data.

https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The-Student-Academic-Experience-Survey-2020.pdf




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data



Home Education: Walthamstow


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) laptops and (b) tablets have

been distributed to children in Walthamstow through the Government's scheme to ensure

disadvantaged children and young people can remote education during the covid-9

outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and

disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care

services, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers.

We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise

not have access and are preparing for examinations in Year 10, receiving support

from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social

worker at secondary school and children in Year 10 do not have internet connections,

we are providing 4G wireless routers.

The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and allocated devices

to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of

eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy

trusts are best place to identify and prioritise children and young people who need

devices. The Department is working to provide these devices in the shortest possible

timeframe; deliveries to schools and local authorities began in May and have

continued throughout June.

The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G

wireless routers we have delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy

trusts as of 14 June, which can be viewed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-

progress-data.

This includes 785 devices to Waltham Forest for children with a social worker and

care leavers.

Schools: Bullying



effectiveness of the KiVa anti-bullying programme on tackling (a) bullying and (b) racist

bullying.

Vicky Ford:

We have not made an assessment of the KiVa anti-bullying programme. All schools

are legally required to have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of

bullying. They also have the freedom to develop their own anti-bullying strategies and

monitoring approaches to best suit their environment.






Our Preventing and Tackling Bullying guidance sets out that schools should develop

a consistent approach to monitoring bullying incidents and evaluating the

effectiveness of their approaches. It also directs schools to organisations who can

provide support with tackling bullying related to race, religion and nationality. The

guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-

and-tackling-bullying.

On 7 June, we announced more than £750,000 for the Diana Award, the Anti-Bullying

Alliance and the Anne Frank Trust – to help hundreds of schools and colleges build

relationships between pupils, boost their resilience, and continue to tackle bullying

both in person and online. More information is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-mental-health-support-for-pupils-and-

teachers.

The department has also made resources available through the Educate Against

Hate website. This website provides teachers, school leaders and parents with the

information, guidance and support they need to challenge radical views, including

racist and discriminatory beliefs, and is available here:

https://educateagainsthate.com/.

Schools: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: [59496]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an estimate of the

amount of income lost by schools that usually raise funds through building lettings during

the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

The Department does not hold data specifically on the income schools generate

through building lettings.

We know that around 4% of schools’ total income is self-generated and in 2018-19

around half of this came from facilities and services. This includes letting premises

and wrap around childcare services among other things.

We recognise that over the last three months, schools may have lost some of this

income and this could put pressure on budgets.

Where schools have members of staff delivering these services, we have advised

that they should first look to redeploy these staff or use existing budgets to absorb the

cost. Having looked at all other options, schools can then consider using the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to ease this pressure. The Department has

provided additional guidance for schools in this situation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-

for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-

support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying



https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-mental-health-support-for-pupils-and-teachers



https://educateagainsthate.com/

https://educateagainsthate.com/


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care




Alex Sobel: [59589]

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

schools and teachers on dealing with children refusing to abide by two metre social

distancing requirements.

Nick Gibb:

It is important for schools to be calm and disciplined environments, where everyone

follows the rules. As outlined in the guidance published on 11 May, schools should

update their behaviour policy to reflect the guidance on protective measures,

including any new rules and routines. It should also include appropriate

consequences (such as sanctions and rewards), so that teachers can ensure pupils

understand the rules and can enforce them rigorously. The disciplinary powers that

schools currently have, including exclusion, remain in place. Teachers will be aware

that current circumstances may affect the emotional wellbeing of some pupils in ways

that affect behaviour, and schools will need to ensure a proportionate response to

situations that may arise. The guidance published on 11 May is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-

schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools.

Some children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, may

need extra support to ensure new norms and routines around protective measures

and personal hygiene are clearly understood.

Dr Luke Evans: [59619]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy that all children will

return to school at the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Nick Gibb:

We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the

scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we

know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with

their peers, carers and teachers.

We are working to bring all children and young people back into education in

September and engaging with stakeholders to achieve this.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under



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

adequacy of staffing levels at schools while the covid-19 restrictions are in place.

Nick Gibb:

We are monitoring staffing levels in schools through our daily schools census, and

have published guidance to support schools to maintain adequate staffing levels and

deploy staff whilst COVID-19 restrictions are in place. This guidance is available

here:




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-

schools-about-temporarily-closing#staffing-levels-and-deployment.

National data on staffing levels in educational establishments since 23 March is

published weekly and at the time of responding, it covers data up to 18 June. The

latest data is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-

statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-

covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-25.

The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published

figures include estimates for non-response.


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

schools that do not have the physical space to deliver full-school education safely by

September 2020.

Nick Gibb:

We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the

scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we

know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their

teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from

September.

Within the next two weeks, we will publish further information and guidance to help

schools prepare for September. We will be guided by the latest scientific advice and

are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further

details they need, including any protective measures that may be necessary to keep

children and teachers as safe as possible, alongside school buildings and estates

considerations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will meet with (a) teachers, (b)

headteachers, (c) relevant experts, (d) unions and (e) opposition politicians in the coming

days to achieve a consensus on a national plan for the reopening of schools.

Nick Gibb:

The Department will continue to work with a wide range of sector representatives to

develop a plan for all children to return to schools in September. This engagement

includes meetings with teachers and headteachers through the Department for

Education’s reference groups; meetings with expert advisors from the sector;

meetings with scientific experts; meetings with teaching and support staff unions; and

engaging with politicians from across the political spectrum.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing#staffing-levels-and-deployment.



https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-25






Schools: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the additional £650 million of

funding for school catch-up plans, announced on 19 June 2020, is derived from funding

reallocated within his Department or additional funding allocated to his Department.

Nick Gibb:

Children and young people have experienced unprecedented disruption to their

education during lockdown. The Government has therefore announced a package of

support for schools to help children and young people make up for lost teaching time,

with extra support in the form of a tutoring programme for those who need it most.

The universal catch up premium will provide £650 million to help schools make up for

lost teaching time. We are currently working with HM Treasury to finalise funding

arrangements for the £1 billion catch-up package.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press release entitled

Billion pound Covid catch-up plan to tackle impact of lost teaching time, published on

gov.uk on 19 June 2020, what steps he is taking to help ensure that head teachers have

the autonomy to make decisions on how the £650 million for primary and secondary

schools is spent.

Nick Gibb:

Schools are receiving a £650 million catch up premium to make up for the education

that has been lost due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Education Endowment

Foundation has published a COVID-19 recovery guide to support school leaders and

staff. It provides guidance and information on the most effective strategies to catch up

on lost education, and will allow schools to decide on how to best use this funding to

support their pupils and their outcomes. The guidance can be found here:

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-support-

guide-for-schools/.

We know that each school will have different needs as a result of this outbreak and

we trust headteachers to make the appropriate decisions for their students to ensure

that this money is spent wisely.

Schools: Sports

Seema Malhotra: [61501]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has for the funding of school

sport in the academic year 2020-21.

Nick Gibb:

The Government’s School Sport and Activity Action Plan set out a range of measures

to ensure that all children have access to high quality PE and sport sessions during

the school week and opportunities to be physically active throughout the school day,




to help them do the 60 minutes a day of physical exercise recommended by the Chief

Medical Officer.

The Government has provided £2.4 million in funding to support this activity in 2019-

20 and has worked with Active Partnerships, teaching schools and sport providers to

support children to take part in activities that encourage good physical health.

Physical activity is important for children’s physical and mental wellbeing and will be

especially important for children who have had restricted opportunity to exercise while

at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department has published online

educational resources approved by subject experts for schools and parents to help

children to learn at home, including for PE:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-

resources/online-science-pe-wellbeing-and-send-resources-for-home-education.

The Department is working to ensure that schools are fully supported as they re-open

and are able to give pupils opportunities to be physically active during the school day.

The Department will confirm arrangements for the primary school PE and Sport

Premium in the 2020-21 academic year as soon as possible.

Sixth Form Education: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: [62341]

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

support sixth form education in (a) England and (b) Greater Manchester during the covid-

19 outbreak.


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

made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on sixth form students in (a) England and (b)

Greater Manchester.

Nick Gibb:

The Government wants to get all children and young people back into education as

soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn. We

know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with

their peers, carers and teachers.

From the week commencing 15 June, the Department has asked schools with sixth

forms and further education providers, which includes sixth form colleges, to offer

some face-to-face support to pupils in Year 12 and to 16-19 students in the first year

of a two-year study programme. Remote education should, however, remain the

predominant mode of education for these students at this time. This applies schools

in all parts of England.

Whilst we are unable to welcome back more sixth form students at this time, we have

recently announced that other students under 19 years old can be offered a face-to-

face meeting before the end of the summer term, where it would be beneficial. As

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/online-science-pe-wellbeing-and-send-resources-for-home-education





long as this happens in line with wider protective measures guidance, and guidance

on the numbers of pupils permitted on-site at any one time, we would encourage this

where possible.

Our priority is to ensure that sixth form students can progress as planned, including

starting university, moving into apprenticeships or securing a job.

We have published a planning guide for secondary schools (including those with sixth

forms) to help school leaders to prepare and decide arrangements, which is available

here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-

of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools.

We have also published guidance for further education providers, which is available

here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-

further-education-provision/maintaining-education-and-skills-training-provision-

further-education-providers.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) continues to be in regular dialogue

with all sixth form colleges in Greater Manchester to establish their plans to continue

to support sixth form learners.

Social Workers: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children’s’ social workers have

been (a) shielding and (b) in self isolation in each month since the start of the covid-19

outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

The information requested is not held centrally.

Teachers: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an estimate of the number of

former teachers that will return to the profession to help tackle problems with capacity as

a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

Former teachers returning to teaching make a significant contribution to teacher

supply - in 2018 there were approximately 16,400 full-time equivalent former teachers

who returned to the profession in state funded schools after a break. Furthermore,

since 2011 there has been an 11% increase in the number of former teachers

returning to the profession. This data is publicly available in the ‘School workforce in

England: November 2018’ publication, which can be found here:

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

2018.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision/maintaining-education-and-skills-training-provision-further-education-providers






In light of COVID-19, our efforts to encourage former teachers back to the profession

are prioritising initiatives that can be implemented quickly to capitalise on any

potential increased interest in the profession from former teachers.

We are using our current programme for former teachers, such as the Return to

Teaching Adviser Service (RTTA), to support these efforts. The RTTA service

provides one-to-one support to former teachers interested in returning to teach

maths, physics and modern foreign languages. The RTTA service assists these

former teachers with their applications, helps them prepare for interviews, and

signposts them to the further support such as the provision of Teacher Subject

Specialism Training.

We are exploring what more can be done to encourage former teachers back to the

profession in the current climate.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cats: Tagging

Scott Benton: [61621]

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

he has made of the potential merits of the compulsory micro-chipping of cats.

Victoria Prentis:

The Government is committed to improving the welfare of cats and has a manifesto

commitment to introduce compulsory microchipping of cats. In October 2019 Defra

published a call for evidence on compulsory microchipping for cats, which attracted

over 3,000 responses. We are in the process of assessing the responses with a view

to publishing the summary of them in due course.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Renewable Energy


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

solar panels and (b) wind turbines his Department's buildings (a) have in 2020 and (b)

had in each of the last five years.

Victoria Prentis:

Defra has 83 sites with solar panels and six sites with wind turbines or direct drive

wind pumps.

We also have 104 operational solar panels that directly power equipment such as

remote cameras and sensors.

We have taken the department to mean those entities covered by our greening

Government commitments. However, we are waiting for responses from Kew and the

Forestry Commission.

Table 1: Year of installation



TYPE PRE 2015-16 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-2020

Solar Panels 68 sites 0 sites 0 sites 9 sites 5 sites 1 site

Wind 6 sites

We do not hold the information on the dates the operational panels for remote

equipment were installed.

Food: Imports

Alex Davies-Jones: [62697]


he has made of the potential merits of establishing a food standards commission to

ensure that the standard of international food imports is equivalent to existing UK food

standards.


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

discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on maintaining the current standards of

food imports.


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

taking to ensure that British farmers are not financially affected by food imports produced

to lower food safety standards than those required in the UK.

Victoria Prentis:

Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on

our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. The EU

Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing EU food safety provisions, including existing

import requirements, onto the UK statute book.

We are already engaging with the agricultural sector as part of our trade discussions.

We have not ruled out additional groups, and there is clear scope to review, re-task

and reinforce what we have.

The Secretary of State regularly discusses a wide range of issues with Cabinet

colleagues, and the Government will continue to work closely with the National

Farmers’ Union and other relevant stakeholders across the food chain to understand

the concerns about the impact of new trade deals. The Government has in place a

range of stakeholder groups to feed into our policy development on trade. These

include the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the Agri-Food Expert Trade Advisory

Group and various supply chain groups.

Defra has developed the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group, which allows

officials in Defra and the Devolved Administrations to monitor UK agricultural

markets, to share the latest stakeholder information and to provide warning of




atypical market movements. It will help prepare the evidence base for the cause and

possible range of interventions that may be needed in specific markets.

Forests: Commodities



the Government has made of the potential merits of the recommendation of the Global

Resource Initiative Taskforce's report of March 2020 on the introduction of a mandatory

due diligence obligation on companies that place commodities and derived products that

contribute to deforestation on the UK market.

Rebecca Pow:

We are carefully considering all the options recommended in the Global Resource

Initiative Taskforce’s report, including a mandatory due diligence obligation, and will

set out our response in due course.

Highly Protected Marine Areas: Angling

Sir Charles Walker: [62335]

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

the Benyon Review Into Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), if he will take steps to

ensure that, as in the case of motorised boating, scuba diving, surfing, and personal

watercraft, recreational anglers will continue to have access to HPMAs and not be

excluded along with mineral extraction, dredging, commercial fishing; and if he will make

a statement.

Victoria Prentis:

We welcome the publication of the Review into Highly Protected Marine Areas

(HPMAs) on 8 June 2020, which is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highly-protected-marine-areas-hpmas-

review-2019. We will consider Richard Benyon's report and issue a formal response

to him in due course. The panel recommended that HPMAs would represent the

upper end of environmental protection and should exclude all extractive activity,

including recreational sea angling, to allow for full ecosystem recovery.

Defra recognises the importance of recreational sea angling to the economy, its

benefits to the health and welfare of society, and the contribution anglers and angling

bodies make to environmental improvements. We appreciate and understand the

concerns raised by the recreational sea anglers since publication of the Benyon

Review. We note that the report describes the opportunities that could arise as a

result of HPMA introduction, including for recreational fisheries, such as spillover for

anglers in adjacent areas. In introducing HPMAs, we note the Panel's

recommendation to designate pilot sites by placing them within existing Marine

Protected Areas. We would consider the socio-economic impact of HPMAs on all

sectors, including recreational sea angling, before any decision to designate a site.

Extensive consultation will take place before any decisions are made.



FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

Royston Smith: [61541]

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

Department is taking to ensure those responsible in Afghanistan for the (a) attack on a

maternity hospital and (b) other targeted attacks on the Hazara community are brought to

justice.

Nigel Adams:

The UK Government was appalled by the attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul last

month. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of

Wimbledon, publicly condemned the attack. The UN Security Council made clear the

need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible

acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, in its statement of 13 May.

We commend this. We continue to support the Afghan National Defence and Security

Force (ANDSF), helping them combat the threat from insurgent groups. All ethnic and

religious groups, including the Hazaras, have equal rights and an important role to

play in Afghanistan's political decision-making. At the Human Rights Council (HRC),

the Afghan Government accepted our recommendation that they establish an

independent mechanism to assess how security protection can be improved for

religious and ethnic minorities.

Development Aid: Poverty

Jonathan Edwards: [62386]

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

Department plans for it to remain Government policy that it should meet the poverty

reduction obligations as set out in the International Development Act 2002 after his

Department merges with the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly:

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to be guided by

our responsibilities under the International Development Act, including a commitment

to poverty reduction. The work of UK aid to reduce poverty will remain central to the

new department's mission.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: [59555]


Department's share of the Official Development Assistance will decrease in the event of a

decrease in GNI.

James Cleverly:

The UK government made the commitment, underpinned by law, to spend 0.7% of its

Gross National Income each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since




this commitment is linked to the size of the economy, the level of ODA spend will

increase or decrease in line with GNI. Discussions are ongoing on where changes

might occur. HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible

for making changes to these.



Department is signing new funding agreements for projects funded by Official

Development Assistance.

James Cleverly:

The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its Gross National Income (GNI)

each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since this commitment is

linked to the size of the economy, the level of ODA spend will increase or decrease in

line with GNI. The Government reviews the ODA funding it allocates to projects on a

regular basis in order to ensure delivery of its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on

ODA.

Marine Environment: Treaties

Patrick Grady: [62492]

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

UK Government Minister plans to attend the fourth session of the Inter-Governmental

Conference when it is re-scheduled.


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

Government plans to invite any representatives from the Scottish Government to join a

delegation to the fourth session of the Inter-Governmental Conference when it is

rescheduled.

James Duddridge:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food

and Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiation of a new

Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of

areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - as an important step

forward in addressing the challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an

ambitious Agreement. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of at

least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.

