Daily Report Tuesday, 30 June 2020 CONTENTS · 6/30/2020 · Daily Report Tuesday, 30 June 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 30 June 2020 and the

Daily Report Tuesday, 30 June 2020

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 30 June 2020 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (07:30 P.M., 30 June 2020). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 8

ATTORNEY GENERAL 8

Attorney General: Public

Inquiries 8

Attorney General: Public

Opinion 8

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 8

Arts: Intellectual Property 8

Business: Government

Assistance 9

Catering and Public Houses:

Social Distancing 9

Charities: Finance 9

Coronavirus Business

Interruption Loan Scheme 10

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Public Inquiries 11

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Public Opinion 11

Disability: Retail Trade 12

Employment 13

Flexible Working: Coronavirus 13

Horse Riding: Retail,

Hospitality and Leisure Grant

Fund 14

Hospitality Industry:

Coronavirus 15

Housing: Energy 15

Pubs and Restaurants:

Coronavirus 16

Small Business Commissioner 17

Small Business Grants Fund 17

Small Businesses: Billing 18

Small Businesses:

Government Assistance 18

Tidal Power 19

CABINET OFFICE 20

Cabinet Office: Public Inquiries 20

Government Departments:

Contracts 20

Infected Blood Inquiry 20

Ventilators: Procurement 21

DEFENCE 21

Defence in UK Prosperity

Review 21

Fleet Solid Support Ships:

Procurement 22

Military Aircraft 22

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Ministry of Defence: Overseas

Aid 22

Ministry of Defence:

Procurement 23

Veterans: Females 23

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 24

Citizens' Juries: Universal

Credit 24

Concert Halls and Theatres:

Coronavirus 25

Consumer Goods: Electrical

Safety 25

Culture: Coronavirus 26

Gambling: Video Games 27

Internet: Safety 27

Museums and Galleries:

Ethnic Groups 27

National Portfolio

Organisations: Coronavirus 28

Social Media: Freedom of

Expression 28

Sports: Coronavirus 29

Theatres: Coronavirus 29

EDUCATION 30

Apprentices 30

Apprentices: Coronavirus 30

Assessments 32

Children and Young People:

Broadband and ICT 32

Children: Asylum 33

Children: Coronavirus 33

Children: Exercise 34

Children: Mental Health 35

Covid-19 Education Catch-up

Fund 36

Education and Training:

Coronavirus 37

Education: Coronavirus 38

Financial Services: Education 40

Free School Meals: Costs 40

Further Education and Sixth

Form Education: Coronavirus 41

Further Education:

Coronavirus 42

Further Education: Insolvency 42

National Tutoring Programme 42

Primary Education: Free

School Meals 43

Primary Education: Sports 43

Pupil Premium: Coronavirus 43

Schools: Coronavirus 44

Schools: Educational Visits 45

Schools: Inspections 45

Schools: Police 46

Schools: Transport 48

Students: Coronavirus 48

Students: Finance 49

Teachers: Equality 50

Technology: Coronavirus 51

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 52

Chester Zoo: Coronavirus 52

Clean Air Zones: Coronavirus 52

Dairy Response Fund 2020 53

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 53

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs: Public

Inquiries 54


Food and Rural Affairs: Public

Opinion 54


Food and Rural Affairs: Small

Businesses 54

Disability: Food 55

Economic Growth:

Environment Protection 56

Environment: Coronavirus 56

Fisheries: Environment

Protection 57

Fisheries: Marine Protected

Areas 57

Fishing Catches 58

Furs: Sales 58

Highly Protected Marine Areas 59

Horticulture: Coronavirus 59

Marine Protected Areas 60

Nature Conservation 60

Nature Conservation: Finance 61

Nature Conservation: Maps 62

Pigeons: Conservation 62

Plastics: Waste 62

Textiles: Recycling 63

Tree Planting: Staffordshire 63

Waste Disposal: Staffordshire 64

Welfare Assistance Schemes:

Coronavirus 64

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 65

[Subject Heading to be

Assigned] 65

Brazil: Politics and

Government 66

British Council: Coronavirus 66

British Nationals Abroad:

Coronavirus 67

Cameroon: Coronavirus 68

Chile: Human Rights 68

China: Dogs 69

China: India 70

China: Overseas Aid 70

Conflict Resolution: Females 70

Cyprus: Foreign Relations 71

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Overseas Aid 71

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Public Opinion 72

Guinea: Coronavirus 72

Hussein Abdullah Khalil

Rashid and Zuhair Ebrahim

Jassim Abdullah Abas 73

Myanmar: Children 73

Nigeria: Violence 74

Poland: LGBT People 74

Sahel: Violence 75

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights 75

Saudi Arabia: Internally

Displaced People 76

Sudan: Coronavirus 76

Syria: Sanctions 77

USA: Human Rights 77

Violence: Gender 78

Yemen: Military Intervention 78

Zimbabwe: Abduction 79

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 79

Baby Care Units: Coronavirus 79

Blood: Contamination 80

Care Homes: Coronavirus 80

Coronavirus: Disease Control 81

Department of Health and

Social Care: Early Day

Motions 82

Health Services: Prisoners 82

Mental Health Services:

Coronavirus 82

NHS: Mental Health 83

Pre-eclampsia: Diagnosis 83

Pregnancy: Finance 84

Prisoners: Death 84

Social Services: Coronavirus 85

Social Services: Hygiene 85

HOME OFFICE 85

Animal Experiments:

Inspections 85

Asylum: Coronavirus 86

Asylum: Finance 86

Asylum: Housing 87

Chile: Human Rights 88

EU Nationals: Immigration 88

Frontier Workers: EU

Nationals 88

High Rise Flats: Fires 89

Home Office: Apprentices 89

Home Office: International

Men's Day 89

Home Office: Off-payroll

Working 90

Home Office: Racial

Discrimination 90

Immigrants: Biometrics 90

Immigrants: Health Services 90

Immigration 92

Immigration Controls 92

Immigration Controls:

Coronavirus 94

Immigration Controls: EEA

Nationals 94

Immigration: EU Nationals 94

Licensed Premises:

Coronavirus 96

Migrant Workers: Conditions of

Employment 97

Migrant Workers: EU Nationals 97

Migrant Workers: NHS 98

Migrant Workers: Pay 98

Nitrous Oxide: Antisocial

Behaviour 98

Passports 99

Places of Worship Security

Funding Scheme 99

Public Health: Finance 100

Refugees: Children 100

Refugees: France 101

Social Security Benefits:

Immigrants 101

UK Border Force: Aegean Sea 102

Visas: Asia 102

Visas: Philippines 102

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 103

Building Regulations: Parking 103

Coronavirus: Staffordshire 103

Evictions: Coronavirus 104

Help to Buy Scheme:

Coronavirus 105

Homelessness: Coronavirus 105

Housing: Management 106

Immigrants: Coronavirus 107

Local Government Finance 107

Local Government Finance:

Coronavirus 108

Local Government Finance:

Staffordshire 109

Local Plans: York 109

Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local

Government: Contracts 110



Government: Public Inquiries 110



Government: Public Opinion 111



Government: Training 111

Multiple Occupation:

Coronavirus 112

Multiple Occupation: Students 112

Private Rented Housing:

Students 113

Rough Sleeping: Coronavirus 113

Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus 114

Supermarkets: Coronavirus 115

Travellers: Coronavirus 116

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 116

Department for International

Development: Reorganisation 116

Violence: Gender 117

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 119


Trade: Public Inquiries 119


Trade: Public Opinion 119

Riot Control Weapons: Export

Controls 119

Riot Control Weapons: USA 120

JUSTICE 121

Courts: Coronavirus 121

Domestic Abuse 121

Legal Aid Scheme 122

Ministry of Justice: Public

Inquiries 123

Ministry of Justice: Public

Opinion 123

Prisoners' Release: Females 124

Prisoners: Coronavirus 124

Prisons: Visits 125

NORTHERN IRELAND 127

Economic Situation: Northern

Ireland 127

Northern Ireland Office: Public

Opinion 127

Terrorism: Northern Ireland 127

PRIME MINISTER 128

Prime Minister: Public Opinion 128

TRANSPORT 128

Aviation: Coronavirus 128

Biofuels 129

Bus Services and Rapid

Transit Systems: Stoke-on-

Trent North 129

Bus Services: Coronavirus 130

Coronavirus: Passenger Ships 130

Department for Transport:

Coronavirus 130

Department for Transport:

Public Inquiries 131

Electric Vehicles 131

Electric Vehicles: Linlithgow

and East Falkirk 131

Ferries: Freight 132

Motor Vehicles: Air

Conditioning 132

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen 133

Passenger Ships: Coronavirus 133

Public Transport: Coronavirus 134

Public Transport: Rural Areas 135

Railways: Innovation 135

Roads: Accidents 136

TREASURY 137

Business Premises:

Coronavirus 137

Diversification 138

Education: Coronavirus 138

Members: Correspondence 138

Nurseries: Non-domestic

Rates 139

Overseas Aid 139

Public Expenditure 140

Retail Trade: Staffordshire 140

Self-employment Income

Support Scheme: Camberwell

and Peckham 141

Self-employment Income

Support Scheme: Directors 141

Transport: Staffordshire 141

Treasury: Public Inquiries 142

Treasury: Public Opinion 142

Veterinary Services:

Coronavirus 142

Video Games: Tax Allowances 143

WALES 143

Wales Office: Public Inquiries 143

Wales Office: Public Opinion 143

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 144

Employment: Autism 144

Females: Coronavirus 145

WORK AND PENSIONS 145

Debts: Staffordshire 145

Department for Work and

Pensions: Coronavirus 146

Department for Work and

Pensions: Public Inquiries 146

Disability: Coronavirus 146

Employment and Support

Allowance 147

Employment: Disability 148

Pensions: Windrush

Generation 148


Coronavirus 148

Social Security Benefits: Fraud 149


Medical Examinations 149

Statutory Sick Pay 150

Universal Credit 150

Universal Credit: Pensioners 151

Universal Credit: Wales 151

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 152

CABINET OFFICE 152

The European Communities

(Designation) Order 2020 152

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 152

Negotiations on the UK’s

Future Trading Relationship

with the US: Update 152

Notes:

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

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

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General: Public Inquiries

Lee Anderson: [62604]

To ask the Attorney General, if she will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory

public inquiries being undertaken by her Department.

Michael Ellis:

The Attorney General’s Office is not currently undertaking any statutory or non-

statutory public inquiries.

Attorney General: Public Opinion

Judith Cummins: [62482]

To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion polling and

(b) focus groups each month since January 2019.

Michael Ellis:

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Government Legal Department (GLD) and HM

Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) have not had any spending on

opinion polling and focus groups since January 2019.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has spent £9,000 in May 2019, £9,000 in Nov

2019, £3,421 in Mar 2020 and £9,000 in May 2020 on opinion polling. The CPS has

not had any spending on focus groups since Jan 2019.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) commissioned a short reputation survey from

YouGov at a cost of £1100 + VAT on 30 May 2020 to inform and guide its work on

communications and recruitment. There has been no other spending on opinion polls

or focus groups since Jan 2019.

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Arts: Intellectual Property

Pete Wishart: [62315]

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

assessment he has made of the level of reliance of UK creative industries on UK-based

trade mark attorneys; what assessment he has made of trends in the level of that reliance

after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.

Amanda Solloway:

The UK’s highly skilled legal profession play a vital role in advising UK businesses in

the creative sector, and indeed across all sectors, on how to make the most from

their IP portfolios

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-22/62604



Officials at the Intellectual Property Office are having ongoing conversations with

representative bodies over how to best address any issues they may face once the

transition period ends.

Business: Government Assistance

Drew Hendry: [64961]

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

are plans for additional recovery roundtables further to those announced on 15 June

2020.

Paul Scully:

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State held this series of roundtables as part of an

intensive programme of engagement to inform the Government’s approach to

economic recovery. The Department will continue to hold regular extensive

engagement with stakeholders across all sectors and to work with stakeholders

towards a clean, resilient recovery that will create new opportunities for long-term

growth and improved productivity in parts of the country that have been worst

affected.

Catering and Public Houses: Social Distancing

Mr Richard Holden: [62666]


assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing additional assistance grants

or support for pubs, cafes and restaurants with limited outside space that will not be able

to re-open as soon as others as a result of covid-19 social distancing measures.

Paul Scully:

All pubs, restaurants, bars, and cafes in England can begin to offer on-site services to

customers from Saturday 4 July, as long as they follow the COVID-secure guidelines,

found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-

19/updates. This includes both outdoor and indoor spaces.

The Government has also announced measures to ease pavement licensing as part

of the Business and Planning Bill, which will allow businesses to provide outdoor

seating in order to serve more customers while following the COVID-secure

guidelines.

The Department continues to engage with businesses and their representatives from

across the hospitality sector and the support available is kept under review.

Charities: Finance

Sir Edward Davey: [64838]


assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on medical research

charities; and if he will make a statement.




Amanda Solloway:

Ministers in BEIS and officials have met regularly with the Association of Medical

Research Charities and their members over the last months. The AMRC have shared

information on the potential challenges as a result of Covid-19, in particular on the

extent of cancer related research which they support in universities. We are aware of

range of risks to the sustainability of universities research from potential loss of

income from international students from other research funders, such as charities.

On 27 th June, we announced a major package of support for universities to enable

them to continue their research and innovation activities that are being impacted by

Covid-19. From the Autumn, Government will provide a package consisting of low-

interest loans with long pay-back periods, supplemented by a small amount of

government grants, to cover up to 80% of a university’s income losses from

international students for the academic year 20/21, up to the value of their non-

publicly funded research activity. Universities will need to demonstrate how these

funds are being utilised to sustain research in areas typically funded by charities and

business.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: [64970]

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

level of interest rates in a lender’s normal pricing framework is a factor in determining

whether that company is accredited as a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan

Scheme lender.

Paul Scully:

Interest rates are one of a range of factors taken into consideration when the British

Business Bank reviews a lender’s application to become a Coronavirus Business

Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) delivery partner.

The accreditation agreement makes clear that the interest rate at which the lender is

prepared to lend at, and any associated fees, should be based on a lender’s normal

pricing framework.

The Government expects that the benefit of the CBILS guarantee is passed through

to the borrower. This should be reflected in the interest rate and lender-levied fees

that are charged on each CBILS facility, both during the period of the Business

Interruption Payment and for the remainder of the facility.

Owen Thompson: [64971]

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

accredited Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme lenders are permitted to

charge interest rates above 10 per cent for loans through that scheme.



Paul Scully:

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is being delivered by

more than 90 accredited lenders operating across the market. Lenders of the CBILS

are permitted to set interest rates above 10%.

The interest rate charged on a CBILS facility is at the discretion of the Lender, in line

with their own policies, as would be the case with any commercial facility. Under the

CBILS scheme, SMEs do however benefit from lower initial costs, as the government

provides a 'Business Interruption Payment' to cover any interest and Lender-levied

fees within the first 12 months. Therefore, the interest rate, and any associated fees,

should be determined based on lenders' normal pricing framework and take into

account the benefits and costs of the guarantee.

The Government also guarantees 80% of a CBILS facility and lenders must pass the

economic benefit of the existence of this guarantee to the borrower through lower

pricing than it may otherwise have had.

For further information about interest rates after the initial 12-month period,

businesses should speak to their lender on what interest rates they will charge after

this time.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Inquiries


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

publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his

Department.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The non-statutory Magnox Inquiry is currently underway, which is an independent

inquiry into the award of the Magnox decommissioning contract by the Nuclear

Decommissioning Authority and its subsequent termination.

Once convened, public inquiries are run independently of the Government. The

Department supports and cooperates fully with all public inquiries as required.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Opinion


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

Department spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) focus groups in each month since

January 2019.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The expenditure with our primary market research provider, Kantar UK LTD, between

January 2019 and March 2020 was £4 million. The table below shows spend by

month. We are unable to breakdown the expenditure into the activities undertaken by

the supplier.



MONTH SPEND

Jan-19 201,138

Feb-19 178,337

Mar-19 691,451

Apr-19 901,263

May-19 333,556

Jun-19 57,000

Jul-19 39,476

Aug-19 242,270

Sep-19 350,683

Oct-19 54,369

Nov-19 281,817

Dec-19 37,824

Jan-20 47,942

Feb-20 187,725

Mar-20 407,757

Total 4,012,608

Disability: Retail Trade

Thangam Debbonaire: [62496]

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

the Government is taking to monitor the effect on disabled people of the new covid-19

related rules on shopping.

Paul Scully:

The Government took into account people with disabilities when developing the

guidance.

The safer workplaces guidance provides some suggestions to help employers make

their workplaces COVID-19 secure for their employees, visitors and customers. We

expect all businesses to approach reopening in a sensible way, taking account of the

Government’s guidance and discussing with neighbouring businesses and their local

authorities where applicable.


Our guidance does not replace existing employment, health and safety or equalities

legislation. It provides information to employers on how best to meet these

responsibilities in the context of COVID-19.

Employment

Seema Malhotra: [64924]

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

to the Department for Work and Pensions Committee report, DWP's response to the

coronavirus outbreak, published on 22 June 2020, what the planned timescale is for

bringing forward the Employment Bill; and whether that Bill will contain provisions for

people in low-paid work and the gig economy.

Paul Scully:

This Government has a proud history of protecting and enhancing workers’ rights.

We remain committed to delivering the workers’ rights enhancements set out in our

2019 manifesto.

We have already made significant progress in implementing recommendations

arising from the Taylor Review, including legislating for stronger protections for

vulnerable agency workers and extending the right to a written statement to workers.

We have passed legislation that means almost 300,000 workers, including people in

low-paid work and the gig economy, will have a right to a payslip for the first time.

This helps workers in the flexible economy to better understand their pay and identify

if their employer is not meeting their minimum pay obligations.

As we set out in our 2019 recent Manifesto, this Government is committed to

continue building on this record by testing proposals to ensure that people are treated

fairly at work.

However, as Matthew Taylor himself has said, many of his recommendation are

complex and highly technical to implement. It is only right that we take time to

consider how best to achieve change that works for all.

We continue to work with stakeholders to test proposals, thus ensuring that

employment law reflects the reality of modern and new working relationships.

We intend to make further announcements on the next stages in due course.

Flexible Working: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: [62298]

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

her Department is taking to ensure suitable flexible working arrangements for people with

disabilities in the context of the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully:

The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the Covid-19

outbreak. The Government continues to support disabled employees to access



assistive technology and other forms of support they need to remain in work. For

example, Access to Work is continuing to provide support for people with a disability

or health condition whether they are working in the workplace or are working from

home.

Currently the Government advice is that people should be working from home where

it is possible to do so. Employers have particular responsibilities towards disabled

workers including making reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled workers being

put at a disadvantage.

The law is clear: to discriminate directly or indirectly, against anyone because of a

protected characteristic such as age, sex or disability, race or ethnicity is unlawful. All

equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the

Coronavirus pandemic.

Horse Riding: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Sir Desmond Swayne: [64807]


guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the eligibility criteria for (a)

racing stables and (b) riding schools & Livery stables to access the covid-19 Retail,

Hospitality and Leisure Grant; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully:

Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) businesses in England

that would have been in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail,

hospitality and leisure) on 11 March 2020, with a rateable value of less than £51,000,

will be eligible for cash grants of up to £25,000 per property.

Private stables are included in the guidance as an example of ineligible

hereditaments. However, this is not intended to rule out all stables. If a stable is a

genuine commercial enterprise and meets all the other criteria such as being eligible

for rates relief under the expanded retail discount scheme, then they can qualify for a

grant. It would be up to local authorities to decide whether the stable in question was

for personal/private or commercial use.

Guidance intended to support local authorities in administering this fund was first

published on 24 March and can be found here:

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

ent_data/file/881040/business_support_grants-local_authorities_guidance.pdf.

Guidance for Local Authorities on the Expanded Retail Discount Scheme can be

found here:


ent_data/file/877758/Expanded_Retail_Discount_Guidance_02.04.20.pdf.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/881040/business_support_grants-local_authorities_guidance.pdf



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877758/Expanded_Retail_Discount_Guidance_02.04.20.pdf



Hospitality Industry: Coronavirus

Julian Sturdy: [62424]

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

confirm as soon as possible whether hospitality businesses will be able to open (a) indoor

and (b) outdoor spaces from 4 July 2020.

Paul Scully:

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced that, from 4 July pubs,

restaurants, bars and cafes (including workplace canteens) in England will be able to

reopen both their outdoor and indoor spaces and offer on-site services to customers,

provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance.

The updated guidance can be found at the GOV.UK website.


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

hospitality businesses will be able to open their outdoor spaces only from 4 July 2020.

Paul Scully:




provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance. The updated

guidance can be found at the GOV.UK website.


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

planned reopening of hospitality venues from 4 July 2020 will occur simultaneously with

potential revisions to the two metre social distancing rule.

Paul Scully:




provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance. Businesses

should refer to the guidance that has been issued, and the updated guidance can be

found at Gov.uk website.

Our advice is changing to state that people should either stay 2m apart or, where this

is not possible, ‘1m plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations. These mitigations will

depend on the workplace or setting.

Housing: Energy

Anthony Mangnall: [62632]

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

Department is taking to support households to improve their energy efficiency.





Kwasi Kwarteng:

In the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government set an aspiration for as many homes

as possible to be Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035 and is

developing a suite of mutually supporting policies and measures that will help deliver

this:

Our current Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme and its successors will drive

over £6bn of additional investment to support energy improvements in low-income,

vulnerable and fuel poor households between 2018 and 2028. Government is

currently considering what the objectives and overall ambition of a successor ECO

scheme should be, from 2022 to 2026.

In order to improve rented properties, we introduced the Private Rented Sector

Minimum standard regulations on 1 April 2018. The regulations require landlords to

bring their properties to EPC Band E or above. We will consult on tightening the

minimum energy standards in due course.

We have also committed to consult on requirements for mortgage lenders to help

households improve the energy efficiency of the homes they lend to and last summer

we launched the £5m Green Home Finance Innovation Fund to support the

development of green finance products.

There are 21.5 million smart and advanced meters across Great Britain, as of the end

of March 2020. As part of a smart meter installation, households are offered an In-

Home Display which provides near-real time information on energy consumption and

costs, enabling consumers to easily understand how they can use less energy and

save money on their bills. Research shows that 73% of people with smart meters

have taken steps to reduce their energy use.

In addition, we have launched Simple Energy Advice, a digital platform offering

impartial and tailored advice for consumers on how to make their homes more energy

efficient.

Pubs and Restaurants: Coronavirus



discussions he has had with the Information Commissioner on pubs and restaurants

being required to collect the names and addresses of customers after they reopen on 4

July 2020 as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.



assessment he has made of the ability of pubs and restaurants to collect, process and

handle the data collection required of them as part of the plans for their reopening on 4

July 2020; and if he will make a statement.



Paul Scully:

The Department for Health and Social Care is responsible for the NHS Test and

Trace programme. Following the announcement that some businesses will be asked

to keep a temporary record of their customers and visitors, my Rt. Hon. Friend the

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy hosted a meeting with

representatives of the hospitality and hairdressing sector on 26 June. The Information

Commissioner was involved in the discussions.


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

the dates of meetings he has held with pub and restaurant trade bodies to discuss their

reopening on 4 July 2020.

Paul Scully:

The Government holds many meetings with companies, including representatives

from the public house and restaurant trade bodies to discuss a wide range of

business issues, including their reopening from 4 July 2020.

Details of meetings held by Ministers in the Department are recorded in our

transparency data, which is published at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-

and-meetings

Small Business Commissioner

Douglas Chapman: [64939]

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

permanent Small Business Commissioner will be appointed.

Paul Scully:

Officials expect to launch an open recruitment campaign in due course to appoint a

permanent Small Business Commissioner.

Small Business Grants Fund

Alec Shelbrooke: [62393]

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

guidance to local authorities to allow (a) businesses whose business rates are included in

their rent and (b) regular market traders to apply for the funds through the Discretionary

Grant Scheme.

Nadhim Zahawi:

On 1 May, the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made

available to local authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.

The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with

ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates

reliefs.


https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fbeis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings&data=02%7C01%7CCarol.Wheeler%40beis.gov.uk%7C06da4d07ccb74005835008d819d471e1%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637287747511703072&sdata=aMTVExVvQW41yZD15%2B25k%2BZXpqWlj9lRvd9%2F82BjBsc%3D&reserved=0





We are asking local authorities to prioritise the following types of businesses for

grants from within this funding pot:

• Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces. Examples could

include units in industrial parks, science parks, and incubators which do not have

their own business rates assessment.

• Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have

their own business rates assessment.

• Bed & breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates.

• Charity properties in receipt of Charitable Rate Relief, which would otherwise have

been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

Local authorities are responsible for defining the precise eligibility for this

Fund and may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local

economic need, subject to those businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria.

Guidance to support local authorities to administer the Fund was published on 13

May at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-

on-business-support-grant-funding.

Small Businesses: Billing

Douglas Chapman: [64940]

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

late payment cases the Small Business Commissioner has successfully tackled in each

year since the office was created; and what the value of recovered payments has been in

each year since its creation.

Paul Scully:

Since its creation in December 2017, the Small Business Commissioner has handled

a total of 101 cases and recovered a total of £7,353,234.70, broken down as follows:

• January 2018 – December 2018: £443,023.80 (10 cases);

• January 2019 – December 2019: £5,993,178.99 (52 cases); and

• January 2020 – 25 June 2020: £917,031.91 (39 cases).

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Charlotte Nichols: [62660]

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

has to provide support to small businesses not eligible for Small Business Grant Scheme

because they are not liable for business rates as a result of not occupying a

hereditament.

Paul Scully:

The Government has announced a package of support for businesses to help with

their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding





package of support includes the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail,

Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).

In addition, on 1 May, the Government announced that up to £617 million is being

made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary

grants. The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) is aimed at small

businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates

or rates reliefs.

Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for this fund and may

choose to make payments based on local economic need, subject to the recipient

businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria.

Guidance, intended to support Local Authorities in administering the Discretionary

Grants Fund, was published 13 May and can be accessed here:

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

business-support-grant-funding.

Where businesses have been advised by the relevant local authority that they are not

eligible for these schemes, they should be able to benefit from other measures in the

Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including:

• An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;

• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all

businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;

• The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses

can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the

Government;

• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage

bills;

• The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-

employed.

Further information on the other support available can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support.

Tidal Power

Andrew Rosindell: [62327]

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

steps he has taken to encourage the development of tidal power projects.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

Renewable electricity generation has more than quadrupled since 2010. A

record 52.6% of electricity came from low-carbon sources in 2018.

We have the world’s largest offshore wind capacity at 9.8GW with CfD auction prices

for offshore wind falling by two-thirds between 2015 and 2019.




https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support


Tidal energy could still have a potentially important role in the long-term

decarbonisation of the UK. It has to reduce its costs sufficiently, however, to compete

with other renewable technologies.

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Office: Public Inquiries


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-

statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his Department.

Penny Mordaunt:

The Cabinet Office is responsible for two independent statutory public inquiries; the

Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry. The department has no non-

statutory inquiries currently underway.

Government Departments: Contracts

Tulip Siddiq: [64988]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what controls his Department requires from

Government departments to identify and disclose the award of Government contracts to

entities owned or controlled by Government ministers and senior civil servants from their

own or other departments.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what controls his Department requires from

Government departments to identify and disclose the award of Government contracts to

entities owned or controlled by major political party donors.

Chloe Smith:

Ministers and Civil Servants are bound respectively by the requirements of the

Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code,

which include provisions for the management of potential conflicts of interest.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Liz Saville Roberts: [64992]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with

Ministers in the Welsh Government on the Infected Blood Inquiry.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made with on convening

a meeting with the health ministers of the four nations of the UK to discuss the Infected

Blood Inquiry.






Penny Mordaunt:

The Government is aware that there remains significant disparities in financial and

non-financial support for people infected and affected by contaminated blood and

blood products across the UK. I am working with HM Treasury, the Department of

Health and Social Care and health departments in the devolved administrations to

take forward the actions necessary to address these disparities and Cabinet Office

officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the devolved administrations on the

progress of this work. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of

such discussions are not normally disclosed.

Ventilators: Procurement

Rachel Reeves: [64899]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the figures supplied on the

number of ventilators procured through the Ventilator Challenge are different in the

Answer of 23 June 2020 to Question 61475 and the Written Statement of 22 June 2020,

HCWS306.

Chloe Smith:

The Ventilator Challenge has been a significant success and has been rapidly

producing devices.

Further to the speech by the Prime Minister today, which is available on GOV.UK,

there are now well over 9,500 new ventilators. More information will be published in

due course.

DEFENCE

Defence in UK Prosperity Review

Gavin Robinson: [64934]

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

accuracy of the July 2018 Dunne Report findings on the disparity in defence spending

across the UK.

Jeremy Quin:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 June 2020 to Questions 64207

and 64208.

Informed by the Dunne Review and our own refreshed Industrial Policy, the Defence

Prosperity Programme announced on 5 March 2019 aims to grow our contribution to

the economy, including through sustaining an internationally competitive and

productive UK Defence sector.

