daily report tuesday, 8 may 2018 contents
TRANSCRIPT
Daily Report Tuesday, 8 May 2018
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 8 May 2018 and the
information is correct at the time of publication (06:34 P.M., 08 May 2018). For the latest
information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,
please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS
ANSWERS 6
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6
ASDA: J Sainsbury 6
Chemicals: EU law 6
Electricity: Republic of Ireland 7
Energy: Conservation 7
Farmers: Bankruptcy 8
Housing: Heating 8
Licensed Premises: Energy 9
Modern Working Practices
Review 9
CABINET OFFICE 9
Intelligence Services:
Detainees 9
Life Expectancy 10
Public Sector: Recruitment 10
DEFENCE 11
Air Training Corps: Stoke
Newington 11
Defence Fire and Rescue
Service 11
Defence Fire Risk
Management Organisation:
Staff 11
Military Aircraft: Safety 14
Ministry of Defence Police 15
Ministry of Defence: Cleaning
Services 15
Navy: Military Exercises 15
Submarines 16
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 16
Information Commissioner:
Staff 16
Radio Frequencies 18
Wembley Stadium 18
World War I: Anniversaries 19
Youth Services 20
EDUCATION 20
Apprentices: Taxation 20
Disabled Students' Allowances 21
First Aid: Training 21
Free School Meals 21
Schools: Finance 22
Schools: Greater London 22
Special Educational Needs 23
Teachers: Training 23
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 24
Agriculture: Scotland 24
Agriculture: Subsidies 24
Agriculture: Unmanned Air
Vehicles 25
Air Pollution 25
Animal Welfare 26
Animal Welfare: Sentencing 26
Assistance Dogs 26
Clean Air Zones: West
Midlands 26
Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs: Official
Cars 27
Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs:
Seafood 27
Dogs: Canine Distemper 27
Dogs: Smuggling 27
Environment Protection 28
Fisheries: Subsidies 28
Flowers: Subsidies 29
Food Supply 29
Incinerators: Dudley 30
Incinerators: Runcorn 30
Milk: Prices 30
National Parks Authorities 31
Pigs: Exports 32
Pigs: Imports 33
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 34
Bahrain: Capital Punishment 34
Bahrain: Political Prisoners 35
Bahrain: Technical Assistance 35
Department for International
Development and Foreign and
Commonwealth Office:
Departmental Coordination 35
Hajer Mansoor Hassan 36
Nicaragua: Politics and
Government 36
North Africa: Refugees 37
Paraguay: Elections 37
Rajab Nabeel 38
Turkey: Christianity 38
Turkey: Elections 38
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 39
Alzheimer's Disease 39
Dental Services 40
Donors: Transplant Surgery 40
Drugs and Vaccination 41
E. coli 42
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome 43
Food Standards Agency 43
Fractures: Older People 44
General Practitioners 44
Health Services: Children 45
Health Services: Learning
Disability 45
Health: Children 46
Healthy Start Scheme 46
Healthy Start Scheme and
School Milk 47
Hospitals: Food 48
Local Government: Health
Services 48
Mental Health 49
Mental Health Services:
Children and Young People 49
NHS England and NHS
Improvement 49
Nurses 50
Obesity 50
Plastic Surgery 51
Postnatal Depression 52
Respiratory System: Surgery 53
Royal Liverpool Hospital 54
School Milk 54
Scurvy 54
Smoking 55
Social Services: Minimum
Wage 56
Stress: Employment 56
Suicide 57
Surgery 57
Surgery: Waiting Lists 57
Sustainability and
Transformation Partnerships 57
Trauma 58
HOME OFFICE 58
Asylum: Finance 58
Crime Prevention: Gangs 59
Crimes of Violence 60
Female Genital Mutilation 60
Hate Crime: Internet 61
Human Trafficking 61
Immigrants: Caribbean 62
Immigrants: Commonwealth 62
Immigration: Caribbean 62
Immigration: EU Nationals 63
Knives: Crime 63
Passports: Fraud 64
Registration of Births, Deaths,
Marriages and Civil
Partnerships 64
Shops: Crimes of Violence 64
Slavery 65
UK Border Force: Northern
Ireland 65
Undocumented Migrants 65
Undocumented Workers:
Fines 65
Visas: Health Professions 66
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 66
Building Regulations and Fire
Safety Independent Review 66
Community Infrastructure Levy 66
Construction: Trading
Standards 67
High Rise Flats: Vauxhall 67
Housing 68
Housing Revenue Accounts 68
Housing: Construction 68
Local Government Finance 69
Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local
Government: Procurement 69
Police: Finance 70
Public Lavatories: Non-
domestic Rates 70
Public Lavatories: Railway
Stations 70
Right to Buy Scheme: Housing
Associations 71
INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT 71
Developing Countries:
Orphans 71
Gaza: Borders 71
Israel: Palestinians 72
Palestinians: International
Assistance 72
Palestinians: Trade 72
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 73
Department for International
Trade: ICT 73
JUSTICE 73
Family Proceedings: Legal
Representation 73
Immigration: Appeals 74
Legal Aid Scheme:
Immigration 74
Prison Officers: Crimes of
Violence 81
Prison Officers: Length of
Service 82
Prison Officers: Redundancy
Pay 83
Prison Officers: Re-
employment 83
Road Traffic Offences:
Reviews 84
NORTHERN IRELAND 85
Northern Ireland Government 85
Security: Northern Ireland 85
PRIME MINISTER 85
Hitachi 85
National Security 86
Undocumented Migrants:
Deportation 86
SCOTLAND 86
Scotland Office: Mobile
Phones 86
TRANSPORT 87
Arriva Trains Wales 87
Bus Services: Concessions 87
Cycleways: Coastal Areas 87
Cycling: Rural Areas 88
Cycling: Safety 88
High Speed Two: National
Trust 89
Rail Delivery Group 89
Railways: Concessions 89
Railways: Fares 89
Railways: Franchises 90
Railways: Suicide 90
Roads: Capital Investment 90
Roads: Safety 91
Rolling Stock: Leasing 91
Train Operating Companies:
Compensation 91
Train Operating Companies:
Merseyside 92
TREASURY 93
Child Tax Credit: Motherwell
and Wishaw 93
Children: Day Care 93
Immigrants: Caribbean 93
Mortgages: Interest Rates 93
Multinational Companies: Tax
Avoidance 94
Oil: Taxation 94
Red Diesel: Excise Duties 95
Taxation: Credit Cards 95
Taxation: Domicil 96
Taxation: Environment
Protection 96
WALES 96
Electricity Interconnectors:
Wales 96
WORK AND PENSIONS 97
Agriculture: Waste Disposal 97
Children: Terminal Illnesses 97
Department for Work and
Pensions: Living Wage 98
Department for Work and
Pensions: Procurement 99
Disability Living Allowance:
Children 99
Disability: Equal Pay 101
Immigrants: Caribbean 102
Maternity Pay: Special
Guardianship Orders 102
Pension Funds: Ethics 102
Poverty: Children 103
Poverty: Sanitary Protection 103
Sick Leave: Stress 103
Social Security Benefits 104
Support for Mortgage Interest 104
Universal Credit 104
Universal Credit: Scotland 105
Universal Credit: Stoke on
Trent 106
Universal Credit: Young
People 106
Welfare State: Reform 107
WRITTEN STATEMENTS 108
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 108
Data Protection Bill [HL]
(English votes for English
laws) 108
TREASURY 108
ECOFIN: 27-28 April 2018 108
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
ASDA: J Sainsbury
Mike Amesbury: [140220]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate
he has made of the potential job losses arising from the proposed merger of ASDA and
Sainsbury's in the (a) stores, (b) head offices and (c) distribution centres of both
supermarkets; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of that merger
on the level of growth in the (i) North West and (ii) UK economy.
Andrew Griffiths:
Sainsbury’s and Asda have stated that they have not planned any store closures and
or instore job losses as a result of the proposed merger. They have also said that
they intend to continue operating both brands.
Mergers are independent of Ministerial control. Under the Enterprise Act 2002, which
governs mergers in the UK, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a role only
in cases where a merger gives rise to concerns over security, media plurality and
financial stability. Should the proposed merger raise competition concerns, the
Competition and Markets Authority, independent of Government has the power to
investigate. We currently await their views on the merger.
Mike Amesbury: [140221]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he
is taking to encourage ASDA and Sainsbury's to engage directly and meaningfully with
trade unions following the announcement of the potential merger of those businesses.
Andrew Griffiths:
Sainsbury’s and Asda are private companies and the Government has no role in their
strategic decisions. When the proposed merger was announced, I spoke with
USDAW, GMB and Unite unions to understand their positions. Along with my rt. hon.
Friend the Secretary of State, I also spoke with the CEOs of Sainsbury’s and Asda
and reiterated the importance of them engaging not only with the USDAW, GMB and
Unite unions, but also with other unions with an interest such as the National Farmers
Union.
Chemicals: EU law
Gavin Robinson: [140133]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the potential effect on the defence sector of the UK leaving
the REACH chemical framework after the UK leaves the EU.
Richard Harrington:
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recognises the
importance of the continued availability of specialist chemicals from the EU to the
Defence Sector after we have left the European Union. BEIS is working closely with
the chemical industry to understand the impacts resulting from UK’s exit from the EU.
We want to minimise the regulatory and market access barriers for UK businesses,
including for those in the chemicals sector. We want to ensure that UK companies
including our Defence Sector have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate
within European markets – and to let European businesses do the same in the UK.
Electricity: Republic of Ireland
Hywel Williams: [139405]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate
he has made of the potential tariffs that will fall on the UK when importing electricity from
the Republic of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the Single Market and Customs
Union.
Claire Perry:
The Government’s priority is to maintain affordable, clean, and secure energy
supplies for businesses and households. We share the EU’s ambition to make energy
trading easier and more efficient by opening up national markets, and increasing the
level of interconnection between them, including between all parts of the UK and
Ireland.
My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said that we want to protect the single
electricity market across Ireland and Northern Ireland; and we also want to continue
arrangements that allow efficient trade of electricity to take place between the Ireland-
Northern Ireland single electricity market and Great Britain. Outcomes relating to the
EU Single Market and Customs Union, however, are matters for negotiations, and we
are unable to comment on this until negotiations conclude.
Energy: Conservation
Anna McMorrin: [140207]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his
Department has a target for improving energy efficiency in buildings beyond 2022; and if
he will make a statement.
Claire Perry:
The Government has a number of targets and ambitions for improving energy
efficiency in buildings as set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, published in October
2017. For example, these include:
A statutory target to raise as many English fuel poor homes as is reasonably
practicable to energy efficiency Band C by 2030, with milestones of Band E by
2020 and Band D by 2025. The Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales
have separate legal fuel poverty targets.
An aspiration that as many homes as possible, across the whole housing stock are
improved to Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2035, where practical,
cost-effective and affordable.
An ambition to enable business and industry to improve energy efficiency by at
least 20 per cent by 2030. This will require improvements to energy efficiency in
buildings as well as industrial processes.
Farmers: Bankruptcy
Mr Jim Cunningham: [139944]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his
Department has made an estimate of the number of British farms at risk of bankruptcy in
each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Griffiths:
The Department does not hold this information.
Mr Jim Cunningham: [139945]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many
farms have declared bankruptcy in each of the last five years.
Andrew Griffiths:
The Insolvency Service produces quarterly statistics on the number of new
insolvencies for companies and individuals in England and Wales, including
breakdowns by industry. The most recent statistics, covering the period January to
March 2018, which include a comparison with previous periods, were published on
Friday 27 April 2018 on gov.uk.
Housing: Heating
John Healey: [137009]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the long-term potential for hydrogen to lower the emissions
required for the heating of residential properties.
Claire Perry:
The Department is currently undertaking work to strengthen and assess the evidence
on the range of potential approaches to decarbonising heat, including on the use of
hydrogen. There are a number of technologies with the potential to make a major
contribution to decarbonisation. As well as hydrogen, these include, heat pumps,
hybrid gas and electric heating systems and district heating networks. I plan to
publish a report on the Department’s review of the evidence later this year.
The Department has also commissioned the Hy4Heat project which aims to provide
essential technical evidence on the use of hydrogen for heat in buildings. This will
include developing and testing hydrogen boilers. The project has a total budget of
£25m and will run until 2021.
Licensed Premises: Energy
Giles Watling: [140222]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what
assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed EU ecodesign and
energy labelling regulations on the sustainability of UK entertainment venues.
Claire Perry:
The Department does not carry out cost benefit analysis of early drafts of EU
Ecodesign Regulations. Once we see the final version of this regulation before the
Regulatory Committee vote in Brussels, where the UK and other Member States will
vote on the regulation, we will carry out a cost benefit analysis for the UK but not
specific sectors. The Ecodesign proposal for lighting that I assume you are referring
to will be voted on in October/November 2018 and we would expect to see a final
version one month prior to that.
Modern Working Practices Review
Paul Blomfield: [140064]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to
the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 133760 on Modern Working Practices Review,
when he plans to publish copies of the written evidence submitted to that review on the
Gov.uk website.
Andrew Griffiths:
The written evidence submitted to the review was published on the Gov.uk website
on Friday 4th May 2018
CABINET OFFICE
Intelligence Services: Detainees
Alex Sobel: [138561]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any changes will be made to the
process for (a) review and (b) oversight of the Consolidated Guidance.
Mr David Lidington:
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial
Statement of 15 September 2016 (HCWS157). This work has been taken forward,
with input from the Intelligence Services Commissioner and his successor, and we
have sought the views of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC)
in the context of their Detainee Inquiry. The Government intends to wait until the
ISC’s report is published later this year before deciding on next steps.
I also refer the Honourable Gentleman to the Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial
Statement of 1 March 2018 (HCWS502)
Alex Sobel: [138562]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to hold a public
consultation on potential changes to the Consolidated Guidance.
Mr David Lidington:
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial
Statement of 15 September 2016 (HCWS157). This work has been taken forward,
with input from the Intelligence Services Commissioner and his successor, and we
have sought the views of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC)
in the context of their Detainee Inquiry. The Government intends to wait until the
ISC’s report is published later this year before deciding on next steps.
Life Expectancy
Chris Ruane: [139974]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of local
authority areas saw a decline in life expectancy for (a) males at birth, (b) females at birth,
(c) males at 65 years and older and (d) females at 65 years and older in the reporting
period 2001-03 to 2004-06.
Chloe Smith:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.
I have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments:
1. UKSA Response [PQ_139974.pdf]
Public Sector: Recruitment
Andrew Selous: [138406]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made on
the roll-out the ban the box initiative throughout the public sector.
Oliver Dowden:
The Civil Service chose to adopt the Ban the Box initiative in February 2016. The
Cabinet Office does not hold information on the number of public sector organisations
that have adopted the Ban the Box policy.
I also refer the honourable member to the response given by Dr Phillip Lee on behalf
of the Ministry of Justice on the 13th November 2017 (Ref: 111417).
DEFENCE
Air Training Corps: Stoke Newington
David Simpson: [140694]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the 296
Stoke Newington Air Training Corps will be relocated following the closure of the site on
the Albion Road.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
I am pleased to be able to confirm that 296 (Stoke Newington) Squadron Air Training
Corps will continue to operate from its existing premises, with a review period of 12
months.
Defence Fire and Rescue Service
Nia Griffith: [140026]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Fire and Rescue Project
(DFRP) began; and how many staff are part of the DFRP Project team.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The initial Gate Business Case approving the formation of the existing Defence Fire
and Rescue Project team was approved in September 2013. The Project is led by a
Director level (SCS Payband 2) Senior Responsible Owner and the project team
consists of 14 people. The project has also drawn on advice and relevant subject
matter experts from across Defence and the Armed Forces, including the Defence
Fire and Rescue Management Organisation.
Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation: Staff
Nia Griffith: [140024]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military and (b) civil service staff
the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation employs at which locations.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation employs 575 military firefighters
and 778 Civil Service firefighters and support staff. These are broken down by
location below:
MILITARY FIREFIGHTERS
Location Strength
Army HQ Andover 5
Brunei Garrison 7
Manston 20
Mount Pleasant Airfield 32
MILITARY FIREFIGHTERS
HQ Joint Forces Command 1
Portsmouth (HQ & training) 17
RAF Akrotiri 52
RAF Benson 31
RAF Brize-Norton 80
RAF Coningsby 35
RAF Halton 1
RAF High Wycombe 2
RAF Honnington 4
RAF Marham 39
RAF Northolt 34
RAF Odiham 38
RAF Lossiemouth 31
RAF Waddington 58
RAF Wittering 4
RNAS Culdrose 36
RNAS Yeovilton 42
RNAS Culdrose & Yeovilton 6
Total 575
CIVIL SERVANT FIREFIGHTERS & SUPPORT STAFF
Location Strength
Aldergrove Flying Station 25
DFTDC Manston 38
Defence Munitions Longtown 24
HMNB Clyde 61
Leuchars Station 28
CIVIL SERVANT FIREFIGHTERS & SUPPORT STAFF
Middle Wallop Airfield 39
MOD Biecester 27
MOD Corsham 33
MOD Credenhill 22
MOD Donnington 30
MOD Kineton 23
RAF Alconbury 35
RAF Boulmer 22
RAF Croughton 16
RAF Cosford 13
RAF Fairford 19
RAF Fylingdales 22
RAF Lakenheath 19
RAF Leeming 29
RAF Linton-on-Ouse 26
RAF Lossiemouth 29
RAF Menwith Hill 37
RAF Mildenhall 18
RAF Shawbury 28
RAF Spadeadam 10
Wattisham Airfield 28
HQ & Safety cells 77
Total 778
Nia Griffith: [140025]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have been recruited into
civilian posts in the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation in each of the last five
years.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The number of personnel recruited into civilian posts in the Defence Fire Risk
Management Organisation in the last five years is given below:
YEAR TOTAL
2017-18 47
2016-17 34
2015-16 20
2014-15 0
2013-14 9
Nia Griffith: [140027]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Defence Fire Risk
Management Organisation staff have been deployed in support of local authority fire
services in each of the last five years.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation personnel and assets deployed to
support local authority fire services within the UK on the following number of
occasions in the last five years:
YEAR TOTAL
2017 27
2016 30
2015 24
2014 36
2013 43
Any future contract will retain similar provision to support local authority fire services.
Military Aircraft: Safety
Adam Holloway: [140005]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many safety occurrence reports have
been raised on the Boeing E-3 Sentry from January 1991 to date.
Guto Bebb:
There have been 1,632 air safety occurrence reports recorded for the E-3D Sentry
fleet from January 1991 to date.
Ministry of Defence Police
Mr Kevan Jones: [138400]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the savings that
need to be accrued by his Department's (a) Head Office and (b) Corporate Services in
relation to the work of the Ministry of Defence Police.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
[Holding answer 1 May 2018]: There are no savings that need to be accrued by the
Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget in relation to the Ministry of
Defence Police.
Ministry of Defence: Cleaning Services
Catherine West: [140176]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 23 April 2018, Official Report,
columns 596-7, on Departmental Staff: Wages and Conditions, what the rates of pay are
for cleaners in his Department.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
All of the Department's cleaners are paid, at a minimum, the national living wage in
accordance with statutory rights.