Unfortunately, due to the impacts of COVID-19, the fourth session of the Inter-

Governmental Conference, scheduled for 23 March to 3 April in New York, was

postponed. The UK is supportive of re-scheduling the fourth session for the earliest

possible opportunity that will enable all delegations to be present for the negotiations

in New York. The precise make-up of the UK delegation will need to take into account

any social distancing measures that may be in place for the re-scheduled session,

but it will be a strong delegation. The UK also strongly supports intersessional work,




which is vital to ensure that we maintain momentum towards the successful

conclusion of these important negotiations.

Nigeria: Religion

Ruth Jones: [61802]

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

mandatory training for staff of his Department in Nigeria on (a) patterns of discrimination

and conflict with religious characteristics and (b) how religion and religious actors interact

with the societal and conflict context.

James Duddridge:

[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: Our staff are encouraged to develop an

understanding of religion and its role within society, including in conflict situations and

in countries like Nigeria where religion is important to most people's identity. Specific

training on religion is available to all staff through the FCO's Diplomatic Academy. In

addition, our Nigerian local staff provide first-hand insight into the role of religion and

religious actors within Nigerian society, including conflicts affecting the country. We

also use expertise from the FCO's Africa Research Group and conflict-prevention

experts.

We are now working on an enhanced training offer related to religion as part of our

commitment to implement the recommendations made in the Bishop of Truro's

independent review. This work is being led by the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for

Freedom of Religion or Belief, Rehman Chishti MP.

Nigeria: Violence


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

policy to provide (a) financial, (b) technical and (c) capacity building support to the

Government of Nigeria to help the implementation of the recommendations of the report

entitled, Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide, published by the APPG for International Freedom

of Religion or Belief on 15 June 2020.

James Duddridge:

We welcome the APPG's report and the detailed analysis it provides on the complex

issues of intercommunal violence across multiple states of Nigeria and acts of

terrorism committed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa in North East

Nigeria. The UK Government strongly condemns all acts of violence in Nigeria. We

are considering the report and its recommendations in detail and I will provide a full

response in due course.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Stephen Kinnock: [62442]

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

representations he has made to his Sri Lankan counterpart on the composition of




President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s appointment of a new presidential task force which has

the stated aim of building a secure country, disciplined, virtuous and lawful society.

Nigel Adams:

We are monitoring political and human rights developments in Sri Lanka very closely

and have active discussions with the government on a range of issues, including the

link between democratic values and international standing. The UK is a member of

the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and has

long supported Sri Lanka's commitments under UNHRC resolutions 30/1, 34/1 and

40/1 on accountability and reconciliation. The UK will lead the core group again at the

upcoming Human Rights Session in June.

Sri Lanka: Water

Sammy Wilson: [60726]


representations he has made to his Sri Lankan counterpart on the contamination of the

water supply in the Jaffna Peninsula from the Chunnakam Power Plant.

Nigel Adams:

We are aware of the challenges Sri Lanka faces around water management and

quality and the unique challenges faced by communities in northern Sri Lanka. Staff

at the British High Commission in Colombo have raised the issue of water quality

during regular visits to the North. A number of public bodies in Sri Lanka, including

the national water supply and drainage board, have conducted tests and

compensation was offered to those affected by water pollution caused by the

Chunnakam Power plant. We will continue to engage with local government in the

North to ensure these concerns around water management and quality are

understood, and that measures are taken to ensure clean water.

Yu Wensheng

Stephen Kinnock: [61718]


representations he is making to the Chinese government about the imprisonment of

human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng following a secret trial.

Nigel Adams:

[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: We are deeply concerned by reports of lawyer Yu

Wensheng's sentencing to four years in prison. Yu's detention, secret trial, and lack

of access to a lawyer of his choosing, raise serious concerns over the rule of law, due

process, and judicial transparency in China. We have raised Yu's case directly with

Chinese officials, and issued multiple statements of concern about his sentence. The

Foreign Secretary raised human rights concerns with his Chinese counterpart, State

Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on both 9 March and 8 June.



HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Asthma: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with severe

asthma are on the shielded patients list.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 16 June 2020]: This information is not held in the format requested.

Asthma: Steroid Drugs


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the number of high

dose steroids a severe asthma patient would be prescribed for including that category of

condition in the shielded patient list during the covid-19 outbreak is in line with the

recommendation made by the Royal College of Physicians in Why asthma still kills: the

National Review of Asthma Deaths.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 16 June 2020]: The decision to include people with severe

respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease on the shielded patient list was taken by expert

doctors in England who identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we

knew about the virus so far, would place someone at greatest risk of severe illness

from COVID-19.

These were signed off by the UK Senior Clinicians Group (including the four United

Kingdom Chief Medical Officers and clinical leadership at NHS England and NHS

Improvement, NHS Digital and Public Health England).

Blood Cancer: Coronavirus

Martyn Day: [53532]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the effect on health outcomes of (a) delayed and (b) cancelled treatments for patients

with (i) multiple myeloma and (ii) other blood cancers during the covid-19 pandemic.

Jo Churchill:

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data on Friday 5 May 2020

showing that there has been no significant increase in excess mortality from cancers

with a moderate survival rate between January to May 2020.

NHS England and NHS Improvement issued clear guidance that essential and urgent

cancer treatments must continue. Local systems and Cancer Alliances were asked to

identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, so that referrals,

diagnostics and treatment can be brought back to pre-pandemic levels at the earliest




opportunity to minimise potential harm, and to reduce the scale of the post-pandemic

surge in demand.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: [49727]

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

has issued to care homes on the (a) clinical and (b) other criteria that should be taken

into account on whether a resident with symptoms of covid-19 should be taken to hospital

for treatment.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: Guidance on supporting care home residents who

may require hospital care is set out in the ‘Admission and Care of Residents during

COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home’ guidance published on 2 April 2020. This

includes assessing the appropriateness of hospitalisation as per the resident’s

treatment plan, following infection prevention and control guidelines for patient

transport, and informing the receiving healthcare facility that the incoming patient has

COVID-19 symptoms.

Our Adult Social Care Action Plan, published on 15 April 2020, confirms that where a

care home resident is suffering from more severe COVID-19 symptoms, the

individual may need to be admitted to hospital. Decisions should always be made in

line with clinical need.

Additionally, on 1 May 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a letter:

‘COVID-19 response: Primary care and community health support care home

residents.’ The letter reiterates that secondary care providers should accept referrals

and admissions from care home residents where clinically appropriate.

This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we will continue to review our

guidance in line with the latest scientific advice.

Alexander Stafford: [52633]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

ensure the rollout of large-scale, rapid testing for covid-19 in cares homes in Rother

Valley constituency.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

We are rapidly upscaling our satellite testing capabilities to provide a more agile and

flexible method of testing in care homes.

Under the satellite model, we distribute test kits to a National Health Service trust or

care facility that has a pressing need, and then collect and process the resulting

swabs through the COVID-19 National Testing Programme labs.



For all constituencies across England, including Rother Valley, we have delivered

whole care home testing to all care homes for over 65s and people with dementia

and from 7 June rolled out whole care home testing to all other adult care homes.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings

published by Age UK on 10 June 2020 that some care home residents are being required

to pay extra fees to cover costs associated with the covid-19 outbreak, what assessment

he has made of the (a) implications of those findings for his policies on adult social care

and (b) likelihood that the inability of care home residents to meet those extra costs could

precipitate care home closures.

Helen Whately:

Where individuals are not eligible for financial support from their local authority, they

make their own arrangements for care services and pay the fees. This is known as

being a ‘self-funder’. The fees are set out in a contract between the individual and the

care provider. The Government has no say in these private arrangements.

A local authority must regularly reassess a person’s ability to meet the cost of any

charges to take account of any changes to their income and assets.

We recognise the pressures that COVID-19 is placing on the social care system. We

have already provided £3.2 billion to local authorities and have made a £600 million

Infection Control Fund available to care homes to allow them to take additional steps

to reduce the spread.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to shape their whole local

markets to ensure that they are sustainable, diverse and offer high quality care and

support for people in their local area. The Care Act places a duty on local authorities

to ensure that people continue to receive the services they need if their adult social

care provider is no longer able to carry on delivering services.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what scientific evidence was

used to support the policy that covid-19 tests were not provided to care homes with

residents under 65.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: We initially prioritised testing for homes that

specialise in caring for older people and those living with dementia in line with Public

Health England and Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice, as they are at

higher risk of adverse consequences if they get the virus.

All adult care homes can now access whole care home testing for all residents and

asymptomatic staff through a digital portal.



Children: Protective Clothing


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any steps are being

taken to enable personal protective equipment to be reused by the NHS and care sector.

Jo Churchill:

This is an international challenge that many countries are experiencing. We are

working around the clock to give the National Health Service and social care sectors

the personal protective equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak.

Public Health England published ‘COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)’

updated guide on 17 April. This advises that suitable decontamination arrangements

for some PPE items should be obtained from the manufacturer, supplier or local

infection control. This guidance also included advice on when PPE can be reused.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will endorse

a covid-19 symptom study app similar to those endorsed by the Scottish and Welsh

governments.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: Project OASIS is a combined effort between NHSX

and the jHub to create a much clearer picture of the public’s experience with COVID-

19 by incorporating data from multiple third party symptom tracker apps commonly

used by the public with the National Health Service’s own internal data. The data will

be used by the NHS to understand the spread of COVID-19 at a national and local

level.

Sarah Jones: [60847]


of the validity of reports that the NHS track and trace app will not work in (a) Croydon, (b)

London and (c) other densely populated areas.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: Following rigorous field testing and a trial on the Isle

of Wight, we have chosen to bring forward a solution that brings together the work

that NHSX and Google/Apple have carried out separately. This is an important step

that will bring together the necessary functionality required to carry out contact tracing

across all parts of the United Kingdom.

Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: [43878]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the decision of

19 March 2020 that covid-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious





disease (HCID), whether the 4 nations public health HCID group and Advisory Committee

on Dangerous Pathogens considered the availability of personal protective equipment in

their review of their interim recommendation in January 2020 to classify covid-19 as a

HCID.

Jo Churchill:

Neither the four nations public health high consequence infectious disease (HCID)

group nor the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) considered the

availability of personal protective equipment when reviewing the interim

recommendation of January 2020 to classify COVID-19 as a HCID.

Recommendations provided by both the four nations public health HCID group and

the ACDP on the classification of COVID-19 were based entirely on the scientific

evaluation of the HCID criteria, which considers disease characteristics and the

response required to manage the disease. The use and availability of specific

personal protective equipment is not a criterion.

Coronavirus: Children


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

had with the Secretary of State for Education on the covid-19 testing of children under

five years of age in the context of the reopening of schools, nurseries and childcare

settings.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 4 June 2020]: The phased reopening of schools for some year

groups from 1 June is crucial to getting the country back on its feet. Testing

symptomatic children is fundamental to this success. This will also be supported by,

but is not dependent on, the NHS Test and Trace service. Testing will remain

available to any child who develops symptoms of COVID-19 or who lives with

someone who does in England and Wales.

Coronavirus: Death


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in each

country in Europe have (a) been infected by Covid-19 and (b) died of Covid-19; and how

many of those people are BAME.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 11 June 2020]: Data are not available in the format requested.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people that died of

non-covid-19 causes in (a) care homes and (b) the community saw a GP in the week

before they died (i) in person and (ii) via video in each week from 2 March to 4 May 2020.




Jo Churchill:

The data is not available in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Paul Bristow: [46815]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has

to help ensure that people in shielding isolation during the covid-19 outbreak have access

to rehabilitation services after their isolation.

Jo Churchill:

As our understanding of the virus increases, the Government continues to review the

emerging evidence. We will continue to listen to our medical advisers on the level of

clinical risk the virus presents to different groups of people at different points in time.

The next review will take place the week commencing 15 June 2020. As part of this,

we will consider the next steps for shielding beyond 30 June. The Government will

continue to ensure support is available for those who need it for as long as people

are advised to follow shielding guidance.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government’s criteria

are for the application of the precautionary principle in relation to public health risks; on

what occasions the precautionary principle has been applied to tackling covid-19

outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill:

The precautionary principle is conventionally used to “advise caution in the uptake of

innovations with known benefits but uncertain or unmeasurable downsides”. The

public health response to COVID-19 considers all available scientific evidence, as

well as expert scientific advice. Where there is scientific uncertainty, it is not unusual

for public health authorities to take a reasonable but precautionary approach, such as

buying ventilators and creating Nightingale hospitals.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library a

copy of the relevant scientific advice upon which the current shielding guidance for the

clinically vulnerable is based.

Jo Churchill:

The scientific advice supporting the original Government policy on shielding is

contained in the minutes published by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

on 10 March 2020 and is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/sage-minutes-coronavirus-covid-19-response-

10-march-2020.

A copy is also attached.




http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sage-minutes-coronavirus-covid-19-response-10-march-2020



As our understanding of the virus increases, the Government continues to review the

emerging evidence. We will continue to listen to our medical advisers on the level of

clinical risk the virus presents to different groups of people at different points in time.

At each review point for the social distancing measures, we will also review the risks

for the clinically extremely vulnerable and assess whether the shielding period needs

to be extended or whether it is possible for the shielding guidance to be eased

further. We will base our assessment on clinical advice from our medical experts, and

the best data available about the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

Chi Onwurah: [59765]

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

Department has made of the role that temperature screening cameras in public places

could play in helping the safe lifting of the covid-19 lockdown.

Jo Churchill:

Thermal screening was considered by expert committees including the Department’s,

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group. The findings were that

thermal screening would be of limited benefit and that it was not the best use of

public health resource. From that work, we would conclude that temperature

screening cameras in public places are unlikely to be an effective means of protecting

places as many cases are asymptomatic and of the symptomatic cases not all will

experience fever as a symptom, and therefore would not be identified through

temperature checks.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce

(a) immunity passports or (b) other systems of health certification for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

In order to fully understand the potential of any certification we first need to improve

our understanding of how the immune system responds to infection with the COVID-

19 virus.

COVID-19 is a new disease and the science around ‘immunity’ to the virus remains

uncertain. We do not, for example, know how long an antibody response to the virus

lasts nor whether having antibodies means one does not transmit the virus to others

In order to gain answers to these critical scientific questions, the United Kingdom

Government is conducting some of the biggest seroprevalence surveys in the world –

using lab-based tests to monitor the number of people that are presenting an

antibody response and how this response changes over time.

Coronavirus: Funerals

Darren Jones: [55114]

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

issue revised guidance for managing a funeral during the covid-19 outbreak; and what

changes the Government plans to make to that guidance.




Jo Churchill:

Public Health England (PHE) is keeping all guidance related to COVID-19 under

review, including ‘Managing a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic’. PHE

updates guidance as new evidence emerges and legislation is updated.

Updated guidance will be published shortly.

Coronavirus: Nike

Ian Murray: [49657]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he was made aware of

the Swindon Nike store and Sunderland Head Office being sanitised after the covid-19

outbreak at the Nike Conference in Edinburgh in February 2020.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: Public Health England (PHE) did not have any

contact with the Nike Factory Store Swindon.

PHE North East were contacted by the Head Office in Sunderland on 2 and 3 March

2020 to report illness amongst employees attending the Nike conference. The Head

Office was referred to Health Protection Scotland as the lead organisation in the

incident response.

Coronavirus: Patients

Nadia Whittome: [52639]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to

tackle the delay in medical professionals adding patients that are clinically vulnerable to

covid-19 to the shielded patients list.

Jo Churchill:

Only clinically extremely vulnerable people are included on the shielded patient list.

Following the update to shielding guidance on 31 May 2020, the National Health

Service has written to general practitioners (GPs), NHS trusts and commissioners

asking them to continue to maintain the shielded patient list, using the existing criteria

and processes.

GPs or specialists are able to add individual patients to the list where they consider

them to be clinically extremely vulnerable. They may also remove people from the list

where they believe someone has been identified in error through the national

process, or if they no longer think someone is clinically extremely vulnerable. This

should only ever be done in consultation with the patient and other clinicians where

appropriate.

Anyone who is concerned about whether or not they should be shielding, should

contact their doctor to discuss.



Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Sir Christopher Chope: [47172]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library the

background material on which the Deputy Chief Medical Officer announced on 20 March

2020 that the country has a perfectly adequate supply of personal protective equipment,

PPE.

Jo Churchill:

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s comments on 20 March referred to specific

problems with deliveries to National Health Service trusts, in line with Public Health

England Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance at that time. Further

distribution problems arose soon after and at the daily COVID-19 press conference

on 31 March the Deputy Chief Medical Officer apologised and acknowledged that

soon after her comment on 20 March, problems with distribution had returned.

Systems set up to supply 226 NHS trusts have had to increase their operations in a

matter of weeks to provide drops of critical equipment to 58,000 healthcare settings

including general practitioners, pharmacies and social care providers. This required a

huge scaling up of our logistics capability.

Mr Kevan Jones: [54015]


of the adequacy of supplies of personal protective equipment in the event that the covid-

19 reproduction (R) rate rises above 1.

Jo Churchill:

We have massively expanded our supply of personal protective equipment (PPE)

from overseas and domestically. We have contracted with over 100 new suppliers

able to deliver at the scale and pace the United Kingdom requires. We are continuing

to sign further deals to make our position more secure. We recently secured a further

3.7 billion gloves to help meet the expected demand and we are building up UK

manufacturing capability. We have signed contracts for over 2 billion items of PPE

through UK-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors and gowns.

We are confident in the stocks and sources of supply of PPE to meet the needs of

health and social care over the next 7 and 90 days.

Coronavirus: Research


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to

commission research into the long terms effects of covid-19 on people whose symptoms

last longer than three weeks.