Activity underway includes a pilot with Invest Northern Ireland on a Defence

Technology Exploitation Programme to help SMEs develop stronger links and new

routes to market through primes and upper tier companies across the UK.


https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-economy-speech-30-june-2020

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-economy-speech-30-june-2020


Attachments:

1. Defence: Northern Ireland [Hansard Extract 29 June..docx]

Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: [64094]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's definition of full

operating capability for Carrier Strike includes the addition of at least one newly-built fleet

solid support ship.

Jeremy Quin:

No. Under current plans RFA FORT VICTORIA would sail as the task group’s supply

vessel.

Military Aircraft

Mark Menzies: [62399]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an

assessment of the long-term importance of Team Tempest to the British economy after

the covid-19 outbreak.

Jeremy Quin:

An assessment of the long-term importance of Team Tempest to the British economy

is part of the existing and ongoing work in the Combat Air Acquisition Programme

Concept Phase. This will inform the Programme Outline Business Case, due in

December 2020 to allow the Government to make informed decisions.

Ministry of Defence: Overseas Aid

John Healey: [64848]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much Official Development Assistance

has been spent by his Department in each year from 2015 to 2020.

James Heappey:

Ministry of Defence Official Development Assistance spend figures for this period are

as follows:

YEAR ODA EXPENDITURE (£MILLION)

2015 11.48

2016 5.11

2017 6.11

2018 4.99

2019 6.07

2020 5.58 (Forecast)




John Healey: [64849]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by how much his Department has been

requested to reduce its share of the Official Development Assistance budget; and how

that reduction will effect the 2 per cent spending target.

James Heappey:

No decisions have been taken on reducing the Ministry of Defence's share of the

Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget. ODA represents just 0.01% of the

UK’s defence budget. The UK remains committed to meeting the NATO 2% spending

target.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Marco Longhi: [63514]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to prioritise British firms in

the procurement of goods and services to increase employment and growth as the covid-

19 lockdown eases.

Jeremy Quin:

Our intention is always to secure the best capability for the Armed Forces at best

value for money for the taxpayer.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the vital contribution the UK defence

industry makes to our prosperity. In 2018-19 the MOD spent £19.2 billion with UK

industry and commerce, directly supporting 119,000 jobs across the country and

indirectly supporting many thousands more. Our UK supply chain has a wide regional

footprint and supports the prosperity of the UK across every region, stimulating high-

value, high-skilled jobs. We have launched a number of activities to support the

growth and competitiveness of the UK defence sector, including through the defence

prosperity programme. More broadly, the MOD is leading a cross-Government review

into the UK's defence and security sectors. This will identify how we can enhance our

strategic approach to ensure we have competitive, innovative and world-class

defence and security industries that drive investment and prosperity across the

Union, now and in the future.

Veterans: Females

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [63250]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial support is available to female

veterans who require child care when they access specialist support or therapy.

Johnny Mercer:

The requested information is not held by the Ministry of Defence. This type of support

would be provided by the Local Authority in the specific geographical area that the

female veteran resided.




However, NHS England actively encourage all their providers to offer veterans

flexible appointments that help them to access services (in terms of time or location)

and have partnership arrangements with Armed Forces charities that can provide

assessed childcare support and funding.

The Government provides a significant package of childcare support to parents and

carers, including our 30 hours offer for working parents of three and four year olds

which has rolled out successfully, benefiting around 600,000 children in the first two

years of delivery.

All three and four year olds, and the most disadvantaged two year olds, are able to

access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, the Government

doubled the childcare entitlement for working parents of three and four year olds to

30 hours per week.

The Government also offers Tax-Free Childcare for every £8 parents pay their

provider via an online account, the government will pay £2 up to a maximum

contribution of £2,000 per child each year, for children under 12. There is also

support available for parents with childcare costs outside of the free early education

entitlements for lower income families. For example, eligible families can get help

with 85% of their childcare costs through Universal Credit, subject to a monthly limit

of £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more children.

Further information on all Government childcare offers can be found at the following

link: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Citizens' Juries: Universal Credit

Rachael Maskell: [63428]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to

ensure that universal credit claimants participating in the Innovation in Democracy

Programme do not receive deductions to their universal credit as a result of that

participation.

Mr John Whittingdale:

The Innovation in Democracy Programme supported three local authorities to trial

innovative models of deliberative democracy to involve citizens in local decision-

making through the use of citizens’ assemblies. The programme ran from November

2018 to March 2020. The citizens’ assemblies took place between September and

December 2019.

All participants were offered £300 for the 4 days of the citizens assembly. In addition,

participants were reimbursed for costs of travel, childcare and other caring costs.

With regards to people on Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits, we

advised all prospective assembly members to speak to a trusted source of welfare

benefits advice.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/


Concert Halls and Theatres: Coronavirus

Mr William Wragg: [64232]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when live

performances will recommence in theatres and concert halls during the covid-19

outbreak.


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

Department has taken to assist (a) theatres and (b) concert halls to stage socially-

distanced live performances.


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

has made of the effects of the (a) two metre, and (b) one metre plus, social distancing

guidance on theatre and concert hall audience capacities.

Caroline Dinenage:

In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector,

DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and

Events working group which include extensive membership from across the artistic

and creative sectors.

The focus of these groups’ work is on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are

developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on

the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input.

These groups specifically include representatives for theatres and stage based

entertainment, all of whom are being consulted extensively on how the sector can

reopen and operate under social distancing.

Following the establishment of the Cultural Renewal Taskforce, on 23 June the Prime

Minister announced that from 4 July theatres will be able to reopen for rehearsal, pre-

production and broadcast, although not yet for live performance with an audience.

Alongside the work that we are doing with representatives of the entertainment and

events industry to develop supporting guidance, this represents the first steps in the

roadmap to recovery for our nations’ theatres.

The Government remains committed to supporting the cultural sector through this

pandemic and getting the curtain up at venues for live performances across the

country as soon as it is safe to do so.

Consumer Goods: Electrical Safety

Carolyn Harris: [64965]

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

has made of the potential merits of extending the scope of the online harms legislation to

include the sale of unsafe electrical goods online.





Carolyn Harris: [64966]

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

has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and

(b) Office for Product Safety and Standards on including the sale of unsafe electrical

goods online as part of online harms legislation.

Caroline Dinenage:

Unsafe electrical goods pose an unacceptable risk to individuals. The law is clear:

only safe products should be placed on the market. To tackle the sale of unsafe

electrical goods online effectively, regulation must be consistent, transparent and

joined-up.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards is in a unique position across

Government to lead work tackling the sale of unsafe electrical goods. However, their

work must align with broader work on digital regulation, which DCMS leads. My

officials engage closely with the Office for Product Safety and Standards on the issue

of unsafe electrical goods sold online.

Policy development for online harms legislation is ongoing, including on the scope of

the new regulatory framework, to ensure that regulation is clear and proportionate,

and that it does not duplicate existing government activity. We will be publishing the

Full Government Response to the Online Harms White Paper Consultation later this

year, before moving to legislation.

Culture: Coronavirus

Dr Luke Evans: [64362]

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

taking through the Entertainment and Events Working Group to ensure that the arts and

culture sector can safely reopen as soon as possible as the covid-19 lockdown

restrictions are eased.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Secretary of State and DCMS are committed to supporting the cultural sector to

reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and ensure appropriate support and guidance is

provided.

To that end, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the

Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from

across the artistic and creative industries sectors. The Taskforce and Working

Groups will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed

in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing

guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input.

Further details on the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-

working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members.



https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members



Gambling: Video Games

Paul Blomfield: [64900]

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

answer of 13 May 2020 to Question 41511 on Gambling: Video Games, when he plans to

publish a response to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s Report on

Immersive and Addictive Technologies.

Caroline Dinenage:

The government’s response to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s

Report on Immersive and Addictive Technologies was published on 8th June. Copies

were placed in the libraries of the House, and it is also available on gov.uk here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-digital-

culture-media-sport-select-committee-report-on-immersive-and-addictive-

technologies

Our response includes a commitment to launch a call for evidence on loot boxes and

to lead work on developing a framework to support future independent research on

video games’ impacts on behaviour.

Internet: Safety

Daniel Zeichner: [61724]

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

Question 383 the oral contribution of the Minister for Digital and Culture to the Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport Committee, on 9 June 2020, whether it remains his

Department's policy to bring forward legislative proposals alongside the response to the

Online Harms White Paper consultation full response in Autumn, 2020.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Government is committed to making the UK the safest place to be online. DCMS

and the Home Office are working at pace to develop the legislation. We will publish a

full government response in the autumn. Following that, legislation will be ready in

this session.

Museums and Galleries: Ethnic Groups

Sir Oliver Heald: [61398]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an

assessment of the potential merits of a national museum for the study of Black, Asian and

minority ethnic history and culture on a similar scale and model to the Smithsonian

National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC; and if he

will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage:

There are currently no plans to expand the portfolio of DCMS-Sponsored national

museums.




Many of the existing national museums display material relating to Black, Asian and

minority ethnic history and culture as part of their permanent exhibitions. This

includes material displayed at the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, V&A,

Tate, Horniman, and National Museums Liverpool. These collections include art,

ceramics, fashion and photography. Many museums work with diaspora communities

to better understand collection items and place them in historical and contemporary

context. A number of museums have also held temporary exhibitions that focus on

Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture.

National Portfolio Organisations: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: [62640]

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

Department has made of the financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on National Portfolio

Organisations; and what support his Department is providing to those organisations.

Daisy Cooper: [62641]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department's

policy is on allocating the second tranche of Arts Council England funding to National

Portfolio Organisations.

Caroline Dinenage:

In order to support the sustainability of the Arts sector, including the National

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

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

response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the

Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector.

This package includes £90 million of support for National Portfolio Organisations so

they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. There is no

upper limit for the amount of funding National Portfolio Organisations can apply for,

and decisions on funding will be made on 30 June 2020.

In keeping with the arms-length principle, Arts Council England will determine

whether and to what extent organisations receive funding.

The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult organisations within

the Art sector, including National Portfolio Organisations, extensively to ensure we

fully understand the impacts of Covid-19 and remain well placed to respond as it

develops.

Social Media: Freedom of Expression

Sir John Hayes: [61420]


taking to require (a) Twitter, Facebook and Google and (b) other technology companies

to protect freedom of speech.




Caroline Dinenage:

The UK supports freedom of expression as both a fundamental right in itself and as

an essential element of a full range of human rights. It is vital that we maintain a

thriving democracy and society where pluralism and freedom of expression are

protected. It is important that people are able to enjoy their right to freedom of

expression and participate in online discussions.

The government’s world-leading proposals for a new regulatory framework for online

harms will include robust safeguards to protect freedom of expression online. The

proposed approach will improve transparency for users about what is and is not

acceptable on different platforms, and will enhance users’ ability to challenge removal

of content where this occurs.

Sports: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: [64847]

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

impact assessment the Government made of the effect of the decision to extend the

restrictions on (a) cricket, (b) indoor swimming, and (c) real tennis beyond 4 July 2020;

and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston:

Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and

children to be active.The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased

approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to

protect public health.

The government is in regular contact with representatives of sports, including cricket,

swimming and tennis, to discuss both the impact of Covid-19 on sports and to explore

how and when grassroots sport can safely resume once lockdown restrictions start to

ease. The government has asked individual sports to consider the steps that would

need to be taken, and the conditions that would need to be met, for their activity to

resume.

Theatres: Coronavirus

Vicky Foxcroft: [64258]


taking to help ensure the economic viability of theatres that are unable to operate under

social distancing measures.

Caroline Dinenage:

This Government recognises how severely theatres, and the wider Arts sector, have

been hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

In order to support the Arts sector through the pandemic, DCMS has worked closely

with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a tailored package of financial support. In

March, ACE announced a £160m emergency response package to complement the



financial measures already announced by the Government and to ensure immediate

resilience of this vital sector.

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

theatres, and £20 million for individuals, including self-employed theatre practitioners,

so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. More

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

emergency funding.

The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the arts sectors

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

placed to respond as the landscape develops. On the basis of that engagement,

DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to consider the additional measures

that are needed to ensure the long-term recovery and growth of the cultural sector,

including theatres.

EDUCATION

Apprentices

Mr Toby Perkins: [64152]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of new apprenticeship starts

were for (a) level 2, (b) level 3, (c) level 4 and (d) level 5 and above in each month of

each year since 2014.

Gillian Keegan:

The attached table shows the proportion of apprenticeship starts per level of each

month of the academic years 2014/15 to 2018/19, and the months up to April of the

2019/20 academic year.

Full-year figures for 2014/15 to 2018/19 are published here:


ent_data/file/881571/201920-april_monthly-app-starts-fwk.xlsx. Reported-to-date

figures for 2019/20 are published here:


ent_data/file/894270/june-2020-release_underlying-CSV-app-data-to-april-2020.csv.

Attachments:

1. 64152_Table [64152_apprenticeship_starts_table.xls]

Apprentices: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: [63388]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support he is providing to NHS trusts to

mitigate the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their ability to use mapped career

pathways of apprenticeships to improve social mobility.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/881571/201920-april_monthly-app-starts-fwk.xlsx



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/894270/june-2020-release_underlying-CSV-app-data-to-april-2020.csv




Gillian Keegan:

Apprenticeships offer a complete pathway from entry-level through to postgraduate

level, giving people of all backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a career in the

health and social care sector. We are committed to minimising disruption to nurses’

training and career progression, while supporting the NHS to deal with the challenges

of COVID-19, and we have introduced a broad range of flexibilities to help support

this.

Nursing apprentices who have completed their programme and passed through the

apprenticeship gateway will be regarded to have met the end-point assessment

requirements and achieved their apprenticeship. The apprentice will then have the

opportunity to continue along the nursing apprenticeship pathway. We have also

issued guidance on how critical workers such as nurses may be able to continue off-

the-job training when redeployed to a new role.

We continue to engage regularly with NHS stakeholders, including Health Education

England and NHS Employers, to make sure the NHS is fully supported to recruit the

apprentices it needs to deliver high-quality care.


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

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on providing additional (a)

support and (b) incentives to SMEs to (i) retain and (ii) take on apprentices while dealing

with the economic challenges resulting from the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan:

Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment

opportunities, particularly for young people, and supporting employers in all sectors to

access the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow post COVID-19.

The flexibilities we have introduced, including remote learning, are enabling

apprenticeships to continue. We are looking to support employers of all sizes, and

particularly smaller businesses, to take on new apprentices this year. We will set out

further details in due course.

We will ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses wanting to

take on an apprentice this year and have extended the transition period of

transferring onto the apprenticeship service from 1 November 2020 to 1 April 2021.

This will enable smaller employers to have more control over the funding they use to

create new apprenticeship opportunities and allow them to reserve funds before

choosing the provider that best meets their needs.

As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, I

hosted a series of round tables in June 2020 with employers, business representative

groups and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to discuss

what further support employers may need in continuing to access apprenticeships.


Assessments

Stuart Anderson: [62602]

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

(a) students who are home schooled to access exam centres for exams taking place in

summer 2020 and (b) teachers at those exam centres facilitating those exams.

Nick Gibb:

Following the cancellation of this year’s exams, the exam boards will be providing

students with calculated grades, wherever possible. No exams will take place in

summer 2020.

There will be an opportunity for students to sit exams in the autumn term, if they feel

their calculated grade does not reflect their ability. There will also be a small group of

students for whom there is not enough evidence for a calculated grade to be derived

in the summer, including some home educated students. It is particularly important

that these students are able to achieve grades through the additional exam series.

We have published guidance that sets out our expectation that the exam centre that

submitted entries for students for exams in summer 2020 should enter them in the

autumn if they wish to take exams, or take responsibility for ensuring that they have

somewhere appropriate to sit their exams in exceptional cases where attending the

original centre is not the best option for the student. This arrangement extends to all

students who wish to take exams in the additional autumn series, including those who

are home educated.

Children and Young People: Broadband and ICT

Helen Hayes: [64975]

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

ensure that children and young people eligible for technology support will have access to

devices and broadband over the 2020 summer holidays to catch-up on learning

programmes.

Nick Gibb:

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

disadvantaged children in England to access remote education and social care

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

We are providing over 200,000 laptops and tablets to local authorities and academy

trusts for disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are

preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a

care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school

and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 50,000 4G

wireless routers.

These laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers are the property of the local authority,

trust or school, and so will benefit children’s education long after we come out of the



measures required to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes supporting

children and young people to catch up on learning over the summer holidays.

Children: Asylum

Preet Kaur Gill: [64998]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2020 to

Question 59568 on Department for Education: Overseas Aid, what assessment his

Department has made of the potential effect of the reduction in Official Development

Assistance in cash terms on the provision of support to child and unaccompanied child

asylum seekers.

Vicky Ford:

It is the department’s policy that asylum seeker children who attend a school or early

years setting attract funding in the same way as all other children. This is allocated

through the schools national funding formula and other grants like the pupil premium

and teachers’ pay grant. The department’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)

contribution is an estimate of how much of the wider core schools funding for England

is allocated due to having these children on schools’ rolls. Our ODA spending in

future years will be primarily dependent on the number of asylum seeker children

arriving in the country.

Children: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free laptops have been made

available in (a) Durham County Council and Darlington Borough council area and (b)

each parliamentary constituency in the Durham County Council and Darlington Borough

council area for school children since the closure of schools in response to the covid-19

outbreak.

Nick Gibb:




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

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

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

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

we are providing 4G wireless routers.

The Department of Education has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and

allocated devices to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of

the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities

and academy trusts are best place to identify and prioritise children and young people

who need devices. The Department is working to provide these devices in the



shortest possible timeframe; deliveries to local authorities began in May and has

continued throughout June.

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

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

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

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

progress-data. This includes 1,424 devices to Durham County Council and 410

devices to Darlington Borough Council for children with a social worker and care

leavers.

Layla Moran: [65004]

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

of (a) refugee and (b) asylum seeker children to access (i) laptops and (ii) the internet

during partial school closures during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps his

Department is taking to tackle the disadvantage gap in relation to those children.

Nick Gibb:




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

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

support from a social worker and care leavers. This includes looked after children,

including unaccompanied asylum seeking children. It also includes former

unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are now care leavers. Where care

leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do

not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers.

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

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

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

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

devices. This may include children in families who are refugees or who are seeking

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

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

continued throughout June.

Children: Exercise

Rosie Cooper: [64116]

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

with disabilities are able to participate in appropriate physical activity whilst they are not at

school during the covid-19 lockdown.

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





Vicky Ford:

The department has worked closely with early years settings, schools and physical

activity experts to ensure that there is advice and resources to support everyone to

participate in regular exercise. The department has published online educational

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

learn at home. These resources include those for PE, which are available at:

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

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

On 19 May 2020, we announced £37 million for the Family Fund, which will provide

grants to families on low incomes with disabled and critically ill children. £10 million of

that funding has been committed specifically in response to the unique difficulties

presented by the COVID-19 outbreak for over 75,000 families, helping parents

educate and look after children who are staying at home more than usual. Details of

the announcement have been published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/37-million-to-support-children-with-complex-

needs.

The government has provided £3.2 billion of additional to support local authorities to

address any pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,

including in children’s social care and for special educational needs and disabilities

(SEND) services. We have also announced £750 million funding to support front line

charities during the outbreak, including those supporting vulnerable children.

Children: Mental Health

Andrew Gwynne: [62345]


support the mental health needs of BAME children; and if he will make a statement.

Vicky Ford:

Ministers and officials in the Department for Education and the Department of Health

and Social Care are meeting regularly to discuss the effect of the changes to

education and how to provide support for mental health and wellbeing of children and

young people.

We are aware that there is emerging evidence that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic

(BAME) individuals can be more severely affected than the general population by

COVID-19. We also know that people from BAME backgrounds are more at risk of

experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues and that they access mental health

care less than people from white backgrounds.

NHS England and Improvement is working closely with BAME experts, health

professionals, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners and

others to support rapid knowledge and information sharing to encourage timely

access to NHS mental health services, and just as importantly, good BAME

experiences within those services.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/37-million-to-support-children-with-complex-needs




In May, the Department of Health and Social Care announced £4.2 million for mental

health charities, including Young Minds to enable them to continue to support people

experiencing mental health challenges at this time. The department then provided a

further £5 million of additional funding for mental health charities to support adults

and children, including charities that offer some support to children and young people

from BAME communities, such as the What? Centre, which supports young people

with furthering their understanding of race, culture and identity in relation to mental

health.

The Department for Education has been working closely with health partners to

provide resources and update guidance to support and promote all children and

young people’s mental health during the outbreak and to prepare for the return of

pupils and students. We have encouraged schools to focus on mental wellbeing as

pupils return and published a list of resources to help those supporting children at

home, which is available here:


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

education#mental-wellbeing.

All NHS mental health trusts have been asked to ensure that there are 24/7 open

access telephone lines to support people of all ages. Public Health England and

Health Education England have also developed advice and guidance for parents and

professionals on supporting children and young people’s mental health and

wellbeing. Which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-

children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing.

Guidance on safeguarding in education settings includes specific information on

mental health and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-

19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers.

Guidance and for parents and carers to support their children’s education during the

COVID-19 outbreak is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-your-

childrens-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

As pupils return, schools will need to be especially sensitive to the needs and

wellbeing of BAME members of staff, BAME parents and BAME pupils. The

department’s guidance to schools sets out that they should ensure they have

considered the impact on staff and pupils with protected characteristics, including

race and disability, in developing their approach.

Covid-19 Education Catch-up Fund

Alexander Stafford: [62705]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to extend the covid-19

catch-up funding to students studying in (a) sixth form colleges, (b) 16 to 19 academies

and (c) 16 to 19 free schools.

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




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-your-childrens-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19




Nick Gibb:

We are currently looking at how best to support young people in these institutions

given the disruption to education caused by COVID-19.

Rachel Hopkins: [63562]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will extend eligibility for the £1 billion

Covid-19 catch-up funding to students studying in sixth form colleges.

Gillian Keegan:

It is our ambition that all pupils and students have the chance to make up for lost

education. Where breaks in learning have been required, we want to ensure that

learners can resume their ‘classroom’ learning and continue to a successful

completion.

For many students in post-16 education, we know that remote learning has been

working well. We are currently looking at how we can best support 16-19 providers to

help their learners catch up and we will provide more details soon.

Education and Training: Coronavirus

Cat Smith: [64239]

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

people to stay in education and training during the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan:

All young people are now required to continue in education or training until their 18th

birthday. Local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation

of 16 and 17-year-olds. This includes supporting those who are not participating to do

so and making sure that there is sufficient and suitable education and training

provision to meet their needs.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, colleges and providers have moved more learning

online to allow students to continue with studies remotely. We have provided advice

and signposted to support to help with this.

We know that remote learning has been working well for many students in post-16

education. We will continue to work with the sector to establish the best way to

support students to make up for the disruption due to COVID-19.

Although online education should remain the predominant way of learning for now,

further education providers are re-opening for 16-19 learners on the first year of a 2-

year study programme (this also includes apprentices). In addition, all learners under

19 years old can be offered a face-to-face meeting before the end of the summer

term, subject to the required safety measures being met.

We are currently reviewing options for the autumn term. We would like to see as full a

return as soon as possible in order to support young people and make up for time

spent out of education.



Education: Coronavirus


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

is an agreement between (a) his Department, (b) schools and (c) parents on the (i)

delivery of lessons in person or virtually, (ii) amount of teacher pupil contact and (iii)

marking of and feedback on schoolwork.

Nick Gibb:

The Department will do whatever it can to make sure no child – whatever their

background or location – falls behind as a result of COVID-19. That is why we want to

support schools and parents to ensure children and young people’s education can

continue, though ultimately it is up to each school to determine how to deliver

education to its pupils.

The Department has worked with schools to produce case studies guidance on

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

for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19, which provides an opportunity for schools to

learn from each other's practice. This guidance stresses the importance of ensuring

regular teacher contact with pupils, and contains examples of approaches to marking

and feedback.

Schools and colleges should use best endeavours to support pupils attending school

as well as those remaining at home, making use of the available remote education

support: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare. We expect schools

and teachers to use their professional judgement, and knowledge of their pupils’

educational needs and home circumstances, to plan appropriate content that enables

education to continue. Schools should strive to set work that pupils and their parents

will be able to access across as wide a range of subjects as possible.

Expectations for next academic year will be published before the end of term.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support his Department

plans to provide to parents to ensure effective children's learning during the covid-19

outbreak.

Alex Sobel: [62579]

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

home-schooled children during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

The Department will do whatever it can to make sure no child – whatever their

background or location – falls behind as a result of COVID-19.

That is why we have provided a comprehensive package of support for remote

education, including guidance for parents and carers:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-your-childrens-education-during-

coronavirus-covid-19, which covers how they can help their children to learn at home.


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



https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare







This support, and the resources set out below, will also be useful to parents and

carers of home-schooled children.

We have published an updated list of high quality online educational resources:


resources which have been assessed with the support of some of the country’s

leading educational subject experts to help pupils to learn at home. The list includes

resources in six priority areas including maths, English, science, PE, mental

wellbeing and SEND, from Early Years to Key Stage 5, and which are currently

available for free.

The Department has also worked with the BBC on its comprehensive new education

package, available on TV, via the red button and iPlayer, and online at BBC Bitesize.

Bitesize Daily TV shows were watched by over 2 million households on iPlayer in the

first two weeks of transmission.

Our latest guidance on education and childcare during coronavirus is available here:


These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the support we

provide under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.


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

of the covid-19 outbreak on learners who have not been able to gain training placement

experiences and as a result may struggle to achieve the necessary competency for their

programme.

Gillian Keegan:

The current situation means that many learners are not able to carry out any

placement element of their programme due to social distancing measures and

employers being closed or having ‘work at home’ arrangements that are not suitable.

This is particularly the case for traineeships where the work experience is an integral

part of the programme. In such cases, temporary flexibilities that apply from 23 March

2020 allow reduced duration of work experience to complete learning aims where

appropriate. This also includes potential extension of traineeships by up to 12 months

where required and confirmation of attainment of qualification by email until hard copy

certificates can be issued.

More widely on other vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs), Ofqual has set

out in guidance how results should be issued this summer to enable as many

learners as possible to progress as they have planned. For many VTQs, a calculated

grade will be awarded – in a similar way to GCSEs and AS/A levels. For other VTQs

where a calculated grade is not possible, assessments will be delivered in an

adapted way this summer. We know for some VTQs that neither of these approaches

will be possible and that the only option will be to delay assessments into the next

academic year - this should be a last resort. Awarding organisations are working with

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






Ofqual and centres to deliver results and assessments wherever possible this

summer.

Financial Services: Education


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

adequacy of the provision of financial education to children and young people in response

to the impact of covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

Financial education is taught within the national curriculum in mathematics and

citizenship. At present, due to the unprecedented challenges for schools caused by

the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government understands that schools will need flexibility

around the education they are providing to their pupils. We expect schools and

teachers to use their professional judgement, knowledge of their pupils’ educational

needs and home circumstances, to plan appropriate content that enables education

to continue.

Our latest guidance on teaching to support children is set out here:

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

Longer term, the Department will continue to work closely with The Money and

Pension Service and HM Treasury to consider how to provide further support for the

teaching of financial education in schools.

Free School Meals: Costs

Robert Halfon: [64893]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the annual cost to the public purse is of

free school meals.

Vicky Ford:

Schools pay for benefits-related free school meals from their core funding. The

department includes a factor value in the national funding formula (£450 per pupil),

but both local authorities and schools have the freedom and flexibility to apply their

own local formulae. Last year, around 1.4 million children benefitted from this

important provision.

For universal infant free school meals, schools receive funding through a separate

grant. We spend around £600 million each year ensuring 1.4 million infants receive a

free meal through this programme. Universal infant free school meals allocations can

be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-

school-meals-uifsm-2019-to-2020.


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

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


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals-uifsm-2019-to-2020



Further Education and Sixth Form Education: Coronavirus

Darren Henry: [62659]


ensure that (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms are supported during the

covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan:

I am very grateful for how sixth forms and FE colleges have responded to the unique

challenge of COVID-19.

We have confirmed that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will

continue to pay grant funded providers their scheduled monthly profiled payments for

the remainder of the 2019/20 funding year. Allocations for 2020/21 have also now

been confirmed and payments will be made as scheduled. Up to date details are

contained in operational guidance available at:

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

further-education-provision. For colleges in significant financial difficulties, the

existing support arrangements remain in place, including short-term emergency

funding.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has also announced a series of

wider measures to support employers and employees, recognising the significant

impacts caused by COVID-19. We have confirmed that FE providers can apply to the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for non grant-funded employees. The

CJRS has been extended until August 2020. Up to date details of this support are

available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-

and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses.

As announced last summer, we will next year be increasing investment in education

and training of 16-19 year olds by £400 million, including an increased base rate, and

more funding for high cost and high value subjects, which will help the sector to

deliver in the difficult circumstances we are facing during the pandemic. In March, we

also announced an investment of £1.5 billion over five years in capital spending for

further education colleges.

For sixth forms, our priority is to ensure that Year 13 students can progress as

planned, including starting university, moving into apprenticeships or securing a job,

and to support Year 12 students to prepare for examinations next year.