Cleaning within the Ministry of Defence is undertaken through estate maintenance
contracts and therefore information on the rates of pay for cleaners is held by a
number of third parties and not by the Department.
Navy: Military Exercises
Mr Kevan Jones: [139997]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which named military exercises were
conducted by Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels from January 2017 to date.
Mark Lancaster:
From available records the named Military Exercises conducted by Royal Navy and
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships from January 2017 to 4 May 2018 was as follows:
Exercise Cougar Voyage Exercise Artemis Trident
Exercise Sea Khanjar Exercise Baltops
Exercise Azraq Serpent Exercise Trade Winds 17
Exercise Unified Trident Exercise Dynamic Mongoose
Exercise Dynamic Guard Exercise Breeze
Exercise Aman Exercise Grampus
Exercise Khunjar Hadd 17 Exercise Saxon Warrior
Exercise East Dolphin Exercise Joint Warrior 172
Exercise Joint Warrior 171 Exercise Brilliant Mariner
Exercise Alligator Dagger Exercise Dogu Akdeniz
Exercise Formidable Shield Exercise Intrepid Stentinel
Exercise Samurai Blade Exercise Niriis
Exercise Konkan Exercise Nusret
Exercise Azraq Serpent 18 Exercise Sea Explorer
Exercise Khanjar Hadd 18 Exercise Ariadne
Exercise Dynamic Manta Exercise Ssang Yong
Exercise Joint Warrior 181
It is UK policy that we do not comment on matters relating to submarine activity or
operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness
or security of the Armed Forces.
Notes: Some passing exercises undertaken with other nations are not named.
Submarines
Nia Griffith: [140022]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many submarines are awaiting recycling
at (a) Rosyth and (b) Devonport.
Nia Griffith: [140023]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the annual cost
to the public purse of storing each submarine awaiting recycling at (a) Rosyth and (b)
Devonport.
Guto Bebb:
There are currently seven submarines awaiting recycling at Rosyth, with a further 13
at Devonport. The annual cost varies depending on the level of maintenance
required.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Information Commissioner: Staff
Mr Jim Cunningham: [139948]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many FTE
employees have worked for the Information Commissioner's office in each year since that
office was founded.
Margot James:
The requested information can be found in the table below:
YEAR (FIGURE QUOTED ON 31ST
MARCH) HEADCOUNT FTE
2002 170 154.7
2003 183 169.1
2004 204 188.51
2005 211 196.51
2006 265 242.32
2007 256 235.71
2008 275 256.01
2009 321 302.04
2010 337 313.82
2011 353 328.49
2012 350 324.61
2013 388 359.6
2014 386 354.0
2015 392 363.5
2016 442 408.6
2017 472 439.4
2018 540 504.8
Prior to 2002, FTE employee data is not readily available. The figures in the table
below are the most accurate the ICO have on record but may not be completely
accurate as employments records pre 2002 are not complete.
YEAR (FIGURE QUOTED ON 31ST
MARCH) HEADCOUNT NOTES
1984/1985 50 This is an estimate of the
staffing number they expected
to achieve as recruitment for
most roles was on going.
1986 83 including temporary/casual
YEAR (FIGURE QUOTED ON 31ST
MARCH) HEADCOUNT NOTES
1987 90 including temporary/casual
1988 93 including temporary/casual
1989 91 including temporary/casual
1990 70 including temporary/casual
1991 86 including temporary/casual
1992 92 including temporary/casual
1993 99 including temporary/casual
1994 93 including temporary/casual
1995 98 including temporary/casual
1996 104 including temporary/casual
1997 105 including temporary/casual
1998 105 including temporary/casual
1999 115.5 including temporary/casual
2000 112 including temporary/casual
2001 123 including temporary/casual
Radio Frequencies
Kevin Brennan: [139989]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to
publish the funding scheme for users of Programme Making and Special Events
equipment displaced by the 700 MHz clearance.
Margot James:
We expect Ofcom to publish a Statement announcing details of the Help Scheme for
PMSE users affected by the 700MHz clearance programme in due course. This
follows on from Ofcom's consultation on the Help Scheme.
Wembley Stadium
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [140179]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department
was first made aware of an offer to buy Wembley football stadium.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [140180]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had
discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer or other HM Treasury Ministers on the
sale of Wembley Football Stadium; and if he will make a statement.
Tracey Crouch:
The Secretary of State and I were first made aware about the potential sale of
Wembley stadium when The FA Chair and Chief Executive came to see us on the 17
April 2018.
It will be for my Department to lead on behalf of Government on further discussions
with the FA on any potential sale of the stadium over the course of this month.
Together with Sport England and the Greater London Authority we will be seeking
reassurances that both the interests of the national team and the grassroots are
protected and would benefit from any potential deal.
World War I: Anniversaries
Ian Murray: [140048]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what monies have
been allocated from the public purse to commemorate the role of women in World War 1
at centenary events.
Michael Ellis:
We have committed more than £10 million in LIBOR funds to support the National
Commemorative events delivered by my Department, which mark the key milestones
of the First World War Centenary. These have commemorated the Gallipoli
Campaign, the battles of Jutland, the Somme and Passchendaele, and a variety of
events to be delivered in 2018. All of the events have included female voices, and
have reflected the roles played by women and the impact of the war on women.
The Government’s wider programme is designed to support communities and
organisations in telling stories of greatest relevance to them through commemorative
events, exhibitions and other projects. Projects across the country supported by
Government funding and other sources of public funding have commemorated the
role of women in the First World War.
The Imperial War Museums’ Centenary Partnership has delivered
‘WomensWork100’, which is specifically focusing on the role of women during the
First World War, holding events at the IWM in Lambeth and around the country. 14-
18 NOW, the Government’s Cultural delivery partner, has also commemorated the
role played by women.
There is also an extensive programme of events taking place in 2018 to
commemorate the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918.
Youth Services
Vernon Coaker: [139953]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to
make the provision of youth services a statutory duty for local authorities.
Tracey Crouch:
Government places a statutory duty on local authorities through 507B of the
Education Act 1996, as amended by the Education and Inspections Act 2006
(positive leisure-time activities for young people) to secure, so far as reasonably
practical, sufficient positive activities for young people. Government believes that
local authorities are best placed to secure services that meet the needs of young
people within the budget that is available to them.
EDUCATION
Apprentices: Taxation
Catherine McKinnell: [140091]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the implications are for his policies on
the apprenticeship levy of the recommendations in the April 2018 EEF report, A levy price
to pay? The apprenticeship levy one year on; and if he will make a statement.
Anne Milton:
The apprenticeship levy is an important part of our reforms - it means there is long-
term investment in apprenticeship training so that employers get the skills they need.
Nearly 60 per cent of people starting on the new apprenticeship standards are levy
supported, showing that levy payers are working well with the new system.
I recently met with EEF as part of a roundtable meeting to discuss how
apprenticeships are working in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. We will
continue to work closely with employers to support them to take advantage of the
levy, and wider funding and quality reforms, to invest in the long-term skills needs of
their business.
We have recently seen an increase in the number of people starting on higher level
apprenticeships, such as engineering and law, and on our new quality apprenticeship
standards. These new apprenticeships are designed by employers themselves to
meet their needs, and are within a wide range of industries. Higher quality training
leads to increased productivity; so it is positive news that over 250 of the new
standards have already been approved.
Our reforms to the apprenticeship system are about increasing the number of quality
apprenticeships in this country and creating the long-term investment in skills training
that British businesses need to grow.
Disabled Students' Allowances
Mrs Louise Ellman: [139972]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to change its
policy on the threshold for self-contribution of disabled students in receipt of Disabled
Students' Allowance; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Sam Gyimah:
The requirement that students in receipt of Disabled Students’ Allowance make a
£200 contribution towards the costs of computer hardware was introduced in 2015.
The government has no current plans to review the size of that contribution.
First Aid: Training
Tracy Brabin: [140184]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to
support first aid training being undertaken by (a) early years settings and (b)
childminders.
Nadhim Zahawi:
In 2016, following consultation, the department introduced a requirement in the Early
Years Foundation Stage statutory framework (EYFS) for newly qualified level 2 and
level 3 early years staff to also hold a current Paediatric First Aid (PFA) or emergency
PFA certificate.
Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any
period of time, must also hold a full current PFA certificate:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework-
-2.
In the same year we launched the voluntary Millie’s Mark quality scheme with the
National Day Nurseries Association to recognise those settings that go over and
above the statutory requirement of the EYFS by ensuring that all staff on site have
PFA training:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-gold-standard-in-paediatric-first-aid-
launched.
Free School Meals
Tracy Brabin: [140185]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities are permitted to
refuse access to free school meals based on the age of a child.
Nadhim Zahawi:
All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England's state-funded schools,
including academies and free schools, are entitled to free school meals. Eligibility is
based on the child’s year group rather than their age.
For benefits-based free school meals, Section 512 of the Education Act 1996, as
amended, places a duty on maintained schools, academies and free schools to
provide free school meals to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria.
Schools: Finance
Angela Rayner: [138994]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of
schools in England due to lose the maximum amount of 1.5 per cent of their funding per
pupil in line with the Minimum Funding Guarantee in 2018-19.
Nick Gibb:
Information regarding individual school and academy allocations for the financial year
2018/19 will be published in the autumn in line releases in previous years. This will
detail schools’ final budgets for the 2018/19 financial year, including how many
schools are being protected by the Minimum Funding Guarantee under their local
authorities’ (LAs) local funding formula.
The national funding formula is giving every LA more money for every pupil in
2018/19. Every school is attracting at least 0.5% per pupil more through the formula,
compared to 2017/18. LAs have the flexibility to determine how this funding is
distributed across schools in their local area, and this is right as the Department
transitions towards the national funding formula. LAs can mirror the protections in the
national funding formula, if they so choose, by setting the Minimum Funding
Guarantee in their local formula up to +0.5%.
Schools: Greater London
Joan Ryan: [139930]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of
(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) the Enfield North constituency (ii) the London
Borough of Enfield and (iii) London that will receive a reduction in (A) cash and (B) per
pupil funding in each of the next five years.
Nick Gibb:
In 2018/19, all schools in Enfield North attracted more cash funding through the
national funding formula, compared to their 2017/18 baselines.
All schools, with the exception of new and growing schools, attracted more per pupil
funding. New and growing schools typically see their per pupil funding decrease as
they grow in size, while receiving significant increases in their total budgets. One new
and growing all-through school in Enfield, and 23 new and growing schools in London
(18 primaries, 3 secondaries and 2 all-through) attract less funding per pupil in 2018-
19 than they did in 2017-18.
Final decisions on individual schools’ budgets are taken by the local authority, based
on the local funding formula.
In 2019/20, no school will attract reduced cash funding per pupil through the national
funding formula. Given that funding follows the pupil, individual schools may attract
less funding in total if the number of pupils on roll decreases. The Department will
publish notional funding formula allocations for 2019/20 later this year after updating
calculations using the latest autumn census data.
Funding after 2019/20 will depend on the outcomes of the next Spending Review.
Special Educational Needs
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [140131]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many special educational needs and
disability students are there in (a) further and (b) higher education; and what proportion of
those students have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Anne Milton:
The number of learners in further education that have declared themselves as being
a learner with learning difficulties or disabilities (LLDD) in the 2016/17 academic year
is 563,100. Of these, 35,200 had an education, health and care plan (EHCP). An
additional 2,900 learners had an EHCP but did not self-declare themselves as being
a learner with LLDD. The Individualised Learner Record does not hold information on
statements of special educational need and disability, this is only collected for school
pupils via the school census.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency publishes data on enrolments in higher
education at UK higher education institutions, including enrolments by disability. The
latest data on numbers of students with disabilities, for the 2016/17 academic year,
was published in January 2018 and is available at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-
analysis/students/table-15.
Students on higher education courses do not hold EHCPs. In order to cease an
EHCP a local authority must consider whether the educational or training outcomes
specified in the plan have been achieved. Studying at degree level would be
considered a positive outcome from an EHCP, and as such that plan would cease.
Teachers: Training
Stephen Timms: [139925]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Early Years Workforce
Strategy published in March 2017, if he will make it his policy to implement a programme
to increase the graduate early years workforce in disadvantaged areas.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The government is considering the feasibility of a range of approaches to supporting
graduates in the early years workforce. This work is still underway.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture: Scotland
Andrew Bowie: [140190]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he next
plans to meet with the Scottish Government to discuss the status of the (a) Less
Favoured Area Support and (b) Areas of Natural Constraint schemes during the
implementation period after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice:
The Secretary of State regularly discusses agriculture policy with colleagues in the
Scottish Government, with the next meeting scheduled for 14 May. Agriculture is
devolved, and it is the Government’s intention that each administration has the
freedom to design policies that support the individual characteristics of their
agricultural industries and unique landscapes. Common frameworks will only be
established where needed to maintain the functioning of the UK internal market and
to meet our trade and international obligations.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Andrew Bowie: [140189]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his
Department’s policy is on providing economic support to agriculture in marginal areas
after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice:
The Government understands the importance of providing stability to farmers as we
leave the European Union and has pledged to continue to commit the same cash
total in funds for farm support for the duration of this Parliament, providing much
needed certainty to farmers and landowners.
In our consultation document ‘Health and Harmony’, we have provided a clear
direction for future farm support in England based on public money for public goods –
principally, environmental enhancement. We sought views on how future land
management schemes can reflect the reality of life for farmers and food producers.
As part of this, we invited ideas on what areas could constitute public goods and be
supported under the new system, including rural resilience.
Farmers need stability, certainty and a smooth transition to a new system, so we will
not switch off Direct Payments overnight, and are consulting on an agricultural
transition period to provide time for farmers to adjust. We have also confirmed we will
pay the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme on the same basis as we do now. This,
together with our proposed ‘agricultural transition’ period away from the current
system of Direct Payments in England, will provide time for farmers to adjust.
Some sectors may find it more difficult than others to adapt to the phasing out of
Direct Payments, for example, those located in the most remote, wild and beautiful
parts of England. The uplands have the potential to benefit from new environmental
land management schemes, given the nature of their landscapes and the many
public goods that they deliver, such as biodiversity, flood risk mitigation and carbon
sequestration. We will explore possible options on how we can best support such
areas.
Agriculture: Unmanned Air Vehicles
Jim Shannon: [139487]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions
his Department has had with (a) the National Farmers' Union and (b) other stakeholders
on the use of drones for crop (i) control and (ii) spraying.
George Eustice:
The Government sees technological innovation as being key to increasing
productivity and sustainability in agriculture. As part of the ‘Health and harmony: the
future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit’ consultation, we are
engaging with representatives from across sectors and the public to explore support
for innovation and R&D.
The use of drones may have the potential to assist precision use of pesticides and
benefit both crop production and the environment. We do, however, need to ensure
the safe use of pesticides and therefore need to understand any risks to human
health and the environment that may result from this novel form of application.
The Health and Safety Executive is the regulator for pesticides. They have had
discussions with a number of stakeholders interested in using drones to apply
pesticides. They have advised the National Farmers’ Union of the work being
undertaken to develop an approach to authorising and permitting the application of
pesticides by drones.
Air Pollution
Dr David Drew: [139358]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he will
publish the (a) 2016 and (b) 2017 versions of the National Atmospheric Emissions
Inventory.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
As usual, the 2016 air pollutant emissions corresponding to the UK National
Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) will be published in summer 2018. Likewise
the 2017 air pollutant emissions data (2017 NAEI) will be published in summer 2019,
all as part of our normal annual inventory update of the NAEI website.
Similarly, the 2016 greenhouse gas emissions corresponding to the UK NAEI will be
published in summer 2018. Likewise the 2017 greenhouse gas emissions data (2017
NAEI) will be published in summer 2019.
Animal Welfare
Jo Platt: [139607]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the number of animal rescue homes in England.
George Eustice:
We do not have any recent estimates of the number of animal rescue homes in
England.
Animal Welfare: Sentencing
Tom Brake: [139924]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable
is for his Department to introduce legislative proposals to raise the maximum sentence for
animal cruelty to five years; and whether his Department plans to do this by means of
primary legislation.
George Eustice:
The Government proposes to introduce legislation to increase the maximum penalty
for animal cruelty offences as soon as Parliamentary time permits.
Assistance Dogs
Richard Burden: [139373]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
representations he has received from Police and Crime Commissioners on the potential
merits of bringing forward legislative proposals for an offence of attacking service
animals.
George Eustice:
We have not received representations directly from Police and Crime Commissioners
for bringing forward legislative proposals for an offence of attacking service animals.
Clean Air Zones: West Midlands
Mr Roger Godsiff: [139379]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his
Department has conducted an economic impact study on the effect of clean air zones on
businesses in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
The Government assessed the impacts of charging in clean air zones on businesses
nationally in the 2016 impact assessment. This did not look at the impacts on
Birmingham or the West Midlands in isolation.
The UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations is clear that local
authorities must conduct feasibility studies with robust economic impact
assessments, following the HMT Green Book approach. The feasibility studies being
produced by local authorities will look at these impacts at a local level.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Official Cars
Philip Davies: [141008]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the job titles
are of civil servants in his Department who have been provided with (a) an official car and
(b) a driver.
George Eustice:
No civil servants in Defra have been provided with an official car or a driver.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Seafood
Melanie Onn: [140157]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which
Government departments he has had discussions with on the Seafood 2040 Strategy.
George Eustice:
In the coming months Defra will be discussing the Seafood 2040 recommendations
with a range of Government bodies including Public Health England, the Environment
Agency, the Sea Fish Industry Authority, the Marine Management Organisation, the
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Food Standards
Agency.
Dogs: Canine Distemper
Richard Burden: [139371]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the number of dogs with canine distemper; and what steps his Department
is taking to reduce incidences of that disease.
George Eustice:
There is an effective vaccine available for canine distemper which is administered by
private vets as part of the standard vaccination programme undertaken by
responsible dog owners. As there is an effective vaccine, and as the disease is not
notifiable or reportable in the UK, the Government does not collect surveillance data.
Dogs: Smuggling
Alex Norris: [139043]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to
his Department's summary of responses to its Consultation on the Review of the Non
Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011, what steps he is taking to bring
forward legislative proposals to reduce the number of dogs being brought illegally into the
UK for sale after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice:
The Post Implementation Review (PIR) will evaluate the effectiveness of the Non-
Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011. A public consultation was
conducted and responses published in June 2017. We are seeking to publish the PIR
report before summer recess.
Whilst we remain a member of the EU, we continue to be signed up to the
requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme. At present the Government is negotiating our
departure from the EU and Defra is looking at future arrangements, including those
for the Pet Travel Scheme.
Environment Protection
Stephen Crabb: [139424]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the
Government plans to ensure that the four countries of the UK have a coherent approach
to cross border environmental issues after the UK leaves the EU.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we have a shared interest in
protecting our environment and delivering a Green Brexit.
The Government wants to make sure decisions that should be taken in devolved
areas are taken in devolved areas. But in some areas there will need to be a UK
approach in respect of powers returning from the EU. The Joint Ministerial Committee
(EU Negotiations) has agreed a set of common principles that will apply to common
frameworks in areas where EU law currently intersects with devolved competence.