Helen Whately:

The Department invests over £1 billion a year in health and care research through the

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The following calls are currently open

to researchers to submit proposals on the long-term effects of COVID-19.




The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call will fund research to better understand and

manage the health and social care consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic

beyond the acute phase. The research will focus specifically on health outcomes,

public health, social care and health service delivery and to mitigate the impact of

subsequent phases and aftermath.

This follows on from the UK Research and Innovation-NIHR Rapid Response Rolling

Call for COVID-19 research (closing at the end of June), which funds projects that

could make a significant contribution to the understanding, prevention and/or

management of the COVID-19 outbreak within 12 months.

Coronavirus: Screening



of how (a) older and (b) vulnerable residents in (i) sheltered accommodation and (ii)

limited access to transportation should access testing for covid-19 in a safe and

convenient manner.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

We offer a range of testing options, including drive-through centres, home delivery

and mobile testing units, as well as satellite testing for specific groups such as care

homes. We are continually working to improve and widen access to testing and are

working with local areas to increase the avenues through which all people and, in

particular vulnerable groups, can be tested.

Grahame Morris: [51868]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public

purse is for each contract for the running of a UK covid-19 testing centre; and how many

tests each such centre has carried out.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 4 June 2020]: We do not publish testing data broken down by site.

As of 3 June 2020, there are 156 operational test locations which consist of a

combination of many different types of site from large multi-lane drive-in sites to

single van mobile test facilities to walk-in city centre locations. They are staffed by a

number of different commercial organisations and the armed forces. Each of the

contracts spans multiple disciplines.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion

of covid-19 home testing kits are sent out and not returned in (a) each region and (b) the

UK.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 8 June 2020]: As of 3 June 2020, 62% of Home Test Kits had been

returned. This figure is on an upward trajectory and the seven-day rolling average is

significantly higher than the year-to-date figure.




It is not currently possible to break down return rates on a regional basis.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of Government-

provided covid-19 swab kit tests sent in the post are (a) returned and (b) correctly

administered.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

As of 3 May 2020, 62% of home test kits had been returned. This figure is on an

upward trajectory and the seven-day rolling average is significantly higher than the

year-to-date figure.

Of those tests returned, over 98% have been correctly administered.

Afzal Khan: [53608]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to ensure that people who do not have a car and therefore cannot access drive-

through covid-19 testing centres may be tested for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Drive-through testing sites are only one of a number of routes to access testing.

Those without a car can order a test directly to their home quickly and easily.

Afzal Khan: [53609]


Department has made of the accuracy of home testing kits for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

All Home Testing Kits go through rigorous external scientific and clinical review

process before being put into use.

An increasingly broad range of international peer reviewed evidence demonstrates

that self-swabbing for COVID-19 is just as effective as clinician-administered

swabbing.

Afzal Khan: [53610]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) medical evidence his

Department has considered on and (b) recent assessment his Department has made of

the reliability of (i) nasal and (ii) throat swabs taken for at-home testing kits for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

All home testing kits go through rigorous external scientific and clinical review




swabbing.





Afzal Khan: [53611]

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

his Department has made of the accuracy of home testing kits for covid-19 and tests

conducted by healthcare professionals.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

All home testing kits go through rigorous external scientific and clinical review




swabbing.

Kenny MacAskill: [59889]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the covid-19 diagnostic

antibody tests being (a) evaluated and (b) supported by the Government contain animal-

derived antibodies.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: The Government is backing efforts to develop a

homegrown antibody test. A business consortium, UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-

RTC), including Oxford University, Abingdon Health, BBI Solutions and CIGA

Healthcare has launched, in order to design and develop a new antibody test to

determine whether people have had the virus. The development of this test will not

involve testing on animals.

Coronavirus: Twickenham

Munira Wilson: [52530]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many tests have been

carried out in the Twickenham Stadium covid-19 testing site each day since its

establishment; and what its daily testing capacity has been on each of those days.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

We do not publish data broken down by test centre. As of 1 June, 54 Regional

Testing Sites were open nationwide.

Coronavirus: Wirral


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the average

mortality rate for covid-19 per 100,000 people is higher in Wirral than the average

mortality rate in (a) North West of England and (b) the UK.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 11 June 2020]: The variation in incidence and mortality rates

between national, regional and upper tier local authority level is influenced by a range

of factors including the epidemiology of the disease and risk factors such as





demography and behaviour. Other local factors causing variability in the number of

tests carried out can also affect the observed mortality rates. These factors include

the number of people accessing testing, and the number of tests that are carried out

in the investigation and control of local incidents and outbreaks.

Public Health England has published a rapid review to better understand how

different factors such as ethnicity, deprivation, age, gender and obesity can impact on

how people are affected by COVID-19. The Disparities in the risk and outcomes of

COVID-19 review can be viewed on the GOV.UK website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-review-of-disparities-in-risks-

and-outcomes

Cystic Fibrosis: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support the Government

plans to make available for people with cystic fibrosis and others who are extremely

vulnerable who may be required to shield after lockdown restrictions in response to the

covid-19 outbreak are modified for the rest of society.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 4 May 2020]: The shielding guidance in England has been updated

to advise that, from 1 June 2020, those shielding may wish to consider spending time

outdoors once a day.

As part of the next review point, we will consider the arrangements for shielding

beyond 30 June. We will also review the risks for the clinically extremely vulnerable

and assess whether the shielding period needs to be extended or whether it is

possible for the shielding guidance to be eased further. We will base our assessment

on clinical advice from medical experts and the best data available about the

prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

The Government will continue to ensure support with essential supplies, medicines,

social contact and basic needs is available for those who need it for as long as

people are advised to follow shielding guidance.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Julian Sturdy: [51921]


taking to ensure that all dental practices can access the (a) personal protective and (b)

other equipment they require to safely resume routine dental services when covid-19

lockdown measures are eased.

Jo Churchill:

NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that National Health

Service dentistry outside urgent care centres will begin to restart from 8 June with the

aim of increasing levels of service as fast as is compatible with maximising safety.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-review-of-disparities-in-risks-and-outcomes





The letter outlines that practices need to consider the Public Health England

guidance on infection control protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) in

order to deliver care in a way that is safe, operationally deliverable and allows dental

practices flexibility to do what is best for patients and their teams.

Dental Services: Protective Clothing

Nick Fletcher: [55136]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has

made an assessment of the level of risk of dentists using FFP2 masks instead of FFP3

masks when carrying out dental work; and what discussions he plans to have with

representatives from insurance providers to ensure that dental practices using FFP2

masks are insured.

Jo Churchill:

A risk assessment specifically relating to dentists using FFP2 instead of FFP3

respirators has not been made.

Government guidance for dentists states that FFP3 respirators are advised for all

aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) to prevent inhalation of aerosols. Some dental

work is classed as AGPs. The Health and Safety Executive carried out a rapid review

of the evidence of the effectiveness of FFP3, FFP2 and N95 masks earlier this year.

The review stated that FFP2 and N95 respirators offer protection against COVID-19

and so may be used if FFP3 respirators are not available. Further information is

available at the following link:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/face-mask-equivalence-aprons-gowns-eye-protection-

coronavirus.htm

Department of Health and Social Care


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list the dates of

meetings (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with (i) Professor Kevin Fenton, (ii)

Professor John Newton and (iii) Chris Hopson, Chief Executive of NHS Providers since

February 2020.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings (a) he and

(b) his Ministers have had with (a) Professor Kevin Fenton and (b) Professor John

Newton.

Edward Argar:

The Department of Health and Social Care ministers have meetings with many arms-

length body officials and stakeholders in the conduct of their ministerial duties.


https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/face-mask-equivalence-aprons-gowns-eye-protection-coronavirus.htm





Diabetes: Coronavirus



of the vulnerability of people with diabetes to covid-19.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: Those with diabetes are already on the wider

clinically vulnerable list and should be strictly following social distancing measures.

The guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely

vulnerable from COVID-19 has been developed by expert doctors identifying specific

medical conditions based on what we know about the virus so far. We will continue to

keep this evidence under review.

In addition, general practitioners and hospital specialists have been asked to

recommend other patients follow shielding guidance, based on clinical judgement and

an assessment of each individual’s needs.

Diabetes: Medical Treatments

Chris Green: [52076]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what processes are in place to

monitor variation in the prescribing of technologies for people with diabetes in formularies

throughout England.

Jo Churchill:

There are a variety of processes used to monitor prescribing patterns and variation in

the prescribing of technologies for people with diabetes. These are based on

community pharmacy reimbursement data and include tools such as Open

Prescribing, which is publicly available on the NHS Business Services Authority’s

ePACT2 platform and PrescQIPP.

Employment: Coronavirus



of the potential merits of deploying temperature checks more extensively to reduce the

risk of covid-19 being spread in workplaces which are re-opening as lockdown restrictions

are eased.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 18 June 2020]: Thermal screening at ports of entry was considered

by expert committees including the Department’s, New and Emerging Respiratory

Virus Threats Advisory Group. The findings were that thermal screening would be of

limited benefit and that it was not the best use of public health resource. From that

work, we would conclude that temperature checks are unlikely to be an effective

means of protecting workplaces as many cases are asymptomatic and of the




symptomatic cases not all will experience fever as a symptom, and therefore would

not be identified through temperature checks.

Exercise Cygnus: Care Homes

Sir Mark Hendrick: [57913]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Exercise

Cygnus that took place in 2016, what the findings of that exercise were in relation to care

homes; and whether any recommendations for that sector were (a) identified and (b)

implemented as a result of that exercise.

Helen Whately:

The lessons identified as a result of Exercise Cygnus continue to be considered by

the Government and a range of stakeholders, including expert advisory groups and

local emergency planners.

Taking the recommendations from Exercise Cygnus, the Department commissioned

further work on pandemic influenza preparedness from the Association of Directors of

Adult Social Services. This was completed in the spring of 2018 and included advice

and guidance on planning for a pandemic, which was circulated to Directors of Adult

Social Services.

Gender Recognition: Health Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13

March 2020 to Question 27500 and with reference to the Answer of 6 June 2019 to

Question 259019 on Gender Recognition: Clinics, what assessment his Department has

made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on NHS England’s pilot of new gender

dysphoria services for adults.

Jo Churchill:

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation

Trust, have been awarded the contracts for two new adult gender dysphoria services

in London which are now in mobilisation phase.

A separate tender process for a new service in Greater Manchester will conclude by

the end of June 2020.

All services will be evaluated as pilots over a period of up to three years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not significantly delayed the planned commencement

of the pilot services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement is still assessing the impact of the NHS

responding to the COVID-19 pandemic on the waiting times for a number of clinical

services, including gender dysphoria services.



Health Services: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: [45518]


provide adequate supplies of FFP3 face masks to health and dentistry workers.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 18 May 2020]: We are working around the clock to give the National

Health Service and social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle

this outbreak.

We recognise the huge demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) stocks,

which is why the Government is working to expand supply from overseas and

improve domestic manufacturing capability. We published a PPE Plan on 10 April,

setting out clear guidance on who needs PPE and in what circumstances they need

to use it; and how sufficient supplies will be secured and distributed to the front line.

The plan can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-

protective-equipment-ppe-plan

The Government is working closely with industry, the NHS, social care providers and

the army to ensure that PPE is delivered to those who need it.

From Monday 8 June all NHS practices were able to start, at their own pace, seeing

patients again once they have appropriate social distancing and other safety

measures in place. PPE for dentists is being made available through their business

as usual wholesalers. We have also set up new distribution routes for dentistry to

ensure continuity of supply for all urgent dental care centres and have placed them

on the list of priority areas to receive supplies from Local Resilience Forums. PPE for

dental practices will include equipment necessary for aerosol generating procedures.

Health Services: Immigrants

Sarah Owen: [61809]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Prime Minister's

announcement of 21 May 2020, on the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS workers

will include the dependants of NHS workers.

Edward Argar:

[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: Department of Health and Social Care and Home

Office officials are working at pace to implement the announcement for removing

health and care workers from the Immigration Health Surcharge and further

information will be available shortly.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-plan




Health Services: Protective Clothing

John Redwood: [38402]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body is responsible for

giving regulatory approval for a (a) new design of PPE clothing and (b) new supplier's

PPE product.

Jo Churchill:

A cross-Government personal protective equipment sourcing unit, staffed by over 400

people, is securing new supply lines from across the world and has published

rigorous standards against which purchases will be made.

The Health and Safety Executive and the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency are responsible for giving regulatory approval. Further information

is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-specifications-for-personal-

protective-equipment-ppe

Health Visitors: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make an

assessment of the effect of the redeployment of health visitors on the wellbeing of babies

and families during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill:

With the onset of COVID-19 some public health nurses were redeployed into

hospitals where their expertise was most needed to care for acutely ill patients. It is

important that these nurses return to help mitigate the negative impacts of the

pandemic on families with young children.

The ‘Restoration of community health services for children and young people: second

phase of NHS response’ is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/covid-19-prioritisation-within-

community-health-services-with-annex_19-march-2020/

Public Health England will also work with local authority commissioners and service

providers to support the return of health visiting teams.

Hearing Impairment: Screening

Daisy Cooper: [56171]


of the potential merits of including hearing screening in the NHS Health Checks

programme offered to people from the ages of 40 to 74.

Jo Churchill:

In May 2019, the NHS Health Check Expert Scientific and Clinical Advisory Panel

(ESCAP) received a content review proposal to consider amending the NHS Health


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-specifications-for-personal-protective-equipment-ppe




https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/covid-19-prioritisation-within-community-health-services-with-annex_19-march-2020/




Check to include hearing loss. ESCAP members recognised the importance and

impact of hearing loss as a public health issue, and it was agreed that the group

would await the outcome of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee’s (UK

NSC) review of evidence on hearing screening, before considering changes to the

programme. The UK NSC recommendation on hearing loss screening in adults is still

currently under review.

Public Health England has been commissioned to deliver an evidence-based review

of the NHS Health Check programme. This externally chaired review will consider

and make recommendations on future changes to the content of the NHS Health

Check.

Hospitals: Patients

Mr David Davis: [54855]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of NHS

patients were triaged under the Frailty Index mechanism in (a) March, (b) April and (c)

May 2020.

Jo Churchill:

NHS Digital publishes primary care data about the cumulative number of registered

patients aged 65 years or over who have had a frailty assessment using the

Electronic Frailty Index or any other appropriate assessment tool, up to the end of the

reporting period. The data is reported quarterly on a cumulative basis as part of the

General Medical Services / Personal Medical Services core contract data collection.

The latest available publication covers the reporting period up to 31 March 2020. This

is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/gp-contract-

services/2019-20

Hygiene: Products

Dr James Davies: [58745]

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

discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on including in Government guidance

on approved hand sanitisers products that have an alcohol content of less than 60 per

cent proof; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill:

Public Health England has not had any discussions with the Health and Safety

Executive on the use of hand sanitisers products that have an alcohol content of less

than 60% proof. The scientific evidence shows that alcohol-based hand sanitisers

with ethanol at concentrations of at least 70% and up to 90% are effective against

most enveloped viruses, such as COVID-19, within 30 seconds. At 95% the virucidal

activity of ethanol covers the majority of clinically relevant viruses. Isopropyl alcohol

has a similar but less virucidal range of activity.


https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/gp-contract-services/2019-20




Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: [55009]


ensure that local authorities at risk of an increase in covid-19 cases in their areas are

able to procure adequate numbers of body bags; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is

taking to engage with local authority leaders on the supply of body bags.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is

taking to mitigate the potential effects of a national shortage of body bags in the event of

a second spike in covid-19 cases.

Jo Churchill:

The Government published “Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment

(PPE) plan” on 10 April. It incorporates guidance on who needs PPE and when they

need it, routes to ensure those who need it can get it at the right time and sets out

actions to secure enough PPE to last through the crisis. PPE includes aprons, eye

protectors, face masks, gloves, gowns, hand hygiene, clinical waste bags and body

bags.

Since publication of the plan, the Government has massively expanded both our

supply of PPE from overseas and our domestic manufacturing capability, which will

deliver at the scale and pace the United Kingdom requires and ensures that we build

and maintain a domestic base for the future.

The Government has also published PPE guidance for those involved in the care and

management of the deceased and has authorised the release of millions of PPE

items to local resilience forums to help them respond to urgent local spikes in need

across the adult social care system and some other frontline services, such as

mortuary and funeral services, where providers are unable to access PPE through

their usual, or dedicated wholesaler routes.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Sir Oliver Heald: [60643]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has

made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on waiting lists for CAMHS.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

There is broad consensus that there is the potential for an increase in demand for

children and young people’s mental health services as a result of the effects of the

pandemic. We are working with the National Health Service and a wide range of

stakeholders to assess potential need over the coming weeks and months and to

plan accordingly.





Mental health services are still open and working to support people with mental

health issues through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Our community, talking

therapies and children and young people’s services have deployed innovative digital

tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support.

Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Alexander Stafford: [61633]


taking to ensure the adequacy of the provision of mental health services for BAME

children.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

We want to ensure that all children, including those from a black, Asian and minority

ethnic (BAME) background, can access services according to clinical need. National

Health Service mental health services have remained open throughout the COVID-19

pandemic and our community, talking therapies and children and young people’s

services have deployed digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing

support.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working closely with BAME experts and

others to support rapid knowledge and information sharing to encourage timely

access to NHS mental health services, and just as importantly, good BAME

experiences within those services.