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

forms) to help school leaders to prepare and decide arrangements:

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

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

These are rapidly developing circumstances and we will continue to keep the

situation under review and to keep Parliament updated accordingly.


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



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



Further Education: Coronavirus


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

potential merits of increasing the percentage of students further education establishments

are allowed to readmit following the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan:

The guidance on how to phase the return of learners in further education is

underpinned by our latest understanding of COVID-19. To limit the risk of increasing

the rate of transmission, scientific advice indicates that we need to take a phased

approach that limits both the number of young people in attendance and how much

they mix with other learners and staff.

We are reviewing options for the Autumn term; we would like all learners to return to

on site delivery as soon as possible and we are working with the sector to support

them to do that, as soon as the scientific advice allows it, and with appropriate

measures in place to manage the transmission risk.

Further education colleges have done fantastic work to deliver excellent online

provision; many colleges had a significant online element to their offer prior to

COVID-19, and we expect this to continue as there is a phased return to more on site

delivery.

Further Education: Insolvency

Mr Toby Perkins: [64151]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which further education colleges are in

education administration as at 24 June 2020; when those colleges were placed into

education administration; which colleges were in education administration in 2018 and

are no longer in administration; and on what date those colleges (a) entered and (b)

ceased to be in administration.

Gillian Keegan:

As at 24 June 2020, 2 further education colleges are in education administration.

Hadlow College was placed into education administration on 22 May 2019. West

Kent and Ashford College was placed into education administration on 16 August

2019. There have been no other cases.

National Tutoring Programme


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps with the Education

Endowment Foundation to help ensure that none of the National Tutoring Programme

volunteer tutors are unpaid interns.

Nick Gibb:

The National Tutoring Programme, worth £350 million, was recently announced as

part of a £1 billion COVID-19 “catch-up” package to directly tackle the impact of lost




teaching time and will increase access to high-quality tuition for the most

disadvantaged young people.

We will be working closely with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to

identify high quality tutoring organisations and support them to ramp up their

recruitment of tutors.

The EEF will select high-quality tutoring organisations that meet agreed criteria.

These organisations will have differing models - some may use volunteers to deliver

tutoring sessions to pupils, while others will pay tutors. Dedicated coaches that are

based in schools will all receive a salary.

Primary Education: Free School Meals


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to fund universal infant

free school meals from September 2020.

Vicky Ford:

Universal infant free school meals will continue in the 2020-21 academic year,

providing a free nutritious lunch to pupils in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. Details of

school allocations will be published shortly.

Primary Education: Sports

Karl Turner: [62404]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to make additional funding

available for the future of the Primary PE and Sport Premium scheme.

Nick Gibb:

The Government will confirm arrangements for the PE and Sport Premium in the

2020-21 academic year as soon as possible. The position for the 2021-22 academic

year and beyond will be considered at the forthcoming Spending Review.

Pupil Premium: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupil premium applications have

been received since the closure of schools in England as a result of the covid-19

outbreak; and what effect those applications have had on the number of children eligible

for free school meals.

Vicky Ford:

The allocation of pupil premium funding to schools does not involve an application

process. It is based on the number of pupils on roll at the time of the January school

census who have been registered for benefits-based free school meals at any point in

the last six years; or are currently looked after; or have left care through adoption, a

special guardianship order or child arrangements order.




Details of pupil premium allocations to schools in the financial year 2020-21 are

available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-

and-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021.

Schools: Coronavirus


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

additional funding to schools for the provision of additional teaching space from

September 2020 in the event that those schools do not have adequate teaching space to

return to full-schooling under the covid-19 restrictions.

Nick Gibb:

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, made clear when he

spoke at the daily press briefing on 19 June, the Department is working towards

bringing all children and young people back to school in September. We intend to

announce further plans over the coming weeks, including guidance to school leaders

on the protective measures necessary to support this.



ensure future covid-19 outbreaks in schools can be contained; and if he will make it his

policy to introduce a comprehensive test, trace and isolate strategy for schools.

Nick Gibb:

The new NHS Test and Trace service was launched on 28 May across England.

Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace

and will need to share information about their recent interactions. The government

has recruited 25,000 contact tracers, able to track 10,000 new cases a day.

If a child or young person in school develops symptoms compatible with COVID-19,

they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days and arrange to have

a test. Where the child or young person tests positive, traced close contacts,

including the rest of their class, should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for

14 days

As part of the national test and trace programme, local Public Health England health

protection teams will contact all schools attended by someone who tests positive for

COVID-19. The health protection team will work with the school to carry out a rapid

risk assessment and advise of any further action that needs to be taken.

In some cases, a larger number of children may be asked to self-isolate at home as a

precautionary measure. Where schools are observing guidance on infection

prevention and control to reduce the risk of transmission, closure of the whole school

will not generally be necessary and should not be considered outside of discussion

with health protection teams.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021





Tim Farron: [64876]

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

to schools on the provision of additional pastoral support for pupils when they return to

school during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford:

The government remains committed to promoting and supporting the mental health

and wellbeing of children and young people.

The return to school is a key part of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of

pupils, as attendance at school allows social interaction with peers, carers and

teachers, which benefits wellbeing, and enables staff to directly provide pastoral

support.

Throughout the government’s guidance on the wider opening of schools, we have

encouraged schools to focus on pastoral support as pupils return. Children in

Reception, year 1 and year 6 are now able to return to primary, and year 10 and year

12 pupils are able to receive face-to-face support at secondary. Primary schools with

capacity can bring back additional groups, in line with existing protective measures,

and we have given schools the flexibility to have face-to-face ‘check-ups’ with all

pupils during the summer term to provide pastoral support. Our intention is for all

children to return to school from September and guidance will be published soon.

Schools: Educational Visits

Anna McMorrin: [63459]

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

timescale for the reintroduction of (a) domestic and (b) overseas school trips.

Nick Gibb:

The department currently advises against any overseas, domestic or residential visits

for children under 18 organised by schools. This advice will remain under review and

will be updated in line with guidance from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the

Department for Transport and Public Health England.

Schools: Inspections

Afzal Khan: [62581]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ofsted are required to examine

individual school policies and handling of racism in inspections.

Afzal Khan: [62582]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Ofsted officers are BAME.

Nick Gibb:

These are matters for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked

her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries

of both Houses.





Schools: Police

Afzal Khan: [62583]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools-based police officers are

assigned to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England, (ii) Greater Manchester,

and (iii) Manchester, Gorton.

Afzal Khan: [62584]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what powers of oversight and scrutiny senior

school staff have with regard to assigned schools-based police officers.

Afzal Khan: [62585]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has assessed the

effect of schools-based police officers on the BAME educational attainment gap.

Afzal Khan: [62586]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Safe Schools Partnerships are in

operation in (a) England, (b) North West, (c) Greater Manchester, and (d) Manchester,

Gorton.

Afzal Khan: [62587]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what processes are in place in the event of a

conflict between school staff and schools-based police officers.

Afzal Khan: [62588]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the remit of schools-based police

officers is with regard to discipline and pupil behaviour.

Afzal Khan: [62589]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools-based police officers are

involved in the teaching of personal social health and economic education or citizenship

lessons in their assigned school.

Afzal Khan: [62590]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints have been made

about the behaviour or conduct of schools-based police officers in each of the last 10

years.

Afzal Khan: [62591]

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

state-funded schools have an assigned schools-based police officer.

Afzal Khan: [62594]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools-based police officers

assigned to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England are (i) police constables

and (ii) police community support officers.











Afzal Khan: [62595]

To ask the Secretary of State Education, whether his Department has assessed the effect

of schools-based police officers on Black and minority ethnic pupils.

Afzal Khan: [62597]

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

state-funded schools have requested the presence of a schools-based police officer in

each year since 2002.

Afzal Khan: [63488]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what role senior school staff play in the line

management of schools-based police officers.

Afzal Khan: [63489]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupil referral units have an

assigned schools-based police officer.

Afzal Khan: [63490]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools-based police officers

assigned to state-funded primary and secondary schools in England are (a) white, (b)

Black or minority ethnic, (c) female and (d) male.

Afzal Khan: [63491]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what processes are in place to investigate

complaints against schools-based police officers.

Nick Gibb:

There are good examples of joint working between police forces and schools. Many

schools have links with their local police forces and police officers play an important

role in schools, engaging with and mentoring pupils. However, the detail is held and

decisions made about these relationships are rightly made at a local level between

schools who know their pupils and police forces who know their local

neighbourhoods.

Matters of oversight, remit and any complaints will all be dealt with locally.

Accordingly, the Department does not gather nor hold information on the number of

partnerships, the number of officers based in any school or the number of officers

supporting personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

It is right for schools to have the flexibility to work with external organisations to

support the delivery of their PSHE programme to enhance teaching. As with any

visitor, where a school invites external agencies, including police forces, into school

they are responsible for ensuring they check the visitor’s and organisation’s

credentials as well as the details of their session to ensure it fits with their planned

programme. Schools should also adhere to the Keeping Children Safe in Education

Guidance and agree in advance of the session how safeguarding reports should be

dealt with.







The Department has not conducted an assessment on the effect of school-based

police officers on Black, Asian and minority ethnic pupils or the educational

attainment gap where such officers are deployed. We trust schools to do what is best

for their pupils and believe they are best placed to decide how to utilise school-based

police.

Schools: Transport


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether free school transport arrangements

will be maintained on the same terms for school children from families of low income who

are required to travel by bus from one local education authority to another.

Nick Gibb:

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free home to school transport for

eligible children. A child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, attend their

nearest suitable school and it is more than the statutory walking distance from their

home. The statutory walking distance is 2 miles for children under the age of 8 and 3

miles for children aged 8 and over. A child is also eligible if they live within the

statutory walking distance but could not reasonably be expected to walk to school

because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problems, or

because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so.

There are additional entitlements to free home to school transport for those children

who are eligible for free school meals, or if a parent they live with receives the

maximum amount of Working Tax Credit. These are known as extended rights and

are intended to support low income families in exercising school choice. Under the

extended rights criteria, a child is eligible if they are aged 8 to 10 years, attend their

nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles from their home, they are aged 11

to 16 years, and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools which is between 2

and 6 miles from their home; or they are aged 11 to 16 years, attend a school that is

between 2 and 15 miles from their home that their parents have chosen on the

grounds of their religion or belief and, having regard to that religion or belief, there is

no suitable school nearer to their home.

The duty applies even if the school an eligible child attends is in the area of another

local authority.

There is no intention to change these requirements.

Students: Coronavirus

Tim Farron: [64878]


ensure that school behaviour policies do not adversely affect students who have

experienced trauma as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.



Nick Gibb:

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

follows the rules. The Department has published advice that sets out how, as schools

start to welcome pupils back, schools should update their behaviour policy to reflect

the new protective measures and new rules and routines:

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

protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-

implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.

Schools will be aware that the current circumstances can affect the mental health of

pupils in a way that affects behaviour. Our guidance on mental health and behaviour

in schools can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools-

-2.

It sets out how mental health issues can bring about changes in a young person’s

behaviour or emotional state and how this can be reflected within the approach to

behaviour set out in Creating a Culture:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-in-schools.

Additionally, some children will return to school having been exposed to a range of

adversity including bereavement and anxiety. This may lead to an increase in social,

emotional, and mental health (SEMH) concerns. We are aware that some children

will need additional support and access to services such as Educational

Psychologists, social workers, and counsellors, and the guidance below on

supporting vulnerable children during the COVID-19 outbreak acknowledges that staff

may need to be redeployed:

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

vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-

children-and-young-people.

Students: Finance

Esther McVey: [60751]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to provide

fiscal support to students in financial difficulty as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan:

As my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have

both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected

by COVID-19. Higher Education (HE) providers take their responsibilities seriously

and are best placed to identify the needs of their student body as well as how to

develop the services needed to support it.

Many providers will have hardship funds to support students in times of need,

including emergencies. The expectation is that where any student requires additional

support, providers will support them through their own hardship funds.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-in-schools

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-in-schools

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people





We have worked closely with the Office for Students to help clarify that providers can

draw upon existing funding to provide hardship funds and support disadvantaged

students impacted by COVID-19. Providers are able to use the funding, worth around

£23 million per month for April, May, June and July, towards student hardship funds.

Students with a part-time employment contract should speak to their employer about

the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-

coronavirus-covid-19 ), which has been set up to help pay staff wages and keep

people in employment. We have also asked that HE providers pay particular attention

to the additional financial hardships that are being faced by student staff who have

been reliant on income from campus-based jobs at this time.

Departmental officials are working hard with the sector to continue to monitor the

situation.

Teachers: Equality

Afzal Khan: [62715]


ensure that teaching staff with protected characteristics are supported to progress in their

careers.

Nick Gibb:

In October 2018, the Department set out its commitment to increasing the diversity of

the teaching workforce across all protected characteristics when it launched the

Statement of Intent.

This commitment to increasing teacher diversity was made alongside 10 co-

signatories from the sector (including unions and grassroots organisations) who set

out their own individual activities.

The Department has been making progress against its commitments, including:

• Providing £2 million of funding in nationwide Equality and Diversity regional ‘hubs’

to support aspiring leaders into headship. The hubs focus on providing coaching

and mentoring to increase representation across all protected characteristics in

senior leadership roles. Between 2014 and 2018 over 2,900 teachers have been

helped to take the next steps on their leadership journey through school led

diversity leadership training through the Equality and Diversity Fund.

• Reflecting the importance of diversity in the Department’s Recruitment and

Retention Strategy published in January 2019 to ensure people from all

backgrounds are supported and that barriers to their progression are removed.

• Encouraging representative recruitment for National Professional Qualifications for

school leadership through key performance indicators.

• Continuing to engage with signatories of the statement. In July 2019, we held a

roundtable to gather progress updates and showcase best practice.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19




Technology: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to introduce retraining

programmes in (a) the renewable energy sector and (b) other clean technologies sectors

for people that may be unemployed after the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan:

Apprenticeships will have an important role to play in creating employment

opportunities, particularly for young people, and supporting employers in all sectors to

access the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow post-Covid-19. They can

also help people re-train and re-enter the workforce.

Employers are at the heart of our reforms to apprenticeships, designing high-quality

standards that deliver the skills that they need. Standards developed by the

renewable and clean energy sectors include: dual fuel smart meter installer,

commercial energy specialist and power engineer.

Additionally, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is

undertaking work on a number of initiatives to support the energy, and wider

engineering sector. This includes: scholarships that are focused on helping young

people into areas of growth in the industry during the economic recovery period;

connected competence to identify and facilitate transferrable skills, so that training

doesn’t need to be replicated within the industry; and ‘Train to retain’ allowing existing

graduates to be retained and ultimately reskill them according to emerging industry

requirements.

The ECITB is also developing a programme for those at economic risk due to

COVID-19 impacts on their part of the industry. This will be similar to the work ECITB

and EDF collaborated on for workers at Cottam coal-fired power station, helping them

transition from established parts of the energy sector into growth areas.

We continue to work with further education providers and employers to ensure they

deliver the skills our workers and economy need. We are looking to support

employers of all sizes, and particularly smaller businesses to take on new

apprentices this year. We will set out further details in due course. We will also

ensure that there is sufficient funding to support small businesses wanting to take on

an apprentice this year. In addition, we have launched a new online Skills Toolkit to

provide free high quality digital and numeracy courses, the skills most sought after by

employers.

Alongside wider adult skills reforms, the government is providing £2.5 billion (£3

billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations) over the course of

the Parliament, for a new National Skills Fund to help adults learn new skills and

prepare for the economy of the future.


ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Chester Zoo: Coronavirus

Jonathan Gullis: [62680]

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

taking to support Chester zoo during the covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Prentis:

A number of schemes have been made available to businesses and charities that

should help them during this emergency. Zoos are eligible to apply for the Job

Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Business Rates Relief, the Business Interruption

Loan schemes, the option to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and grant

funding of up to £25,000.

The Zoos Support Fund was launched on 4 May with £14 million being made

available to zoos in England. In response to feedback from the zoo industry the fund

will now be extended to provide support to the sector of up to £100 million. Further

details on the new scheme and eligibility will be released over the coming weeks. We

will be engaging with some of the major zoos and aquariums, including Chester Zoo,

to assess future support options.

In England, zoos and aquariums have been able to reopen outdoor areas since 15

June, subject to social distancing measures being in place. From 4 July indoor areas

such as cafés and exhibits will be able to follow suit. Allowing zoos to fully reopen is a

vital step towards enabling them to cover some of the cost of animal care.

We continue to work with BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and

Aquariums) to monitor concerns and gather insights from industry on current issues.

Clean Air Zones: Coronavirus


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

will provide updated guidance and advice to local authorities on how Clean Air Zone

programmes are affected by the covid-19 lockdown.

Rebecca Pow:

We are in active dialogue with all local authorities with nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

exceedances, including those planning Clean Air Zones (CAZs), and are continuing

to provide them with specific support and guidance. We are clear that even in these

challenging times, we are committed to delivering compliance with NO2 limits in the

shortest possible time and that NO2 reduction measures, including CAZs, are still

needed.



Dairy Response Fund 2020

Daniel Zeichner: [62444]

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

Department has made of the number of qualifying farmers expected to be granted

financial support from the Dairy Response Fund.

Victoria Prentis:

The new Dairy Response Fund which opened for applications on 18 June will help

support those dairy farmers who have seen decreased demand for their products as

bars, restaurants and cafes have been closed.

The deadline for applications to the fund is 14 August. Details of the number of

eligible applicants to the fund will be available in due course.


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

assessment of the potential merits on enabling (a) sheep and (b) goat farmers to access

the Dairy Response Fund 2020.

Victoria Prentis:

We continue to monitor the impact of the Covid-19 disruption on all sectors and dairy

producers and are committed to providing support. Dairy producers are eligible for a

range of support, including the Covid-19 Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the

Bounce Back Loan Scheme, deferral of VAT payments, and the Self-Employed

Income Support Scheme. The Bounce Back Loan Scheme will ensure that the

smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans with a Government 100%

guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the

smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest

payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.

Businesses in England can also apply for the Local Authority Discretionary Grants

Fund, which supports small and micro businesses with fixed property costs that are

not eligible for other grant schemes, and which have suffered a significant fall in

income due to Covid-19.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991


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

the recommendation on breed specific legislation in paragraph 22 of the Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's report on Controlling dangerous dogs, Ninth

Report of Session 2017–19, HC 1040, whether he plans to repeal section 1 of the

Dangerous Dogs Act.

Victoria Prentis:

The Government response to the report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Committee (EFRA) entitled "Controlling Dangerous Dogs (HC1040)", was published

on 28 January 2019 and addressed each of the Committee's recommendations. In its




response the Government noted it has commissioned research by Middlesex

University into dog attacks. The research is ongoing and will help to inform

implementation of some of EFRA's recommendations.

In their Ninth Report of Session 2017-19, HC 1040, EFRA stopped short of

recommending the repeal of section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. In the

summary, the Committee stated "We agree with the Government that it would be

irresponsible to amend the breed ban immediately without adequate safeguards." In

response to the EFRA report, the Government referred to the suite of powers and

measures available to police and local authorities to respond to incidents involving

dangerous dogs and to help prevent dogs from becoming dangerously out of control.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Inquiries


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

the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his

Department.

Victoria Prentis:

There are no statutory or non-statutory public inquiries currently being undertaken by

the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Opinion


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


January 2019.

Victoria Prentis:

The information requested is not held centrally and therefore can only be provided at

disproportionate costs.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Small Businesses

Sir John Hayes: [62288]

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

assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory requirement that all

procurement by his Department be sourced from small and medium sized British

businesses.

Victoria Prentis:

Defra adheres to the requirements set out in the Public Contract Regulations (PCR)

2015, which look to set out and ensure that a fair and inclusive supply base exists

where all have an equal opportunity to bid. The PCR enable buyers to run

procurements faster, with less red tape and with a greater focus on getting the right

supplier and best tender in accordance with sound commercial practice. These




principles apply to above threshold requirements but equally apply to below threshold

ensuring sound commercial practice is maintained:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-new-thresholds-2020.

Defra adheres to and supports the initiatives set out in Procurement Policy Note

03/15, which sets out the need to make public procurements more accessible to

small and medium enterprises (SMEs):

www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0315-reforms-to-

make-public-procurement-more-accessible-to-smes.

Defra already recognises the important role of SMEs in delivering UK economic

growth and prosperity. The Government has remained committed to supporting the

SME agenda and Defra supports this. We encourage SMEs to bid for departmental

business and we monitor the level of business SMEs receive from us directly (by

winning contracts) or indirectly (by winning contracts with prime contractors or further

down supply chains). In support of this commitment, Defra has published its Small

and Medium Sized Enterprises Commercial Plan:


ent_data/file/817258/sme-commercial-plan-2018-2022.pdf.

We regularly review our approach and if a barrier is identified we look to remove it.

Disability: Food

Abena Oppong-Asare: [62687]


taking to work with food providers to ensure that disabled families have adequate access

to food supplies.

Victoria Prentis:

We know the difficulties that people with disabilities currently face in accessing food

and are taking steps to support this group. We have brokered discussions between

charities and retailers to help ensure that services are accessible for disabled people.

We know that a large number of vulnerable people continue to rely on friends, family

and wider community support. Where that is not possible, there are a number of

options available for people to access support.

Individuals can request help from an NHS volunteer responder, by calling or visiting

the Royal Voluntary Service website:

volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal/isolating.

Individuals can use one of the increasing range and number of local, regional and

national commercial services that provide home delivery of groceries. They can also

call their local authority, who will be able to help refer them to local voluntary and

commercial shop and drop services and may be able to offer other support too.

Most supermarkets also offer protected in-store shopping hours to vulnerable groups

including people with disabilities and their carers.

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-new-thresholds-2020

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-new-thresholds-2020

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0315-reforms-to-make-public-procurement-more-accessible-to-smes



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817258/sme-commercial-plan-2018-2022.pdf




https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal/isolating

https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal/isolating

Economic Growth: Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: [63295]

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

Government has to amend regulations and environmental protections in order to

stimulate economic activity; what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the

Exchequer on those plans; and if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow:

The Government has no current plans to amend regulations and environmental

protections in order to stimulate economic activity.

However, as we rebuild our economy in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we

are working to deliver a fairer, greener and more resilient future. We will ramp up our

world-leading work on our ambitious legislative agenda through our landmark

Environment and Agricultural Bills. These bills will work hand in hand to protect and

recover our precious natural environment and diverse ecosystems in line with our 25

Year Environment Plan to leave the environment in a better place than we have

inherited it.

The net zero challenge remains and we need to transform our economy over the next

three decades to end our contribution to climate change. In the UK we’ve already

shown how to grow the economy while cutting emissions and we will continue to lead

the world as we respond to the economic impacts of COVID-19 and develop our net

zero strategy in advance of COP26.

Environment: Coronavirus


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

he has made of the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the UK's natural environment; and

if he will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow:

Our efforts to keep coronavirus under control have had follow-on impacts on our

natural environment. It is too early to draw detailed conclusions about the impacts of

the lockdown, but some trends are developing.

The unprecedented changes in living and working patterns during the coronavirus

outbreak are likely to have had an effect on air pollution and could potentially lead to

short-term improvements in air quality.

It has been encouraging to see reports that some of our wildlife, including our

common mammals and ground nesting birds, may be doing well, venturing into areas

where they would not normally be seen. It is similarly encouraging to see reports of

wildflowers blooming on roadside verges and land that has not been mown during the

lockdown.

Defra will continue to research and develop our understanding of the longer-term

implications from these unprecedented changes in living and working patterns. This



will ensure we apply that learning to delivering the Clean Air Strategy, 25 Year

Environment Plan, the Environment Bill and our approach to the Government’s Net

Zero commitment.

Fisheries: Environment Protection



he has made of the effect on the marine environment of supertrawlers fishing in UK

waters; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis:

No specific assessments have been made of the impact of large trawlers on the

marine environment. However, the impact of all fishing activities is taken into account

when we assess the status of UK seas and set targets to achieve Good

Environmental Status under the UK Marine Strategy. Assessments carried out for the

2019 UK Marine Strategy Part One showed that commercial fishing is one of the

predominant pressures preventing good environmental status of UK seas from being

achieved. At the end of the transition period, any access by non-UK vessels to fish in

UK waters will be a matter for negotiation. Any vessels granted access to fish in our

waters, regardless of nationality, will need to abide by UK rules including those on

sustainability.

Fisheries: Marine Protected Areas

Cat Smith: [62498]


he has made of the effect of supertrawler fishing on the UK’s offshore marine protected

areas.

Rebecca Pow:

Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to

England only.

The Common Fisheries Policy has restricted our ability to implement fisheries

management measures within offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The

Fisheries Bill proposes a new power to allow the introduction of measures for

conservation purposes, both within our MPAs and more widely across English

waters.

Not all fishing activities within MPAs will require management, only those likely to

damage the designated features, such as trawling on the seabed. The Marine

Management Organisation monitors activity to ensure fishing boats are complying

with current rules, and will ensure compliance with new measures as they are

introduced.



Luke Pollard: [65012]


his Department has made of the implications for his policy on marine conservation of the

Lloyd’s List Maritime Intelligence tracking data on the time spent fishing in UK Marine

Protected Area waters by foreign owned vessels over 100 metres.

Rebecca Pow:

Marine conservation is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore

relates to England only.

The Marine Management Organisation monitors fishing activity with dedicated

enforcement and surveillance work to protect fisheries, including offshore patrol

vessels for at-sea surveillance. It tracks the movement of all fishing vessels 24 hours

a day through satellite technology, deploys aerial surveillance, and coordinates

intelligence from third-party sources – detecting where and when illegal fishing is

suspected. Not all fishing activities within Marine Protected Areas will require

management; only those activities likely to damage the designated features, such as

trawling on the seabed.

At the end of the Transition Period, we will have the right to decide who fishes in our

waters and on what terms. Any decisions about giving access to fish for vessels from

the European Union, or any other coastal states, will be a matter for the UK to decide.

Fishing Catches

Cat Smith: [62499]


taking to ensure fishing catch limits do not exceed scientifically recommended

sustainable levels.

Victoria Prentis:

The Government’s priority in relation to annual negotiations on fishing opportunities is

to ensure that the total allowable catch for each fish stock that we have an interest in

is set within sustainable limits taking account of scientific advice. Management

measures, both technical and control based, are in place throughout the year to

ensure monitoring and compliance of agreed catch limits and methods of capture.

Enforcement of management measures is carried out through physical and electronic

means as appropriate. The Fisheries Bill will put in place Fisheries Management

Plans to help deliver and maintain stocks at sustainable levels into the future.

Furs: Sales



will conduct a public consultation on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative

proposals to ban the commercial sale of fur in the UK after the end of the transition

period.




Victoria Prentis:

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare. There are

restrictions on some skin and fur products, which cannot be legally imported into the

UK. These include fur from cats and dogs, seal skins and products from commercial

hunts. Legislation has prohibited farming of animals for their fur since 2000 in

England and Wales, and 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In addition, we do not allow imports of fur from wild animals caught using methods

which are non-compliant with international humane trapping standards. Where fur is

from an endangered species protected through the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species (CITES), its import or trade will be subject to CITES controls.

During the transition period it is not possible to introduce restrictions relating to the fur

trade. Once our future relationship with the EU has been established, we will have

the opportunity to consider further steps we could take in relation to fur sales.

Highly Protected Marine Areas


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

timeframe is for the implementation of the recommendations of the Benyon Review into

Highly Protected Marine Areas; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis:

The Government welcomes the publication of the review into Highly Protected Marine

Areas (HPMAs) on 8 June 2020. It is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/highly-protected-marine-areas-hpmas-review-

2019.

We will consider Richard Benyon’s report and issue a formal response to him in due

course, recognising our immediate priority to support the cross-Government response

to Covid-19. From there on, we have an opportunity to develop a programme of work

to bring forward HPMAs for the first time in English waters. We would, of course,

consult widely with the public and stakeholders before any decision to designate

HPMAs.

Horticulture: Coronavirus

Andrew Griffith: [62711]

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

Department plans to respond to the Horticultural Trades Association’s proposal for a

grant aid scheme for ornamental growers to cover plants disposed of during the covid-19

outbreak.

Victoria Prentis:

Covid-19 represents a significant challenge to daily life and every part of the

economy, including the ornamental horticulture sector. The Government continues to

work closely with representatives from the horticulture industry to understand the


http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/highly-protected-marine-areas-hpmas-review-2019




short-term and long-term impacts on the sector. We have recently received new data

on the financial position of the sector following the reopening of garden centres on 13

May. Once we have reviewed that data we will respond to the Horticultural Trades

Association’s proposal.

Andrew Griffith: [62712]

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

Department has made on designing a grant aid scheme for ornamental growers to cover

losses from plants disposed of during the covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Prentis:

Covid-19 represents a significant challenge to daily life and every part of the

economy, including the ornamental horticulture sector. The Government continues to

work closely with representatives from the horticulture industry to understand the

short-term and long-term impacts on the sector. We have recently received new data

on the financial position of the sector following the reopening of garden centres on 13

May. Once we have reviewed that data we will respond to the Horticultural Trades

Association’s proposal.

Marine Protected Areas

Cat Smith: [62497]


taking to ensure the effectiveness of the UK’s offshore marine protected areas.