These are outlined in the Joint Ministerial Communique: 16 October 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-ministerial-committee-communique-
16-october-2017.
Ministers and officials are in regular discussion with counterparts in the Devolved
Administrations on environmental policy matters. This includes considering the need
for common frameworks and ensuring appropriate operational arrangements are in
place after the UK leaves the EU.
Fisheries: Subsidies
Paul Girvan: [140866]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the total amount allocated to UK aquaculture through the European
Fisheries Fund for the period 2007 to 2013.
George Eustice:
The total amount allocated to UK aquaculture through the European Fisheries Fund
(EFF) for the period 2007 to 2013 was £6,332,265. EFF funding was co-financed with
£4,026,108 of national funding (UK Exchequer) along with private investment of
£17,644,734, resulting in total investment in the aquaculture sector of £28,003,107.
Flowers: Subsidies
Paul Girvan: [140859]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his
Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing subsidies to UK
flower producers after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice:
The Government has not explicitly made an assessment of the potential merits of
providing subsidies to UK flower producers after the UK leaves the EU.
We have made clear that we propose to phase out the concept of farm subsidies and
replace them with a new system that rewards and encourages the delivery of public
goods, principally environmental goods. The Government is currently consulting on a
new domestic agriculture policy, including a new environmental land management
system, to be introduced in the next Parliament.
Food Supply
Steve McCabe: [139362]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the
Answer of 15 March to Question 132028 on Food Supply, whether his Department has
made contingency plans in the event that the required flow of food goods from the EU is
not achieved.
George Eustice:
The Government is pursuing a unique and ambitious economic partnership that
provides the greatest possible tariff free and frictionless trade with the EU.
The UK’s favourable food security is built on access to a diverse range of sources of
supply, including domestic production. This will continue to be the case after leaving
the EU, even if the source of some UK food supply changes. Food supply is highly
resilient with flexibility throughout the supply chain, and industry can respond quickly
to ensure ongoing supply.
Defra has longstanding mechanisms in place to work with the food industry. Our
industry sector working group can jointly implement contingency plans if required.
This comprises food chain Trade Associations and relevant Government
Departments including Devolved Administrations and agencies.
Defra is working closely with other Government departments, including the cross-
Government Border Delivery Group (BDG), which provides oversight and assurance
of departmental plans for managing the border-related impacts of leaving the EU both
for Day 1 and beyond. Planning work aims to ensure three key objectives for the
border are delivered: maintaining security; facilitating the flow of goods and people;
revenue protection. In addition, we are working to ensure that the necessary systems
and processes are in place so that trade continues to flow smoothly after we leave.
Incinerators: Dudley
Dr David Drew: [139937]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what amendments
were made to the periodic emission limit values for particulate matter made in the
variation number CP3136XQ to the permit given to MES Environmental for its Dudley
incineration plant.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
Amendments were made to change the emission limit value (ELV) for particulate
matter which is measured on a periodic (twice yearly) basis to the same value as that
of the half hourly ELV for particulate matter which is measured on a continuous basis.
This was in line with the Waste Incineration Directive which was in force at the time
and remains in line with the current requirements of the Industrial Emissions
Directive.
Incinerators: Runcorn
Dr David Drew: [139938]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the
Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 135379, on Incinerators, for what reason the
decision document sent to Runcorn EfW facility when granting permit No EPR/EP3731XL
states on page 32 that current monitoring techniques will capture fine particles (PM2.5)
and the resulting permit condition requires a full analysis of particulate size.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
The decision document states:
“Whilst the [Environment] Agency is confident that current monitoring techniques will
capture the fine particle fraction (PM2.5) for inclusion in a measurement of total
particulate matter, a permit condition has been included that will require a full analysis
of particle size distribution in the flue gas, and hence determine the ratio of fine to
coarse particles.”
The reason for this statement is that total particulate matter (TPM) includes PM2.5 as
well as particulates of other sizes and therefore by monitoring TPM emissions,
emissions of PM2.5 will also be captured.
Milk: Prices
Mr Jim Cunningham: [139946]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the average farm gate milk price in (a) February 2018, (b) February 2017,
(c) February 2016, (d) February 2015, (e) February 2014, (f) February 2013, (g) February
2012 and (h) February 2011.
George Eustice:
Farmgate milk prices for the month of February for each of the years 2018, 2017,
2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are set out below:
MONTH PRICE (PENCE PER LITRE)
Feb-18 29.40
Feb-17 27.47
Feb-16 23.01
Feb-15 26.06
Feb-14 33.96
Feb-13 30.07
Feb-12 28.93
Feb-11 26.08
.
Farmgate milk prices are published on a monthly basis at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-milk-prices-and-composition-of-
milk/united-kingdom-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-statistics-notice-data-for-
december-2017, with data going back to 1970.
National Parks Authorities
John Grogan: [139386]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many
members of each of the boards of National Park authorities live in (a) London, (b) Tyne
and Wear, (c) Merseyside, (d) West Yorkshire, (e) South Yorkshire, (f) West Midlands
and (g) Greater Manchester.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
The number of members of England’s national park authorities whose main address
is given as being in (a) London, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) Merseyside, (d) West
Yorkshire, (e) South Yorkshire, (f) West Midlands and (g) Greater Manchester is as
follows:
LONDON 0
Tyne and Wear 0
Merseyside 0
West Yorkshire 1
South Yorkshire 3
Greater Manchester 1
This data has been provided by national park authorities.
Pigs: Exports
Jim Shannon: [137545]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live
pigs were exported by each country of export destination in each year between 2012 and
2017.
George Eustice:
The number of live pigs exported from the UK between the years 2012 and 2017 and
their export destination countries are as follows:
COUNTRY OF
DESTINATION 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Austria 0 0 0 0 8 0
Barbados* 0 8
Belgium 319 9 52 949 1213 1204
Bulgaria 0 40 255 3 142 26
Croatia** 0 53 0 0 0
Cyprus 0 0 0 40 16 0
Czech Republic 3 0 10 1 19 0
Denmark 0 64 23 5 0 0
Finland 2 0 0 0 0 0
France 52 244 97 55 62 4
FYR Macedonia* 0 44
Germany 150 57 20 0 50 41
Ghana* 0 8
Greece 0 37 0 0 0 57
Hungary 15 120 32 11 12 0
Italy 5 0 1171 15 19 968
Japan* 23 0
Lithuania 56 255 27 39 34 0
COUNTRY OF
DESTINATION 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Malta 529 0 123 0 121 0
Nigeria* 54 0
Poland 0 39 0 16 0 22
Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 2
Romania 50 0 968 0 0 0
Spain 653 1481 513 197 3 0
Sweden 0 0 0 2 0 13
Switzerland 0 2 0 0 0 8
The Netherlands 14 18 42 40 0 18
United States* 12 19
* APHA’s data retention period for non-EU countries Export Health Certification
is two years.
**Croatia became a member of the EU on 1 July 2013. No data is available for
exports to Croatia in 2012 and from the 1 January to 30 June 2013 as this
information is outside APHA’s data retention period.
This excludes data for Republic of Ireland.
The statistics provided for EU Member States show the number of live pigs exported
from the United Kingdom in the years 2012 – 2017. TRACES (Trade Control and
Expert System) is a European Commission system employed by EU member states
to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU.
This information was provided to APHA by the EU Commission’s DG Sante TRACES
Helpdesk due to the unavailability of the TRACES reporting functions.
The statistics provided for non-EU countries, denoted by an asterisk, show the
number of live pigs exported from Great Britain to non-EU countries. This information
has been collated from APHA’s data records. APHA’s data retention period for Export
Health Certification is two years, so the information displayed above is for the years
2016 and 2017 only.
Pigs: Imports
Jim Shannon: [137544]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live
pigs were imported by country of import origin in each year between 2012 and 2017.
George Eustice:
The number of live pigs imported into the UK between the years 2012 and 2017 and
their countries of origin are as follows:*
COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Belgium 88 13 38 39 12 3
Canada 177 247 1 357 30 1837
Czech
Republic
0 0 0 0 0 20
Denmark 499 1630 2244 1948 1442 1453
France 269 2 0 24 0 2
Germany 10 0 978 751 101 1
Norway 0 0 0 16 0 46
Sweden 190 382 333 172 0 0
The
Netherlands
13 4 29 67 133 75
United
States of
America
0 167 120 303 151 159
*This excludes data for Republic of Ireland
TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) is a European Commission system
employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product
movements into and throughout the EU.
The information that we have provided is a true reflection of the information that we
have access to, and was correct at the time the information was obtained from
TRACES. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data, as we can only rely on the
information that has been input into TRACES by a third party.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Bahrain: Capital Punishment
Anna McMorrin: [139039]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to the Government of Bahrain on the recent decision of the
Bahrain’s Military Court of Cassation to uphold the death sentences of four people of
whom three are civilians.
Alistair Burt:
The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty. It is the Government's longstanding
position to oppose capital sentences in all circumstances and countries. We continue
to make this clear to the Government of Bahrain. The UK welcomes the decision on
26 April of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to commute these death
sentences.
Bahrain: Political Prisoners
Mr Roger Godsiff: [139941]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK
Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, plans to send a representative to attend the next legal
hearing involving Najah Ahmed Yousif.
Alistair Burt:
Officials from the British Embassy in Bahrain were present at the court hearing for
Najah Ahmed Yousif. We will continue to monitor this case closely.
Bahrain: Technical Assistance
Anna McMorrin: [139038]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UK bodies
are tasked with implementing the technical assistance programme in Bahrain funded by
the Integrated Activity Fund, and which Bahraini bodies are the beneficiaries of that
funding.
Alistair Burt:
The Government works with a number of implementation partners and beneficiaries
to support Bahraini-led reform. These programmes aim to support progress on
building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and
justice reform. All of our work is in line with international standards and aims to share
the UK's expertise and experience. Any training provided by or on behalf of the
British Government fully complies with our domestic and international human rights
obligations.
Department for International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
Departmental Coordination
Sir Nicholas Soames: [138938]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in how many
overseas posts do officials in his Department share offices with officials from the
Department for International Development.
Alistair Burt:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International
Development (DFID) share buildings in 48 locations in 44 countries. This includes
places where DFID have a separate building but are on our compound.
The FCO runs the overseas estates platform for all of Government, including DFID.
The DFID residential estate overseas has been consolidated with the FCO's. Work is
now starting to consolidate further FCO and DFID offices in countries where it makes
sense to do so.
Hajer Mansoor Hassan
Anna McMorrin: [139036]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to
make representations to the Government of Bahrain on Hajar Mansoor Hassan’s denial
of medication by prison authorities in Isa Town Prison.
Alistair Burt:
We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the
appropriate oversight body. We urge these oversight bodies to carry out swift and
thorough investigations into any such claims. We understand that the National
Institution for Human Rights is aware of this case and is monitoring the situation, and
that the Ombudsman of the Ministry of the Interior is also investigating the claims.
Nicaragua: Politics and Government
Emily Thornberry: [140020]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
representations he has made to his counterpart in Nicaragua on the treatment of
protesters by police and security forces in that country.
Boris Johnson:
The Government is concerned by the Nicaraguan Government's response to recent
protests in the country and reported human rights abuses, notably reports that 63
people have been killed, including a journalist reporting live on the protests. The
alleged excessive use of force by security services and disregard for freedom of
expression shown by imposing media restrictions are unacceptable.
The UK joined an EU message of condemnation and called for restraint immediately
following the violent protests. We continue to follow developments closely. The
Government's calls for peaceful dialogue and the release of detainees are welcome.
We urge the Nicaraguan Government to ensure a thorough investigation of all reports
of human rights abuses.
Emily Thornberry: [140021]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to his counterpart in Nicaragua on adopting wider political
reforms as a result of the recent abandonment of proposed reforms to social security by
the Government of that country.
Boris Johnson:
The Nicaraguan Government has made some positive steps toward wider political
reforms. The Nicaraguan Government's commitment to allow an Organisation of
American States (OAS) mission to observe the next presidential election in 2021 and
a wider programme of visits to strengthen democracy are welcome. However, the
recent protests show this is not enough. An OAS report highlighted the need for
comprehensive electoral reform and a stronger judicial and administrative framework
that gives more confidence and security to political parties and citizens.
The UK supports these recommendations and continued engagement between the
Nicaraguan Government and the OAS to adopt further political reforms.
North Africa: Refugees
Mr Gregory Campbell: [139992]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he
has made of the number of people who have made an illegal sea crossing between North
Africa and Europe in the last six months.
Sir Alan Duncan:
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 27,807
people crossed the Mediterranean by sea from North Africa into Italy and Spain from
November 2017 to April 2018.
Paraguay: Elections
Emily Thornberry: [140015]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of whether the general election held in Paraguay on 22 April 2018 was
conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Boris Johnson:
The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Paraguay has issued a
preliminary statement that the general election held on 22 April 2018 was "well-
administered" but held in a "context of institutional weakness". Our diplomats in
Paraguay took part in the observation mission and we agree with that initial
assessment. We look forward to the publication of the EU EOM final report in June.
Emily Thornberry: [140016]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the progress of the Paraguayan authorities toward full implementation of
the 30 recommendations set out in the final report of he EU Election Observation Mission
in Paraguay following the general election held in that country on 21 April 2013.
Boris Johnson:
An EU Election Follow-Up Mission was deployed to Paraguay in April 2015 to assess
the progress made in the implementation of the 2013 EU Election Observation
Mission (EU EOM). At that time it considered that there had been "significant
progress" in the implementation of the EU EOM recommendations since the 2013
general elections. However, as the Preliminary Statement for the EU EOM after the
April 2018 election points out, full implementation of all recommendations has not yet
been achieved, including those aimed at strengthening the independence and
transparency of public institutions, the control of political party financing, as well as at
increasing the participation and representation of women in public life.
Rajab Nabeel
Anna McMorrin: [139037]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations his Department has made to the Government of Bahrain on recent
punitive measures against Nabeel Rajab in Jau Prison.
Alistair Burt:
We have raised the case of Nabeel Rajab at senior levels with the Government of
Bahrain. My statement of 21 February made clear my concerns at the five-year
sentence handed to Mr Rajab in addition to the two-year sentence he received in
2017. I understand that Mr Rajab has a right of appeal in this case and we will
continue to monitor proceedings closely.
We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the
relevant human rights oversight bodies. We continue to encourage the Government
of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.
Turkey: Christianity
Mr Gregory Campbell: [139993]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Turkish Government on the treatment
of Christians in that country.
Sir Alan Duncan:
British ministers have regular discussions with their Turkish counterparts on a range
of human rights issues, including freedom of religion and belief. We take the situation
of minority groups in Turkey very seriously and urge the Turkish Government to
safeguard their rights.
Turkey: Elections
Emily Thornberry: [140007]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the potential implications of the Turkish Government's decision to hold
parliamentary and presidential elections under a state of emergency for the prospects of
such elections being held in a free, fair and transparent manner; and what recent
representations he has made to his counterpart in Turkey on that issue.
Boris Johnson:
We have frequently raised with the Turkish Government our desire to see the State of
Emergency lifted as soon as possible. We are aware of the concerns expressed by
the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and others about holding elections
under a State of Emergency. We will continue to urge the Turkish Government to
conduct elections in a manner that respects the rule of law and protects fundamental
freedoms in line with its international commitments.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Alzheimer's Disease
Jonathan Ashworth: [138987]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people had
Alzheimer's disease in the last year for which figures are available; and what the cost of
their medication was in that year.
Caroline Dinenage:
The Department does not hold figures on the number of people with Alzheimer’s
disease. However, it is estimated that approximately 850,000 people in the United
Kingdom have the condition.
Drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are classified under section 4.11 of
the British National Formulary (BNF), Drugs for Dementia. These drugs are
Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine and Memantine. NHS Prescription Services,
who provide data on dispensing of National Health Service prescriptions, add the
unlicensed drug Idebenone. These drugs are all included in the following table, which
gives details of these drugs where they have been dispensed in the community in
England in 2017.
Since drugs can be prescribed to treat more than one condition, it is not possible to
separate the different conditions for which a drug may have been prescribed.
Rivastigmine is also licensed for dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Idebenone has been used for stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other indications.
BNF SECTION CODEBNF SECTION NAMENET INGREDIENT COST (NIC)*4.11DRUGS FOR
DEMENTIA£28,187,845
Source: Prescription Cost Analysis
Note:
*This is the basic cost of a drug as used in primary care. This is the cost at list price
excluding VAT, i.e. the price listed in the national Drug Tariff or in standard price lists
and is not necessarily the price the NHS paid. It does not take into account any
contract prices or discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income, so
the amount the NHS paid will be different. NIC is used in Prescription Services
reports and other analyses, as it standardises cost throughout prescribing nationally,
and allows comparisons of data from different sources. The figures are in pounds.
Dental Services
Craig Mackinlay: [140177]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make it
mandatory for NHS dentist practices to notify all stakeholders of a planned closure one
year in advance.
Steve Brine:
NHS England has no plans to make it mandatory for National Health Service dental
practices to notify all stakeholders of a planned closure one year in advance.
The General Dental Services Regulations and Personal Dental Services Agreement
Regulations state that, either commissioners or NHS providers may terminate the
contract by providing a minimum three months’ notice.
Donors: Transplant Surgery
Jonathan Ashworth: [138981]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) heart, (b) lung,
(c) liver, (d) kidney and (e) cornea transplant donations there have been in each of the
last five years.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Information on the number of transplant donations per year in the United Kingdom is
available in the following table.
ORGAN(S)
TRANSPLANTED 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Kidney
(deceased)
1,954 1,917 1,932 2,142 2,255
Kidney (live) 1,082 1,070 1,024 995 985
Kidney/pancreas 190 171 175 147 176
Heart 186 177 187 205 180
Lung(s) 203 187 195 165 187
Heart/lung 6 4 5 2 8
ORGAN(S)
TRANSPLANTED 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Liver (deceased) 825 861 817 887 936
Liver (live) 21 24 25 19 23
Cornea* 6,602 6,076 5,959 5,719 5,816
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant and *Human Tissue Authority.
Drugs and Vaccination
Jonathan Ashworth: [140107]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his
Department’s consultation entitled Cost effectiveness methodology for vaccination
programmes, published in February 2018, how many medicines and vaccines were
approved for funding in England in each of the last five years with a cost per QALY of
greater than £15,000; what the names of those medicines and vaccines were; and how
many patients have received those medicines and vaccines.
Steve Brine:
In relation to vaccines approved for funding in each of the last five years, a cost per
quality-adjusted life year threshold of £20,000 has been used not £15,000.
An assessment has been produced of the impact on the price that we would be
willing to pay for existing vaccine programmes were we to adopt recommendations in
the Cost Effectiveness Methodology for Immunisation Programmes and Procurement
report that is currently out for consultation. One of these recommendations is to
change the threshold from £20,000 to £15,000. This assessment is based on
commercially confidential information, therefore the requested information cannot be
provided.
The information requested in relation to medicines could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost.