The Government has provided £9.2 million of additional funding for mental health

charities to support adults and children. This includes charities that offer some

support to BAME communities, such as the What? Centre.

Mental Health Services: Young People


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has

to increase mental health service provision for 18-25 year olds who have reported mental

health issues relating to the lockdown due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: Mental health services remain open and are working

to support people with mental health problems through the COVID-19 pandemic and

beyond. The Government and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working

closely with mental health trusts to ensure those who need them continue to have

access to mental health services, including 18-25 year olds. For those with severe

needs or in crisis, NHS England has instructed all National Health Service mental

health trusts to establish 24 hours a day, seven days a week mental health crisis

lines, clearly accessible from trust websites as an urgent priority. Mental health

providers are using digital and virtual channels such as helplines and video

consultations, to keep delivering support and manage the impact of self-isolation on



staff and patients. In addition, we have published official guidance on mental health

and wellbeing on GOV.UK and promoting this through Every Mind Matters.

Midwives: Age


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the age profile is of NHS

midwives; and how many NHS midwives in each age category are (a) UK nationals and

(b) nationals of an EU member state.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 24 June 2020]: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community

Health Services workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and

clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but not staff working in primary care, general

practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers.

The following table shows the age profile and nationality of National Health Service

midwives in hospitals and CCGs as at December 2019, the latest available data.

Other and Unknown includes staff with a nationality group of European Economic

Area, Rest of World or Unknown.

. ALL NATIONALITIES UNITED KINGDOM EUROPEAN UNION

OTHER AND

UNKNOWN

All age bands 26,863 24,186 1,346 1,331

Under 25 1,712 1,637 51 24

25 to 29 3,621 3,256 300 65

30 to 34 3,744 3,364 286 94

35 to 39 3,417 3,089 187 141

40 to 44 3,198 2,877 155 166

45 to 49 2,991 2,658 121 212

50 to 54 3,685 3,326 77 282

55 to 59 3,027 2,720 85 222

60 to 64 1,235 1,067 69 99

65 and over 233 192 15 26


NHS: Disclosure of Information



made of the adequacy of protections for NHS whistle-blowers and their ability to publicly

raise concerns on (a) gaps in healthcare provisions and (b) other matters without adverse

repercussions.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Speaking up is vital for ensuring patient safety and quality services. The Employment

Rights Act 1996, amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives legal

protection to all workers who speak up whether in private or public. In addition, the

Government established an independent National Guardian to drive cultural change

across the National Health Service so that speaking up becomes business as usual.

Legislation and cultural change are designed to create an environment of trust and

we have seen some progress. The National Guardian’s latest Freedom to Speak Up

Index showed that 82% of trusts had made it easier to speak up since 2015. If NHS

workers feel uncomfortable raising concerns through their line management or clinical

lead, they can speak to their Freedom to Speak Up Guardian or to regulators. NHS

workers should be thanked for speaking up and never face detriment for doing so.

NHS: Sanitary Products



made of the level of need for period product provision in NHS facilities.

Edward Argar:

[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: The Department is not aware of any assessment of

the level of need for period product provision in National Health Service facilities

having been undertaken.

However, NHS England announced in March 2019 that providers of NHS-funded

inpatient hospital services will offer period products to every hospital in-patient who

needs them (including for long-term inpatients)

This is under the terms of the NHS Standard Contract.

Nurses: Students

Olivia Blake: [60894]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many student nurses in (a)

Yorkshire and Humber and (b) the UK were given paid placements in the NHS as part of

recruitment measures to address the covid-19 crisis; and what proportion of those

placements will end on or before 31 July 2020.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: As at 29 May 2020, 26,355 nursing and midwifery

students had opted into paid placement as part of the COVID-19 call to arms.




Student placement numbers are not available by region.

Year 3 students will be paid until at least 31 July 2020. Any Year 3 student who still

has hours to complete will be paid until September to allow them to do this.

Any year 2 students on placement until 31 July will be paid and after this, normal non-

paid placements will be re-introduced along with Year 1 students.

Postnatal Care: Coronavirus


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

Department has made of the effect of covid-19 outbreak on the (a) physical health, (b)

mental health, and (c) safety of new mothers.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: The Government is working closely with research

programmes learning from cases of pregnant women and new mothers with COVID-

19 to be able to respond quickly and appropriately.

To promote the safety of pregnant women during this pandemic, NHS England and

NHS Improvement have developed guidance for the temporary reorganisation of

intrapartum maternity care, launched a ‘Help Us to Help You’ communications

campaign to encourage women to contact their midwife whenever they have any

concerns, and is supporting the increase in virtual appointments with initiatives such

as distributing 16,000 blood pressure monitors for pregnant women with hypertension

to use at home. National Health Service specialist perinatal mental health services

remain very much open for business and for those with severe needs or in crisis, all

NHS mental health trusts have been instructed to establish 24 hours a day, seven

days a week mental health crisis lines.

Protective Clothing: Coronavirus

Tim Farron: [48378]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of

the number of civil servants working on procurement of personal protective equipment for

(a) the NHS, (b) social care settings and (c) workplaces where employees are required to

be physically present for work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: As set out in the ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal

protective equipment (PPE) plan’ published on 10 April, we have taken a centralised

approach to the procurement of PPE, to limit the potential for different parts of the

health and social care sector to compete against each other and push prices up

further

The Government has set up a cross-Government PPE sourcing unit, now staffed by

over 400 people, to secure new supply lines from across the world and has published

rigorous standards against which purchases will be made.



Ruth Jones: [57364]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of personal

protective equipment procured by the Government during the covid-19 outbreak has been

manufactured by UK businesses.

Jo Churchill:

There has been limited domestic manufacture of personal protective equipment

(PPE) to date. Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort to unleash the

potential of British industry to manufacture PPE for the health and social care sectors.

We have identified opportunities and sourced new supply channels for materials to

make PPE at pace, enabling new manufacturing to commence. The Government is

also working to support the scale-up of engineering efforts for small companies

capable of contributing to supplies.

The Government has signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE

through United Kingdom-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors

and gowns and has already taken delivery of products from new, certified UK

manufacturers. These will contribute to the national effort to meet the unprecedented

demand for PPE.

Protective Clothing: Imports

Gareth Thomas: [37411]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of the (a)

Chinese and (b) Indian companies selling medical (i) surgical gowns, (ii) masks and (iii)

other personal protection equipment that her Department has visited to source such

supplies for the UK during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill:

A cross-Government personal protective equipment (PPE) sourcing unit, staffed by

over 400 people, is securing new supply lines from across the world and has

published rigorous standards against which purchases will be made. Department for

International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Office teams around the

world are seeking new supplies, lobbying governments to lift export restrictions and

getting crucial deliveries back to the United Kingdom.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in particular the embassy in Beijing, have

supported us in relation to procurement activity in China. However, we do not hold

records centrally of visits made by local Department for International Development or

Foreign and Commonwealth Office official to individual suppliers of PPE in either

China or India.

Protective Clothing: Manufacturing Industries

Rachel Hopkins: [38984]

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

had with the British companies manufacturing personal protective equipment for

European countries on the production of that equipment for the UK.




Jo Churchill:

We have allowed personal protective equipment (PPE) exports by private companies

where such exports do not undermine the level of PPE within the United Kingdom,

and no PPE has been issued from pandemic supplies to other countries.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort by British industry to manufacture

PPE. The Government is currently in contact with over 350 potential UK

manufacturers and has signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE

through UK-based manufacturers. More new manufacturers are expected to commit

to producing PPE in the coming weeks.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many UK companies he

has commissioned to manufacture (a) ffp2 and (b) ffp3 masks since 1 March 2020; and

what the average weekly output of those manufacturers is for each mask type.

Jo Churchill:

The Government announced on 15 May that more than 70 million FFP2 and FFP3

face masks will be manufactured in the United Kingdom and delivered to frontline

health and care workers following an agreement with global technology company

Honeywell. Production will begin as early as July and up to 4.5 million masks will be

produced each month. Honeywell will produce 60% FFP3 and 40% FFP2 masks, but

these percentages are moveable depending on requirements. Honeywell will produce

more than 70 million face masks, creating 450 new jobs.

Protective Clothing: Procurement



reduce the time taken to (a) respond to and (b) process offers to supply personal

protective equipment from (i) British and (ii) foreign suppliers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion

of offers to supply personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak have been

responded to within (a) 24 hours and (b) a week in the lastest period for which figures are

available.

Jo Churchill:

All offers receive an immediate automated response and follow up contact once the

team have assessed the offer.

We are identifying new sources of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) from

overseas markets, diversifying the United Kingdom’s sources of supply and

strengthening the UK’s supply chains for the long term.

Department for International Trade and Foreign and Commonwealth Office teams

around the world are seeking new supplies, lobbying governments to lift export

restrictions and helping get crucial deliveries back to the UK.




The Government has processed over 23,000 cases from over 15,000 suppliers and

has contracted with 150 of them. In addition, we are in contact with over 350 potential

manufacturers and have signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE

through UK-based manufacturers. More new manufacturers are expected to commit

to producing PPE in the coming weeks.

Beth Winter: [44057]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) quantity and (b) types

of personal protective equipment the Government has procured from the 3M factory in

Darlington.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 12 May 2020]: We do not hold that information as our contracts with

existing manufacturers, such as 3M, do not normally specify in which factory they are

made. Lord Deighton is leading efforts to increase the domestic supply of personal

protective equipment (PPE). Contracts have been signed for over 2 billion items of

PPE through United Kingdom-based manufacturers, including facemasks, visors,

gowns and aprons.

Helen Hayes: [49071]


the (a) value of Government PPE procurement contracts and (b) proportion of personal

protective equipment orders fulfilled in each year since 2016.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the value was of

Government PPE procurement contracts for each country supplier; and what proportion

of personal protective equipment orders were fulfilled in the 2018-19 financial year.



the (a) amount and (b) value of outstanding Government personal protective equipment

procurement contracts.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 2 June 2020]: There are a number of channels by which personal

protective equipment (PPE) is sourced by National Health Service providers. This

includes sourcing it independently as well as provision through a central procurement

model for a number of years. During the period covered by this question, the NHS

Supply Chain created in 2006 underwent a restructuring in April 2018 with the

creation of Supply Chain Coordination.

Furthermore in March 2020 a new dedicated unit was set up to focus on securing

supplies of PPE. This unit identified PPE suppliers from across the globe to meet the

increasing demand for a growing list of PPE products. We have now contracted with

over 150 suppliers able to deliver at the scale and pace the United Kingdom requires.





The multiple channels, changes to structures, administrative practices and routes to

source PPE mean that meaningful comparable figures for the years specified are not

available.

Robert Largan: [52619]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will undertake a review of

how NHS procurement rules could be changed to benefit domestic manufacturing of

personal protective equipment.

Jo Churchill:

Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort to unleash the potential of British

industry to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health and

social care sectors. This will build on the manufacturing opportunities the

Government has already identified and contribute to the national effort to meet the

unprecedented demand. The Government is also working to support the scale-up of

engineering efforts for small companies capable of contributing to supplies. The

Government have now signed contracts for over 2 billion items of PPE through United

Kingdom-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors, gowns and

aprons, ensuring we build and maintain a domestic base for the future.

Protective Clothing: Shops



Department has made of the potential merits of making mandatory the use of face

coverings in shops in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 17 June 2020]: From Monday 15 June passengers must wear a

face covering when travelling on public transport in England by bus, coach, tram,

ferry, hovercraft, cable car, aircraft and domestic and international train.

Guidance remains to work from home if you can and avoid public transport where

possible, but face coverings can help people protect one another in environments

when social distancing is more difficult.

The Government has considered the potential merits of making face coverings

mandatory in public places, such as shops. However, as the Secretary of State for

Transport set out last week, the difference is that in a shop you may pass somebody

but for a short period of time. However, on public transport you could be next to

somebody for a long period of time. The guidance for shops is to not let the shop

become overcrowded and to put measures in place to help maintain social

distancing, but we do not have the same environment for public transport. Our

guidance remains that we advise people to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces

where social distancing is not possible, this could include indoor crowded areas such

as some shops.



Public Health: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has

taken to ensure that health guidance on covid-19 for people with underlying conditions

has been made available in community languages.

Jo Churchill:

Public Health England provides health guidance for the public on households with

possible COVID-19 infection and shielding advice for COVID-19 for people with

underlying health conditions. This information has been translated into the following

languages: Bengali, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian,

Simplified Chinese - Mandarin, Traditional Chinese - Cantonese, Urdu and Welsh.

Public Health: Expenditure

Afzal Khan: [57353]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent from

ring-fenced public health budgets in each year since 2012.

Jo Churchill:

The following table shows the ring-fenced grant in each year since inception in

2013/14, together with the movement in public health reserves each year (the amount

unspent). Data for 2012 are not available as the grant has only been in existence

since 2013/14.

Spend from the ring-fenced public health budgets, 2013/14 – 2018/19

YEAR

RING-FENCED GRANT

(£ BILLION)

MOVEMENT ON

RESERVES CARRIED /

FORWARD (£ BILLION)

NET SPEND FROM

GRANT IN THE YEAR (£

BILLION)

2013-14 2.66 0.21 2.46

2014-15 2.79 0.11 2.68

2015-16 3.03 -0.06 3.09

2016-17 3.39 -0.01 3.40

2017-18 3.30 -0.01 3.31

2018-19 3.22 0.00 3.22

Total 18.40 0.24 18.16

Notes:

1. 2019/20 data has not yet been published.



2. The grant was increased on 1 September 2015 to include public health spend on

Children’s 0-5.

3. The above figures include Manchester local authorities who have received their

grant through a Business Rates Retention pilot since 2017/18.

4. These data are published at the following link:

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

financing

Social Services: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which suppliers the

Government has contracts with to provide personal protective equipment to social care

providers.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 8 June 2020]: The Government has massively expanded both our

supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) from overseas and our domestic

manufacturing capability.

The Government has contracted with over 100 new suppliers able to deliver at the

scale and pace the United Kingdom requires and is building up UK manufacturing

with signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based

manufacturers, including facemasks, visors, gowns and aprons. This includes

companies such as: Survitec; Bolle; Jaguar Land Rover; Don & Low; and Burberry.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Nusinersen

Sir Christopher Chope: [57898]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many sufferers of spinal

muscular atrophy have not yet received the drug spinraza for which they are eligible

following the decision of NICE; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: As at June 2020, the number of patients receiving

Spinraza for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy treatment is 162. NHS England

and NHS Improvement do not hold information on the number of eligible patients who

have not yet received the drug Spinraza.

The National Institute for Health and Social Care and NHS England and NHS

Improvement took advice from clinical experts and reviewed the potential impact of

COVID-19 on the delivery of Spinraza. As a result, there may be a delay for adult

patients who have not yet been assessed. Access to treatment will resume once the

current restrictions and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.

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





HOME OFFICE

Action Fraud

Rehman Chishti: [27627]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken

to improve Action Fraud's performance.

James Brokenshire:

As the National Lead Force for fraud, the City of London Police (CoLP) are

responsible for the performance of the Action Fraud service. Together with the City of

London Corporation, CoLP commissioned an independent review led by Sir Craig

Mackey QPM into the standards, culture and management of Action Fraud.  The

findings and recommendations of that review were published on  24th January:

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/Pages/police-authority.aspx

Working with the City of London Corporation, the NCA and Home Office, the City of

London Police will address Sir Craig’s recommendations regarding Action Fraud and

the NFIB.

In addition, as part of the 20/21 police funding settlement, City of London Police

received additional funding to allow them to recruit additional staff for the Action

Fraud call centre. Despite the current challenging circumstances, work has continued

to recruit and develop remote training for these additional staff at pace.

Asylum: Coronavirus

Stuart C McDonald: [61728]

To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department, pursuant to to the Answer of 7 May

2020 to Question 42081 on Asylum: Detention Centres and the Answer of 19 May 2020

to Question 46686 on Asylum: Housing, if he will publish the guidance issue by Public

Health England to the Home Office that informed (a) the decision on 27 March 2020 to

pause asylum support cessations and evictions and (b) the current review of this pause to

be completed by end of June 2020.

Chris Philp:

We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout

the pandemic to inform our approach.   PHE guidance focused initially on the

provision to self-isolate and social distance and, in the review, to follow MHCLG

guidance in relation to moving home and social bubbles which was supported by

PHE. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-

coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak and - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-

from-outside-your-household.

We also sought specific advice in relation to the pause of asylum support cessations

and the subsequent review.



Asylum: Finance

Liz Saville Roberts: [61747]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure

that (a) Asylum Support rates receive a £20 covid-related uplift in line with universal credit

and (b) backdate that uplift to March 2020; and if she will make it her policy to reinstate

asylum support to at least 70 per cent of mainstream income support.

Chris Philp:

We have been reviewing the level of the cash allowances provided to asylum seekers

who would otherwise be destitute, as we do each year to ensure that they remain

capable of meeting their essential living needs.

As a result of this work, the standard allowance has been raised to £39.60 per week

from £37.75 per week, an increase of around 5%. This increase is significantly higher

than the current general rate of inflation, which Office of National Statistics data

shows was only 0.5% in the 12 months period to May.

The level of the allowance is not linked to social security benefits.

In addition to the allowance, we also provide free accommodation, with utilities and

council tax paid for and there is free access to the NHS and free access to education

for their children.