Rebecca Pow:

Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to

England only.

One of Defra’s biggest challenges in seeking to ensure effective management of

offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been the need to secure the agreement

of other countries through the Common Fisheries Policy process. This requirement

will end when the Transition Period has finished.

The Fisheries Bill proposes a new power enabling the Marine Management

Organisation (MMO) to implement fisheries management measures for conservation

purposes both within our MPAs and more widely across English waters. The MMO

will be able to use this power after the expiry of the Transition Period.

Activities within MPAs that require planning or licensing consent are assessed by the

relevant regulator, including the MMO, to prevent damage to these designated areas.

Nature Conservation

Lilian Greenwood: [64897]

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

to publish a strategy that will set out how a national nature recovery network is to be

established.




Rebecca Pow:

Our 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step-change in ambitions for wildlife and the

natural environment. It committed the Government to establishing a nature recovery

network in England and developing a new strategy for nature, setting out how we will

implement our international commitments under the Convention on Biological

Diversity (CBD).

The coronavirus outbreak has impacted on our plans. Key international meetings to

develop global biodiversity targets, including the CBD Conference in China (originally

planned for the end of 2020), have been postponed. At the same time, many of our

stakeholders no longer have the capacity to engage on the strategy at the moment.

This means that we have slowed the process of drafting the strategy so that we have

extra time to engage with stakeholders, and properly reflect on the emerging

international framework. We expect the main CBD Conference of the Parties to be

rescheduled for some time in 2021 and will update our domestic plans once this is

finalised.

Although work on the strategy has been delayed, we are bringing forward policies

and funding now that will deliver real change for nature and to establish a Nature

Recovery Network (NRN).

Our Environment Bill lays the foundation for the NRN. It sets the framework for at

least one legally binding biodiversity target. It establishes spatial mapping and

planning tools to inform nature recovery. It also creates duties and incentives, such

as biodiversity net gain, to drive change on the ground.

These measures will complement our plans for new funding for nature announced in

March this year.

Nature Conservation: Finance



his Department has made of the resourcing needed to ensure that the proposed Local

Nature Recovery Strategies are (a) of a high standard and (b) cover the whole of

England.

Rebecca Pow:

The Government undertook an Impact Assessment of the Biodiversity Net Gain and

Local Nature Recovery (LNR) Strategy provisions in the Environment Bill which was

published on 15 October 2019. My officials are continuing to work with counterparts

in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and to engage

stakeholders to refine our estimates and work towards a more comprehensive

assessment of resources required to ensure delivery to a high standard. The

Environment Bill requires that, collectively, LNR Strategies cover the whole of

England.


Nature Conservation: Maps


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

ensure that the national habitat map for England is (a) accurate and (b) comprehensive.

Rebecca Pow:

My officials are currently planning for how to deliver this new duty. We wish to make

the best use of recent advances in satellite imagery, increased computational power

and ground survey including using citizen scientists, to deliver a good standard of

National Habitat Map (NHM).

We intend to bid for further resources to deliver the NHM as part of an extensive

science assessment programme in the planning round for next year.

Pigeons: Conservation


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

Government plans to take steps to protect racing pigeons from predators.

Victoria Prentis:

The Government's policy is that individuals should be free to manage wildlife within

the law. Some predatory species, such as raptors, are afforded legal protection to

help ensure that management does not impact on their conservation status. The

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 permits the granting of licences to control wild

birds but only for certain limited purposes, which are set out in section 16 of the Act.

There are currently no provisions in the Act to permit licences to be granted to protect

racing pigeons from predation by raptors or other avian predators.

Individuals are advised to deter predators, for example by using mesh to disrupt flight

lines and to fly birds at times when predators are least likely to be present. Those

who are concerned about the effects of raptors on racing pigeons can seek advice

from local Natural England officers, who offer free advice to those experiencing

problems.

Plastics: Waste

Craig Tracey: [62527]

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

Government is taking to ensure that (a) the 30 per cent of exported UK plastic waste

destined for Turkey is managed to standards equivalent to those in the UK and (b)

leakage into the environment, rivers and seas is prevented.

Rebecca Pow:

The UK and Turkey are both Parties to the United Nations Basel Convention on the

Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal. The

Convention provides a global system for controlling the export of hazardous wastes

and wastes collected from households. The UK and Turkey are also both members of




the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and are

subject to an OECD Council Decision which provides the legal framework for the

control of movements of wastes within the OECD to ensure the environmentally

sound and economically efficient recovery of wastes.

The requirements of the Basel Convention and the OECD Decision are implemented

in UK law by the EU Waste Shipment Regulations and the UK Transfrontier Shipment

of Waste Regulations. This legislation requires that those involved in the shipments of

waste take all necessary steps to ensure waste is managed in an environmentally

sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling or recovery in the

country of destination.

The UK regulators take a proactive and intelligence-led approach to checking

compliance with waste shipments legislation and intervene to stop illegal exports

taking place when necessary. In England in 2018/19, the Environment Agency (EA)

inspected almost 1,000 shipping containers at ports and returned over 200 of those to

sites. During this period, the EA also prevented 12,000 tonnes of waste from reaching

ports which may have otherwise been exported illegally.

Any operators found to be illegally exporting waste can face severe sanctions - from

financial penalties to imprisonment for a period of up to two years.

Textiles: Recycling



will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring that consumer information is

provided to promote the sale of durable, repairable and recyclable textiles.

Rebecca Pow:

The Government committed in the Resources & Waste Strategy to support ecodesign

standards for products and to improve labelling schemes, as well as to address

challenges in the textiles sector.

We are seeking powers in the Environment Bill that will enable the Government to

mandate the provision of relevant information to help consumers make more

sustainable purchasing decisions. This information must be relevant to a product’s

impact on the natural environment and can include information relating to a product’s

durability, reparability and recyclability, as well as its recycled content.

The textiles sector remains a priority area for potential future regulations, including

but not limited to making use of those powers.

Tree Planting: Staffordshire



taking to increase the rate of tree planting in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Staffordshire.



Rebecca Pow:

Working with the Devolved Administrations, we are committed to significantly

increasing tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025, in line

with the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations. We announced a £640

million Nature for Climate Fund to help drive up planting rates in England.

To support this, we have opened a consultation on an England Tree Strategy and

welcome responses from the forestry sector and wider public. Responses will help us

to understand what more could be done to encourage even more tree planting. Within

this we hope to empower local communities, generating local support for, and where

possible participation in, afforestation at a new scale.

Waste Disposal: Staffordshire



taking to ensure that commercial and household waste continues to be collected in (a)

Stoke-on-Trent, (b) Kidsgrove and (c) Talke.

Rebecca Pow:

Defra has worked with local government, other Government departments and the

waste industry to produce and publish guidance to help local authorities manage their

waste collection services and household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) during the

Covid-19 outbreak. Defra officials also meet local authority and industry

representatives weekly to share intelligence and to ensure that commercial and

household waste can continue to be collected safely during the pandemic.

Weekly surveys indicate that, due to the hard work of those in the sector, nearly all

English authorities are operating commercial and household waste collections as

normal, with only a small percentage reporting minor disruption. Demand for

commercial collections has dropped but services continue to operate for businesses

that need them. The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and I wrote

to local authorities on 5 May to thank those working to deliver waste services during

the Covid-19 outbreak for the vital role they are playing in protecting the environment,

public amenity and people’s health. We wrote a further letter on 28 June asking local

authorities to ensure that as much access as possible is provided to HWRC services

where this can be done safely.

Welfare Assistance Schemes: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [64933]

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

the £63m local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities announced by the Prime

Minister on 10 June 2020, what steps he is taking to ensure that the funding is spent by

local authorities on local welfare assistance; and what processes his Department plan to

use to monitor the effect of that funding on local welfare assistance.



Victoria Prentis:

We will issue guidance to local authorities to make clear that this additional funding is

to be spent on local welfare assistance. This guidance will be available imminently,

and details of a proportionate approach to monitoring will be outlined within this. The

strategic objective of this funding is to support individuals and families who are

unable to afford food and other essential items during the Covid-19 pandemic.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

[Subject Heading to be Assigned]

Mark Pawsey: [904033]

What assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the economies

of African countries.

James Duddridge:

The economic implications of COVID-19 will be huge for Africa, possibly worse than

the health impact itself. The IMF predict the worst growth rates in Sub Saharan Africa

since the 1970s – a recession for 2020 of -3.2%.

I am therefore working with the IMF, World Bank and the African Union to ensure we

support their efforts to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic across the continent,

including through support to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust,

and its Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, both of which will support African

recovery.

Ian Lavery: [904037]

What diplomatic steps the Government is taking to help provide protection and support

for LGBT+ communities in eastern Europe.

Wendy Morton:

The UK plays an active role in Eastern Europe and across the world in support of

LGBT+ rights. We became co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) in June last

year, in partnership with Argentina. The ERC is a group of 42 like-minded States that

share best practice and promote LGBT equality globally. Our plan is to deliver an

ERC Strategy and Action Plan to re-energise the ERC. In addition to this, our

embassies across the region proudly fly the rainbow flag for International Day Against

Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).

Gareth Davies: [904038]

What diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help improve the security situation in

the Sahel.

James Duddridge:

The UK is working with partners to address instability. I attended international

meetings on the Sahel earlier this month and in Mauritania in February. I stressed the

importance of improving governance and respecting human rights.




As part of our efforts, the UK is deploying 250 peacekeeping troops to Mali and has 3

RAF Chinook helicopters deployed to a Counter Terrorism operation. We are also

one of largest humanitarian donors to the Sahel. Between 2015 and 2019, the UK

provided humanitarian aid to 2.3 million across the region.

Cat Smith: [904045]

What recent assessment he has made of the level of risk of Russian interference in UK

democratic processes; and if the Government will publish the Intelligence and Security

Committee's Russia report.

Wendy Morton:

It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral

processes. The Government took steps during the election to protect the safety and

security of our democratic processes. The Government worked with a large number

of organisations to do this, and would like to thank them for their continued support

and work in this area.

As you would expect, the Government examines all aspects of the electoral process,

and that work is ongoing. With regards to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s

report on Russia, the Prime Minister has cleared the report for publication, which is

now a matter for the new Committee.

Brazil: Politics and Government

Ruth Jones: [64339]

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

assessment he has made of the political situation in Brazil.

Wendy Morton:

The UK and Brazil have a close dialogue on both bilateral and global issues of mutual

interest including the environment, science and trade. Brazil is a key partner in the

global response to Covid-19 and our countries are working together to find a vaccine.

UK Ministers and our Embassy and Consulates in Brazil regularly engage with the

Brazilian Government and we will continue to monitor the situation.

British Council: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: [63338]

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

Department has made of the (a) amount of revenue lost by the British Council in English

teaching abroad programmes as a result of the covid-19 pandemic and (b) length of time

it will take the British Council to return to pre-covid-19 revenue levels.


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

his Department has had with representatives from the British Council on future service

cuts resulting from reduced income during the covid-19 outbreak.





Nigel Adams:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: The British Council's commercial income has been

heavily hit by Covid-19. We are currently finalising the terms of a £60m loan which

will stabilize the Council's financial situation until mid-August 2020, while we conduct

a strategic review of the Council's future strategy, operations and long-term

sustainable funding models. Discussions are ongoing about the recommendations of

this review.



assessment his Department has made of the ability of the British Council to provide

English teaching programmes through digital platforms; and what additional resources his

Department has made available to the British Council to continue English teaching

abroad programmes digitally.

Nigel Adams:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the British

Council's ability to operate, with the majority of their English language centres closed.

The British Council has adapted quickly to the crisis by moving to digital in many

areas. For example, they are now delivering online English teaching to 85,000

students in 44 countries, and have created new digital products including the IELTS

indicator test as an interim measure for international customers.

The FCO is finalising the terms of a £60m loan to support the British Council through

to mid-August while we conduct a strategic review of their business. Conversations

are ongoing about the recommendations of the review and how that will impact future

services and funding.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus


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

flights are being planned to repatriate British citizens who missed the deadline to apply

for chartered flights during the covid-19 pandemic.

Nigel Adams:

Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned

to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital

routes open. We have brought home over 38,000 people on 186 special charter

flights organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from 57 countries and

territories.

We believe the vast majority of British travellers seeking to return to the UK - who

don't have commercial options - have now done so. Through our embassies, and a

dedicated central team, we continue to support British nationals who need consular

support and are working to ensure commercial routes are maintained. While no

charter flights are currently planned, we are monitoring risks globally and continue to

review how best to provide assistance where necessary. Our travel advice and social



media pages are also regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are

aware of further developments.

Cameroon: Coronavirus

Harriett Baldwin: [63336]

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

he has made of the security situation in Cameroon during the covid-19 pandemic.

James Duddridge:

The UK Government remains deeply concerned about the situation in the North-West

and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon. As the UK highlighted at a

United Nations Security Council briefing on Central Africa, on 12 June, high levels of

violence are having tragic consequences on civilians. These could be exacerbated by

the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK has contributed approximately £540,000 to UNICEF to support with the

COVID-19 response and related water, sanitation and hygiene activities in

Cameroon. We have also contributed approximately £60,000 to the Centre Pasteur

Cameroun to decentralise COVID-19 testing across the country, in support of the

Government of Cameroon's National Response Plan. On 20 May the UK Government

also announced investment of up to £20 million in the new African Union COVID-19

Response Fund, which will be used to tackle coronavirus, and save lives, including in

Cameroon.

The UK welcomes the UN Secretary-General's call in February on armed actors to

refrain from attacks against civilians in Cameroon. We also welcome his call on 23

March for an immediate global ceasefire in armed conflicts, and his appeal to open

up spaces for diplomacy, protect the most vulnerable, allow humanitarian access,

and focus our collective energies on fighting COVID-19.

On 19 May I spoke to the Prime Minister of Cameroon and discussed the need for a

peaceful solution to the conflict. It is imperative that people are not prohibited by the

violence from accessing testing or wider humanitarian assistance. We continue to call

for an end to the violence in the North-West and South-West regions, and have

shared experiences on conflict resolution with the Government of Cameroon. We will

continue to work with international partners to support the restoration of peace in

these regions, at the same time as we support Cameroon, and other African partners,

to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on peace and security.

Chile: Human Rights

Tommy Sheppard: [63393]

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

representations he has made to his Chilean counterpart on reports of alleged human

rights violations by Chilean police.



Wendy Morton:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: Our Ambassador in Chile has talked with

representatives of the Chilean Government to express our concerns about the

violence witnessed during protests and about reports of human rights abuses by state

agents. We welcome the Chilean Government's acceptance of the UN's human rights

report and its recommendations and the Chilean Government's assurances, in public

and to our Ambassador, that allegations of human rights abuses will be investigated

fully and that perpetrators will be prosecuted. Our Embassy in Santiago remains in

close contact with the Chilean authorities and will continue to monitor the situation.



assessment he has made of the potential merits of defining Chile as a human rights

priority country.

Wendy Morton:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: The UK Government is concerned about events that

have occurred in Chile. Our Ambassador in Chile has expressed our concerns about

the violence witnessed during protests in 2019 and about reports of human rights

abuses to the Chilean Government. We welcome the Chilean Government's

recognition that there have been human rights abuses and their assurances, in public

and to our Ambassador, that allegations of human rights abuses will be investigated

fully, and that perpetrators will be prosecuted. We continue to monitor the human

rights situation in Chile closely.

China: Dogs

Robert Courts: [62547]


representations he has made to the Chinese Government on (a) the treatment of dogs

and (b) general hygiene practices during that country's Yulin Dog Meat Festival which is

taking place from 21 to 30 June 2020.

Nigel Adams:

The UK Government is committed to raising standards of animal welfare at home and

abroad. The sale and consumption of dog meat is legal in many countries, including

China, and there are no international norms, laws or agreements governing this. We

believe that it is necessary to work with Governments around the world to gain

agreement on animal welfare standards, and to phase out cruel and inhumane

practices. There is no suggestion that the event will break any local or international

laws. We have previously raised our concerns on specific animal welfare issues with

the Chinese authorities and will continue to do so.



China: India



he has made of the recent military skirmishes on the Himalayan border between India

and China; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams:

The Prime Minister commented in Parliament on 24 June that we are monitoring the

situation closely and that we encourage both India and China to engage in dialogue.

The status of the India-China border is a bilateral issue and we welcome the call

between Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Jaishankar on 17 June, the meeting

between Army Commanders on 22 June, and the agreement that both sides would

take steps to de-escalate.

China: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: [62555]

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

Development Assistance his Department has been spent in China in each of the last five

years.

Nigel Adams:

[Holding answer 25 June 2020]: All information on FCO ODA spending is available at

GOV.UK link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-

development

Conflict Resolution: Females

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [65001]

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

Women, Peace and Security agenda will remain a Government and departmental priority

of the new Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.


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

national action plan on women, peace and security 2018 to 2022, published in January

2018, National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security will continue to be a priority

when the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office is created.

Wendy Morton:

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is an important component of the

UK's work to promote human rights and support sustainable peace processes. 2020

is a key year for WPS due to the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution

1325. This Government is committed to marking the 20th anniversary, calling for

renewed commitment by the international community to implement all of the WPS UN

Security Council resolutions. The National Action Plan outlines our WPS strategy,

and the UK remains committed to implementing it.





The FCO and DFID already work closely to deliver both DFID's Strategic Vision and

the National Action Plan on WPS. The Integrated Review of foreign policy is expected

to conclude later in the year, which will define the Government's ambition for the UK's

role in the world and its outcomes will shape the objectives of the new department.

Gender equality and women's rights will remain a core part of the Government's

mission and will be at the heart of the new department.

Cyprus: Foreign Relations



he has made of the compatibility of the exclusion of representatives of Turkey and

Turkish Cypriots from talks between the UK Government and the Greek Cypriot

Administration and the 1960 Cyprus Treaty of Guarantee.

Wendy Morton:

We regularly engage with the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. We use the opportunity of

these contacts to urge progress towards a settlement. Ultimately, it is for the Greek

Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to agree on the details of any final Settlement deal.

This will require the agreement of the two leaders, the support of Greece and Turkey

and - importantly - successful referenda in each community. The UK has always

made clear that we are open to whatever arrangements the two sides and other

Guarantor Powers can agree to meet the security needs of the two Cypriot

communities.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Overseas Aid

Yasmin Qureshi: [63286]

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

Development Assistance programmes that his Department funds are targeted at

supporting women and girls.

Wendy Morton:

The UK's Gender Equality Act 2014 (an amendment to 2002 International

Development Act, IDA), legally requires all overseas development funding to

meaningfully consider the impact of how it will contribute to reducing gender

inequality. The UK Aid Strategy prioritises the rights of women and girls under its

fourth strategic goal of tacking extreme poverty and helping the world's most

vulnerable.

The FCO supports a number of Official Development Assistance programmes

targeted at promoting girls' education, empowering women peacebuilders and

supporting female survivors of sexual violence in conflict. The programmes include

lobbying efforts encouraging foreign governments to prioritise girls' education

reforms, financial support for women mediator organisations, capacity building

programmes for female judges and women peacebuilders and consultations with

survivors of sexual violence. Additional information on the FCO's ODA programmes



can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-

assistance-fco-programme-spend

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Public Opinion


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


January 2019.

Nigel Adams:

This information is not held centrally and to compile it would incur disproportionate

cost.

Guinea: Coronavirus

Stephen Doughty: [63354]


he has made of the (a) political and human rights situation in the Republic of Guinea and

(b) the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on that country.

James Duddridge:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: The UK Government is concerned by the

deteriorating human rights and political environment in Guinea and the

demonstrations that have led to violence in recent months. On 27 February, I set out

the UK Government's deep concern over the violence and civilian deaths, following

the announcement of legislative elections in Guinea and in the lead up to the

referendum on the constitution. The elections and referendum were then postponed

until 22 March. We urge the Government of Guinea to respect democratic institutions

and all forms of human rights, including the right to peaceful protest. It was deeply

saddening that there was a further loss of life on the day the election and referendum

were held in Guinea. The UK has urged the Government of Guinea to ensure that all

deaths are properly investigated. We encourage all parties, the Government and the

Opposition, to engage in constructive dialogue, refrain from violence and protect

democracy.

We continue to raise our concerns with representatives of the Government of Guinea,

through our Ambassador in Conakry, on civic and political issues including the

importance of respect for the rule of law, and the need for elections to be free and

fair. The UK will continue to work with the Government of Guinea, international

partners and regional institutions both to support Guinea's democracy and stability

and to improve the day-to-day lives of all Guineans.

The elections took place against the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are working with the Government of Guinea to support them in their own

response to COVID-19. To support the people of Guinea, we are funding a

programme of mass media communications to increase the public's awareness and



understanding of the pandemic, and we have offered the Government of Guinea

technical assistance in responding to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Hussein Abdullah Khalil Rashid and Zuhair Ebrahim Jassim Abdullah Abas

Brendan O'Hara: [63359]

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

Early Day Motion 630 of Session 2019-21, if he will (a) publicly condemn the 15 June

2020 decision of Bahrain’s highest court to uphold death sentences against Husain

Abdullah Khalil Rashid and Zuhair Ibrahim Jasim Abdullah following concerns of serious

due process violations and the alleged coercion of Zuhair’s confession through torture

and (b) make representations to his counterpart in Bahrain on the immediate

commutation of their death sentences.

James Cleverly:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: We have raised the cases of Zuhair Ibrahim Jasim

Abdullah and Hussein Abdullah Khalil Rashid at a senior level with the Government

of Bahrain.

The Government of Bahrain is fully aware that the UK is firmly opposed to the death

penalty, in all circumstances. The right to a fair trial is enshrined in the constitution of

Bahrain; we continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to follow due process

in all cases and meet its international and domestic human rights commitments.

Myanmar: Children

Henry Smith: [63306]

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

diplomatic steps to hold the Myanmar military to account for the killing, maiming sexual

violence against children identified in the UN Secretary-General's Annual Report on

Children and Armed Conflict, published on 9 June 2020.

Nigel Adams:

The UK is clear that the Myanmar Military is responsible for gross human rights

violations across the country. This includes grave violations against children. On 23

June, I [Minister Adams] spoke to the Myanmar Minister for International

Cooperation. I [Minister Adams] encouraged Myanmar to continue to engage with the

International Court of Justice process, and highlighted the need for dialogue to

deescalate the conflict in Rakhine which has seen a significant increase in crimes

against children in the first half of this year. The UK has already imposed sanctions,

through the EU, on members of the Myanmar military responsible for serious human

rights violations. The UK led the international effort to establish the UN Independent

Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM), which will collect and preserve

evidence for us in future domestic or international accountability processes.



Nigeria: Violence

Ruth Jones: [61801]

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

urgent representations his Nigerian counterpart on undertaking full investigations into

cases of military complicity in violence against Christians and human rights abuses.

James Duddridge:

The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting human rights around the

world. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the

importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious groups, and

human rights for all Nigerians. We are aware of allegations of military complicity in

attacks on communities of all faiths. We call for allegations of human rights abuses or

excessive use of force to be investigated and those responsible for any abuses to be

held to account.

Following allegations of human rights abuses made regarding Nigerian military

detention facilities in Amnesty International's recent report, 'We Dried Our Tears', the

British High Commissioner raised our concerns with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign

Affairs calling for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any

individuals found to have committed abuses. We reiterate that the UK Government

does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned.

Poland: LGBT People

Martyn Day: [62522]


he has had with his Polish counterpart on LGBTQ+ rights in that country.

Wendy Morton:

The UK is implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination and committed to

promoting and protecting the rights and freedoms of LGBT people in all

circumstances. Our Embassy in Warsaw is working actively on this agenda and is

engaged in dialogue on it with both civil society and government.

The Embassy has established itself as one of the diplomatic missions in Warsaw that

is most active on the LGBT agenda. During last year's Pride season, it brought the

diplomatic community in Warsaw together to endorse a joint letter expressing support

for LGBT equality and respect for human rights. Over 50 diplomatic missions signed.

The Embassy flies the Rainbow flag annually for International Day Against

Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and flew it again over the weekend of 20/21

June as part of its activity to promote Pride Month.



Sahel: Violence

Ruth Jones: [61803]


he has had with his UN counterparts on resolving conflict involving farmers and herders

(a) in Nigeria and (b) across the Sahel region.

James Duddridge:

The UK remains concerned about the deteriorating security situation in parts of

Nigeria, and in the Sahel. The UK Government routinely engages with the UN and its

agencies on conflict resolution in Nigeria, including through our Mission in New York

and the UN's Office for West Africa & the Sahel (UNOWAS).

I met the head of UNOWAS in February during my visit to Mauritania where I

attended the first meeting of the Sahel Alliance General Assembly and the sixth

Summit of the G5 Leaders. We discussed security in the region. We have

encouraged efforts by UNOWAS to develop regional solutions to preventing and

resolving disputes between farming and herding communities. In particular, we

encourage UNOWAS to increase engagement with regional governments on efforts

to address the long-term causes and drivers of the violence. I have also raised

insecurity in the Sahel with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General

to the African Union, Hannah Tetteh.

The deteriorating security situation in the Sahel is characterised by both extremist

violence and intercommunal conflict, including between farmers and herders. We are

the third largest humanitarian donor to the region and committed to tackling the long-

term drivers of instability, including factors relating to governance, conflict resolution

and access to basic services.

We reiterated our commitment to the region in UK statements on 5 June at the UN

Security Council and my statement at the Sahel Coalition meeting on 12 June. These

set out our intention to work with the UN, G5 Sahel countries and international

partners to ensure peace, stability, sustainable development and justice for the

people of the Sahel. Later this year, the UK will be deploying to the UN peacekeeping

mission MINUSMA. This will strengthen the Mission's ability to protect civilians from

the impacts of conflict in Mali.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

Kenny MacAskill: [64358]

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

Government has recently monitored the trials of Loujain al-Hathloul, Samar Badawi,

Nassima al-Sada and others who comprise the 13 women human rights defenders in

Saudi Arabia on trial for reportedly peaceful activism.

James Cleverly:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: We are monitoring the cases of Loujain al-Hathloul,

Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Sada, and all women's rights defenders. The UK attends



trials of international importance in all countries where permitted. The UK, along with

other embassies in Saudi Arabia, consistently attempt to attend the trials of Women's

Rights Defenders, and have been denied access since October 2018, with the

exception of the trials for those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

We remain concerned about the continued detention of women's rights activists in

Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the ongoing

detention of political detainees, including women's rights defenders, with Saudi

Ministers during his visit to Riyadh in March. We regularly raise areas of concern with

the Saudi authorities at all levels, through Ministers, our Ambassador and our

Embassy in Riyadh. We consistently underline the importance of political freedoms

globally. This includes respect for the right to peaceful protest, the rule of law, and

freedom of speech, the press, and assembly. We continue to raise concerns about

individual cases regularly and monitor the situation closely.

Saudi Arabia: Internally Displaced People

John McDonnell: [61659]


representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the reported forced

eviction of 20,000 members of the Huwaitat tribe to make way for a new city, NEOM; and

whether the Government will rescind its offer to help develop that project.

James Cleverly:

The NEOM City is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme for socio-economic

reform. We are aware of the reports of evictions in the area. We welcome the Saudi

announcement on 20 June to grant plots of land, housing, compensation and provide

job opportunities to residents within the project area. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign

and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, and we regularly raise areas

of concern with the Saudi authorities at all levels.

Sudan: Coronavirus

Dr Matthew Offord: [62403]

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

Department has made of the number of UK nationals stranded in Sudan as a result of the

Sudanese Government closing commercial airports in response to the covid-19

pandemic.

James Duddridge:

The UK Government has helped over 200 British travellers return to the UK from

Sudan on a HMG special chartered flight on 21 May. When commercial flights were

available, the embassy highlighted these to British traveller through its Travel Advice

and social media channels. They also worked with international partners to enable

British travellers to return on other countries' charter flights. There are currently no

further HMG special charter flights planned but we welcome the decision by Emirates



to offer a commercial flight from Khartoum to Dubai on 26 June which anyone wishing

to depart Sudan could consider.

We believe that the majority of those British travellers in Sudan who are able and

wished to leave have taken one of these available means of return. Some appear to

have decided not to return at this point. It is difficult to be precise on the numbers of

British travellers who still wish to return home because there have been instances of

multiple registrations by the same individual, people not reporting their return to the

UK via other means, and long term residents registering for flights even though they

were not eligible. Through our embassy in Khartoum, officials are in regular contact

with those British travellers who have expressed a desire to return to the UK. We

encourage British travellers in Sudan wishing to return to the UK to visit our Travel

Advice page: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sudan which is regularly

updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments.

Syria: Sanctions

Anna McMorrin: [62562]


he has made of the effect of increased economic sanctions by the US Administration on

the Syrian Government on achieving the reauthorisation of humanitarian and medical aid

border crossings under UN Security Council Resolution 2504, due for renewal by 10 July

2020.

James Cleverly:

We welcome US statements that these new sanctions are targeted and humanitarian

exemptions continue to apply. As such, we do not believe that they should impact

current negotiations regarding UN Security Council Resolution 2504. The renewal is

a matter for the UN Security Council and the UK continues to be vocal on the need

for cross-border aid into both north-west and north-east Syria.