Jonathan Ashworth: [140108]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the effect on (a) patients and (b) public health of reducing the cost per QALY threshold
in England to £15,000 for medicines and vaccines; and if he will make a statement.
Steve Brine:
For vaccines, the Department is currently consulting on the Cost Effectiveness
Methodology for Immunisation Programmes and Procurement (CEMIPP) report which
was produced by the independent CEMIPP group. This is available at the following
link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cost-effectiveness-methodology-for-
vaccination-programmes
The CEMIPP group was set up to look at the methodology for determining the cost-
effectiveness of new and existing immunisation programmes and to make
recommendations on if and how methodology could be improved. This report
included a recommendation that the cost per quality-adjusted life year threshold for
vaccines should change from £20,000 to £15,000.
An assessment of what impact this, and a number of other recommendations in the
CEMIPP report, might have on the cost effectiveness of existing vaccination
programmes has been produced. This is based on commercially confidential
information.
In addition, the Department has considered the impact of changing the National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence thresholds for medicines on patients. This is
also based on commercially sensitive information.
E. coli
Jonathan Ashworth: [138976]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been
diagnosed with E. coli in each of the last five years.
Steve Brine:
ublic Health England collects data for England on Escherichia coli (E.coli)
bacteraemia and data for England and Wales on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia
coli (STEC) gastrointestinal infections and these are reported using different time
periods.
The number of cases of E.coli in England in each of the last five financial years are
available to view in the following table.
E. coli bacteraemia counts by financial year, England: 2012/13 to 2016/17
FINANCIAL YEAR E . COLI BACTERAEMIA CASES
2012/13 32,309
2013/14 34,286
2014/15 35,799
2015/16 38,251
2016/17 40,580
Source: Annual Epidemiological Commentary: Mandatory MRSA, MSSA and E. coli
bacteraemia and C. difficile infection data 2016/17.
The number of laboratory confirmed cases of STEC O157 and non O157 STEC in
England and Wales from 2012-2016 are available to view in the following table.
Laboratory confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) O157 and non
O157 STEC in England and Wales, 2012 – 2016.
YEAR STEC O157 CASES NON-O157 STEC CASES
2012 837 22
2013 787 47
2014 883 169
2015 665 211
2016 719 295
Source: Zoonoses overview report UK 2016.
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Thelma Walker: [139045]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is
taking to support people diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome.
Steve Brine:
The Government recognises that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early years
development of children, their behaviours and their life chances. Early intervention
services can help reduce some of the effects of FASD and prevent some of the
secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these services lies
with clinical commissioning groups.
The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines provide the
public with the most up to date scientific information to help people make informed
decisions about their own drinking. The guideline for women who are pregnant or
think they could become pregnant, is that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol
at all, to reduce risks to the baby to a minimum.
Food Standards Agency
Mary Creagh: [140041]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Written
Ministerial Statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 13 March 2018, 35WS, if
he will list the projects supported by the £14m allocated to the Food Standards Agency;
and if he will publish the total estimated cost of those projects.
Steve Brine:
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has several workstreams relating to the
consequences of leaving the European Union which are supported by £14 million of
HM Treasury funding. These cover the regulatory regime for food and feed safety,
and include food crime and incidents handling, import controls for food products and
food safety risk assessment and risk management functions. The FSA has developed
delivery plans for a range of negotiated and contingency outcomes and is working
with other Government departments and the devolved administrations where there
are issues of joint policy responsibility. Due to the sensitivity of these plans to the
ongoing negotiations it would not be appropriate to publish a full list with total costs at
this stage.
Fractures: Older People
Jonathan Ashworth: [138983]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people aged 65 and
over suffered a hip fracture as a result of a fall in each year since 2009-10.
Stephen Barclay:
A count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary diagnosis of a fracture
of the neck of the femur caused by a fall is shown in the table below. This is for
patients aged 65 and over from the financial years 2009/10 through to 2016/17. This
is a count of admissions, not patients, as the same patient may have been admitted
on more than one occasion within the time period:
YEAR FAE
2009/10 36,006
2010/11 35,734
2011/12 35,826
2012/13 35,669
2013/14 37,310
2014/15 36,993
2015/16 35,806
2016/17 35,891
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital.
General Practitioners
Sir Edward Leigh: [905168]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is
taking to increase the number of GPs.
Steve Brine:
The National Health Service needs at least 5,000 more general practitioners and is
working hard to recruit them. New medical schools have been set up in Sunderland,
Lancashire,Chelmsford, Lincoln and Canterbury. We have also increased the
numbers entering general practice training to 3,250 places each year and Health
Education England reported the highest ever number of doctors entering general
practice training in 2017.
Health Services: Children
Thelma Walker: [905179]
What steps the Government is taking to improve child health outcomes.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government wants children and young people to get the best start in life, and
recognises the lasting impact this has on their health outcomes. We take a `life
course’ approach which includes early years support so that children are ready to
learn. We have ambitious plans to reduce infant mortality and childhood obesity,
improve children and young people’s mental health, and deliver a world-leading
immunisation programme.
Health Services: Learning Disability
Jonathan Ashworth: [140106]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
ensure that different health care providers communicate with each other to ensure the
delivery of care to patients with learning difficulties.
Caroline Dinenage:
Under the Accessible Information Standard, all relevant organisations must ensure
that information about individuals’ information and communication support needs is
shared through existing data sharing processes where the consent of the individual to
do so has been obtained. Such information should be included as part of referrals
within and between organisations, including but not limited to referrals from primary
into secondary care, transfers and handovers between wards or units, and discharge
from an inpatient setting into the community.
The scope of the Standard extends to individuals who have information and/or
communication support needs which are related to, or caused by, a disability,
impairment or sensory loss, including those with a learning disability. Individuals who
may have difficulty in reading or understanding information for other reasons such as
a learning difficulty, as distinct from a learning disability, are excluded from the
Standard’s scope.
In the revised Standard specification, which was issued in August 2017,
organisations are now recommended, but not required, to include individuals with a
learning difficulty within the scope of their activities as part of the Standard.
Health: Children
Tracy Brabin: [140182]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment
of the effect of socioeconomic inequalities on children's health outcomes throughout their
lifetimes.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Inequalities experienced in childhood can lead to continuing problems across the life
course. We want children to have the best start in life. Health visitors, as leaders of
the Healthy Child Programme for 0-5 year olds, provide evidence-based public health
interventions at community, family and individual levels.
Local commissioners are critical in providing quality services that address public
health priorities associated with deprivation. These include services to tackle smoking
in pregnancy, reduce childhood obesity, improve oral health and enhance early
language skills.
Public Health England is working closely with the Department for Education to help
parents improve their children’s early language and literacy skills before they start
school. This aims to close the `word gap’ between disadvantaged children and their
peers. An £8.5 million programme has opened for local authorities to fund projects
aimed at disadvantaged children.
We are making an additional £1.4 billion available to transform children and young
people’s mental health services from 2015/16 to 2019/20. This will mean that by
2020/21, 70,000 additional children and young people each year will be accessing
National Health Service specialist mental health services. We are clear that there is
still more to be done, hence why we have recently published a joint health and
education Green Paper, one of the key proposals for which is to create new mental
health support teams to deliver interventions for mild to moderate mental health
needs for children and young people, in or close to schools and colleges.
Healthy Start Scheme
Frank Field: [139970]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23
April 2018 to Question 135676 on Healthy Start Scheme, how many families were in
receipt of Healthy Start vouchers in those local authority areas.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The number of families in receipt of Healthy Start vouchers in the local authority
areas with the lowest and highest Heathy Start uptake rates can be seen in the
following table
LOCAL AUTHORITY
NUMBER OF
HOUSEHOLDS LOCAL AUTHORITY
NUMBER OF
HOUSEHOLDS
Lowest take up Highest take up
Devon 1,584 Hartlepool 572
Hampshire 2,728 Newcastle upon Tyne 1,442
Hertfordshire 2,731 Halton 448
Surrey 1,887 Bath and North East
Somerset
263
Bracknell Forest 201 Redcar and Cleveland 1,045
Redbridge 761 Northumberland 1,279
Rutland 33 Gateshead 1,043
Buckinghamshire 1,032 Stockton-on-Tees 1,223
Wokingham 182 Swindon 620
Windsor and
Maidenhead
193 Nottingham 2,867
Note: Validated but unpublished information on Healthy Start vouchers from an
approved statistical collection.
Jonathan Ashworth: [140110]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30
April 2018 to Question 138038 on Healthy Start Sceme, what assessment he has made
of the reasons for the decline in the number of (a) women and (b) children eligible to
apply for Healthy Start vouchers.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Eligibility for Healthy Start vouchers is determined by the receipt of qualifying
benefits. All pregnant women aged under 18 are also eligible to receive Healthy Start
vouchers. The number of households eligible for Healthy Start vouchers is closely
linked to the level of unemployment. As unemployment levels change, the number of
women and children eligible to receive Healthy Start vouchers also changes.
Healthy Start Scheme and School Milk
Jonathan Ashworth: [140109]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30
April 2018 to Question 138039 on Healthy Start Scheme: Food, how much funding his
Department allocated to (a) the Health Start scheme and (b) the Nursery Milk Scheme in
each year since 2012-13.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Healthy Start and Nursery Milk schemes are demand led statutory schemes. This
means that the Department must meet expenditure arising from legitimate claims
made in line with the legislation. Funding is allocated to the schemes to meet the
actual demand. The funding allocated to the schemes is accounted for through a
single cost centre with total costs shown below. A split by individual scheme is not
available in the format requested.
TOTAL
2012 - 13 £141,366,339
2013 - 14 £137,790,212
2014 - 15 £128,904,379
2015 - 16 £124,890,649
2016 - 17 £112,556,870
Hospitals: Food
Jonathan Ashworth: [140105]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his
Department allocates to hospitals for providing food for patients with special dietary
requirements.
Stephen Barclay:
Providers are not funded directly by the Department. The majority of the
Department’s funding is allocated to NHS England, primarily for the commissioning of
healthcare services from a range of primary and secondary care providers. National
Health Service providers (NHS trusts and foundation trusts) fund their spending via
income received from NHS commissioners in return for the provision of healthcare
services to their local population. It is for commissioners to ensure that providers’
services meet the standards, including for providing food for patients with special
dietary requirements, set out by the Care Quality Commission.
Local Government: Health Services
Tracy Brabin: [140181]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure
that local authorities that commission public health services appoint resident
representatives to their commissioning (a) board and (b) working groups to help
determine the appropriateness of local initiatives.
Steve Brine:
Upper tier and unitary local authorities (LAs) in England have a duty to take the steps
they believe are appropriate to improve the health of their local populations. LAs are
directly accountable to their electorates for the way in which they discharge their duty
and generally should decide for themselves how best to involve local residents in
informing public health commissioning decisions.
However, LAs with health improvement duties must establish Health and Wellbeing
Boards that bring together representatives from the local National Health Service,
public health, social care and beyond to agree joint strategic needs assessments for
the area. Each of these LAs also has a corresponding Local Healthwatch,
organisations that aim to give citizens a strong voice in influencing and challenging
how health and social care services are provided within their locality. All Health and
Wellbeing Boards must include a Local Healthwatch member.
Mental Health
Luciana Berger: [140060]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has
to mark Mental Health Awareness week.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government supports the promotion of mental health awareness, including co-
funding the Time to Change campaign since 2007, which has done so much to
reduce stigma and improve attitudes towards people who need support with their
mental health. The Government welcomes and will actively support Mental Health
Awareness week again this year.
Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
Helen Whately: [905177]
What steps he is taking to increase the provision of mental health services for children
and young people.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
We are making an additional £1.4 billion available in order to transform services and
ensure access to specialist mental health services for 70,000 additional children and
young people by 2020/21 each year. Our recent joint health and education Green
Paper will revolutionise provision of services in schools, bolster links between schools
and the National Health Service and pilot a four week waiting time.
NHS England and NHS Improvement
Sir Nicholas Soames: [139919]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to
amalgamate NHS Improvement and NHS England.
Stephen Barclay:
As set out under the 2012 Act, NHS England and NHS Improvement have different
statutory functions and accountabilities in relation to monitoring and supporting of
trusts and clinical commissioning groups. Within this legal framework, they have
already taken some steps to ensure their regulatory functions are as streamlined as
possible. This includes appointment of shared, associate non-executive directors to
chair a joint finance group, as a key way to ensure overall financial balance across
the National Health Service. NHS England and NHS Improvement recently
announced the intention to go further from September, when there will be increased
integration and alignment of national programmes and activities, as well as a move to
seven integrated regional teams.
These changes will enable NHS England and NHS Improvement to work even more
effectively to support increasingly integrated local health systems and make best use
of collective resources. The Government welcomes these steps to deliver more
joined-up leadership of the NHS, within the legislative framework set by Parliament.
Nurses
Jonathan Ashworth: [138985]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many nurses were
employed in each NHS region in each year since 2010.
Stephen Barclay:
NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics
as at the last day of each month and the attachment contains the number of nurses
and health visitors in each Health Education region as at September in each specified
year and January 2018.
Attachments:
1. PQ138985 attached document [PQ138985 Nurses as at 30 September each specified
year and latest data (full time equivalents).xlsx]
Obesity
Jonathan Ashworth: [138979]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many adults were
recorded as obese in (a) England, (b) London, (c) each primary care trust in London and
(d) each London borough in each year since 2010.
Steve Brine:
Data on adults who are obese are published by obesity prevalence rather than the
number of adults who are obese.
Health Survey for England records adult obesity prevalence figures for England and
the London region on an annual basis. Data from 2010 to 2016 are available to view
here:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-
england
The Public Health Outcomes Framework provides estimates of obesity prevalence in
adults aged 18 and over at local authority level, including London boroughs for
2015/16 to 2016/17 which is available to view here:
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/public-health-outcomes-framework/supporting-
information/further-info
Data from before 2015/16 are based on a different method of calculating this
indicator, therefore are not comparable to the more recent years.
Jonathan Ashworth: [138980]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is
taking to reduce levels of obesity.
Steve Brine:
We are delivering the most ambitious childhood obesity plan in the world. Key
measures include the soft drinks industry levy, helping children to exercise more,
funding more research and cutting sugar and calories in food. We are already seeing
results with many in the food and drinks industry reducing levels of sugar in their
products. This will impact on tackling obesity across all age groups.
All reports and data published on progress in delivering our plan will be open to
scrutiny. We will use this to determine whether sufficient progress has been made
and whether alternative levers need to be considered.
Plastic Surgery
Jonathan Ashworth: [138986]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the three most common
cosmetic surgery operations were in each of the last five years.
Stephen Barclay:
The following table sets out the three most common surgical procedures carried out
in the National Health Service in England between 2012-13 and 2016-17 which have
a significant reconstructive or plastic element. They are generally carried out
following surgery or to treat some other type of clinical condition. The Department
does not have information on the numbers of procedures undertaken in the
independent sector that are not commissioned by the NHS.
ACTIVITY IN ENGLISH NHS HOSPITALS AND ENGLISH NHS-
COMMISSIONED ACTIVITY IN THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR
Procedure 2012-
13
2013-
14
2014-
15
2015-
16
2016-
17
Breast Augmentation 11,480 11,782 12,101 11,976 11,924
ACTIVITY IN ENGLISH NHS HOSPITALS AND ENGLISH NHS-
COMMISSIONED ACTIVITY IN THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) 4,875 5,188 5,780 5,285 4,951
Plastic operations on the external ear 4,601 4,505 4,376 4,351 4,549
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics
Note:
Numbers refer to finished consultant episodes. A finished consultant episode is a
continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one
healthcare provider.
Postnatal Depression
Gavin Robinson: [140134]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the effectiveness of GPs in identifying and treating perinatal mental health problems in
mothers.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
This Government is committed to improving perinatal mental health services for
women during pregnancy and in the first postnatal year, so that women are able to
access the right care at the right time and close to home. The importance of this is
reflected in both NHS England’s ‘Better Births’ and the ‘Five Year Forward View for
Mental Health'.
General practitioners and primary care teams have a role in supporting the
identification of perinatal mental illness and treatment, and are part of an integrated
pathway of services. This includes monitoring early onset conditions, providing pre-
conception counselling and referring women to specialist mental health services,
including the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme and specialist
perinatal community teams, if necessary.
The Department is investing £365 million to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health
services, and NHS England is leading a transformation programme with the
development of specialist perinatal mental health community services across England
with their investment of £63 million between 2016/17 and 2018/19. Local teams work
in close partnership with wider system partners including primary care to provide care
and treatment to women with perinatal mental illness.
NHS England has also invested in multidisciplinary perinatal mental health clinical
networks which include general practitioners, across the country to drive forward
change, focusing on collaborative working to develop local, integrated pathways and
support early identification of those at risk of mental illness in the perinatal period, to
enable better outcomes for women in all communities.
Respiratory System: Surgery
Jonathan Ashworth: [140124]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many operations to treat
respiratory disease the NHS has undertaken in each of the last 10 years.
Stephen Barclay:
The information is not available in the format requested.
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) provide a count of the number of finished
admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary diagnosis classified as diseases of the
respiratory system where a main procedure was performed. This information for the
period 2007-08 to 2016-17 is shown in the following table. This is a count of
admissions, not patients, as the same patient may have been admitted on more than
one occasion within the time period.
Count of FAEs 1 with a primary diagnosis classified as diseases of the respiratory
system, where a main procedure was performed, 2007-08 to 2016-17 2 .
YEAR FAES
2007-08 219,710
2008-09 236,226
2009-10 240,463
2010-11 249,549
2011-12 255,563
2012-13 273,020
2013-14 287,447
2014-15 305,748
2015-16 313,937
2016-17 327,506
Source:
HES, NHS Digital, Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned
activity in the independent sector
Notes:
1 A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one
healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the
admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a
person may have more than one admission within the period.
2 It should be noted that, changes over time may be due to changes in coding
practises and improvements over time.
Royal Liverpool Hospital
Mrs Louise Ellman: [139973]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department last
discussed with HM Treasury the appointment of a new contractor to complete the new
Royal Liverpool University Hospital; and if he will he make a statement.
Stephen Barclay:
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract between the Royal Liverpool and
Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and the PFI Project Company is still in
place, which means that the Company is still contractually obliged to manage the
project and find a construction firm or subcontractor who can continue the building
work. The PFI Project Company is continuing its discussions with their lenders and
with other service and construction companies to assess how best to continue
delivering the contract. Officials from across Government are continuing to work very
actively with all the parties to ensure there are plans in place to keep the delay as
short as possible.
School Milk
Jonathan Ashworth: [140111]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children (a) were
eligible to receive free milk under the Free Nursery Milk scheme and (b) received free
milk under the Free Nursery Milk scheme in each year since 2010.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The information is not available in the format requested. The Department does not
collect information about the number of children under the age of five who attend
childcare settings and who may therefore be eligible for the Nursery Milk Scheme.
The Department also does not collect information about the number of children who
receive milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme. Reimbursement is made for
approximately 235 million portions, or 78.3 million pints of milk per year, and
approximately 47,000 settings are registered with the Nursery Milk Reimbursement
Unit.