The UK has a generous record in supporting asylum seekers. Last year, we made

around 20,000 grants of asylum or protection (one of the higher figures in Europe), as

well as offered protection to 3,000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children – the

highest number of any country in Europe. In addition, we have directly resettled

around 20,000 people from the most dangerous areas of the world (especially

Syrians) in the UK over the last 5 years. Finally, we spend around £14 billion per year

in Overseas Aid, helping millions of people around the world. This is the highest

amount of any country in Europe and we are the only G7 country to meet the 0.7% of

GNI Overseas Aid target

Asylum: Interviews

Daniel Zeichner: [59790]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when asylum seeker interviews

that have been put on hold in response to the covid-19 outbreak will restart.

Chris Philp:

Asylum Operations have secured a digital solution that can support remote

interviewing and are working with delivery partners to enable the use of this

technology. Asylum Ops remain committed to restarting substantive asylum

interviews as soon as they can establish a process that allows the participants -

applicants, representatives, interpreters and interviewers - to do so safely.



British Nationality: Assessments


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17

June 2020 to Question 57247 on British Nationality: Assessments, how long after testing

resumes will applications for indefinite leave continue to be held.

Kevin Foster:

We have plans in place to conclude applications in process as quickly as possible

once customers submit their certificates. Once test centres are fully reopened and

services have resumed to a level where they can again meet demand, we expect that

customers will submit their certificates within a reasonable timescale.

Counter-terrorism


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 20 of

the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, whether a timetable has been

agreed for the (a) application, (b) interview and (c) appointment process to appoint a

reviewer for the Prevent programme in order to achieve the 18-month timeframe set by

that statute.

James Brokenshire:

The Government is committed to the Independent Review of Prevent and launched a

full and open recruitment competition to appoint the next Independent Reviewer of

Prevent on 27 April 2020. Applications closed on 22 June 2020. Interviews are due to

take place in July. The successful candidate will be announced in due course.

We have included in the Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Bill a measure to remove

the existing statutory deadline for the Review set out in the Counter Terrorism and

Border Security Act 2019 while maintaining the legislative commitment to undertake

it. This is to ensure that the new Reviewer has sufficient time to complete the Review.

The Government aims for the Review to be completed by August 2021.

Counter-terrorism: Local Government

Neil Coyle: [59484]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all Prevent strategy

projects commissioned by local authorities are also directly approved by her Department.

James Brokenshire:

To help monitor the impact, effectiveness and value for money of local Prevent

delivery, local authorities in receipt of Home Office Prevent funding submit quarterly

returns to the Home Office. These provide evidence of local Prevent activities,

outcomes, issues and expenditure. These returns are not publicly available.




Death Certificates: Ethnic Groups

Sarah Owen: [62647]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has

to include ethnicity on death certificates.

Kevin Foster:

The statistical information currently recorded in a death registration (and

subsequently on certificates) is determined by the Office for National Statistics and

prescribed by law. There are currently no plans to record ethnicity.

Immigrants: Finance

Fleur Anderson: [62713]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what covid-19 related funding

and support is available to people with Leave to Remain.

Chris Philp:

The Government has published advice and information about the support available to

migrants with Leave to Remain during the coronavirus pandemic:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-

living-in-the-uk.

Most migrants with Leave to Remain in the UK are subject to no recourse to public

funds (NRPF). Successive governments have set the threshold for migrants

qualifying for public funds at Indefinite Leave to Remain, reflecting the strength of

connection to the UK of those who hold this status. However, many of the measures

introduced to support people through the coronavirus pandemic, including the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and protections for renters, are available to those

with NRPF.

Individuals whose basis of stay in the UK is based on their family life or human rights

can apply to have the NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’

application if there are exceptional circumstances in their case relating to financial

circumstances.

Migrant Workers: Doctors

Abena Oppong-Asare: [62693]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date she plans to

commence the NHS surcharge exemption for migrant doctors.

Kevin Foster:

The Government is committed to introducing the NHS surcharge exemption as soon

as practicable.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that health and care staff who have paid the fee

since 21 May will be refunded.




Police: Stop and Search

Mike Amesbury: [62580]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many notices have been

issued by police forces in England under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public

Order Act 1994 in each of the (a) last three months for which such information is available

and (b) corresponding three months in (i) 2019 and (ii) 2018.

Kit Malthouse:

The Home Office is currently collecting information on authorisations made under

section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the data will be

published in due course.

The Home Office routinely collects and publishes statistics on the number of stop and

searches under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Data

are published annually in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales’

statistical bulletin, the latest of which can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-

and-wales

The next bulletin is due to be published in October 2020.

Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Steve Reed: [62440]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department

has issued to local authorities on the reopening of registry offices to enable people who

wish to marry to formally give notice.

Kevin Foster:

The local registration service in England and Wales has been advised that notices of

intention to marry or form a civil partnership can be taken where these can be safely

delivered in line with public health and local authority guidelines.

Slavery: Detainees

Paul Blomfield: [62421]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to

regularly publish data on the number of victims of modern slavery in immigration

detention.

Chris Philp:

The Home Office currently publishes a range of data on immigration detention. This

covers people detained under immigration powers and includes information such as

nationality, age, sex, place and length of detention, cost of detention, pregnancy in

detention and reports made by a medical practitioner under rule 35 of the Detention

Centre Rules 2001.




Following the then Home Secretary’s statement in Parliament in July 2018, which

committed to publishing more data on immigration detention, the Home Office have

since been undertaking a review. This review is still ongoing and will consider all

elements of data important to the Home Office and the Public.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Tim Farron: [62365]

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

plans he has for the funding of the Affordable Homes Programme.

Christopher Pincher:

The Government is committed to increasing the supply of social housing and has

made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to March 2022 to

deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes in a wide range of tenures,

including Social Rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.

Building on this, we announced at Budget 2020 that we are investing £12 billion to

build affordable homes between 2021/22 and 2025/26. This will be the biggest cash

investment in affordable housing for a decade.

This new 5-year investment will deliver additional affordable housing, help people to

own their own home, and build social rent homes to help families and those most at

risk of homelessness in areas of the country where affordability pressure is acute. A

mix of different tenures is vital to meet the needs of a wide range of people, and to

allow the sector to build the right homes in the right places.

Evictions: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

make it his policy to extend the ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent

payments during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.


On 19 June, the Government announced the extension of the moratorium on

commercial lease forfeitures, as well as extensions to other measures protecting

tenants for a further three months. These measures will provide businesses with the

certainty they need as they begin to reopen.

The announcement confirms that in order to protect tenant businesses during this

period government:

• Has extended until 30 September the moratorium on forfeitures of commercial

lease.



• Will temporarily limit the use of statutory demands (made after 1 March 2020) and

winding up petitions (presented from Monday 27 April) until 30 September.

• Has also extended limits on use of Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery to 30

September, and increased the threshold of rent owed before CRAR can be used to

189 days.

Government also published a Code of Practice for the commercial property sector in

collaboration with key representative bodies. The Code will reinforce and promote

good practice amongst landlords and tenants as they deal with the issues caused by

COVID-19.

Funerals: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: [62651]


steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to provide live-streaming of

funerary services during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke:

It is only right that families have a final opportunity to pay their last respects to those

they love at this incredibly difficult time. On 17 April I sent a letter to local authorities

outlining how they can develop safe and sensitive ways for funerals to take place,

including live streaming and deferred memorial services. On 18 April, £1.6 billion of

funding was also made available to support local authorities with the costs of

responding to COVID-19, including costs associated with death management. This

funding will support councils to continue to deliver innovative solutions which make

funerals accessible to the bereaved, where they cannot physically attend.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Apsana Begum: [61614]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which 20

buildings with ACM cladding systems in Tower Hamlets were identified as unlikely to

meet Building Regulations yet to be remediated in the Government’s monthly Building

Safety Update statistics, published on 11 June 2020.


We are unable to publish any individual building data, including the names of the

buildings in Tower Hamlets with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building

Regulations that are yet to be remediated. This reflects the position of the

Government not to reveal the identity of high-rise residential buildings with unsafe

ACM cladding systems on public safety grounds.



Homelessness: Coronavirus

Tim Farron: [62362]

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

he plans to allocate additional funding to local housing authorities to help those

authorities procure accommodation for (a) rough sleepers and (b) homeless people and

families as part of the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Luke Hall:

On 24 May we announced radical plans to provide thousands of long-term, safe

homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during this pandemic. This

commitment will be backed by £160 million this year through accelerating plans for

the £381 million announced for rough sleeping services at Budget, bringing the total

to £433 million over the lifetime of this parliament. The Government is increasing the

revenue support of the total programme by 37 per cent to make sure that the rough

sleepers have the support they need to stay off the streets for good. This funding will

support up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation, with 3,300 units

of this accommodation becoming available in the next 12 months. Homes England, in

partnership with MHCLG, have pledged to work hand-in-hand with leading housing

associations and local authorities to deliver this.

On 24 June an additional £105 million was announced for local authorities to enable

them to best support the c15,000 people placed into emergency accommodation

during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is on top of the £433 million announced

on the 24 May. Together, these funding streams will enable us to deliver a

comprehensive Next Steps and Recover Strategy which will support thousands of

individuals to stay safe during the pandemic and ultimately to turn their lives around.

Further detailed information on the process to allocate funding is being co-produced

with partners and will be published in due course.

Both before and during the pandemic the Government has also put in place

significant funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over 2020/21,

including:

• £112 million was allocated this year for the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI), an

increase of £26 million on 2019/20 funding. We will work with areas to consider

how the RSI work will change to reflect the different levels of need and response

needed as a result of COVID-19.

• £3.2 billion has been provided to support councils to respond to the coronavirus

pandemic, which includes providing support for vulnerable rough sleepers.

• This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding for councils to support

vulnerable rough sleepers.

For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments are

available. There is already £180 million in Discretionary Housing Payments available

for local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housing costs in 2020/21

including an additional £40 million to tackle affordability pressures in the private


rented sector. We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal

Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that they are set at the 30th percentile of

market rents. This is an important policy that will benefit 1.6 million people.

Housing Occupancy: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: [57940]


discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on financial support for

people living in multi-generational households who may be unable to return to work as

covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.


[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: The Secretary of State regularly meets with the

Chancellor to discuss the Government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We

have set out an unprecedented package of financial support to help the country

through the coronavirus pandemic, and multi-generational households are able to

access these, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Self

Employed Income Support package and Statutory Sick Pay. This support continues

to be provided, with the CJRS running until the end of October. The Government has

also confirmed an additional £63 million for local authorities to help those who are

struggling financially due to the impact of COVID-19. This will allow authorities to step

in and provide discretionary financial help to those facing severe hardship due to

covid-19 and help them to pay for food and other necessities.

Housing: Construction

Mary Glindon: [60753]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

make the accessible and adaptable standard M4(2) Category 2 the mandatory baseline

for all new homes.


Government will consult shortly on accessibility of new homes. The consultation will

consider making higher accessibility standards mandatory, recognising the

importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people.

Tim Farron: [62363]


estimate his Department has made of the (a) potential number and (b) redundancies to

date in the residential construction sector due to the reduction in housebuilding during the

covid-19 outbreak.


The ONS publishes survey data on a fortnightly basis on the proportion of the

construction workforce that has been furloughed, off sick owing to coronavirus, or

made redundant. Data for the housing construction subsector is not available.




https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/output/datasets/bus

inessimpactofcovid19surveybicsresults

The Government has put in place a number of measures to support the construction

industry during the response to COVID-19. Many construction firms have made use

of the Job Retention Scheme for their employees and apprentices, alongside

Government-backed loans and tax holidays.

It remains as important as ever to invest in the skilled workforce to build the homes

this country needs. My department is working with the Department for Business,

Energy and the Industrial Strategy, the Department for Education, and the

Construction Industry Training Board to support the industry to continue to recruit and

train during this time.

Housing: Coronavirus



assessment his Department has made of the need for free specialist housing rights

advice as a result of the economic consequences of the covid-19 outbreak.

Luke Hall:

We understand that COVID-19 will have had an impact on people and their housing.

This is why we have published guidance for people to navigate through this difficult

time. There are also existing routes for people to get support on housing

Leaseholders may benefit from seeking free initial advice via the Leasehold Advisory

Service (LEASE), the specialist advisory body funded by the Department to provide

assistance to leaseholders. Information on leasehold matters can be provided

through the website ( https://www.lease-advice.org/ ), via a telephone appointment

with one of LEASE’s advisers (020 7832 2500) or by email ( [email protected] ).

Social and private renters can contact Citizens Advice or Shelter for free, impartial

advice about their housing rights. Individuals who are eligible for legal aid may also

contact Civil Legal Advice for free and confidential advice.

Immigrants: Finance

Stephen Timms: [62253]

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

to the Answer of 16 June 2020 to Question 903194 on Immigrants: Finance, what funding

streams local authorities are permitted to use to offer financial support to people with no

recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Luke Hall:

No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is a condition imposed on someone due to their

immigration status. Section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 states that a

person will have ‘no recourse to public funds’ if they are ‘subject to immigration

control’

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ons.gov.uk%2Feconomy%2Feconomicoutputandproductivity%2Foutput%2Fdatasets%2Fbusinessimpactofcovid19surveybicsresults&data=02%7C01%7CCharlotte.Taylor-Philip%40communities.gov.uk%7C1c5ff1779f264e1a2a5f08d8182553b9%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637285895888466111&sdata=D80MCp4F4vj1e%2FJ54iZnkhy2nsOvLz8ADnqqoUf%2FF%2F8%3D&reserved=0




https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lease-advice.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7CJohn.Colaclides%40communities.gov.uk%7C79bf3a680f8346c92b3908d81444c98c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637281632953131597&sdata=p2WKTlME0glavs1rppkt1WlMYbBNP%2BEi8CkGCpJvPOI%3D&reserved=0

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lease-advice.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7CJohn.Colaclides%40communities.gov.uk%7C79bf3a680f8346c92b3908d81444c98c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637281632953131597&sdata=p2WKTlME0glavs1rppkt1WlMYbBNP%2BEi8CkGCpJvPOI%3D&reserved=0

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


A person with NRPF is prohibited from accessing specified benefits and public

housing. These are set out in section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

More information is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-funds--2/public-funds.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Faculty

Sarah Olney: [61554]


procurement process was undertaken before the award of contracts to Faculty Science

Ltd; what work that company has been contracted to provide; and for how long that

company will use the personal data it has been granted access to.

Luke Hall:

The contract with Faculty was awarded following a robust selection process through

the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud Digital Marketplace in line with its

published processes, further details of which can be found at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/g-cloud-buyers-guide.

The company has been awarded a call-off contract for the provision of data science

services, more specifically helping the Department to analyse data in real time

allowing it to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on local communities and respond to

emerging issues at pace. In line with the legal obligations under the Framework

Agreement, Faculty must stop using any data they have been granted access to as

part of this contract when the contract expires.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Tim Farron: [62364]


assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of the construction of

social housing to the economic recovery of the UK after the covid-19 outbreak.


The delivery of new social housing will contribute to economic recovery, in particular

by supporting construction activity. The Government is committed to increasing the

supply of social housing in view of the social and economic benefits this will generate.

We have made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to

March 2022 to deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes in a wide range

of tenures, including Social Rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy. We

announced at Budget that we will invest £12 billion to build affordable homes

between 2021/22 and 2025/26 – the biggest cash investment in affordable housing

for a decade.

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fpublic-funds--2%2Fpublic-funds&data=02%7C01%7CJozef.Krywko%40communities.gov.uk%7Cb1482c416ebf4309ddd708d81852c933%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637286091118581536&sdata=GKPoILi%2BUHBC7WLUvVbUgxn93Iz1OHSCpN1Y0j6vrjs%3D&reserved=0

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fpublic-funds--2%2Fpublic-funds&data=02%7C01%7CJozef.Krywko%40communities.gov.uk%7Cb1482c416ebf4309ddd708d81852c933%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637286091118581536&sdata=GKPoILi%2BUHBC7WLUvVbUgxn93Iz1OHSCpN1Y0j6vrjs%3D&reserved=0



INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

China: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much Official

Development Assistance her Department has spent in China in each of the last five

years.

Nigel Adams:

The Department for International Development (DFID) does not spend Official

Development Aid (ODA) bilaterally in China, nor has it done in any of the last five

years. China does, however, receive ODA through multilateral institutions that DFID

provides core funding to. The Statistics on International Development (SID) provides

data on this at:

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

ent_data/file/878406/Table-A10-7April2020.ods

Department for International Development: Reorganisation

Anna McMorrin: [62561]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has

made of the potential effect of merging her Department with the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office on the UK’s ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by

2030.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan:

The UK remains committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs will

play an important role in post-COVID-19 recovery, recognising the connection

between healthy lives, healthy societies and a healthy environment. As the Prime

Minister affirmed on 28 May, we owe it to future generations to build back better,

basing our recovery on a fairer, greener and more resilient global economy, and to

get our shared goals back on track, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

India: Overseas Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much Official

Development Assistance her Department has spent in India in each of the last five years.

Nigel Adams:

The Department for International Development (DFID) invests in and partners with

India to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and address climate change, while

generating returns and creating trade, investment and other partnership opportunities

for the UK.