USA: Human Rights

Catherine West: [64995]


representations he has made to his US counterpart on (a) the use of (i) choke holds and

(ii) racial profiling and (b) other human rights violations carried out by US police forces.

Wendy Morton:

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the death of George Floyd was appalling,

inexcusable and deeply distressing. We hope and trust that justice will be done. The

violence we've seen in the US around this is very alarming. We've been clear that

people must be allowed to protest peacefully. Our Embassy in the US has raised the

issue of the protests with the US Administration and have explained the very strong

interest in this issue among the British public.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sudan

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sudan



Violence: Gender


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

Government has to raise the matter of gender-based violence at the next meeting of the

UN Security Council.

Nigel Adams:

COVID-19 has reinforced the urgency to tackle pervasive and endemic gender-based

violence. The UN Security Council will be an important platform to demonstrate the

UK's continued leadership on Violence against Women and Girls and Preventing

Sexual Violence in Conflict as part of our broader ambitions on gender equality. This

includes the upcoming UN Security Council Open video-conference on Women,

Peace and Security on 17 July, which will focus on conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK has led efforts to strengthen language on conflict-related sexual violence

through UN Security Council Peacekeeping Mandates and Resolutions. In April 2019,

we advocated and voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2467 on sexual violence

in conflict. This specified the importance of a survivor-centric approach in response to

conflict-related sexual violence, highlighted the need to support children born of

sexual violence, promoted specific language on sexual violence in sanction regimes,

and also referenced the Mukwege Foundation/Nadia Initiative Global Survivors Fund.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Margaret Ferrier: [63361]


(a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) the UN Secretary-General and

(ii) his officials about the decision to remove the Saudi and Emirati coalition from the UN

list of perpetrators of grave violations against children in conflict zones in 2019.

Margaret Ferrier: [64217]


he has made of the adequacy of the UN Secretary-General's decision to remove the

Saudi-led Coalition from his annual list of perpetrators of grave violations against children

in conflict zones despite verified evidence of ongoing grave violations against children

committed by the coalition in Yemen in 2019.

James Cleverly:

At the UN Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 23 June, the UK

reaffirmed our commitment to tackling violations against children in armed conflict

and highlighted the need for a transparent and credible framework for accountability

based on a standardised and evidence-backed approach to de-listing and listing of

state and non-state actors for violations. The UK takes extremely seriously

allegations of abuses against children in armed conflict. We strongly support the work

of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed

Conflict and continue to fund her office and work. The UK regularly raises the




importance of human rights with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,

including at senior levels. The Coalition must protect children's rights and continue to

take positive steps to protect children in armed conflict, such as by implementing the

Memorandum of Understanding signed between the UN and Saudi Arabia in March

2019.

Zimbabwe: Abduction

Stephen Doughty: [63353]


representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe on allegations of

maltreatment and abduction of opposition activists Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marowa, and

Joana Mamombe MP; and what recent assessment he has made of the political situation

in that country.

James Duddridge:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: As I said in the House on 11 May, I had been an

optimist on Zimbabwe post-Mugabe, but things are bleak across the political,

economic, social and humanitarian fronts.

The UK is particularly concerned about the challenging human rights situation. I

spoke to the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister on 8 June and expressed my deep

concern regarding recent reports of the abduction and torture of Cecilia Chimbiri,

Netsai Marowa, and Joana Mamombe. I urged the Foreign Minister to ensure the

Government of Zimbabwe makes concrete progress on human rights, including

investigations into violations.

It is vital that the Zimbabwean authorities adhere to their international human rights

obligations and respect their Constitution, which prohibits enforced disappearances

and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. This was reiterated in a joint local

statement issued on 20 May by the UK alongside other partners, including

Ambassadors from the European Union, France, Germany and the United States of

America. The UK will continue to monitor developments in Zimbabwe closely and call

for the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Baby Care Units: Coronavirus

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [64109]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has

to expand rapid testing for covid-19 in hospitals to the parents of newborn babies in

neonatal units.



Vicky Foxcroft: [64381]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has

taken to ensure that parents with babies on neonatal units have urgent access to covid-

19 testing.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, services have been working hard to support parents

to care for their babies as much as possible while still ensuring that services are safe.

Testing is a key part of the United Kingdom’s response to COVID-19, and, following

the publication of the Government’s Testing Strategy we have rapidly expanded our

capacity.

We are now providing testing to anyone with symptoms (England and Northern

Ireland; over fives in Wales and Scotland) Current clinical advice is that

asymptomatic testing can be conducted where clinically appropriate, for outbreak

investigation and infection control. These decisions are made by local decision

makers based on patient and procedural risk.

Blood: Contamination


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent comparative

assessment he has made of the equity of the level of financial support provided to people

affected by the contaminated blood scandal in Wales and England.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Since 1988, successive Governments have voluntarily provided ex-gratia financial

and non-financial support for people affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through

historic treatment with National Health Service-supplied blood or blood products in

the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2017, country specific support schemes were set up in England, Scotland, Wales

and Northern Ireland. These four schemes are devolved, and each nation has made

different choices around their offers of support over time.

We are aware that there are disparities between the schemes, and we are working

with our partners in the devolved nations and other relevant Government

departments to improve parity of support for all beneficiaries across the United

Kingdom.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Mr Clive Betts: [46544]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his

announcement on 28 April 2020 that residents and staff of care homes would be tested

for covid-19, how many tests on those (a) residents and (b) staff have been undertaken;

and what proportion of those (a) residents and (b) staff have been tested since that date.




Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 18 May 2020]: We are rapidly increasing our capability to deliver

and successfully process test results all around the country. As at 7 June 2020, we

have successfully delivered over one million individual test kits to our care homes.

We will continue to upscale and meet the needs of all those in care settings.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Jonathan Ashworth: [60759]

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

with representatives from local authorities on proposals for (a) local and (b) regional

lockdown measures.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Ministers have met with local authorities multiple times, including Tom Riordan

attending a weekly Local Advisory Board chaired by the Chair of the Local

Government Association.

In the vast majority of cases, local public health teams are dealing very effectively

with outbreaks and containing them to settings like workplaces or care homes.

If local councils need additional powers to manage community flare ups, we will work

with them to review how best this can be achieved, but we expect the majority of

circumstances to be dealt with by public consent.

We will do all we can to avoid full lockdowns, but we can not rule them out.

Jonathan Ashworth: [60761]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to issue

guidance to local authorities on the (a) definition and (b) enforcement of a local lockdown.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Government wrote to all local authorities in May to ask them to produce Local

Outbreak Control Plans, and have allocated £300 million to develop and implement

these, including additional capacity.

We have been working with them to produce hints and tips for outbreak plans, which

has been shared. The Association of Directors of Public Health have also issued

Guiding Principles.

A further Framework for decision makers and Action Cards will be issued at the end

of the month, setting out measures that can be taken.

If local councils need additional powers to manage these, we will review if these can

be delivered, but we expect the majority of circumstances to be dealt with by public

consent.



Department of Health and Social Care: Early Day Motions

Patrick Grady: [62494]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a response to

EDM 521 on the UK law on disability-selective abortion.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 25 June 2020]: Abortion is a sensitive area, Where there are

strongly held moral and ethical views.

Parliament decided the circumstances under which abortion can legally be

undertaken. It would be for Parliament to decide whether to make any changes to the

law on abortion. As with other matters of conscience, abortion is an issue on which

the Government adopts a neutral stance and allows Members to vote according to

their moral, ethical or religious beliefs.

Health Services: Prisoners

Ms Lyn Brown: [63272]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment

of the implications for his policies of the paper entitled Secondary care clinicians and staff

have a key role in delivering equivalence of care for prisoners: A qualitative study of

prisoners’ experiences, published in The Lancet: EClinicalMedicine on 23 June 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Offenders should have access to the same range and quality of healthcare services

as people in the community.

Responsibility for the provision of health services in prisons sits with NHS England

and NHS Improvement, which will no doubt want to take the findings of this report

and any possible implications for the delivery of prison health services into account.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [55102]

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

Department has made of whether the number of (a) detentions under the Mental Health

Act, (b) referrals to NHS community mental health teams and (c) presentations at A&E

with a primary recorded psychiatric diagnosis has been affected by the covid-19

pandemic.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Detentions under the Mental Health Act are measured through the Mental Health

Services Data Set (MHSDS) published by NHS Digital. NHS England and NHS

Improvement are working with NHS Digital and the other arm’s-length bodies to get

early access to MHSDS data where possible, to be able to explore trends in activity.

In relation to referrals to National Health Service community mental health teams

NHS England are aware that, through analysis of early access to MHSDS data, as




well as via feedback from regional teams and providers, there has been a reduction

in referrals since the start of the pandemic. To address this issue, NHS England and

NHS Improvement have been emphasising that mental health services have

remained open during the pandemic, providing a combination of care via digital

channels and face to face where needed, and are working to ensure that referral

routes, via primary care in particular, are clear.

With regard to accident and emergency attendances for people with mental health

needs, NHS England and NHS Improvement are undertaking an analysis of a sample

of trusts’ submissions of Emergency Care Data Set data to explore trends.

NHS: Mental Health

Zarah Sultana: [59896]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has

to tackle the effect of NHS staffing shortages on the mental health of (a) student nurses

and (b) NHS staff.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 22 June 2020]: The Department continues to monitor overall staffing

levels across the National Health Service (NHS), and we are working across

Government to ensure there are sufficient staff to provide a high-quality service. We

have committed to deliver 50,000 more nurses in the National Health Service This will

help support the 1.4 million people who make up the NHS workforce and address the

longstanding NHS nursing shortages that were identified in the Interim NHS People

Plan. Over the last year the number of full-time equivalent nurses has gone from

282,422 to 294,553 – an increase of 12,131 nurses.

NHS England and NHS Improvement launched an emotional, psychological and

practical support package for all NHS staff on 8 April 2020, accessed via the following

link:

people.nhs.uk/help/

Pre-eclampsia: Diagnosis

Jim Shannon: [64190]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

diagnose earlier the symptoms of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Saving Babies’ Lives care bundle recommends the use of available algorithms to

identify women at risk for pre-eclampsia. National Institute for Health and Care

Excellence guidance, recommending treatment with aspirin from the first to the third

trimester of pregnancy for women at risk of pre-eclampsia and associated preterm

birth is in place.

In 2019, the Accelerated Access Collaborative (which brings together industry,

Government, regulators, patients and the National Health Service to accelerate the


https://people.nhs.uk/help/

https://people.nhs.uk/help/


introduction of ground-breaking new treatments and diagnostics) began supporting

implementation of a new Placental Growth Factor Blood test which can indicate

whether a woman has the disease and whether they will need delivery soon.

Pregnancy: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans

to introduce financial support to cover subsistence costs for parents with a baby receiving

neonatal care during the covid-19 outbreak.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on parents of babies born needing

neonatal care during the outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Government recognises that these are challenging times for everyone, but that it

is an especially stressful time for parents with babies in neonatal intensive care units.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, services have been working hard to support parents

to care for their babies as much as possible while still ensuring that services are safe.

The Department has no plans to introduce a bespoke fund to cover subsistence costs

for parents with a baby receiving neonatal care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Government is providing funding for the charity Bliss to support families with

babies that require neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the

Government’s United Kingdom-wide £750 million package of support for the voluntary

sector announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in April 2020.

Prisoners: Death

Grahame Morris: [57178]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 8 June

2020 to Question 53405 on Prisoners: Death, in what format his Department holds the

information requested.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 15 June 2020]: Public Health England reports that it does not collect

data on the number or proportion of people who served prison sentences and have

died of a drug overdose or suicide.

Information on deaths of offenders during post-release supervision in the community

after a custodial sentence, by gender and apparent cause in England and Wales is

available in the annual publication, ‘Deaths of offenders in the community’, which can

be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/deaths-of-offenders-in-the-community-annual-

update-to-march-2019




http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/deaths-of-offenders-in-the-community-annual-update-to-march-2019



Social Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: [59196]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the finding

published on 4 June 2020 by the Local Government Association and the Association of

Directors of Adult Social Service that providers of adult social care services may face

more than £6.6 billion in extra costs as a result of the covid-19 outbreak by the end of

September 2020, what assessment he has made of the implications of that finding for his

policies on adult social care; and whether he has plans to mitigate those costs to those

providers.

Helen Whately:

We recognise that COVID-19 is imposing significant pressures on the social care

sector. We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities so they can

address pressures on local services caused by the pandemic, including in adult social

care.

On 15 May we published details of an additional £600 million Infection Control Fund

for Adult Social Care. This funding is to support adult social care providers in England

reduce the rate of transmission in and between care homes and to support workforce

resilience.

Social Services: Hygiene


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will extend the scope of

the Adult Social Care infection control fund grant to cleaning materials.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: On 15 May we published details of an additional

£600 million Infection Control Fund for Adult Social Care. This funding is to support

adult social care providers in England reduce the rate of transmission in and between

care homes and to support workforce resilience. Twenty-five percent of it may be

used to support domiciliary care providers and support wider workforce resilience to

deal with COVID-19 infections.

HOME OFFICE

Animal Experiments: Inspections

Kerry McCarthy: [64102]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11

May 2020 to Question 41398 on Animal Experiments: Inspections, whether (a) planned

and (b) unannounced on-site inspection visits by the ASRU Inspectorate have resumed

following the updated guidance on social distancing.

Kit Malthouse:

No, the on-site activities of the inspection programme have not fully resumed.




Inspection activities to assess compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures)

Act are being continued remotely, for example by telephone and email. Requirements

for planned on-site inspection visits to assess compliance are considered on a case-

by-case basis and will be planned in accordance with the updated guidance.

On-site inspection visits will be resumed in due course in accordance with the

updated guidance.

Asylum: Coronavirus

David Linden: [28773]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had

with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that refugees and asylum seekers have access to

information on the covid-19 outbreak in languages other than English.

Chris Philp:

The Home Office are engaging with the wider Voluntary and Community sector via

the British Red Cross to ensure that the refugees and migrants they are supporting

are aware of the Government advice and are clear about the importance of adhering

to it.

All asylum accommodation providers continue to provide translated public health

guidance, available in 12 languages, and instructions to service users.  Where

appropriate, service users are supported to ensure that they can self-isolate

effectively.

Public Health England is also coordinating engagement through its local centres,

linking into local authorities and their Directors of Public Health.  They have also

translated advice on social distancing and self-isolation into multiple languages, in

addition to material provided by Doctors of the World, which is based on the

Government’s advice. This advice can be found within the Migrant Health Guide at

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide#main-messages.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to

ensure that asylum seekers are tested for covid-19 before being placed in dispersal

accommodation.

Chris Philp:

There is no routine testing for asylum seekers prior to them being dispersed, but in

line with government guidelines anybody with symptoms in England can now be

tested. Asylum seekers who test positive or have symptoms will be accommodated in

hotel or self contained accommodation while they are isolating.

Asylum: Finance

Alex Sobel: [7663]


monitor the time taken to issue ASPEN cards to people on asylum support; and what


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide#main-messages

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide#main-messages



steps she is taking to ensure that back payments are paid in cases where there has been

a delay in issuing that card.

Alex Sobel: [7664]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to

ensure that people in receipt of asylum support are able to access payments via their

ASPEN card when moved to dispersal accommodation.

Chris Philp:

A dedicated ASPEN team is in place and manages, via the AIRE Service Provider, all

enquiries relating to ASPEN Cards which includes a contact email inbox.

The HO does not routinely collect data on the time taken to issue ASPEN cards but

we are continuing to work with all accommodation providers to ensure that applicants

are able to access financial support upon dispersal. There is an Emergency Support

Payment (ECP) provision available from Providers to ensure that Service Users are

supported until receipt of their ASPEN Card.

For service users awaiting payment of backdated support, there is a priority

workstream in place which is subject to robust scrutiny to ensure correct levels of

backdated support are provided.

Asylum: Housing

Thangam Debbonaire: [64947]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's

policy to serve eviction notices to people who have been granted refugee status to leave

their asylum accommodation before the ban on evictions ends due to the covid-19

outbreak; and what discussions she had had with the Secretary of State for Housing,

Communities and Local Government on accommodation needed for people facing

eviction in order to prevent them from becoming homeless.

Chris Philp:

Asylum seekers who are granted refugee status are normally given notice that they

must leave any accommodation that has been provided to them by the Home Office

within 28 days, as they may now take employment and have access to mainstream

benefits and housing assistance from their local authority. Whilst this process was

paused on 27 March for a period of three months, we are currently reviewing plans

about appropriate timing to resume issuing notices in individual cases in a carefully

phased and measured way and have been having discussions with the Ministry of

Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local Authorities and others on the

arrangements.

The timing of those decisions is not affected by the current restrictions on evicting

tenants from private rental properties. Those arrangements do not apply to those in

asylum support accommodation. This is confirmed in paragraph 2.2 of the

Government’s guidance to landlords and tenants, which can be found at: MHCLG

guidance



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

ment_data/file/888843/Updated_Landlord_and_Tenant_Guidance.pdf)

Chile: Human Rights


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has

made of the ability of Chilean state agents under investigation for torture or ill-treatment

to enter the UK.

Chris Philp:

All passengers arriving in the UK at passport control are checked against police,

security and immigration watch lists on arrival at the border. The majority of these are

checked against our systems before they even travel, through the collection of

advanced passenger information (API). API helps protect the UK against terrorist

attacks, serious cross-border crime and abuses of the immigration system.

We are doing everything in our power to prevent foreign criminals entering our

country, Border Force officers can and do to refuse entry when they are known to the

UK authorities.

EU Nationals: Immigration


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-EU citizens with

pre-settled status have been detained by border police and subsequently released.

Chris Philp:

Border Force does not hold the data requested in an accessible format.

All arrivals at the UK Border are considered on their individual merits and on the

basis of the evidence available, in line with the UK’s immigration rules.

Frontier Workers: EU Nationals

Stuart C McDonald: [8337]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the powers

granted under section 8 (2) of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020,

when a scheme for the issuance of Frontier Worker’s documents under Article 26 of the

Withdrawal Agreement will be implemented.

Kevin Foster:

Regulations will be made under section 8(2) of the European Union (Withdrawal

Agreement) Act 2020 protecting the rights of EEA and Swiss citizens who are frontier

working into the UK by 31 December 2020 and establishing a scheme to enable them

to apply for a frontier worker document to prove their right to enter the UK for work

after that date.

The scheme will be implemented as soon as possible, and further information will be

set out in due course.




High Rise Flats: Fires

Mr Stephen Morgan: [18899]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) research, (b) planning

and (c) development of procedures had been undertaken by her Department on mass

evacuations of tower blocks before the Grenfell Tower fire.

James Brokenshire:

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must

undertake and review regularly a fire risk assessment of the non-domestic premises

within tower blocks and put in place and maintain adequate and appropriate fire

precautions to mitigate the risk to life from fire. This includes ensuring adequate

means of escape for building users. The Local Government Association (LGA)

produced guidance on fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats to support

responsible persons to deliver an appropriate level of fire safety.

Operational guidance, including guidance on managing incidents and undertaking

mass evacuations in the event of a fire, is a matter for the sector.

Home Office: Apprentices

Mike Kane: [9044]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of staff

employed by her Department are apprentices.

James Brokenshire:

The number of staff currently employed in the Home Office as apprentices is 343,

which is 0.99% of headcount (this does not include individuals in the pipeline,

undergoing security checks). Further information is provided in the attached table.

Attachments:

1. PQ Table [PQ 9044.pdf]

Home Office: International Men's Day

Philip Davies: [18562]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department took

to mark International Men's Day on 19 November 2019.

James Brokenshire:

The Home Office recognised International Men’s Day on 19 November 2019 with a

news item on our internal intranet site. The story explained the significance of the

event and that the day shone a positive light on male role models, fatherhood and

men’s issues.

It also highlighted the importance of good mental health for men. The story included

an audio interview with a member of staff who discussed his experience of adoption

and fatherhood. All staff had an opportunity to engage in these communications.




Home Office: Off-payroll Working

Justin Madders: [29240]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many contractors working

for her Department have had their employment status assessed in relation to the new

IR35 rules on off-payroll working; and how many of those staff are subject to those rules.

James Brokenshire:

Following the announcement by HMRC on Wednesday 18th March 2020 of the delay

to the reform of the IR35 legislation from 6th April 2020 to the 6th April 2021 the

Home Department has ceased immediate preparations for compliance with the

revised legislation. We are continuing to assess all contingent labour contractors in

accordance with the current April 2017 legislation relating to the Public Sector.

Home Office: Racial Discrimination

Alex Sobel: [18975]


ensure her Department does not contain institutional racism.

James Brokenshire:

The Home Office Diversity and Inclusion Strategy-2018-to-2025 sets out our

ambitions to create an inclusive culture in the Department and one where racism is

simply not tolerated.

Immigrants: Biometrics

Stella Creasy: [63333]


June 2020 to Question 61486 on UK Border Force: Coronavirus, whether the policy to

begin fingerprinting migrants trying to enter the UK irregularly at its French border has

been implemented.

Chris Philp:

Border Force re-started collecting fingerprints of illegal migrants detected at

juxtaposed controls on the 15th of May 2020.

Immigrants: Health Services

Dan Jarvis: [33550]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will suspend

the Immigration Health Surcharge for critical workers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster:

We are grateful for the vital contributions critical workers are providing to essential

public services, including healthcare workers, teachers and care professionals, who

are at the forefront of the national effort to tackle coronavirus.





On 21 May, the Prime Minister announced NHS and health and care staff would be

exempted from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Officials in the Home Office and

the Department of Health and Social Care are working through how to implement this

change.

NHS, health and care workers who have paid the Surcharge since the announcement

will be refunded. Arrangements are being worked out and more details will be

announced in due course.

More generally it is fair to expect people arriving in the UK to work in non-healthcare

roles to make a contribution to the NHS services to which they gain immediate

access. The Immigration Health Surcharge is paid as part of the visa application

process and income generated helps support NHS services across the whole of the

UK.

Paul Girvan: [4468]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has

made of the potential merits of excluding NHS workers from the Immigration Health

Surcharge.

Kevin Foster:

On 21 May, the Prime Minister announced that NHS and health and care staff would

be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Officials in the Home Office and

the Department of Health and Social Care are working through how to implement this

change.

NHS, health and care workers who have paid the Surcharge since the announcement

will be refunded. Arrangements are currently being worked out and more details will

be announced in due course.

Bambos Charalambous: [9119]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) EU citizens resident

in the UK and (b) UK residents in the EU will be required to pay an immigration health

surcharge after the UK leaves the EU.

Kevin Foster:

EEA and Swiss citizens who are resident in the UK before the end of the transition

period on 31 December 2020 will be eligible to apply to secure their status under the

EU Settlement Scheme and will have until 30 June 2021 to make their application.

Applications under the EU Settlement Scheme are not subject to the Immigration

Health Surcharge. This was agreed as part of negotiations on the Withdrawal

Agreement with the EU, which also protects the rights of UK nationals in the EU.

After the introduction of the new points-based immigration system, migrants to the UK

subject to immigration control will be treated the same and should pay the IHS if

staying for longer than six months. There are several published exemptions to this

rule.



Immigration

Jim Shannon: [33520]


reduce decision-making timeframes for (a) visa and (b) asylum applicants; and if she will

make it her policy to grant Discretionary Leave to Remain to any applicant waiting more

than a year for a decision on their application.

Chris Philp:

The Home Office is committed to ensuring that all applications are considered without

unnecessary delay.

Information on our immigration routes with service standards and whether they have

been processed against these standards is available as part of our transparency

data, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-

visas-and-immigration

If an application is deemed complex and expected to take longer than the standard

processing timescale, UKVI will write to the customer within the standard processing

time and explain what will happen next.

The published information on processing times for complex/ non straightforward visa

applications is published as part of the Migration Transparency data, available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data

All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits on the evidence

available to the decision maker. We are committed to ensuring that asylum claims are

considered without unnecessary delay, so that those who need protection are

granted as soon as possible.

Discretionary Leave (DL) is granted outside the Immigration Rules in accordance with

published Home Office policy. DL covers those few individuals who do not qualify for

any leave under the Rules, but where there are exceptional or compassionate

reasons for allowing them to remain in the UK; as such, it is intended to be used

sparingly and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Delays in decision

making occur for a number of reasons, some of which are outside of the Home

Office’s control, and it would generally not be appropriate to grant DL under these

circumstances.

Immigration Controls

Andrew Percy: [20437]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the definition of a STEM

course is in relation to the proposed immigration rules.

Kevin Foster:

PHD qualifications relevant to the occupation will be a tradeable characteristic with

additional points awarded for a PHD in a STEM subject. This will cover PhD

qualifications in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration






Further guidance for applicants and employers will be provided before the

introduction of the new system.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy

statement, the UK's points-based immigration system, published on 19 February 2020,

when initiatives for NHS workers will be brought forward; and whether that pathway will

include routes for health and social care professionals.

Kevin Foster:

The Government is committed to introducing a Health and Care visa which will

provide eligible doctors, nurses and other allied health and social care professionals,

and their families, with fast-track entry, reduced visa fees and dedicated resource. In

addition, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 May, all NHS workers and wider

health and social care workers, including those coming on the NHS Visa, will be

exempted from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Further details, including eligibility, will be published in due course.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her 19

February 2020 policy statement entitled The UK's points-based immigration system,

whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of the (a) exclusion of an

immigration route for low-skilled work and (b) general salary threshold of £25,600 on the

adequacy of the number of staff in the health and social care sector.

Kevin Foster:

We will not be introducing an immigration route for those who do not meet the skills

and salary threshold for the skilled worker route and to allow employers to recruit at

or near the legal minimum wage across the globe.

Following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) the Government has

reduced both the general salary and skills thresholds for those who wish to come to

the UK to work. There will also be an element of “tradeable” points which will mean

that those who do not meet the general salary threshold may still be able to enter the

UK if, for example, they have a job in a shortage occupation.

Additionally, we will be introducing a new fast-track Health and Care visa. This will

make it easier and quicker for the best global health professionals to work in the

NHS, for NHS commissioned service providers, and in eligible occupations in the

social care sector.

The MAC has been clear immigration is not the sole answer to the challenges in the

social care sector. As we implement the new immigration system, we want employers

to focus on investing in our domestic work force, including those who may need to

find new employment due to the impact of the present circumstances relating to

Covid-19.



The Government is working closely with the sector to go further to recognise the

contributions of social care workers. We will keep labour market data under very

careful scrutiny to monitor any pressures in key sectors, especially considering recent

events.

Immigration Controls: Coronavirus

Nick Thomas-Symonds: [38967]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Border Force officials

have been directed to routinely question people arriving in the UK from abroad with

regard to symptoms of covid-19.

Chris Philp:

Border Force's remit does not extend to medical screening of passengers at ports. 

Medical assessments of arriving passengers is for Public Health Officials.

Travellers returning to the UK are not specifically tested for coronavirus.

Passengers arriving to the UK have to complete traveller locator forms and

quarantine for 14 days. Border Force undertake spot checks at the border to ensure

the forms have been completed.

Immigration Controls: EEA Nationals

Darren Jones: [5503]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to

phase out the use of EEA national identity cards as a valid form of identification at the UK

border.

Kevin Foster:

The documents that EEA and Swiss nationals need to travel to the UK will not

change until at least 2021.

We will announce further details of our plans to phase out the use of EEA national

identity cards in due course.

However, EU Settlement Scheme status holders and others who are protected by the

Withdrawal Agreement and equivalent agreements with the EFTA states will continue

to be able to use national identity cards for travel to the UK until at least December

2025, in accordance with the terms of those agreements. Thereafter, they will

continue to be able to travel here on their national identity card, provided it meets

International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Steve McCabe: [39473]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will extend the deadline for

applications for EU Settled Status during the covid-19 outbreak.




Kevin Foster:

There are no plans to extend the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement

Scheme. There is still a year to go until the deadline of 30 June 2021 and the latest

published statistics, to 31 May 2020, show the scheme is performing well, with more

than 3.6 million applications having been received and over 3.3 million concluded.

EEA citizens can apply online, free of charge, simply by completing three key steps:

proving their identity, showing they live in the UK and declaring any criminal

convictions. There is support available online, by email and telephone from our

assisted digital provider.

Where a person eligible for leave under the scheme has reasonable grounds for

missing the application deadline, they will be given a further opportunity to apply. Our

compassionate and flexible approach will ensure individuals who miss the deadline

through no fault of their own can still obtain lawful status in the UK. We will publish

clear guidance for caseworkers in due course to ensure consistency of approach.

Wendy Chamberlain: [65021]


ensure that EU nationals are aware of the requirement to have Comprehensive Sickness

Insurance prior to naturalisation.

Wendy Chamberlain: [65022]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the requirement

for EU nationals to have Comprehensive Sickness Insurance prior to naturalisation has

been (a) introduced and (b) introduced at this time.

Kevin Foster:

We have not changed the requirements for naturalisation: it has always been a

requirement for a person to have been in the UK lawfully during the residential

qualifying period.

EEA Regulations set out the requirements which individuals need to follow if they

wish to reside here lawfully before attaining permanent residence. For example, in

the case of students or the self-sufficient – but not those who were working here – the

possession of comprehensive sickness insurance has always been a requirement.