Scurvy
Jonathan Ashworth: [138982]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of scurvy
there were in each year since 2010.
Steve Brine:
The data on the number of individual patients with scurvy are not collected as the
same person may attend a National Health Service hospital on more than one
occasion. Data on the number of finished admissions episodes (FAEs) with a primary
diagnosis of scurvy, for the financial years between 2010-11 and 2016-17 are
available in the following table:
FINANCIAL YEAR FAES
2010-11 Less than 10
2011-12 Less than 10
2012-13 18
2013-14 17
2014-15 17
2015-16 12
2016-17 Less than 10
Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital.
Note:
A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one
healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the
admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a
person may have more than one admission within the period.
The primary diagnosis recorded in the HES data set provides the main reason why
the patient was admitted to hospital.
HES uses the World Health Organization’s ICD-10 (International Classification of
Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision) to record diagnosis
information. In this case, code ‘E54. X - Ascorbic acid deficiency’ has been used.
Smoking
Mr Gregory Campbell: [139994]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have died as
a result of smoking related conditions in each of the last three years.
Steve Brine:
The estimated number of deaths for adults aged 35 and over attributable to smoking,
over the years 2013-15 are presented in the following table:
YEAR DEATHS
2013 78,200
2014 77,800
2015 79,100
Source: NHS Digital – Statistics on Smoking, England, 2017
Social Services: Minimum Wage
Jim Shannon: [140098]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his
Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a sleep-in care workers fund
to pay the historical back pay directly to care workers.
Jim Shannon: [140099]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the effect on providers of local authority-commissioned care for people with learning
disabilities of historical back-pay liability.
Jim Shannon: [140100]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to
ensure that small local social care providers who are unable to fund historic back-pay
liabilities for sleep-in shifts will not be forced into closure.
Caroline Dinenage:
The Government recognises the pressures that sleep-in liabilities are placing on
social care providers of all sizes, and is exploring options to minimise any impact on
the sector. Any intervention to support the sector would need to be proportionate and
necessary.
In the interim, the Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to
ensure that we have a clear understanding of any impact the sector may face.
Stress: Employment
Luciana Berger: [140061]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department
has made of the cost to the NHS of treating people with work-related stress in each of the
last three years.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
This information is not collected centrally.
Suicide
Mary Glindon: [140092]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held
discussions with the British Compressed Gases Association on the availability of helium
gas used in suicides: and if he will make a statement.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not met recently with the
British Compressed Gases Association about the use of helium gas in suicides.
However, Departmental officials have been in contact with the British Compressed
Gases Association and other stakeholders about this issue for a number of years.
Surgery
Catherine McKinnell: [140089]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23
April 2018 to Question 137067, whether his Department holds data on the reasons NHS
operations were cancelled in England.
Stephen Barclay:
This data is not collected centrally. It was a matter for local National Health Service
trusts to make decisions on whether to postpone operations over the winter period.
Surgery: Waiting Lists
Gareth Snell: [139574]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the estimated he has
made of the value (a) in total and (b) by clinical commissioning group of all cancelled
operations during last winter.
Stephen Barclay:
No estimate surrounding the value of cancelled operations during last winter has
been made.
Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships
Sir Nicholas Soames: [139918]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the rate of progress on the establishment of Sustainability and Transformation
Partnerships in England.
Stephen Barclay:
All sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) have governance plans and
established leadership in place.
It is important that local people, organisations, and systems themselves, can see how
their local footprint is performing comparatively in delivering transformation and
improving patient care. That is why we have published an STP Dashboard that
makes this assessment.
The STP Dashboard assesses performance and is on track to be refreshed by July
2018. The 2017 dashboard can be found in the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/sustainability-and-transformation-
partnerships-progress-dashboard-baseline-view/
The next steps for those STPs that are ready to go further is integrated care systems
(ICS). ICSs see commissioners and National Health Service providers, working
closely with general practitioner networks, local councils and others, voluntarily agree
to take shared responsibility for how they use collective resources for the benefit of
their local communities.
To enable this, NHS England and NHS Improvement will offer them far more control
and freedom over the total operations of the health system in their area.
Trauma
Jonathan Ashworth: [138977]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many trauma cases were
recorded in NHS A&E departments in each of the last 10 years.
Jonathan Ashworth: [138978]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many trauma cases were
recorded across all NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years.
Stephen Barclay:
The requested data is not centrally held.
HOME OFFICE
Asylum: Finance
Afzal Khan: [137663]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8
February to Question 126582 on asylum: finance, what criteria her Department uses to
assess its business needs; and to which actions her Department will allocate funding in
2018.
Caroline Nokes:
Management of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in the UK is
vested in the European Funding Team acting as the AMIF Responsible Authority
(UKRA).
The UKRA manages the funds to try and meet the objectives set out in the published
AMIF National Programme, set out in Section 5 of the programme on ‘Common
Indicators’. This is what the UK set out to achieve with AMIF funding over the course
of the programme. The UKRA will review progress against these objectives when
deciding where to focus funding, whilst still looking at funding across the programme
objectives.
AMIF has 3 Specific Objectives that the UK takes part in, Asylum, Integration and
Returns. In the initial National Programme the UK agreed to fund these objectives at
20% of the allocation for each of Asylum and Integration, with 54% allocated to
Returns activities. There was a slight re-prioritisation of funds from Returns to
Integration as a result of a mid-term review with the European Commission, based on
the larger number of refugees in the UK since the Programme was drawn up in 2013.
For the purpose of clarity it may be useful to set out the definition of AMIF funding
years, in that it operates from 16/10/n – 15/10/n+1, therefore the 2018 AMIF year will
be 16/10/17 – 15/10/18.
Currently in the UK there are 14 AMIF funded projects, 6 under the Asylum objective,
2 under Integration and 6 under Returns. All these projects are operated by the Home
Office. A complete list of funded projects is published on www.gov.uk, for projects up
to each July.
The UKRA currently has an ‘open call for proposals’ asking for applications for
funding for projects to deal with refugee integration. The value of this call for
proposals is £40m. The closing date for applications is 09/05/18, with an expectation
that successful applications will be starting from 01/08/18.
For further information the UK Responsible Authority can be contacted at:
Crime Prevention: Gangs
Louise Haigh: [139542]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department plans
to allocate to the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation fund in (a) 2018-19 and (b)
2019-20.
Victoria Atkins:
We will continue to support local voluntary sector and community schemes through
new rounds of the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE) Fund. We plan to
allocate up to £300,000 in 2018-19 and in 2019-20. The EGVE Fund will be launched
in the summer and further details will be available in due course.
We are continuing to provide funding for Young People’s Advocates in London,
Manchester and Birmingham to work directly with gang-affected women and girls. We
are also providing funding to Redthread to support the expansion of their youth
violence intervention scheme in hospital emergency departments.
We will also be providing £1million for the Community Fund in both 2018/19 and
2019/20 to help communities tackle knife crime and £11million over the next two
years through a new Early Intervention Youth Fund.
Crimes of Violence
Louise Haigh: [140165]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's definition
of serious violent crime is; and which offence types his Department includes in that
definition.
Victoria Atkins:
However, the scope of the Serious Violence Strategy is concerned with specific types
of crime such as homicide, knife crime, and gun crime and areas of criminality where
serious violence or its threat is inherent, such as in gangs and county lines drug
dealing. It also includes emerging crime threats faced in some areas of the country
such as the use of corrosive substances as a weapon.
Serious violence also extends to other forms of serious assault. We know that a
significant proportion of violence is linked to either domestic abuse or alcohol, but
these two important elements are not driving the increases we are seeing in violent
crime. The strategy also does not address specifically sexual abuse, modern slavery
or violence against women and girls. They may all involve forms of serious violence
but there are already specific strategies addressing those important issues, and so
they are not included within the scope of the Serious Violence Strategy.
Female Genital Mutilation
Kerry McCarthy: [139422]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans
to produce (a) statistics and (b) updated estimates on the prevalence of female genital
mutilation (i) nationwide and (ii) by city or region.
Victoria Atkins:
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government is
clear that we will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong suffering
to women and girls.
In 2015 a City University and Equality Now study, which was part funded by the
Home Office, estimated that 137,000 women and girls who had migrated to England
and Wales were living with the consequences of FGM, and approximately 60,000
girls aged 0-14 were born in England and Wales to mothers who had undergone
FGM. This study also provides a regional breakdown of FGM prevalence by local
authority area.
Additionally, the FGM enhanced dataset is published quarterly and annually by NHS
Digital. The most recent set of annual statistics were published in July 2017 and
quarterly statistics were published in March 2018. A detailed breakdown of these
statistics by local authority, age at which FGM was carried out and country where
FGM was undertaken is available online at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-
information/publications/statistical/female-genital-mutilation. These statistics
demonstrate that a very high majority of cases are identified in adult women who
were born in Africa or Asia who also underwent the practice in their country of birth.
To improve understanding of the prevalence of so-called ‘Honour Based Violence’
including FGM we have amended the police Annual Data Requirement for 2018/19 to
formally record for the first time where a crime has been committed in the context of
preserving the honour of a family or community.
Hate Crime: Internet
Louise Haigh: [140163]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his
Department's announcement of the new national online hate crime hub, published on 8
October 2017, how many FTE officers are employed at the hub; how many (a) crimes
and (b) perpetrators of crimes the hub has identified;and how many referrals have been
made to social media platforms as a result of the work of the hub since its inception.
Victoria Atkins:
The new online hate crime hub went live in January. It is in the initial phase of
operations, with 3 out of 4 specialist full-time staff now in post and undertaking
training and developing key processes, which include the provision of monitoring data
in due course. The dedicated staff are supported by management supervision from
Greater Manchester Police and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Human Trafficking
Frank Field: [139966]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the eligibility criteria for
local authority anti-trafficking pilots relating to the trafficking of people have been
determined.
Frank Field: [139967]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of
the number of victims of people trafficking who will be eligible for support under local
authority anti-trafficking pilots.
Victoria Atkins:
The Government wants to ensure that when adult victims of modern slavery leave
National Referral Mechanism (NRM) support, they are able to begin re-building their
lives as early as possible. Victims leaving the NRM can either be supported to return
to their country of origin, apply for asylum, or move into a local community.
As part of NRM reform, Home Office Ministers committed to working with local
authorities to test ‘transition pathways’ for victims who move out of NRM support and
into local communities, with a view to identifying best practice.
Over the next year, we will be working with six local authorities on this project which
will contribute to a more robust evidence base including the number of victims who
move into local communities after NRM support and what support they require.
Immigrants: Caribbean
Kate Green: [R] [138436]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings she has held with
black majority church leaders to discuss her Department's arrangements for the Windrush
generation.
Caroline Nokes:
We have identified influential faith leaders in key cities throughout the UK and
Caribbean community groups who will cascade our messages to the Windrush
generation. We will identify 10-15 outreach community ambassadors who will carry
out this activity This will include churches, community events and local businesses, in
around 400 African Caribbean touch points in five key cities including: London,
Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol.
Immigrants: Commonwealth
Jo Stevens: [136029]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the
Government made prior to the introduction of the hostile environment immigration policy
of that policy's potential effect on Commonwealth migrants who have been long-term
residents of the UK.
Caroline Nokes:
The Compliant Environment is not a new concept; successive Governments have
brought forward policies to protect the UK taxpayer from the misuse of public services
and benefits and to tackle illegal migration.
Compliant Environment measures were never intended to impact on people with
lawful immigration status in the UK, such as the Windrush generation.
We are fully committed to helping those affected to evidence their status in the UK
and are making that process as straightforward as possible. A taskforce and helpline
has been set up in the Home Office to help those concerned to prove their residence.
The taskforce is taking a proactive approach so individuals can easily establish their
rights.
We have also put in place additional protection for landlords, employers and others
conducting checks in order to ensure we are not denying work, housing, benefits and
services to Commonwealth migrants who have been long-term residents of the UK.
Immigration: Caribbean
Jon Trickett: [137915]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which company her Department
has contracted to manage (a) part or (b) the whole of the Windrush generation helpline.
Caroline Nokes:
No third party has been contracted to manage all, or part, of the helpline.
To ensure people had access to the support they needed without delay, between 17
and 20 April ‘Windrush’ related call handling was supported by Sitel. The dedicated
Windrush helpline went live on 20 April and is managed and staffed internally from
within the Department.
Immigration: EU Nationals
Sir Vince Cable: [138352]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of
the total number of additional staff her Department will need in order to process EU
citizens’ immigration and residence status and permanent residency applications ahead
of the UK leaving the EU.
Caroline Nokes:
Recruitment is underway to bring existing UKVI European Casework staffing levels to
circa 1,500 ahead of the EU Exit Settlement Scheme launch at the end of this year.
Operational units across the Home Office actively monitor workflows to ensure
sufficient resources are in place to meet demand and will continue to do so
throughout negotiations and as the UK leaves the EU. Any resultant changes to
resource requirements will be factored into strategic planning.
Knives: Crime
Catherine McKinnell: [140088]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to
prevent knife crime in the North East of England.
Victoria Atkins:
On 9 April 2018, the Government published the Serious Violence Strategy that set
out action being taken to address serious violence and in particular the recent
increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. This also includes the national
knife crime media campaign, #knifefree, to raise awareness of the consequences of
knife crime among young people and to encourage them to take up positive activities.
We will continue to encourage police forces in England and Wales to undertake a
series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation
Sceptre. In February this year, the police forces in Northumbria, Cleveland and
Durham all participated in Operation Sceptre, which includes targeted stop and
searches, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers, the use
of surrender bins and educational activities. We also announced up to £1million for a
new round of the anti-knife crime Community Fund which will invite bids for funding
later this Spring from community groups to tackle knife crime in their area.
Passports: Fraud
Philip Davies: [139425]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information he holds on the
number of (a) Ukrainian and (b) Russian nationals who are in the UK having entered on a
false EU passport or identity document.
Caroline Nokes:
The information requested is not held in a reportable format.
Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
Grahame Morris: [140055]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30
April 2018 to Question 138022, what the timetable is for the introduction of additional
qualified informants to be progressed alongside wider Death Certification Reforms
contained within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Caroline Nokes:
The time table will be agreed with the Department for Health and Social Care who are
responsible for Death Certification Reforms. An announcement will be made by the
Government in due course.
Shops: Crimes of Violence
Mr Laurence Robertson: [139940]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance hisDepartment
has issued to businesses on violence within the retail work place; and if he will make a
statement.
Victoria Atkins:
Violence is unacceptable wherever it takes place, and violence or abuse against retail
staff should not be tolerated. We encourage all victims, including shop workers, to
report these crimes to the police whenever they occur so that they can be recorded
and investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Through the National Retail Crime Steering Group, we are working with our partners
across government, the police and in the retail sector to explore what more can be
done to prevent and tackle violence and abuse against retail staff. This includes
sharing best practice and exploring whether there is more to be done to ensure
consistency in training and in the reporting and response to these crimes, and
whether there are additional steps that retailers can take to help reduce the risk of
violence.
Slavery
Paul Blomfield: [140068]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many modern slavery
operations Immigration Enforcement Crime teams partnered in each of the last three
years.
Caroline Nokes:
We do not hold the data requested.
UK Border Force: Northern Ireland
Gavin Robinson: [140136]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons people making
Border Force applications in Northern Ireland cannot supplement their qualifying
experience with military or police service in the same way as their counterparts in Great
Britain can.
Caroline Nokes:
Border Force values the experience of people who have worked in the military and
law enforcement. Current and former members are free to apply for all our
recruitment campaigns.
The requirement was removed by Border Force for this campaign following concerns
raised by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on using military and law
enforcement as a specific criterion.
This was in the interest of ensuring we have a representative profile of candidates in
Northern Ireland.
Undocumented Migrants
Angus Brendan MacNeil: [139423]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which private companies are
involved in the (a) detention and (b) deportation of people (i) deemed to be and (ii) under
suspicion of being in the UK illegally.
Caroline Nokes:
Escorting deportation: Mitie Care and Custody
Detention: G4S (Brook House and Tinsley House Gatwick IRC’s), Mitie Care and
Custody (Heathrow IRC and Campsfield House IRC), Geo (Dungavel IRC, Scotland),
Serco (Yarlswood IRC).
Undocumented Workers: Fines
Paul Blomfield: [140067]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 26
April 2018 to Question 137049, on Undocumented Workers: Fines, how many of those
initial decision illegal working civil penalties have been (a) reduced, (b) cancelled, (c)
increased and (d) reissued.
Caroline Nokes:
The information is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost.
Visas: Health Professions
Preet Kaur Gill: [140194]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for tier 2
visas from (a) doctors and (b) nurses have been turned down over the last 12 months.
Caroline Nokes:
The information requested on Tier 2 applications by doctors and nurses turned down
over the last 12 months is not included in statistics published by the Home Office.
Information on the total number of Tier 2 entry clearance visa outcomes can be found
in Visas volume 1 table vi_01_q here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-
december-2017/list-of-tables#visas
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Building Regulations and Fire Safety Independent Review
John Healey: [139955]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the
timetable is for the final publication of the report of the Hackitt Review.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
Dame Judith Hackitt's review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety final report is
expected to be published in late Spring 2018.
Community Infrastructure Levy
Neil O'Brien: [140223]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the
value was of Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy planning obligations agreed
to in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion of that value was attributed to (a)
direct payments, (b) affordable housing and (c) other types of contributions.
Neil O'Brien: [140225]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the
value was of Community Infrastructure Levy planning obligations agreed to in each year
since 2010-11.
Dominic Raab:
The Government does not hold data for every year since 2010-11. In March this year
we published a study on “The Incidence, Value and Delivery of Planning Obligations
and Community Infrastructure Levy in England 2016-17”. This found that last year
Section 106 planning obligations with an estimated value of £5.1 billion had been
agreed, including an estimated £4 billion in affordable housing contributions, and that
the value of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) levied by local authorities was £0.9
billion.
Of the £4 billion agreed through Section 106 affordable housing contributions, it is
estimated that £75 million was agreed to be delivered through commuted sums
towards off-site provision, and the remainder through on-site provision. For other
Section 106 planning obligations excluding land contribution, it is estimated that
obligations to the value of £613.1 million were agreed in direct contributions, and
£72.1 million in payment in-kind contributions.
Local authorities received £286 million in CIL revenue during 2016/17, £135 million
was received in 2015/16, £49 million in 2014/15, £10 million in in 2013/14, £1 million
in 2012/13 and £15,000 in 2011/12. There were no CIL charging authorities in
2010/11. In addition, The Mayor of London’s CIL, which is charged to help fund
Crossrail, raised £137 million in 2016/17, £119 million in 2015/16, £73 million in
2014/15, £47 million in 2013/14 and £6 million in 2012/13.
Construction: Trading Standards
Ronnie Cowan: [139005]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
steps his Department is taking to ensure that trading standards officers enforce the
Construction Products Regulations.
Dominic Raab:
As part of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, Dame
Judith Hackitt is considering the role of products used in construction, and the
potential impact on building safety. The review has a particular focus on the
construction products used in multi-occupancy, high-rise residential buildings. An
interim report was published in 18 December 2017, and a final report will be
published in Spring 2018. We will consider any recommendations made by the
Review in this area and how they interact with the requirements of the Construction
Product Regulations.