Financial Aid to India ended in 2015. DFID deploys technical assistance and

expertise to stimulate mutual prosperity and generate new markets. DFID uses




Development Capital Investment to invest in Indian companies, alongside co-

investment from Indian Government bodies, with the returns coming back to HMG in

due course. Thus far £63.43 million has been returned.

In the past five years DFID has spent the following amounts in India. Data for 2019

will be published in the Autumn.

2015 2016 2017 2018

Technical

Assistance

£86,757,207 £32,092,840 £22,164,717 £23,518,884

Development

Capital

Investment

£33,606,105 £22,115,930 £25,526,321 £21,812,215

Financial Aid £30,027,560 £0 £0 £0

Total £150,390,872 £54,208,770 £47,691,038 £45,331,099

India also receives ODA through multilateral institutions to whom DFID provides core

funding. Information on all UK ODA spend is published at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-

development/about/statistics.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Food: Imports


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

the need to introduce a trade, food and farming standards commission to ensure food

imports continue to meet existing UK food standards after the transition period.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena:

The approach of HM Government to food standards in trade deals is clear. We

remain firmly committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal

welfare standards. Having left the EU, we will decide how we set and maintain our

own laws, standards and regulations. We will remain global leaders in environmental

protection and animal welfare standards, maintaining the high-quality of our produce

for consumers at home and overseas.

The United Kingdom’s food standards, for both domestic production and imports, are

overseen by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. These

agencies provide independent advice to HM Government and the devolved

administration in Scotland respectively. They will continue to do so in order to ensure

that all food imports comply with the United Kingdom’s high standards.

https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Forganisations%2Fdepartment-for-international-development%2Fabout%2Fstatistics&data=02%7C01%7CO-Ball%40dfid.gov.uk%7Cafe7195e617a4722476508d817f5258c%7Ccdf709af1a184c74bd936d14a64d73b3%7C0%7C0%7C637285688954768440&sdata=RJPJ1wz%2BdZrBEyaa0jVc5KAUJJm1VCX5nuMRGVXfFwM%3D&reserved=0




Decisions on our standards are a matter for the United Kingdom and will be made

separately from any trade agreement. HM Government will stand firm in trade

negotiations to make sure that any future trade deals live up to the values of farmers

and consumers across the United Kingdom.

Trade Agreements


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure

(a) ethical and (b) resilient supply chains are prioritised in (i) her Department's policies

and (ii) future trade agreements.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will take steps to ensure that

the UK is a global champion of (a) ethical trade and (b) doing business with integrity.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure

that supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking in new trade deals.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena:

The United Kingdom is a trading nation and global value chains drive prosperity,

through specialisation, innovation and cheaper products.

We will continue to work with business to fully understand global supply chains that

they are part of – and the opportunities to build in further resilience for the future. Our

future trade agreement programme will reduce barriers to trading with new markets,

and help provide more resilience in doing so. Alongside this, the United Kingdom will

tirelessly fight protectionism and unfair trade practices, including through the G20 and

in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Britain’s values are clear. We are committed to working with international partners

and businesses to tackle modern slavery in global supply chains, as HM Government

believes it is vital that trade is not based on the exploitation nor abuse of workers.

JUSTICE

Judiciary: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training is provided to the judicary on

supporting people in court with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp:

Responsibility for judicial training rests with the Lord Chief Justice and with the Senior

President of Tribunals and is exercised through the Judicial College.

To preserve judicial independence, the judiciary and professional staff in the Judicial

College are responsible for the design, content, and delivery of judicial training.





The Judicial College provides training on vulnerable litigants including those with

learning disabilities for judges and magistrates sitting in criminal, family and youth

courts. In addition, the Equal Treatment Bench Book contains specific guidance for

the judiciary on how to identify and accommodate court users with learning

disabilities.

Legal Aid Scheme: Companies

Karl Turner: [R] [62409]

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

merits of amending the Standard Monthly Payments received by legal aid firms to support

those firms during the covid-19 outbreak.


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

the covid-19 outbreak on the number of housing legal aid providers.


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

merits of allowing legal aid firms to bill more than twice in 12 months for money owed on

cases.

Alex Chalk:

Firms can elect to be paid by either Standard or Variable Monthly Payments,

according to which model may be most advantageous to them. The MoJ continues to

review the potential impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on legal aid providers and to

consider what more might be done to support them. The Legal Aid Agency has

published the details of the current options for financial relief available to providers

during the COVID-19 outbreak at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-relief-for-

legal-aid-practitioners.

The number of active housing legal aid providers is published by the Legal Aid

Agency online, and has remained largely static since the beginning of the COVID-19

outbreak. The outbreak has affected the volume of work available to housing legal aid

firms, and we are closely monitoring this impact.

At present housing advice is available at 434 offices in England and Wales. The

volume of providers holding legal aid contracts at any given time is subject to change

due to market forces and other factors. From March to the present date, 7 offices in

total have ceased to provide housing services, due to reasons not specifically

associated with the effects of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Justice held a consultation on increasing the number of requests for

payment on account that may be made per year. The consultation closed on 16 June

2020, and the limit will be increased from two to four permissible within a twelve-

month period. This will be implemented once the necessary updates to infrastructure

are completed, and the impact of this change will be kept under review.




Legal Ombudsman


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how his Department ensures that the office of

the Legal Ombudsman does not discriminate against people suffering from mental health

issues during the decision making process.

Alex Chalk:

The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) is an arm’s length body – which administers

the Legal Ombudsman scheme (LeO) – and makes decisions in relation to cases

considered under the scheme independently of, and without influence from, the

Ministry of Justice.

We are aware that LeO staff receive training on reasonable adjustments and have

Dedicated Vulnerable Customers Champions to identify customers who may need

additional assistance or reasonable adjustments to access its service. This includes

adjustments for mental health reasons.

The OLC also has a service complaints process, of which the last stage is escalation

to the Service Complaint Adjudicator who is appointed by the Board and independent

of the OLC.

Legal Profession: Disclosure of Information


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

the prevalence of use of non-disclosure agreements by legal professionals; and what

steps his department is taking to help ensure that non-disclosure agreements are not

misused.

Alex Chalk:

The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of Government and legal

professionals are regulated by a number of regulators including the Solicitors

Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB). Legal professionals

must comply with a detailed Code of Conduct, which ensures that high standards of

conduct are met.

The SRA has issued guidance via a warning notice to all regulated individuals and

entities on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The SRA warning notice

confirms that they consider NDAs to be improperly used if they prevent a person from

reporting misconduct, making a protected disclosure, reporting an offence or

cooperating with criminal activity. The SRA has also been taking enforcement action

against solicitors over the misuse of NDAs.

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy has published its

response to views on consultation on confidentiality clauses. This proposes new

legislation to further protect consumers in the provision of such legal services and

deter rogue practice.



Ministry of Justice: Renewable Energy


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) solar panels and (b) wind

turbines have been installed on each of the buildings on his Department's estate in each

of the last five years.

Chris Philp:

The Ministry of Justice is committed to reducing its carbon emissions on a trajectory

to Net Zero by 2050 or sooner; and has already reduced its total emissions by 44%

by 2019-20 compared to 2009-10.

Renewable energy generation will be a key part of the Ministry’s Net Zero Carbon

Strategy. We have purchased 977 solar panels in 2019 and 1307 in 2020 for

installation in 2020-21; and have firm plans to generate even more renewable energy

over the next two years. Surveys at 100 prisons will be completed this financial year

to identify the best opportunities for future installation of renewable technologies.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice installed solar panels at three sites in 2015, 2016

and 2019; and a wind turbine at one site in 2018. Solar panels or wind turbines are

installed at a further 12 sites on the Department’s estate, but these were fitted prior to

the period in question.

Prisoners' Release

Daisy Cooper: [61807]

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

the adequate provision of (a) accommodation and (b) support for prisoners on release.

Lucy Frazer:

Everyone leaving prison should have somewhere safe and secure to live;

accommodation enables offenders to hold down a job and reduces the likelihood of

them reoffending.

We have invested an additional £22m per annum over the remaining life of the

Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts to deliver an enhanced Through

the Gate resettlement service to people leaving prison to prepare them for release.

The enhanced service includes the requirement that CRCs complete specific,

tailored, tasks to help prisoners to secure and maintain settled accommodation, gain

employment and manage debt and their financial affairs. During the Covid period

most of this support is being provided remotely. After a prison sentence, service

users are supervised and supported by Probation Officers in the Community.

As part of its Covid-19 pandemic response, Her Majesty Prison and Probation

Service (HMPPS) have set up seven Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPTs) to

coordinate the sourcing of accommodation for those offenders released early, in

order to ensure no offender is released early without accommodation in place. It has

also put in place an ‘Exceptional Delivery Model’ for CRC services during the current



Covid-19 crisis to ensure that the support an individual requires to address their

criminogenic needs will still be provided during this period.

Additionally, Government has now decided that because of public health concerns

and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide accommodation for a

larger cohort of prison leavers. The Ministry of Justice has secured up to £8.5 million

to support individuals at risk of homelessness on their release from prison for up to

eight weeks and help to move on into permanent accommodation. This scheme was

originally due to run until 26 th June; however, we have recently undertaken our first

review and, following this, have extended the scheme until 31 July.

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2020 to

Question 58798 on Prisoners' Release: Homelessness, what estimate he has made of

how much funding will be required to support the provision of accommodation for all

individuals released from prison who are at risk of homelessness after 26 June 2020.

Lucy Frazer:

The Ministry of Justice has secured up to £8.5 million to support individuals at risk of

homelessness on their release from prison for up to eight weeks and help to move on

into permanent accommodation. This scheme was originally due to run until 26th

June. We have recently undertaken a first review and, following this, have extended

the scheme until 31 July.

This project will help ensure vulnerable ex-offenders at risk of homelessness will get

the vital support they need to stay safe during the COVID-19 period and find suitable

accommodation and continue their rehabilitation during the pandemic. This will help

improve outcomes for ex-offenders and increase the chances of seeing fewer victims

of crime in the future.



Question 58798 on Prisoners' Release: Homelessness, how much funding his

Department has received to support the provision of accommodation for all individuals

released from prison who are at risk of homelessness.

Lucy Frazer:

The Ministry of Justice has secured £8.5 million to support individuals at risk of

homelessness on their release from prison for up to eight weeks and help to move on

into permanent accommodation. This scheme was originally due to run until 26 June.

We have recently undertaken a review and, following this, have extended the scheme

until 31 July.

This project will help ensure vulnerable ex-offenders at risk of homelessness will get

the vital support they need to stay safe during the COVID-19 period and find suitable

accommodation and continue their rehabilitation during the pandemic. This will help



improve outcomes for ex-offenders and increase the chances of seeing fewer victims

of crime in the future.

Prisoners' Release: Housing



Question 58798 on Prisoners' Release: Homelessness, whether his Department has a

long-term plan to address the lack of accommodation for prison leavers; and if he will

make a statement.

Lucy Frazer:

It is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere stable and secure to live. This

provides a platform for ex-offenders to be able to access the services and support

needed to turn their backs on crime for good. In a series of measures, the

Government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing that need.

Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service

(NPS) are required to facilitate access to housing for the offenders under their

supervision. This includes working together with local partners to help offenders find

and maintain accommodation as part of a package of support tailored to meet their

individual needs.

We have invested an extra £22 million per annum over the remaining life of the CRC

contracts to ensure that CRCs deliver an enhanced “Through-the-Gate” service for

offenders leaving prison. Alongside this investment we have introduced a new

“Through-the-Gate” specification which will ensure that CRCs complete specific

tasks, including helping every prisoner to secure and maintain settled

accommodation.

In addition, through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy we are investing up

to £6.4 million in a pilot scheme to support individuals released from three prisons:

Bristol, Leeds and Pentonville. Services have been in operation within all three areas

since last summer, with the first individuals now being supported into accommodation

following release. When the pilot has been evaluated, we will analyse the lessons

learned and this will inform future provision of accommodation for all ex-offenders.

HMPPS are well underway to developing an Accommodation Framework that sets

out their responsibilities, their partners responsibilities and a framework for how to

build on success and work together with partners to ensure that offenders are able to

access and maintain settled accommodation.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Government has decided that, because of

public health and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide

accommodation for a larger cohort of prison leavers. While this scheme is an

immediate response to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness during this

period, we are keen to utilise the learning gathered from it to help develop longer-

term improvements. We will draw on that learning as we develop and roll out our

wider reforms to probation services.


Remand in Custody

Mr David Lammy: [62280]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to prioritise cases in

which a person on remand has a Custody Time Limit that (a) has expired and (b) is about

to expire.

Chris Philp:

HMCTS is working closely with the Judiciary and criminal justice agencies to ensure

that cases that need to be prioritised can be. The introduction of emergency

legislation enabling the courts to make greater use of audio and video technology for

any preliminary hearings where appropriate, has ensured that priority cases,

including custody cases, have been heard.

The prioritisation of cases and trials is a judicial decision and the senior judiciary has

issued the following guidance:

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Note-on-Listing-Magistrates-

SPJ-DSPJ-14.04.20-FINAL.pdf

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/27032020_Protocol-for-CTL-

cases_FINAL-signed-1.pdf

Reoffenders: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: [61698]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders who have been recalled to

prison since the practice of quarantining new entrants was introduced have spent the

entire period of their recall in isolation.

Lucy Frazer:

Prisons in England and Wales have closely followed guidance issued by Her

Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and public health authorities to

protect prisoners and staff. Building on best available evidence to protect the most

vulnerable and reduce transmission of infection, new cohorting strategies were

developed by HMPPS (advised by public health authorities) and implemented from

31 March. This strategy includes quarantining new arrivals to prisons in reverse

cohorting units (RCU).

We do not hold the requested data centrally. However, new receptions into prison

from court and recalls have only been accepted into prisons where there is adequate

space for them to be held separately for 14 days. If the period of recall is 14 days or

less a prisoner would be required to spend their entire period of recall in an RCU.


https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Note-on-Listing-Magistrates-SPJ-DSPJ-14.04.20-FINAL.pdf



https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/27032020_Protocol-for-CTL-cases_FINAL-signed-1.pdf




Social Entitlement Chamber: Video Conferencing

Ian Murray: [62390]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to provide the option of hearings

by video link for all appeal hearings in the Social Entitlement Chamber (First-tier Tribunal

(Social Security and Child Support)).

Ian Murray: [62391]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals in the Social Entitlement

Chamber (First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support)) have been heard by

video link during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp:

HM Courts & Tribunals Service is working hard to keep our justice system functioning

during this unprecedented public health emergency. We are focusing on priority

cases, changing working practices and introducing new procedures to minimise risks

to the judiciary, staff and all those who use our courts and tribunals.

In line with government guidance, face to face hearings in the First-tier Tribunal

(Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) have been replaced with telephone

hearings and the use of other remote hearing technology to facilitate as many

hearings as possible being held remotely. All parties to the hearings are being

contacted directly to confirm new hearing arrangements.

After a number of successful tests, arrangements are currently being made to

introduce and make available Cloud Video Platform (CVP) hearings in all SSCS

Tribunal regions. The decision as to how a hearing is conducted is a matter for the

judge who will determine how best to uphold the interests of justice. In considering

the suitability of video/audio, judges will consider issues such as the benefit type

under appeal, the nature of the matters at stake during the hearing and any issues

the use of video/audio technology may present for participants in the hearing.

The latest period for which official statistics about SSCS appeals are available is up

to March 2020. Up until that time no SSCS hearings had taken place by video link

due to Covid-19.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics

Wayland Prison: Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May to Question

41404 on Prison Accommodation: Technology, when his Department plans to publish the

report on the digital technology pilot at HMP Wayland, undertaken by research team led

by Dr Emma Palmer.

Lucy Frazer:

The report titled: ‘Evaluation of digital technology in prisons’, is going through final

assurance processes and we expect to publish in the coming weeks.




NORTHERN IRELAND

EU Grants and Loans: Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood: [62696]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking

to ensure that EU structural funding for Northern Ireland is replaced by other Government

funding after the end of the transition period.

Mr Robin Walker:

The UK Government is committed to strengthening the Union, levelling up every part

of the UK and has committed to replacing EU Structural Funds with the UK Shared

Prosperity Fund. The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local

areas on the future of local growth funding and of providing clarity on the UKSPF. We

remain committed to creating the UKSPF to succeed European structural funds and

provide vital investment across the UK as we support the recovery, renewal and

levelling up of local economies following Covid-19. Now we have left the European

Union, we have an opportunity to replace European structural funds with a UKSPF

which binds together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and

deprivation in each of our four nations. The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed

to, at minimum, matching current levels of funding for each nation from EU structural

funds.

Over the coming weeks, the Government will be assessing the impact of Covid-19

and how best to support economic recovery. We will need to work closely as one

United Kingdom to understand the changing needs of local and regional economies

and tailor our response to the impact of Covid-19. We have a real opportunity through

the UKSPF to design a fund that is driven by domestic priorities. The Government will

set out further plans for the fund at the Comprehensive Spending Review.

SCOTLAND

Unemployment: Scotland

Chris Elmore: [61551]

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

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on trends in the level of unemployment in

Scotland in the last three years.

Mr Alister Jack:

I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a

range of matters, including trends in the level of unemployment in Scotland.