Our customer guidance explains this position.

The British Nationality Act allows us to exercise discretion over this requirement in

the special circumstances of a case. The nationality application form and guide

encourage applicants to give us relevant information to help us do that.



January 2020 to Question 3166, what proportion of applicants who have applied to the

EU Settlement Scheme without a valid identity document have received (a) settled status

and (b) pre-settled status and (c) another outcome.






January 2020 to Question 3166, what funding will be available after March 2020 to

support vulnerable EU citizens who are (a) homeless, (b) elderly and (c) young people in

care in applying for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Kevin Foster:

The latest published information shows that more than 3.6 million (3,612,400) EU

Settlement Scheme applications had been received up to 31 May 2020. In the same

period 3.3 million (3,319,000) applications had been concluded of which 57% were

granted settled status and 41% pre-settled status.

The latest figures can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme monthly

statistics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-

scheme-statistics

The Home Office remains committed to supporting vulnerable and hard to reach

groups after March 2020, through a wide range of support available online, over the

phone and in person to help people apply.

The Settlement Resolution Centre is in place to provide assistance to applicants with

any questions about the scheme or who need help applying. Additional support is

also available to those EU citizens in the UK who do not have the appropriate access,

skills or confidence to apply. This includes over 300 assisted digital locations across

the UK where people can be supported through their application. It is one of several

ways people can verify their identity, including by post. There are also over 80

locations where applicants can have their passport scanned and verified across the

UK. The Home Office also works closely with other Government departments,

including DfE, MHCLG, HMRC and DWP, as well as engaging with Local Authorities

and Devolved Administrations to support and promote the EUSS.

The Home Office recently committed a further £8 million of grant funding for FY

2020/21 to ensure important information and assistance continue to get through to

those hardest to reach, allowing charities, as well as local authorities to bid for

funding to provide support to vulnerable people, including young people across the

UK.

Licensed Premises: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will amend the Temporary

Events Notice regulations to permit pubs to utilise outdoor spaces beyond the current

maximum of 21 days in a calendar year to facilitate the safe re-opening of licensed

premises.

Kit Malthouse:

The Government has no plans to change the regulations concerning temporary

events. However, provisions in the Business and Planning Bill will grant a permission


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics




to make sales for consumption off the premises to many businesses that are currently

only licensed for the consumption of alcohol on the premises. Other provisions will

suspend licence conditions that overly restrict the hours of off-sales, ban off-sales in

open containers and ban deliveries of alcohol. Alongside other provisions on

pavement licensing, these measures will make it easier for licensed premises to

expand into outdoor spaces.

Migrant Workers: Conditions of Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made

of the potential effect of the closure of immigration routes to lower paid work on levels of

labour market abuse and exploitation.



ensure that migrant workers can report labour market abuse to the police and other

labour enforcement agencies without their details being passed to immigration

enforcement.

Kevin Foster:

The Government has been clear free movement is ending and a new immigration

system will be introduced from January 2021.

The Government is committed to eradicating exploitation across all sectors of the

labour market and migrant workers are no exception.

The focus of the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) is on protecting

vulnerable and exploited workers, who can raise concerns in confidence with the

GLAA through their telephone line.

Migrant Workers: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she will take to

ensure the Government's proposed immigration policy for EU migration after the

transition period does not adversely affect the care sector.

Kevin Foster:

The independent Migration Advisory Committee has been clear immigration is not the

solution to addressing staffing levels in the social care sector. Senior care workers

who meet the criteria will be able to come to the UK through the points-based system.

We are working alongside employers to ensure the workforce has the right number of

people to meet increasing demands and have recently launched a national

recruitment campaign.

We are also providing councils with access to an additional £1.5 billion for adults and

children’s social care in 2020-21.




Migrant Workers: NHS

Matt Western: [28676]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to remove

immigration restrictions on non-resident health and care workers to fill NHS vacancies;

and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster:

The Government is committed to introducing a Health and Care visa which will

provide eligible doctors, nurses and other allied health and social care professionals,

and their families, with fast-track entry, reduced visa fees and dedicated resource.

In addition, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 May, all NHS workers and

wider health and social care workers, including those coming on the NHS Visa, will

be exempted from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Further details, including eligibility, will be published in due course.

Migrant Workers: Pay

Afzal Khan: [6765]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy to

remove the £30,000 minimum salary threshold for immigrants wishing to work in the UK

after the UK leaves the EU.

Kevin Foster:

The Government has published details relating to the UK’s Points-Based Immigration

System. Sponsoring employers must pay their workers at least the general salary

threshold of £25,600, or the going rate for their particular occupation, whichever is

higher. This includes a general salary threshold of £25,600. However, the tradeable

points mean a person can earn a lower salary if they are a new entrant to the labour

market, working in a job on the Shortage Occupation List or they have a relevant

PHD. There is a minimum salary threshold of £20,480.

As recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee for some public sector jobs,

the salary will be in line with the occupation’s national pay scale.

Nitrous Oxide: Antisocial Behaviour



tackle the antisocial use of nitrous oxide.

Kit Malthouse:

Nitrous oxide is a psychoactive substance and subject to the provisions in the

Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (the 2016 Act). It is an offence under the 2016

Act to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import and

export a psychoactive substance, subject to certain exemptions. It is also an offence




to possess a psychoactive substance in a custodial institution, subject to certain

exemptions.

The government is committed to tackling illicit drug use and protecting our

communities from antisocial behaviour. The Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing

Act 2014 introduced powers, such as Public Space Protection Orders, which the

police and local councils can use to prevent people from taking intoxicating

substances, including psychoactive substances such as nitrous oxide, in specified

areas.

Passports


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when blue passports will be

available to UK citizens who are renewing their passports.

Kevin Foster:

Since March 2020, blue and burgundy passports have been issued concurrently as

part of the usual phased approach that ensures a smooth and safe approach to a

new passport design. This transition continues, and currently passport applicants are

unable to select the colour of the passport that they will receive. However, the vast

majority of British passports being issued now are blue.

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Claudia Webbe: [23485]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many mosques have

applied unsuccessfully for funding from the Place of Worship Security Fund.



received funding from the Place of Worship Security Fund since its establishment.



unsuccessfully applied for funding from the Place of Worship Security Fund since its

establishment.

James Brokenshire:

431 applications have been made to the Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

since it began in 2016. In total, 109 applications were from Muslim communities. Of

these, 49 applications were successful whilst 60 applications were unsuccessful.





Public Health: Finance


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had

with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of no recourse to public funds rules on the public

health response to covid-19; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster:

The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support

people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We

are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation.

Testing and treatment for Covid-19 is free of charge to all regardless of immigration

status and NHS Trusts have been advised no immigration checks are required for

these patients. This message has been widely communicated to the public through

various means including in PHE’s migrant health guide (

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide )

£3.2 billion will be provided to local authorities in England with additional funding for

the devolved administrations under the Barnett formula as part of the wider

government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Refugees: Children


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has

to ensure the continuation of family reunions and the safe passage of child refugees.

Chris Philp:

The Government remains committed to the principle of family reunion, as well as to

supporting vulnerable children.

The UK will continue to be bound by the Dublin Regulation provisions during the

transition period, allowing us to continue to transfer family reunion cases to the UK

throughout 2020, and we will continue to process all family reunion requests that

have been submitted but not completed under Dublin before the end of the transition

period.

The UK has presented a genuine and sincere offer to the EU on a future reciprocal

arrangement for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

together with a draft legal text.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through

its refugee family reunion policy. This route will not be affected when we leave the

EU. In the year ending March 2020, over 7,400 Refugee Family Reunion visas were

issued to partners and children of those previously granted asylum or humanitarian

protection in the UK.

Additionally, Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members

wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide


member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight

family of a person granted protection in the UK.

Refugees: France

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: [27052]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money from the

public purse has been allocated to the French Government for refugee control.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government

allocates funding to support the permanent presence of Compagnies Republicaines de

Securite in Calais.

Chris Philp:

The UK made a financial contribution in 2018 to France to deliver on our obligations

under Articles 2-4 of the UK-France Sandhurst Treaty. These articles outline our

commitment to (i) continued implementation of the Dublin process (ii) facilitating the

transfer of unaccompanied minors under national relocation schemes, and (iii)

improving access to French domestic asylum procedures.

£3.6 million was specifically allocated to funding the development of the Dublin and

Dubs process to support transfers of eligible children to the UK, including training for

those working with unaccompanied children, family tracing and targeted information

campaigns. We continue to work with France to transfer eligible children under

section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the Dublin regulation and transfers are

ongoing.

The UK Government does not fund the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité,

whose deployment and operations are the responsibility of the French Government.

Social Security Benefits: Immigrants

Sam Tarry: [30202]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many workers have no

recourse to public funds; and what steps the Government will take to support those

workers financially during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster:

The Government is keeping the situation under constant review. For example,

COVID19 has been added to the list of communicable diseases so anyone

experiencing symptoms, regardless of their immigration status will be treated for free

by the NHS.

The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition is applied to the leave of most

migrants in the UK as a legitimate means of maintaining and protecting our economic

resources. Information about NRPF is held on individual case files so wider

population data, such as that requested for all households nationally, is not held by

the Home Office.




UK Border Force: Aegean Sea


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has

taken to ensure that the UK Border Force assets in the Aegean Sea are operating

according to international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

Chris Philp:

Border Force Maritime Command resources have been deployed to the Aegean

since 2015 to support search and rescue efforts where migrant vessels encounter

difficulties. Since operations started, they have been involved in the rescue of over

16,000 migrants. Crew receive training in all aspects of their work, which includes

human rights, asylum and modern slavery and human trafficking. This ensures that

they comply with the law and helps them identify those who are vulnerable.

Visas: Asia

Gareth Thomas: [21875]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend the

two-year multiple entry visa to (a) Chinese and (b) Indian nationals; and if she will make a

statement.

Kevin Foster:

UK standard visit visas are available with six month, two year, five year and ten year

validity for citizens of all countries including Chinese and Indian nationals. Most visit

visas are issued as multi entry as standard.

An application for a visit visa may be made anywhere in the world outside the UK.

Full details are available at https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa

Visas: Philippines

Paul Maynard: [61704]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when UK visa processing in the

Philippines will resume; and whether priority will be given to people with offers of

employment in the NHS.

Kevin Foster:

Visa processing cannot resume until Visa Applications Centres reopen. The decision

to reopen these is taken in conjunction with our commercial partners and is subject to

the easing of restrictions in locations by host Governments and our ability to provide

an effective service in that location. As centres reopen details of these will be

published on our commercial partner websites.

We continue to work with the NHS to identify and assist essential workers. NHS staff

can contact the UKVI NHS Team by emailing [email protected]

and the team will seek to assist them.



https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa

https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa


HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Regulations: Parking

Paul Maynard: [62375]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what

provisions he plans to include in multi-storey car park building regulations to deter

suicides.

Christopher Pincher:

The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new-build structures rather than existing

structures. Thus the impact on suicide prevention of changes to the Building

Regulations requirements to guarding in car parks would be limited. Following the

publication of the government's 2012 suicide prevention strategy, local councils were

given the responsibility of developing local suicide action plans through their work

with health and wellbeing boards. A deadline of 2017 was set and by the end of 2016,

95 per cent of areas had plans in place or were in the process of drawing them up.

Advice on suicide prevention in public spaces is given in Public Health England's

2015 publication Preventing suicides in public places - A practice resource. This

guidance provides a targeted approach and proposes a range of measures, of which

physical barriers are a part. Requirement K2 of Schedule 1 to the Building

Regulations 2010 provides requirements for guarding to be provided in new buildings,

including car parking buildings. In relation to the design of guarding, statutory

guidance in Approved Document K sets a minimum guarding height of 1100mm to

changes of level other than at staircases (where the minimum height is 900mm).

Changes in level of less than 380mm do not require guarding. These are minimum

heights only. The government is not planning to increase the statutory guidance on

minimum heights of barriers in car parking buildings as a suicide prevention measure.

Coronavirus: Staffordshire



fiscal steps he is taking to support (a) Stoke-on-Trent, (b) Newcastle-under-Lyme

Borough Council and (c) Staffordshire County Council during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke:

We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-

ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the

COVID-19 pandemic.  Of this Stoke-on-Trent has received £16.06 million, Newcastle-

under-Lyme Borough Council has received £1.36 million and Staffordshire County

Council has received £37.76 million in additional funding across the two tranches.

In total, the Government has committed over £27 billion to local areas to support

councils and their communities. This also includes: £300 million to support the new

test and trace service, £600 million to support providers through a new Infection



Control Fund and £12.3 billion of support through the Small Business Grants Fund

and the Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grants.

Alongside this funding, the Government has provided over £5 billion of cashflow

support including the deferral of local authority payments of the Central Share of

retained business rates, valued at £2.6 billion, as well as up-front payments of £1.8

billion of business rates reliefs and £850 million of social care grant.

Furthermore, as I set out to the House on Monday 15 June, we are working closely

with colleagues across government on a comprehensive plan to ensure councils’

financial sustainability over the financial year ahead. Ministers will continue to keep

the House informed as these plans develop.

Evictions: Coronavirus



discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to prevent evictions in the long term for

those who have lost income as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.


The Government has introduced an unprecedented financial support package to help

renters continue to pay their living costs, including rent, by supporting businesses to

pay staff salaries, strengthening the welfare safety-net with a £7 billion boost to

Universal Credit, and increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates so that they are

set at the 30th percentile of market rents in each area.

Emergency measures are also in place to ensure that tenants do not have to be

concerned about being evicted at this time. All possession procedures in the courts

are currently suspended until after 23rd August 2020 and the Coronavirus Act 2020

requires landlords to provide three months notice of their intention to seek

possession.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with

the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary on arrangements, including new rules, to

ensure that when the moratorium on evictions ends, the courts are better able to

address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding

from coronavirus. This judicial-led work is to ensure that judges will have all the

information necessary to make just decisions in the current framework and that the

most vulnerable tenants will get the help they need.

The Department regularly engages with other Government departments, including the

Ministry of Justice, the Department for Work and Pensions, and HM Treasury,

regarding private renters.


Help to Buy Scheme: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if will he

extend the Help to Buy scheme to support (a) housebuilders and (b) first time buyers with

approved mortgages in relation to new build handover dates that have been delayed

beyond that scheme's cut off date as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.


The Government recognises the disruption COVID-19 has caused to housebuilding;

that is why we took decisive steps to re-open the housing market and ensure

housebuilding could safely recommence. The Government published a “Plan to

Rebuild” on Monday 11 May, setting out the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery

strategy. This makes clear that construction work can be undertaken across England

providing sites are able to operate safely in line with the new COVID-19 secure

guidelines.

As announced at Budget 2018, there is a new two year Help to Buy scheme

commencing from 1 April 2021, specifically for first time buyers and so supporting

people onto the housing ladder. Where new build properties are not completed within

the current Help to Buy scheme deadlines, they may be eligible for sale through the

new scheme. More information on the new Help to Buy scheme can be found at

https://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/equity-loan/eligibility/.

Homelessness: Coronavirus

Tim Farron: [62361]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether

his Department plans to publish further guidance to local authorities on how they should

be accommodating (a) rough sleepers and (b) homeless people and families as part of

the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Luke Hall:

MHCLG and our team of Expert Advisers are working closely with local authorities to

inform and co-produce their ‘next steps’ plans, identifying local solutions for those

individuals currently in hotels and other emergency accommodation. We have

recently announced new funding, set out below, to help to resource these ‘next steps’

efforts and we will shortly be publishing detailed guidance to support local authorities

to develop and bring forward proposals to the fund.

On 24 June, we announced that we are providing local authorities with a further £105

million to enable them to best support the c15,000 people placed into emergency

accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This commitment will help to ensure

that as few of these people as possible return to the streets, by helping to secure

tenancies, as well as provide short-term housing while plans for long-term homes

continue at pace for those accommodated throughout the pandemic. The funding will

cover a range of interventions, from moves into the private rented sector,


https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.helptobuy.gov.uk%2Fequity-loan%2Feligibility%2F&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C24231ec4aa504da8f5e308d81d03dbae%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637291249686212908&sdata=FRVvTQLPVqrrAat56wfAp0U1nOZfmTPjpi6ZGqcS5FQ%3D&reserved=0

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.helptobuy.gov.uk%2Fequity-loan%2Feligibility%2F&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C24231ec4aa504da8f5e308d81d03dbae%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637291249686212908&sdata=FRVvTQLPVqrrAat56wfAp0U1nOZfmTPjpi6ZGqcS5FQ%3D&reserved=0


to extending or procuring interim accommodation, such as hotels or student

accommodation, and supporting individuals to reconnect with friends or family.

This funding is on top of the £433m that we announced on 24 May to provide

thousands of additional long-term homes for vulnerable rough sleepers. Homes

England, in partnership with MHCLG, have pledged to work hand in hand with

leading Housing Associations and local authorities to deliver this. Further detailed

information on the process to allocate this funding is being co-produced with partners

and will be published in due course.

There are no current plans to change the statutory homelessness duties, beyond the

extension of automatic priority need to domestic abuse victims, which the Secretary

of State announced on 2 May. Local authorities’ duties include those under the

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 to seek to prevent and relieve homelessness for

all eligible households, as well as responsibilities under Part 7 of the Housing Act

1996 to provide suitable accommodation for homeless households that are eligible,

have a priority need for accommodation and are not homeless intentionally.

Housing: Management

Tom Tugendhat: [62504]


plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to cap Management Companies

raising fees on new developments without the explicit consent of residents on the

development.

Luke Hall:

The Government believes very strongly that fees, such as service charges, should be

transparent and communicated effectively, and that there should be a clear route to

challenge or redress if things go wrong.

The law is clear that service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to

work or services, these must be of a reasonable standard. Leaseholders may make

an application to the First-tier Tribunal to make a determination on the

reasonableness of their service charges.

The Government believes Permission fees and administration charges should only be

used where necessary and should only cover any reasonable costs incurred.

The Government established an independent working group chaired by Lord Best to

raise standards across the property sector, which also considered how fees such as

service charges should be presented to consumers and the circumstances under

which permission fees and administration charges could be justified, and whether

they should be capped or banned. The working group has published its final report to

Government and suggested that Government should consider introducing a

prescribed list of acceptable fees. We are considering the report’s recommendations

carefully and will announce next steps in due course.


Immigrants: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with

reference to his Department's press release, £105 million to keep rough sleepers safe

and off the streets during coronavirus pandemic, published on 24 June 2020, whether

that additional funding can be used to support people with no recourse to public funds.

Luke Hall:

At the beginning of the crisis, our priority was to urgently bring vulnerable people

inside so they could self-isolate and stop the virus spreading. We backed this with

£3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities to support vulnerable rough

sleepers, and a further £3.2 billion to help councils to manage the impacts of COVID-

19, including supporting homeless people. The £3.2 billion funding is not ringfenced

and can be used across any local services facing pressures, including rough

sleeping.

On 24 June we announced that we are providing local authorities with a further £105

million to enable them to best support the c15,000 people placed into emergency

accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is on top of the £433

million which we announced on 24 May to provide thousands of additional long-

term homes for vulnerable rough sleepers. This commitment will help to ensure that

as few of these people as possible return to the streets. The funding will cover a

range of interventions, from moves into the private rented sector, to extending or

procuring interim accommodation such as hotels or student accommodation and

supporting individuals to reconnect with friends or family. This could also include

provision for people eligible through the suspension of the derogation or support to

return home.

It is at the discretion of local authorities to decide who they can support, whether this

is British citizens or foreign nationals. The rules relating to eligibility, including those

for individuals with no resource to public funds, have not changed. Local authorities

must use their judgement in assessing what support they may lawfully give to each

person on an individual basis, considering that person’s specific circumstances and

support needs. Local authorities already regularly make such judgements on

accommodating individuals who might otherwise be ineligible, during extreme

weather for example, where there is a risk to life. The Government recognises that

these are unprecedented times and expects local authorities to support people who

are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting

within the law.

Local Government Finance



estimate he has made of the number of local authorities who have discussed Section 114

orders with a Minister in his Department in each of the last five years.



Mr Simon Clarke:

In the past five years, two section 114 notices have been issued, both by

Northamptonshire County Council in 2018. This is a measure that councils can use,

under the Local Government Finance Act, to impose immediate spending controls on

the authority. The notices were issued at the same time as Ministers and officials

from MHCLG were involved in a range of discussions with Northamptonshire County

Council in relation to the intervention made by the Secretary of State in 2018 using

powers in the Local Government Act 1999.

The Department recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils

are facing as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis. We continue to engage regularly

with the local government sector, which includes our ongoing financial monitoring

survey and direct contact with councils and their representatives, local leaders and

Chief Executives.

Throughout the pandemic, the Department has encouraged any local authorities with

concerns about unmanageable financial pressures to approach MHCLG in the first

instance. We have worked closely with CIPFA who have temporarily amended their

guidance on the use of section 114 notices to further encourage local authorities to

make contact with the Department to advise of any immediate financial concerns.

The Department is working on a comprehensive plan to ensure councils’ financial

sustainability over the financial year ahead.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether

local authorities will receive grant funding for additional covid-19 related spending

required by central Government; and if he will issue guidance to local authorities that

normal democratic scrutiny including full council meetings must resume before (a)

consideration of emergency budgets and (b) the issue of statutory notices.

Mr Simon Clarke:

We have made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced

grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19

pandemic. In total, the Government has committed over £27 billion to local areas to

support councils and their communities. I am working closely with colleagues across

government on a comprehensive plan to ensure councils’ financial sustainability over

the financial year ahead and will continue to keep the House informed as these plans

develop.

The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local

Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations

2020 enable all local authority meetings to be held remotely and do not preclude

physical meetings or a hybrid form of meeting where these can be held in accordance

with public health regulations and guidance. It is for each local authority to determine

what is appropriate in their specific circumstances. In giving councils this flexibility,


they are expected to hold these meetings in a manner that ensures the decision-

making process remains accessible to their residents.

Local Government Finance: Staffordshire

Jack Brereton: [63470]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with

reference to the allocation of an additional £474 million of Government funding to local

authorities in Staffordshire in response to the covid-19 outbreak, if he will publish the (a)

expenditure of that funding by local authority area and (b) the budget headings under

which that funding was spent.

Mr Simon Clarke:

Councils are on the front line as we tackle this pandemic, and we have now made

£3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can

address pressures in response to COVID-19. It is important that we carefully monitor

the pressures councils are facing. We have now carried out three rounds of the

COVID-19 financial monitoring survey and received data for every single authority in

the latest round. We are currently analysing the results from the third round and we

will publish the data in due course. We are extremely grateful for the continued

collaboration from councils, which enables us to understand pressures at a national

and local level. A summary of the data provided to us by councils in England from the

first two rounds of monitoring can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-covid-19-financial-impact-

monitoring-information . We are not currently publishing LA-level data, but are

keeping this approach under review. We know from the first two rounds of monitoring

that the majority of the money is being allocated to supporting those most vulnerable

in society, as we would expect. Other service areas that money is being allocated to

environmental costs (which includes death management) and housing which includes

homelessness and rough sleeping.

Local Plans: York


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

work with a wide group of stakeholders to deliver a local plan for York.


The Government wants to see all parts of England covered by an up to date Local

Plan to deliver the certainty that local communities and businesses deserve. It is for

the Council to deliver a Local Plan for York.

The Local Plan is currently at examination and the Council are addressing areas of

concern raised by the Inspector but they have expressed their commitment to

producing a Local Plan.

I would encourage you and your constituents to consider the findings of the

Inspector’s report once it is issued.



Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Contracts



checks are done as standard in the award of contracts by his Department to identify and

disclose any award of Government contracts to entities (a) owned or controlled by

Government ministers or senior civil servants and (b) where such persons have a

significant beneficial interest.



checks are done as standard in the award of contracts by his Department to identify and

disclose any award of Government contracts to entities (a) owned or controlled by major

political party donors and (b) where such persons have a significant beneficial interest.

Luke Hall:

As a contracting Authority as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015,

MHCLG complies with its legal obligations when assessing tender proposals and the

organisations bidding for opportunities.

Companies submitting tenders for work are also required to declare any conflicts of

interest as part of their tender and these are assessed in relation to the specific

requirement.

The standard checks MHCLG undertakes when awarding contracts depends on the

procurement procedure we use to award the contract. Where we undertake a stand-

alone procurement, we carry out checks for conflicts of interest and grounds for

exclusion as defined in Regulations 24 and 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations

2015 and by Procurement Policy Notice 01/2019.

Where we buy services through an existing Government framework agreement, these

checks will have been undertaken by the relevant Contract Authority - for example

Crown Commercial Service – at the time they put the framework agreement in place.

We require staff involved in any tender evaluation to declare conflicts of interests

before engaging in that process. Any declared conflict of interest would typically

result in an individual being excluded from the evaluation on proprietary grounds.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Inquiries



publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his

Department.

Luke Hall:

MHCLG is not sponsoring any statutory or non-statutory public inquiries.




Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how

much his Department spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) focus groups in each month

since January 2019.

Luke Hall:

The cost of establishing the full spend on opinion polling and focus groups is

disproportionate. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

undertakes many research projects each year using external experts. Some of these

projects will include either opinion polling or focus groups. This would form part of a

wider package of research and to establish the specific cost of that part of the work

across all of the projects would exceed 2.5 working days of effort.

Details of contracts awarded by MHCLG are routinely published on Contracts Finder.

MHCLG is able to provide the following limited information where it is able to identify

spend through contracts solely for a) Opinion polling and b) focus groups.

Opinion Polls

MONTH VALUE (EXCL. VAT)

May 2019 £5,000

July 2019 £1,100

October 2019 £825

January 2020 £2,300

March 2020 £2,600

June 2020 £4,000

Focus Groups

MONTH VALUE (EXCL VAT)

March 2020 £9,999

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Training



often training on understanding and applying the Nolan principles is delivered for staff in

his Department.





many of his Department’s (a) senior civil servants, (b) private office staff and (c) staff

have received training on understanding and applying the Nolan principles in each of the

last three years.

Luke Hall:

The 7 principles of public life are referenced in Civil Service Learning’s online

induction module, which all new civil servants, including those joining MHCLG, are

encouraged to undertake. In addition, new civil servants are familiarised with the Civil

Service Code, which outlines that all Civil Servants are expected to commit to the

Civil Service’s core values of Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity and Impartiality. Guidance

on compliance and how to raise a concern if an individual feels they have been asked

to act in a way that might contravene the code is provided on MHCLG’s intranet.

MHCLG also promotes awareness of the code through our induction checklist,

relevant communications and has a senior level champion in place for the code and

whistleblowing.

Multiple Occupation: Coronavirus

Robert Halfon: [64894]


guidance his Department has issued on house movings in houses in multiple occupation

during the covid-19 outbreak.


There is no prohibition on moving home and anyone in England who wishes to move

home can do so, including into houses in multiple occupation. Guidance on moving

home is available on the GOV.uk website at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-

coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.This guidance provides important public health

information to ensure that the process of moving home and key activities around this,

such as viewing property, can happen safely and the risk of spreading coronavirus is

minimised.

Multiple Occupation: Students



guidance the Government issues for landlords of houses of multiple occupation

specifically let to students on cleaning properties before new tenants move in.


On 13 May we announced that anyone in England could now move home as long as

they followed the advice at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-

home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.




This sets outs that letting agents and landlords should take steps to ensure any

properties are prepared ready for new tenants. This may include cleaning to minimise

any potential spread of the virus in line with government advice at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-

healthcare-settings.

Letting agents and landlords should consider how best to conduct tenancy check-ins

for new tenancies agreed while broader measures remain in place, taking care to

follow government advice on social distancing to minimise possible spread of

coronavirus.

Private Rented Housing: Students



guidance the Government has issued to students who are due to return to their university

towns to commence tenancies in July 2020.


On 13 May we announced that anyone in England could move home as long as they

followed the advice at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-

moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

This includes students moving into university-run and privately rented

accommodation. Everyone involved in the moving process must follow social

distancing to minimise the spread of the virus.

Letting agents and landlords should also consider how best to conduct tenancy

check-ins for new tenancies agreed while broader measures remain in place, taking

care to follow government advice on social distancing

Rough Sleeping: Coronavirus



steps he is taking to ensure that rough sleepers who have been granted accommodation

for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak will be able to remain housed safely, in the long

term.

Luke Hall:

Almost 15,000 vulnerable people, including those who were street homeless, have

been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the start of the

COVID-19 lockdown period, according to returns from local authorities to MHCLG.

Building on the considerable success so far, we announced that Dame Louise Casey

is spearheading a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for

rough sleepers during this pandemic.  The Taskforce has one overriding objective: to

ensure that as many people as possible who have been brought in off the streets in

this pandemic do not return to the streets.

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings&data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C24231ec4aa504da8f5e308d81d03dbae%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637291249686212908&sdata=wy1wCC1ZqpewdtU%2BVqP003Vvymi08bhcE5CuZxz3uH0%3D&reserved=0





On 24 May the Government announced radical plans to provide thousands of long-

term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during this

pandemic. This ambitious commitment will be backed by £160 million this year

through accelerating plans for the £381 million announced for rough sleeping

services at Budget, bringing the total to £433 million over the lifetime of this

parliament.