High Rise Flats: Vauxhall
Kate Hoey: [139934]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will
take steps to ensure that (a) leaseholders at Malt House and Palm House in Vauxhall
constituency and (b) other leaseholders do not have to pay for recladding of their blocks
built by Bellway Homes.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
We have made clear that building owners should do all they can to protect
leaseholders from costs relating to interim measures and cladding remediation –
either funding it themselves or looking at ways to recoup the costs such as insurance
claims, warranties or legal action.
It is important that leaseholders are able to access specialist advice to understand
their rights. The Government announced on 4 December that the Department is
providing additional funding to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), who provide
free, initial and tailored advice to those affected, including a dedicated advice line and
outreach to ensure they are aware of their rights and are supported to understand the
terms of their leases.
The Department is keeping the situation for leaseholders under review.
Housing
John Healey: [139956]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant
to the Answer of 27 April to Question 137017 on Housing, if it remains his policy that the
Homes and Communities Agency publish quarterly updates for the 2015 to 2018
Affordable Homes Programme.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
The Affordable Homes Programme 2015 - 2018 is closed for bidding and has been
replaced by The Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme 2016-21. The
publication of allocations data is a matter for Homes England. The first set of
allocations from the 2016-2021 Programme can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/affordable-homes-programme-2016-to-
2021-successful-bidders.
Housing Revenue Accounts
John Healey: [139954]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
restrictions he places on the type of housing that is included in local authorities' housing
revenue accounts.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
The type of housing that is included in local authorities' housing revenue accounts is
prescribed by the terms of Section 74 of the Local Government and Housing Act
1989.
Housing: Construction
John Healey: [139957]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
target he has set for the number of starter homes to be built in the 2017 Parliament.
John Healey: [139958]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
estimate his Department has made of the number of new starter homes which will be built
in each of the next five years.
Dominic Raab:
We are supporting people's aspirations to buy through a range of initiatives including
Help to Buy, Right to Buy, greater funding for Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy,
and our plans for starter homes. Since Spring 2010 Government-backed schemes
have helped over 460,000 households to buy a home and the number of first-time
buyers is at a nine-year annual high. At Autumn Budget, the Government announced
a stamp duty exemption for most first-time buyers.
The definition of a starter home is currently being finalised as part of the revised draft
National Planning Policy Framework which we are consulting on. The consultation
ends on 10 May and can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-revised-national-planning-policy-
framework
Following this, we expect to make an announcement on the next steps for starter
homes.
Local Government Finance
Catherine McKinnell: [140087]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with
reference to the oral evidence given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Treasury
Committee on 25 April 2018, on the work of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will
break down the £23 billion in reserves held by local authorities and identify the proportion
of those reserves that are unearmarked or not ring-fenced.
Rishi Sunak:
Of the £23.1 billion in revenue reserves held by English local authorities as of 31
March 2017, non-ringfenced reserves make up £21.0 billion and have increased by
47 per cent since 31 March 2011.
Of this, unallocated reserves amount to around £4.2 billion. It is for individual local
authorities to decide on the level of unearmaked reserves that they should hold,
based on their known financial commitments and risk appetite.
Reserves data is published in Table 7 as part of MHCLG’s Local Authority Revenue
Expenditure and Financing:2016-17 Final Outturn, England data publication.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Procurement
Alex Cunningham: [140074]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his
Department will take steps to encourage local authorities to adopt an outcomes-based
approach to procurement to help (a) tackle societal challenges and (b) (i) small
businesses and (ii) start-ups to win more contracts.
Rishi Sunak:
Local authorities are independent contracting authorities and are therefore
responsible for their own procurement decisions. In doing this, they must of course,
comply with the legislative framework. This includes considering social value under
the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. This requires public authorities, including
local authorities, to have regard to economic, social and environmental well-being in
connection to public services contracts. Local authorities extend this this all contracts
through the National Procurement Strategy.
Police: Finance
Grahame Morris: [140054]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the will
bring forward legislative proposals to enable Police and Crime Commissioners to vary the
Police precept to introduce greater increases for people living in higher- banded
properties.
Rishi Sunak:
In England, homes are allocated one of eight property bands. Each band is a fixed
proportion of the band D amount charged by each council tax-setting authority,
including police and crime commissioners. The Government has no plans to change
these arrangements.
Public Lavatories: Non-domestic Rates
Craig Mackinlay: [140178]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
plans his Department has to exempt public conveniences owned or managed by (a)
parish and (b) town councils from national non-domestic rates.
Rishi Sunak:
The Government recognises the importance of public toilets as a valuable community
amenity and encourages local authorities to keep them open to the public. We are
keeping under review the need for any further action to support local authorities,
including parish and town councils, in doing so.
Public Lavatories: Railway Stations
Nic Dakin: [139470]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on increasing the
number of changing places toilet facilities at National Rail stations.
Dominic Raab:
Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have
discussed with the Department for Transport the provision of Changing Places toilets.
Both Departments have met to talk to representatives of the Changing Places
consortium to review current and forecast provision in National Rail stations.
Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations
Stephen McPartland: [140070]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the
timetable is for the roll out of Right to Buy to all Housing Association tenants.
Mrs Heather Wheeler:
The Government is committed to ensuring housing association tenants have the
opportunity to own their homes, and the Midlands pilot announced at Autumn Budget
2017 is a clear demonstration of that. The pilot will launch in the Summer, and will
give thousands more housing association tenants the opportunity to enjoy the
benefits of home ownership.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Developing Countries: Orphans
Mr Barry Sheerman: [139390]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral
contribution of the Minister of State of 18 April 2018, Official Report, column 305, if she
will publish her Department's policy on orphanages.
Harriett Baldwin:
DFID does not have a written policy on support to orphanages but DFID’s general
policy is not to fund orphanages. DFID’s primary focus is to tackle the underlying
drivers of institutionalisation through poverty reduction programmes and through our
strong focus on education, nutrition, health, economic development and social
protection programming.
Gaza: Borders
Jo Stevens: [140144]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has
made of the potential humanitarian effect of expanding the capacity of the Kerem Shalom
goods crossing between Gaza and Israel.
Alistair Burt:
Humanitarian agencies currently have to devote considerable time, resource, and
effort to coordinating the passage of humanitarian goods and personnel through
crossings between Israel and Gaza. Kerem Shalom is the only crossing for goods to
enter and exit Gaza via Israel. In 2017 an average of 218 trucks a month were
leaving Gaza into Israel, compared to a monthly average of 961 trucks between
January and July in 2007. This severely constrains the economic development of
Gaza, which contributes to the dire humanitarian situation. By operating Kerem
Shalom at capacity, humanitarian and essential goods would be able to reach the
intended beneficiaries in a more timely and cost-effective manner. This would
expedite the delivery of humanitarian relief to those in need, helping to save lives and
reduce suffering. The UK regularly raises the need to ease trade, movement and
access restrictions with the Government of Israel, in line with their legitimate security
concerns, and urges Egypt reopen the Rafah crossing.
Israel: Palestinians
Richard Burden: [139376]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of
26 April to Question 137118, on Israel: Palestinians, whether any of the organisations she
held direct conversations with were (a) Palestinian or (b) groups operating in (i) the West
Bank or (ii) Gaza.
Alistair Burt:
Officials engaged directly and indirectly with a wide range of NGOs that work with
both Palestinian and Israeli society including organisations that are run by
Palestinians and operate in the West Bank. The programme does not currently work
in Gaza.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Richard Burden: [139375]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department
plans to fund the 2018 Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund administered
by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Alistair Burt:
We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Our current
humanitarian support includes £1.9 million via the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
which is supporting up to 1 million Gazans by providing clean water and rehabilitating
sanitation facilities to stop the spread of disease. We continue to monitor the
humanitarian situation in Gaza closely, including through contact with relevant UN
agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian
donors, and we continue to ensure that our programmes can be responsive to spikes
in need.
Palestinians: Trade
Jo Stevens: [140143]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has
made of the potential humanitarian effect of ending restrictions on trade between Gaza
and the West Bank by building a secure route through Israel.
Alistair Burt:
It is clear that if restrictions on trade, movement and access between the West Bank
and Gaza were eased via creation of a secure route between the two through Israel,
humanitarian goods and personnel would be able to reach the intended beneficiaries
in a more timely and cost-effective manner. Easing trade restrictions would help to
ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those in need, helping to save lives and
reduce suffering. More broadly, the benefits of increased trade flow would enhance
Gaza’s economy, and relieve the humanitarian situation by lifting the overall standard
of living. An analysis by the World Bank shows that lifting restrictions on Gaza could
lead to additional cumulative growth of approximately 32% by 2025. We continue to
press Israel to ease restrictions on trade, movement and access in line with their
legitimate security concerns, and urge Hamas to renounce violence and move
towards the quartet principles; the UK is committed to the unimpeded movement of
humanitarian goods and personnel.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Department for International Trade: ICT
Jon Trickett: [138946]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April
2018 to Question 136349, which the IT systems referred to are.
Jon Trickett: [139387]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April
2018 to Question 136349, on Department for International Trade: ICT, if he will list the IT
systems referred to.
Greg Hands:
Due to national security concerns it would be inappropriate to make this public.
JUSTICE
Family Proceedings: Legal Representation
Richard Burgon: [139569]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases one or more parents
appearing in court hearings on the custody of their children have been unrepresented in
each year since 2010.
Lucy Frazer:
The information requested is not available as data on the legal representation of
parties is not broken down into different types of proceedings concerning children.
Immigration: Appeals
Catherine West: [140173]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of immigration appeals were
overturned at tribunal in each of the last seven years.
Lucy Frazer:
The proportion of immigration and asylum appeals allowed in each of the last seven
years is published in quarterly statistics:
www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-
statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2017
Legal Aid Scheme: Immigration
Richard Burgon: [139006]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to
Question 135134 on legal aid scheme: immigration, how many immigration law access
points there are in each region.
Richard Burgon: [139007]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to
Question 135134 on legal aid scheme: immigration, in (a) how many areas and (b) which
areas were one or fewer compliant tenders received in response to the Legal Aid
Agency's recent tender process.
Lucy Frazer:
Immigration and Asylum regions, procurement areas and access points from 1
September 2018
Region Procurement area
Number of
access
points
Access points
London and
South East
England
London and South
East England 6
Buckinghamshire
Hampshire, Southampton,
Portsmouth & Isle of Wight
London
Mid, South West and Coastal
Kent
Oxfordshire & Berkshire
Surrey & Sussex
Midlands and East
of England
Midlands and East
of England 7
Bedfordshire & South
Hertfordshire
Cambridgeshire &
Northamptonshire
City of Leicester
City of Stoke-on-Trent
Coventry
Greater Nottingham, Derby &
South Derbyshire
South Staffordshire, Sandwell
and Birmingham
North East,
Yorkshire and the
Humber
North East,
Yorkshire and the
Humber
4
County Durham East,
Teesside, Tyne & Wear and
Gateshead
South Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
City of Kingston upon Hull
North West
England North West England 3
East & West Lancashire
Greater Manchester
Merseyside
South West
England South West England 3
City of Bristol, Gloucestershire
and North Somerset
City of Plymouth and Devon
Swindon
Cardiff Wales 3
Bridgend, Cardiff and South
East Wales
Neath Port Talbot and
Swansea
North East Wales
The LAA received one or fewer compliant tenders in 6 Immigration and Asylum access points,
as follows:
Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth & Isle of Wight City of Kingston upon Hull East & West Lancashire Swindon City of Plymouth and Devon North East Wales
Grouped Questions: 139006
The LAA received one or fewer compliant tenders in 6 Immigration and Asylum
access points, as follows:
Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth & Isle of Wight
City of Kingston upon Hull
East & West Lancashire
Swindon
City of Plymouth and Devon
North East Wales
Richard Burgon: [139018]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many immigration law legal aid providers
there were in each year since 2010, broken down by procurement area.
Richard Burgon: [139019]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many immigration law legal aid providers
there were in each at each access point in each year since 2010.
Lucy Frazer:
The number of offices holding a legal aid contract in the immigration category
according to which procurement area and access point area they fell under is shown
below. The Lord Chancellor has confirmed that we are conducting an evidence-based
review which will examine the impact of the changes made by LASPO including those
on providers.
PROCUREME
NT AREA
NAME
ACCESS POINT
NAME
2010/1
1
2011/1
2
2012/1
3
2013/1
4
2014/1
5
2015/1
6
2016/1
7
2017/1
8
2018/1
9
Cedars Non Fast
Track
2 2 2 2
London and
South East
England
Berkshire 2 3 2
London and
South East
England
Buckinghamshi
re
3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
London and
South East
England
Hampshire 1 1 1
London and
South East
England
Hampshire,
Southampton,
Portsmouth &
Isle of Wight
3 3 4 2 2 2
London and
South East
England
London 130 135 126 174 162 145 131 119 98
London and
South East
England
Mid and South
West Kent
2 2 2
London and
South East
England
Mid, South
West and
Coastal Kent
4 4 4 4 4 4
London and
South East
England
Oxfordshire 1 2 2
London and
South East
England
Oxfordshire &
Berkshire
4 4 4 3 2 2
London and
South East
Portsmouth &
Isle of Wight
1 1
PROCUREME
NT AREA
NAME
ACCESS POINT
NAME
2010/1
1
2011/1
2
2012/1
3
2013/1
4
2014/1
5
2015/1
6
2016/1
7
2017/1
8
2018/1
9
England
London and
South East
England
Southampton 2 2 2
London and
South East
England
Surrey 3 3 3
London and
South East
England
Surrey &
Sussex
4 4 4 3 2 1
London and
South East
England
Sussex 2 2 2
London and
South East
England
The Kent
Coast
1 1
Midlands
and East of
England
Bedfordshire 5 5 6
Midlands
and East of
England
Bedfordshire &
South
Hertfordshire
12 11 10 8 6 6
Midlands
and East of
England
Cambridgeshir
e
2 2 1
Midlands
and East of
England
Cambridgeshir
e &
Northamptons
hire
7 6 1 1 1 1
Midlands
and East of
England
City of
Leicester
4 4 3 7 6 5 4 4 2
Midlands City of Stoke- 2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1
PROCUREME
NT AREA
NAME
ACCESS POINT
NAME
2010/1
1
2011/1
2
2012/1
3
2013/1
4
2014/1
5
2015/1
6
2016/1
7
2017/1
8
2018/1
9
and East of
England
on-Trent
Midlands
and East of
England
Coventry 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 4
Midlands
and East of
England
Derby and
South
Derbyshire
1 1
Midlands
and East of
England
Greater
Nottingham
3 3 3
Midlands
and East of
England
Greater
Nottingham,
Derby & South
Derbyshire
11 10 5 3 3 3
Midlands
and East of
England
Norfolk 1 1 1
Midlands
and East of
England
Northamptons
hire
3 2 1
Midlands
and East of
England
South
Hertfordshire
2 2 2
Midlands
and East of
England
South
Staffordshire,
Sandwell and
Birmingham
15 22 19 39 34 28 25 24 22
Midlands
and East of
England
Suffolk 1 1 1
North East,
Yorkshire
and the
County
Durham East
and Teesside
3 5 3
PROCUREME
NT AREA
NAME
ACCESS POINT
NAME
2010/1
1
2011/1
2
2012/1
3
2013/1
4
2014/1
5
2015/1
6
2016/1
7
2017/1
8
2018/1
9
Humber
North East,
Yorkshire
and the
Humber
County
Durham East,
Teesside,
Tyne & Wear
and
Gateshead
15 15 13 12 11 10
North East,
Yorkshire
and the
Humber
South
Yorkshire
7 9 8 15 13 12 11 10 9
North East,
Yorkshire
and the
Humber
Tyne & Wear
and
Gateshead
5 5 5
North East,
Yorkshire
and the
Humber
West Yorkshire 8 13 12 30 26 22 22 22 20
North West
England
East & West
Lancashire
3 3 2 3 3 1 1
North West
England
Greater
Manchester
9 11 10 34 32 26 21 20 16
North West
England
Merseyside 3 3 2 10 10 8 7 7 5
South West
England
City of Bristol,
Gloucestershir
e and North
Somerset
9 8 7 7 7 7
South West
England
City of Bristol,
South
Gloucestershir
e and North
Somerset
3 4 4
PROCUREME
NT AREA
NAME
ACCESS POINT
NAME
2010/1
1
2011/1
2
2012/1
3
2013/1
4
2014/1
5
2015/1
6
2016/1
7
2017/1
8
2018/1
9
South West
England
City of
Plymouth
2 1 2
South West
England
City of
Plymouth and
Devon
6 6 7 6 6 5
South West
England
Gloucestershir
e
1 1 1
Wales Bridgend,
Cardiff and
South East
Wales
5 5 5 12 11 10 9 9 9
Wales Neath Port
Talbot and
Swansea
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Wales North East
Wales
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
Grand
Total
242 268 244 413 383 330 294 272 231
Prison Officers: Crimes of Violence
Richard Burgon: [138496]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers required hospital
treatment as a result of an assault at work in 2017.
Richard Burgon: [138497]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers required hospital
treatment as a result of an assault at work in the first three months of 2018.
Rory Stewart:
Between April and December 2017 prison officers attended hospital for treatment
following 741 incidents of assault. This information was not recorded for incidents that
occurred before April 2017, and data for the first three months of 2018 is not yet
available.
These figures have been drawn from the HMPPS Incident Reporting System, and
while care is taken when processing and analysing returns, the detail is subject to the
inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.
We are taking urgent action to make prisons safer, and assaults on our hardworking
staff will never be tolerated. We are ensuring that prison officers have the tools they
need to do their jobs by rolling out body worn cameras, 'police-style' handcuffs and
restraints, and trialling PAVA incapacitant spray.
Prison Officers: Length of Service
Jo Stevens: [138489]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prison officers have (a) 0-1,
(b) 1-3, (c) 3-5 (d) 5 -10 and (e) over 10 years of continuous service in the prison service
as of January 2018.
Rory Stewart:
We are significantly exceeding our prison officer recruitment targets, which is vital to
ensuring prisons are safe, secure and decent so they can successfully rehabilitate
offenders. But it is also important that we retain experienced staff members, and we
continue to work with governors to ensure this happens.
Snapshot figures are taken for the last working day of the month. Figures on the
length of service of band 3-5 prison officers as at 31 December 2017 can be found in
Table 1:
Table 1: Proportion of band 3-5 prison officers in post by length of service (full
time equivalent), as at 31 December 2017
COMPLETED YEARS OF SERVICE 1
31-
DEC-
2017
Band 3-5 Officers 2 Under
1
year
18.9%
1-2 14.8%
3-4 2.3%
5-9 9.2%
10 years and over 54.7%
1 LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HMPPS CALCULATED FROM MOST RECENT HIRE DATE. WHERE STAFF
HAVE TRANSFERRED IN FROM ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR HAVE TRANSFERRED IN
THROUGH HMPPS TAKING OVER A FUNCTION, LENGTH OF SERVICE IS CALCULATED FROM ENTRY TO
HMPPS.
2 Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5
/ Custodial Managers.