The UK Government recognises that this is a challenging time for Scotland. This is

why the Chancellor has committed an unprecedented package of support. This

includes a range of loan schemes and grants and, in particular, the Job Retention

and Self-Employment Support Schemes which have protected the incomes of almost



800,000 people in Scotland – more than a quarter of the workforce. I am delighted

that the Job Retention Scheme has now been extended to October.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels: Public Consultation

Matt Vickers: [60892]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2020 to

Question 46196, on Biofuels: Public Consultation, if his Department will publish the (a)

responses to the consultation received from the public and (b) the Government's

response and next steps before the 2020 summer recess.

Rachel Maclean:

As is the normal practice the Department will publish a summary of all responses to

the consultation. The Department is working hard to publish this summary, as part of

the Government response setting out next steps, as early as possible this year.

However, taking into account that the consultation only closed last month it will not

possible to publish the Government response before summer recess.

Department for Transport: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on (a)

opinion polling and (b) focus groups in each month since January 2019.

Chris Heaton-Harris:

The information requested could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

Owen Thompson: [62521]

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

and Vehicle Licensing Agency on extending provisional driving licence expiry dates in

response to the unavailability of driving tests during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean:

Provisional driving entitlement is usually valid until a driver reaches the age of 70 and

the photocard must be renewed every ten years. There are no plans to extend these

dates.

Customers can renew their photocard licence online or by post. The Driver and

Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services have continued to operate as

normal throughout the pandemic. However, paper applications are taking longer to

process as they must be dealt with in person and the DVLA currently has a reduced

number of staff on-site to comply with social distancing requirements and ensure staff

safety.




M67: Bridges


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timescale is for the reconstruction of

the bridge at St Anne’s Road, Denton at Junction 2 of the M67; and if he will make a

statement.

Rachel Maclean:

The timing of the delivery of the project is subject to a number of factors involving

other parties. Highways England intends to commence survey work between July and

December 2020.

Enabling works, including opening the closed section of St Anne’s Road to allow

implementation of the diversion route, are intended to start in April 2021.

The aim is to start the main demolition and construction work in October 2021, with

construction lasting for two years.

M67: Litter


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

England on removing litter on the Junction 2 on-sliproad to the M67 in Denton.

Rachel Maclean:

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no such discussions with Highways

England on removing litter at Junction 2 on-slip road to the M67 in Denton.

Highways England have confirmed that any restoration measures are required to take

place within the timescales set out in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. This

states that any areas with special circumstances that falls below grade B, such as

carriageways, verges and central reservations of motorways and trunk roads, must

be restored back to grade A standard within twenty-eight days or as soon as

reasonably practicable. Highways England expect to remove litter from the entry slip

road within the next three weeks.

Public Transport: Concessions


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he undertook an equality impact

assessment of the suspension of free travel for under-18s in London.

Rachel Maclean:

The Department for Transport is working with Transport for London to identify how

the temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s in London can be implemented.

This includes undertaking an equality impact assessment of the proposal.




Public Transport: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made requests to (a) train

operating companies and (b) Transport for London to undertake customer surveys to

estimate the level of demand for public transport as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are

eased.


The Secretary of State has not asked train operating companies nor Transport for

London to undertake customer surveys to estimate the level of demand for public

transport as restrictions are eased.

Demand for public transport is being monitored daily through ticket sales data, and

through tube entries/exits and bus boarding numbers for Transport for London. This

gives a more granular and time-sensitive assessment of demand than would be

possible through surveys. This information is published each week on the gov.uk

website and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-

use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

Railways: Franchises

Ms Karen Buck: [60673]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each train company with a franchise

agreement has been asked by his Department to undertake a review of its approach to

capital spending in relation to (a) asset maintenance and (b) enhancement.


The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) require operators to act in a

commercial manner in relation to the management of revenues and costs.

Roads: Accidents


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving cars

there were in Herefordshire in 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving

motorcycles there were in Herefordshire in 2019.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving bicycles



To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving

pedestrians there were in Herefordshire in 2019.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic









To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving lorries


Rachel Maclean:

The latest annual published statistics are for 2018. Detailed final data on reported

personal injury road accidents in Great Britain for 2019 will be published in

September 2020.

The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving cars, injured

pedestrians, pedal cycles, motorcycles and HGVs in Herefordshire in 2018 can be

found in the below table:

REPORTED ROAD ACCIDENTS BY ROAD USER TYPE INVOLVED,

HEREFORDSHIRE, 2018

Road user type involved Number of accidents

Car 1 302

Injured pedestrian 42

Pedal Cycle 41

Motorcycle 40

HGV 15

Source: DfT, STATS19

1. Includes cars and taxis

TREASURY

Covid-19 Education Catch-up Fund

Ian Murray: [62389]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Barnett consequentials are for

Scotland with regards to the £1 billion education catch-up fund announced on 19 June

2020.

Steve Barclay:

Any new funding for the Department for Education will have the Barnett formula

applied to it in the usual way.



Economic Situation: Coronavirus


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of

the long term financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on (a) women, (b) BAME workers,

(c) self employed workers and (d) gig economy workers.

Jesse Norman:

It is too early to assess the long-term financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on

individual groups, but the Government recognises the challenges that the current

crisis is posing to all groups in society, including the most vulnerable.

The Government has delivered an unprecedented package of support, including the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme,

and increases to Universal Credit. This has helped protect incomes, jobs, and

support those most in need.

The Government remains committed to supporting the lowest-paid workers and

helping unemployed people go back into work, and the Government is continuing to

review what can be done to support those most vulnerable to job loss and to aid the

UK’s economic recovery.

Employment: Government Assistance

Sir David Amess: [62244]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support he plans to offer new

starters who cannot claim under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and have (a)

been denied furlough pay by their previous employer and (b) are not eligible for universal

credit.

Jesse Norman:

It has not been possible to include in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

individuals for whom HMRC had not received a Real Time Information submission

notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before the 19 March, as this

would have significantly increased the risk of fraud.

Individuals with sufficient National Insurance contributions who have lost their job

may be entitled to support from the welfare system, notably new style Jobseeker’s

Allowance, which does not assess capital or partner income.

The Government has introduced wider measures to support those who may be in

difficulty during the Covid-19 crisis, including mortgage holidays, a pause on

evictions, hardship funds from local authorities, and help with utility bills.



Investment Income: Coronavirus

Bill Esterson: [62422]

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

companies have paid dividends while in receipt of the Government's covid-19 support

packages.

Kemi Badenoch:

Government support is aimed at businesses in genuine need. Our current measures

are well-targeted at such businesses, bearing in mind the need to act very quickly to

deliver this unprecedented package. We expect everyone to act responsibly and in

the spirit of the package, and only claim and use support as intended. The

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for example provides compensation for

the cost of paying furloughed workers –money that goes directly to the pockets of

workers who might otherwise lose their jobs, whilst Business Rates reductions and

Local Authority grant schemes are targeted at sectors which are facing severe

hardship. The Government is keeping all measures under constant review.

Companies borrowing more than £50million through the Coronavirus Large Business

Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) or accessing the Covid Corporate Financing

Facility (CCFF) beyond 19 May 2021, face restrictions on dividend payments, capital

distributions and senior pay.

Protective Clothing: VAT

Dave Doogan: [62601]

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

merits of making items of personal protective equipment exempt from VAT (a) in the short

term to support businesses in protecting staff and customers as covid-19 lockdown

restrictions are eased and (b) permanently to support health spending over the longer

term.

Jesse Norman:

A temporary zero-rate of VAT applies to sales of Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE) for protection from infection from 1 May 2020 until 31 July 2020. The

temporary relief has been introduced as an urgent response to the coronavirus

emergency. Its main objective is to relieve businesses, particularly in the healthcare

and residential care sectors, of the burden of tax on essential infection protection

equipment needed to deal with the emergency.

All taxes are kept under review and Government will reassess the situation in the

future.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Paul Blomfield: [62420]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that taxpayers

who are unable to make an application for the Self Employment Grant Scheme




themselves can have their application submitted by a third party already appointed as

their agent.

Jesse Norman:

The new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) helps those adversely

affected by COVID-19. By midnight 21 June 2020, HMRC had received 2.6m claims

representing a total of £7.6bn claimed.

HMRC recognise the important role that agents play in supporting people who are

self-employed. Due to the speed at which HMRC are delivering the SEISS it has not

been possible to offer agents the ability to claim on behalf of their clients. However,

the process has been designed to be as simple as possible, and HMRC do all the

calculations for taxpayers.

Anyone who cannot apply online can contact HMRC by telephone to submit their

claim.

Third Sector: Coronavirus


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

of the Government's financial support to organisations in the voluntary, community and

social enterprise sectors during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Government has announced unprecedented support for public services, workers

and businesses to protect against the current economic emergency. Organisations in

the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors continue to have access the

support packages that the Government has made available.

The Government has set out a £750 million package of support for charities providing

key services and supporting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis. Part of

the funding for charities is being disbursed with £360 million directly allocated by

government departments. The most up to date information is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-

sector#government-financial-support-for-charities. Our aim is to get funding to those

in greatest need as soon as possible.

Charities also have access to cross-cutting support already announced including the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which enables them to furlough staff with the

government paying 80% of wages, and VAT deferral.

Organisations that are not eligible for the charity support package could be able to

access the other substantial government support that has been made available.

Support for organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors,

remains under constant review.


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector#government-financial-support-for-charities



Tourism: Employment

Anna McMorrin: [62560]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to protect jobs in the (a)

travel and (b) tourism industries, which operate domestic and overseas school trips,

beyond the current scheduled end date of the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme and

to allow companies to plan for the future in the event restrictions on (i) domestic and (ii)

overseas school trips remain in place.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to

protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of

guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Travel and tourism businesses continue

to have access to a range of support measures including, but not limited to:

• A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality

businesses in England

• Small business grant funding (SBGF) of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small

business rate relief or rural rate relief

• The retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund (RHLGF)

• A Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in England

• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

• The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)

• The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises

• VAT deferral for up to 12 months

• The Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with

outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs

• Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-

payment until June 30, 2020 – with an option for the Government to extend if

needed.

The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses

can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to

apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

On 11 May the Government published its COVID-19 recovery strategy which sets out

our plan for moving to the next phase of our response. The strategy sets out a

cautious roadmap for easing existing measures in a safe and measured way. On 23

June the Government announced that elements of the tourism industry in England,

such as hotels and guesthouses – that meet the required social distancing and public

health measures – can reopen from 4 July. Options for overseas travel are currently

being reviewed.


https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

Apsana Begum: [61616]

To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, with reference to Public Health

England's report, Beyond the data: understanding the impact of covid-19 on BAME

groups, published June 2020, what plans he has to to implement the recommendations

on reducing the risk to black Asian Minority Ethnic, BAME, people catching and dying of

covid-19.

Kemi Badenoch:

On 4 June the Government announced its next steps following the Public Health

England (PHE) Report, ‘Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19’, which

was published on 2 June.

PHE also engaged with a significant number of individuals and organisations within

the BAME community to hear their views about the impact of COVID-19. This work

informed a separate report, ‘Beyond the Data: understanding the impact of COVID-19

on BAME groups’, which was published on 16 June 2020.

Many of the recommendations from the second report are already in train. For

example, NHS Employers has published – and continues to update – robust

occupational risk assessment tools; and the Race Disparity Unit continues to work to

with Covid teams across Departments to improve communications, outreach and

engagement with ethnic minority communities. Furthermore, many of the

recommendations are being taken forward through the terms of reference published

on 4 June. This includes steps to assess and improve the quality of data collected by

ethnicity; and further strengthening and improving public health communications to

ensure they can reach and inform all communities across the country.

It's critical that Government takes into account the voices of people who are impacted

by our actions. It's also critical that Departments base their actions on robust

evidence, so that we can be sure that they will have a positive impact.

Gender Recognition: Health Services

Barbara Keeley: [62358]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on reducing waiting times for NHS gender

identity services.

Kemi Badenoch:

As with many issues, the Government Equalities Office and Department for Health

and Social Care continue to engage on this matter.

We are aware that waiting times for Gender Identity Services are currently very long

and we are working with NHS England to help address this. In 2019, NHS England

began work on changing services to establish a more modern, flexible care model to



support adult transgender people. Procurement is underway and clinics meeting new

service specifications will be in place in this year, subject to changes caused by the

COVID-19 response. The intention is to move routine gender identity service away

from specialist centres, to more local provision.

Racial Discrimination

Kate Osamor: [62534]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish the (a) terms of

reference for and (b) names of the (i) chair and (ii) commission members of the

commission on race.

Kemi Badenoch:

On 14 June, the Prime Minister announced a new Commission on Race and Ethnic

Disparities. The Commission will drive forward work to understand why disparities

exist, what works to address disparities and what does not, and will present

recommendations for action across Government and other public bodies, bridging the

gap between data and policy. It will report by the end of the year. The aim of the

Commission is to set out a new, positive agenda for change - balancing the needs of

individuals, communities and society, maximising opportunities and ensuring fairness

for all. The terms of reference, and names of the chair and commission members will

be published in due course.

WORK AND PENSIONS

[Subject Heading to be Assigned]

Mr Barry Sheerman: [903799]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure

that health and safety standards are maintained in meat processing plants throughout the

UK.

Mims Davies:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcement of the Health

and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in Great Britain. HSE Northern Ireland has a similar

responsibility in Northern Ireland.

HSE is not the regulator of food safety. The regulatory lead for public health matters,

such as responding when workers in meat processing plant test positive for Covid-19,

remains with public health bodies.

HSE has published guidance on health and safety in meat processing and other food

businesses and regulated standards in this industry through operational activity,

including inspections and investigating concerns raised by workers and incidents

where there has been harm: https://www.hse.gov.uk/food/index.htm.



https://www.hse.gov.uk/food/index.htm

https://www.hse.gov.uk/food/index.htm

During the pandemic, HSE has worked with other government departments to

provide additional guidance on health and safety risk controls appropriate to food

production businesses, including meat processing:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/adapting-food-manufacturing-operations-

during-covid-19.

Department for Work and Pensions: Correspondence

Marion Fellows: [49728]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time

was for Ministers of her Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in

each month in the last two years.

Mims Davies:

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department has a target of responding within

20 working days where a response is required.

As you will understand, the Department is currently dealing with unprecedented

volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent

cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide

substantive responses in as short a time as possible.

All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be

responded to as soon as possible.

Employment Support Allowance

Debbie Abrahams: [59468]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of

claimants in receipt of employment support allowance died between (a) March and May

2020 and (b) March and May 2019.

Justin Tomlinson:

This information is not readily available and could only be provided at

disproportionate cost.

Income Support



claimants in receipt of income support died between (a) March and May 2020 and (b)

March and May 2019.



claimants in receipt of jobseeker's allowance died between (a) March and May 2020 and

(b) March and May 2019.

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/adapting-food-manufacturing-operations-during-covid-19







Mims Davies:



Pensions: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department

has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the future retirement income of (a)

women, (b) BAME workers, (c) self employed workers and (d) gig economy workers.

Guy Opperman:

Helping people to save for their futures remains a key priority for this Government.

We have put in place an unprecedented package of support to strengthen job and

income security during the emergency to help workers, including those

disproportionately affected, to better manage costs during the crisis, while supporting

longer term financial resilience.

We are monitoring the impacts of covid-19 on workplace pension participation and

saving levels and are working closely with the pensions industry and across

government to understand the impact of the emergency. However, at this stage, it is

not possible to draw robust conclusions on the impact of covid-19 including the

impact on the self-employed, women and BAME.

Pensions: Income


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department taking

to tackle the gap in pension income for (a) people who are BAME, (b) women and (c) low

paid earners.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department

made of the potential merits of lowering the annual earnings necessary for auto-

enrolment to the National Insurance lower earnings limit of £6240.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is

taking to increase the proportion of BAME workers who are part of the workplace

pensions system.

Guy Opperman:

The level of earnings at which workers are automatically enrolled (the earnings

trigger) is subject to an annual statutory review. The review includes analysis of the

equalities impact and an assessment of reducing the trigger to the National Insurance

threshold.





Since 2014/15, the annual reviews have concluded that the earnings trigger be frozen

at £10,000. People earning below the trigger have a right to opt in, and if they are

earning above the lower earnings limit (£6,240 in 2020-21) they will receive an

employer contribution.

Automatic enrolment has hugely increased women’s pension participation,

participation across all ethnic groups, and among lower earners. Among eligible

women in the private sector, participation has increased from 40% in 2012 to 86% in

2019, equal to men. Among eligible employees in the private sector earning between

£10,000 and £20,000, 19% were participating into a workplace pension in 2012. As of

2019, this rate had increased to 79%, a 60 percentage point increase.

Personal Independence Payment



total claimants in receipt of personal independence payment died between (a) March and

May 2020, and (b) March and May 2019.

Justin Tomlinson:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is claimed by people with a range of health

conditions and disabilities, many of which are degenerative or life limiting and the

Department treats the death of any claimant sympathetically. The cause of death of

claimants to PIP is not collated centrally by the Department.

Table 1 below shows for each month from March 2019 – May 2019 and March 2020

– April 2020: (a) The number of PIP claimants with entitlement to PIP who died

having had entitlement on the last day of each month.

(b) The total number of PIP claims with entitlement on the last day each month.

(c) The percentage of claimants entitled to PIP who died in each month which is

calculated by dividing (a) the number of claimant deaths in each month by (b) the

total number of PIP claims with entitlement in the same month.

Note that April 2020 is the latest month for which data is available.