This funding will support up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation,

with 3,300 units of this accommodation becoming available in the next 12 months.

Homes England, in partnership with MHCLG, have pledged to work hand-in-hand

with leading housing associations and local authorities to deliver this.

However, we are going even further. On 24 June we also announced that we are

providing local authorities with a further £105 million to enable them to best support

the nearly 15,000 people placed into emergency accommodation during the COVID-

19 pandemic. This commitment will help to ensure that as few of these people as

possible return to the streets. The funding will cover a range of interventions, from

moves into the Private Rented Sector to procuring interim accommodation such as

hotels or student accommodation.

Tim Farron: [62360]


publish the letter sent from the Minister for Homelessness to local authorities on 28 May

2020 on the moving on phase of accommodating rough sleepers who have been offered

emergency accommodation as part of the covid-19 response; and if he will publish the

Government’s advice to councils on their duties to provide emergency accommodation to

rough sleepers and those becoming homeless during that outbreak.

Luke Hall:

The letter sent from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to local authorities

on 28 May 2020 can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-letter-sent-on-28-

may-2020-to-councils-about-accommodating-rough-sleepers

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government will continue to work

collaboratively across government, and with councils, health providers and charities,

to ensure rough sleepers can move into safe accommodation once the immediate

crisis is over.

Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus

Sally-Ann Hart: [63549]


plans his Department has to ensure that rough sleepers do not return to the street as the

covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.



Luke Hall:

This is a public health crisis more than anything and so requires a health response.

To enable this our priority was to urgently bring vulnerable people inside so they

could self-isolate and stop the virus spreading.

Almost 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation,

including hotels, since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Building on the considerable success so far, we announced that Dame Louise Casey

will spearhead a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for

rough sleepers during this pandemic

The Taskforce has one overriding objective: to ensure that as many people as

possible who have been brought in off the streets in this pandemic do not return to

the streets.

We announced on 24 June that we are providing local authorities with a further £105

million to enable them to best support the c15,000 people placed into emergency

accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A further £16 million will also be provided so that vulnerable people currently in

emergency accommodation can access the specialist help they need for substance

misuse issues, in order to rebuild their lives and move towards work and education.

This brings the total funding for substance misuse this year to £23 million.

This funding is on top of the £433 million which we announced on 24 May to provide

thousands of additional long-term homes for vulnerable rough sleepers. This

ambitious commitment will be backed by £160 million this year to support up to 6,000

rough sleepers into longer term accommodation, with 3,300 units of this

accommodation becoming available in the next 12 months.

Supermarkets: Coronavirus

Tom Tugendhat: [62505]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he

plans to end the relaxation of restrictions on night-time deliveries to supermarkets; and

what plans he has to introduce tighter conditions on the time of deliveries where they

cause a disturbance to neighbouring residents.


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he

plans to reinstate the conditions on food supply deliveries which were relaxed on 13

March 2020 due to the covid-19 outbreak.


The Government made a Written Ministerial Statement on 13 March, setting out the

need for flexibility around deliveries to supermarkets and other retailers of food,

sanitary and other essential items given the disruption to supply chains due to the

impact of the Coronavirus. This statement is being kept under review. Conditions are

a matter for local authorities, and should be kept to a minimum, and must meet the



tests set out in National Planning Policy Framework of being necessary, relevant to

planning and the development, enforceable, precise, and reasonable in all other

respects. We are also continuing to engage with supermarkets on the extent to which

the relaxation is being used.

Travellers: Coronavirus

Christian Wakeford: [62710]


steps the Government is taking to ensure that Traveller populations in the UK are

relocated to (a) safe and (b) appropriate areas during the covid-19 outbreak.


The Government is working hard to ensure all communities receive the support they

need during this pandemic. It is for local authorities to determine how best to support

vulnerable groups, in line with their public health responsibilities. To enable

compliance with COVID-19 public health guidance, access to basic amenities,

including water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities is essential. My Noble Friend,

the Minister for Communities, wrote to local authorities to highlight the potential

vulnerabilities of Gypsy & Traveller communities, noting that local authorities may

conclude that some families may require alternative places to stop where access to

essential facilities is provided or can be made temporarily available. A copy of the

letter is available at the following link:


ent_data/file/882564/COVID-19_-

_mitigating_impacts_on_gypsy___traveller_communities.pdf Local authorities are

best-placed to determine when it is appropriate to use their powers to evict

unauthorised encampments under Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and

Public Order Act (1994) during the pandemic. Unauthorised encampments can cause

harm to the local environment, and the rights of settled residents must be respected.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department for International Development: Reorganisation


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which trade unions were

consulted by her Department as part of the decision to merge the Department for

International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Nigel Adams:

There was no formal consultation with our trade unions (PCS and FDA) prior to this

decision being made. We have now commenced discussions and they will have a key

role to play as we develop the new organisation.




To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the new Foreign,

Commonwealth and Development Office will work to the same standards of spending

transparency used by her Department.

Wendy Morton:

The UK is globally recognised for its expertise and transparency in aid spending. The

new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to benefit from

that expert knowledge as it delivers aid programmes to some of the world’s poorest

people.

We are committed to improving transparency of aid globally and maintaining our high

standards for overseas spending. We will continue to be accountable to parliament

and to taxpayers for how we spend UK aid, and to mandate our partners to be

transparent.

Chris Law: [64945]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has

made of the implications for the merger of her Department with the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office of the Aid Transparency Index rating the transparency of aid

spending by her Department as very good and by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

as fair.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan:

The 2020 Aid Transparency Index was launched on 24 June and DFID remains ‘very

good’ and the 2nd best bilateral donor, and the FCO has improved performance,

moving into the ‘fair’ category for the first time and scoring above average for the

non-specialised ministries (foreign/defence/trade) assessed. DFID and FCO both lost

points because they were unable to provide sufficiently forward-looking budget

forecasts due to the limitations of the current Spending Review settlement, which will

be addressed in future assessments.

The UK is globally recognised for its expertise and transparency in aid spending. The

new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to benefit from

that expert knowledge as it delivers aid programmes to some of the world’s poorest

people.

We are committed to improving transparency of aid globally and maintaining our high

standards for overseas spending. We will continue to be accountable to parliament

and to taxpayers for how we spend UK aid, and to mandate our partners to be

transparent.

Violence: Gender

Marsha De Cordova: [63501]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has had

discussions with UN agencies on increasing funding for gender-based violence services

as part of the Global Humanitarian Response plan.




Wendy Morton:

The UK is deeply concerned about the surge in gender-based violence (GBV) during

the COVID-19 pandemic. We have consistently encouraged the UN agencies,

including United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),

to prioritise GBV within the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) through

bilateral channels and joint advocacy with other donors.

Whilst we are pleased to see improvements in how GBV is being addressed overall in

the GHRP, the UK is continuing to discuss with UN agencies what more can be done

to ensure sufficient focus, finance and accountability for GBV in the humanitarian

response. All UN agencies and international actors must demonstrate that the

shadow pandemic of GBV is taken seriously in the global response to COVID-19 and

be held accountable for addressing it.

We have committed £20 million to UNICEF and £10 million to UNFPA through the

GHRP, which includes funding to scale up reporting, protection and support services

for women and girls affected by violence in the world’s poorest countries. £20 million

of UK Aid funding to UNHCR’s work with refugees and internally displaced people

also includes support for adapting and scaling-up essential services for gender-based

violence and child protection.

Marsha De Cordova: [63502]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her

Department has allocated to gender-based violence services during the covid-19

pandemic.

Wendy Morton:

The UK is working to leverage a strong and co-ordinated response globally to address

the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have committed £20 million to UNICEF and £10 million to UNFPA, which includes

funding to scale up reporting, protection and support services for women and girls

affected by violence in the world’s poorest countries. £20 million of UK Aid funding to

UNHCR’s work with refugees and internally displaced people also includes support

for adapting and scaling-up essential services for gender-based violence and child

protection.

We are urgently reorienting existing bilateral programmes to ensure women and girls

can continue to access support during the lockdown. For example, in Nepal, the UK

is financing 14 Women’s and Children Service Centres across the country and 62

One Stop Crisis Centres.


INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Department for International Trade: Public Inquiries


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish the (a) statutory

and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by her Department.

Greg Hands:

The Department for International Trade came into existence in 2016 and since this

time there have been no statutory and non-statutory public inquiries.

Department for International Trade: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much her Department spent on

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

Greg Hands:

The information requested is not held centrally by the Department for International

Trade and therefore can only be provided at disproportionate costs.

All the Department’s contracts of over £10,000 can be found on the Government

Contracts Finder web-site at https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.

Riot Control Weapons: Export Controls

Emily Thornberry: [63259]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many licences have been

issued under Annex 3 of the EC regulation on torture and death penalty goods relating to

PAVA and OC sprays; and which end users were specified for those licences.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena:

Our records show the following licences were granted between 2006 and 2019:

49 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) for end users that include one for

commercial use (for use as a flavouring in the Food Manufacturing industry); one for

forensic analysis; one for government; two stockists; two for demonstration purposes

(not for resale) and 41 for law enforcement agencies; and one SIEL (Transhipment)

licence for naval use;

Three Standard Individual Trade Control Licences (SITCLs), where two were for law

enforcement agencies and one was for testing and evaluation purposes;

One Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) has been granted with the conditions that

(a) the exporter may only export to a government directly or companies using the

listed goods in fulfilment of a government contract, and (b) export under this licence is

restricted to armed forces, the police, the Home Department (or equivalent), other

security forces, and law enforcement.




Riot Control Weapons: USA


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to suspend the

sale and export to the US of UK manufactured (a) public order equipment and (b)

equipment used for law enforcement.


My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and I have been

sorry to see the violence that has taken place in the United States of America.

All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the

Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated

Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade (DIT)

receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence

(MOD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Together, we draw on all

available information, including reports from Non-Governmental Organisations

(NGOs) and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough

risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of

exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and

we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the

Consolidated Criteria.

Any licence granted by my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International

Trade may be subject to conditions. In addition, in line with the Consolidated Criteria,

my Department is able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary –

when circumstances require. There are currently eight extant licences that may be

linked to law enforcement agencies. Six are Open Individual Export Licences

(‘OIELs’), which have potential end users that include law enforcement agencies.

Two are Standard Individual Export Licences (‘SIELs’), which have numerous

potential end users that include law enforcement agencies. There are also 15 Open

General Licences (‘OGLs’) for which businesses can register that cover the export of

anti-riot gear.

Much information is in the public domain already. We publish information on all export

licences issued, refused and revoked on a quarterly and annual basis as official

statistics on GOV.UK – at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-

controls-licensing-data – and whilst data on actual exports is not required to be

centrally held, the licences issued until the end of December 2019 are available.

Emily Thornberry: [64865]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what measures firms are required to

comply with to export tear gas to law enforcement agencies or military forces in the

United States.




Such firms need to hold a Section 5 firearms certificate; apply for, and be granted, an

export licence; and submit any necessary export declaration to HM Revenue &

Customs, in accordance with the conditions of the licence and customs legislation.

JUSTICE

Courts: Coronavirus

Mr David Lammy: [62278]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to tackle the backlog of

cases in Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are

eased.

Chris Philp:

COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for the criminal justice system, but

we have kept courts open and cases flowing through the system throughout. The UK

has been a global leader and we are ahead of comparable systems, keeping our

system open and functioning throughout COVID-19. The most time-critical hearings

have continued to take place in the Magistrates’ Courts, including hearings where the

defendant is in custody or there is a risk to the public, as well as dealing with

applications to extend custody time limits.

In the Crown Court, whilst jury trials were paused we kept the system moving,

disposing of over 5,000 cases. Jury trials were restarted on 18 May, and by mid-July

all courts will have reopened. This has all been enabled through significantly

increased use of technology, with over 6,500 cases heard remotely, and with close

collaboration and joint working with partners and stakeholders across the criminal

justice system.

There is more we need to do and HMCTS are pursuing an ambitious plan to continue

to increase capacity, including increasing the use of video and audio enabled justice

via a national rollout of Cloud Video Platform (CVP), expanded opening hours, and

exploring ways to gain additional court capacity. This will all be set out in more detail

in a Courts Recovery Plan which will be published soon.

Domestic Abuse


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is conducting an

internal review of domestic abuse policy.

Alex Chalk:

We are determined to drive the fundamental change necessary to keep victims of

domestic abuse and their children safe. The Domestic Abuse Bill is the culmination of

significant policy work and consultation on how we improve our response to this

crime, which we are committed to keeping under review. Most recently, on 25 June



2020, we published our comprehensive report into the family courts system:

‘Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases’.

We are taking immediate action to implement the panel’s recommendations, and will

be undertaking further work to address the long-standing, systemic issues identified

in the report particularly where there are allegations of domestic abuse. This work will

include a review into the presumption of ‘parental involvement’ and whether the right

balance is being struck between the risk of harm to children and victims, and the right

of the child to have a relationship with both parents.

Legal Aid Scheme

Karl Turner: [R] [62405]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the Legal Aid Agency has paid out

(a) since 31 March 2020 and (b) for a comparable period of time in the last three years

with regard to (i) closed cases and (ii) payments on account.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral evidence of the

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State's evidence to the Justice Select Committee on 4

May 2020, Q131 HC299, what the unbilled amount of legal aid of over £100m is by legal

area.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the funds

available to legal aid practitioners with regard to (a) unclaimed costs for completed

matters and (b) payments on account.

Alex Chalk:

The most recent statistics published for the Legal Aid Agency cover up to and

including March 2020. Figures for quarters of the 2020/21 financial year are

scheduled for future release, and as such payment data for part (a) of question 62405

cannot yet be provided. The figures for part (b) of the question are displayed below,

matching the equivalent period of April, May and June inclusive for each financial

year:

CLAIMS FOR CIVIL REPRESENTATION – FIRST QUARTER ONLY

Completed case expenditure

(where costs met by LAA)

Payments on account (live

cases)

Q1 2017/18 £153,943,450.58 £53,508,814.89

Q1 2018/19 £149,331,830.09 £61,087,711.51

Q1 2019/20 £168,696,887.77 £68,007,236.47




The figure of £100m referred to by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State was

based upon estimates produced by the Ministry of Justice relating to unbilled work for

completed cases. The breakdown of the estimates is as follows:

• Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher

Courts

- £130m

• Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts

- £80m

All of the above estimates of unbilled work pertain to the position as at 31 st March

2020.

As at 31 st March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the

amounts available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to unbilled work on

completed matters were –

• Criminal Legal Aid in relation to representation in the Crown Court and Higher

Courts

- £130m

• Civil Legal Aid in relation to representation in the civil and family courts

- £80m

As at 31 st March 2020, the estimate produced by the Ministry of Justice of the

amount available for legal aid providers to claim in relation to payment on account for

civil matters pertaining to representation in the civil and family courts was £165m.

Ministry of Justice: Public Inquiries


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-


Alex Chalk:

The Ministry of Justice is not conducting any inquires at this time. All previous public

inquiries carried out by the Ministry of Justice, whether statutory or non-statutory,

have concluded and the reports have been published.

Ministry of Justice: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion

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

Chris Philp:

The information requested is not held centrally and therefore can only be provided at

disproportionate costs.



Prisoners' Release: Females

Kate Green: [62432]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2020 to

Question 58089, of the 230 women who were not deemed suitable for the End of Custody

Temporary Release scheme how many (a) lacked suitable accommodation in the

community, (b) no longer wished to proceed with their application and (c) were deemed to

present an unacceptable level of risk if released.

Lucy Frazer:

236 women in custody asked to be considered for the End of Custody Temporary

Release scheme (ECTR).

As of Friday 12 June, 6 women were released under ECTR and 22 were still in the

process (undergoing police and probation checks).

49 women did not consent to ECTR.

128 women did not pass the initial risk screening at establishment level, and 31 were

screened out later in the process following checks by police and probation.

No women were deemed unsuitable due to a lack of accommodation. The National

Probation Service (NPS) established 7 joint NPS/CRC Homelessness Prevention

Taskforces (HPT) in England and Wales in March 2020. All homeless prisoners who

are otherwise eligible for ECTR, are referred to the HPTs who will work with local

housing providers to source appropriate accommodation. During the Covid -19

pandemic, Ministry of Justice funding has also been made available to house ECTR

released prisoners in short term accommodation for up to 56 nights. This can include

hotel and B&B accommodation. Those who are at risk of homelessness, will be

referred to Local Authorities for assistance. Through The Gate case workers will be

assigned to each person released on ECTR to support their move into longer term

housing as well as other resettlement pathways.

Prisoners: Coronavirus


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

effective communication between prisoners and their lawyers during the covid-19

outbreak.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date he plans to enable legal

practitioners to (a) attend Her Majesty’s Prisons and (b) take effective instructions from

their clients.

Lucy Frazer:

Alongside the closure of courts, the Government suspended all but exceptional visits

to prisons in March. This was to ensure the safety of both prisoners and our staff

through the pandemic.




Despite the absence of physical visits, prisoners do maintain the right to access legal

advice, and we have looked to ensure that prisoners have continued to have the tools

to make contact with their legal representatives via telephone, video link or written

correspondence.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic we have enhanced the capability of prison

videoconferencing facilities, particularly to support priority court work such as

sentencing hearings and prisoners approaching their parole hearing dates. We have

made use of the additional 1,250 mobile phones issued to prisons without in-cell

telephony in order to facilitate private conversations with legal advisors, alongside

encouraging Governors to ensure prisoners can have conversations with their

representatives in confidence.

We are also taking steps to increase the available capacity of video conferencing

across the estate through increased operating hours to include longer hours during

the weekdays, and at some locations on Saturdays. This will sit alongside renewed

guidance to all governors on the importance of making sure that adequate time for

legal advice is made available to prisoners where possible.

Alongside this work, we are increasing the physical number of video link outlets at

some critical sites where capacity is limited, as well as to support specialist courts

including Youth and women’s prisons, together with the re-purposing of some unused

spaces within prisons for more video link capacity.

Over the coming weeks, we are also looking to resume face-to-face access, where

possible, in line with the easing of Government restrictions and advice from Public

Health England. Advice to governors will be published as part of the National

Framework.

Prisons: Visits


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons in England and Wales were

providing virtual visits to prisoners on the 18 June 2020.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timeframe is for each prison in

England and Wales to provide virtual visits.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on

prisons in England and Wales that have experienced problems with the virtual visits

system that resulted in (a) delayed visits and (b) the prevention of the provision of those

visits.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department holds a list of the

names of prisoners that are prohibited from accessing virtual visits.






To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department uses to determine

whether a prisoner is eligible to access virtual visits.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse is of the (a)

installation and (b) operation of virtual visits in each prison in England and Wales.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the contract to provide virtual visit

technology to prisons in England and Wales was put out to tender.

Lucy Frazer:

We have introduced a temporary emergency video calling service in recognition of

the importance of maintaining family contact while social visits have been temporarily

suspended in prisons in England and Wales. Due to the urgency of the situation and

the complexity required in assessing and approving a solution to provide these

services, a direct award under Regulation 32 (2) (c) was made. We have published

information regarding the provision of video calls on GOV.UK and made clear we will

continue to expand secure video calling to more establishments during this time.

The list of prisons providing video calling visits to prisoners on the 18 June 2020 was

as follows; Berwyn, Bronzefiled, Buckley Hall, Chelmsford, Cookham Wood,

Deerbolt, Downview, Durham, Eastwood Park, Feltham, Full Sutton, Gartree, Guys

Marsh, High Down, Hull, Send, Stocken, Swinfen Hall, Wayland, Werrington, and

Wetherby. We are currently engaged with further establishments to train and help

prepare them to introduce this service, which means further establishments will go

live at different times based on local preparedness. Some establishments have

encountered local network and connectivity issues which have required bespoke

technical solutions to be developed to allow them to commence live calls.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold a central list of offenders who are denied

access, specific incidents that have led to issues, and the costs involved with the

system broken down by prison. In principle, all prisoners will have access to video

calls, however, Governors and Directors may withhold access from prisoners where,

based on an assessment of risk, to do so is necessary, non-discriminatory and

proportionate under Prison Rule 34 or YOI Rule 9. In these instances the reasons for

withholding access must be recorded. As we are in the process of implementing

provision more widely throughout the estate it is too early to make operational

assessments, however, this will be conducted at a suitable time.

At the appropriate time, we will consider future options for video calling across the

estate beyond Covid-19 restrictions, which may include a competition for such

services.




NORTHERN IRELAND

Economic Situation: Northern Ireland

Ruth Jones: [64327]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment the

Government has made of the economy of Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker:

Whilst the Northern Ireland economy has its challenges, I am confident that Northern

Ireland has a promising economic future as we recover from this crisis. This

Government will always stand by the people of Northern Ireland.

We want Northern Ireland not only to recover but to prosper. For this to happen we

need to ensure that we are driving innovation and sustainability, enhancing

connectivity, developing a skilled workforce, promoting exports and attracting

investment.

We will continue to work collaboratively with businesses, the Northern Ireland

Executive and local partners to get the economy back up and running, laying the

foundations for a stable and sustainable economic future.

Northern Ireland Office: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on

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

Mr Robin Walker:

The Northern Ireland Office has had no spend on (a) opinion polling or (b) focus

groups in any month since January 2019.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Louise Haigh: [64962]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate his Department has

made of the (a) number of victims who will be entitled to the Victims Payment Scheme

and (b) the estimated cost in Years 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Mr Robin Walker:

Unlike fatalities, there is no comprehensive dataset about seriously injured victims of

the Troubles. In this context the ability to estimate with confidence both the number of

applications to the scheme and the number of awards that will be issued is

constrained. The Northern Ireland Civil Service, which now has responsibility for

delivering the scheme, will need to keep this, and costs in years 1-4, under close

review moving forward.





To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what eligibility criteria have his

Department estimated the cost of the Victims Payment Scheme.

Mr Robin Walker:

The costs of the Scheme will be based on the eligibility criteria as outlined in the

Victims Payments legislation (Regulations 5, 6, and 7).


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he had with the

Northern Ireland Executive before 29 May 2020 on who would cover the ongoing cost for

the Victims Payment Scheme.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Regulations are clear that the Executive should fund the scheme. The Secretary

of State for Northern Ireland has been in regular recent contact with the First and

deputy First Ministers to discuss a number of aspects of the scheme, including the

ongoing costs. Our position is clear. All costs for this scheme, including ongoing

costs, should be funded by the NI Executive. It is a devolved matter and devolved

matters are typically funded by the block grant.

PRIME MINISTER

Prime Minister: Public Opinion


To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2020 to Question 57942

whether he has undertaken (a) polling and (b) other evidence gathering of public opinion

to underpin his statement that nobody in Number 10 has done anything to undermine the

Government's covid-19 messaging.

Boris Johnson:

I refer the Hon. Member to my Parliamentary statement of 23 June 2020, Official

Report, Column 1167 onwards, which outlines how we are working with the public to

combat the Covid-19 virus, and to trust in the common sense of the British people.

That common sense and the public’s sacrifices have allowed us to get the virus under

control and downgrade the Covid Alert Level.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Coronavirus

Mark Menzies: [62396]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his (a) US

and European counterparts and the (b)(i) UK and (ii) international aerospace industry on

establishing globally consistent plans for the resumption of flying.





Kelly Tolhurst:

The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises

the challenging times it is facing as a result of COVID-19. The Department for

Transport has kept an open dialogue with the aviation sector including with the

aerospace industry, through regular structured engagement at both ministerial and

official level.

Additionally, the International Aviation Taskforce’s industry Expert Steering Group

has been established to bring together all interested parties to co-produce solutions

where possible through a cross-sector representative membership, including

aerospace industry body ADS, airports, airlines and international representatives to

ensure that the work of the UK is in sync with wider global efforts in the aviation

sector.

Biofuels


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

manufacturers on the introduction of bio fuels as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

Rachel Maclean:

The Department supports biofuels through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

(RTFO), a scheme which has been successful for the past 12 years in supporting a

market for biofuels. In 2018, renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO scheme,

which were overwhelmingly biofuels, made up 3.1% of total road and non-road

mobile machinery fuel supply.

The Department’s ministers and officials regularly consult on biofuels policy with a

range of stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers. For example, the Department

has recently consulted on the introduction of E10 petrol, which would increase the

amount of bioethanol in petrol vehicles. In addition, the Low Carbon Fuels Team in

the Department holds quarterly meetings with industry experts to discuss our biofuels

strategy. The last meeting, which I had the pleasure of speaking at, was on 25 June.

Bus Services and Rapid Transit Systems: Stoke-on-Trent North


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

increase the number of (a) bus and (b) light rail services in Stoke-on-Trent North

constituency.

Rachel Maclean:

On 23 May, the Government announced a further £283 million to help protect and

increase bus and light rail services as we begin to restart our economy.

As part of the ‘Better Deal for Bus Users’ package £30 million of additional funding is

also being provided to local authorities to improve current bus services, or restore lost

services where needed.



The Department will continue to work with both sectors to understand how services

can adapt to any ‘new normal’ that emerges from the Covid-19 outbreak so that a

sustainable long-term recovery can be made.

Bus Services: Coronavirus


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

on rural communities of reductions in the level of rural bus services during the covid-19

outbreak.

Rachel Maclean:

On 23 May, the Transport Secretary announced a further £254 million to help

increase bus services across England as quickly as possible as we begin to re-open

our economy. This is in addition to the £397 million the Government announced on 3

April 2020 to keep England’s buses running to serve those who need to rely on them.

In addition, the Government allowed local authorities to use the extra £30 million in

2020/21 to support essential bus services and provided £20 million through the Rural

Mobility Fund to support demand responsive services in rural communities.

Coronavirus: Passenger Ships

Ms Nusrat Ghani: [62503]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cruise ship sector will be

required to follow the covid-19 public health guidelines as set out for the public transport

sector or the hospitality industry.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department has been working closely with the cruise industry to assist in their

development of robust guidance to enable a safe resumption of operations.

Due to the variety of environments on board a cruise ship, the cruise industry will

apply guidelines for both the hospitality and transport sector. These should be applied

where appropriate.

Officials continue to work with the cruise industry, together with other government

departments, including Public Health England, to ensure the necessary measures

and protocols are put in place.

Department for Transport: Coronavirus

Geraint Davies: [64815]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the

implications for his policies of the report of the all-party group on air pollution entitled, Air

Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection.

Rachel Maclean:

The Government is committed to making lasting changes to the way people, goods

and services travel to help make our country greener and healthier, and to deliver




clean economic growth. In line with our clean air and net zero carbon targets, our

policies will ensure that emissions continue to fall over time right across the country

through a green economic recovery from COVID-19 that has transport at its heart.

This includes a £5 billion package of investment in zero emission buses, cycling and

walking in line with the recent recommendations of the all-party group on air pollution.

Department for Transport: Public Inquiries


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-


Chris Heaton-Harris:

The Department will, as a matter of course, publish any inquiries it is required to do

so as part of the terms of reference for that inquiry. For those where publication is not

a requirement, Ministers will take a decision to publish on a case-by-case basis.

Electric Vehicles



encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles.

Rachel Maclean:

The Government is investing around £2.5bn, with grants available for ultra-low

emission vehicles, as well as funding to support charge point infrastructure at

homes, workplaces, on residential streets and across the wider roads network. The

Government is consulting on bringing forward an end to the sale of new petrol and

diesel cars and vans, from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears

feasible, including hybrids for the first time. This will help inform our thinking on what

further appropriate measures to achieve a faster transition will need to be. The

Transport Secretary has also announced that the government will consult on

measures to improve the consumer experience of using the public charging network

so that charging an electric vehicle is as straightforward as refuelling a conventional

vehicle today. Go Ultra Low is a joint Government and industry campaign designed to

educate individuals and businesses about the benefits of switching to an electric

vehicle. The campaign provides facts and information across high reach channels

such as paid media (cinema, radio, digital), PR and events.

Electric Vehicles: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: [62523]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric vehicles were registered in

Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in the most recent period for which records are

available.




Rachel Maclean:

At the end of 2019, there were 147 battery electric vehicles licensed to addresses in

the Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, which comprised of 127 cars and 20

other vehicles.

Ferries: Freight

Karl Turner: [61472]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to

Question 51908 on Ferries: Freight, if he will publish the names of the external experts

that provided (a) legal, (b) technical and (c) financial advice on the design of the Public

Service Obligation Agreements; and what the cost to the public purse was of that advice.

Kelly Tolhurst:

[Holding answer 23 June 2020]: The Government is providing up to £35.2m in

funding to maintain capacity for critical goods for 9 weeks across 16 critical freight

routes. During the height of the crisis, we believed it was important to keep this vital

flow of critical goods such as medicines and food into and across the UK.

The providers of expert advice are as follows:

1. Legal advice - Slaughter & May

2. Technical advice - Costain

3. Financial advice - PwC

The amounts spent on the external experts to date are as follows:

1. Slaughter & May - £394,048

2. Costain - £188,676

3. PwC - £178,058

These figures exclude VAT.

Motor Vehicles: Air Conditioning



ensure that drivers are protected from poor air quality by adequate vehicle filtration

systems.