Prison Officers: Redundancy Pay
Richard Burgon: [139566]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the severance package was for each
prison officer who took voluntary early departure and was subsequently re-recruited by
HM Prison and Probation Service in each year since 2010.
Rory Stewart:
This level of information cannot be supplied due to the risk of identification of
individuals. It is therefore exempt from disclosure under the Data Protection Act 1998
(DPA).
Prison Officers: Re-employment
Richard Burgon: [139563]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers who took voluntary
early departure have been re-recruited by HM Prison Service in each year since 2010.
Rory Stewart:
The number of band 3-5 prison officers who took voluntary early departure and have
since re-joined the Prison Service can be seen in the table below.
The government has passed its target to recruit an additional 2,500 prison officers by
the end of 2018 – seven months early. An additional 3,111 prison officers were in
place at the end of March 2018 than were in post in October 2016. Continuing to
boost staffing numbers is crucial as it will allow prisons to introduce a new model
where prison officers spend more time both one-to-one and with small groups of
prisoners.
Band 3-5 prison officers who took voluntary early departure and have since re-
joined the Prison Service, 2010/11 to 2017/18 (1 April 2017-31 December 2017)
HEADCOUNT
Restart date Number of band 3-5 prison officers
2010/11 3
2011/12 4
HEADCOUNT
2012/13 ~
2013/14 9
2014/15 106
2015/16 40
2016/17 35
1 April 2017-31 December 2017 14
Notes:
1. Voluntary exits can be offered where the organisation wishes to reduce staff
numbers by offering an early exit scheme or an early exit package to an individual.
There is no compulsion on individuals to accept the offer.
2. The time periods shown reflect the date of when the staff re-joined the Prison
Service, and not when the voluntary early departure was taken.
3. Figures include 73 individuals that re-joined as a reserve.
~ denotes suppressed values of 2 or fewer or other values which would allow values
of 2 or fewer to be derived by subtraction. Low numbers are suppressed to prevent
disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998.
Road Traffic Offences: Reviews
Thelma Walker: [139046]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the to the answer of 15
January 2016 to question 21522, on Road Traffic Offences: Reviews, when the
Government plans to begin its review of driving offences; and whether it plans to
complete the full review before consulting on introducing new driving offences.
Rory Stewart:
On 5 December 2016 the government launched a consultation on driving offences
and penalties relating to causing death and serious injury. This ran until 1 February
2017 and received over 9,000 responses.
The government response to the consultation was published on 16 October 2017 and
can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/driving-offences-and-
penalties-relating-to-causing-death-or-serious-injury.
The government is committed to making sure that the courts have sufficient powers
to deal with driving offences appropriately and proportionately.
We will bring forward proposals for changes in the law as soon as parliamentary time
allows. These proposals will take account of, and incorporate, all of government’s
proposals for safer roads, including those arising from the Department of Transport’s
review of cycle safety.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Government
Lady Hermon: [139995]
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April
2018 to Question 137494 on Northern Ireland Government, what discussions she had
with the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland between mid-February 2018 and
26 April 2018; and if she will make a statement.
Karen Bradley:
[Holding answer 8 May 2018]: I have discussions with the leaders and
representatives of the political parties in Northern Ireland on an ongoing basis. During
these discussions we cover a range of issues, but the focus is always on the
restoration of devolved Government in Northern Ireland.
Security: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: [139996]
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what security briefings have been
given on what dates since 1 January 2016 by police authorities in Northern Ireland to (a)
Ministers and (b) officials of her Department on the potential implications of the UK
leaving the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Karen Bradley:
[Holding answer 8 May 2018]: The PSNI have been, and will continue to be, fully
engaged in ongoing constructive meetings with representatives from both the NIO
and other Whitehall departments on a wide range of matters, including the potential
implications of the UK leaving the EU.
Most recently, on 23 April, senior PSNI officers and NIO officials briefed the Secretary
of State for Exiting the European Union during his visit to Northern Ireland.
PRIME MINISTER
Hitachi
Paul Flynn: [139976]
To ask the Prime Minister, whether she has plans to meet the chairman of Hitachi,
Hiroaki Nakanishi.
Paul Flynn: [139977]
To ask the Prime Minister, whether she has recently had discussions with chairman of
Hitachi, Hiroaki Nakanishi, or representatives of that company on the building and
operation of a nuclear power plant in Wales; and if she will make a statement.
Mrs Theresa May:
Details of Ministerial UK official visits and official meetings with external organisations
and individuals are published quarterly and made available on the gov.uk website.
National Security
Sir Nicholas Soames: [139917]
To ask the Prime Minister, what the five most serious risks are to the (a) security and (b)
prosperity of the UK that have been identified by her Government.
Mrs Theresa May:
The Government assesses the most significant risks to the UK and our interests
through the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA).The NSRA is used to inform
the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. Copies
are available in the libraries of the House.
Undocumented Migrants: Deportation
Catherine West: [140174]
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions she has had with the (a) Right Honourable
Member for Hastings, (b) Home Secretary and (c) Minister of State for Immigration on
whether bonuses were awarded to officials in the Home Office for meeting immigration
removal targets.
Mrs Theresa May:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr Javid) on 2
May 2019, Official Report, column 349.
SCOTLAND
Scotland Office: Mobile Phones
Jon Trickett: [138387]
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what apps his Department has approved for
use on mobile phones issued by his Department.
David Mundell:
Due to national security concerns it would be inappropriate to publicly supply a list of
applications approved for use on mobile phones issued by the Department, as to do
so facilitates attacks against official systems by hostile actors.
TRANSPORT
Arriva Trains Wales
Conor McGinn: [140154]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the (a)
Welsh Government and (b) Mayor of Liverpool City Region on the Arriva Trains Wales
service from Holyhead and Llandudno to Manchester stations.
Joseph Johnson:
There have been no specific recent discussions with either the Welsh Government or
the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region regarding the Arriva Train Wales service from
Holyhead and Llandudno to Manchester stations. Discussions did take place last year
between the Department and the Welsh Government on the specification of the future
services on these routes in the next franchise in respect of their operation within
England.
Bus Services: Concessions
Daniel Zeichner: [140138]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many operator appeals he has received
in respect of reimbursement of concessionary fares in each of the last five years.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
The number of appeals received by the Department is:
12-13: 1
13-14: 1
14-15: 5
15-16: 2
16-17: 1
Cycleways: Coastal Areas
Grahame Morris: [140053]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide funding for a national cycle
path to run alongside the England Coast Path.
Jesse Norman:
The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in
April 2017, outlines £1.2 billion of funding that may be invested in cycling and walking
over the period to 2021. Since its publication, the Government has made further
support available for cycling and walking infrastructure, through the National
Productivity Investment Fund, Transforming Cities Fund and Clean Air Fund.
Decisions on allocating funding for cycle paths are for local authorities, including in
coastal areas. Currently, there are no plans to provide dedicated funding for a
national cycle path to run alongside the England Coast Path.
Cycling: Rural Areas
Grahame Morris: [140051]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make funding available for the
installation and improvement of cycling infrastructure in rural areas.
Jesse Norman:
The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in
April 2017, outlines £1.2 billion of funding that may be invested in cycling and walking
over the period to 2021. Since its publication, the Government has made further
support available for cycling and walking infrastructure, through the National
Productivity Investment Fund, Transforming Cities Fund and Clean Air Fund.
Decisions for allocating funding for cycling infrastructure are for local authorities, who
allocate and/or bid for funding alongside other local priorities. In addition, the
Department for Transport is providing 44 local authorities, including Newcastle City &
Gateshead, Tees Valley and North Tyneside Councils, with access to expert support
to assist in the development of ten-year Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure
Plans. The support also extends to rural areas such as Gloucestershire, Rutland and
Wiltshire. This support will enable authorities to map their future cycle networks and
to prioritise future investments.
Cycling: Safety
Grahame Morris: [140052]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to
local authorities on steps to improve cycling safety.
Jesse Norman:
The Department provides guidance on the design of cycle infrastructure in Local
Transport Note 2/08. This can be accessed at the following address:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-208
Improving the safety of cyclists is one of the underlying principles of this guidance.
The Department is in the process of updating the note to take account of
developments since its publication in 2008, and aims to publish a revised version by
the end of 2018.The Department is also helping local authorities to prepare Local
Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, which will help them to take a more
strategic approach to improving conditions for cycling in their areas. Finally, The
Department funds Bikeability, the national cycle training programme, and has a
number of cycle safety related THINK! campaigns which local authorities can
publicise in their area.
High Speed Two: National Trust
Dame Cheryl Gillan: [139341]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what correspondence he has entered into
with HS2 Ltd on its engagement with the National Trust; and if he will publish those
exchanges.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
There has not been any correspondence between the Secretary of State and HS2
Limited (HS2 Ltd) on HS2 Ltd’s engagement with the National Trust.
I am grateful to the National Trust for its constructive engagement with both the
Department for Transport (DfT) and HS2 Ltd to date. I would welcome further
engagement as the scheme progresses.
Rail Delivery Group
Andy McDonald: [140130]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a)
effectiveness, (b) efficiency and (c) value for money of the Rail Delivery Group; and if he
will make a statement.
Joseph Johnson:
The Government is supportive of the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG’s) role of providing
industry leadership to achieve better outcomes for rail users. We continue to work
closely with them to ensure they are well placed to provide the strategic leadership
needed to deliver key reforms and priorities of the railway. RDG is a private company
funded by the membership fees paid by its members.
Railways: Concessions
Alex Chalk: [140166]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an
assessment of the potential merits of extending the 16-25 railcard to bus travel.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Concessionary fares for young people are already available in the vast majority of
authorities in England outside of London and such concessionary fares for young
people are a matter for local authorities and bus operators to determine in their local
areas. Therefore at this point the Department has no plans to introduce a statutory
national bus travel concession for young people in England.
Railways: Fares
Conor McGinn: [140152]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average amount paid for (a)
advance single and (b) advance return journeys between (i) London and Liverpool (ii)
London and Manchester (iii) London and Warrington was in each year since 2010.
Joseph Johnson:
This information is held by Train Operating Companies who offer Advance fares
between these stations: Virgin Trains West Coast between London and Liverpool,
Manchester and Warrington; West Midlands Trains between London and Liverpool;
and East Midlands Trains between London and Manchester.
Railways: Franchises
Andy McDonald: [140128]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to reform rail franchising
to find a better balance between short-term returns to passengers and the sustainable
improvement of passenger services.
Joseph Johnson:
The Department announced in 2017’s paper ‘Connecting people: a strategic vision for
rail’ plans to build on the successes of franchising and create genuine, long-term
partnerships between the public sector and private partners to dramatically improve
the service that passengers receive.
These plans include joining-up teams on track and train to put passengers first.
Passengers will be able to hold one team to account for the service they receive. And
new joined-up teams will make a difference to the thousands of day-to-day operating
decisions that affect passengers – transforming their journeys for the better.
Railways: Suicide
Bridget Phillipson: [140063]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the
number of suicides which occurred on UK railway lines in each of the last 15 years.
Joseph Johnson:
Official statistics relating to the number of suicides on the mainline railway network in
Great Britain are published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on their website at:
https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/browsereports/5
Government and the rail industry are jointly engaged in many strands of activity to
reduce the number of suicides on the rail network. Last year over 1800 lifesaving
interventions were made, with 2016/17 having the lowest number of suicide events
recorded on the railway since the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme began
in 2010.
Roads: Capital Investment
Andy McDonald: [140127]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to review the funding
arrangements for road investment.
Jesse Norman:
The Department has no plans to review the funding arrangements for road
investment.
Roads: Safety
Karl Turner: [140058]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to paragraph 4.1.1 Safer Roads of
the Highways England Delivery Plan 2015-2020, what progress has been made on
ensuring that Highways England meets its target of ensuring that by the end of 2020 (a)
90 per cent of travel on the strategic road network is on roads with a safety rating of
EuroRAP 3* or equivalent and (b) the majority of those roads with a 1* and 2* rating have
been brought up to 3*.
Jesse Norman:
The strategic road network is one of the safest national road networks in the world.
Highways England is committed to maintaining and improving levels of safety across
the network, including single carriageways that typically have a lower star rating.
Highways England are making good progress against these targets and will publish
updated figures later this year.
Rolling Stock: Leasing
Andy McDonald: [140126]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the level of
future vehicle leasing charges in the rail industry given the projected shortening of
average vehicle life.
Joseph Johnson:
It is for the train’s owners to take a view on the expected life of the trains and offer
them to the market at competitive rates that ensure these assets are kept in service
for their expected life.
Train Operating Companies: Compensation
Andy McDonald: [140129]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to review the rail
passenger compensation arrangements to ensure train operating companies pass on the
money they receive in compensation from Network Rail to passengers in (a) full and (b) a
timely manner.
Joseph Johnson:
Passenger compensation arrangements are distinct from the payments made by
Network Rail to train operators for planned and unplanned disruption. They cover
different issues and serve fundamentally different purposes, and therefore cannot be
linked in this way:
Passenger compensation is paid by train operators to passengers for delays in line
with the arrangements relevant to the particular franchise (e.g. delay repay).
The payments made by Network Rail, in contrast, compensate the train operator
for the future long term loss of revenue as a result of reduced passenger journeys
arising from planned and unplanned disruption. These can, in certain
circumstances, involve payments from the train operator to Network Rail, where it
outperforms expectations.
These significant differences means that there is no expectation that train operating
companies pass on the money received from Network Rail in this manner.
However, the Government has, and continues to take steps to improve passenger
awareness and uptake of compensation. The independent ORR has worked to
improve the information provided to passengers, including via social media activity,
and the claims process itself reporting on progress in the annual Measuring Up
report. These steps have led to significant increases in passenger compensation,
with over £73m paid out to successful claimants in 2016/17, an increase of 63.8% on
the previous year.
Train Operating Companies: Merseyside
Conor McGinn: [140153]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the franchises of those train companies
which operate services through (a) Earlestown, (b) Newton-le-willows and (c) Garswood
are due for renewal.
Conor McGinn: [140155]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the
proportion of trains from (a) Earlestown, (bi) Newton-le-willows and (c) Garswood which
were (i) delayed and (ii) cancelled in each year since 2010.
Joseph Johnson:
The Northern franchise is due for renewal on 1st April 2025.
The Wales & Borders franchise is due for renewal on 14 th October 2018. The
procurement of a new operator for the franchise is being led by the Welsh
Government.
The department does not hold this information, as it is not the custodian of detailed
performance data for the industry, and we do not require that level of detail on a day-
to-day basis to manage the franchise performance regimes.
TREASURY
Child Tax Credit: Motherwell and Wishaw
Marion Fellows: [140150]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many households in receipt of child tax
credit have had their payments reduced as a result of the two-child tax credit limit in the
Motherwell and Wishaw constituency; and what savings have accrued to the public purse
as a result of the introduction of that limit in that constituency.
Elizabeth Truss:
The information is not held and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.
However, the government published an impact assessment in July 2015 which shows
the number of Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit claimants who were expected to
be affected by the policy over the next five years and the estimated savings from the
change. The impact assessment is available at:
https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006E.pdf
Children: Day Care
Ellie Reeves: [140204]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2018 to
Question 138522, how many applications for 30 hours of free childcare have been
processed in the last three months for which data is available.
Elizabeth Truss:
In the three months to 1 May 2018 over 62,000 new applications for 30 hours free
childcare were processed. This includes applications where the parent was found not
to be eligible for 30 hours free childcare.
Immigrants: Caribbean
Kate Green: [R] [139476]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has allocated additional
funding for the Windrush generation compensation scheme.
Elizabeth Truss:
As the Home Secretary has set out, the Government is committed to putting right the
wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation, and is clear that where people have
suffered loss they will be compensated. The Home Office is working through the
detail of what this scheme will look like, including potential costs to the department.
Mortgages: Interest Rates
Theresa Villiers: [140002]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of
additional tax landlords will pay as a result of changes to the tax treatment of mortgage
interest.
Mel Stride:
The most recent estimate for the fiscal impact of the changes to the tax treatment of
mortgage interest for individual landlords was published in Table 2.2 at the time of
Autumn Budget 2017. The Table can be accessed through the “Autumn Budget 2017:
documents” webpage (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-budget-
2017-documents).
Theresa Villiers: [140003]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of landlords will pay more tax as
a result of changes to the taxation arrangements for mortgage interest payments.
Mel Stride:
Using income tax self-assessment data, HMRC estimates that 1 in 5 landlords will
pay more tax as a result of the changes to taxation arrangements for mortgage
interest payments.
Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance
Frank Field: [139965]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what forecast he has made of the tax revenues
to be raised by the Government's anti-avoidance provisions in relation to multi-national
tech companies due to be introduced in 2019.
Mel Stride:
At Autumn Budget 2017, the Government announced an extension of UK withholding
tax on royalty payments made to low or no tax jurisdictions.
This measure is another step towards the Government’s longer term ambition of
domestic and international reform of the taxation of digital businesses. Whilst this
measure will predominantly affect digital businesses, it may also affect groups
operating in other sectors.
As announced at the Budget, this measure is forecast to raise £800m over four years.
Oil: Taxation
Andrew Bowie: [140188]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on introducing a
transferable tax history mechanism for oil producers for deals that complete on or after 1
November 2018.
Robert Jenrick:
As announced at Autumn Budget 2017, the government will introduce a Transferable
Tax History for oil & gas companies. This will give investors in UK oil and gas fields
certainty that they will be able to get tax relief for decommissioning assets, and
encourage new investment.
This mechanism will be available for deals where the transfer of the licence has been
approved by the Oil & Gas Authority on or after 1 November 2018. This was set out in
“An outline of transferable tax history”, published alongside the Budget:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-outline-of-transferrable-tax-history
Draft legislation will be published in the next couple of months for technical
consultation.
Red Diesel: Excise Duties
Dr David Drew: [139936]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the taxation of red
diesel.
Robert Jenrick:
At Spring Statement 2018, the Chancellor announced a call for evidence, jointly with
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, into whether red diesel for
non-road mobile machinery discourages the purchase of cleaner alternatives. Red
diesel for agricultural use will be out of scope, as will fishing vessels, home heating
and other static generators. The consultation document will be published shortly.
Taxation: Credit Cards
Philip Davies: [139427]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential
merits of re-introducing the ability to pay personal tax by credit card.
Mel Stride:
HMRC accepts payment by credit card on the basis that there is no cost to the public
purse. It achieves this by passing the fees charged by the card issuer back to the
customer. The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) which came into effect on 13
January 2018 means that HMRC can no longer do this where a customer uses a
personal credit card. After careful consideration, HMRC made the decision to stop
accepting payment by this method.
In 2016/17 personal credit cards only accounted for 0.2% of payments made to
HMRC by value. Fees associated with these payments were expected to be on
average £5.5m per annum going forward. To continue accepting personal credit
cards HMRC would have to fund the payment of fees from the public purse. This
means customers paying by other methods would be cross-subsidising those who
benefit from facilities provided by credit card issuers in exchange for fees, including
deferring the payment date and collecting rewards.
Taxation: Domicil
Tom Brake: [139344]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2018 to
Question 136770, on Taxation: Domicil, for what reason the latest figures available are
over three yeas old.