Table 1: Summary of PIP claimants with entitlement who died from March 2019

– May 2019 and March 2020 – April 2020

MONTH

Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Mar-20 Apr-20

(a) Number of

PIP Claimant

Deaths

4,650 4,580 4,460 5,880 6,180

(b) Total PIP

Claims with

2,098,090 2,113,170 2,134,400 2,455,300 2,485,60

0


MONTH

entitlement

(c) Death rate of

PIP claimants

with entitlement

0.22% 0.22% 0.21% 0.24% 0.25%

Source: PIP ADS and Customer Information System and Stat-Xplore

Notes:

• This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to

future revision.

• PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants, and

is for both new claims and DLA reassessment claims.

• Data for the number of claimant deaths has been sourced from the PIP ADS and

the Customer Information System and data for the number of total PIP claims with

entitlement has been sourced from Stat-Xplore.

• Number of claimants has been rounded to the nearest 10 and the data for the

death rate of claimants has been rounded to the nearest 0.01%.

• Claimants’ dates of death are as recorded on the system at 12 th June 2020 and

may be subject to retrospection.

• GB only

Under the Social Security (Notification of Deaths) Regulations 2012 and s125 of

Social Security Administration Act 1992 date of death is provided to the Department

for all registered deaths. Additionally, next of kin also provide information on the date

of death of an individual and this information is used appropriately in the

administration of Departmental benefits.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Kirsten Oswald: [62486]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend the temporary

suspension of sanctioning in the welfare system beyond 30 June 2020.

Mims Davies:

We made the decision to temporarily suspend the requirement for face-to-face

Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, New Style

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), old-

style JSA and ESA, and Income Support.

Arrangements after the 30th June will be communicated in due course.


Social Security Benefits: Medical Assessments

Philip Davies: [61450]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to

review the suspension of face-to-face (a) work capability and (b) personal independence

payment assessments during the covid-19 outbreak.

Justin Tomlinson:

Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public

and staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and

safely. Face to face assessments remain suspended while we review what activity we

can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice. We will

confirm next steps as soon as possible.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Ian Murray: [62392]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a)

universal credit and (b) legacy benefits in Scotland had awards that were reduced by the

tariff income rules (i) before and (ii) after the covid-19 pandemic was declared.

Will Quince:

The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Thriving At Work Leadership Council

Andy McDonald: [62441]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has made to

include trades union representation on the Thriving at Work Leadership Council.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Leadership Council was originally formed to provide an opportunity for senior

business leaders to drive implementation of the core standards from the Stevenson /

Farmer review. It is an independently-chaired body. As membership is reviewed and

evolves there may be scope to consider additional representatives.

Universal Credit



claimants in receipt of the limited capability for work component of universal credit died

(a) from March to May 2020 and (b) from March to May 2019.

Justin Tomlinson:







Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Rushanara Ali: [43914]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish her Department's

assessment of the effect of the £20 a week uplift to universal credit during the covid-19

outbreak.

Will Quince:

[Holding answer 15 May 2020]: The Department has insufficient data at this time to

estimate the effect of increasing the four standard allowances in Universal Credit by

£20 a week in 2020/21.

Universal Credit: Fraud

Derek Twigg: [62300]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at what stage his Department's

investigations into cases of universal credit scams for claimants in Halton constituency

are; and when those claimants will have their benefits restored.

Will Quince:

The Department does not hold this data by constituency and to provide it would incur

disproportionate costs.

Work Capability Assessments

Philip Davies: [61453]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability

assessments have been completed in each month since 1 February 2020.

Justin Tomlinson:

Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment

(WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering the number and

outcome of completed initial and repeat WCAs, by month of completed assessment

up to December 2019, can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-

outcomes-of-work-capability-assessment

Additional breakdowns of the ESA WCA figures can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Guidance for users is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

The statistics for completed assessments to March 2020 and June 2020 will be

published in September and December 2020 respectively.

Statistics on Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit claimants are

intended for publication in the near future as Official Statistics.




https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessment







MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

JUSTICE

Prison Accommodation: Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if an evaluation of the pilots of in-cell technology

in (a) HMP Wayland and (b) HMP Berwyn has been completed.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 7 May 2020. The correct

answer should have been:

Lucy Frazer:

The University of Leicester completedpublished their Evaluation of Digital

Technology in Prisons, (Palmer, Hatcher and Tonkin) in 2019, which covered the

pilots in HMP Wayland but did not includeand HMP Berwyn. The intention is to

publish this shortly.

The pilots saw the introduction of laptops to both prisons which give access to prison-

related notices, communication and rules, mental health advice and education

materials. Prisoners also have some access to self-service tools, which helps to

reduce the administrative burden on prison staff. This platform is monitored daily for

usage and through digital feedback from prisoners and staff.

The evaluation indicated found that staff and prisoners viewed the presence of

digital technology as an incentive for good behaviour and the implementation of the

technology, particularly the in-cell telephones, was seen to have had reduced the

potential for tension on the wings, and perceived levels of conflict.


WRITTEN STATEMENTS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Energy Infrastructure Planning Projects

Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth) (Kwasi Kwarteng):

[HCWS315]

This Statement concerns applications made by Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK)

Limited and Norfolk Vanguard Limited for development consent for the installation,

operation and maintenance of, respectively, the proposed Hornsea Project Three and

Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farms, their related offshore infrastructure off the coast

of Norfolk and their related onshore electrical connections within that county.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a

decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the Examining Authority’s

report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline.

Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a Statement to

Parliament to announce it. The statutory decision deadline for Hornsea Project Three

offshore wind farm was re-set by Written Ministerial Statements on 8 October 2019 and

23 January 2020. The deadline for the decision on the Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind

farm was reset by Written Ministerial Statement on 23 January 2020. The reset deadline

for both applications was 1 June 2020.

The Secretary of State has decided to set a new deadline of 1 July 2020 for deciding

these two applications to allow further consideration to be given to the environmental

information received by the Secretary of State following consultation on both applications.

The decision to set the new deadlines for these applications is without prejudice to the

decisions on whether to grant or refuse development consents for them.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Covid-19 update

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock): [HCWS312]

Reducing healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection is a top priority. Today, the NHS has

set out plans for testing of NHS staff. This includes continuing to prioritise testing of all

NHS staff with symptoms, asymptomatic regular testing of staff in situations where there

is an incident, outbreak or high prevalence and regular surveillance testing across all

staff. Under the risk-based approach advised by clinical experts, we are continually

reviewing clinical evidence to ensure regular testing of asymptomatic staff is undertaken

where appropriate. The CMO’s advice is that this is currently best done through a survey,

which monitors prevalence in NHS staff. This survey, which will be expanded over the

coming months, helps us to determine where wider asymptomatic staff testing is needed.

Clinical advice is to focus intensive asymptomatic testing in those areas or settings

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-25/HCWS315/



identified to have high prevalence. This dynamic approach which responds to risk is

essential as when prevalence is very low, the risk of misleading results is higher and this

can undermine the value of testing. We will continue to keep clinical advice under review.

I also want to clarify a point on the predominant reason for the minority of positive cases

that do not go into the NHS test and trace scheme. On June 17 th I set out that they are

largely in-patients in hospital and therefore testing and tracing in the normal sense does

not apply. Testing and tracing is different for hospital in-patients than for the general

public, as contact tracing is usually done by the hospital rather than by NHS Test and

Trace contact tracers. Local hospital infection control teams are often best placed to do

the contact tracing for inpatients as these individuals may not be in a position to be able

to communicate their contacts and hospitals will have a clear list of patients on wards,

staff and shift patterns. This is standard practice for other infections. The data from these

hospital in-patients do enter the NHS Test and Trace system. Positive cases who are not

contacted by the contact tracing system are either those who do not respond to repeated

attempts to make contact (through phone, SMS and email contacts) or for whom NHS

Test and Trace has incorrect contact details. Further data will be set out by NHS Test and

Trace tomorrow in the normal way.

HOME OFFICE

Surveillance Camera Commissioner – Annual Report

The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service (Kit Malthouse):

[HCWS314]

My Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying the 2018/19 Annual Report of the

Surveillance Camera Commissioner before the House, as required by section 35 of the

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner is an independent role appointed under section

34 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

The Annual Report covers the exercise of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s

statutory functions over the year to 31 March 2019 and provides a comprehensive update

on the progress made against the National Surveillance Camera Strategy for England

and Wales, which the Commissioner published in March 2017.

Copies of the report will be available from the Vote Office.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Planning update

Minister of State for Housing (Christopher Pincher): [HCWS316]

Responding to Covid – 19 – temporary measures to ease restrictions on the

planning system




Today the Government has introduced the Business and Planning Bill in

Parliament. The Bill responds to the Covid-19 emergency and brings forward

temporary changes to the planning system to support economic recovery. This

statement sets out supporting temporary measures that the Government proposes

to ensure the planning system continues to operate effectively.

Online inspection of documents

The effects of Covid-19 mean that it is not possible for everyone to enter public buildings

safely to access certain planning documents made available for inspection. The

Government has made clear [Written Ministerial Statement, 13 May 2020 ‘ Virtual working

and planning – Responding to Covid – 19 Restrictions ’] that online inspection of

documents should be the default position. It has already made secondary legislation

providing temporary flexibility for consultation and publicity requirements for planning

applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA) and for

Environmental Impact Assessment development under the TCPA in relation to

environmental statements.

This statement makes clear, for the regimes addressed below, how the Government

expects local authorities, applicants and the Mayor of London to meet the requirements

for making documents available for inspection by the public whilst social distancing

restrictions apply. Everyone involved in the planning process is expected to engage

proactively in the move to online inspection of documents and to consider the practical

measures needed to ensure fair participation. When it becomes possible for documents

to be made available for inspection in public buildings again, then the Government

expects this to be done as soon as practicable.

Compulsory purchase orders (CPOs)

There are requirements in the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 for newspaper and site

notices to provide details of a place where copies of CPOs and associated maps can be

inspected, both prior to submission of the CPO to the confirming authority and when it is

confirmed. Provisions in secondary legislation requiring inspection of documents are

similar, and in some cases require documents to be provided on request. It is the

Government’s view that these legislative requirements can be satisfied by the acquiring

authority making a copy of the order and map available for inspection on a website. Hard

copies of documents should be provided by the acquiring authority on request. The

Government has published updated planning guidance in relation to the compulsory

purchase process which can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-

covid-19-compulsory-purchase-guidance.

Development consent orders (DCOs)

The Planning Act 2008, relating to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP),

requires that at the pre-application stage the Statement of Community Consultation must

be made available for inspection. At the post-consent stage, where a Development

Consent Order grants authority to acquire compulsorily an interest in land, the Act

requires that a copy of the DCO must be made available for inspection.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-compulsory-purchase-guidance



It is the Government’s view that these requirements can be met by making documents

available for inspection online. It expects applicants to take reasonable steps to ensure

that anyone wishing to view the documentation can find these documents online. Hard

copies should be made available by the applicant on request.

For the NSIP regime there are other provisions in secondary legislation relating to

consultation and publicity requirements. The Government intends to bring forward

secondary legislation shortly to replace temporarily the requirement for documents to be

made available for inspection in a place, with a requirement for documents to be made

available online.

Planning appeals

For planning appeals there are provisions in secondary legislation for consultation and

publicity requirements, and the Government is considering whether these should be

amended to enable more to be undertaken by digital processes, similar to the flexibilities

already brought in for planning applications under the TCPA. The Government expects

local planning authorities, appellants, the Planning Inspectorate and other parties to be

proactive in their use of digital processes for consultation and publicity.

Local development documents

When preparing Local Development Documents, local planning authorities are required to

make certain documents available for inspection at their principal office, and other places

that they consider appropriate, and provide copies of the plan or strategy to a person that

requests one. In addition, local planning authorities must publish the document on their

website. The Government intends to bring forward secondary legislation shortly to

remove temporarily the requirement for local planning authorities to make these

documents available for inspection at their offices and other places, as well as the

requirement for these documents to be provided on request. Local planning authorities

will need to ensure that these documents are made available on their website.

Spatial development strategies

The Business and Planning Bill amends the provisions in the Greater London Authority

Act 1999 that require the Mayor of London to make the Spatial Development Strategy

(SDS) available for physical inspection at certain locations and to provide a copy on

request.

The Bill will remove these requirements provided that the Mayor makes the current SDS

available by appropriate electronic means. The Mayor will be required to have regard to

any guidance issued by the Secretary of State on arrangements that may be appropriate

for those who do not have internet access.

There are also similar provisions in secondary legislation that apply for the Mayor of

London and combined authorities who have been conferred the power to make a spatial

development strategy. The Government intends to bring forward secondary legislation

shortly to temporarily disapply requirements for these documents to be made available for

inspection at their offices and enable them to be made available online.

Extending development consents

The Business and Planning Bill includes a provision to extend certain planning

permissions and consents under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. There are

already established routes to make changes to DCOs and it is the Government’s view

that these routes can be used to extend commencement periods in certain

circumstances. Developers can submit applications for non-material or material changes

to the relevant Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can also make a material

change to a DCO in exceptional circumstances. The Government expects developers to

take proactive steps to ensure that applications to extend DCOs are submitted in

sufficient time and the Government will actively engage with any such applications.

JUSTICE

Final Report of the MoJ Expert Panel on Harm in the Family Courts and

Implementation Plan

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Chalk): [HCWS313]

In May 2019, the Ministry of Justice established a panel of experts to lead a review into

how the family courts deal with risk of harm to children and parents in private law children

cases involving domestic abuse and other serious offences. The panel held a call for

evidence over the summer of 2019, which received submissions from over 1,200

individuals and organisations with experience of the family justice system. As well as

receiving testimonies through written submissions, the panel held a series of focus

groups and roundtables across England and Wales. It is due to the wealth of evidence

gathered that the panel took the necessary time to evaluate and discuss their findings,

which I now present to the House.

I would first like to acknowledge the dedication of all those who work in the family justice

system. I have seen first-hand how they have to make difficult decisions about the best

interests of the child with the information available to them. It is a challenging job at the

centre of an often painful dispute between two parents, and I hope that our

implementation plan will reassure them that we value their commitment and will support

them in their roles.

But there is more to do. I welcome the panel’s report, and am incredibly grateful to all

panel members for their time and expertise. I have carefully considered their conclusions

and am determined to take action to improve the experience of survivors of domestic

abuse in our family courts.

This report lays bare many hard truths about long-standing failings in the family justice

system, especially in protecting the survivors of abuse and their children from harm. It is

not a comfortable read. The testimonies in the report show that there are some

fundamental issues that we must address in order to improve the experience and ensure

the safety of all participants in the family justice system.

I want to make it clear that this is not acceptable, and that while these issues largely

predate this Government, we have a strong and unwavering commitment to ensure

domestic abuse survivors are better protected. This is not only to help those who have


been directly affected, but also for their children, who should always be at the heart of

any decision made in the family court.

The publication of this report provides a unique opportunity for the family justice system

to reform how it manages cases involving children. The report is the springboard for the

actions we will take to better protect and support children and domestic abuse victims

throughout private family law proceedings.

The Domestic Abuse Bill will enable us to make some of the immediate changes called

for in the panel’s report, alongside other measures which will help to ensure that victims

have the confidence to come forward and report their experiences. As recommended by

the panel, we will use the Bill to extend automatic eligibility for special measures to

victims of domestic abuse in the family courts. The Bill will also ban cross-examination by

perpetrators of domestic abuse in the family courts.

We also have committed to invest more widely in support for victims of domestic abuse,

including £35 million announced alongside the Bill to support victims and their children,

and an additional £76 million of extra funding that we announced to support survivors

of domestic abuse, sexual violence, modern slavery and vulnerable children and their

families during the current pandemic.

But we acknowledge that, in light of the panel’s findings, this does not go far enough. And

that is why we are publishing an Implementation Plan alongside this report. This details

the first steps we will take across the family justice system to take forward the

recommendations of the panel and make the changes that are needed.

In response to hearing that the adversarial nature of the family courts can contribute to

further harm to victims of abuse or their children, I am pleased to announce that we will

trial a different ‘investigative’ approach within our forthcoming pilot of Integrated Domestic

Abuse Courts. This approach will seek to ensure that all parties in proceedings are safe

and able to provide evidence on an equal footing, without the retraumatising effects of

being in court with an abusive ex-partner.

We are committed to making it easier for judges to apply ‘barring orders’, under section

91(14) of the Children Act 1989, to prevent abusive ex-partners repeatedly dragging a

victim back to court.

We will also look to improve how the family courts gather the wishes and feelings of the

children at the heart of proceedings, to ensure no child is overlooked during the process.

Alongside this, I acknowledge the panel’s conclusion that the presumption of parental

involvement can detract from the child’s welfare and safety, and so will review this

urgently.

Finally, we are working with colleagues across the family justice system to improve

training on domestic abuse, to address gaps where appropriate, and to provide

professionals with the tools to effectively support vulnerable parties.

The report is built upon the direct experiences of hundreds of victims of domestic abuse

who responded to our call for evidence. There will be many others who were unable to

speak out, and I want to thank each person who came forward and provided their

testimony to the panel. Each had a unique experience, but together they showed that this

is a problem that thousands of people experience. Thanks to them, we have a unique

opportunity now to address these issues in a meaningful and long-lasting way.

The report and Implementation Plan can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/assessing-risk-of-harm-to-children-and-

parents-in-private-law-children-cases

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/assessing-risk-of-harm-to-children-and-parents-in-private-law-children-cases