Rachel Maclean:

The Government is determined to improve air quality and the Department’s officials

are engaging with international expert groups, who are developing measurement

procedures for vehicle interior air quality. There are currently no legislative

requirements for vehicle cabin air filtration systems however some manufacturers

install higher efficiency air filtration systems.



Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen


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

potential for hydrogen-powered vehicles to support improvements in air quality.

Rachel Maclean:

In 2018, the Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy

Model. The model provides a clear assessment of the relative environmental impacts,

including air quality, of a range of fuel and powertrain options for cars, vans, buses

and heavy goods vehicles over the period to 2050, including hydrogen fuel cell

vehicles.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the

number of hydrogen powered vehicles in use in the UK.

Rachel Maclean:

We are supporting hydrogen technology to deliver our ambitions for greener transport

where the market favours its use. The Government’s £23m Hydrogen for Transport

Programme is increasing the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and

growing the number of publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations. The

programme is delivering new refuelling stations, upgrading some existing stations as

well as deploying hundreds of new hydrogen vehicles. Government is supporting

public and private sector fleets to become early adopters through the £2m FCEV

Fleet Support Scheme. In addition, £6.4m of the Low and Ultra-Low Emission Bus

Scheme funding has been invested in more than 60 hydrogen buses operating in

Birmingham and near Gatwick. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ (OLEV) Low

Emission Freight Trials is funding 20 projects to support industry-led trials of

alternative propulsion technologies for commercial fleets in the UK, including

hydrogen. OLEV and the Advanced Propulsion Centre are funding a wide range of

development projects in hydrogen vehicles, and hydrogen is eligible for support under

the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation following changes made to the scheme in

April 2018.

Passenger Ships: Coronavirus


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

representatives of the cruise ship sector on resumption of their operations as covid-19

restrictions are eased.


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

economic effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the UK cruise ship sector.






To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the economic contribution was of the

cruise ship sector to the UK economy in 2019; and what estimate he has made of that

economic contribution in 2020.

Kelly Tolhurst:

I fully recognise the impact that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on the UK

cruise sector and I would like to place on record my recognition of the proactive

action it took to suspend operations and to work tirelessly with Government to

repatriate thousands of passengers and crew.

The cruise sector and, the supply chains it supports, makes a highly significant

contribution to the UK economy with the industry estimating that it generates a total of

around £10bn for the Country’s economy each year.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department’s officials and I have held

regular calls with the cruise sector on a wide range of operational and financial issues

and continue to do so. We will actively support the sector as it develops a pathway

towards the safe resumption of cruises which I know many millions of people in the

UK have enjoyed and will want to again.

Public Transport: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to enforce the

mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport.


Since Monday 15 June most passengers must wear a face covering when travelling

on public transport in England, unless they are exempt for health, disability or other

reasons. We expect to see a gradual ramp-up of enforcement, supported by a

significant communications campaign over the coming months.

The regulations made under the Public Health Act 1984 includes powers for

operators to deny access to a service, to direct a passenger to wear a face covering,

or direct someone to leave a service, if they are not wearing a face covering.

Transport operators have discretion over how they use these powers - they are not

obliged to use them. If the passenger still doesn’t comply with operators’

encouragement and instructions without a legitimate exemption, there are new

powers for the police and Transport for London authorised personnel to issue a fixed

penalty notice of £100, or £50 if paid within 14 days.

We have published updated guidance for operators which clearly sets out advice on

ensuring passenger compliance with the face covering regulations, which is available

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

transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-

operators#face-coverings



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators#face-coverings





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

passengers are aware of the requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.


Since Monday 15 June most passengers must wear a face covering when travelling

on public transport in England, unless they are exempt for health, disability or other

reasons.

We are making passengers aware of the new requirement, including the exemptions

in place, through the Department for Transport’s Safer Transport communications

campaign. We are working closely with transport operators to make sure they are

communicating the requirements to their staff and passengers.

We have published updated guidance for passengers which clearly sets out the

requirement to wear face coverings on public transport, which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-

passengers#face-coverings

Public Transport: Rural Areas

Geraint Davies: [64820]

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

level of access to public transport in towns and rural communities compared with urban

areas.

Rachel Maclean:

The Government is committed to levelling up the country to provide equal opportunity

for all and recognises the vital importance public transport plays in supporting the

economy and bringing society together across rural and urban areas.

The Department currently publishes tables of estimated travel time to key services by

different modes in Journey times to key services (JTS01) with different levels of

rural/urban areas. This can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/journey-time-statistics-data-tables-

jts#journey-times-to-key-services-jts01

In addition to this, the National Travel Survey (NTS) provides a range of measures

which include a breakdown by Rural / Urban classification which can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts99-travel-by-region-and-area-type-of-

residence

Railways: Innovation


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

new technological solutions to improve the running of the railways.


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#face-coverings




http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/journey-time-statistics-data-tables-jts#journey-times-to-key-services-jts01



http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts99-travel-by-region-and-area-type-of-residence





Research, development and innovation to improve the running of the railway is

primarily the responsibility of the rail industry. The cross-industry Executive Technical

Leadership Group is chaired by Network Rail, and owns the current Rail Technical

Strategy, which sets out a vision for rail and how technology can help meet the

objectives of cutting carbon, reducing cost, increasing capacity and improving the

customer experience. The strategy is currently being revised.

Roads: Accidents

Bill Wiggin: [62313]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road accidents involving vans

there were in Herefordshire in 2019.

Rachel Maclean:

The latest annual published statistics are for 2018. There were 40 reported personal

injury road accidents involving light goods vehicles/vans (goods 3.5 tonnes or under),

in Herefordshire, in 2018.

Detailed final data on reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain for 2019

will be published in September 2020.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fatalities there have been from

road accidents in Herefordshire in the past 10 years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fatalities there were from road

accidents in Herefordshire in 2019.

Rachel Maclean:

Detailed final statistics on reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain for

2019 will be published in September 2020. The latest annual published statistics are

for 2018.

The number of fatalities in reported road accidents in Herefordshire, between the

years 2009 and 2018 can be found in the below table:

FATALITIES IN REPORTED ROAD ACCIDENTS IN

HEREFORDSHIRE, 2009-2018

Year Number of fatalities

2009 13

2010 7

2011 14




FATALITIES IN REPORTED ROAD ACCIDENTS IN

HEREFORDSHIRE, 2009-2018

2012 5

2013 5

2014 13

2015 7

2016 6

2017 11

2018 12

Source: DfT, STATS19

TREASURY

Business Premises: Coronavirus

Hywel Williams: [64856]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the valuation of properties

under the Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2010,

what guidance his Department has issued to the Valuation Office Agency on non-

domestic properties that have been let out to key workers during the covid-19 pandemic;

and what discussions he has had with representatives from the Welsh Government on

that matter.

Hywel Williams: [64857]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will he take steps to ensure that the

Valuation Office Agency classifies accommodation let out to key workers on reduced

rates as being commercially let and in fulfilment with the specified time periods for short-

term letting availability.

Jesse Norman:

Business rates and ratings are devolved in Wales, and are therefore a matter for the

Welsh Government.

In England, to be classed as non-domestic property the owner must have made the

property available for commercial short-term letting for at least 140 days in the last

year; to have actually let it for a total of at least 70 days; and have arranged for it to

be available on the same basis over the next 12 months.



Diversification

Scott Benton: [62653]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential

merits of introducing an economic diversification fund to assist constituencies where

economies have historically been dependent on a single industry.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Government is committed to supporting every local area invest in their local

economic priorities and to level up opportunity across the country, including

Blackpool. This is why at the previous Budget we announced £6bn for local transport

in England, £10.9bn new capital investment into housing, and £5bn to support the

rollout of gigabit broadband to the 20% hardest to reach areas. These build on the

government’s previous investments, such as the Blackpool 21st Century Centre, the

Blackpool Bridges and the Blackpool Tramway Extension funded through our Local

Growth Fund. In addition to this Blackpool has been shortlisted as one of the 100

Towns for our £3.6bn Towns Fund.

Education: Coronavirus

Ben Lake: [65000]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2020 to

Question 61760, how much of the (a) £650 million catch-up funding for schools and (b)

£350 million for the establishment of a National Tutoring Programme is new funding.

Steve Barclay:

The government will provide a £1 billion catch-up package for children in England.

Additional funding that is required on top of existing departmental budgets in 2020-

21, accounting for any changes in the forecast cost of programmes and wider

budgetary underspends, will be provided at Supplementary Estimates in the usual

way. Funding for costs that fall beyond 2020-21 will be reviewed at the

Comprehensive Spending Review.

Members: Correspondence

Dame Diana Johnson: [62351]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 28 April

2020 from the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North constituency on the

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Kemi Badenoch:

I would like to reassure the Member that her letter is receiving urgent attention and

will be responded to shortly.




Nurseries: Non-domestic Rates

Claire Hanna: [65030]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution of the

Secretary of State for Education of 18 March 2020, Official Report, column 1083 on

business rate relief for nurseries, what the Barnett consequentials are for Northern

Ireland of that relief.

Steve Barclay:

The Northern Ireland Executive will receive around £3 million of additional funding as

a result of the business rate relief for nurseries.

Overseas Aid

Sarah Champion: [64925]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet

colleagues on how the Government will deliver the planned 30 per cent reduction on

Official Development Assistance; and how that target will be monitored against delivery.

Steve Barclay:

The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI)

each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). The government reviews the

ODA funding it allocates to projects on a regular basis in order to ensure delivery of

its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA. Since this commitment is linked to the

size of the economy, the level of ODA spend is likely to decrease this year, and

therefore commitments of aid spending are being reviewed across all departments.

HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions

on changes to these. We take evidence-based spending decisions and ensure

departments maintain high standards of programme delivery that are consistent with

HMG best practice.

Chris Law: [64944]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has requested that

government departments identify a minimum of 30 per cent reduction in planned Official

development Assistance spending for 2020.

Steve Barclay:

The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI)

each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). The government reviews the

ODA funding it allocates to projects on a regular basis in order to ensure delivery of

its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA. Since this commitment is linked to the

size of the economy, the level of ODA spend is likely to decrease this year, and

therefore commitments of aid spending are being reviewed across all departments.

HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions

on changes to these. We take evidence-based spending decisions and ensure

departments maintain high standards of programme delivery that are consistent with

HMG best practice.




Public Expenditure

Anneliese Dodds: [65009]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for requiring government

departments to reduce their spending in the 2020-21 financial year.

Steve Barclay:

Departments have been reviewing their plans for this year in light of the focus they

are putting on Covid-19 response and recovery, accelerating and reprioritising activity

as necessary.

As we exit the current crisis, we will take stock of the economy and public finances

and make further decisions as required

Retail Trade: Staffordshire


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support high street

businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Kidsgrove.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to

protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of

guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. High street businesses continue to have

access to a range of support measures including, but not limited to:

• A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality

businesses in England

• The retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund (RHLGF)

• A Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in England

• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

• The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprises

• VAT deferral for up to 12 months

• The Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with

outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs

• Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment

until June 30, 2020 – with an option for the Government to extend if needed.

The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses

can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to

apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

On 11 May the Government published its COVID-19 recovery strategy which sets out

a cautious roadmap for easing existing measures in a safe and measured way.

Following this roadmap, on 15 June the non-essential retail sector reopened, and on



https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder

23 June the Prime Minister announced that from 4 July some businesses in the

leisure and hospitality sectors will be able to reopen providing they adhere to COVID

Secure guidelines. Following a review, the Prime Minister has also set out where it is

not possible to stay two metres apart, guidance will allow people to keep a social

distance of one metre plus mitigations which reduce the risk of transmission.

The Government`s response is kept constantly under review and we will continue to

work hard to support high street businesses as the economy reopens.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Camberwell and Peckham

Ms Harriet Harman: [64809]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are receiving assistance

under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in Camberwell and Peckham

constituency.

Jesse Norman:

As of 31 May 2020, 5,000 individuals had claimed for the Self-Employment Income

Support Scheme in the Camberwell and Peckham parliamentary constituency area.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Statistics were published on Thursday 11

June. The statistics referenced can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/self-employment-income-support-scheme-

statistics-june-2020

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Directors

Matt Western: [64999]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the

potential merits of including Directors of micro limited companies in the second payment

of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Olivia Blake: [65032]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide support for directors of limited

companies who take the majority of their income in dividends.

Jesse Norman:

I refer the Honourable Member to the written answer to Parliamentary Question

54215 given on 9 June 2020: www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-

questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-03/54215/

Transport: Staffordshire


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to improve local

transport infrastructure in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Kidsgrove.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/self-employment-income-support-scheme-statistics-june-2020






Kemi Badenoch:

My Honourable Friend will know that Budget 2020 confirmed that Stoke-on-Trent will

receive a share of £117 million of the wider Transforming Cities Fund subject to

further business case approval, a share of the £500m Potholes Fund in 2020-21, and

£18.5 million investment in the Etruria Valley Link Road from the Local Growth Fund.

I believe the Transport Secretary will be providing details of Stoke-on-Trent’s

allocation from the Transforming Cities Fund in the coming months, as well as

confirming allocations from the £250 million Emergency Active Travel Fund

announced on 9 May as the first stage in a £2 billion package to create new era for

cycling and walking over this Parliament.

Treasury: Public Inquiries


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-


Kemi Badenoch:

There are currently no (a) statutory or (b) non-statutory public inquiries being

undertaken with HMT as the sponsor.

Treasury: Public Opinion


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion


Kemi Badenoch:

HM Treasury has spent the below on (a) opinion polling in the periods under

question:

SEPTEMBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2019 MAY 2020 JUNE 2020 TOTAL

£3,000 £2,400 £13,188 £6,828 £25,416

The recent increase was partially to help understand public perceptions in order to

inform the government’s response to the pandemic in the Spring Budget.

HM Treasury has spent no amounts on focus groups in the periods under question.

Veterinary Services: Coronavirus


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to support veterinary

practices affected by the covid-19 outbreak through business rate relief.




Jesse Norman:

The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief to

businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality and leisure given the

direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published

guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. As set out in the guidance,

support is targeted at premises that are wholly or mainly being used as shops,

restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; for

assembly and leisure; or as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering

accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having

regard to guidance issued by the Government.

A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for

the business rates holiday, such as veterinary practices, has also been made

available.

Video Games: Tax Allowances

Alex Sobel: [64313]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the

contribution of the Video Games Tax Relief to the UK's (a) economy and (b) job market.

Jesse Norman:

HMRC publish annual statistics on all of the UK’s Creative Sector Tax Reliefs. These

statistics show that since Video Games tax relief was introduced in 2014 it has

supported almost £2.6bn of expenditure across the UK.A 2018 British Film Institute

(BFI) report on the screen sector tax reliefs found that across all parts of the value

chain, the Video Games Tax Relief had helped to generate 4,640 direct full-time

equivalent (FTE) jobs in 2016.

WALES

Wales Office: Public Inquiries


To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-


David T C Davies:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not currently undertaking any public

inquiries.

Wales Office: Public Opinion


To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department spent on (a) opinion





David T C Davies:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has not spent any money on opinion

polling or focus groups since January 2019.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Employment: Autism

Dan Jarvis: [64193]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that

employers are not discriminating against autistic job applicants during recruitment in

accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Kemi Badenoch:

It is generally unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), for an employer to ask a

job applicant about their health or disability - which would include autism - during the

initial stages of a recruitment process. The Act aims to ensure that all disabled

applicants are given the opportunity to have their ability to carry out a job properly

assessed by prohibiting employers from asking questions about their disability and

health during the recruitment process, except in a few specific circumstances (for

instance to establish whether a job applicant can undertake a function intrinsic to the

job). The Act is clear that questions about health and disability can only be asked

when an applicant has been offered a job.

The Equality and Human Right Commission enforces the Act and provide guidance

on recruitment: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/your-

rights-equality-work-when-you-apply-job

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides authoritative and

impartial advice free to employees or employers in relation to employment

discrimination issues via their website ( http://www.acas.org.uk ) and telephone

helpline 0300 123 1190 or text relay service 18001 0300 123 1190. Acas also

provides employees and employers with Early Conciliation to help them resolve/settle

their workplace dispute without going to court.

Dan Jarvis: [64194]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that

employers are providing reasonable workplace adjustments for autistic employees in

accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) places obligations on employers in relation to

disabled employees. An employer is required to make reasonable adjustments to any

element of a job which may place disabled people at a substantial disadvantage

compared to non-disabled people. It is advisable for a disabled person to discuss with

an employer or educational provider what reasonable adjustments they would


https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/your-rights-equality-work-when-you-apply-job



http://www.acas.org.uk/



require, since action is dependent on employers having knowledge of a person’s

disability.

The Equality and Human Right Commission enforces the Act and provide guidance

on reasonable adjustments: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/multipage-

guide/reasonable-adjustments-practice

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides authoritative and

impartial advice free to employees or employers in relation to employment

discrimination issues via their website ( http://www.acas.org.uk ) and telephone

helpline 0300 123 1190 or text relay service 18001 0300 123 1190. Acas also

provides employees and employers with Early Conciliation to help them resolve/settle

their workplace dispute without going to court.

Females: Coronavirus

Claire Hanna: [63534]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish the equalities impact

assessments undertaken by her Department to determine the impact of covid-19 related

legislation on women.

Kemi Badenoch:

Departments do not routinely publish these assessments, as it is important that

officials can draft them with openness and candour. Individual departments and their

ministers are responsible for equality of policies, and the government takes this

responsibility very seriously. The government has assessed the equalities impacts of

non-pharmaceutical interventions on different groups of people, including those with

protected characteristics and has engaged with individuals, expert groups, charities

and other organisations in the policy development process. This is a key part of the

decision making process and the government has discharged its obligations under

the Equality Act at each stage of its COVID-19 response

WORK AND PENSIONS

Debts: Staffordshire


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is

taking to support debt advice providers in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Kidsgrove to ensure

the maintenance of support for people in financial difficulty as a result of the covid-19

outbreak.

Will Quince:

DWP staff in Stoke and Trent and Staffordshire have continued to maintain strong

working relationships with debt advice providers in the area, including Citizens

Advice. This includes regular communication between Citizens Advice officers, local

Partnership Managers and Jobcentre staff to resolve concerns in a timely manner.

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/multipage-guide/reasonable-adjustments-practice







Local DWP staff are actively signposting claimants to the most appropriate source of

debt advice support and we are working closely with local organisations including

Potteries Money Wise and Saltbox, who offer free advice to the local community, to

ensure people are still able to access the help they need during the COVID-19

outbreak.

Department for Work and Pensions: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to ensure

the adequacy of the capacity of her Department to provide services during the covid-19

outbreak.

Mims Davies:

The Department has redeployed staff from non-business critical areas to front line

delivery roles, made use of staff from other Government Departments, has recruited

and continues to recruit significant numbers of new staff and has utilised contract and

agency staff in certain roles.

The Department is continually assessing the service being offered to customers and

we continue to keep staff numbers under review as part of our response to the impact

of COVID-19 on the labour market.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Inquiries


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the (a) statutory

and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by her Department.

Mims Davies:

The requested information is not available. No information is held because there have

been no inquiries that the Department has sponsored.

Disability: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department

has made of the effect of the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions on disabled people.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with

representatives from disabled people on the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-

19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people

using existing and new data sources.





The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has had discussions with

charities, disabled people's organisations and individuals to understand the range of

experiences disabled people have had during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify

the support needed as lockdown restrictions are eased.

The Government is ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to

accessible communications, updated guidance, including workplace and transport

related guidance, as well as other support during the Covid-19 outbreak. All equality

and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19

pandemic.

The Cabinet Office Disability Unit continues to work with disability stakeholders and

across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are

considered in the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.

Employment and Support Allowance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason employment and

support allowance was not increased in line with the uplift in universal credit in March

2020.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Government has announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and

effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption during

the pandemic. The Department was experiencing significantly increased demand and

had to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall. The IT system

which supports Universal Credit has more capacity to make the necessary changes

than the systems that support legacy benefits. It also uses different technology from

other DWP systems and these older systems have complex interactions and

interdependencies. We estimate that 2.5m households receiving Universal Credit will

have benefited straight away from the increase in the standard allowances which was

announced on 20 March, and which is additional to the planned annual uprating. New

claimants who have either become unemployed, or whose earnings or work hours

have decreased because of the outbreak, will benefit too; subject to their eligibility.

We have also made a number of changes to legacy and other working age benefits in

response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing certain entitlements, such

as Local Housing Allowance. Up-to-date information about the employment and

benefits support available, including Employment and Support Allowance, can be

found here: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-

benefits-support/

Taken together, DWP’s pandemic measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion

into the welfare system and, along with the other job and business support

programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most

comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in

response to COVID19.


https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/



Employment: Disability


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has

made on the production of a Green Paper on disability.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Department will be bringing forward a Green Paper on health and disability

support, focusing on how the welfare system can better meet the needs of claimants

with disabilities and health conditions. The Green Paper will be strongly influenced by

the views of disabled people and representatives from disability organisations,

drawing on the significant engagement we have conducted and which will continue,

albeit through different channels, over the summer.

Given the necessary focus on the departmental response to COVID-19, we are

working to a longer timescale than previously anticipated but we remain committed to

publishing in the coming months.

Pensions: Windrush Generation


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an

assessment of the effect on members of the Windrush generation living in frozen rate

countries of the policy not to uprate the pensions of UK pensioners living overseas unless

there is a legal requirement to do so or where there is a reciprocal agreement in place

that provides for that uprating.

Guy Opperman:

DWP continues to support the cross-government commitment, actively supporting

people of the Windrush generation and working closely with the Home Office.

The policy on up-rating UK state pensions overseas is a long-standing one of

successive post-war Governments. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and

is uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so. There are no current

plans to change this.

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will bring forward proposals

to increase financial support for key workers who need to self-isolate due to showing

covid-19 symptoms.

Will Quince:

[Holding answer 29 June 2020]: As part of the Government’s strategy to support

people affected by COVID 19, DWP has made a number of changes to make sure

people can self-isolate, and to ensure people who need financial help have access to

the benefit system.




• We have introduced new provisions making Statutory Sick Pay payable from day 1

– as opposed to day 4 – where an eligible individual is sick, self-isolating or

shielding (in England and Wales).

• If their income is reduced while sick or self-isolating and they require further

financial support, individuals may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style

Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.

We have increased the Universal Credit standard allowance by £20 per week for the

next 12 months – up to £1,040 this year. This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation

increase (announced Nov 2019) as part of the Government’s decision to end the

benefits freeze and means more financial support for millions of people across the

UK.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Kate Osamor: [62538]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the

number of claimants of (a) universal credit and (b) legacy benefits who have had

fraudulent claims made in their name in each month in 2020.

Will Quince:

We do not have an estimate of the number of claimants of (a) Universal Credit and(

b) Legacy benefits who have had a fraudulent claim made in their name in each

month in 2020.

If an individual approaches DWP alleging they have had their identity hijacked, we

will investigate the matter.

Where a person has had their identity hijacked and their details have been used to

make a fraudulent claim for Universal Credit, the Department may consider the

reinstatement of legacy benefits where it is clear they played no part in the making of

the claim.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 9

June to Question 52251 on Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations, what policy

on mandatory face-to-face assessments for benefit applications applied from 17 June

2020; what her timescale is for confirming next steps; if she will indefinitely suspend

mandatory face-to-face assessments for benefit applications indefinitely; and if she will

make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson:

Under pre-existing arrangements for assessments for the health and disability

benefits, we will always look to conduct a paper-based assessment where possible.

Face-to-face assessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can



gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice and we expect

to announce our next steps shortly.

Statutory Sick Pay

Kirsten Oswald: [62488]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the potential merits of permanently removing waiting days for statutory sick pay for all

illnesses and impairments.

Justin Tomlinson:

As part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by coronavirus

(COVID 19), my department has made a number of limited changes to the operation

of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). In doing so, we have balanced the need to provide

additional support for employees who are sick, self-isolating or shielding due to

coronavirus and are unable to work as a result, with considerations about the burden

on employers.

Temporarily suspending waiting days ensures SSP is payable from day one of a

period of absence, rather than day four, to encourage people to follow government

advice to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

We consulted last year on a range of measures, including reform of SSP, designed to

reduce ill-health related job loss. We will bring forward proposals on next steps later

this year.

SSP is just one part of the government’s safety net. Where an employee’s income is

reduced while off sick and they require further financial support they may be able to

claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending

on individual circumstances.

Background

• SSP is paid at £95.85 per week for up to 28 weeks by the employer.

• Employers can choose to go further than their statutory requirements and provide

more financial support to their employee throughout their sickness absence.

• We have increased the standard rate in Universal Credit by £20 a week for one

year – this will mean claimants will be up to £1040 a year better off.

• The consultation: Health is everyone’s business was published in July 2019 and

closed in October 2019.

Universal Credit

Neil Gray: [64935]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse

was of legal fees in the case of Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart v the Secretary of

State for Work and Pensions rules on by the Court of Appeal on 22 June 2020.



Will Quince:

This cost is not available at this time as this case is not yet concluded.

Neil Gray: [64936]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the decision of

the Court of Appeal of 22 June 2020 in the case of Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart

v the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the

potential merits of allowing universal credit applicants to choose the day in the month that

their assessment period starts from.

Will Quince:

The monthly Universal Credit assessment period and payment structure are

fundamental parts of its design, mirroring how the majority of working people are

paid. Assessment periods for Universal Credit start from the date of entitlement (date

of claim) and each subsequent assessment period will begin on the same date of the

month.

All claimants decide when to claim, and therefore can choose when to fix their

assessment period commencement date.

Universal Credit: Pensioners


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department

has taken to ensure an effective transition from universal credit to receipt of the state

pension.

Will Quince:

The Government announced in March that anyone reaching State Pension Age while

claiming Universal Credit is eligible for a run-on until the end of the assessment

period in which they reach State Pension Age.

This removes any potential gap in provision with these pensioners receiving, on

average, an additional £350.

Regulations were laid on 29 June to put this measure on a statutory footing.

Universal Credit: Wales

Jessica Morden: [64868]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit

claimants in (a) Wales and (b) each constituency in Wales are directly affected by the

decision of the Court of Appeal of 22 June 2020 in the case Johnson, Woods, Barrett and

Stewart v the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Will Quince:

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at

disproportionate cost.




WRITTEN STATEMENTS

CABINET OFFICE

The European Communities (Designation) Order 2020

Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt): [HCWS325]

An error has been identified in the laying letter for The European Communities

(Designation) Order 2020, and as a result it was laid under an incorrect procedure. The

Order should have been laid under the Negative Procedure but the laying letter indicated

that there would be no parliamentary procedure. This was due to an administrative error.

A correction has been issued under Votes and Proceedings 23 June 2020.

The statutory instrument was laid on 27 May 2020 and the House authorities have agreed

that they consider this instrument to be laid under the Negative Procedure from the date

of laying. I wish to inform the House that the 40-day laying period ends on 3 July 2020.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Negotiations on the UK’s Future Trading Relationship with the US: Update

Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss): [HCWS324]

The second UK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiating round took place from 15-

26 June 2020.

Talks continued to be positive and constructive, with progress being made towards a

comprehensive agreement. Discussions spanned the majority of areas covered by the

FTA, with further sessions coming over the next two weeks on the remaining major policy

areas. This follows almost 20 intersessional meetings held in between rounds one and

two.

The Government is clear there is no set deadline for this agreement. Any deal the

Government strikes must be fair, reciprocal and ultimately in the best interests of the

British people and the economy. Furthermore, the Government remains clear on

protecting the NHS and not compromising on the UK's high environmental protection,

animal welfare and food safety standards.

During the round, talks advanced across a number of chapters and teams are now into

detailed discussions on text.

There was good progress on a dedicated SME chapter. This included agreement that the

next formal UK-US SME Dialogue will be held in Boston in October 2020.

UK negotiators also underlined the importance of high ambition on services, with financial

services particularly vital to any final agreement.

On professional business services, both sides agreed to go further than existing

precedent and agree provisions that reflect the strength of the UK-US relationship. This

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-30/HCWS325/

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-30/HCWS324/

included a discussion on how best to support regulators pursue closer collaboration on

the recognition of qualifications and licencing.

There was also discussion of specific proposals that might benefit the legal services

sector.

More work needs to be done and both sides committed in the round to a full programme

of engagement ahead of round three. Talks scheduled over the coming weeks include

rules of origin, market access, digital, telecoms, intellectual property and business

mobility.

The third negotiating round is expected to take place at the end of July.

Below is a summary list of those areas discussed in the round, which continued to take

place through video conferencing:

• General Coordination

• Trade Remedies

• Services Sectors – Professional Business Services

• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

• Services Sectors - Transport

• Anti-Corruption

• Competition

• Cross cutting services

• Financial Services

• Good Regulatory Practice (GRP)

• Customs & Trade Facilitation

• Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)

• Investment

• Legal Group - Core Text

• Sectoral Annexes

• Environment

• State Owned Enterprises

• Technical Barriers to Trade

• Other issues – including innovation and women’s economic empowerment

• Economics

Documents

Daily Report Tuesday, 30 June 2020 CONTENTS · 6/30/2020 · Daily Report Tuesday, 30 June 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 30 June 2020 and the