Mel Stride:
Individuals register their non-UK domiciled status with HMRC via the Self
Assessment process.
The deadline for individuals to file Self Assessment returns relating to the tax year
2015-16 was 31 January 2017. Information about non-UK domiciled taxpayers for this
tax year is not yet available to allow for a proportion of individuals who file their Self
Assessment returns after the deadline. In accordance with the Code of Practice for
Official Statistics the release of these statistics has been pre-announced for release
in June 2018.
The deadline for individuals to file Self Assessment returns relating to the tax year
2016-17 was 31 January 2018. Consequently insufficient time has so far elapsed to
allow for reliable figures to be published.
The deadline for individuals to file Self Assessment returns relating to the tax year
2017-18 is 31 January 2019. Information is therefore not yet available because the
deadline for returns has not yet passed.
Taxation: Environment Protection
Anna McMorrin: [140211]
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to reinstate a
carbon price escalator from the 2020s onwards.
Robert Jenrick:
As announced in Autumn Budget 2017, the government will target a Total Carbon
Price similar to the value at the time until unabated coal is no longer used in power
generation.
WALES
Electricity Interconnectors: Wales
Hywel Williams: [139409]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with Cabinet
colleagues on the effect of the UK leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union on
the East-West Interconnector.
Alun Cairns:
The Government’s priority is to maintain affordable, clean, and secure energy
supplies for businesses and households. We share the EU’s ambition to make energy
trading easier and more efficient by opening up national markets, and increasing the
level of interconnection between them, including between the Republic of Ireland, and
all parts of the UK.
We want to continue arrangements that allow efficient trade of electricity to take place
between the single electricity market and Great Britain across the East-West
interconnector, and to closely collaborate on current and future regulatory and
technical arrangements. Outcomes relating to the EU Single Market and the Customs
Union are matters for negotiations, and we are unable to comment on this until
negotiations conclude.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Agriculture: Waste Disposal
Paul Girvan: [140862]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many farm accidents were
reported involving a slurry tank or other slurry storage in the last three years.
Sarah Newton:
Farmers in Great Britain are required to report accidents that cause defined injuries to
people under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 2013. Reports made in compliance with these regulations do not contain
sufficient detail to enable identification of all incidents that are specifically related to
slurry storage.
In the case of incidents that have caused death, the Health and Safety Executive
publishes annual reports of fatal injuries in agriculture in Great Britain. In the last
three years for which figures have been published, the following deaths related to
slurry storage were recorded:
YEAR NUMBER OF DEATHS
2014/15 1
2015/16 2
2016/17 0
Children: Terminal Illnesses
Laura Smith: [139596]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support
after the death of a terminally ill child parents who were not in work while caring for that
child.
Sarah Newton:
Any individual whose caring responsibilities cease because the person they are
caring for has died, will receive an 8 week continuation of Carer’s Allowance, and
where applicable a continuation of Income Support and any other benefit premiums
that have been awarded as a result of the caring responsibility. There will also be an
8 week continuation of Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit (where applicable) paid.
The 8 week continuation of benefit is designed to allow an individual to make any
arrangements and or claims to benefit to ensure that they are not placed in financial
hardship. If an individual is claiming Universal Credit that would otherwise stop
following a bereavement they will, in some circumstances, receive a Bereavement
run-on of up to three months.
We will also make easements for mandatory work related requirements for a period
following the death of a child where the claimant was the child’s parent.
Where entitlement to the current benefit ceases or a new claim is required, the
Department for Work and Pensions will support the individual to make a claim to the
appropriate benefit.
In addition, the Government recently announced the establishment of the Children’s
Funeral Fund for England. Under this scheme, bereaved parents will no longer have
to meet the costs of a burial or cremation. Bereaved parents on qualifying benefits
may also receive a Funeral Expenses Payment to help towards the cost of a funeral.
Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available for funeral costs.
Laura Smith: [139597]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the
number of people currently not in work following the death of a child for whom they were
a long-term carer.
Sarah Newton:
Although no statistics are kept on claims from former long-term carers of now
deceased children, the benefit system does support people in such circumstances.
Department for Work and Pensions: Living Wage
Frank Field: [139969]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April
2018 to Question 135694, how many and what proportion of the outsourced staff working
on Estates contracts is represented by the 3,051 members of staff paid below the Living
Wage or London Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Kit Malthouse:
Further to the reply from question 135694, we have updated the table below to
include all outsourced staff working on estates contracts to include those under the
age of 25 which have a lower Living Wage threshold and therefore were excluded
from the previous response.
The number and proportion of outsourced staff is therefore set out below.
NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES
WORKING ON THE
DWP CONTRACT REAL LIVING WAGE* VOLUNTARY FOR 18 AND OLDER
National London Percentage
Sodexo 170 22 0 12.9 %
Interserve 3,080 2,014 0 65.3%
G4S 3,116 2,002 448 78.6%
Cushman &
Wakefield
14 0 0 0%
Total 6,380 4,038 448 70.3%
All staff receive the National Living Wage as defined by the Government.
Department for Work and Pensions: Procurement
Jon Trickett: [139959]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April
2018 to Question 137451 on Department for Work and Pensions:Recruiment, what that
Invitation to Tender was for.
Kit Malthouse:
The Invitation to Tender referred to in the Answer of 27 April 2018 to Question
137451 was for Hashicorp enterprise software licences.
Disability Living Allowance: Children
Gareth Snell: [139028]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children under the age
of 16 had a claim rejected for disability living allowance in each of the last three years.
Sarah Newton:
Entitlements to Child DLA awards are not determined by specific disabilities or
diagnosis; instead entitlement is determined by the effects which a disability or long
term health condition has on a person’s life. These are all factors to be taken into
consideration when looking at the number of Child DLA new claim rejections.
The Department for Work and Pensions has specially trained case managers who
examine comprehensive claimant forms and supporting evidence provided to decide
the extent to which the condition affects the mobility and care needs of the claimant
(this is what the assessment is based on). Case managers have access to a
comprehensive medical guidance and, where consent is provided, can directly
contact named professionals in the claim form to obtain additional information
required to make an accurate decision.
Applicants who believe they have not received the correct level of DLA award(s) can
seek for a mandatory reconsideration, where their claim will be looked at again.
Please see the table below which shows the total number of children under the age of
16, who had a claim rejected and awarded for Disability Living Allowance in each of
the last three years.
DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA) CHILD - NUMBER OF NEW CLAIMS REJECTED AND
AWARDED
DLA Child New Claim
Rejections
2015/16 2016/17 2017/18
24,734 27,703 33,951
DLA Child New Claims
Awarded
71,129 73,186 78,814
Source:
Disability Living Allowance Computer System (DLACS)
Notes:
Data taken from MUs 26, 31, 81 and 84
New Claims - includes Normal Rules and Special Rules
Please note that the data supplied are derived from unpublished management
information which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not
been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.
They should therefore be treated with caution.
Gareth Snell: [139029]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children under the age
of 16 received disability living allowance after a successful appeal.
Sarah Newton:
The latest appeals data that is available is to December 2017. This data is therefore
from April 2017 – December 2017 (the latest financial year up to which data is
available).
There were 2,520 (data rounded to the nearest 10) cases in the time period outlined
for children under 16 years of age that went to appeal and were subsequently
awarded DLA.
It is important to note that that this figure includes appeals where the award rate was
not necessarily increased, but is still considered a successful appeal (i.e. the award
changes from lower rate care to lower rate mobility or vice versa), as well as appeals
where the award rate increases.
Gareth Snell: [139030]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children under the age
of 16 that were in receipt of disability ilving allowance were not entitled to claim personal
independence payment when they reached 16 years of age.
Sarah Newton:
Personal Independence Payment is a different benefit from Disability Living
Allowance with a different eligibility criteria. Therefore, in some cases, individuals will
find a change in the amount of support they are entitled to following reassessment.
The Department has published information on the number of children under the age
of 16, who were in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and not entitled to Personal
Independence Payment when they reached 16 years of age. This can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
By filtering on age and reassessment indicator in the PIP clearances table, then
tabulating the disallowance type indicator you will be able to find the information
requested.
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-
xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html
Disability: Equal Pay
Catherine McKinnell: [140090]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April
2018 to Question 137542, on disability: equal pay, what steps her Department is taking to
encourage employers to sign up to the Disability Confident scheme.
Sarah Newton:
5,964 employers are currently signed up to Disability Confident and 2,551 employers
have completed their self-assessment to become Disability Confident Employers
(Level 2). This includes organisations ranging in size from large multi nationals to
local employers, including private businesses, colleges, sports clubs, NHS trusts and
social enterprises. All main government Departments are at Level 3 (Disability
Confident Leader) and over 80% of Local Authorities are Disability Confident.
The Disability Confident Business Leaders Group (BLG), comprising senior leaders
from significant British businesses across all sectors, is helping to increase
engagement with employers. The group promotes the business benefits of disability
employment and works with DWP officials to identify any changes or developments
that will improve the effectiveness of the scheme.
We are also working with Members of Parliament around the country to arrange local
events to get them as employers, and businesses in their constituencies, signed up.
Immigrants: Caribbean
Stephen Timms: [139928]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure
that members of the Windrush generation receive the benefits to which they are entitled
in the event that they are unable to provide documents to prove their citizenship.
Alok Sharma:
DWP officials are working with the Home Office and other Government bodies to help
individuals affected and ensure that they are able to access the benefits and services
to which they are entitled. DWP has arranged a fast-track service into the Home
Office Taskforce to confirm swiftly the status of people from the Windrush generation
who are unable to provide documentation in support of their benefit claim.
Maternity Pay: Special Guardianship Orders
Tracy Brabin: [140183]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason maternity pay is
not available to people undertaking guardianship orders.
Kit Malthouse:
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), and Maternity Allowance (MA), are primarily health
and safety provisions. They provide a measure of earnings replacement to help
women who have worked during their pregnancies to stop working towards the end of
them, and in the months after childbirth, in the interests of their own and their babies’
health and wellbeing.
As there is no associated period of pregnancy for people granted guardianship of a
child or children they would not be able to make a claim for either SMP or MA in
relation to those children.
Pension Funds: Ethics
Anna McMorrin: [140210]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made
an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a legal duty to consider
environmental, social and governance risks as part of fiduciary duty for pension fund
trustees.
Guy Opperman:
As I noted in my letter of 15 February to the Environmental Audit Committee, which
has since been published on the Parliament website, I plan to consult on policy and
regulations to clarify the legal duty of trustees of occupational pension schemes to
take account of environmental, social and governance risks, amongst others,
wherever these are financially material.
My current intention is to publish a consultation in June.
Poverty: Children
Mr Stephen Hepburn: [138949]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
trends in the level of child poverty in the North East.
Kit Malthouse:
National statistics on the percentage of children in low income are set out in the
annual "Households Below Average Income" publication. Figures on the percentage
of children in low income in the North East can be found in the link below, in table
4.16ts for relative low income, and 4.22ts for absolute low income. These are split
into before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC). Due to small sample
sizes at a regional level, figures are available as three-year rolling averages.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/a
ttachment_data/file/692047/children-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2016-17-tables.ods
Poverty: Sanitary Protection
Richard Burden: [139370]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has
made of the number of women who are unable to afford sanitary products.
Kit Malthouse:
Officials from the Department for Work and Pensions attend regular cross-
departmental meetings about a range of issues linked to the availability and
affordability of sanitary protection. This Department has not, however, made any
estimates of the number of women who are unable to afford sanitary products, or
collected any relevant data.
Sick Leave: Stress
Luciana Berger: [140059]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has
made of the number of working days lost to the UK economy as a result of work-related
stress in each of the last three years.
Sarah Newton:
The latest available estimates are given below. They are published annually and
show the estimated number of days lost (full day equivalent) due to self-reported
stress, depression or anxiety, caused or made worse by work, for people working in
the last 12 months in Great Britain. Figures are not separately available for the United
Kingdom.
YEAR ESTIMATED DAYS LOST 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL
2014/15 9.9 million 8.4m to 11.6m
2015/16 11.7 million 9.6m to 13.7m
YEAR ESTIMATED DAYS LOST 95% CONFIDENCE INTERVAL
2016/17 12.5 million 10.5m to 14.6m
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Social Security Benefits
Matt Western: [140203]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a)
incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance have died since May 2014
were found to be fit for work.
Sarah Newton:
The information requested is not readily available.
Support for Mortgage Interest
Margaret Greenwood: [140788]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are used for judging
whether a Support for Mortgage Interest claimant has the mental capacity to make a
decision about the new loan.
Kit Malthouse:
The Loan for Mortgage Interest Regulations 2017 set out that in England and Wales
‘a person who lacks mental capacity’ has the meaning given in Section 2 of the
Mental Capacity Act 2005 and in Scotland means a person who is incapable under
Section 1(6) of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: [139926]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timeframe is for people to
backdate a claim for universal credit in the event that decision on the claim was delayed
as a result of error on the part of her Department.
Alok Sharma:
The guidance on back-dating a claim to Universal Credit is set out in the Advice for
Decision Maker’s Guide at paragraphs A2043-2045:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/602462/adma2.pdf. The maximum period for back-dating is one month.
If a claim has been delayed due to error, DWP can also consider awarding an ex-
gratia payment, as set out in the guide on Financial Redress for Maladministration,
which can be accessed at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/671381/financial-redress-for-maladministration-dwp-staff-guide.pdf
Stephen Timms: [139927]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what transitional protection is
provided to claimants with disabilities who lose their entitlement to disability premiums
when they transfer to universal credit.
Sarah Newton:
Transitional protection will be there for those with existing premiums who are moved
over to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process, whose overall
Universal Credit entitlement would be less than under the old system, provided that
their circumstances remain the same. This means at the time they move, their
financial situation remains steady. We will be starting managed migration of existing
benefit claimants to Universal Credit from 2019 and this will be completed by 2022.
Stephen Timms: [139929]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy that
weekly repayments which are deducted from universal credit for past overpayments
should be limited to 40 per cent of the standard allowance.
Kit Malthouse:
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a duty to protect public funds and
an obligation to ensure that, where it is permitted under social security legislation, any
overpayment of benefit resulting from claimant error, fraud, or in the case of Universal
Credit, official error, is recovered.
For fraud overpayments, the maximum deduction rate is 40% of the appropriate
Universal Credit standard allowance.
In all other cases, the maximum deduction rate is 15% of the appropriate Universal
Credit standard allowance.
However, these are maximum rates and if an individual has multiple debts, for
example utility or rent arrears, we will look to recover ‘in parallel’ in line with the
overall priority order of deductions.
If a claimant is having difficulty repaying a benefit overpayment they can request a
reconsideration of the amount that is being taken. Any reduction will be based on the
individual circumstances of the claimant rather than the amount of the overpayment,
which helps to ensure that a sustainable repayment plan based on affordability is put
in place.
Universal Credit: Scotland
Ian Murray: [140049]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26
March 2018 to Question 134167 on Universal Credit: Scotland and with reference to the
decision of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Social Security Bill to require the
Scottish Government to bring forward regulations under s30 of the Scotland Act 2016 to
give effect to automatic split payments, what the timetable is for that functionality to be
provided.
Ian Murray: [140050]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26
March 2018 to Question 134167 on Universal Credit: Scotland and with reference to the
decision of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Social Security Bill to require the
Scottish Government to bring forward regulations under s30 of the Scotland Act 2016 to
give effect to automatic split payments, what work her Department plans to undertake to
establish a timetable and cost its delivery.
Alok Sharma:
This is a complex area of policy with many issues for the Scottish government to
resolve. There are also some preparatory activities that are required, which will allow
a process for safe delivery of this change to be constructed.
As any IT solution is likely to require significant re-engineering of the payment system
at the heart of Universal Credit, which supports claimants across the UK, any
aspirations for progress will ultimately need to be weighed against the risks and other
priorities for development of the system. As a result we are not yet in a position to
agree a timetable for the implementation of this change.
Universal Credit: Stoke on Trent
Gareth Snell: [139031]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department
has made on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on trends in the level of rent
arrears in Stoke-on-Trent.
Kit Malthouse:
Research shows that many people come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent
arrears. We also know that arrears are usually temporary and the majority of
claimants do succeed in paying their rent, managing their monthly payments and
clearing their arrears over time. In our research, the proportion of Universal Credit
claimants who were in arrears at the start of their claim fell by a third after four
months.
We are currently carrying out further analysis of this issue with a number of housing
providers, to investigate and understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants,
what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having. It will be
published when completed.
Universal Credit: Young People
Danielle Rowley: [140205]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who previously
were in receipt of disability premiums were found to have limited (a) capacity to work and
(b) capability for work-related activity element when they began claiming Universal Credit
on turning 20 years old.
Sarah Newton:
The information requested is not readily available
Welfare State: Reform
Chris Ruane: [139975]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions Ministers
of her Department have had with Ministers of the Department of Health and Social Care
on the effect of welfare reforms on (a) physical health and (b) mental health.
Sarah Newton:
The DWP and DHSC established the joint Work and Health Unit in 2015 to oversee
the Government’s work and health agenda. Our ambition is that we develop a
sustainable welfare and employment support system that operates in tandem with the
health system and as part of strong wider local partnerships to move people into work
when they are ready. The unit is made up of staff from both departments and is
accountable to ministers from both departments, and they meet frequently to discuss
welfare reform and the wider work and health agenda.
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Data Protection Bill [HL] (English votes for English laws)
Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Margot James):
[HCWS668]
I am today placing in the Library of the House the Department's analysis on the
application of Standing Order 83L in respect of the Government amendments tabled for
Commons Report stage for the Data Protection Bill [HL].
TREASURY
ECOFIN: 27-28 April 2018
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Hammond): [HCWS667]
An informal meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) was held in
Sofia on 27-28 April 2018. The Council discussed the following:
Working Lunch - Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union
Based on a Presidency Issues note, the Council exchanged views on the ECOFIN
Council Roadmap of June 2016 on completing the Banking Union. This was followed by
an update from the Eurogroup President on reform of the European Stability Mechanism.
Working Session I
The Council were then joined by Central Bank Governors for the first Working Session.
a) Convergence in the EU – Inside and outside the Euro Area
Following a presentation from the Centre for European Policy Studies, the Council
discussed the possibilities to increase convergence in the EU among both euro area and
non-euro area Member States.
b) Further reducing fragmentation within the Capital Markets Union
Following a presentation from Bruegel on deepening of the Capital Markets Union, the
Council discussed measures to further reduce capital markets fragmentation.
c) Miscellaneous
The Council were then debriefed on the outcomes of the G20 Finance Ministers and
Central Bank Governors meeting on 19 – 20 April.
Working Session II – Improving revenue collection and fighting tax fraud in the
Single Market
The Council exchanged views on ways to improve administrative cooperation and the
exchange of tax information between Member States in order to improve revenue
collection and fight tax fraud in the Single Market.
Working Session III – Corporate taxation and tax challenges of the digital economy
Following the recent publication of Commission proposals regarding fair taxation of the
digital economy, the Council exchanged views on the approach to corporate taxation in
the Single Market and the tax challenges arising from digitalisation of the economy.